International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research

Coping mechanisms among undergraduates experiencing anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation at public universities in Namibia

2026-05-14T15:03:11+00:00

Background: Anxiety and depression are common challenges among university students, often linked to academic pressures, financial strain, and life transitions. However, limited evidence exists on how students in Namibian public universities cope with these difficulties.

Objective: This study explored the coping mechanisms employed by undergraduates in public universities in Namibia, with particular focus on how they respond to experiences of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.

Method: Adopting a qualitative descriptive design, the study explored the coping mechanisms among 13 purposively sampled undergraduates, which established how they cope with anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. Data were collected through interviews and analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic framework.

Result: Findings show that emotional distress was frequently associated with academic stressors, childhood experiences, and cultural barriers to open discussion. Students reported a range of coping strategies, including problem-focused efforts to manage stress, seeking peer and informal support, and avoidance behaviours.

Unique contribution: By exploring students lived experiences, the study provides context-specific insight into coping practices within Namibian higher education, addressing a gap in locally grounded knowledge.

Recommendations: The findings highlight the need for accessible, culturally responsive mental health support and early identification initiatives that encourage timely help-seeking among students. Universities should promote early identification systems through trained staff and peer support initiatives to encourage timely help-seeking.

Mental health needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in select camps in Enugu State, South-East Nigeria

2026-05-14T15:05:49+00:00

Background: Internally displaced persons (IDPs) face multiple social and public health challenges across Sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, research has largely focused on northern regions, with limited evidence from South-East Nigeria, particularly Enugu State. Displacement often leads to psychological distress due to trauma, loss of livelihoods, and disruption of social networks.

Objective: This study assessed the mental health needs of IDPs in selected camps in Enugu State, with a focus on psychological distress, access to mental health services, coping strategies, and gender differences in outcomes.

Method: Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, a descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Data were collected from 333 adults aged 18 years and above who had resided for at least six months in Ugwuaji (Nike), Ibagwa Aka, and Nkanu East camps. A structured questionnaire adapted from the WHO Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS, 2015) was administered. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests at a 5% significance level.

Results: Psychological distress was prevalent: 70.9% reported depressive symptoms, 66.1% experienced anxiety, and 52.3% reported trauma-related experiences. Only 27.1% had accessed formal mental health services. Barriers included cost, stigma, and limited availability of trained personnel. Informal coping strategies predominated, with religious/spiritual practices (71.2%) and family/peer support (54.0%) most common. Female IDPs were significantly more likely than males to report depressive symptoms (χ^² = 9.87, p = 0.002).

Conclusion: IDPs in Enugu State have substantial and largely unmet mental health needs. Limited access to formal services and reliance on informal coping strategies highlight the need for integrated, culturally sensitive, and gender-responsive interventions.

Unique Contribution: This study provides evidence on the mental health needs of IDPs in South-East Nigeria, a previously under-represented region, enhancing understanding of context-specific psychosocial needs.

Key Recommendations: Integrate culturally sensitive, gender-responsive mental health support into humanitarian interventions, strengthen community-based networks, and address structural and sociocultural barriers.

Application of World Health Organisation guidelines in road traffic safety reporting by select Nigerian newspapers

2026-05-14T15:08:59+00:00

Background: Road traffic collisions (RTCs) constitute a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, with the country recording one of the highest rates of road traffic fatalities globally. The media play a crucial role in shaping public perceptions and influencing policy decisions regarding road safety. Despite efforts to curb the menace, RTCs continue to plague Nigerian roads. Although studies have examined the epidemiology of RTCs, there is limited understanding of how Nigerian newspapers apply World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in reporting road traffic incidents.

Objective: This study examined the application of World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in road traffic safety reporting by four Nigerian newspapers- Daily Trust, Leadership, The Sun, and Vanguard focusing on the frequency of reportage and the identification of WHO-prescribed reporting angles.

Method: The study adopted a quantitative content analysis research design. The population comprised 2,920 newspaper editions published between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023. Using the Taro Yamane sample size determination method, 400 editions (100 from each newspaper) were selected. From these, 131 road traffic safety reports were purposively sampled for analysis. A structured coding sheet was used to collect data on headlines, body texts, visuals, and WHO-prescribed reporting angles. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages and presented in tables. Inter-coder reliability was established using ReCal 0.1 Alpha, yielding a Kappa coefficient of 0.987.

Result: Findings revealed that Nigerian newspapers contributed only 0.60% of documented RTC reports compared to 99.40% recorded by the Federal Road Safety Corps, indicating minimal media engagement. Coverage predominantly emphasised the deadliness of RTCs (31.2%), while WHO-recommended angles such as stakeholder perspectives (7.8%), vulnerability of certain groups (10.4%), and strain on public health systems (13.0%) received limited attention.

Conclusion: The study concludes that Nigerian newspapers demonstrate sporadic engagement and partial adherence to WHO guidelines, with a tendency toward episodic and sensational reporting rather than comprehensive, solution-oriented coverage.

Unique Contribution: This study extends existing literature by shifting focus from the epidemiology of road traffic accidents to the quality of media reporting, specifically assessing adherence to WHO guidelines in Nigerian newspaper coverage.

Key Recommendation: The study recommends that journalists receive specialised training on WHO guidelines for road safety reporting, with emphasis on balanced and comprehensive coverage across all prescribed angles, particularly underreported areas such as stakeholder perspectives, vulnerability of high-risk groups, and the burden on public health systems.

Factors influencing access to effective treatment of prostate cancer in Namibia: A cross-sectional study

2026-05-14T15:14:14+00:00

Background: Prostate cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in men worldwide, with mortality disproportionately higher in low-and middle-income countries LMICs. In Namibia, systemic barriers, such as financial constraints, inadequate patient education, and workforce shortages, hinder effective treatment. The study examines socio-demographic, financial, social, and system-level factors influencing access to healthcare among prostate cancer patients.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the healthcare professionals managing prostate cancer patients in Namibia. A total of 304 questionnaires were distributed, of which 242 were completed and returned (response rate: 79.6%). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, confidence intervals, and diversity indices to assess demographics, professional roles, experience, financial impact, psychosocial challenges, and perceptions of system support.

Results: Respondents were predominantly female (73.0%), aged 25-34 years (46.9%), single (63.5%), and highly educated (99.6% with tertiary education). Employment was skewed towards full-time work (92.9%). Registered nurses comprise the largest group (52.3%), followed by enrolled nurses (21.2%), with smaller proportions of doctors (8.7%) and radiographers/radiotherapists (6.6%). Mean years of experience were 6.7 (SD 4.8), with most reporting 1-3 years. Financial strain was severe for 60.6% of respondents, moderate for 33.6%. Psychosocial burdens were evenly distributed across isolation, stigma, family stress, and relationship strain. Nearly half (49.6%) perceived healthcare financial support as insufficient, compared to 14.9% who judged it adequate.

Conclusions: Findings highlight a young, nursing-dominant workforce facing significant financial and psychosocial challenges, alongside systemic inadequacies. Strengthened financing, workforce development, and patient education are urgently needed to improve prostate cancer outcomes in Namibia and similarly in other LMICs. Further studies related to early detection, treatment, and social domains on prostate cancer in LMICs should be conducted, while effective interventions for the detection, treatment, and management of prostate cancer should be developed.

Unique contribution: This study demonstrates that prostate cancer care in Namibia is constrained by financial hardship, psychosocial burdens, and systemic inadequacies, underscoring the urgent need for stronger health financing, workforce development, and patient education to improve outcomes in LMICs.

Key recommendations: The findings of this study highlight two urgent priorities for Namibia and Sub-Saharan Africa. First, policy interventions must address the hidden and indirect costs of PCa treatment, ensuring that supportive care and logistics are incorporated into the financial protection scheme. Second, the health system must prioritise timely treatment initiation by strengthening the supply chain, expanding diagnostic capacity, and reducing financial barriers.

Influence of training on employee performance in local government authorities in urban West Region, Zanzibar, Tanzania

2026-05-14T15:17:21+00:00

Background: Training acts as an important tool for increasing employee knowledge and skills required for offering quality services. In the context of Zanzibar Local Government Authorities, various training activities are undertaken to enhance employee performance and efficient service delivery. Despite these initiatives, employees are still performing below expectations, raising doubts on the effectiveness of the training offered.

Objective: This study examined how training practices influence the performance of employee in Zanzibar Local Government Authorities, focusing on Zanzibar Municipal Council and West B Council.

Method: A mixed research was employed, collecting quantitative data from 242 participants using questionnaire, and interviews to gather qualitative information. Data were analysed using PLS-SEM and content analysis.

Result: The result indicates that training significantly influences employee performance (β = 0.324, p = 000).

Conclusion: Effective training practices increase employees’ skills, working morale, and productivity, leading to organisational success.

Unique Contribution: The study finding provides a nuanced understanding on the need for proper training programmes to enhance both employee performance and overall organizational effectiveness.

Key Recommendation: It is recommended that Zanzibar Local Governments should effectively implement continuous and needs-based training initiatives aligned with organisational intended goals.

Social media as source of oral health information-seeking among adult residents of Jos-South Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria

2026-05-14T15:19:49+00:00

Background: The widespread use of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, etc, has revolutionised how people access health information. In Nigeria, where oral health issues are prevalent, understanding how adults seek oral health info is crucial. Despite social media's growing influence, there's a dearth of research on its role in oral health information seeking in typical Nigeria setting such as Jos - South Local Government Area, Plateau State.

Objectives: The study aims to explore how adults in Jos - South local government area of Plateau state use social media to accesses information on oral health.

Methods: Quantitative and qualitative research approaches were employed. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and in depth interviews method. A total of 300 respondents were used for the quantitative part of the study, while 20 interviews were conducted. The study made use of the narrative format for qualitative data presentation, while quantitative data were presented on mean deviation tables using measuring scales of Strongly Agree, Agree, Undecided, Strongly Disagree and Disagree.

Result: The study revealed that social media platforms were instrumental in disseminating oral health education to adult residents in Jos - South Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria. Respondents reported acquiring valuable knowledge on proper oral hygiene practices, including brushing techniques, sugar consumption reduction, and identifying appropriate healthcare seeking behaviours. However, the study also highlighted concerns regarding the credibility and reliability of oral health information on social media. Notably, issues of half truths and misinformation were prevalent, raising concerns about the potential negative impacts of relying solely on social media for oral health education, particularly if used as a substitute for professional guidance. These findings underscore the need for verifying oral health information obtained from social media and highlight opportunities for targeted interventions to improve health literacy and ensure accurate information dissemination.

Conclusion: The study underscores the growing role of social media in enhancing oral health education and care, particularly in improving dental practice and patient outcomes. However, the findings highlight a pressing concern regarding the trustworthiness of oral health information disseminated through these platforms. As social media continues to evolve as a key source of health information, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of oral health content remains a critical challenge that warrants attention from healthcare professionals and policymakers.

Unique Contribution: This study enriches the existing literature on social media in health practice by providing context-specific insights into oral health information-seeking behaviors among adults in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. By exploring the intersection of social media and oral health in a Nigerian context, this research addresses a critical knowledge gap and offers valuable perspectives for healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers seeking to leverage social media for health promotion and education in similar settings.

Key Recommendation: Oral health practitioners and patients are advised to utilise social media as a supplementary resource for oral health information, while maintaining professional dental consultations as the primary source of guidance. Patients should be encouraged to verify online information through credible sources and consult dentists for personalised advice, ensuring informed decision-making and optimal oral health outcomes.

Influence of Mass media on youth perceptions of Reproductive health issues in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State

2026-05-15T13:24:00+00:00

Background: Reproductive health is a significant public health concern for young people in Nigeria. Cultural taboos, limited access to trustworthy information, and a lack of youth-friendly health services leave many uninformed and make it difficult for them to make good decisions. Mass media play an important role here. Young people spend a lot of time on media, whether it’s TV, radio, or social media. These channels shape their understanding of the world and what they know about their own health.

Objective: This study examined how mass media influence what young people in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State know and believe about reproductive health.

Method: A descriptive survey was conducted to assess young people’s perceptions of reproductive health and the influence of media on their awareness. Using simple random sampling, 300 participants were selected and given structured questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentages, and tables to identify trends in awareness, media usage, and attitudes toward reproductive health.

Result: The results show that mass media strongly affect what young people know and think about reproductive health. When youths receive media messages on these topics, their knowledge improves. However, there’s an important point, the messages are most effective when they are clear, easily accessible, and actually speak to young people in a language they understand.

Conclusion: Mass media play a major role in increasing awareness about reproductive health among young people. These platforms not only inform, they also shape the way youths think and understand these issues.

Unique Contribution: This study provides solid evidence on how exposure to media influences what young people in Eti-Osa know about reproductive health. It focuses on a specific Nigerian community, bringing new insight to the discussion.

Key Recommendation: Media organizations and public health agencies should design reproductive health campaigns that are clear, culturally sensitive and truly resonate with young people. This is how we can effectively communicate the message and support youths in making responsible health choices.

Communication strategies for high blood pressure management awareness among patients in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T14:16:55+00:00

Background: High blood pressure is a major public health concern in Nigeria, with prevalence estimates ranging between 30 and 40 per cent among adults in Akwa Ibom State. Despite the availability of treatment options, many diagnosed patients do not manage the condition effectively, leading to complications such as stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease. These challenges are often linked not only to medical factors but also to gaps in communication related to treatment adherence, lifestyle modification, and long-term disease management. However, limited attention has been given to how communication strategies supporting high blood pressure management operate within the specific social context of Akwa Ibom State.

Objective: This study examined communication strategies used to support awareness of high blood pressure management among diagnosed patients in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, with a focus on how these strategies influence patients’ understanding, attitudes, and self-management practices.

Method: An exploratory mixed methods research design was adopted. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to eleven select diagnosed high blood pressure patients, alongside in depth interviews conducted with three select patients to gain deeper insight into their experiences of health communication. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analysed thematically.

Result: Findings show that interpersonal and institutional communication channels, particularly health talks by medical professionals and community-based outreach, were perceived as more effective than mass media messages in supporting understanding and management-related behaviour. Patients indicated that message clarity, trust in health workers, use of familiar language, and opportunities for interaction strongly shaped how communication was received and acted upon. However, gaps were identified in message consistency, follow-up communication, and access to locally meaningful and audience responsive information.

Conclusion: The study concludes that effective management of high blood pressure among patients in Akwa Ibom State is strongly influenced by communication approaches that prioritise interpersonal engagement, trust, and sustained interaction rather than one-off information dissemination.

Unique Contribution: By emphasising patient perspectives, this study contributes to health communication scholarship in Nigeria by demonstrating how communication strategies shape management awareness and everyday self-care practices among individuals living with high blood pressure.

Key Recommendation: Health communication interventions should prioritise patient centred, participatory, and audience responsive communication strategies that support continuous management of high blood pressure, integrating interpersonal approaches with appropriate mass media and digital platforms.

Effectiveness of mass media in preserving indigenous cultures in select rural communities in Upper West Region, Ghana

2026-05-15T14:21:46+00:00

Background: The preservation of indigenous cultures in rural Ghana face significant challenges due to the impacts of globalisation and the growing dominance of mass media. This study examines the role of mass media (radio, television, and newspapers) in preserving and promoting indigenous cultures in rural communities, with a specific focus on five communities in the Upper West Region: Takpo, Charia, Kaluri, Piisi, and Kunfaabiala communities.

Objective: This study assessed the effectiveness of mass media in preserving and promoting indigenous cultures in these rural communities in Ghana.

Method: A sample of 75 participants was selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, questionnaire, and focus group discussions. The study aimed to explore the level of exposure to various mass media platforms and their impact on cultural preservation in these communities.

Results: The findings show that radio is the most influential medium in disseminating cultural content, primarily due to its accessibility and ability to broadcast in local languages. While radio, television, and newspapers play vital roles in the cultural preservation process, the study also reveals that local cultures continue to face erosion despite these media efforts. The research highlights the limited effectiveness of these mass media platforms in fully preserving indigenous cultures, especially as younger generations increasingly engage with digital platforms.

Conclusion: Despite the contributions of radio, television, and newspapers, indigenous cultures in the Upper West Region are at risk of fading. The study concludes that a more integrated approach combining traditional mass media with digital platforms is necessary to engage the younger population. Additionally, the study calls for the Ghana Education Service to make the study and use of local languages compulsory in schools to further support the preservation of indigenous cultures.

Unique Contribution: This study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of modern mass media in cultural preservation, offering recommendations for integrating digital media and educational policies to safeguard indigenous cultural practices.

