Effect of Extracurricular Activities on Students’ Social Development in Secondary Schools in Ogun State

This study examines the effect of extracurricular activities on the social development of students in public secondary schools in Ogun State, South West Nigeria. Extracurricular activities, encompassing sports, clubs, cultural activities, debate, and community service, contribute to students' social skills, leadership development, teamwork, and sense of identity beyond the academic curriculum. In Nigerian secondary schools, however, extracurricular provision varies significantly between well-resourced urban schools and poorly resourced rural counterparts. A descriptive survey design was employed, administering questionnaires to 400 Senior Secondary School One and Two students across 20 schools in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, and Ilishan-Remo. Extracurricular participation was assessed by type, frequency, and duration of activity involvement. Social development was measured using a validated social skills rating instrument covering cooperation, assertiveness, empathy, and self-control. Pearson correlation and regression analysis were applied. Results indicate that students who actively participate in extracurricular activities demonstrate significantly higher social development scores. Sports participation showed the strongest association with cooperation and teamwork skills, while debate and public speaking clubs were most strongly associated with assertiveness and self-expression. The study concludes that extracurricular activities are a significant contributor to student social development in Ogun State secondary schools. It recommends that school management allocate scheduled time for extracurricular activities in the school timetable and that the Ogun State Ministry of Education include extracurricular programme quality in its school inspection criteria.

Keywords: extracurricular activities, social development, secondary school, Ogun State, student wellbeing.