Programme: Policy and Strategic Studies
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Item SOFT POWER AND FOREIGN POLICY OUTCOMES: A STUDY OF NIGERIA- CHINA RELATIONS (2019-2024)(Covenant University Ota, 2025-08) ISAAC, Grace Ugochi; Covenant University DissertationNigeria’s foreign policy engagement with China has grown significantly in recent years yet concerns persist about the long-term implications of China’s expanding soft power. While economic dependency, cultural assimilation, and asymmetrical partnerships have been raised as potential risks, there remains a lack of empirical research evaluating how China’s soft power influences Nigeria’s policy space, institutions, and public perception. This dissertation seeks to address this gap by assessing the effectiveness of China’s soft power in achieving foreign policy outcomes in Nigeria from 2019 to 2024. To situate this inquiry, the study began by reviewing key soft power concepts including cultural diplomacy, educational exchange, development assistance, media influence, and public diplomacy drawing on global case studies from countries such as Germany, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Denmark, and the United States. The Soft Power Theory expounded by Alexander Vuving was used as a framework to guide the analysis. Using a qualitative methodology, primary data were gathered through in-depth interviews with Nigerian stakeholders across academia, government, and civil society. These were complemented by secondary data from academic literature, policy documents, and institutional reports. Findings show that China’s soft power strategies such as Confucius Institutes, media partnerships, scholarships, and development aid have had mixed results. While they have increased China’s cultural and political visibility, local responses range from acceptance to scepticism, with concerns about equity, agency, and long-term alignment. Nigeria’s own cultural exports, though promising, remain under-leveraged. Recommendations include the need for balanced partnerships, transparent diplomacy, and proactive policy engagement by Nigeria. The study concluded that soft power is not value-neutral it must be negotiated to serve national interests.Item ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES BY NON-MILITARY ACTORS AND NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIA(Covenant University Ota, 2025-08) PETER, Mark Jatau; Covenant University DissertationImprovised Explosive Devices (IEDs) have emerged as a defining feature of guerrilla warfare, increasingly weaponised by non-military actors (NMAs) across Nigeria’s conflict landscape. While considerable scholarly attention has focused on Northeastern Nigeria, the deployment of IEDs by criminal and secessionist groups in Southeast (SE) Nigeria remains under-examined despite its growing strategic, humanitarian and political implications. This study explores the use of IEDs by NMAs in SE Nigeria, focusing on their operational patterns, proliferation networks and implications for national security. Drawing on asymmetric warfare theory and the human security paradigm, the research adopts a qualitative, exploratory design to interrogate the evolving tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) of IED use, the challenges facing Nigeria’s Counter-IED (CIED) architecture and the regional vulnerabilities exacerbated by porous borders. Findings reveal that NMAs exploit transnational IED precursor supply chains, digital platforms, border insecurity and local ingenuity to sustain low-cost, high-impact explosive violence. This violence disrupts military operations at strategic, operational, and tactical levels, while also devastating civilian lives and infrastructure, eroding economic activities and precipitating forced displacement and trauma. The study also highlights the fragmented coordination among security agencies, weak indigenous defence innovation and limited community intelligence networks as significant gaps in Nigeria’s CIED strategy. This research makes a unique contribution by shifting analytical focus to the SE, identifying the convergence between historical marginalisation, tactical adaptation by NMAs and institutional inertia. Policy recommendations include the development of an indigenous CIED doctrine, enhanced interagency collaboration, strengthened border governance and community-based early warning systems. These findings contribute to scholarly and policy discourses on terrorism, national security and hybrid warfare in underexplored landscapes of the Global South, with broader implications for counterterrorism approaches in similarly affected regions. The study concluded that with the elimination of IEDs as a means of guerrilla warfare, innocent lives would be saved and properties preserved in Nigeria.Item Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Political Corruption in Nigeria (2007 - 2015)(International Journal of Academic Multidisciplinary Research Vol. 6 Issue 10, 2022-10) Osuchukwu, Nkechi