Key Recommendation: To enhance the preservation of indigenous cultures, it is recommended that mass media be integrated with digital platforms, and that local langua

Genotype identification messages and family dynamics in Ibadan South-West, Nigeria: Impact and emerging challenges

2026-05-15T14:25:24+00:00

Background: Family sustainability is profoundly shaped by health communication and the interpretation of genetic information. In Nigeria, where genotype identification is critical for preventing hereditary conditions such as sickle cell disease, genotype-related messages significantly influence family relationships and decision-making. Despite growing awareness of genotype testing, limited research has examined how these messages affect family communication patterns, relational dynamics, and interpretation challenges.

Objective: This study examined the impact and emerging challenges of genotype identification messages on family dynamics in Ibadan South-West, Nigeria.

Method: This study integrates Family Communication Patterns Theory and Framing Theory to examine genotype messages within Nigerian family contexts. The study collected data through the Family Health Survey administered to 422 respondents using cluster and convenience sampling and interview with a healthcare practitioner. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS with descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis, while qualitative data were thematically analysed and triangulated with survey findings.

Results: The study found out that genotype identification messages substantially improved family communication (87.2%), facilitated informed health decision-making (95.2%), and strengthened emotional bonds (81.5%). However, critical challenges emerged, including lack of understanding (24.4%), communication barriers (19.7%), stigmatisation (19.2%), and fear of discrimination (14.9%).

Conclusion: Genotype identification messages strengthen family relationships in Ibadan South-West, Nigeria, but families need better support to overcome persistent barriers. Culturally appropriate framing, combined with open communication is essential for strengthening family bonds and promoting informed health choices.

Unique Contribution: This study moves beyond awareness studies to examine family communication dynamics around genotype messages in Nigeria, providing evidence-based recommendations for culturally sensitive genetic counselling infrastructure.

Key Recommendation: Nigeria must build comprehensive genetic counselling infrastructure, including accessible counselling services, healthcare professionals trained in empathetic genetic communication, and culturally sensitive educational materials that address stigma.

Impact of strict research supervision on research assistants’ practices, confidence, and data integrity in Uganda

2026-05-15T14:27:54+00:00

Background: Research supervision is increasingly recognised as a critical factor in ensuring the integrity and reliability of field-based data collection. This is particularly in contexts where early-career researchers and enumerators often operate with limited experience. Yet, few empirical studies have documented how these enumerators perceive and experience supervision in practice and especially strict supervision. This study investigated the impact of strict supervision on research assistants’ practices, confidence, and perceptions of research integrity in Uganda.

Objective: To assess the contribution of strict supervision to the promotion of ethical practices and high-quality data collection in field research.

Methods: This study adopted a descriptive and exploratory research design. The population for this study consisted of research assistants and enumerators who had participated in a strict supervised data collection exercise. The study used structured questionnaire administered to 19 enumerators out of 20 who participated as research assistants. Responses were analysed using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data were summarised using descriptive statistics and presented in tables for clarity. Qualitative responses (to open-ended questions) were subjected to thematic analysis. Ethical principles guided all stages of the research.

Results: The findings of the study reveal that close supervision significantly enhances not only methodological rigor but also adherence to ethical protocols and confidence in conducting research. Improvements in punctuality, accuracy, and accountability were reported by respondents. Most respondents acknowledged that supervision reduced the likelihood of shortcuts and data that is compromised. However, the study reveals that strict oversight was also associated with challenges such as loss of autonomy and reduced flexibility. In addition, occasional tensions between supervisors and enumerators were also associated with strict supervision. Despite these challenges, the majority of participants revealed that strict supervision was necessary for producing not only credible but also trustworthy research outcomes.

Conclusion: In contexts where early-career researchers dominate fieldwork, strict supervision therefore emerges not only as a safeguard against shortcuts but also as a pedagogical tool that strengthens the professional capacity of the next generation of scholars.

Unique Contribution: This study situates enumerators’ voices within broader debates on research governance. It contributes to debates on balancing autonomy and accountability in research practice.

Key Recommendation: There is need to institutionalise supervision as research governance. There is also need for institutions to invest in training supervisors in mentoring, communication and conflict management.

Pragma-stylistic strategies in President Donald Trump’s speeches on "Christian genocide" in Nigeria

2026-05-15T15:00:14+00:00

Background: Violent attacks and insecurity in parts of Nigeria have generated international concern over alleged religious persecution, particularly against Christian communities. The activities of extremist groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and armed herdsmen have intensified debates about religious violence, human rights, and national security. Global attention to the issue increased when former United States President Donald Trump delivered speeches that framed the violence against Christians in Nigeria as genocide, thereby shaping international discourse on the country’s security crisis. Despite growing scholarship on Nigeria’s insecurity and analyses of political rhetoric, limited attention has been given to the pragma-stylistic strategies embedded in Trump’s discourse on the issue.

Objective: This study examined the pragmastylistic strategies in President Donald Trump’s discourse on the alleged "Christian genocide" in Nigeria, with particular attention to how linguistic choices construct moral narratives, attribute responsibility, and legitimise international concern or intervention.

Method: The study adopted a qualitative research design that integrates Searle’s Speech Act Theory with Leech and Short’s Linguistic Stylistics. S elected speeches, media reports, and social media posts produced by Donald Trump between November and December 2025 were purposively sampled based on the presence of evaluative language, threat rhetoric, and attribution of responsibility. The data were analyzed through pragma-stylistic analysis to identify the interaction between communicative functions and stylistic features in the discourse.

Results: Findings revealed the strategic deployment of assertive, directive, and expressive speech acts to present claims about violence as factual realities, call for action, and express moral condemnation. These pragmatic functions are reinforced through stylistic devices such as lexical intensification, repetition, hyperbole, and deliberate syntactic structuring, which amplify emotional appeal and rhetorical force. Together, these linguistic resources frame the violence as morally urgent and construct a persuasive narrative that positions external attention and intervention as necessary.

Conclusion: The study conclud ed that Trump’s discourse on Christian genocide in Nigeria is shaped by the convergence of pragmatic functions and stylistic choices that simultaneously perform acts of assertion, evaluation, and persuasion. Through this interplay, the discourse constructs moral urgency, assigns responsibility, and legitimizes international engagement with Nigeria’s security challenges.

Unique Contribution: This study provided fresh insight into how pragma-stylistic resources function in international political discourse to shape narratives about conflict and humanitarian crises. It contributes to the fields of pragmatics, stylistics, and political discourse analysis by demonstrating how speech acts and stylistic strategies interact to produce persuasive meanings in global political communication.

Key Recommendation: Scholars and analysts of political discourse should pay closer attention to the combined role of pragmatic functions and stylistic devices in shaping international narratives about conflicts. Such an approach can deepen understanding of how political actors influence global perceptions and policy debates through strategic language use.

Profiles of victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence in Nigeria using the Socio-Ecological Model

2026-05-15T15:03:11+00:00

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a significant public health and human rights concern in Nigeria, with prevalence estimates ranging from 33% to 68%. Evidence shows that IPV is shaped by interacting determinants across individual, relational, community, and societal levels. The Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) offers a structured framework to examine how these layered influences shape both victimisation and perpetration within intimate relationships.

Objective: To synthesise existing literature to identify and analyse the profiles of victims and perpetrators of IPV in Nigeria using the SEM framework.

Method: A narrative literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed studies published between 2008 and 2025. Databases searched included PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The Heise Integrated Ecological Framework guided data extraction and categorisation into victim profiles, perpetrator profiles, and contextual determinants across SEM levels.

Results: Victims were commonly characterised by younger age, low educational attainment, economic dependence, limited legal awareness, childhood exposure to violence, poverty, and social isolation. Perpetrators frequently exhibited alcohol or substance misuse, controlling behaviours, unemployment, psychological distress, jealousy, low education, and strong adherence to patriarchal norms. Contextual drivers included community poverty, weak institutional protection, normative acceptance of wife beating, rural – urban disparities, and social instability. These factors interact across SEM levels to sustain IPV.

Conclusion: IPV in Nigeria is driven by interrelated individual, relational, and structural determinants. Effective prevention requires integrated, multi-level interventions that address both vulnerability and perpetration within broader socio-cultural and economic systems.

Unique Contribution: This review provides a structured synthesis of victim and perpetrator profiles within Nigeria using the SEM, highlighting how contextual forces shape behavioural risk patterns and reinforcing the need for comprehensive approaches.

Key Recommendation: Policy and practice responses should combine economic empowerment, gendernorm transformation, mental health and substance-use interventions, strengthened legal enforcement, and community-based prevention strategies to address IPV at multiple levels simultaneously.

Interrogating institutional measures against rape in Lagos, Nigeria

2026-05-15T15:07:40+00:00

Background: Rape has freely penetrated many societies across the world, including Nigeria. Despite being a severe crime, the scourge is fast becoming a grievous crime that harms the victims’ physical and mental health in Lagos State, Nigeria. In spite of this precarious occurrence, there is dearth of knowledge on the institutional responses to rape in Lagos State.

Objectives: This study interrogated the effect and limitations of the Lagos State government’s measures in curbing the menace of rape in Lagos State.

Method: This study employed a descriptive research design using quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. Using purposive sampling technique, 105 respondents out 14,920,049 estimated population of Lagos State (NPC, 2022), were administered copies of the questionnaire and few selected for interview (KII and IDI) sessions. Total of (99) copies of the questionnaire were retrieved back, while (12) oral interview sessions were successfully conducted. The validity of this study’s instruments were ensured through expert review and pretesting, while the data collected were presented using tables, frequencies, and percentages for quantitative findings, and thematic narratives for qualitative interview responses.

Findings: The result of the findings revealed that Lagos State measures against rape had positively enhanced the sociosecurity network for rape victims, promoted rape complaints’ confidence and easy access to rape victims, but did not enhance prosecution of rapists, nor did they reduce rape occurrence in the State; and factors such as inadequate synergy between security agencies and Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (LSDVA), lack of forensic equipment to collect concrete evidence against rapists, and inadequate feedback from the prosecution process were the limitations of the government responses.

Conclusion: The study concluded that Lagos State measures against rape have positive effects on rape victims’ well-being, but limited effects to deter rapists. Unique Contribution:

Recommendations: The study recommended that institutional capacity should be strengthened towards the investigation, prosecution, and conviction of rapists to serve as a deterrent for other intended rapists.

Multi-level and life course challenges faced by children born through sexual violence in Africa

2026-05-15T15:20:45+00:00

Background: Children born through sexual violence in Africa represent a highly marginalised and understudied population. While the consequences of sexual violence on survivors are well documented, far less attention has been given to the long-term, multi-level challenges experienced by children conceived through such violence, particularly across different stages of life (Nwafor et al ., 2022).

Objective: To synthesise existing evidence using the Socioecological Model (SEM) and Life Course Theory (LCT) to characterise the multi-level and life course challenges faced by children born through sexual violence in Africa.

Method: A narrative review of peer-reviewed English-language studies published between 2020 and 2025 was conducted using PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Studies were limited to African settings. Data were analysed using SEM and LCT as guiding frameworks, generating five socioecological themes (individual, interpersonal, community, institutional, societal) and three life-course stages (early childhood, adolescence, adulthood).

Results: The review identified interconnected challenges across all socioecological levels, including psychological distress, identity confusion, disrupted caregiving relationships, stigma, social exclusion, institutional barriers, and structural inequality. Life-course analysis demonstrated that early adversity becomes embedded in early childhood, intensifies during adolescence through identity and belonging struggles, and culminates in cumulative social, mental health, and economic disadvantage in adulthood. Evidence of resilience, adaptive coping, and protective relationships was also documented.

Conclusion: Children born through sexual violence in Africa experience persistent, multi-level challenges that accumulate across the life course. Addressing these challenges requires integrated, rights-based, and life-course-informed interventions that extend beyond short-term or individual-focused responses.

Unique Contribution: This review integrates the Socioecological Model and Life Course Theory to provide a comprehensive, multi-level and developmental understanding of the lived experiences of children born through sexual violence in African contexts.

Key Recommendation: Policies and programmes should explicitly recognise this population within child protection, health, education, and social welfare frameworks, while prioritising family-centred psychosocial support, stigma reduction, legal recognition, and long-term structural inclusion across the life course.

Strengthening local action in humanitarian response: Exploring monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) systems of national organisations in North-East Nigeria

2026-05-15T15:24:01+00:00

Background: Locally led humanitarian response is increasingly recognised as essential for effective humanitarian aid delivery. Robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems are central to enabling national non-governmental organisations (NNGOs) to generate evidence, support decision making, and ensure program accountability. Strengthening these systems requires a clear understanding of existing gaps and actionable opportunities for improvement.

Objective: This study examined the structure and performance of MEL systems within NNGOs responding to the North-East Nigeria armed conflict, identifying gaps and opportunities to strengthen locally led humanitarian action.

Method: A qualitative, cross sectional design was used, drawing on purposive sampling of MEL focal persons from NNGOs and INGOs. Data were collected using semi structured questionnaire and key informant interviews, then thematically analysed against recognised humanitarian MEL standards and localisation commitments.

Results: Results show that most NNGOs are operating below minimum MEL standards. Key weaknesses include overstretched staffing, weak governance and documentation systems, inconsistent use of MEL frameworks, outdated digital tools, and insufficient MEL budgets. These gaps limit timely data collection, analysis, and use, ultimately undermining accountability, adaptive programming, and organisational learning.

Conclusion: MEL systems within NNGOs in Northeast Nigeria operate below required standards and remain chronically under ‑ resourced, significantly limiting their ability to generate and use timely evidence. As a result, these system gaps weaken the effectiveness, accountability, and adaptability of humanitarian responses in the region.

Unique Contribution: This study provides empirical insight into MEL readiness among local humanitarian actors and identifies clear opportunities for strengthening organisational systems, thereby contributing directly to ongoing debates on localisation and organisational development.

Key Recommendations: Predictable and dedicated MEL financing, along with strong leadership commitment within NNGOs, needs to be strengthened by integrating MEL performance indicators into organisational systems so that MEL becomes more than a compliance requirement. Governance should also be enhanced through the development of MEL policies, frameworks, and tools, supported by donor mentoring and peer ‑ learning opportunities.

Utilisation of indigenous knowledge system (IKS) and information and communications technologies (ICTs) in accessing maternal and child healthcare by pregnant women in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T15:28:18+00:00

Background: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has been recognized as an important tool for improving access to health information and linking communities to broader healthcare networks and diseases. Research shows that ICT improves antenatal care attendance, nutritional awareness, timely health-seeking behaviour, and skilled birth delivery, particularly among underprivileged women who otherwise might lack access to formal healthcare channels. Despite the overwhelming benefits, the Utilization of IKS and ICT in seeking healthcare remains sub-optimal in Ebonyi State.

Objective: This study investigated how the use of ICT and IKS influence accessing maternal and health child care information and its effectiveness by pregnant women in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Method: A mixed-method research design was adopted, combining a survey of 383 pregnant women with three Focus Group Discussions conducted across selected Local Government Areas in the state. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data from the FGDs were analyzed thematically.

Results: The findings indicate that pregnant women in Ebonyi State rely on both IKS and ICT as complementary sources of maternal and child health information. Indigenous sources such as traditional birth attendants and community elders remain influential due to cultural trust and accessibility, while ICT tools, particularly mobile phones and radio, enhance access to timely health information and updates. However, the effective utilization of ICT is constrained by poor network coverage, high data costs, low digital literacy, and unreliable power supply. The study also found that cultural beliefs shape how ICT-based health messages are interpreted and applied, sometimes influencing care-seeking behaviour.

Conclusion: The study concludes that improving maternal and child healthcare in Ebonyi State requires the integration of culturally sensitive communication approaches with ICT-based strategies.

Unique Contribution: this study have offered new insight on the usefulness and efficacy of Information communication technology to seek reliable information on maternal and child health communication initiatives. Thus, it is expected that policy makers and healthcare practitioners will find this fresh insight planning future advocacy programmes on maternal and child healthcare.

Key Recommendation: It, therefore, recommends strengthening ICT infrastructure while actively engaging traditional birth attendants and community leaders in the design and delivery of culturally responsive maternal and child health communication initiatives.

Lived experiences of trauma, identity, and coping among victims of communal conflicts in Akpoha, Amasiri and Oso Edda in Ebonyi Sate, Nigeria

2026-05-15T15:33:14+00:00

Background: Communal conflicts remain a persistent source of psychosocial distress in many parts of Nigeria, yet the culturally grounded psychological experiences of survivors are underexplored.

Objective: This study examined the lived experiences of trauma, identity disruption, and coping among victims of communal crises from Akpoha, Amasiri and Oso Edda in Ebonyi State from a cross-cultural psychological perspective.

