Career Counselling Interventions and Occupational Identity Formation Among Final-Year Undergraduates in Borno State, North East Nigeria

Career counselling represents a critical psychological service for undergraduate students navigating the transition from education to employment, particularly in North East Nigeria where youth unemployment, conflict disruption of career pathways, and limited formal employment markets compound career decision difficulties. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a structured six-session career counselling intervention on occupational identity formation among final-year students at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State. A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design with a control group is applied to 60 final-year students (30 treatment, 30 control) recruited through voluntary self-selection. The Vocational Identity Scale and the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form are administered at baseline and post-intervention, with a two-month follow-up. Repeated measures ANOVA and effect size calculations are performed in SPSS. Qualitative interviews with 15 intervention participants explore subjective career exploration experiences. Available career psychology literature from North East Nigeria identifies conflict-disrupted career aspirations, limited role model exposure, and low labour market information as the dominant career development barriers for Borno State graduates. Super's Career Development Theory and Holland's Person-Environment Fit Theory provide the dual theoretical framework. Findings will support the University of Maiduguri Career Services in designing evidence-based career counselling programmes. Keywords: career counselling, occupational identity, undergraduates, University of Maiduguri, Borno State.