VALUES EDUCATION AND NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study explores the critical relationship between value education and national security, with particular focus on Nigeria’s security challenges. It highlights how the erosion of core societal values such as honesty, respect, accountability, and tolerance has contributed to rising insecurity manifested in armed robbery, insurgency, kidnapping, and other forms of violence. The paper underscores value education as a proactive strategy for cultivating ethical citizens, fostering social cohesion, and promoting peace and stability. It further examines the challenges hindering the effective implementation of value education, including cultural shifts, inadequate teacher training, socio-economic factors, and political instability. Strategies for strengthening value education—such as curriculum integration, teacher capacity building, community engagement, and political commitment—are recommended to enhance its role in national security. Ultimately, the study advocates for a comprehensive, multisectoral approach to value education as an indispensable tool for sustainable national development and security.