FORMING CONTEMPORARY NIGERIAN FORMATORS FOR EMPLOYABILITY AND GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS IN THE NEW NORMAL: A PSYCHOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This is a descriptive study titled: Forming Contemporary Nigerian Formators for Employability and Global Competitiveness in the New Normal: a Psychosocial Perspective. The introduction dealt with the background to the study and the background presents the definitions of major concepts or variables to the study, the problem statement and the purpose of study. On the definition, it defined major concepts such as new normal, psychosocial, contemporary, global competitiveness and employability. The problem statement presents the new norm changes that have resulted in rifts, phobia and labelling while the purpose of study presents the need to form competent formators that will respond appropriately to the changing trends replete in the society. Five major areas where the new normal changes were observed were discussed and they include the following, namely; the social context, moral context, psychological/emotional context, cognitive and cultural contexts. On the social context, it maintained that significant changes that constitute the new normal are visibly seen in interaction/relationship pattern of this era, in the understanding of marriage and the family. On the moral context, changes were noted in moral permissiveness replete in the society, the field of bioethics and changes in religion/spiritual orientation of the present era. The emotional/psychological new normal changes recorded a shift in emotional disposition of the era, the cultural dimension of the new norm changes recorded a loss of identity and root whereas the cognitive dimension presented a strong value shift in academic achievement and mental disposition of the era. Having extensively discussed these new normal challenges, the study went further to look at the implications of the changes and found out among others that there was a strong shift and overhaul in virtually all aspects of human endeavours, a corrosion of values, liberal-conservative dichotomy leading to phobia and labelling, a loss of identity and root, poor academic achievement etc. Finally the study reiterated the need for proper psychosocial (psychological and social ) disposition of the formators to tackle the new norm challenges and development of competencies enabling global competitiveness. The following recommendations were proffered as remedial to the strong influence of the new norm changes. They include; stakeholders especially formation centres should ensure proper formation of the formators. There is also the need for proper psychological and social disposition of the formators with respect to the new norm trends. Finally the formators should also have the disposition to treat issues following the ethical trend and norms of the time.