Method: A qualitative phenomenological design was adopted. Participants were purposively selected 30 adult survivors of Akpoha, Amasiri and Oso Edda communal conflict, and data were collected through semi-structured telephone interviews. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring patterns across narratives.

Result: Findings reveal profound psychological trauma characterised by fear, grief, and emotional distress, alongside disruptions to personal and collective identity. Survivors employed culturally embedded coping strategies such as spirituality, communal support, economic engagement, and meaning-making to manage distress.

Conclusion: The study concludes that communal conflict produces enduring psychological and identity-related consequences, while culture plays a central role in shaping coping and resilience.

Unique Contribution: The study contributes culturally grounded empirical evidence to crosscultural psychology by highlighting indigenous coping mechanisms among conflict survivors in the part of Nigeria investigated.

Key Recommendation: The study recommends that psychosocial interventions should be provided by mental health professionals and such interventions should be culturally sensitive, community-based, and integrated into post-conflict recovery frameworks.

Navigating security versus privacy issues in the use of AI-based surveillance systems In Anambra State, nigeria

2026-05-15T15:36:20+00:00

Background: In today’s world, artificial intelligence (AI) technology is permeating every sector with impressive smartness. It is also creating new challenges that signal the limitation of the technology. Despite the immense contributions of AI-based surveillance systems (ABSSs) in the area of national security, they still have risk of infringing on the privacy rights of individuals. This constitutes one of the existential problems in Anambra State.

Objective: This study explored this dilemma of the conflicting demands of security and privacy in the use of ABSSs in Anambra State.

Method: Google form survey method was used to collate primary data from the sample population of 384 citizens. Data analysis was done using frequency and percentage tables.

Results: The findings of the study revealed that majority of the citizens desire the adoption of ABSSs in the state, but are equally worried about the possible violation of their privacy rights.

Conclusion: Although the citizens desire the adoption of ABSSs by the government to foster security, there is need to checkmate the adoption and use of ABSSs to forestall privacy violations.

Unique Contribution: This research uniquely contributes policy-relevant evidence by demonstrating the coexistence of public support for AI-driven security and concern for privacy rights, thereby informing the design of balanced, privacy-conscious surveillance policies in Anambra State and similar contexts.

Key Recommendation: The study recommended that stakeholders should work in collaboration to achieve ABSSs that are privacy-friendly in Anambra State.

Communicating adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for sustainable healthcare decision-making in Federal Teaching Hospital Abakiliki (FETHA), Ebonyi State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T15:40:26+00:00

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly recognised as a strategic tool for improving healthcare decision-making and advancing sustainable development. However, in many developing countries, including Nigeria, AI adoption remains limited despite supportive policy frameworks.

Objective: This study examined how communication influences the adoption of Artificial Intelligence for sustainable healthcare decision-making in Federal Teaching Hospital Abakiliki (FETHA), Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Method: Adopting descriptive survey research design, Cochran’s formula was used to get the sample size of 80 health professionals and administrative staff of FETHA comprising of 35 Doctors, 25 Nurses and 20 administrative staff who were sampled using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected through a combination of questionnaire and online survey with a consistency coefficient of 0.81, while data were analysed using descriptive statistics and presented using frequency tables and percentages.

Results: There was moderate to high awareness of AI among healthcare professionals and administrative staff of FETHA which posits that the adoption of innovation is influenced by perceived relative advantages, compatibility, trainability and observability. Effective communication significantly influences trust and acceptance of AI technologies among healthcare professionals and administrative staff of FETHA in Ebonyi State. Transparent communication on data privacy ethical standards, and the role of artificial intelligence in clinical decision making was perceived as essential for building confidence.

Conclusion: This study concludes that communication is a critical determinant of AI adoption in Ebonyi State’s healthcare sector. While AI offers significant potential for improving sustainable decision making, its effectiveness depends largely on how well its benefits, risks, and ethical safeguards are communicated.

Unique Contribution: This study has offered new insight into the increasing influence of communication on AI adoption for sustainable decision. Without deliberate communication strategies including training, participatory dialogue, and ethical transparency AI adoption may remain limited despite policy support. Hopefully, policymakers, healthcare practitioners, and communication experts will find this fresh insight useful in planning more effective communication flow, strong stakeholder engagement and sufficient information dissemination mechanisms on AI adoption in health institutions in Ebonyi State. This will enable Ebonyi State and Nigeria as a whole to harness AI's full potential for sustainable healthcare decision-making.

Key Recommendation: Ebonyi State Healthcare Institution should develop clear, transparent and consistent communication strategies that will explain purpose and benefit of AI technologies. Regular training programmes, workshop and professional development initiative should be organized to improve healthcare professionals and administrative staff’s understanding and use of AI system. Communication frameworks should be incorporated into state and institutional health policies to ensure sustainable AI adoption.

Evaluation of planning strategies for water stress management and sustainable urban development in Maiduguri Metropolis, Nigeria

2026-05-15T15:45:53+00:00

Background: Urban water stress has emerged as a major environmental and planning challenge in many semi ‑ arid cities of Sub-Saharan Africa due to rapid population growth, climate variability, and inadequate infrastructure. Maiduguri Metropolis in north-Eastern Nigeria increasingly experiences water shortages, prompting residents to adopt various coping strategies to meet domestic water needs.

Objective: This study evaluated household coping strategies for water stress and examines their implications for sustainable urban development in Maiduguri Metropolis, Nigeria.

Method: A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was adopted. Primary data were collected from 380 households using a structured questionnaire administered through stratified random sampling across selected residential wards. Supplementary data were obtained through interviews with officials from the Borno State Water Board. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages.

Result: The findings reveal that the most common coping strategies include walking long distances to fetch water (31%), purchasing water from vendors (25%), and storing water in containers (18%). Less common strategies include rainwater harvesting and private borehole development. These coping mechanisms are largely reactive and unsustainable.

Conclusion: The study concludes that water stress in Maiduguri Metropolis is primarily driven by inadequate urban water infrastructure and weak water governance, forcing residents to depend on temporary coping mechanisms.

Unique contribution: The study contributes to urban planning literature by demonstrating how household coping practices reflect systemic deficiencies in urban water governance in semi ‑ arid cities.

Key Recommendation: The study recommends integrating Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) into urban planning policies, expanding decentralised water infrastructure, and strengthening institutional coordination to ensure a sustainable urban water supply.

Framing The farmer–herder conflict: A comparative analysis of solutions-oriented vs blame-oriented narratives in Daily Trust and The Punch newspapers (January–June 2018)

2026-05-15T15:48:39+00:00

Background: The farmerherder conflict in Nigeria’s Middle Belt has escalated from localised disputes into a significant humanitarian crisis. Media representation plays a pivotal role in shaping public perception and conflict dynamics; however, empirical research comparing blameoriented versus solution-oriented framing remains limited.

Objective: This study analysed how The Daily Trust and The Punch newspapers framed the conflict in Benue State between January and June 2018, specifically quantifying the prevalence of blame versus reconciliation narratives.

Method: Guided by Entman’s framing theory, the study employed a mixed -methods content analysis of 20 purposively sampled news reports, editorials, and opinion pieces.

Results: Blame-oriented frames slightly predominated (55%) over solutions-oriented frames ( 45% ). The Punch favoured accusatory narratives, whereas The Daily Trust exhibited a more balanced approach. Reporting was largely episodic, focusing on immediate violence rather than thematic which will address long-term structural causes. While the media fulfills an accountability “watchdog|” role, the high frequency of blam e-oriented reporting risks deepening communal polarisation in Benue State.

Conclusion: Although The Daily Trust and The Punch provide essential oversight, the tendency to prioritise immediate blame over long-term solutions creates a volatile narrative environment that can exacerbate tensions in Benue State.

Unique Contribution: This study provides systematic, empirical evidence of the tension between accusatory and constructive journalism. It identifies the "Watchdog Paradox," where traditional accountability-seeking reporting inadvertently fuels ethnic and resource-based polarization during active crises.

Key Recommendation: Editors should adopt "solutions journalism" to shift the discourse toward sustainable reforms — such as modern ranching and community-led mediation — rather than focusing primarily on retributive demands.

Household and socio-economic drivers of per capita fuelwood consumption in Dorok District, Shendam local government area, Plateau State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T15:53:56+00:00

Fuelwood remains the dominant source of household energy in most rural communities of Nigeria, exerting increasing pressure on forest resources and household wellbeing This study quantified per capita fuelwood consumption and examined its relationship with household size, sex, and educational attainment in Dorok District, Shendam LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria. A total of 150 structured, closed-ended copies of questionnaires were administered using stratified random sampling, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests (Chisquare, one-way ANOVA, Spearman's rank correlation). Results showed that the average household size was 8 persons, with daily household fuelwood consumption averaging 14. 2 7 kg, equivalent to 1. 78 kg per person per day ( ≈ 649. 7 kg/person/year). Spearman's rank correlation revealed a perfect positive relationship between household size and per capita fuelwood consumption (p=1.0, P < 0.05), indicating that larger households consistently consume more fuelwood. Female-headed households consumed slightly more fuelwood than male-headed households (x 2 =4.15, P < 0.05), while educational attainment had no significant effect. Fuelwood consumption in Dorok District is driven primarily by household size and gender dynamics, rather than educational attainment. The study provides location-specific empirical evidence identifying household size as the strongest determinant of per capita fuelwood demand in rural Plateau State. Gender-sensitive energy policies, affordable clean cooking technologies, and sustainable forest management strategies that account for household demographics should be prioritized to reduce fuelwood dependence in rural communities.

Social impacts of hydroelectric dams on the livelihoods of select communities in Kainji and Jebba, Niger State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T16:20:58+00:00

Background: Hydroelectric dams are essential for energy security all over the world, including Nigeria, yet their social impacts often undermine the livelihoods of host communities. Despite significant investments in projects such as the Kainji and Jebba dams in Niger State, there have been minimal assessments on the social impacts of these dams on livelihood outcomes.

Objectives: To examine the social impact of hydroelectric dam (population displacement, health and security, cultural heritage loss, and poverty levels) on the livelihoods of selected communities in Kainji and Jebba, Niger State.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Using stratified random sampling, 437 copies of questionnaire were distributed to households in the two communities; 380 valid responses (86.95% response rate) were analysed with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression in SPSS version 25.

Results: All four social impact dimensions (population displacement, health and security, cultural heritage loss, and poverty levels) significantly influence livelihood outcomes (RZ = 0.696, p < 0.001). Loss of cultural heritage (β = 0.281) and population displacement (β = 0.293) emerged as the strongest predictors, followed by health and security (β = 0.231) and poverty outcomes (β = 0.131).

Conclusions: When properly managed, hydroelectric dams can enhance livelihoods through structured resettlement, health improvements, and economic diversification.

Unique contribution: This study will provide insight into the relationship between hydroelectric dams and the socio economic development of resettled communities in Kainji and Jebba. The findings will assist policymakers and stakeholders in designing effective interventions that address the specific needs of the study area.

Key recommendation: Based on the findings, the government, HYPPADEC, and dam management authorities should implement sustainable livelihood support programs, strengthen health and security services, and promote economic diversification in resettled communities. They should also encourage community participation and preserve cultural heritage to ensure that dam development leads to inclusive and sustainable socio-economic benefits for affected populations.

Framing of herdsmen and farmers’ crisis in select Nigerian newspapers (2020-2021)

2026-05-15T16:24:10+00:00

Background: The conflict between Farmers and herdsmen has been on for years, the Nigeria database has recorded 615 violent deaths related to cattle grazing, out of a total of 61,314 violent fatalities in Nigeria (2014). In an explorative study of relevant cases reported by the press across the 36 states from 2006 to May 2014. He was able to establish the frequency, intensity and the pattern of such conflict across Nigeria. This study examined the framing of herdsmen and farmers’ crisis in South -West Nigeria newspapers.

Objective: The objectives were to content analyse: the prominence accorded to the coverage of the herdsmen and farmers crisis in the selected newspapers; the sources of news in reporting the crisis; the extent to which Nigerian newspapers engaged in investigative journalism in coverage of the crises; the language used in the stories, and assess the framing patterns adopted by the selected newspapers. Framing and gate-keeping theories served as the theoretical framework.

Method: The study adopted the descriptive research design; it utilised quantitative and qualitative data generated through content analysis method and key informant interview. A coding guide and an interview guide were used as research instruments. Three national newspapers including the Punch Newspaper, Nigerian Tribune and Daily Trust Newspaper were purposively selected from January, 2020 to December, 2021.

Result: This study established that reports on herdsmenfarmers’ conflicts are still largely framed in ethnic slants and such frames do not support peace and conflict-sensitive journalism. Based on the findings

Conclusion: this study concludes that Journalists need to always cover both sides of the farmersherders’ conflict to ensure fairness while newspaper owners and stakeholders in the newspaper industry should intensify training programmes for journalists on conflict reporting.

Unique Contribution: Previous studies had generally examined media framing of herdsmenfarmers’ conflict in Nigeria but this study focused on the period the conflict was tense in the South-West sub-region. The study also established that reports on herdsmen-farmers’ conflicts are still largely framed in ethnic slants and such frames do not support peace and conflict-sensitive journalism.

Key Recommendation: fairness in journalistic reportage that cover both sides of the farmersherders’ conflict; to promote peace and conflict-sensitive journalism, journalists should desist from ethnic profiling of herdsmen in their reports. Newspaper owners and stakeholders in the newspaper industry should intensify training programmes for journalists on peace and conflictsensitive journalism.

Social media influence on informal diplomacy and humanitarian intervention in the May 2024 rescue of trafficked Nigerians in Mali

2026-05-15T16:30:16+00:00

Background: The rise in the use of social media has transformed how certain issues like humanitarian acts gain visibility and attract interventions. In transnational human trafficking, formal diplomatic processes and bureaucracy often delay and hinder rescue efforts, this has created a gap that non state actors increasingly attempt to fill through informal diplomatic engagement.

Objective: This paper examined the influence of social media as a tool for informal diplomacy and humanitarian intervention in the May 2024 rescue of a Nigerian victim of human trafficking in Mali. It specifically investigated the role that informal actors play in facilitating the release of the trafficked victim; evaluated how social media narratives during the rescue campaign shaped diplomatic actions and assessed how the government responded to the online pressure.

Method: Anchored on social network theory, the study adopted a qualitative research design, employing content and narrative analysis of social media interactions and advocacy campaigns during the rescue operation.

Results: Findings reveal that non-state actors such as activists, journalists and online publics were instrumental in mobilising attention and coordinating efforts. Social media platforms such as Instagram, Youtube and Facebook served as spaces for storytelling, networked mobilisation and engagement. Prevalent narratives framed around justice, empathy and national responsibility generated significant pressure which propelled institutional response and eventually contributed to the rescue of the victim.

Conclusion: The study concluded that social media has revolutionised classical diplomacy by encouraging citizen participation and strengthening informal diplomatic channels in humanitarian affairs.

Unique Contribution: It contributes to scholarship by demonstrating how social media-driven informal diplomacy can complement formal mechanisms in addressing the menace of human trafficking particularly in Africa.

Key Recommendation: The study recommends that a structured digital diplomacy framework be developed and government-citizen collaboration encouraged for timely humanitarian response.

Influence of faith-based social media messages on Christians’ perception and response to health crises in Lagos State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T16:35:56+00:00

Background: With the expansion of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube, religious leaders have increasingly used these channels to disseminate health information, spiritual guidance, and public health advisories. While faith-based messages can provide emotional reassurance and reinforce collective identity, their behavioural efficacy is uncertain.

Objective: This study investigates the influence of faith-based communication on perception and behaviours during health crises among Christians in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Method: Adopting a descriptive survey design, the study focused on an estimated population of 2,250 Christians drawn from four major denominations namely Daystar Christian Centre, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and the Roman Catholic Church, all in Ikosi – Isheri LCDA. Using purposive sampling, 178 respondents who actively engage with churchbased social media platforms were selected. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire with a consistency coefficient of 0.79 and analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages.

Results: The findings revealed that faith-based messages provide emotional support and foster trust, but their direct impact on concrete health decisions such as adherence to COVID-19 protocols and vaccination uptake remains limited. While a significant minority reported that faith shaped their pandemic behaviours more than government information, the majority relied on official health authorities for decisive action. These results highlight both the opportunities and constraints of faithdriven communication in health crises.

Conclusion: The study concludes that faith-based communication exerts stronger influence on psychological reassurance and perception framing than on evidence-based health behaviour adoption. To this end, religious platforms therefore function more effectively as trust-building and emotional support systems than as primary drivers of compliance with public health measures.

