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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
A Professor of Guidance and Counselling at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Rosemary Ochanya Ogbodo-Adoga, has identified effective guidance and counselling as a critical tool for addressing insecurity, drug abuse, unemployment and other social challenges confronting Nigeria.
Delivering the University’s 40th Inaugural Lecture in Abuja, Ogbodo-Adoga said sustainable national development would remain elusive unless the country deliberately invests in professional guidance and counselling services capable of addressing the educational, psychological and social needs of its citizens.
Speaking on the theme, “Guidance and Counselling for All: A Pathway to National Development,” the professor said guidance and counselling have become indispensable in tackling examination malpractice, cultism, indiscipline, peer pressure, emotional instability and the growing burden of mental health challenges, especially among young people.
She explained that guidance enable individuals to understand their abilities, discover their potentials and make informed decisions, while counselling provides professional support to help people overcome personal, educational, vocational and social difficulties.
She noted that quality guidance services equip learners with the skills needed to make sound educational and career choices, ultimately contributing to national growth and development.
Ogbodo-Adoga noted that many young Nigerians struggle with career decisions due to inadequate information and limited access to professional counselling, stressing that occupational guidance remains one of the most important aspects of education.
She further observed that rapid technological advancement, globalisation, changing family structures and evolving workplace demands have increased the need for professional counselling services, adding that technology-assisted distance counselling now enables individuals to access professional support regardless of their location.
She described counselling as both a preventive and intervention strategy that would strengthen decision-making skills, promotes responsible behaviour and equips individuals with healthy coping mechanisms for life’s challenges.
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Ogbodo-Adoga called for increased funding of guidance and counselling programmes, dedicated budgetary provisions for counselling services within ministries of education, and the recruitment and deployment of qualified professional counsellors in schools and other institutions.
She also advocated continuous training and retraining of counsellors through scholarships and bursaries, the development of standardised psychological tests and locally relevant counselling textbooks, as well as strict compliance with the internationally recommended counsellor-to-student ratio of 1:250.
Professor Ogbodo-Adoga further recommended the establishment of model educational institutions, including NOUN Nursery and Primary Schools in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt, to improve access to quality education.
She urged government to strengthen the regulatory role of the Counselling Association of Nigeria, enact policies that promote counselling services, encourage counselling for sustainable livelihoods and reinforce entrepreneurship education to foster self-reliance among Nigerian youths.
Ogbodo-Adoga maintained that no nation can achieve sustainable development without investing in the emotional, psychological, educational and career development of its people.
Reflecting on her years of service at NOUN, she highlighted her contributions to teaching, research, mentorship, curriculum development and academic administration, noting that her work has consistently focused on advancing quality education and strengthening the university’s academic reputation.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor Chiedu Mafiana, described the inaugural lecture as timely and insightful, saying guidance and counselling have become increasingly essential in addressing contemporary educational and societal challenges.
He congratulated Ogbodo-Adoga on delivering what he described as a well-researched and impactful lecture, while calling on policymakers, educators, parents and other stakeholders to accord greater priority to guidance and counselling as a strategic instrument for Nigeria’s development.
