International Organisations and Citizenship – SS1 Citizenship & Heritage Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

International organisations are groups of countries that join together to keep the world peaceful and organised. Nigerian citizens are connected to them because Nigeria is a member.

Behavioural objectives

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

1. State the full names of ECOWAS, the AU, the Commonwealth and the UN.
2. State the goal and headquarters of each organisation.
3. Explain how each organisation benefits a Nigerian citizen.
4. Name the main organs and agencies of the United Nations.
5. Describe how Nigeria’s membership gives a citizen a wider identity.

What are international organisations?

An international organisation is a group of countries that work together to reach shared goals.

• The Big Picture: your house is part of a street, your street is part of a city, and Nigeria is part of a global neighbourhood.
• Peace: members settle disagreements by talking, not by fighting.
• Trade: members make it easier to buy and sell across borders.
• Development: members help one another with health, education and food.
• Link to citizens: when Nigeria joins, Nigerians gain the benefits that membership brings.

The four most important organisations for Nigerians are ECOWAS, the African Union, the Commonwealth and the United Nations.

What is ECOWAS?

ECOWAS is the Economic Community of West African States, a group of West African countries that work together on trade and peace.

• Founded: 1975, in Lagos, Nigeria.
• Headquarters: Abuja, Nigeria.
• Nigeria’s role: Nigeria is a founding member.
• Goal: to make West Africa work like one big market, where people and goods move and trade freely.
• Peacekeeping: ECOWAS has sent a peacekeeping force (ECOMOG) to help end wars in member countries such as Liberia and Sierra Leone.

How does ECOWAS benefit a Nigerian citizen?

• Easy travel: a Nigerian with an ECOWAS passport can enter member countries such as Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic without a visa.
• Trade: traders can sell goods in other West African countries more easily.
• Work and study: citizens can live, work and study in neighbouring member countries.

What is the African Union?

The African Union (AU) is the organisation that unites African countries to promote peace, unity and development.

• Former name: the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), formed in 1963.
• Change: the OAU was replaced by the AU in 2002.
• Headquarters: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• Nigeria’s role: Nigeria was a founding member of the OAU.
• Goal: to unite African countries, reduce poverty and end wars on the continent.
• Slogan: “African solutions to African problems.”

How does the AU benefit a Nigerian citizen?

• Pride: it builds a shared African identity.
• Rights: it works to protect the rights of citizens across the continent.
• Peace: it helps member countries settle conflicts, which keeps the region safer.

What is the Commonwealth of Nations?

The Commonwealth of Nations is a group of countries, mostly former British colonies, that cooperate on democracy, peace and development.

• Members: 56 countries, such as Nigeria, Ghana, Canada, Australia and India.
• Headquarters: London, United Kingdom.
• Common ties: the English language and similar legal systems.
• Goal: to promote democracy, good government and peace among members.

How does the Commonwealth benefit a Nigerian citizen?

• Sports: the Commonwealth Games is a sports event for member countries, held every four years.
• Scholarships: Nigerian students can apply for scholarships to study in countries such as Canada, Australia and the UK.
• Legal ties: similar laws make cooperation between members easier.

What is the United Nations?

The United Nations (UN) is a world organisation formed to maintain peace, protect human rights and help countries cooperate.

• Formed: 1945, after World War II, so that such a war would not happen again.
• Members: 193 countries, almost every country in the world.
• Headquarters: New York, USA.
• Nigeria’s role: Nigeria joined in 1960, the year it became independent.
• Goal: to maintain world peace, protect human rights and tackle global problems such as hunger and climate change.

What are the main organs of the United Nations?

• General Assembly: all member countries meet here and each has one vote.
• Security Council: it is responsible for world peace and security.
• Economic and Social Council: it deals with trade, health, education and social progress.
• International Court of Justice: it settles legal disputes between countries.
• Secretariat: it does the daily work of the UN and is led by the Secretary-General.

What are some UN agencies that help Nigerians?

• UNICEF: helps children with health, nutrition and education.
• WHO: the World Health Organization, which works on health and vaccines.
• UNESCO: works on education, science and culture.

How do the four organisations compare?

The four organisations differ in size, membership and headquarters, as the table shows.

Why does membership of these organisations matter to a student?

Membership matters because it connects a Nigerian citizen to people and opportunities beyond Nigeria.

1. Support: member countries can work with Nigeria through talks and agreements when problems arise.
2. Travel and study: membership makes it easier to travel, trade and study abroad.
3. Global identity: you are a Nigerian citizen, a West African citizen, an African citizen and a global citizen at once.

Class activity

1. The logo hunt: look at the logos of the four organisations. Say what each logo shows and what it might mean.
2. Discussion: if Nigeria left ECOWAS tomorrow, how would it affect a trader who sells clothes in Ghana?

Evaluation

1. Write out ECOWAS in full. Where and in which year was it founded?
2. State the headquarters of the African Union and of the United Nations.
3. Give two ways in which Commonwealth membership benefits Nigerian students.
4. Why was the United Nations formed?
5. Explain how a Nigerian citizen can also be a West African, an African and a global citizen.

Assignment

Draw a table with four rows for ECOWAS, the AU, the Commonwealth and the UN. For each, write the full name, the headquarters, the goal and one benefit to a Nigerian citizen.