Unique Contribution: The study provides empirical evidence clarifying the behavioural limits of faith-driven messaging within a Nigerian crisis context, helping to distinguish perceptual influence from actionable health compliance.

Key Recommendation: Public health managers and policymakers should institutionalise partnerships with religious leaders, equipping them with accurate, science-based information that complement official messaging.

Public relations and patients’ awareness of nuclear medicine in public teaching hospitals in Rivers State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T17:24:20+00:00

Background: Nuclear medicine has proven to be a transformative tool in global healthcare; its awareness and adoption in Nigeria remain limited due to several factors, including insufficient public knowledge, misconceptions about radiation, inadequate infrastructure, and low accessibility to nuclear medicine facilities.

Objective: The study investigated the use of public relations as an effective tool for raising awareness of nuclear medicine in Nigeria.

Method: The study adopted a descriptive survey search design with a total population of 401. The population consisted of all patients in the Radioactive Unit at the University of Port Harcourt and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospitals in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Given that the population was 401, the sample size was 401. There was no need for sampling because a census was adopted in the study. The study employed a questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. It used the weighted mean score on a 4-point Likert scale as the method of data analysis. The study used the Weighted Mean Score as the method of data presentation.

Result: The results revealed that press releases, press conferences and social media platforms were the major tools used public relation professional used in publicity for nuclear medicine; budget constraints, poor management of negative reports of PR and lack of compliance with modern technologies were the major challenges the public relations tools faced in creating awareness on nuclear medicine, the study also found press releases, press conferences and social media platforms as the major tools used by public relations as publicity for nuclear medicine. The study recommends that nuclear medicine in Nigeria employ the services of a public relations officer or firm to help them create awareness, build reputation, promote their image and manage information as well as crisis.

Conclusion: The study concluded that there is effectiveness in the awareness creation of nuclear medicine since such awareness helps to prevent harmful radiation or environmental risks, leading to low fear and resistance toward its use in healthcare.

Unique Contributions: The study highlights the importance of leveraging public relations tools such as media campaigns, community outreach, social media engagement, and stakeholder advocacy to create a favourable awareness of nuclear medicine and how awareness and its acceptance prevent harmful radiation or environmental risks, leading to low fear and resistance toward its use in healthcare.

Key recommendations: The study also recommends that public relations professionals should engage in media relations to create awareness of nuclear medicine in Nigeria.

Assessing pre-service teachers' perceptions of gender equality and inclusive education in Nigeria

2026-05-15T17:28:56+00:00

Background: A major problem globally across education is gender inequality, as approximately 119 million girls are out of school worldwide. Structural factors like poverty, child marriage, and gender-based violence limit opportunities for female education. Despite this, there is a research gap in the persistent presence of gendered norms across schooling systems and society.

Objective: This study assessed pre-service teachers' perceptions of gender inequality and inclusion across educational contexts, in relation to school participation and learning environments.

Method: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted among pre-service teachers across three colleges of education in Enugu State and Taraba State, and in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Using semi-structured interviews, the study explored pre-service teachers' perceptions of gender inequality and inclusion. Data analysis was done using both content and sentiment analysis.

Result: The results show that pre-service teachers in the selected Colleges of Education in Nigeria perceive the existence of gender discrimination within the educational environments. Another finding of the study was that conventional gender norms influence students’ participation in classroom activities and their opportunities for leadership within the classroom environment. Study respondents also reported cases of discrimination based on gender and status, with privilege often attached to socioeconomic background. Even though there was an observable girl-centred empowerment, the structural disparities based on stereotypes and social class existed.

Conclusion: Although the efforts to empower women are evident, there are still educational experiences that are influenced by existing gender and socioeconomic inequalities, which is why the detailed, inclusive, and gender-responsive approach of teacher education is necessary.

Unique Contribution: This study provides context-specific baseline evidence on Nigerian preservice teachers’ perceptions of gender bias and discrimination, in classroom participation and leadership opportunities, and inclusion within the educational environment across several states.

Key Recommendation: Teacher education programmes should incorporate gender-specific work and practicum activities that are explicitly aimed at breaking stereotypes and demonstrating inclusive classroom practices that are continually reflected on and evaluated.

Gender differences in social media’s influence on peer pressure, celebrity worship, and substance use patterns among students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria

2026-05-15T17:33:44+00:00

Background: The rapid expansion of social media use among Nigerian youth has reconfigured patterns of peer interaction, identity formation, and behavioural socialisation within tertiary institutions, with celebrity culture increasingly shaping substance use behaviours. Despite growing concerns about substance use among Nigerian tertiary students, there is a dearth of integrative, gender-responsive studies examining the interplay between social media-mediated peer pressure, celebrity worship, and substance use patterns, neglecting the complex, mutually reinforcing dynamics and gender-specific pathways in this context.

Objective: This study investigates the interconnections between social media – mediated peer pressure, celebrity worship, and substance use behaviours, with particular attention to gender disparities.

Method: This study adopts a secondary data-based research design, leveraging existing datasets to explore relationships among peer pressure, celebrity worship, and substance use patterns. Instruments include: Peer Pressure Scale (PPS); Celebrity Attitude Scale (CAS); Substance Use Self-Report Inventory. Secondary data allows examination of trends and comparative analysis between male and female students.

Result: Findings indicate that social media functions as a powerful conduit of normative influence, where peer visibility and celebrity culture reinforce substance-related behaviours. Peer pressure emerged as a significant mediator linking social media engagement to celebrity-inspired substance use. However, the pathways of influence were distinctly gendered. Male students were more likely to engage in outcome-driven emulation of celebrity status and risk-taking behaviours, corresponding with higher frequency and diversity of substance use. Female students demonstrated stronger identification-based motivations shaped by relational validation, aspirational modelling, and image management within online peer networks.

Conclusion: The study concludes that effective prevention strategies must move beyond generic substance control approaches to incorporate digital literacy, peer-network interventions, and gender-sensitive psychosocial programming.

Unique contribution: The study advances existing literature by integrating peer dynamics, celebrity worship, and substance use within a gender-responsive model in the Nigerian context.

Key recommendations: A multidimensional framework that addresses social media dynamics, celebrity culture, and gendered identity processes is essential for mitigating risk behaviours and promoting healthier outcomes among tertiary students.

Impact of teaching experience on students learning in schools with inadequate facilities in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T17:39:37+00:00

Background: Inadequate teaching facilities remain a persistent challenge in many public secondary schools in Nigeria, undermining effective teaching and students’ learning outcomes. While prior studies have examined the impact of poor school infrastructure on educational performance, limited empirical attention has been given to how teaching experience shapes teachers’ coping strategies and perceptions in resource-constrained classrooms, particularly in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Objective: This study examined the impact of teaching experience on students’ learning in schools with inadequate facilities. Specifically, it explored teachers’ perceptions of facility constraints, identified contextual factors influencing their coping strategies, and assessed the perceived effects of these strategies on teaching outcomes.

Method: The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population comprised 7,484 public secondary school teachers across the eleven Local Government Areas in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. A sample of 300 teachers was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled Teacher Experience, Perceptions, and Coping Strategies in Resource-Limited Schools (TEPCS-RLS). Content validity was established through expert review, while reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.71. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (One-Way ANOVA and independent t-test) at a 0.05 level of significance.

Result: Findings revealed that teachers perceive inadequate facilities as having a significant negative effect on student engagement and academic performance. Collaboration among colleagues and participation in professional development activities emerged as key contextual supports for coping. Teaching experience was found to significantly influence teachers’ coping strategies, whereas gender showed no statistically significant difference.

Conclusion: Teaching experience enhances teachers’ capacity to adapt to and manage resource-constrained classroom environments. However, persistent infrastructural deficiencies continue to pose a major barrier to achieving optimal teaching effectiveness and improved student learning outcomes.

Unique Contribution: This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the moderating role of teaching experience in shaping adaptive coping strategies within resource-limited educational settings, an area that has received limited empirical focus in the Nigerian context.

Key Recommendation: The study recommends that educational policymakers prioritize the provision and improvement of school facilities while also investing in continuous professional development programmes that equip less-experienced teachers with practical coping strategies for resource-constrained environments.

Institutional readiness for implementing the 4-in-1 teacher training model in pre-service teacher education in selected colleges of education in Nigeria

2026-05-15T18:09:52+00:00

Background: Pre-service teacher education remains central to improving teaching quality in Nigeria, yet implementation gaps persist across institutional infrastructure, technology, and administrative systems. While innovative pedagogical reforms such as the 4-in-1 teaching model, integrating Jigsaw, problem-based learning, microteaching, and Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK), offer promise, successful adoption depends on institutional readiness. Empirical evidence on the infrastructural preparedness of Colleges of Education (CoEs) across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones remains limited.

Objective: This study assessed the readiness and capacity of six selected publicly funded Colleges of Education across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones for implementing the 4 -in-1 teacher training model.

Method: A quantitative cross-sectional institutional assessment was conducted using a 62-item structured observational checklist covering five domains: general institutional information, classroom infrastructure, technology and equipment, library and learning resources, and administrative support. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and proportions) in Microsoft Excel.

Results: Female students predominated across institutions, 54(89%), whereas academic staff were largely male, 52(77%). All colleges had classrooms, IT laboratories, microteaching facilities, and primary/secondary power supply. However, major gaps were identified, including limited classroom projectors (67% lacking), inadequate internet connectivity (33% lacking reliable access), absence of Learning Management Systems (100%), and limited educational software (67%). Security vulnerabilities (50% without structured security measures) and environmental risks such as flooding (reported in several institutions) threaten continuity of training activities.

Conclusion: Although basic instructional and technological infrastructure exists across the selected CoEs, critical digital, environmental, and security gaps may constrain effective implementation of the 4-in-1 pedagogical reform. Targeted investments in digital systems, connectivity, visual teaching aids, and institutional resilience are necessary for sustainable teacher education reform.

Unique Contribution: This study provides multi-regional, institution-level baseline evidence on infrastructural readiness for implementing an integrated pedagogical model within Nigeria’s public Colleges of Education.

Key Recommendations: Strengthen digital infrastructure through the introduction of Learning Management Systems and educational software; improve internet connectivity and classroom visual aids; reinforce institutional security and environmental safeguards; and promote balanced gender representation in staff recruitment and student enrolment policies.

A task-based analysis of entrepreneurship content in Grade II business studies textbooks used in secondary schools in South Africa

2026-05-15T18:15:12+00:00

Background: Although scholars have conducted research on Business Studies (BS) textbooks, their studies have primarily focused on textbook assessment tasks and content evaluation; a limited number of studies shift their attention to the task types used in these textbooks.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate how tasks were organised in the BS Textbooks with respect to their cognitive demands.

Method: Following a deductive content analysis and employing the Opportunity-to-Learn (OTL) framework, based on Bloom’s Taxonomy, data were generated from the two BS Textbooks for the 11th Grades to examine the nature and structure of entrepreneurship-related tasks in the textbooks.

Results: The study found that while the concept of entrepreneurship has received wide coverage in the extant literature, many BS textbooks continue to emphasize definitional knowledge and lower-order tasks rather than authentic, practical-oriented tasks that build entrepreneurial competencies. It was also found that the tasks primarily involved lower-order thinking, limiting opportunities for learning and cognitive development.

Conclusions: The study concludes that the cognitive goals and tasks for entrepreneurship in BS textbooks are not aligned with educational needs in Business studies. We therefore recommend that BS textbooks for Grade 11 in South Africa should be revisited.

Unique contribution: This study has contributed to the analysis of the cognitive level of tasks in Business Studies textbooks used in South African Secondary schools.

Key recommendations: This study recommends that future revisions of BS textbooks should incorporate more high-cognitive-demand tasks to enhance students' entrepreneurial skills.

Factors inhibiting goal attainment in public secondary schools in Cross River State, Nigeria: A path analytical model

2026-05-15T18:19:30+00:00

Background: The yearning for paper qualifications in Nigeria has resulted in many forms of corruption in schools. Despite governments efforts in achieving accountability and transparency within the system, the problem of poor output from public secondary schools still persists. However, there exists a gap in knowledge on the structural relationships among principal-related and contextual factors and how they jointly influence school goal attainment in Nigerian secondary schools. Much of the existing research focuses on isolated predictors and direct associations, with limited empirical attention to the direct and indirect pathways through which these variables operate. Addressing this gap requires the application of a path analytical approach to provide a more integrated and explanatory understanding of the determinants of school goal attainment among secondary school principals in Nigeria.

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine how corrupt practices such as nepotism/favouritism, absenteeism, embezzlement, bribery and forgery inhibit school goals attainment in public secondary schools in Cross River State using path analytical model.

Method: study adopted cross-sectional survey design approach, All the 272 principals in the 272 public secondary schools in Cross River Sate were used. Data were collected using a self-developed 66-item modified 4-point likert scale instrument with consistency coefficients ranging from 0.822 - 0.830, while analysis was subjected to Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using Analysis of MOment of Structure (AMOS), and presented using table and figure.

Results: The result revealed that there were significant direct predictive effects between absenteeism and school goal attainment, embezzlement and school goal attainment, bribery and school goal attainment and forgery and school goal attainment. The result also revealed that nepotism had significant positive predictive direct effects with absenteeism, embezzlement, bribery and forgery.

Conclusion: The study concluded that lack of transparency, increased teacher’s absenteeism, embezzlement, bribery, fraud, and impede quality education and school goal attainment. Bias, irresponsible and unaccountable school personnel hampers school goal attainment. Unique Contribution: This study has provided new insights into the factors Impeding goal attainment in public secondary schools in Cross River State, Nigeria. Hopefully, school authorities, policymakers, and government will find this fresh insight valuable in putting policies and measures to curb these menaces in our schools for the attainment of school goals.

Key Recommendation: Provision of comprehensive integrated monitoring systems to identify, checkmate and prevent corruption in the school environment.

Impact of digital media tools on academic delivery and administrative efficiency at Federal Polytechnic Orogun Delta State Nigeria

2026-05-15T18:22:46+00:00

Background: Effective institutional communication is central to academic delivery and administrative efficiency in tertiary institutions. However, the integration of digital media tools in emerging Nigerian polytechnics remains inconsistent, limiting their transformative potential.

Objective: This study examined the impact of digital media tools on academic delivery and administrative efficiency at Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, with a view to assessing usage patterns, benefits, and constraints.

Method: The study adopted a descriptive survey design using a mixed-methods approach. Data were collected from academic staff, administrative personnel, and students through structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, and document analysis. A stratified random sampling technique ensured adequate representation of stakeholder groups, while data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

Results: Findings revealed that WhatsApp, Google Classroom, Zoom, institutional email, and portals enhance timely information sharing and lecturer – student engagement. Nevertheless, adoption remains uneven due to unreliable internet connectivity, limited digital literacy, inadequate ICT infrastructure, and absence of structured policy implementation.

Conclusion: The study concludes that although digital media tools significantly improve communication processes, their effectiveness is constrained by infrastructural, policy, and capacity gaps, thereby limiting optimal institutional performance.

Unique Contribution: The study provides empirical evidence on digital transformation within a newly established Nigerian polytechnic and advances understanding of how organizational readiness and media suitability shape digital adoption in higher education.

Key Recommendation: Institutional leaders should develop comprehensive ICT policies, invest in sustainable digital infrastructure, and implement continuous capacity-building programmes to ensure coordinated and effective integration of digital communication systems.

Communicating innovative potentials of students through creative drama in preparatory secondary school, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T18:26:32+00:00

Background: Creativity is essential for invention, innovation, and personal development, yet it appears under-appreciated in many formal educational settings. Despite the benefits of creative dramatics in enhancing innovative potentials, there is a dearth of research on its implementation in Nigerian secondary schools, particularly in Calabar.

Objective: This study examined how the innovative potentials of students could be cultivated through creative dramatics at Calabar Preparatory International School.

Method: The study adopted a qualitative research design. A total of 25 participants, 20 students from two arms of Junior Secondary School One (JSS1) and 5 teachers were selected using random sampling. Primary data were collected through observation and interviews, while data analysis was conducted narratively.

Results: Findings revealed that both students and teachers initially had little or no knowledge of creative drama, and students exhibited low confidence during pre-test activities. The students were posttested and the students’ performance significantly improved, demonstrating increased creativity and teamwork.

Conclusion: The study concludes that creative drama is an effective method for cultivating students’ innovative potentials, enhancing confidence, collaborative skills, and creative thinking.

Unique Contribution: This study contributes to educational scholarship by providing empirical evidence of how creative drama can be integrated into school curricula to foster creativity and problem-solving skills.

Key Recommendation: The study recommends that teachers and instructors adopt creative drama techniques in teaching, while schools provide environments that encourage students to think independently, develop ideas, and engage in imaginative, interactive learning activities.

