Volume 13, Issue 2A and 2B, 2025

LGBTQIA+ Imagining in Nigeria: Perception on Counselling Practices Among Post Graduate Students in Counselling Psychology, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos

Olaofe Abayomi Israel, Oseni Zainab Omobolanle, Osaro-Martins Blessing Emoshogwe, Odiaka Olubunmi Mercy, Olaofe- Oso Oluwatomi Abisoye; Shogbesan Yusuf Olayinka, Adedokun Adewale Philip & Abodunrin Ife Olarewaju

Abstract

The study focused on how opinions about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Inclusion (LGBTQIA+) thinking
in Nigeria affect the therapy practices among postgraduate students in
counselling psychology at Lagos State University. The study examined the
views of postgraduate students in counselling psychology on LGBTQIA+
people and clients. The study also investigated whether the postgraduate
program in counselling psychology integrates LGBTQIA+-specific skills into
its teaching approach to LGBTQIA+ clients. The study also investigated if
religious links among students from Islamic and Christian religious
backgrounds have an effect on views of LGBTQIA+ problems. This study
used an unlisted sample of 25 postgraduate students in counselling
psychology. The data were examined using both descriptive and inferential
statistics. The results revealed that 61% of people had a negative picture of
LGBTQIA+, whereas 39% had a good view of LGBTQIA+. Graduate students
in counselling psychology have a negative outlook towards the LGBTQIA
group. The majority of answers were either agree (57%) or highly agree (25%),
showing good views towards including LGBTQIA+ issues and training in the
therapy program. It also showed that there is no statistically significant
difference in the views of LGBTQIA+ between Muslim and Christian (p-value
0.506; p > 0.05). Finally, the result obtained suggested that there is a
statistically significant difference in the views of LGBTQIA+ between males
and females (p-value.032; p < 0.05). The research concluded that post
graduate students in counselling psychology at Lagos State University have a
negative perception of LGBTQIA+ individuals and there exist a significant
difference due to gender while no significant difference due to religion on
perceptions of LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Keywords

LGBTQIA+, Counselling Practices, Perception, Counselling Inclusion Psychology,

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