Vol. 4 No 2. Social Science Education Journal (SOSCED-J)

Roles of Education in Providing Adequate Security for the Inhabitants of Imeko Afon Local Government,

1Sofadekan, Adedayo Oyewole, PhD and 2Fatoki, Oladimeji Samuel [email protected], [email protected] +2348130936384 [email protected] +2348188905986 Dept of Sociological Studies, College of Social and Management Sciences, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, .

Abstract The study investigated the roles of education in providing adequate security for the inhabitants of Imeko Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State. Reimagining education in the 21st century is an act that is loaded with the arsenal in providing a sustainable environment, harmonious living for human beings, development and cope with diversity. No doubt that education is what is needed to provide adequate security and other necessities of life in Nation building. A multi-stage sampling technique was used for 200 participants engaged in the study. It follows the adoption of a triangulation instrument of both questionnaire and interview were developed titled “The Education We Need for National Security (TEWNFNS). The data obtained were analyzed using the descriptive statistical technique. Results revealed that education has really been contributing positively to the lives of the people and development of the communities in the area, it has brought about civilization in the metropolis and majority of its inhabitants are now seeing the need to exhaust all aspects of education. It also revealed that smuggling of goods is most prevalent in the local government area through immigration. It was recommended that there has to be aggressive intervention by government, non-governmental organisations and communities to improve the education system, provide adequate security and strengthen humanitarian care through the social support system.

Keywords: Education, Security, National security, Sustainable environment

Introduction values that are shared and upheld by all In the beginning was education; its members. This world view and education was the world and the world conformation of shared values replicate itself in education. This is due influence the patterns of intimacy to the fact that education exists, and has w i t h i n t h e c o m m u n i t y a n d always existed in human societies, organization conduct of human affairs. irrespective of the level of complexity This implies that education has always of organization of human societies. been a product of society, serving as an Every society has its own unique instrument for societal sustenance, worldviews, beliefs, and practices, continued existence and continuous

-172- Vol. 4 No 2. Social Science Education Journal (SOSCED-J) evolution. Education which does not Education is not a static commodity to have a unifying definition has been be considered in isolation from its conceptualized by experts. greater context; it is an ongoing process and holds its own inherent Many countries of the world see value as a human right. Not only do education as a means for development people have the right to receive quality and survival. The 2003 version of the education now, but they also have the Law on Education of the Republic of right to be equipped with the skills and Lithuania contextualized the definition knowledge that will ensure long-term of the mission of education: Education recognition of and respect for all is a means of shaping the future of an human rights. The Committee on individual, society and the State. It is Economic, Social and Cultural Rights based on the acknowledgement of the (CESC, 1999) agreed that Education is indisputable value of individuals, their both a human right in itself and an right of free choice and moral indispensable means of realizing other responsibility, as well as on democratic human rights. As an empowerment relationships and the country's cultural right, education is the primary vehicle traditions. Education protects and by which economically and socially creates national identity. It guarantees marginalized adults and children can continuity of values that build a human lift themselves out of poverty and life, meaning that it grants social life obtain the means to participate fully in coherence and commonness, which their communities. Education has a promote development and security of vital role in empowering women, the State. Education is seen as the light s a f e g u a r d i n g c h i l d r e n f r o m that drives away the darkness of exploitative and hazardous labour and ignorance and enables mankind to find sexual exploitation, promoting human its ways through the tortures and rights and democracy, protecting the labyrinth of development and environment, and controlling civilization (Asiwaju, 1989). Indeed, population growth. Increasingly, education demands efforts and education is recognized as one of the discipline. It is also a formidable tool best financial investments States can for man's survival. Fafunwa (2004) make. But the importance of education however, sees education as “the is not just practical: a well-educated, aggregate of all the processes by which enlightened and active mind, able to a child or young adult develops wander freely and widely, are one of abilities, attitudes and other forms of the joys and rewards of human behaviours which are of positive value existence.” to the society in which he lives”. He explained further that education is a According to the United Nation process of transmitting culture in terms (2006), Education has been formally of continuity and growth and for recognized as a human right since the disseminating knowledge to ensure adoption of the Universal Declaration social control or guarantee the rational of Human Rights in 1948. This has direction of society. since been affirmed in numerous

