GOMBE (Sundiata Scholar) – Stakeholders in the education sector have advocated proper counselling of young Nigerians to promote national unity and integration.
They made the call while speaking at the annual international conference of the Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria (APROCON), on Tuesday in Gombe.The theme of the conference is: “Counselling for National Stability and Integration”
.Prof. Ekundayo Ocholi, President of the association, said that proper counselling of the youths would discourage agitation for disintegration in the country.
Ocholi stressed the need for counselling to ensure effective reorientation of the younger ones and foster national cohesion.“In the past, we don’t know who Yoruba, Igbo, or Hausaman is, and that was the intention of the unity schools; we all integrated, but now it is the opposite.“
Today, counsellors are out to let us know and to reorientate people on the need to protect our unity and promote peaceful coexistence.“Today, some persons are asking for cessation. We don’t want that for Nigeria,”
she said.She urged government at all levels to employ and train counsellors that would engage students and youths on the need to embrace national integration for the overall good of the country.
Also speaking, Dr Habiba Issa, the Chairman, APROCON, Gombe state chapter, underscored the imperative of counselling the youths on their responsibilities to the nation.
According to Isa, youths are the backbone of the country, hence the need to reorientate them to take ownership of the country by embracing its unity.
While decrying the spate of substance abuse among the youths violence and crimes, Isa enjoined them to embrace good conduct, eschew violence and vices.
Prof. Umar Pate, the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Kashere, described counsellors as partners in the preservation of national interest and security.Pate tasked the counselors to inspire hope and the need for national integration among young Nigerians.
He also urged them to mainstream issues of multiculturalism into counselling, adding that, ” the diversity of Nigeria is a gift from God that must be appreciated and embraced.“People need to understand that Nigeria is a complex and diverse environment.“
All of us can not be Muslims, all of us can not be Christians; it is heterogeneous and that is how God wants us to be.“So we have to accept that reality of pluralism and multiculturalism, and the differences that exist amongst us”.
While admonishing the youths to be positive agents of the country, Pate urged leaders to be role models by ensuring good governance and conducive environment for youths to thrive.
reports that APROCON has 863 registered members comprising 62 professors and other members spread across human endeavours, rendering counselling services to individuals and the global society. (NAN)