Exposure and trust in online political messages in the age of social media algorithms among voters in South-South, Nigeria

2026-05-15T18:33:56+00:00

Background: The increasing reliance on social media platforms for political communication has amplified the role of algorithmic curation in shaping voters’ exposure to political messages. In South- South Nigeria, social media algorithms increasingly determine the visibility and frequency of political content, with implications for voter trust, belief formation and democratic participation.

Objective: This study examined the influence of social media algorithms on voters’ exposure to online political messages and the level of trust such messages command among registered voters in South-South Nigeria.

Method: Anchored on the Uses and Gratifications Theory, the study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population comprised registered voters in South-South Nigeria, with Edo, Delta and Rivers States purposively selected due to their large voter populations, high urbanisation levels, active political engagement and widespread use of social media platforms. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission final voter register for the 2023 general elections, Edo State had 2,501,081 registered voters, Delta State 3,221,697 and Rivers State 3,537,190, giving a combined total of approximately 9,259,968 registered voters. A sample of 400 respondents was selected using a multistage purposive sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed using frequency distributions, percentages and mean scores.

Result: Findings indicate a high level of exposure to algorithm curated political messages among voters (mean = 3.94), as well as substantial awareness of algorithmic recommendations (mean = 3.82). Trust in online political messages was moderate (mean = 3.24); however, repeated exposure significantly enhanced confidence and belief in political content (means ranging from 3.30 to 3.61). Demographic variables, particularly age (mean = 3.39) and educational attainment (mean = 3.80), significantly influenced trust in online political messages.

Conclusion: The study concludes that social media algorithms play a central role in contemporary political communication by shaping selective exposure patterns and influencing voter trust in political messages.

Unique Contribution: The study provides empirical insight into how algorithm driven content curation affects voter exposure and trust within the Nigerian electoral context, with specific evidence from South South Nigeria.

Key Recommendation: The study recommends enhanced media literacy initiatives, improved algorithmic transparency by social media platforms and the promotion of critical engagement with online political content to curb misinformation and strengthen democratic participation.

Media literacy and digital awareness as tools for combating disinformation among undergraduates of Kwara State University and University of Ilorin, Nigeria

2026-05-15T18:38:16+00:00

Background: The proliferation of disinformation across digital platforms represents a significant challenge for undergraduates in Nigerian higher education. Despite the growing availability of online information, many students lack the critical media literacy competencies required to assess, verify, and contextualise digital content effectively. At Kwara State University and the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, limited and inconsistent integration of media literacy into university curricula has left students vulnerable to manipulation, misinformation, and poorly informed decision-making.

Objective: This study investigated media literacy among undergraduates at Kwara State University and the University of Ilorin, with a focus on their exposure to disinformation, evaluative competencies, verification practices, perceived challenges, and strategies for improvement.

Method: A descriptive survey design was adopted. A structured questionnaire was administered electronically via Google Forms to a sample of 3,532 respondents (2,064 from the University of Ilorin and 1,468 from Kwara State University), recruited through a combination of snowball and convenience sampling. The instrument was validated by three subject-matter experts and pilot-tested among 50 students to ensure reliability. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean scores, and standard deviations.

Results: Respondents reported high exposure to disinformation, including forwarded messages, sensationalised headlines, unverified news, and manipulated multimedia (weighted mean = 3.11). However, media literacy competencies (weighted mean = 2.16) and verification practices (weighted mean = 2.37) were both below the criterion mean of 2.50, indicating moderate and largely informal engagement. Key challenges included information overload, inadequate training, peer influence, and limited access to fact-checking tools (weighted mean = 2.55).

Conclusion: A significant gap exists between high disinformation exposure and underdeveloped evaluative competencies among Nigerian undergraduates, highlighting the urgent need for structured, curriculum-integrated media literacy interventions.

Unique Contribution: This study provides empirical evidence on the interplay between exposure, evaluative competencies, and institutional strategies in shaping digital literacy outcomes among Nigerian undergraduates, thereby informing future research, and curriculum design.

Key Recommendation: Universities should implement media literacy programmes emphasising skills to help undergraduates evaluate online information and reduce the spread of disinformation.

Perceived credibility of online news media among Lagos State local government workers

2026-05-15T18:42:34+00:00

Background: The rise of online news media has transformed how information is produced, distributed, and consumed, raising concerns about news credibility in the digital age. While previous studies have focused largely on youths, limited attention has been given to grassroots public-sector workers.

Objective: This study therefore examines the perceived credibility of online news media among Lagos State local government workers, with specific attention to their preferred platforms and credibility assessments.

Method: Guided by Source Credibility and Media Credibility theories, the study adopted a quantitative approach of survey. Using multistage sampling, two local government areas were selected from each of the three senatorial districts (Eti- Osa, Lagos Mainland, Kosofe, Ikorodu, Alimosho and Ikeja) making six local government areas while 400 workers were sampled for the survey. Data were collected using the Online News Credibility Questionnaire. Of the 400 copies of questionnaires, 316 were returned and analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Findings show that respondents expressed relatively high trust in online radio/podcasts (76.9%), online television (73.4%), and online newspapers (66.5%), but significantly lower trust in social media sources like Facebook (38.2%), WhatsApp (31.6%), and X (23.3%). Key determinants of credibility include institutional reputation (78.5%), affiliation with established traditional media (74.7%), cross-platform corroboration (67.7%), writer credibility (58.5%), and personal experience (56.7%). Major challenges encountered include overwhelming news volume (61.4%), inadequate funds for data subscriptions (59.2%), and the difficulty of filtering misinformation (49.4%).

Conclusion: The study concludes that online news organisations must enhance transparency, maintain editorial integrity, and strengthen brand credibility to sustain audience trust.

Unique Contribution: This study has contributed and expanded the knowledge in the area of credibility of online news media among government workers at the grassroots. It has confirmed that government workers are exposed to fake news and are able to discern the fake news through multiple confirmations.

Key Recommendation: The study recommends that there should be transparency, editorial integrity and a strong brand reputation to maintain high level of credibility among audience.

Impact of social media on public trust in government crisis communication in Nigeria

2026-05-15T19:01:55+00:00

Background: Social media has emerged as a critical channel for government communication in the digital era, particularly during crises when timely information, public reassurance, and trust-building are essential. In Nigeria, recurrent national emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the #EndSARS protests have intensified government reliance on social media platforms for crisis response. However, public trust in government communication remains contested, especially in environments characterised by misinformation, political scepticism, and heightened public scrutiny.

Objective: This study examined the role of Social Media on Public Trust in Government Crisis Communication in Nigeria, using the Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) as the guiding theoretical framework.

Method: The study adopted a content analysis research design. Official social media posts and public comments from verified Nigerian government accounts on Twitter (X) and Facebook were analysed. Data were drawn from two major crisis contexts: the COVID-19 pandemic and the #EndSARS protests. Government messages were examined alongside audience reactions to assess communication strategies, public sentiment, and indicators of trust.

Results: Findings revealed notable differences in public reactions across crisis contexts. Government crisis communication during the #EndSARS protests attracted predominantly negative public responses (60%), reflecting distrust and perceived communication failure. In contrast, communication during the COVID-19 pandemic generated more balanced reactions, with 40% positive and 30% negative responses. Overall, the effectiveness of government crisis messaging was strongly influenced by message consistency, transparency, and perceived credibility.

Conclusion: The study concludes that while social media offers significant opportunities for effective government crisis communication in Nigeria, its success in fostering public trust depends mainly on how messages are framed, delivered, and sustained. Inconsistencies, delayed responses, and credibility gaps undermine public confidence, particularly during politically sensitive crises.

Unique Contribution: This study provides empirical evidence into the differential impact of government social media communication across distinct crisis types in Nigeria, highlighting how public trust is shaped not merely by platform use but by strategic communication choices within crisis contexts.

Key Recommendation: The study recommends that government agencies adopt more proactive, transparent, and responsive digital crisis communication strategies. Continuous engagement, prompt clarification of misinformation, and trust-centred messaging are essential for strengthening public confidence in government during future crises.

Influence of online forum on academic performance of undergraduates of Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria

2026-05-15T19:05:57+00:00

Background: The proliferation of social media technologies has significantly reshaped communication patterns among undergraduate students of Universities in Nigeria. This had given rise to the use of online forum. The online forum is a created application such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and other digital network which serves as an interactive space where undergraduate students exchange ideas, share academic materials, and maintain social connections. While online forum holds the potential to enhance collaborative learning and academic engagement, their unregulated and often informal nature has raised concerns about their impact on students’ academic performance. In many cases, these forums are dominated by non-academic discussions, distractions, and excessive time consumption, which may detract from meaningful learning activities. Though studies exist in this area, but there remains a gap in knowledge on the specific ways in which online forum participation influences the academic performance of undergraduates in a digitally growing institution like Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Objective: This study examined the impact of online forum on the academic performance of undergraduate students of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.

Method: The study adopted in this study was descriptive survey design. The population was made up of 3,689 undergraduate students of Ebonyi State University Abakaliki and sample size of 400 was gotten through Taro Yamane’s sampling formula. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the participants or respondents. Based on the sample size, questionnaire was used as instrument of data collection.

Result: Findings show that: majority of the undergraduates belong to and make use of one form of online forum or the other, students online forums exist for other reasons than for academics and there is poor attitude/performance to learning among the undergraduate students in Ebonyi State University.

Conclusion: This study concludes that online forum via social media negatively affects the academic performance of the undergraduate students, thereby causing negligence and poor performance in academic activities.

Unique Contribution: This study will be useful to the undergraduate students and lecturers of Ebonyi State University by exposing online forums as influencer of poor academic performance of the undergraduates and as well guide them on how to overcome it.

Key Recommendation: The Ebonyi State University authority should educate and sensitize students on the use of online forum for academics by providing online regulatory measures that will checkmate online activities of all students, to encourage them on online academic purposes such as assessing materials for their studies online. The students should be followed up on the use of online forums through formulated rules and regulations in the university by setting up online checking mechanism via an app or platform against the ills of online forums in the University.

Use of emojis and emoticons in face-threatening acts and mitigation on WhatsApp among law undergraduates of Godfrey Okoye University and University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus

2026-05-15T19:08:32+00:00

Background: The increasing use of WhatsApp among university students has transformed patterns of interpersonal communication, particularly in academic contexts where interaction often involves requests, corrections, and disagreements. These exchanges can threaten participants’ social image, making the management of face-threatening acts an important aspect of digital communication. Emojis and emoticons have emerged as key resources for conveying tone and maintaining social balance in such interactions. However, while several studies have examined emoji use in digital communication, there remains a gap in understanding how emojis and emoticons are used specifically to mitigate face-threatening acts in WhatsApp interactions among Nigerian law undergraduates.

Objective: This study examined how undergraduate law students in Nigeria use these visual markers in WhatsApp communication to mitigate face-threatening acts, with particular attention to requests, corrections, disagreements, and interactional repair.

Method: A qualitative research design was adopted. WhatsApp messages were purposively collected from undergraduate law students at Godfrey Okoye University and the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. The population of the study consisted of undergraduate law students in the selected universities, from which a sample of 50 participants was drawn through purposive sampling based on their willingness to share relevant WhatsApp interactions involving face-threatening acts. The data were anonymised and analysed using Brown and Levinson’s Politeness Theory (1987) and Crystal’s Internet Linguistics (2011). A discourse-analytic approach was employed to identify patterns in the use, placement, and functions of emojis in managing face-threatening acts and the data were presented as selected anonymised WhatsApp chat excerpts organised into thematic categories.

Results: The findings revealed that emojis were used strategically to soften requests, reduce the force of corrections and disagreements, and repair potentially offensive statements. Preemptive, inline, and post-hoc placement played distinct roles in shaping interpretation. While some emojis promoted friendliness and solidarity, others introduced ambiguity or, in some cases, intensified tension. The analysis also showed that group context and local interactional norms influenced how these markers were interpreted and used.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates that emojis function as important pragmatic tools in WhatsApp communication, enabling students to balance clarity with politeness in an academic environment. Their use reflects an awareness of social relationships and the need to manage face in both private and group interactions.

Unique Contribution: This study provides insight into how visual digital resources operate as part of language use in Nigerian academic contexts, highlighting their role as context-sensitive tools for managing interpersonal meaning in computer-mediated communication.

Key Recommendation: It is recommended that students and educators develop greater awareness of the communicative functions of emojis in academic interactions, and that digital communication skills, including the appropriate use of such visual markers, be incorporated into academic training.

Leadership styles and employee performance in Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T19:15:31+00:00

Background: Nigerian universities have faced leadership challenges manifesting as organisational politics, and power tussles, resulting in employee dissatisfaction. Understanding how leadership styles influence employee performance is crucial for institutional effectiveness despite extensive research on leadership styles and employee performance, limited studies have examined their relative effects within Nigerian universities, particularly in the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. Additionally, existing literature largely overlooks contextual influences on leadership effectiveness. This study addresses these gaps by providing comparative, context-specific evidence from the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

Objectives: assess the influence of autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire leadership styles on employees' performance in Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted. The target population comprises of all employees in the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. Data were collected from 356 respondents using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and inferential analysis (ANOVA and correlation coefficient) were used to test hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance using SPSS.

Results: All three leadership styles showed significant positive influence on employees' performance. Laissez-faire leadership emerged as the strongest predictor (Beta = 0.539, p < 0.001), followed by autocratic (Beta = 0.335, p < 0.001) and democratic (Beta = 0.273, p < 0.001). The model explained 22.9% of variance in performance (R^² = 0.229, F = 7.977, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Leadership styles significantly influence employee performance in in the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. Granting employees autonomy and independence appears most effective, though a blended approach considering context is recommended.

Unique Contribution: This study contributes to organisational practice and scholarship by clarifying how leadership styles influence employee performance in the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State by identifying practical mediators such as engagement and trust that human resource can target. It also highlights the risks of inconsistent leadership and provides evidence-based guidance for managers and HR professionals in designing effective leadership development strategies aligned with task demands.

Recommendation: The Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, management should promote participative leadership by encouraging staff involvement in decision-making, open communication, and valuing employees’ contributions. Additionally, greater autonomy should be granted to academic and professional staff through laissez-faire leadership, while democratic leadership should guide institutional decisions and autocratic leadership should be applied only when necessary for urgent or highly structured tasks.

Impact of students union politics on academic performance: A comparative analysis of two Nigerian public higher education institutions

2026-05-15T19:19:51+00:00

Background: Student union politics in tertiary institutions is widely recognized as a platform for leadership development, civic participation, and democratic engagement among undergraduates. However, active involvement in political activities often creates competing demands between political responsibilities and academic obligations, potentially affecting students’ academic performance.

Objective: This study assessed the influence of student union politics on academic performance, identified strategies for mitigating its negative consequences, and compared institutional approaches to managing these challenges in Nigerian public higher education institutions.

Method: The study adopted a qualitative comparative case study design involving the University of Ibadan and the Polytechnic of Ibadan. Using purposive sampling, thirty key informants (15 from each institution) — including student union leaders, academic staff, and administrative personnel — were selected. Data were collected through semi-structured key informant interviews using the Academic Outcomes and Student Politics Interview Schedule (AOSPIS) and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results: Findings revealed that participation in student politics enhances leadership skills, communication competence, and civic awareness. However, it also imposes significant time and role demands that often conflict with academic responsibilities. While most respondents reported negative academic implications, a minority acknowledged positive academic outcomes.

Conclusion: The study concludes that although student politics is valuable for leadership development, excessive involvement can undermine academic performance due to role conflict between political and academic responsibilities.

Unique Contribution: This study contributes to existing literature by offering comparative institutional insights into how Nigerian tertiary institutions manage the intersection of student political engagement and academic performance.

Key Recommendation: The study recommends the institutionalisation of structured mentorship programmes, the development of clear policies regulating student political activities, and the provision of mandatory counselling support for student leaders to promote a balance between academic and political responsibilities.

Sports betting advertising on X and gambling behaviour among youths in Sango Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T19:23:14+00:00

Background: The rapid expansion of sports betting advertising on social media platforms has intensified concerns about its influence on youth gambling behaviour in Nigeria. X (formerly Twitter) has become a major channel for betting promotions through sponsored posts, influencer endorsements, and real-time sports engagement. Despite increasing exposure, there is limited empirical evidence on how such advertising shapes gambling behaviour among youths in semi-urban communities like Sango Ota, Ogun State.

Objective: This study examined the influence of sports betting advertising on X on gambling behaviour among youths in Sango Ota, with particular attention to exposure frequency, advertisement types, perceived credibility, and socio-economic mediating factors. The study was anchored on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Social Learning Theory.

