Civic Challenges in Africa – JSS3 Social & Citizenship Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

A civic challenge is a big problem that affects how people live together and how a country grows.

Africa has rich resources such as gold, diamonds and oil, yet many African countries still face civic challenges that slow down development.

Behavioural objectives

1. Define civic challenge, governance, corruption, conflict and underdevelopment.
2. State the signs and effects of bad governance in Africa.
3. Give examples and effects of corruption.
4. List the causes and costs of conflict.
5. Identify the signs of underdevelopment.
6. Suggest ways citizens can help solve these challenges.

What are the main civic challenges in Africa?

There are four main civic challenges in Africa: bad governance, corruption, conflict and underdevelopment.

What is bad governance?

Governance is the way a country is managed, and bad governance is poor management of a country by its leaders.

Signs of bad governance

• Refusing to leave power: leaders stay in office after their time is over.
• Ignoring citizens: leaders do not listen to the needs of the people.
• Breaking the law: leaders ignore the laws and the Constitution.
• Lack of accountability: leaders do not explain how public money is spent.

Effects of bad governance

• Loss of direction: when the captain of a ship does not know where he is going, the whole ship (the country) gets lost.
• Loss of trust: citizens stop believing in government.
• Poor services: schools, hospitals and roads are neglected.

Features of good governance

• Rule of law: everyone, including leaders, obeys the law.
• Accountability: leaders answer to the people for their actions.
• Transparency: government is open about how it spends money.
• Participation: citizens take part in choosing their leaders.

What is corruption?

Corruption is the use of public office or public money for private gain.

• Example: money meant to build a school is used by an official to buy a mansion in Europe.
• Result: many abandoned projects, which are half-finished buildings that are useless to the community.

Common forms of corruption

• Bribery: giving or taking money to get something done unfairly.
• Embezzlement: stealing money that has been entrusted to you.
• Nepotism: giving jobs to relatives and friends instead of qualified people.
• Election rigging: changing votes or buying votes to win.
• Examination malpractice: cheating in an examination, a form of corruption among students.

How does corruption affect a student?

• Poor classrooms: money for buildings and desks is stolen.
• No books: textbooks and laboratory materials are not supplied.
• Unqualified teachers: jobs go to people who pay or know someone.

What is conflict?

Conflict is a serious fight or disagreement between different groups, often over power, land or religion.

Why do conflicts happen?

• Injustice: one group feels the government treats it unfairly.
• Tribe or ethnicity: people are told to hate others because they speak a different language.
• Poverty: young people with no jobs are easily convinced to pick up guns for money.

What is the cost of conflict?

• Loss of life: many innocent people, including children, die.
• Displacement: people lose their homes and end up in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
• Destruction: schools, markets and bridges are destroyed, which sets the country back by many years.

How can conflict be prevented?

• Fair treatment: government treats all groups equally.
• Dialogue: disagreements are settled by talking, not fighting.
• Respect for differences: people accept those of other tribes and religions.
• Jobs for youths: work and skills reduce the pull of violence.

What is underdevelopment?

Underdevelopment is a situation where a country lacks the basic things needed for a good life.

It is often the end result of bad governance, corruption and conflict.

Signs of underdevelopment

• Poor health systems: not enough doctors, hospitals or modern medicine.
• Constant power failure: businesses cannot grow without electricity.
• High illiteracy: many children cannot go to school or have no books.
• Bad roads: farmers cannot get their food to the market, so food becomes expensive.

How can Africa solve these challenges?

Africa can overcome these challenges when citizens and leaders each do their part.

1. Choose good leaders: use your vote wisely, for example with a Permanent Voter’s Card in Nigeria.
2. Fight corruption: be honest in your own small ways, such as refusing to cheat or give bribes.
3. Support anti-corruption bodies: report wrongdoing to agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC in Nigeria.
4. Embrace peace: learn to live with people from different tribes and religions.
5. Focus on education: use knowledge and skills to invent things that solve our problems.

Evaluation

1. Name two things that happen when a country has bad governance.
2. How does corruption affect your education as a student?
3. Mention one way to prevent conflict in a multi-ethnic country like Nigeria.
4. What is the relationship between conflict and underdevelopment?
5. List three signs of underdevelopment.

Assignment

Choose one civic challenge from this note. Write its meaning, two causes or examples, and two things you can do in school or at home to help solve it.