National Values III (Self Reliance) – JSS1 Civic Education Lesson Note (First Term)

Self-reliance is being financially and economically independent by using one’s talents and skills to earn income. For a nation, it means controlling and using its own resources to achieve sustainable development instead of depending on other countries. A self-reliant person creates jobs for others instead of only looking for one.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• explain what self-reliance means for a person and for a nation;
• state the attributes of a self-reliant person;
• list the benefits of self-reliance to the individual, the family and the nation.

What is self-reliance?

A self-reliant person solves problems in society and is not a burden to it. By providing jobs for others, he reduces unemployment and joins the many people worldwide who are working to climb out of recession.

What are the attributes of self-reliance?

1. Use of initiative: a self-reliant person can think of what to do for himself to become financially independent. He does not depend on others for employment.
2. Use of talents and skills: being self-reliant includes using what one has to get what one needs. One must identify one’s skills and talents and use them to make the best profit.
3. Diligence: financial independence requires hard work, because one eats only what one works for.
4. Endurance and perseverance: at the beginning of a venture or business, things may not go well, but with time the situation will change for the better.

Great industrial nations like China and Britain persevered through hard times, and today they are great economically.

What are the benefits of self-reliance?

Self-reliance has benefits for the individual, the family and the nation.

Benefits to the individual

1. Independence: a self-reliant person needs nobody to set up a job for him.
2. Time for his family: he controls the number of hours he works each day, unlike those working for someone else. He therefore has enough time to be with his family.
3. Privacy: he does not have to disclose any information about his business to anybody.
4. Easy decision-making: he does not need to consult anybody before making decisions on his business, so decisions are faster and easier.
5. All the profit: a self-employed person does not share his profit with anyone, so he works hard to make more.
6. Daily income: he does not have to wait for the end of the month like a salary earner before meeting his needs, because he makes money almost daily.
7. Ability to plan effectively: planning and making business policies are easy, which helps the business to run smoothly.

Benefits to the family

1. More time for the children: self-reliant parents have enough time for their children. This helps in building a good home.
2. Better standard of living: self-reliance helps families increase their income, so they have enough to meet the basic needs of life.

Benefits to the nation

1. Lower unemployment: owners of personal businesses employ other people who are looking for jobs. This goes a long way in reducing unemployment.
2. Economic growth and development: self-reliance increases production in the country and so increases the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As people establish personal businesses, economic activities increase and lead to economic growth and development.
3. More government revenue: the government collects tax on the profits of individuals’ businesses and on the salaries of their employees. The more people are self-reliant, the more revenue the government generates.
4. Less frustration and poverty: joblessness has frustrated many youths. Those who use their skills to cater for themselves and their families are happy and not frustrated.
5. Fewer social vices: self-reliance with diligence keeps a person too busy for social vices like hooliganism, armed robbery, prostitution and fraud (419), since the person is gainfully employed.
6. Higher standard of living: a person who employs others indirectly raises their standard of living with the salary he pays. The employees can pay house rent, eat good food and meet other needs. The self-reliant employer earns a good income to take care of himself and his family and to meet their basic needs conveniently.

Evaluation

1. What is self-reliance?
2. State four attributes of a self-reliant person.
3. Give three benefits of self-reliance to an individual.
4. How does self-reliance reduce unemployment in a nation?

Assignment

Describe the benefits of self-reliance.