Impact Of Counselling Services On Adult Learners' Career Growth And Community Development In Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the impact of counselling services on adult learners’ career growth and community development in Nigeria. Three research questions were formulated to guide the study. A descriptive survey research design was adopted to collect and analyze data from adult learners in selected adult education centres across South‑East Nigeria. The study was conducted in ten adults learning centres in South-East, Nigeria. The population of the study consisted of all 200 adult learners enrolled in adults learning centres including St Charles Cathedral Adult Education Centre (Opi), Adult Education Centre (Okpuje), Adult Education Centre at the Primary School (Odenigbo Nsukka), Adult Education Centre (Edem Ani), Adult Education Centre (Ugwoye Nsukka), Adult Education Centre (Ibagwa Ani), Adult Education Centre (Ede‑Oballa), Vocational Functional Literacy Centre (Obukpa), Olystarclasses (Nnewi North, Anambra State), and the Enugu State Agency for Mass Literacy (Ogui New Layout, Enugu State). Since the population of the study was manageable, no sampling was conducted. Data were collected using a structured Questionnaire on Counselling Services and Career Growth (QCCG), which was validated by three experts: two from the Department of Continuing Education and Development Studies and one from the Department of Counselling and Human Development Studies, all within the Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach’s Alpha, which yielded a coefficient of 0.87, indicating high internal consistency. The questionnaires were administered face-to-face to the respondents and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, rank, and mean set. The decision rule adopted considered any mean score of 2.50 and above as agreement or positive response, while scores below 2.50 were considered disagreement or negative response. The findings revealed that counselling services positively supported adult learners’ career growth by enhancing their employability, decision-making, confidence, and professional skills. Furthermore, adult learners’ career growth contributed significantly to community development outcomes, including local economic development, entrepreneurial activities, social cohesion, and civic engagement. Based on the findings, it was recommended that adult education centres should consistently provide structured counselling services to support learners’ career development and community engagement. The study contributed to knowledge by providing empirical evidence on the role of counselling in adult learners’ career advancement and its broader impact on community development in Nigeria.