The researchers conducted this study in order to establish a case for the use of needs assessment of guidance services as a means of achieving quality education in Nigeria. They contacted 84 professional counsellors in Ilorin, a typical Nigerian metropolis, in order to gather data on their perception of the importance of certain guidance services in secondary schools. They also determined the actual level of services rendered in schools. The instrument used for collecting the necessary data was titled "Guidance Service Rendered to Students Questionnaire" GUSRESQ. The findings indicated a need to use needs assessment of guidance services for obtaining higher levels in the quality of education. The findings also indicated that practicing counsellors perceive counselling service and information service as the most important.

Girl-Child education has been a subject of serious concern in Nigeria. This is because this aspect of education has been bedevilled with problems especially in the Northern parts of the country. Researchers (Usman, 2007) and Daiyabu, 2008) have expressed concern about it and about the various forms of discriminations and sharp practices against the girl-child. Thus, this study investigated the perception of parents on the socio-cultural, religious and economic factors affecting the girl-child education in the Northern parts of Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The sample consisted of 1,200 parents and adults purposefully selected from the states in Northern Nigeria. Three research questions and three null hypotheses were raised and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Ordinary Copyright© IAARR 2013: www.afrrevjo.net 59 Indexed African Journals Online: www.ajol.info percentage and t-test statistical methods were used for the analysis of data. The results revealed that parents favoured boy"s education more and regard girls" education as a waste since they will end up in the kitchen. Lack of religious knowledge and issues of poverty also constitute other influences. The test of hypotheses also showed that participants, educated and noneducated, rural and urban, expressed similar opinions regarding sociocultural and religious factors. However, opinions of male and female subjects differ on the issues relating to economic factors. Based on these findings, it was recommended that girls should be given equal chance as boys in education; there should be a legal support for girl-child education and government should empower parents.