Integration of Indigenous Philosophy of Education into Drug Abuse Prevention: A Mixed-Methods Approach of Essencist Model for Youths Empowerment and Sustainable Development in Taraba State, Nigeria

Drug abuse among youths remains a critical social and developmental challenge in Nigeria, particularly in Taraba State where poverty, unemployment, peer influence, and policy gaps in education exacerbate the crisis. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative survey data from 500 distributed questionnaires with qualitative insights from focused group discussions (FGDs), to analyze the multidimensional causes and consequences of drug abuse in Wukari Local Government Area. The findings reveal that structural poverty, peer influence and the absence of preventive education in schools expose youths to dangerous substances that reinforce cycles of violence, crime, and social conflict. To move beyond descriptive diagnosis, this paper deploys Essencism, an indigenous Nigerian Philosophy of Education developed by Samuel Asuquo Ekanem, as a normative and practical framework for intervention. Essencism emphasizes the realization of essential human capacities through education and moral consciousness, aligning with the global goals of sustainable development. The paper argues that integrating an Essencist educational model into school curricula and community-based programs provides a transformative pathway to youth empowerment, reduction of drug-related violence, and sustainable development in Taraba State.