Method: A descriptive survey research design was adopted. A total of 350 youths aged 18 – 35 years residing in Sango Ota were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequency counts and percentages, with results presented in tables.

Results: Findings revealed a high level of exposure to sports betting advertisements on X, particularly through sponsored posts, influencer retweets, and advertisements displayed during live sports events. Bonus promotions, attractive odds, and celebrity endorsements were identified as the most engaging forms of advertising. The study further established that exposure significantly influenced youths’ gambling attitudes and practices, increasing interest and encouraging participation in sports betting. Although many respondents acknowledged exaggeration in promotional messages, the advertisements were still perceived as persuasive. Income level, peer influence, and personal interest in sports were found to mediate gambling behaviour.

Conclusion: The study concludes that sports betting advertising on X significantly shapes gambling behaviour among youths in Sango Ota. Repeated exposure, persuasive messaging, and social influence mechanisms contribute to the normalization and practice of sports betting among young people.

Unique Contribution: This study contributes to literature by providing empirical evidence on how social media-based gambling advertising interacts with socio-economic and peer dynamics to influence youth behaviour in a Nigerian semi-urban context.

Key Recommendation: There is a need for stricter regulation of online gambling advertisements, strengthened digital media literacy programmes for youths, and enforcement of responsible advertising standards to reduce potential gambling-related harms.

Assessment of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) digital voter education approach on Facebook and X in the 2019 and 2023 general elections in Nigeria

2026-05-15T19:36:10+00:00

Background: With the rise of digital media, voter education has gained prominence and become more consolidated in many democracies. Prior to Nigeria's general elections of 2019 and 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) used social media platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) to educate voters, but despite the increased use of these platforms, there have not yet been sufficient empirical studies analysing how thriving, what possibilities exist, and what bounds are faced by INEC's digital voter education programme during these election years, as well as how INEC's digital voter education content evolved between the two elections.

Objective: This study focused on voter education strategies, opportunities, and challenges on Facebook and X by INEC in the 2019 and 2023 general elections.

Method: This study employed a qualitative approach with data collection of four in depth interviews with staff from the Voter Education and Publicity Department and the INEC Citizens Contact Centre (ICCC). A total of 146 posts from INEC’s verified Facebook and X accounts were collected and analyzed thematically. Diffusion of Innovations and Technological Determinism theories were used for framework, while descriptive and thematic methods were utilized for analysis.

Results: Findings show that INEC has improved its digital strategies for educating voters from 2019 to 2023. The 2023 strategies were much more structured than the 2019 strategies which were experimental, and less interactive. Collaborating with civil society organisations, influencers and communication strategists, INEC addressed online misinformation using approaches such as live question and answer sessions, infographics and dynamic content. Nonetheless, INEC's advertising budget, platform specific restrictions, algorithmic delays and technical limitations made it difficult for the Commission to achieve all of its goals.

Conclusion: The study concludes that the Commission's entry into Facebook and X is a significant improvement in Digital Voter Education in Nigeria; however, INEC's improved strategic use of social media in 2023 still had structural and technical challenges that limited the overall achievement of its goals.

Unique Contribution: This paper has provided new linear perspective to the Nigerian electoral body’s use of social media for voter education, ranging from social innovation, institutional learning partnership/collaboration, and their impacts on digital voter outreach process.

Key Recommendation: This paper calls for the adoption of constituency-based comprehensive, datadriven, digitally integrated voter education campaigns that are likely to result in increased budgetary provisions and operational functional integration for online voter education initiatives as well as partnerships and collaboration between civil society organisations, Facebook, X, and local organisations for greater technical preparedness for future digital education campaigns.

Social media and political communication: A systematic review

2026-05-15T19:40:34+00:00

Background: The rise of social media comes with it the opportunity to influence political communication. This is because of the ease with which social media help political leaders to access their followers and the citizenry to participate in the political process. There is therefore the need to understand the direction of research regarding social media and political communication in Africa in relations to mostly the developed world.

Objective: Based on this, the researchers conduct a comparative analysis of how scholars have investigated the subject of political communication and social media use in Africa and other parts of the world.

Method: To do this, the researchers employed a systematic review which analysed empirical articles in the said area among African and non-African States from 2015 to 2024. The study was conducted qualitatively and quantitatively.

Findings: Findings show that, even though the phenomenon is developing faster in the Western world, it is also a growing occurrence in Sub-Saharan Africa with recent political activities and discourse being directed by social media. Also, results suggest that X and Facebook are the most used social media platforms by the reviewed articles. Four dominant themes emerge in the analysis, which are ‘misinformation and deception,’ ‘bias and polarization,’ ‘political agenda setting and public opinion,’ and ‘political engagement and interactivity.’ It is observed that the African studies project the positive use of social media in the political discourse more than the non-African studies which focus more on the negative impact.

Conclusion: The researchers conclude that social media use is fast becoming a major political communication tool globally with growing interest in Africa, which has capacity to influence the political discourse positively and negatively.

Unique Contribution: This study adds to studies in the area of social media use and political communication by observing how the phenomenon is unfolding in Africa as compared to other prats of the world, mostly the Western nations. This would help to place in scholarship the extent to which Africa is adapting the phenomenon viz-a-viz the state of adaptation by other countries of the world.

Key Recommendation: Having determined the extent of use of social media in Africa, the researchers recommend further studies into the use of social media and traditional communication in Africa. This would help to reveal the extent to which modern communication technology is influencing the ethnic discourse in the various societies of Africa.

Radio healthcare messages and application of safety measures in response to the resurgence of HIV/AIDS in Abakaliki Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T19:45:10+00:00

Background: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has long remained a significant global public health challenge. In response, sustained efforts involving medical advancements and social mobilisation have been deployed to curb its spread through the promotion of preventive measures. However, recent signs of resurgence in parts of Nigeria amid a growing sense of complacency due to earlier successes have raised fresh concerns. In Ebonyi State, the State Action Committee on HIV/AIDS (EBOSACA) reported, in the last quarters of 2025, a resurgence of HIV/AIDS in three Local Government Areas, with Abakaliki LGA recording the highest prevalence. This trend is particularly troubling given the continued dissemination of HIV/AIDS awareness messages through radio broadcasts in the state. Although numerous studies have examined media campaigns on HIV/AIDS, there remains a paucity of research assessing the effectiveness of radio health messages in influencing preventive behaviours within specific local contexts such as Abakaliki LGA.

Objectives: This study investigated the level of knowledge and application of radio messages on preventive measures against HIV/AIDS among residents of Abakaliki Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Method: The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population comprised adult residents of Abakaliki LGA. Using the 2006 Census data, the projected population of residents aged 12 years and above was estimated at approximately 269,000 as of December 31, 2025. Using the Australian online sample size calculator, a sample size of 400 was determined. A multi-stage sampling technique with a clustering approach was employed, and a 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire served as the instrument for data collection.

Results: The findings indicate that respondents possess significant knowledge of radio messages on HIV/AIDS preventive measures. However, they rarely apply these measures. Furthermore, the belief that HIV/AIDS prevalence has significantly declined in Ebonyi State-based on government announcements-emerged as a major inhibitor to the effectiveness of radio campaigns against the resurgence of the disease.

Unique Contribution: This study advances existing knowledge on media campaigns against HIV/AIDS by identifying key inhibitors to the translation of knowledge into practice during periods of disease resurgence.

Conclusion: Radio messages on HIV/AIDS preventive measures in Abakaliki LGA are not fully effective, as residents demonstrate low levels of adoption of the recommended practices.

Key Recommendation: The Ebonyi State Government and relevant development agencies, such as WHO, should adopt a more strategic approach in communicating progress made in HIV/AIDS control. Information on reduction rates should be carefully managed until there is reasonable certainty that the risk of resurgence has been effectively mitigated.

Youth empowerment and crime reduction in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T20:29:19+00:00

Background: Youth unemployment and limited opportunities for socio-economic development are major contributors to criminal activities in many parts of Nigeria, including Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State. These challenges increase vulnerability among youths, reduce social cohesion, and hinder community development. However, while, youth empowerment programmes have been implemented to mitigate these issues, their effectiveness in reducing youth involvement in crime remains under-researched in the context of Boki LGA of Cross River State.

Objective: The study examined the impact of youth empowerment programmes on crime reduction among youths in Boki LGA, Cross River State, Nigeria.

Method: The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A total of 350 youths, aged 18 – 35 years, were sampled from the communities in Boki LGA using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.92. Descriptive statistics, including frequency tables and percentages, were used to analyse the data.

Results: Findings show that while a majority of youths in Boki LGA were aware of empowerment initiatives, participation levels were moderate due to factors such as limited access, inadequate programme content, and socio-cultural barriers. Importantly, participants who engaged actively in skill acquisition, entrepreneurship, and community development programmes reported lower involvement in criminal activities compared to non-participants.

Conclusion: The study concludes that youth empowerment programmes in Boki LGA have a positive influence on crime reduction; however, challenges related to accessibility, content relevance, and social support limit their overall effectiveness.

Unique Contribution: The study provides empirical evidence linking youth empowerment interventions to crime reduction at the local government level in Nigeria, particularly in a rural context. It fills the gap in literature on localized youth development strategies and their practical impact on social security.

Key Recommendations: The Policymakers, community leaders, and development agencies should implement comprehensive, inclusive, and context-specific empowerment programmes that address barriers to participation and actively involve youths in design, execution, and monitoring of initiatives. Emphasis should be placed on sustainable skill acquisition, mentorship, and financial support to maximize the potential of youth-led crime reduction in Boki LGA.

Impact of gamification and collaborative teaching strategies on students’ achievement in periodic table concepts in technical secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T20:37:58+00:00

Background: The increasing demand for quality science education in the 21st century has highlighted the need for effective instructional strategies that enhance students’ understanding of abstract concepts in subjects like Chemistry. Despite the central role of Chemistry in scientific and technological advancement, students’ achievement remains poor, particularly in abstract topics such as the periodic table. This has been largely attributed to the persistent use of conventional teaching methods that fail to actively engage learners and support conceptual understanding.

Objective: The study investigated the effect of gamification and collaborative teaching strategies on students’ achievement in periodic table concepts in Technical Secondary Schools in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, as well as the influence of gender on students’ achievement.

Method: The study adopted a quasi-experimental design, specifically a pretest – posttest non-equivalent group design. The population comprised 5,452 Senior Technical One (ST1) students in seven technical secondary schools, while a sample of 97 students from two randomly selected schools was used. Data were collected using the Periodic Table Achievement Test (PTAT), which had a reliability coefficient of 0.84 determined using Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20). Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions, while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance.

Results: The findings revealed that there was a significant difference in students’ achievement in the periodic table when taught using gamification and collaborative teaching strategies, with gamification producing higher mean gain scores than collaborative teaching strategy. The results further indicated that there was no significant difference in the achievement of male and female students when taught using either of the teaching strategies.

Conclusion: The study concluded that gamification teaching strategy is more effective than collaborative teaching strategy in enhancing students’ achievement in periodic table concepts. It also established that both strategies provide equitable learning opportunities, as gender does not significantly influence students’ achievement.

Unique Contribution: This study provides empirical evidence on the comparative effectiveness of gamification and collaborative teaching strategies in teaching abstract Chemistry concepts, particularly the periodic table. It contributes to existing literature by demonstrating how game-based instructional approaches can improve students’ engagement, motivation, and achievement while minimizing gender disparities in learning outcomes.

Key Recommendation: It was recommended that Chemistry teachers should adopt gamification strategies such as quizzes, challenges, simulations, point systems, and competitive group tasks when teaching periodic table concepts to enhance students’ engagement and achievement.

Influence of Western culture on The Nigerian music industry in The 21^st Century

2026-05-15T20:42:59+00:00

Background: The impact of Western culture on Nigeria’s music industry has been a mix of revolutionary changes and traditional preservation. This change has a transformative force, shaping the sound, style, and global reach of indigenous music, including music creation and consumption, artist collaborations, and marketing.

Objective: This study investigated how Western culture influences the Nigerian music industry in the 21 ^st Century.

Method: Adopting the survey research design, 500 inhabitants of Nigeria who were 18 years and above were sampled using a multistage sampling technique. The respondents were selected from the six geo-political zones that constitute the configuration called Nigeria. The zones were North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-East, South-South and South-West. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire while analysis was done using simple frequency counts and percentages.

Results: Western culture has influenced Nigerian music production, as overwhelming majority of the respondents (82.6%) confirmed that Western culture has a positive influence on Nigerian cultural identity in the music industry.

Conclusion: The study concludes that Western cultural influences with its transformative force has impacted many facets of the Nigeria music industry, including music creation and consumption, artist collaborations, and marketing with its attendant result in the homogenisation of musical styles, potentially threatening the diversity and richness of Nigerian music.

Unique Contribution: This study has offered new insight into the increasing influence of Western culture on Nigeria music industry, resulting to Nigerian artists intentionally blending Western genres like hip-hop, R&B, and EDM with traditional rhythms like Fuji, Juju, Afrobeats, Igbo Highlife, Afro-juju, to create globally relatable yet locally rooted music.

Key Recommendation: The Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) should regulate the broadcasting of indigenous music that promotes Nigerian culture by imposing mild restrictions, among others. This will enable the Nigerian music industry to maintain its cultural originality by incorporating indigenous materials, ideas and languages in musical content which in turn will discourage the over-bearing dependence on Western genres, instruments, and production techniques into their music.

Impact of foreign direct investment on the manufacturing sector growth in Nigeria (1986 -2025)

2026-05-15T20:52:43+00:00

Background: Foreign direct investment (FDI) is the term that describes investment from one country into another country. Over the decades, the Nigerian government adopted several policies to attract FDI into the national economy. Despite the effort of government to attract foreign Direct Investment to boost its manufacturing sector, the sector’s contribution to GDP remains low compared to other sectors. It is on this premise that the study investigated the impact of foreign direct investment on manufacturing sector in Nigeria.

Objective: This study investigated the impact of FDI inflow on the growth of the manufacturing sector in Nigeria.

Method: This study adopted ex-post facto research design. Data were sourced from CBN statistical bulletins. Analysis was done using autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model.

Results: The study found that foreign direct investment (FDI) has a larger impact on manufacturing output than manufacturing capacity utilisation rate and manufacturing exports respectively. The impact of foreign direct investment on manufacturing output was especially larger in the short run than in the long run in Nigeria.

Conclusion: The study concludes that manufacturing sector in Nigeria has been struggling to achieve significant growth owing to the fluctuations in FDI inflows in Nigeria.

Unique Contribution: This study provides a fresh insight into manufacturing sector as a key sector for economic diversification and as well provides insight into other factors such as domestic savings and investment affect manufacturing sector growth in Nigeria.

Key Recommendation: The study recommends that government should create more means of attracting FDI and provide the infrastructure required for quality investment.

Birth rate and economic growth of Nigeria (1990-2020)

2026-05-15T21:00:10+00:00

Background: The relationship between birth rate and economic growth remains a critical issue in development discourse. While high fertility rates may either stimulate or impede economic growth depending on contextual factors, Nigeria has historically paid limited attention to the role of population dynamics as a driver of economic performance. Persistent high birth rates, if not effectively managed, may exert pressure on economic resources, reduce savings, and constrain investment. This study examines the effect of birth rate on Nigeria’s economic growth between 1990 and 2020.

Objective: The study investigates whether birth rate stimulates or impedes economic growth in Nigeria.

Methods: An ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. The theoretical framework is anchored on Simon’s population theory, which posits that high fertility can stimulate economic growth through increased human capital. The study utilised secondary data comprising annual time series data on Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and birth rate from 1990 to 2020.

Results: The findings indicate that birth rate declined insignificantly over the study period, while Nigeria’s economic growth experienced a significant decline. Further analysis reveals a significant negative relationship between birth rate and economic growth.

Conclusion: The study concludes that birth rate has a significant negative effect on Nigeria’s economic growth. This outcome is largely attributable to increased household and public consumption, which reduces savings and limits investment necessary for economic expansion.

Unique Contribution: This study provides empirical evidence on the negative influence of birth rate on economic growth in Nigeria, contributing to ongoing debates on population and development within the Nigerian context.

Key Recommendation: The study recommends that the Nigerian government should implement effective population management strategies through policy frameworks, advocacy, and public enlightenment, while also enhancing the productivity of the existing population to support sustainable economic growth.

Systematic literature review of technological innovation as driver of media entrepreneurship in Nigeria

2026-05-15T21:07:55+00:00

Background: Technological innovation is driving entrepreneurship and sustainability of business entities. As one of the key sectors, media organisations are not left out but how much of the innovation and sustainability strategies scholarship has documented is not yet synthesised and examined.