-173- Vol. 4 No 2. Social Science Education Journal (SOSCED-J) global human rights treaties, including population of Nigeria is 202,321,768 the United Nations Educational, based on World meters – real-time Scientific and Cultural Organization world statistics elaboration of the latest (UNESCO) Convention against United Nations data. The United Discrimination in Education held in Nations anticipates that Nigeria among 1960, the International Covenant on the ten largest countries worldwide, is Economic, Social and Cultural Rights growing rapidly. Consequently, the held in 1966 and the Convention on the population of Nigeria, currently the Elimination of All Forms of world's 7th largest, is projected to Discrimination against Women held in surpass that of the United States and 1981. These treaties establish an become the third largest country in the entitlement to free, compulsory world shortly before 2050 (United primary education for all children; an Nations, 2017). obligation to develop secondary education, supported by measures to According to Wikipedia (2012), Imeko render it accessible to all children, as Afon is a Local Government Area in well as equitable access to higher Ogun west senatorial district of Ogun education; and a responsibility to State, Nigeria bordering the Republic provide basic education for individuals of . Its headquarter is Imeko at who have not completed primary coordinates 7°29'00?N 2°53'00?E. The education. Local Government was created from the old Egbado North Local Furthermore, they affirm that the aim Government in October 1996, during of education is to promote personal the military regime of General Sani development, strengthen respect for Abacha. The land area is about human rights and freedoms, enable 1,711.43 square kilometres (660.79 sq individuals to participate effectively in mi). The land is rolling, with small hills a free society, and promote rising between 15 and 70 metres above understanding, friendship and sea level. The River runs through tolerance. The right to education has the area from North to South, with its long been recognized as encompassing tributaries, the rivers Oyan and Oha. not only access to educational The LGA is bounded in the north by provision but also the obligation to , to the east by the eliminate discrimination at all levels of North LGA, to the south by the Yewa the educational system, to set North LGA and to the west it shares an minimum standards and to improve international border with Benin. The quality. In addition, education is international border is 93 kilometres necessary for the fulfillment of any (58 miles), and is one of the most other civil, political, economic or accessible stretches of border between social right (UNESCO, 2015). Almost the two countries. The Local one in four Sub-Saharan people reside Government is divided into ten in Nigeria, making it Africa's most political wards: Imeko, Afon, Ilara, populous country. The current I w o y e / J a b a t a , I d o f a ,

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Owode/Obada/Idi-Ayin, Moriwi / UNHCR (2014) showed concern about Matale /Oke-Agbede, Agborogbomo, the growing insecurity in areas of the Atapele and Kajole / Agberiodo. border between Cameroon and Imeko, the LGA headquarters, is about Nigeria, where thousands of Nigerian 20 kilometres (12 mi) by road from refugees fleeing insurgent attacks have Ketou, a major trading town in Benin. sought refuge in the past weeks. In The second largest settlement, Ilara, recent days, Nigerian insurgents have merges into Kanga in Benin. The 1991 launched repeated cross-border attacks population census gave a population of from Nigerian border towns into about 118,339. The people are mostly northern Cameroon, hindering our Yorubas of Ketu origin, but there are efforts to relocate refugees from the significant numbers of Ohori and Egun volatile border area to Minawao camp, speaking people. As a border located some 120 kilometres away community, other West African people from the border………”. Insecurity, live in the LGA, including a substantial therefore, becomes a drain on local and number of Fulani nomads. national resources at the expense of development and peoples' wellbeing Farming is the main economic activity. thereby, having adverse consequences The vegetation is a mixture of on economic growth and development. savannah belt and sparse forest Border disputes often arise from suitable for cattle rearing, with the challenges of territorial allocation advantage of being free of Tse-tse flies. which are evident in terms of border The climate is tropical, with a rainy claims or relevance of borderland to season commencing around March and neighbouring states in term of its ending in November. The soil is fertile, historical, geographical, Kufour and Cassava and Tomatoes are grown (2012) traced the sources of insecurity in large quantities. Cotton grown in the in Nigeria in four factors: political LGA supplies the Yaru, tread and conflicts; unbalanced development textile industries in Benin Republic. that involves horizontal inequalities; Other crops are pepper, maize, religious/ethnic distrust; and groundnuts, yams, vegetables, cocoa, leadership failure. cashew and teak. The LGA has 43 public primary schools and 6 Obanya (2014) opined that crises are secondary schools, and a number of an integral element of human life. The private schools. Tourist attractions issues are in fact not the existence of include Celestial City, center of the crisis, but our ability to manage crises. Celestial Church of Christ, Imeko, What education does to us is to sharpen Odosuuru waterfalls, Mount Boomu, our capacity for applying the three Afon and Jabata Forest. To encourage skills set to analyze and tackle the tourists the LGA is named the "virgin challenges of life (as individuals and as land", and in 2010 a 20 kilometres (12 societies), and some of the challenges mi) Imeko-Oke-Agbede-Iwoye road do take the problematic form of crisis. was being built. Wikipedia (2012). Thus, we can apply the hard skills