Cynthia; Nwumeh, Uchenna Juliana; Okonkwo, Juliet Ogonna; Ezebuilo Paul ChibuikeCorruption today is still a deadly disease in Nigeria, as it is responsible for the collapse of social, economic and political sectors in Nigerian, as many Nigerians are yet to be free from it. Prior to this problem, the study assesses Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Political Corruption in Nigeria from 2007 to 2015. The study adopted Structural-Functional theory as it was further developed by Gabriel Almond and Powell in 1966. Qualitative descriptive method of data analysis was adopted. Secondary sources of data collection were adopted. The study finds out that, corruption is multifaceted in Nigeria which has created a lot of negative impact and has hindered development process in the country. The study therefore, recommends amongst others that EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies should be empowered and granted absolute autonomy to handle cases relating to economic and political corruption i.e. EFCC should be given a free hand in the discharge of its duties by not interfering in its duties, there should also be comprehensive administrative reform and good governance, including public accountability, to guarantee that people are held accountable for their actions as a deterrent to corrupt activities, among other things.Item Sustainable development goals implementation in a postcolonial African State: Any future for the African Continental Free Trade Area?(Sustainable Development, 2024-04-07) Chidozie Felix C.; Osimen Goddy U.; bhadmus Joy; Newo OluwamurewaThis paper examined the prospect of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement in the context of the SDGs. It took its bearing from the contemporary structure of most African states, arguing that the reality of the continent's postcolonial condition could impede the implementation of the AfCFTA. Its refrain is that studies on how Nigeria and South Africa, as regional powers, have used their economic and political influence to advance the SDGs' implementation throughout Africa, using different South–South development frameworks are few. In other words, the institutionalization of a strategic collaboration agenda through a Nigeria-South Africa-coordinated African response to the new powers, in the area of timely implementation of the SDGs is lacking. This study affirms that for the AfCFTA to be successful, it is incumbent on the regional hegemons to build a suitable institutional framework and governance structure that upholds the rule of law and encourages harmonization, consistency, and predictability.Item Boko Haram insurgency: Tactics and evolving operational strategies in Northern Nigeria(Research Journal in Advanced Humanities, 2024-10-29) Chidozie Felix C.; Chukwudi Ekene Celestina; Aje Oluwatobi; Osimen Goddy U.Boko Haram, which translates from Hausa to mean ‘Western Education is forbidden,’ has ignominiously attracted negative attention and publicity from many quarters in Nigeria and the international community at large. Indeed, the organisation is arguably one of the significant security concerns confronting the Nigerian State. This has undoubtedly created an atmosphere of fear and terror, especially among Nigerians in the North. Generally, their activities threaten the very fabric of the country’s unity, prosperity, and stability. The paper is a desk study, drawing heavily from secondary sources of data and analysing it using the thematic method. It examines the evolution, operational, and tactical transformation of Boko Haram from a small, localised group into a violent Islamic insurgent group with better coordination and sophistication. Findings show that the strategic and tactical flexibility of the group’s operations is peculiar to all asymmetrical warfare. It, therefore, recommends that the Nigerian government intensify its counter-insurgency war while also exploring the option of expanding the counter-insurgency war beyond the military option to include addressing the socio-economic realities in Northern Nigeria, such as unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy.Item RETHINKING PEACE, SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA(International Journal of Education Humanities and Social Science Vol. 5, No. 01, 2022) Osimen Goddy U.; RUFUS AISEDIONThere is growing recognition that peace and security are fundamental for socio-political and economic development of any country in the world. Yet Violent conflicts, whether social, political, or environmental, has significantly contributed to the crisis of sustainable development and security challenges in terms of loss of human and material resources. This paper has therefore, examined the nature of peace, security and sustainable development in Nigeria. The study adopts a combination of theories like; the clash of civilization theory, the frustration-aggression theory, state fragility and failed state theory. Qualitative method, such as textbooks, journal