Social Studies Education is widely recognized as a vital discipline for developing informed, ethical, and responsible citizens capable of contributing meaningfully to societal development. This study examined the influence of Social Studies Education on ethical and responsible citizenship among students in Colleges of Education in Kogi State, Nigeria. Anchored on Social Learning Theory, the study adopted a quantitative research design to investigate how exposure to Social Studies curricula fosters moral values, civic responsibility, and responsible behavior among future educators. The population comprised Social Studies students from selected Colleges of Education, from which an appropriate sample was drawn using multistage sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire designed to measure Social Studies Education, ethical citizenship, and responsible citizenship. The data were analyzed using regression analysis and correlation statistics. Findings revealed that Social Studies Education significantly influences ethical citizenship, accounting for a substantial proportion of variance in students’ moral values and ethical orientation. The results also showed that Social Studies Education has a significant positive effect on responsible citizenship, enhancing students’ awareness of civic duties, digital responsibility, and community engagement. Additionally, a statistically significant relationship was found between ethical citizenship and responsible citizenship, indicating that ethical values contribute meaningfully to responsible civic behavior. The study concludes that Social Studies Education plays a crucial role in shaping ethically grounded and socially responsible citizens in Nigeria’s educational system. It recommends curriculum enhancement, teacher capacity building, and increased emphasis on experiential learning approaches to strengthen citizenship education outcomes in Colleges of Education.