Effects of Street begging on National Development: Counselling Implication

Abstract

The presence of beggars both children and adults at every public place, places of worships, filling stations, restaurants, super markets is becoming a matter of concern to every serious minded Nigerian. It is not only the nuisance of the begging that is becoming a matter of concern rather the grave negative psychological, social, economic, health and environmental consequences that come about as a result of the phenomena. A part from this negative effects of street begging on Nigerian National Development is the issue of religious crisis that has been engaging parts of the country to which some have been attributed to the products of the almajiri system of education where migrants Islamic scholars leave there villages for urban centers during dry season with a number of children who are suppose to learn in the cities but have to fend for themselves in terms of feeding, clothing and even pocket money. Such children’s have been raw materials recruited by faceless and selfish individuals to perpetuate religious crisis. Counselling as a helping profession can use the behaviour modification technique to restructure the thinking of such Qur’anic teachers. The paper recommended amongst other things, that the governments at various levels should partner with the higher Islamic scholars who are revered by these scholars in the villages and who are in the habit of bringing such children to cities for scholarship to desist. All muslim sects leaders should be directly involved in a conference that will brainstorm on the negative consequences of street begging and such teachers be given the mandate to implement what ever decision the conference comes up with.