Problems Associated with Contemporary Social Problems in Nigeria – JSS1 Social Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Contemporary social problems in Nigeria are harmful behaviours and conditions in society today that affect the well-being of citizens.

Behavioural objectives

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

1. state the meaning of greed, poverty and selfishness;
2. list the main causes of contemporary social problems in Nigeria;
3. explain how lack of parental care and peer influence affect children;
4. describe how weak social institutions encourage social problems;
5. suggest ways in which these causes can be reduced.

What are examples of contemporary social problems in Nigeria?

Examples are corruption, robbery, prostitution, cultism and examination malpractice.

• Corruption: dishonest use of power or position for personal gain.
• Robbery: taking people’s property by force or threat.
• Prostitution: selling sex for money.
• Cultism: membership of secret groups, often in schools, that encourage violence and crime.
• Examination malpractice: cheating in tests and examinations.
• Embezzlement: stealing money placed in one’s care.
• Child stealing: kidnapping or taking away children illegally.

What are the causes of contemporary social problems in Nigeria?

There are ten main causes: corruption, greed, lack of parental care, peer influence, poverty, selfishness, ethnicity, fear, weak social institutions and indecent dressing.

1. Corruption

• Meaning: corruption is the dishonest use of power or position for personal gain.
• Importance: it is one of the biggest social problems in Nigeria, and reducing it would reduce many other problems.
• Bribery: giving or taking money or gifts to get an unfair favour.
• Nepotism: giving jobs or help to relatives because of family ties.
• Favouritism: treating one person better than others without good reason.
• Tribalism: showing unfair loyalty to people of one’s own tribe.

2. Greed

• Meaning: greed is a strong desire to get more money, material things, power and other possessions.
• Effect on others: the greedy person acquires things for their own sake, to the harm of others.
• Example: an official who steals public funds to build more houses.

3. Lack of parental care

• Meaning: parents leave the training of their children to others or to the children themselves.
• Cause: many parents spend most of their time chasing money and material things.
• Result at home: children run the home and have to guide, correct and scold one another.
• Result in behaviour: children become unruly, wild, stubborn and lazy.
• Danger: without proper guidance, a child can easily fall into bad habits and crime.

4. Peer influence

• Meaning: peer influence is the effect that friends and age-mates have on one another.
• Strength: it is one of the strongest influences on a child.
• Example: a child from a good home can turn bad because of the group or friends he keeps.
• Advice: students should keep away from friends they learn nothing good from.

5. Poverty

• Meaning: poverty is a situation in which people hardly make ends meet.
• Necessities: it means lack of the basic needs of life, such as good food, clothing and shelter.
• Effect: many Nigerians live below the poverty line, so some take to begging and stealing.

6. Selfishness

• Meaning: selfishness is thinking of oneself before others.
• Behaviour: the selfish person wants the best of everything but contributes little or nothing to society.
• Character: such a person is usually undisciplined and self-centred.

7. Ethnicity

• Background: Nigeria is a multi-ethnic country.
• Problem: some people in authority prefer to employ or promote someone from their own place, whether or not the person is fit for the job.
• Effect: this unfair attitude creates anger and division in society.

8. Fear

• Meaning: fear is the feeling of being in danger.
• Effect: it makes some youths in schools join secret cult groups for protection.

9. Weak and ineffective social institutions

• Meaning: social institutions are bodies that guide behaviour in society, such as religious, traditional, economic and legal institutions.
• Problem: when they are weak, they fail to punish wrong acts and sometimes reward them.
• Problems encouraged: robbery, prostitution, embezzlement, child stealing and examination malpractice.

Traditional institutions

• Some confer chieftaincy titles on known criminals whose sources of wealth are doubtful.
• This teaches others that wealth is honoured, however it is gained.

Religious institutions

• Some religious centres have been polluted by fake pastors who make false promises of wealth, good care and marriage.
• Some corrupt public officers hide in such places instead of facing justice.
• Some pastors give information to robbers and take a share of the loot.

Law enforcement agents

• Some openly demand and collect bribes, even in front of minors.
• This multiplies the wrong of bribery, because children learn from it.
• If those who protect the law break it, ordinary citizens will break it too.

10. Indecent dressing

• Meaning: indecent dressing is wearing clothes that expose the body and go against good moral standards.
• Cause: some religious centres that want to win new members allow any form of dressing.
• Result: many young people now appear half-naked in the street.
• Duty of institutions: they ought to uphold integrity, honesty and contentment.
• Danger: if they excuse evil habits, justice, peace, harmony and development will disappear and society will stagnate.

How does each cause lead to social problems?

Each cause leads to one or more social problems, as the table shows.

How can the causes of social problems be reduced?

The causes can be reduced when families, schools, institutions and government each play their part.

• Good parenting: parents should make time to guide, teach and correct their children.
• Moral education: schools and religious bodies should teach honesty, contentment and self-discipline.
• Choosing friends well: students should keep friends who encourage good behaviour.
• Fair selection: jobs and promotions should go to people who are qualified, not to relatives or tribesmen.
• Reducing poverty: creating jobs and skills training gives people honest ways to earn a living.
• Strong institutions: traditional, religious and legal bodies should honour only people of good character.
• Law enforcement: those who break the law, including officers, should be punished.

Evaluation

1. Define greed, poverty and selfishness.
2. State five causes of contemporary social problems in Nigeria.
3. How does lack of parental care lead to social problems among children?
4. Explain how traditional and religious institutions can encourage social problems.
5. Why should students avoid friends they cannot learn anything good from?

Assignment

Explain how poverty and peer influence can lead to social problems in Nigeria. Give two examples for each.