THE POTENTIALS OF ECONOMIC EDUCATION AS A STRATEGY FOR ALLEVIATING THE PREVAILING SECURITY CHALLENGES IN THE NORTH CENTRAL GEO-POLITICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Insecurity in Nigeria has become a pressing issue, encompassing terrorism, kidnapping, communal clashes, and more, threatening the nation's stability and development. These challenges have disrupted the daily lives of Nigerians in terms of economic and social activities. Therefore, this study investigates the potential of economic education as a strategy for alleviating security challenges in the North Central Geo-Political zone of Nigeria. The research utilized a descriptive survey design. The  population of the study consisted of 174,984 dwellers in Niger and Plateau states collectively. Simple random sampling techniques was used to  select five hundred and fifty (550) respondents in the area. The primary instrument for data collection was a questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods was used. The findings revealed that the community's understanding of basic economic concepts, awareness of economic issues, financial management practices, and utilization of educational programs are essential factors in determining the overall economic literacy in the North Central Geo-Political Zone and that factors such as providing alternatives to illegal economic activities, increasing income and economic stability, addressing socio-economic inequalities, and the community's perception of the effectiveness of these programs are essential in understanding their impact on reducing insecurity. The recommendations were made that governments, non-governmental organizations, and educational institutions should collaborate to implement comprehensive economic education strategies. By working together, they can pool resources and expertise to design and execute programs that address both economic literacy and security challenges in a holistic manner.