The Head of the Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan, Professor Aderemi Alarape, has called on the Federal Government to adopt psychological strategies in tackling insecurity, while advocating psychological assessments of political contestants ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Alarape made the recommendations during a press conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the Department of Psychology, where he proposed a Psychology for National Transformation (PNT) Agenda to address Nigeria’s security and developmental challenges.
He said the government must invest in understanding the psychological roots of banditry, insurgency and communal conflicts, stressing that military operations alone could not provide lasting solutions to the country’s security problems.
According to him, efforts to tackle insecurity must include the psychology of radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration, alongside the establishment of a National Behavioural Insights Unit to incorporate human behaviour and decision-making into public policies.
He noted that Nigeria had focused more on physical infrastructure and military responses while neglecting psychological infrastructure, which he described as critical to national development.
Also speaking, Professor Benjamin Ehigie called attention to the role of psychological testing and psychometric profiling in the electoral process, suggesting that psychological assessments could be used to examine the mental states of political contestants and guide their suitability for political positions.
He said psychological profiling could also help political parties and campaign organisations understand voters’ behavioural patterns beyond conventional demographic data such as age and income.
Ehigie added that psychology had a strategic role to play in Nigeria’s socioeconomic, cultural and institutional development.
On the department’s 50-year journey, Alarape disclosed that it had produced over 1,387 B.Sc. graduates, 460 M.Sc. holders and 83 Ph.D. graduates since its establishment in 1976, with its first graduating set in the 1979/80 academic session.
Meanwhile, Professor Nyitor Shenge urged alumni to support the department through financial contributions, infrastructural development, mentorship, employment opportunities and advocacy for government grants.
He described alumni as indispensable partners in the growth of academic institutions, urging them to serve as ambassadors of the department.
The press conference was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of the Social Sciences, Professor Shyngle Balogun; Professor Olajide Akanji; Emeritus Professor Helen Osinowo; Dr Oluwafemi Famakinde; Dr Obosi, staff members and students.
