ROLES OF POLITICAL SCIENCE EDUCATION IN PROMOTING YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Abstract
This study investigated the role of political science education in promoting youth leadership
development among students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko. A descriptive
survey research design was adopted, and data were collected through structured questionnaires
administered to 100 respondents. The study examined four key areas: the impact of political
science education on leadership skills and political awareness, the role of extracurricular
activities and civic engagement programs, the challenges limiting effective youth leadership
development, and strategies to improve political science education for better outcomes.
The findings revealed that political science education significantly enhances students'
understanding of governance, critical thinking, and decision-making, with a grand mean score of
3.07. Extracurricular activities and civic engagement programs were shown to play a strong
complementary role in developing teamwork, communication, and leadership skills, recording
the highest grand mean of 3.29. However, the study identified considerable challenges, such as
limited mentorship, institutional support, and political apathy, with a grand mean of 3.11,
indicating widespread agreement on these limitations. Respondents proposed effective strategies
for improvement, including practical training, mentorship programs, and curriculum reforms,
supported by a high grand mean of 3.28.
The study concludes that political science education holds great potential for shaping responsible
and competent youth leaders, but its impact is constrained by structural and practical gaps.
Implementing student-centered, experiential, and mentorship-driven reforms will significantly
enhance the leadership outcomes of political science education in Nigerian universities.
Keywords: Political science education, youth leadership development, civic engagement,
extracurricular activities, mentorship, curriculum reform, leadership skills, Nigerian universities,
experiential Learning, political Participation.
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