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(cognitive intelligence), we can apply societies place very little importance the analytical tools needed for a deeper on being a learner, as the major understanding of crises conditions and function of education is to teach situations. With soft skills, we can survival skills, sex roles, and the oral deploy our emotional intelligence to history and traditions of the tribe or adapt to new situations that crises culture. Sometimes the family takes could create. Most importantly, with responsibility for the tasks, but even in imaginative intelligence, we are in a small preindustrial societies better position to anticipate crises responsibility for education often is situations, design coping mechanisms removed from the family and relegated and disaster prevention measures, as to people trained specifically for that well as mitigating measure to lessen purpose. the effect of any crisis induced damage to individual and societal life (Obanya, It is however to be noted that, 2014). To a certain extent, human education in industrial and post societies seem to provoke crisis industrial societies has a more difficult situations in order to get themselves task in providing sophisticated moving. s o c i a l i z a t i o n . Te c h n o l o g i c a l advancement is almost always One of the goals of education is to accompanied to fill a variety of highly provide adequate security, being a specialized occupational roles. public good. Adequate security here Educational institutions must attempt means full protection of lives and to match student's talents and abilities property, inculcating 21st century to an ever-changing job market in an skills, sustainability, human capacity effort to balance supply and demand development, and the promotion of different fields. Inevitably there is a lag meaningful living. Education serves a between the needs of business and function of the anticipatory industry and the educational socialization: teaching the knowledge institution's ability to produce and skills necessary for the fulfillment qualified people (Thompson and of future roles and statuses. If citizenry Hickey, 2008). learns this role, they are prepared not only for a successful school experience For its full dispensation of providing but also for adult work roles in adequate security, education as a factories, corporations, and other societal creation also needs continuous bureaucratic settings. Research sustenance from the society for it to suggests that parents contribute to this continuously reinvigorate itself for type of anticipatory socialization by continued quality enhancement and structuring after school activities as value additional service to society. well for their children (Alder and According to Obanya (2014), A l d e r, 1 9 9 4 ) . A n t i c i p a t o r y education in modern societies however socialization is not limited to teaching means a lot more than schooling and the student role. Less complex embraces all possible routes to

-176- Vol. 4 No 2. Social Science Education Journal (SOSCED-J) learning, mainly: Incidental education: Methods learning from an occasional incident or The study employed the descriptive experience; informal education; design of the survey type. The learning in the normal cause of population for this study comprised all everyday living: non formal education; inhabitants in Imeko Afon Local learning in a more or less organized Government. 200 participants (both way, but outside the formal male and female) who were residents institutional setting; Formal education; of the metropolis were sampled for the formalization of all approaches to study. The research instrument was a educating, in an institutional and questionnaire tagged “The Education institutionalized setting. He further We Need for National Security states that in real life settings, each of (TEWNFNS) with a scale of often, the routes of learning tapers into every sometimes, rare and nil used to elicit other one and reinforces one another to responses from the respondents. There such extent that the dividing lines were 15 items on the instrument and among them have become blurred. they were modified as operational questions which gives room for the The aim of the study is to find out the respondents to comment freely. To extent to which education has provided determine the reliability of the a sustainable environment at Imeko- instrument, test re-test was employed Afon local government; assess the within a two week's interval using 20 level of security awareness of the respondents that were not members of populace in the metropolis and the sample. After computation, the examine the calibre of the populace reliability coefficient obtained was .81. that has access to quality education. The research instrument was administered personally to the Research Questions respondents by the researchers, and Answers were provided to the collections were made after following questions in the study: completion. Data collected were 1) To what extent has education analyzed by using descriptive provided security for the statistics. inhabitants of Imeko-Afon Local Government? 2) To what extent do inhabitants in the metropolis have access to first hand information and technical know- how on security issues? 3) To what extent are the 21st century skills accessible to all the populace irrespective of the social strata?

