Social Studies can save Nigeria from all it woes - Don

An astute educator and Associate Professor of Social Studies, Ayodeji Ifegbesan (Phd) have said Social studies can help in saving the country from all the woes its currently facing.

He stated this at the 3rd Social Studies Students Associations of Nigeria (SOSSAN) summit held at Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-ife, Osun state. 

With theme "THE WRONG OF YESTERYEARS, CAN SOCIAL STUDIES REDRIVE THE WHEEL?" 

According to him, the yesteryears as used was not the past years but the immense values which were rampant among the socio-culture people and in that regard aided the sanity of the society.

To him, which is the obvious truth, the youth no longer has respect for their elders, they now embark on a sudden journey of wealth neglecting the original processes, he described those youths who involved themselves in fraudulent activities as "Yahoo boys and girls" stipulating that the university system is now immune to them.

To buttress his point, " he went back to his primary school days to recreate the memory of this popular Yoruba poem before his audience "Ise Logun Ise". The lyrics enough said it all as to what society needs.

He also spoke about unity in diversity of religion and respect for children but now, Social class has spilled beings and foreign religion has placed, believers, where they do not belong with hatred in respect to other religions.

He further emphasized studies to be carried out by students as part of the socialization process in which each individual has his/her role to play.

He said values of yesteryears are being taught at various phases and it started at the assembly group of the primary pupil since school is pivoted to human growth.

He talked about the roles played by the then mothers, who in a plight to breed children who will fit well into society, played their roles smartly but in today's society, those roles are now found wanting.

Folks songs according to him inculcated in students the right values which will be applicable by every student in the right manner for the growth of society their lyrics imply that the types of songs students listen to now, talk about ills of society, disabusing the minds of the students about the society and in that regards students tends to add to the ills of the society.

According to him, the diversity in Nigeria then strengthened us without looking at our differences but now the politicians have seen that as a tool to disembark the Nigerians from our grounded values and turn us into each other's enemy.

He further alluded to the fact that Social Studies inculcates in Students the right values to bring good citizens in them.

He said the good news of Social studies is that as a holistic subject, it opens our eyes to maximize the available resources to solve human problems which are multi-dimensional.

The nature, Scope, and Characteristics of Social studies are in the pole position to correct the ills of yesteryears.

According to him, the content within the Social studies context changes according to society's needs, and the expert in the field must keep abreast of the values of social studies, and develop in children the growth and character of the students to fit in society.

He said the approach must aim at students, who are willing to live up to their roles in society.

"He further pointed out that Social studies can help to reduce intolerance without dwelling on religion."

The antecedence of social studies according to him is a subject that has been established in history and whose purpose is to take care of the ills in society.

"The ability to redrive the wheel of yesteryears and transform Nigeria has been inculcated in Social studies and it is expected that the experts in the field should teach it the way it should be taught to re-instill the necessities in students.