An Examination of the Impact of Peace Studies on Nigerian Students in Entrenching a Philosophy of Peace: A Case Study of the University of Uyo

Abstract

t This study examined the impact of “Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution” course on Nigerian students using the University of Uyo as a case study. The course is a compulsory constituent in the general studies curriculum of Nigerian Universities as instituted by the National Universities Commission (NUC), aimed at exposing students to peace as a medium of unity and development in Nigeria. Basically, the study aimed at gaining insight into the reality of the effectiveness of “Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution” in Nigerian tertiary institutions using the University of Uyo as a case study and to explore its possible improvement with regard to realising peace in Nigeria for national unity and development. The study adopted case study and qualitative method including focus group discussion, interview and textual analysis. The study, in light of its findings, concluded that “Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution” has not had the desired impact on the students owing majorly to some prevailing factors such as insufficient lecturers, poor remuneration of lecturers, poor learning conditions, family upbringing, culture, politics, religion, and poor funding of tertiary institutions. Nonetheless, the rate of violence, conflict and cultism in Nigerian tertiary institutions has greatly reduced as the study found. Many students have imbibed peaceful demeanor and the use of dialogue in overcoming conflicts. This shows that the course has really reasonably impacted on the students and also has the capacity to achieve the desired impact if the noted problems confronting the teaching of the course are adequately dealt with.