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Results

Demographic Characteristics of Respondents

Table 1: Gender Gender Number Percentage Male 90 45% Female 110 55% Total 200 100%

Table 2: Marital Status Marital Status Number Percentage Married 111 55.5% Single 72 36% Divorced or Single Parent 17 8.5% Total 200 100%

Table 3: Occupation Occupation Number Percentage Trader 100 50% Civil Servants 40 20% Unemployed 60 30% Total 200 100%

Tables 1-3 show that there are 45% servants - 20% while unemployed are males and 55% of females who 30%. participated in the study. Females are more interested in the study compared Research Question 1: To what extent to male. The respondents' marital has education provided security for status shows that 55.5% are married, the inhabitants of Imeko-Afon Local 36% are single and 8.5% are divorced, Government? or are single parents. Majority of the respondents are Traders - 50%; Civil Table 4: Mean and Rank Order of Extent to which Education has Provided Security for the Inhabitants of Imeko-Afon Local Government S/N Items Mean Rank 1 How effective do you feel education has been in human 1.42 3rd capacity development and sustainable environment? th 2 Are there enough and adequate teachers and educational 1.32 4 institutions in Imeko Afon Local Government

3 Has education improved the level of community protection 2.09 1st and harmonious living. 4 What is the status of companies, institutions and law 1.24 5th enforcement agencies in the local government 5. At what point should eventual failure be most effectively 1.57 2nd prevented?

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Table 4 shows that education has really there are not enough companies as a been contributing positively in result of security issues in the personal development and effective metropolis at item 4 with mean score community development in Imeko 1.24 and ranks 5th. Law enforcement Afon local government, it has brought agencies need to be proactive in their about civilization in the metropolis, dealings and the people should majority of its inhabitants are now likewise be reoriented through seeing the need to exhaust all aspects participatory education. Items 2 with of education, it is visible from the table mean score 1.32 shows there are not at item 3 with mean score 2.09 and enough adequate teachers and ranks 1st followed by their feelings and educational institutions. enlightenment on the purpose of education at item 1 with mean score Research Question 2: To what extent 1.42 and ranks 3rd on the list. In line do inhabitants in the metropolis have with item 5 with mean score 1.57 and access to first hand information and ranks 2nd eventual failure should be technical know-how on security prevented often and at all time. Also, issues?

Table 5: Mean and Rank Order of the Extent to which Inhabitants in the Metropolis Have Access to First-hand Information and Technical Know-How on Security Issues

S/N Items Mean Rank 1 There are functioning information transmissions at Imeko 1.46 4th Afon local government. 2 I am aware of different law enforcement agencies and their 1.90 2nd functions. 3 Could there be a link between prevalent problem solving 1.33 5th skills and the border issues of economic sustainability? 4 My business (es), life and property are well secured from 1.82 3rd personal and external emergencies. 5 Immigration has continuously encouraged smuggling of 1.94 1st goods and has continually put the law enforcement agencies on their toes.

Table 5 reveals that smuggling of personal and external emergencies at goods is most prevalent in Imeko Afon Item 4 with the rank of 3rd. The people l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t t h r o u g h have the understanding of different law i m m i g r a t i o n , a n d t h a t , l a w enforcement agencies and functions, enforcement agencies need to be more item 2 with mean score 1.90, while diligent in their duties to prevent there are not enough functioning contrabands businesses and bridge of information transmissions for current law at item 5 with mean score 1.94 and affairs in the country and on security ranks 1st. Businesses, lives and matters, firsthand information is not as property are well secured from quick and fast as possible. There is a

