Challenges of University Education in the Promotion of Capacity Building and Social Stability in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined contributions of university education in the promotion of capacity building and social stability in Nigeria. Two research questions guided the study; descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 23000 academic staff of the public universities in South-East Nigeria. The sample comprised of 400 academic staff of the universities. The sample was composed using the simple random method. Data collected were analyzed using mean. Findings of the study showed that Nigeria university education contributes to capacity building through global practice on education con for all, provision of quality teaching infrastructure, access for students to ICT education, improved teaching methods, well equipped lecturers, proper management of universities, well-funded university research, properly motivated faculty; Nigeria university education contributes to social stability through skill and knowledge to navigate tensions, knowledge to avoid violence, help students build mental strength and resilience, help reduce child labor and early marriage, prevention of school-drop outs, help students navigate emotional and psychological trauma, help students navigate physical trauma, and help student make and become members of a peaceful society. The study concludes that Nigeria university education is contributing very little to human capacity building and development and as well social stability, this is linked to some intervening issues that has to do with peculiar issues with developing nations that could reduce the extent of social stability and human capacity development. The study therefore recommends that Nigeria government through the yearly budget address the insufficiency in Nigeria education system such as high rate of unemployment, illiteracy, ignorance, poor staff remuneration, poor infrastructure, poor education funding, strike actions that cripple education, political instability, poverty among others as a means to circumvent the issue of social stability and improve human capacity.