This study aimed to examine the relationship between guidance and counselling services and career decision-making among secondary school students in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. two research questions and two corresponding hypotheses were developed. A descriptive survey design was employed, and data were gathered using a researcher-constructed instrument named the Guidance and Counselling Services and Career Choice of Secondary School Students Questionnaire (GCSCCSSSQ). The target population consisted of 42,762 individuals, including 6,225 teachers/counsellors and 36,537 senior secondary students. A sample size of 380 was determined using the Morgan and Krejcie (1970) table. Simple random and purposive sampling methods were applied.Theinstrument’s validity was established through expert review, and reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s Alpha, yielding a coefficient of 0.74. Data analysis involved frequency counts, percentages, tables, and opinion summaries for the research questions, while the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) was used to test the hypotheses. Findings indicated that; educational counselling significantly and positively influences students’ career choices. Vocational counselling shows a significant but indirect link to career decisions related to job security. Recommendations included integrating career counselling into the secondary school curriculum, increasing awareness among parents and stakeholders about the value of these services, and enhancing support from government through policies that improve counsellor salaries, provide essential facilities, and promote continuous training for counsellors and teachers in effective guidance practices.

References

 Abubakar, S. H., Abdulwahab, I., Aminu, U. & Auwalu, R. (2025). Quality of guidance and counseling education in the face of insecurity in public schools in Nigeria. Zamfara International Journal of Education, 5(3): 135-139

 Akpabio, E. A. (2025). Influence of age and career choice on entrepreneurial skills acquisition among senior secondary school students in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District. International Journal of Developmental Research in Education (IJDRE) University of Uyo, 6(1): 107 - 114

 Bassey, O. J. & Edet, J. I. (2018). Counselling services and career choice among senior secondary school students in Uyo Education Zone in Akwa Ibom State. I-manager’s Journal on School Educational Technology, 14(1)

 Egenti, U. (2021). Guidance counsellors’ career awareness creation roles among secondary school students choice of profession in Delta State, Nigeria. Retrieved from https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/guidance-counsellors%e2%80%99-career-awareness creation-of-egenti/497c0e9e991fe4aa780fdfc3aba792176efd92bb. DOI:10.2139/ssrn.3796068

 Ekanem, A. E., & Asuquo, M. E. (2024). Challenges and prospects of career choice amongst senior secondary three (SSIII) students in Obot Akara Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. British Journal of Education, Learning and Development Psychology 7(3), 102-114. DOI: 10.52589/BJELDP-0GB8Q1AM

 Ekpo, M. E., Umoh, U. E., & Udoaka, S. P. (2024). Adult education and entrepreneurial sustainable development in Nigeria: A study of Akwa Ibom State agency for adult and non-formal education (2007-2023). Covenant Journal of Entrepreneurship, 8(1), 44 – 54. Retrieved from htts://journals.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/index.php/cjoe/article/view/4183

 Ekpo, M.E., Ekang, A. E. & Umo-Udo, N. S (2025). Educational leadership and goal attainment in public secondary schools in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Journal of Public Policy and Development Studies, 2(3): 164 -181

 Federal Republic of Nigeria [FRN] (2026). National policy on education, 6th Edition (NPE 2013). Ministry of Education. Retrieved from https://www.policyvault.africa/policy/national-policy on-eduction-6th-edition/

 Josephat, V., Timothy, M. & Semali, M. L. (2024). Individual career guidance approach for science subject selection among public secondary school students of Karagwe District, Tanzania. International Journal of Scientific and Management (IJSRM), 12(10). Retrieved from DOI:10.18535/ijsrm/v12i10.el01

 Migunde, Q. (2021). Effect of career counseling on the career development of secondary school students in Kenya. Journal of Education and Practice, 12(3), 60. Retrieved from www.iiste.org

 Udoh, A. J., Asuquo, M. E., & Nwagu, C. S. (2025). Career choice in secondary schools and its effects on job security in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Transnational Journal of Arts, Humanities and Sciences, 1(4):59 -87

 Udoh, A. J., Asuquo, M. E., & Nwagu, C. S. (2026). Career choice in secondary schools and its effects on job security in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Transnational Journal of Arts, Humanities andSciences,2(1):1-29.Retrievedfrom https://wordastrajournals.com/index.php/tjahs/article/view/172/131

 UNESCO (2026). Nigeria back career guidance policy framework. Federal Ministry of Education Publication. Retrieved from https://von.gov.ng/unesco-nigeria-back-career-guidance-policy framwork/

 Wankasi, H. I. & Adekunle, S. I. (2023). Assessment, benefits and factors that affect guidance, counselling services in secondary schools in Owo Local Government, Ondo State. Qeios ID: AV2LJ4 · Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.32388/AV2LJ4

 World Bank Group (2026). Career benefits. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/career-benefits