Objective: This study systematically reviews the literature to assess how technological innovation influences sustainable business models in Nigerian media organisations, while identifying critical research gaps and future directions.

Method: Using PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 50 peer-reviewed studies were analyzed to classify dominant technology categories, recurring business model patterns, contextual drivers and constraints.

Results: ICT, emerging digital communication technologies, digital marketing devices, mobile financial services, and digital platforms are main technological innovations driving coordination, engagement, monetization, and scaling. Dominant business models found are platform-enabled mobile money, digitally resilient SMEs, lean entrepreneurship, and Nollywood’s informal -digital hybrid. The review also revealed major gaps, including limited media-specific empirical research, weak longitudinal evidence linking technology to sustainability outcomes, and underdeveloped analysis of business model experimentation.

Conclusion: Sustainable media entrepreneurship in Nigeria requires coherent business models, strengthened capabilities, and improved institutional support.

Unique Contribution: This study consolidates dispersed scholarship into a structured synthesis of entrepreneurship, technological innovation and sustainable business models for media organisations in Nigeria.

Key Recommendation: Future research should focus on longitudinal and case study designs, comparative media-sector studies, and development of business models that can translate digital innovation into durable media-sector sustainability.

Synthetic truths and social distrust: Evaluating how AI-generated content shapes public perception of credibility in Nigerian news landscape

2026-05-15T21:14:47+00:00

Background: The increasing integration of AI-generated content into contemporary news production has raised global concerns about the authenticity and credibility of information. This emerging trend has contributed to growing audience skepticism and social distrust in journalistic outputs.

Objectives: This study aims to determine the effect of AI-generated content on public trust in news outlets and to identify the strategies employed by media organisations to detect and mitigate its negative impact on audience perceptions of credibility within the Nigerian news landscape.

Method: The study adopted a descriptive research design using a mixed-methods approach. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 400 participants drawn from the South-East region of Nigeria using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire. This was complemented by an in-depth analysis of relevant secondary documents.

Results: Findings indicate that respondents exhibit a high level of skepticism toward AI-generated content, with mean scores below 3.0 on the Likert scale, suggesting low perceived credibility and authenticity. The study also reveals that media organizations rely primarily on fact-checking partnerships, basic verification tools, and capacity-building initiatives to address the challenges posed by AI-generated news content.

Conclusion: Nigerian news audiences generally perceive AI-generated content as lacking authenticity and credibility. Consequently, they continue to rely on traditional Nigerian media outlets as more trustworthy sources of information.

Unique Contribution: This study provides empirical evidence that, despite the increasing prevalence of AI-generated content, public trust remains more strongly associated with established Nigerian media institutions.

Key Recommendation: Nigerian media organizations should adopt advanced AI-detection systems and enforce rigorous content verification procedures to effectively identify and manage synthetic content.

Patterns of television coverage of the environmental effects of artisanal oil refining in Rivers State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T21:19:44+00:00

Background: The last decade has seen an increase in artisanal refining in parts of Port Harcourt which has affected lives and properties. Government and environmental experts through the media have embarked on campaigns to discourage the practice. However, this problem continue to exist, posing problem to the environment. Whereas studies exist on other impacts of artisanal refining, there remains a gap on how television covers the environmental effects of artisanal refining. This study therefore, investigated patterns of television coverage of the environmental effects of artisanal oil refining in Rivers State.

Objectives: This study examined the frequency at which Nigerian Television Authority and African Independent Television in Rivers State cover the environmental effects of artisanal refining and the prominence given to the coverage of environmental effects of artisanal refining in Rivers State.

Methods: The study adopted content analysis as the research design. The population of the study was 48 episodes, while the period of study was April 1 to October 31, 2023. Coding sheet/guide served as instrument for analysis, as the purposive sampling technique was used to select only two of NTA and AIT’s programmes, which focused on environment-related issues.

Results: Findings showed that the frequency of coverage of the environmental effects by NTA and AIT in Rivers State was low, however, the level of prominence placed on the coverage by the selected media was high.

Conclusions: It was concluded that although limited in frequency, the study had higher prominence, which indicated a disconnect between frequency and prominence as variables.

Unique Contribution: This study contributes to the disconnect between media, environment, and community as the frequency of coverage had no significant relationship between media representation and environmental action of artisanal refining.

Key Recommendation: The study recommends among others that, media houses should give more frequency to coverage of environmental issues and its effects.

Response to radio agricultural programmes on oil palm and coconut seedlings plantation among residents of Anambra State, Nigeria

2026-05-15T21:27:21+00:00

Background: The agricultural sector was the mainstream of Nigerian economy before the discovery of oil in the early 1956 resulting to a shift to dependency on oil. The Anambra state government, in a bid to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability in the state, recently distributed highquality oil palm and coconut seedlings to residents across the state. However, the actual impact of the radio messages in disseminating information about this programme remains uncertain.

Objective: The research evaluated residents’ response to the state governments’ radio messages on the oil palm and coconut seedlings agricultural development programme in Anambra state Nigeria.

Method: The descriptive survey method was adopted, using a sample population of 400 residents engaged in oil palm and coconut cultivation in Anambra State, to gain a comprehensive understanding of their experiences.

Result: Data collected revealed that Anambra state government’s radio messages on oil palm and coconut seedlings have enhanced residents’ knowledge, influencing their perceptions and driving the adoption of the sustainable agricultural practices.

Conclusion: The study concludes that the Oil Palm and Coconut Seedlings Agricultural Development Programme have been highly effective in reaching, informing, and motivating Anambra residents. The high frequency of exposure, positive perceptions of relevance, adoption and satisfaction with outcomes and the willingness to continue and recommend the practices indicate that the programme is fostering long-term agricultural development and sustainability in the region. This could be attributed to the frequency of the messages and the practical benefits of the programme.

Unique Contribution: This study shows how radio messages shape Anambra residents’ awareness, knowledge and adoption of sustainable farming practices. It offers useful insights for policymakers and agricultural stakeholders in improving advocacy and programme implementation.

Key Recommendations: The study recommends that the Anambra State government sustain annual radio programmes on oil palm and coconut farming, tailoring messages with local languages and participants’ testimonials, and establish help centres or hotlines with follow-up radio sessions to provide guidance, feedback and reinforce adoption of the programme.

Performance appraisal of Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) on tax collection efficiency and effectiveness in Nigeria (2015-2025)

2026-05-15T21:52:05+00:00

Background: Nigeria continues to face persistent challenges in tax revenue mobilisation despite several administrative and institutional reforms. Concerns remain regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of tax collection, particularly in key revenue areas such as Value Added Tax (VAT) and Corporate Income Tax (CIT). Performance appraisal systems within the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) are expected to enhance staff productivity, accountability, and service delivery; however, empirical evidence on how appraisal mechanisms influence tax collection outcomes remains limited. This study therefore evaluates the performance appraisal of the NRS and its effect on tax collection efficiency and effectiveness in Nigeria.

Objective: The study aims to examine the effect of performance appraisal on tax collection efficiency and effectiveness in Nigeria, with specific focus on VAT and CIT administration within the Nigeria Revenue Service.

Method: A descriptive survey research design was adopted. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to staff of the Nigeria Revenue Service and relevant stakeholders. Data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study employed descriptive statistics, reliability tests, and simple linear regression analysis to test the hypotheses at a 5% level of significance.

Result: The findings indicate that performance appraisal has a positive and statistically significant influence on VAT collection efficiency and effectiveness. Similarly, performance appraisal was found to have a significant positive effect on CIT collection efficiency and effectiveness in Nigeria.

Conclusion: The study concludes that effective performance appraisal mechanisms enhance employee productivity, accountability, and overall revenue performance within the Nigeria Revenue Service, thereby improving tax collection efficiency and effectiveness.

Unique Contribution: This study provides empirical evidence linking performance appraisal systems directly to tax revenue outcomes (VAT and CIT) in Nigeria, an area that has received limited scholarly attention, thereby enriching the discourse on public sector performance management and tax administration.

Key Recommendation: The Nigeria Revenue Service should strengthen its performance appraisal systems, link appraisal outcomes to rewards and staff training, and ensure transparency and objectivity in performance evaluation to further improve tax collection efficiency and effectiveness.

Effect of job satisfaction on employee performance in the Nigeria Immigration Service, Niger State Command

2026-05-15T23:46:28+00:00

Background: Job satisfaction is critical for organisational performance in public sector institutions. The Nigeria Immigration Service faces performance challenges despite technological upgrades. This is more so at the Niger State Command, where despite the introduction of policy reforms, technological upgrades, and capacity-building initiatives. This suggests that underlying factors affecting employee productivity and service delivery have not been adequately addressed, leading to persistent inefficiencies in operations such as passport processing and border management. There have been studies on employee performance across sectors, but limited attention has been given to the Nigeria Immigration Service. This study therefore provides empirical evidence on the factors responsible for the persistent productivity challenges, addressing existing practical, empirical, and policy gaps.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of job satisfaction (job design, compensation, working conditions, interpersonal relationships) on employee performance in the Niger State Command.

Methods: A descriptive quantitative survey was conducted with 248 personnel selected using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size table from the total population, Data were collected using a structured 5-point Likert scale questionnaire and analysed using SPSS, the questionnaire data were coded and analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics, applying descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation to summarize respondents’ demographics and research questions. while inferential statistics, specifically the Chisquare (χ^²) test, were used to examine the relationship between job satisfaction variables and employee performance at a 0.05 level of significance.

Results: Job design showed significant influence on employee performance (χZ = 17.53, p = 0.041). However, compensation (χZ = 5.15, p = 0.821), working conditions (χZ = 5.29, p = 0.808), and interpersonal relationships (χZ = 5.92, p = 0.748) showed no significant effects. Satisfied employees demonstrated 30% increased productivity, 25% improved efficiency, and 40% enhanced commitment.

Conclusions: Job design is the most critical factor affecting performance in the Niger State Command, suggesting need for holistic motivational strategies.

Unique Contributions: This study is significant as it offers insights into how job satisfaction affects employee performance in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Niger State Command. It guides policymakers in improving job design, compensation, working conditions, and interpersonal relationships, enhancing organizational efficiency and service delivery, contributes empirical evidence to knowledge on public sector performance, provides a framework for future research, and offers practical benefits for employees’ well-being and productivity.

Key Recommendations: To enhance employee performance, clearly define roles aligned with competencies, offer growth opportunities, and provide fair, transparent compensation with recognition. Additionally, improve workplace conditions, promote work-life balance, and foster collaboration, trust, and effective communication through team-building and leadership development.

Impact of financial journalism In decoding mathematical market trends and navigating volatility for smarter investing In Nigeria

2026-05-15T23:53:13+00:00

Background: In Nigeria’s financial market, a critical gap persists between the stochastic mathematical realities of economic indicators and the qualitative narratives presented to the retail public. Quantitative measures such as volatility, inflation, and exchange rate movements are frequently mediated through journalistic framing, which shapes investor perception and market behaviour; however, there exists a gap on how effectively financial journalism translates complex mathematical market signals into accurate, accessible, and non-distortionary narratives for retail investors, particularly during periods of heightened market volatility. Furthermore, limited empirical attention has been given to the extent to which such media interpretations align with underlying quantitative data or contribute to mispricing, irrational investment decisions, and amplified market uncertainty.

Objective: This study examined how accurately Nigerian financial media interpret complex quantitative indicators in reporting market performance. It identified framing techniques used during periods of high volatility and assessed whether such frames distort mathematical realities.

Method: Adopting a conceptual review approach, the study was anchored on Media Framing Theory and Information Asymmetry Theory. Relevant literature on financial journalism, statistical communication, and behavioural finance was critically analysed to interrogate patterns of interpretive distortion and their implications for market efficiency.

Results: The analysis reveals a significant “Translational Divergence” between statistical measures and media narratives. Neutral indicators such as standard deviation and currency fluctuations are often reframed in alarmist terms, particularly during market turbulence. Such representations heighten perceived risk and may trigger reactionary behaviours, including panic selling and speculative dollarisation.

Conclusion: The study concludes that limited mathematical literacy in financial journalism contributes to information asymmetry and market inefficiency in Nigeria.

Unique Contribution: The study introduces Translational Divergence as a framework for analysing distortions in financial reporting.

Key Recommendation: It recommends integrating data science into journalism training and fostering collaboration with the Mathematical Association of Nigeria to standardise quantitative reporting.

Effect of training and development (T&D) on employee performance of select local government areas of Niger State, Nigeria

2026-05-19T19:31:59+00:00

Background: Employee performance is a critical determinant of organisational success, yet many public sector institutions in developing countries face persistent productivity challenges due to inadequate training and development (T&D) programmes.

Objectives: This study examined the impact of T&D on employee performance in Niger State, Nigeria, focusing on training frequency, staff skill acquisition, and implementation gaps.

Methods: A quantitative descriptive survey design was employed. Using Taro Yamane's formula, 399 employees from Lapai, Chanchaga, and Borgu Local Government Areas responded to a structured questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale. Data were analysed using multiple regression (SPSS 25).

Results: T&D significantly enhanced employee performance (R^² = 0.937, p < 0.05). Training frequency emerged as the strongest predictor (β = 0.932, t = 76.726, p < 0.01), followed by skill acquisition (β = 0.819, t = 41.621, p < 0.01) and implementation gap (β = 0.875, t = 59.174, p < 0.01). Employees receiving regular training demonstrated superior task efficiency and productivity.

Conclusions: T&D programmes are critical drivers of public sector performance. Regular training, job-relevant skill development, and effective post-training support mechanisms are essential to maximise productivity gains. Policymakers should institutionalise structured T&D initiatives aligned with organisational goals.

Unique Contribution: This study contributes to the broader field of human resource management and organizational development by examining how training and development initiatives influence employee performance in different local government contexts.

Key Recommendation: recommends the institutionalization of regular training programs, alignment of training content with job-specific skill requirements, and the strengthening of posttraining support mechanisms to reduce implementation gaps.

Impact of urbanisation on real estate businesses and commercial property development In Nigeria

2026-05-19T19:37:13+00:00

Background: Urbanisation has emerged as a transformative force reshaping cities, economies, and land-use patterns worldwide, with pronounced effects in developing economies such as Nigeria. Factors such as rapid rural-to-urban migration, population growth, and expanding urban centers have intensified demand for land, housing, and commercial real estate. Thus, it is important that a rapid growing sector (real estate) is examined in relation to the ever growing population of Nigeria as empirical studies on the issue is scarce especially in the 21st century where there is explosive entrance in the commercial real estate sector.

Objectives: This study investigated the impact of urbanisation on real estate businesses and commercial property development in Nigeria, focusing on how urban growth shapes investment patterns, market opportunities, and spatial inequalities.

Methods: A descriptive survey design was adopted, with 150 real estate CEOs and managers purposively selected from major urban centers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical regions. Data were collected via structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, including means and standard deviations, to capture respondents’ perceptions of urbanisation trends, commercial real estate development, hindering factors, and improvement strategies.

Result: Findings reveal that urbanisation is perceived to significantly increase demand for residential and commercial properties, particularly offices, retail outlets, warehouses, and mixed-use developments. The study also found that population influx drives spatial concentration of high-end commercial projects, while peripheral areas remain marginalised.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the study found that key constraints to real estate development include inadequate infrastructure, inconsistent policies, land administration challenges, and fraudulent real estate practices.

Unique Contribution: It is obvious that there is rise in urbanisation as a result of real estate, but despite the scale of urbanization in Nigeria, there remains a noticeable gap in empirical literature that systematically examines the impact of urbanisation on real estate businesses and commercial property development within the Nigerian context. This gap limits evidence-based policy formulation and strategic decision-making in the real estate sector, thereby necessitating the present study.

Key Recommendation: Based on these findings, the study recommend that federal and state governments should adopt integrated urban planning policies that promote the development of secondary cities and emerging urban corridors as this will lead to a more balanced spatial distribution of commercial real estate and reduce development pressure in major metropolitan areas.

Impact of performance appraisal, motivation, and leadership on employee productivity in select research institutes in Niger State, Nigeria

2026-05-19T19:42:56+00:00

Background: Worker productivity in Nigerian research institutes is suboptimal, undermining national development goals. Despite interventions like the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure, challenges persist due to ineffective human resource practices.

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of performance appraisal, motivation, and leadership influence on workers’ productivity at the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) Badeggi Niger State and the National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR) New Bussa Niger State.

Methods: A quantitative survey design was employed, sampling 405 employees from a population of 2,082 using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation, and multiple regression.

