PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS GUIDING MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION TOWARD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA’S 21ST CENTURY

In the context of 21st-century Nigeria, the role of multicultural education in advancing sustainable development is more vital than ever. This article explored the philosophical underpinnings that guide multicultural education and its potential to contribute to sustainable development. It examined how concepts of equality, justice, pluralism, and social cohesion—derived from philosophical traditions—are essential in shaping an education system that can accommodate the nation’s diverse cultures while promoting inclusive growth and development. A qualitative research method was employed using document analysis and philosophical inquiry to interrogate existing literature, educational policies, and multicultural practices within Nigeria. The findings revealed that embracing multicultural education grounded in philosophical reflection enhances national integration, ethical citizenship, and respect for diversity. The paper concluded that without a strong philosophical base, multicultural education in Nigeria risks becoming fragmented and ineffective in addressing developmental challenges. It recommends the deliberate integration of indigenous and global philosophical values into curriculum reforms, teacher training, and educational policy to create a balanced multicultural education framework that supports peace, equity, and sustainability.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTAL SUPPORT, PEER LEARNING AND ACADEMIC ADJUSTMENT AMONG UNDERGRADUATES OF MOSES ORSHIO ADASU UNIVERSITY MAKURDI, BENUE STATE

This study investigated the relationship between parental support, peer learning, and academic adjustment among undergraduates of Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Two research questions guided the study, and two hypotheses were formulated and tested at r = 0.01 level of significance. The population of the study comprised 30,000 undergraduates across eight faculties and 47 departments at Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi using Glenn (2012) formula for sample size determination, through multi-staged sampling. Data were collected using a combination of three instruments: a self-developed Parental Support Questionnaire (SEQ), Peer Learning Questionnaire (AQ), and Academic Adjustment Questionnaire (AAQ). The instruments were validated by two experts. Data were analyzed using the Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC). The results revealed that both parental support and peer learning have a positive relationship with academic adjustment among undergraduates of the university. It was concluded that there is a significant positive relationship between parental support and peer learning and academic adjustment. It was recommended that university administrators and teachers should foster a positive environment and atmosphere that discourages bullying and discrimination, encourages peer support, and promote mutual respect among students and staff and researchers should conduct longitudinal and intervention-based studies to better understand the causes of low psycho-social adjustment and assess the long-term impact of various school and family-based interventions.

THE ROLE OF PASTORAL CARE IN SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH NICOTINE ADDICTION

This paper centred on the role of pastoral care in supporting individuals struggling with nicotine addiction. The objectives that guided this study are to discuss factors influencing nicotine addiction, effects of nicotine addiction, the role of pastoral care in addition support and challenges facing pastoral care in nicotine addiction recovery. The methodology adopted for this paper is secondary research as it gathered data from existing studies. The theory adopted is biopsychosocial model formulated by Engel (1977). Factors identified to be influencing nicotine addiction are genetic, parents/peers, depression/other mental illness among others. The identified effects are dizziness, sleep disturbances, change in blood flow, headache, increased risk of blood clotting and some other psychosocial effects. The pastoral care role identified includes spiritual counselling and guidance, payer and worship as tool for recovery, community and accountability, crisis intervention and relapse prevention. Playing these roles, pastoral care giver faces challenges which bothers on psychological, spiritual, social and religious in nature. For effective pastoral care rendering, the paper came up with effective referral system, creation of Nicotine Anonymous community and rehabilitation centres among other recommendations.

PARTY POLITICS AND PRE-ELECTION LITIGATIONS IN NIGERIA: THE ALL-PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS (APC) 2019 ZAMFARA STATE GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARIES IN PERSPECTIVE

Scholars of electoral studies and democratisation are becoming more interested in the topic of courts’ involvement in the Nigerian political system. Pre-election lawsuits involving intra-party disputes appear to have become a major focus of the nation’s electoral process, particularly since the present democratic regime was established in 1999. This paper examined party politics and pre-election litigations in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic using the Supreme Court’s rulings in pre-election cases involving All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Zamfara State as a case study. The study’s methodology was qualitative as it relied on secondary sources, while the method of data analysis was thematic analysis. Theoretically, this study adopted the postulations of Pareto, Michels and Mosca’s elite theory as a theoretical foundation. Among other things, the study found that the political fallout from Zamfara State’s APC candidate selection process had a detrimental impact on participation, representation, competition, and responsiveness. Zamfara State’s pre-election lawsuit conflicts, as well as Nigeria’s pre-election litigation laws generally, have sparked a number of worries about the nation’s electoral process and, inevitably, the stability and consolidation of its democracy. This paper therefore concluded that pre-election litigations have had deleterious impact on the electoral process of Nigeria and could have been avoided if political parties are allowed to resolve intra-party disputes by themselves or in conjunction with INEC. The study recommended among other things that party discipline should be strict for all members in the parties irrespective of whose ox is gored. In this regard, the leadership of the parties should be answerable to the members and members, in turn, will be required to respect and obey the leadership.

ASSESSING SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ PERCEPTION TOWARDS USING LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN OYO STATE

This study was carried out to assess secondary school teachers’ perception towards using learning management system in Oyo State. The survey research design was used. The population for this study consisted of 15, 705 registered teachers. The sample of the study were 1,400 respondents. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select the sample. The instrument for data collection was an adapted questionnaire from Olorunmonu (2024). The instrument was validated and tested for reliability using Cronbach’s alpha which yielded 0.85. Mean, percentage, ANOVA, t-test, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, (PPMC) were used to answer research questions and test hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance respectively. The results of the findings indicated that teachers have positive perceptions towards the use of LMS with (2.95); there were no significant difference in teachers’ perception of LMS use based on educational qualification and gender; there was significant difference in teachers’ perception of LMS use based on work experience; (t=4.631, P=0.003 P ˂ 0.05); and there was significant relationship of institutional support and teachers’ perception of LMS use; (t=0.142, P= .001 P ˂ 0.05;) . It was recommended that secondary school teachers in Oyo State be encouraged to undergo courses on making use of LMS to enhance efficient teaching and effective learning.