INFLUENCE OF COUNSELLING IN PROMOTING NATIONAL INTEGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE AND STABILITY AMONG ETHNIC GROUPS IN NASARAWA STATE

Abstract

The study examined the Influence of Counselling in Promoting National Integration and Development for Peaceful Co-Existence and Stability among Ethnic Groups in Nasarawa State. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. A descriptive survey design was used for study. The sample consisted of 381 respondents from a population of 56,428 people across ethnic groups in Nasarawa State. A self-developed questionnaire titled: Influence of Counselling in Promoting National Integration and Development among Ethnic Group in Nasarawa State for Peaceful Co-Existence and Stability questionnaire (ICPNIDAEDNSPCSQ) was validated by two experts and was administered to respondents. The co-efficient of 0.81 Data collected were analyzed using percentages and one sample T-test. The result showed that counselling has significant influence on Promoting National Integration and Development for Peaceful Coexistence among Ethnic Group in Nasarawa State. Based on these findings, the researcher recommended that counsellors should play integrative and unifying role among the ethnic groups in the society, in binding all ethnic groups together in time of crises communal clashes, conflicts and confusion and one of cardinal principle of Counselling should emphasize on the necessity of peace and unity of the individual and group (society). Counsellors should emphasize on the integrating harmonious and peaceful co-existence and the need for healthy social interaction among ethnic group so that together we can fight against eradication of violence and oppression in the state.