Results: The study found significant positive relationships between the independent variables and productivity. Leadership influence had the strongest effect (β = 0.539), followed by performance appraisal (β = 0.335) and motivation (β = 0.273). The regression model explained 95.1% of the variance in productivity (RZ = 0.951). Ineffective appraisal systems and poor motivation were identified as key barriers.

Conclusions: Performance appraisal, motivation, and leadership are critical drivers of productivity in research institutes. Management should implement transparent appraisal systems, improve welfare packages, and adopt transformational leadership styles to enhance institutional output.

Unique Contributions: This Study proposes an evidence-based reform that can strengthen institutional performance and contribute to Nigeria’s broader goals in agriculture, aquaculture, and rural development and enhancing human resource practices which will not only improve staff morale and institutional output but also position these research institutes to better support national policy priorities.

Key Recommendation: Organizations should strengthen transparent performance appraisal with clear feedback and incentives to enhance motivation and productivity. They should also invest in leadership development and adopt an integrated HR strategy that combines appraisal, motivation, and leadership initiatives with regular evaluation for sustainable outcomes.

Strategic management and organisational performance in select automobile industries in Nigeria

2026-05-19T19:46:22+00:00

Background: Firms in an increasingly globalised and competitive business environment must adopt effective strategic management practices to enhance performance and sustain competitive advantage. Thus, strategic management comes to mind as it involves planning, implementing and evaluating strategies that enable organisations to meet their objectives.

Objective: This study examined how strategic management practices influenced organisational performance within Nigeria’s automobile industry. Drawing on contingency theory and resource -based view, the research investigated the relationships between strategic planning, strategy formulation (setting objectives and identifying strategic options), strategy implementation (allocation of resources and execution of plans) and, strategy evaluation and control (monitoring, revising strategy) in the context of Nigerian automobile firms.

Method: The study adopted a comparative approach across selected automobile firms- Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co., Ltd, Stallion Group, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) and, Volkswagen Nigeria. Primary data were collected through two hundred and forty (240) structured questionnaires administered to managerial staff of four automobile firms namely: Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co., Ltd, Stallion Group, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) and, Volkswagen Nigeria in Nigeria.

Result: Regression analysis revealed that strategic management dimensions significantly impact organisational performance of the selected firms, though the magnitude and significance vary among the firms. The findings highlight the need for tailored strategic practices considering local industry dynamics and the unique challenges of the Nigerian automobile sector.

Conclusion: The study concludes that strategic management has a significant positive impact on organisational performance in Nigeria’s automobile manufacturing sector.

Unique Contributions: This study confirms that strategic management is a critical determinant of organisational performance in Nigeria’s automobile sector. The findings provide use insights for government and regulatory bodies as it provides evidence to guide the National Automotive Industry Development Plan. Findings of this study would lead to improved performance in the industry thereby leading to increased economic growth, higher quality vehicles at competitive prices, employment and business expansion.

Key Recommendations: Indigenous automobile firms should invest in strategic planning tools and market intelligence systems to improve long-term decision-making. Also, government and industry regulators should encourage targeted incentives (tax reliefs, grants and low interest loans) as well as support capacity-building (human capital development, technological capability enhancement, strengthening legal framework and innovation system development) in strategic management for local assemblers.

Folklore in Igbo radio programmes and its role in promoting indigenous cultural identity in Enugu State, Nigeria

2026-05-19T19:50:51+00:00

Background: The dominance of English and globalised media has increasingly threatened indigenous oral traditions, particularly among urban residents and younger generations. This decline raises concerns about the possible erosion of the Igbo language and its rich oral heritage if deliberate preservation efforts are not undertaken.

Objective: This study examined the forms of folklore used in Igbo radio programmes, audience perceptions of such content, and its role in promoting Igbo cultural identity.

Method: A descriptive survey design was adopted. A sample of 400 Igbo radio listeners in Enugu North LGA was selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire (reliability coefficient = 0.95) and analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Findings show that various folklore forms-proverbs, folktales, idioms, traditional songs, myths, and riddles are actively used in Igbo radio programmes in Enugu - Proverbs (55%) and folktales (28%) were the most dominant. Audience perception was highly positive, with 91% indicating that folklore enhances programme engagement, 85% affirming it strengthens cultural connection, and 89% acknowledging its role in promoting understanding of traditional values and ethics.

Conclusion: Folklore-based radio programming significantly promotes Igbo cultural identity by enhancing engagement and reinforcing cultural values, making it an effective tool for cultural preservation and transmission.

Unique Contribution: The study highlights the role of indigenous radio broadcasting in sustaining and transmitting Igbo cultural identity across generations.

Recommendation: Radio stations and content producers should consistently integrate folklore elements to enhance audience engagement and ensure the preservation of Igbo cultural heritage.

Freedom of information act and its impact on journalistic practice In Nigeria

2026-05-19T20:02:33+00:00

Background: In 2011, the Nigerian Government signed the FOI Bill into law, thereby making Nigeria the ninth country in Africa and among the over 90 countries in the world to have passed this bill. The Act, according to Media Rights Agenda (2011) is indeed very explicit in its mission, which is simply to make public records and information more freely available, provide for public access to public records and information, protect public records and information to the extent consistent with the public interest and the protection of personal privacy, protect serving public officers from adverse consequences for disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorization and establish procedures for the achievement of those purposes and, for related matters. However, journalists in Nigeria among other obligations facing them have the mandate to beckon on the act and provide information roles to the society in line with their professional demand. This therefore called for indepth study on the impact of the Act on the performance of the Nigerian journalists in the complex Nigerian society.

Objective: This study was undertaken to ascertain the impact of the Freedom of Information Act on journalistic practice in Nigeria.

Method: This study employed descriptive survey research method using respondents/journalists drawn from the capital cities of Enugu and Ebonyi States via purposive sampling techniques in choosing respondents. A total of 386 registered journalists were sampled and questionnaire administered to them to ascertain the impact of freedom of information act on their journalistic practice in Nigeria.

Result: Findings show high knowledge level of the Nigerian journalists on the FOI Act without equitable application of it in their journalistic practice in Nigeria.

Conclusion: The study concluded that freedom of information act exists in Nigeria but not applied in journalistic practice. This is as a result of the nature of government and its mode of administration in Nigeria. Therefore, FOI Act has not impacted positively on journalistic practice.

Unique Contribution: This study will be an eyes opener to the Nigeria citizens on the nature of FOI Act and its impact on registered and practicing journalists in Nigeria. The Nigerian journalists are challenged to find out how the FOI Act can be used to positively impact on their journalistic practice in the Nigeria.

Key Recommendation: This study recommends that the government of Nigeria should encourage and support journalists on the application of the Freedom of Information Act to make positive impact on their journalistic practice in Nigeria.

Fake news and its implications for the realisation of sustainable development goals 3, 4, and 16 in Delta State, Nigeria

2026-05-19T20:06:27+00:00

Background: In recent years, the rapid expansion of digital media and social networking platforms has significantly transformed information dissemination in Nigeria. While these platforms enhance access to information, they have also facilitated the widespread circulation of fake news, which poses serious threats to development efforts. In Delta State, the proliferation of misinformation has increasingly undermined public trust, distorted health communication, weakened educational initiatives, and hindered peace-building processes. These challenges directly affect the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 4 (Quality Education), and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Objective: This study examines the implications of fake news on the realization of SDGs in Delta State, with specific focus on Goals 3, 4, and 16, and how they are interpreted and applied in the development process.

Method: The study adopted a mixed methods design, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. A survey of 400 respondents was conducted to generate quantitative data, while 18 key informant interviews provided qualitative insights. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression techniques, alongside thematic analysis for the interview data.

Result: The findings reveal a significant negative relationship between exposure to fake news and public engagement with SDG-related initiatives. Thematic analysis further indicates that social media platforms, particularly Facebook and WhatsApp, serve as major channels for the dissemination of fake news, contributing to declining public trust in institutions and development programmes.

Conclusion: Fake news constitutes a major barrier to sustainable development in Delta State. High exposure to misinformation—largely driven by social media—undermines citizens’ willingness to participate in development initiatives, despite a relatively higher level of trust in traditional media sources.

Unique Contribution: The study demonstrates that although there is a moderate level of awareness of SDG initiatives, fake news significantly reduces public trust in government-led programmes and weakens motivation for active participation in development efforts.

Key Recommendation: The study recommends the intensification of media literacy programmes and the promotion of transparent, open communication strategies to mitigate the effects of misinformation and enhance the achievement of SDGs.

Japa narratives on social media and emotional reactions to migration discourse among undergraduates of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria

2026-05-19T20:11:00+00:00

Background: Migration discourse on social media has been quite intensified among Nigerian youths. This has resulted in what is commonly referred to as the ‘japa syndrome’ a common phrase describing these narratives among Nigerians. While existing works have largely focused on economic and structural drivers in these narratives, studies on the emotional impact and reactions to these narratives, particularly among Nigerian youths, are rare.

Objectives: This study examined the emotional responses of Nigerian youths to migration and diaspora discourse on social media within the context of the Japa phenomenon. It focused on the affective dimensions shaping youths’ decisions to migrate or remain in Nigeria.

Method: Using a descriptive quantitative design, data were collected through a 15-item questionnaire administered via the students' WhatsApp group at Olabisi Onabanjo University. Google Analytics also aided the analysis of the data.

Result: Findings reveal that social media exerts a complex emotional influence on migration perceptions because diaspora success narratives often inspire hope and ambition while also triggering comparison-induced stress. However, most respondents reported predominantly positive emotional engagement, including motivation, identity exploration, and community formation. Therefore, social media serves as a space where migration aspirations are constructed, negotiated, and expressed.

Unique Contribution: This research contributes to migration literature by integrating emotional analysis into the discourse on youth migration. It offers novel insights into how digital platforms mediate affective experiences in migration and diaspora conversations and proposes policy interventions that resonate with the emotional realities of youths in emerging economies.

Recommendations: The study recommends emotionally informed communication strategies to balance migration narratives and engage youths more effectively. Policy interventions should promote balanced narratives by highlighting local opportunities alongside diaspora success stories.

Langue et culture dans les Œuvres de lÉon -Gontran Damas et Nguema Ndong: une etude comparative

2026-05-19T20:27:39+00:00

Contexte: La langue et la culture sont indissociables dans la création littéraire, en particulier dans les contextes postcoloniaux. Pour les écrivains africains et diasporiques, la langue ne se limite pas à un outil de communication : elle est un vecteur de construction identitaire, de mémoire culturelle et de résistance à l’oppression coloniale. Les œuvres de Léon-Gontran Damas, cofondateur du mouvement de la Négritude, et de Nguema Ndong, auteur gabonais contemporain, illustrent comment l’expression linguistique incarne la mémoire historique, les visions du monde indigènes et les réalités socio-politiques complexes. La poésie de Damas confronte l’aliénation engendrée par l’éducation coloniale et affirme l’identité noire, tandis que Ndong met en avant les traditions orales, les proverbes et les mythes pour préserver le patrimoine africain dans un cadre littéraire moderne.

Objectifs: Cette étude vise à réaliser une analyse comparative de Damas et Ndong afin d’examiner comment la langue fonctionne comme marqueur de l’identité culturelle et comme instrument de résistance. Elle cherche plus précisément à : (1) identifier les stratégies linguistiques et les dispositifs stylistiques utilisés pour transmettre les valeurs culturelles ; (2) analyser l’intégration des traditions orales, proverbes et mythologies indigènes ; (3) mettre en évidence les convergences et divergences dans leur réappropriation de la langue française ; et (4) contribuer au débat sur la langue, l’identité et les pratiques littéraires postcoloniales.

Méthode: Une méthodologie qualitative et comparative a été adoptée. Les textes sélectionnés comprennent Pigments (1937) de Damas et des œuvres représentatives de Ndong, notamment Les Voix du Silence. L’analyse a porté sur le lexique, le rythme, le symbolisme, le code-switching et les références culturelles. L’interprétation herméneutique et la théorie postcoloniale ont fourni le cadre conceptuel, tandis que les approches sociolinguistiques ont permis d’envisager la langue comme capital symbolique et outil de reconstruction identitaire.

Résultats: Damas emploie une langue poétique fragmentée et rebelle qui dénonce l’oppression coloniale et affirme l’identité noire. Son écriture transforme le français en moyen d’expression protestataire et émotionnel. Ndong, quant à lui, intègre expressions indigènes, techniques narratives orales, proverbes et mythes pour préserver et transmettre la mémoire culturelle gabonaise. Les deux auteurs transforment la langue en outil de résistance culturelle et de construction identitaire, mais par des canaux esthétiques distincts : Damas à travers la poésie et la fragmentation rythmique, Ndong via la continuité narrative et la transmission intergénérationnelle.

Conclusion: L’étude montre que, chez ces deux auteurs, la langue dépasse la simple communication : elle constitue un réservoir de mémoire collective, de savoirs culturels et de potentialités émancipatrices. Malgré des contextes historiques et géographiques différents, ils convergent dans l’affirmation identitaire par la créativité linguistique. Le français, lorsqu’il est subverti ou indégnisé, devient un instrument puissant d’expression postcoloniale et de réappropriation culturelle.

Perspectives: Les résultats mettent en évidence l’importance de la recherche comparative transrégionale en littérature francophone. Des études futures pourraient inclure d’autres auteurs africains et diasporiques, explorant davantage l’interaction entre langue, tradition orale et identité culturelle. La recherche souligne également la nécessité de considérer les dimensions sociopolitiques de la créativité linguistique dans le champ postcolonial, positionnant la langue à la fois comme espace de lutte et vecteur de renaissance culturelle.

Background: Language and culture are inseparable in literary creation. African and diasporic writers use language not only as a communicative tool but as a vehicle for identity construction and cultural resistance. The works of Léon-Gontran Damas and Nguema Ndong illustrate how linguistic expression embodies memory, colonial experience, and indigenous worldviews.

Objectives: This study comparatively examines how language functions as a cultural marker in selected works of Damas and Ndong, analyzing their integration of cultural symbols, oral traditions, and socio-political realities.

Method: A qualitative and comparative literary approach is adopted. Selected texts are analyzed thematically and stylistically, focusing on lexical choices, rhythm, symbolism, code-switching, and cultural references. Postcolonial and sociolinguistic theories guide the analysis.

Results: Damas employs a rebellious, rhythmically fragmented poetic language to denounce colonial oppression and affirm Black identity. Ndong integrates indigenous expressions, proverbs, myths, and oral narrative techniques to preserve and project African heritage. Both writers transform language into a tool of cultural resistance and identity reconstruction.

Conclusion: In both authors, language transcends communication and becomes a repository of collective memory and cultural emancipation. Despite differing contexts, they converge in affirming identity through linguistic creativity.

Unique Contribution: The study bridges Francophone Caribbean and Central African perspectives, highlighting convergences and divergences in linguistic-cultural strategies.

Key Recommendation: Further cross-regional comparative studies are encouraged to deepen understanding of language as a cultural and ideological instrument in postcolonial discourse.

Cybersecurity threats and the credibility of digital media platforms in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

2026-05-19T20:48:35+00:00

Background: The rapid adoption of digital media platforms in Nigeria has significantly enhanced communication, information dissemination, and public engagement. However, the increasing prevalence of cyberattacks poses serious threats to the reliability, security, and credibility of these platforms, particularly in emerging digital environments such as Ebonyi State. Meanwhile, existing studies have paid limited attention to how cybersecurity threats affect the credibility of digital media platforms and public trust in emerging digital environments such as Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Objective: This study examined the relationship between cybersecurity and credibility of digital media platforms in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Method: A mixed-methods research design was adopted. Quantitative data were collected from 317 active Internet users through structured questionnaire, while qualitative insights were obtained through in-depth interviews with media practitioners and cybersecurity experts. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

Results: Findings reveal that phishing, malware, and hacking are the most prevalent cyber threats affecting digital media platforms. The study further shows that cyberattacks significantly disrupt media operations, including content production and distribution. This contributes to a noticeable decline in public trust in digital information sources. Despite awareness of cybersecurity risks, many media organisations lack adequate protective measures.

Conclusion: The study concludes that cyberattacks constitute a major challenge to the efficiency and credibility of digital media platforms in Ebonyi State. The persistence of these threats continues to undermine public confidence and highlights the vulnerability of digital communication systems in developing contexts.

Unique Contribution: This study provides empirical insight into the relationship between cyber threats, media operations, and audience trust within a sub-national context. It contributes to the growing body of knowledge on cybersecurity challenges in developing societies and offers practical perspectives for strengthening digital media resilience.

Key Recommendation: The study recommends the adoption of advanced cybersecurity technologies, continuous training for media personnel, and sustained public awareness campaigns on safe digital practices. Additionally, stronger collaboration among media organizations, government agencies, and cy