-179- Vol. 4 No 2. Social Science Education Journal (SOSCED-J) gap of linking the problem solving Research Question 3: To what extent skills to border issues at the metropolis are the 21st century skills accessible to at Item 3 with mean score 1.33 and all the populace of Imeko Afon Local ranks 5th. Government irrespective of the social strata? Table 6: Mean and Rank Order of the 21st century skills accessibility to all the populace irrespective of the social strata S/N Items Mean Rank 1 I am aware of but cannot fully apply the application of 1.71 2nd technological tools (smartphones, internet, etc) in improving my daily affairs. 2 To what extent have public schools been up -to-date their 1.49 4th resources and instructional delivery operations? 3 All members of the metropolis have access to quality 1.54 5th education. 4 Can I adapt to the trends of being articulate with my 1.66 3rd communication, listening, and creative ability? 5 I would spend my resources to educate my offspring’s 1.99 1st because I believe education is the best legacy.

Table 6 shows that the inhabitants are Discussion of Findings willing to spend their resources to The findings in research question one educate their offspring's because they reveal that education is pertinent in believe that education is the best improving the level of community legacy at item 5 and ranks 1st. There is a protection and harmonious living in need for them to improve their ICT Imeko Afon Local Government. The technical know-how as they are aware spirit of togetherness, personal of the technological tools but cannot development, oneness, love and care fully apply it in their affairs at item 1 for another would be resounding and with mean 1.71 and ranks 2nd. From the accommodating through quality table, item 2 shows that public schools education. The need for collective have not been up-to-date in their emancipation from fear of the resources and instructional delivery unknown has heights of cooperation operations with mean 1.49 and ranks through education. This is in variance 4th. Item 4 shows the readiness on with Ushe and Adeisi (2015) who participants' part to be articulate in found out from his studies “Religious communication, listening and creative Conflicts and Education in Nigeria: ability at item 4 with mean 1.66 and Implications for National Security” ranks 3rd; this is one of the skills that Nigerian citizens should be made provided by 21st century education. to realize that conflicts only deprive Access to quality education for all is at people of the needed education, a very low rate at item 3 with mean 1.54 peaceful relationship, national security and ranks 3rd. and sustainable development. Thus, for Nigeria to experience sustainable -180- Vol. 4 No 2. Social Science Education Journal (SOSCED-J) peace and national security, all hands should be well harnessed and taught, must be on deck. then, would it drive the 21st century skills of creativity, communication, Research question two results show problem solving, critical thinking etc. that smuggling is one of the get rich in learners, which in turn, brings quick methods in the metropolis since development and adaptation with the it is a border town. Its level of global and technological trends. immigration and such activities would Education should be accessible to lead not only to bringing in food items everyone, and also educational but contrabands which have an effect institutions should be well funded with on the security of lives and property. resources and instructional delivery Unfortunately, some young graduates mode. This is in cognizance with the from the region after completion of contention Plucker, Beghetto and Dow their education seems to start the (2004) that creativity is possible base smuggling business for the get-rich- on positive interaction among quick syndrome which affects the “aptitude, process, and environment” development level and creative abilities of youths in the community; Conclusion and Recommendations with these, the law enforcement Every society should have access to agencies need to activate strict security quality education and it would be safe measures and the people should also from the insecurity of any kind. It is have enough access to first-hand only through education (not schooling) information transmission on security that vision, mission and goals of matters and current affairs. This humankind can be well defined; living supports the Okoiye and Adebisi a purpose-driven life. The government (2016) report that as observed in should initiate programmes on life Nigeria, both natural and human skills (cognitive intelligence, resources are inefficiently utilized as a e m o t i o n a l i n t e l l i g e n c e a n d result of wastage, due to or human imaginative intelligence) acquisition factor. This development has in most to cater for human capacity situations led some able-bodied development of her citizenry in which youths, men and women to express Imeko Afon local government is not negative self-conduct and be involved excluded. Companies, institutions, in smuggling activities in most part of mass media, communication Nigeria. technology and man-power resources should be planted in their numbers Research questions three reveals that therein and encourage hands on education is the best legacy one can experiences for the inhabitants of the give to a child, and like the popular metropolis to stretch their skills. saying “a county cannot develop than Locally made goods should be well the level of its educational system”. encouraged and patronized. Security The cognitive, affective and agencies should be well armored and psychomotor domains of education trained. There has to be aggressive

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