articles, internet, among others was used as sources of data collection. The work was descriptively analyzed through the content of the information gathered. The paper explores various dimensions of the social, political, economic and other conditions that have over the years affected the indices for measuring peace, security and sustainable development in Nigeria. Consequently, the paper revealed some of the symptoms that have truncated the “God given” peace, security and sustainable development in Nigeria, which includes; corruption, unemployment, Weak institutional system, structural imbalance, human trafficking, bad leadership, among others. The paper concluded with some useful policies recommendations regarding the way forward therein and most importantly, called for the need by the Nigeria government to learn from history, as attempts been made to tackle the challenges currently upsetting the attainment of sustainable peace, security and development in the country.Item Nigeria's Quest for a Permanent Seat at the United Nation Security Council: A Giant Dwarfed of Domestic Challenges(Migration Letters Volume: 21, No: 3,, 2023) Osimen Goddy U.; Obiyan Sat A.; Ayankoya Abimbola Rachel; Essien Nick PeterItem The Impact of Language in Conflict Management and Peace Building(American International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, 2015) Osimen Goddy U.; Aniga Ugo Samuel; Bateye Omonike RashidatConflict is inevitable and part of the society. A conflict can be encountered in the home, between a husband and his wife, between parents and their children. Conflicts can also be between friends, colleagues, a teacher and his students, and even between religious leaders, politicians, traders, just mention it. Conflict is not entirely negative. The society needs conflict to advance as conflicts enable people know their rights, duties and short comings. The manner a conflict is handled is very important. Language at this juncture, plays an indispensable role in managing conflicts on one hand, and on the other hand, escalating a conflict. In other words, the paper explores language as an instrument capable of deescalating or escalating a conflict.Item The Borderless-Border and Internal Security Challenges in Nigeria(International Journal of Political Science Volume 3, Issue 3, 2017, 2017) Osimen Goddy U.; Anegbode E. John; Akande Clement. A,; Oyewole Oyindamola O.The international border between Nigeria and her neighboring countries is roughly 4745sq.km. The major border countries with Nigeria are Cameroon (1,690 kilometers) in the east, Niger (1,497 kilometers) in the north, Benin (773 kilometers) in the west, and Chad (87 kilometers) in the north-east. Nigeria also shares maritime boundaries with Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome and Principle. The current border corresponds to the inter-colonial border between British and French territories that was set up in 1889. Due to the fact that between these countries hardly any natural boundaries exist, in some parts its exact demarcation remains unclear. The border region includes a large surface of lagoon- and marshlands in the Ouémé valley, which have traditionally been used as transport and trade routes and which are very difficult to control and monitor by migration and customs authorities. This coupled with the challenges facing African states to manage their borders are compounded by globalization that is tearing down traditional borders through advancement in technology and transformation of international relations. At the moment crimes are committed without crossing borders and huge amounts of goods are sold through cyberspace. The problem of security as a result of these borderless-borders in Nigeria has become one of the most intractable challenges facing the country today. In recent time, the security challenges in Nigeria and its border crime are alarming, especially, the activities of the terrorist group known as ‘’Boko Haram’’ in which lives and property are no longer secure. There are many speculations that the groups may have found their way through our porous borders. Therefore, the study probes into the nature of Nigeria borders using analytical framework of assessment in the emerging trans-border crimes, the causes and sources of insecurity of lives and property in Nigeria. The paper then revealed that the major criminal activities in Nigeria borders are smuggling of contraband goods and illegal immigrants, trafficking in weapons and human parts, drug trafficking, vehicle crime, trafficking of illegally exploited natural resources, including the illicit trade in timber, oil and diamond among others. The paper then suggests that much of the conventional wisdom regarding how best to address Nigeria border crime and security is not only enacting a law but also creating proper national security awareness, involvement of new stakeholders in the security sector and strong institutional framework to checkmate the activities of trans- border crime.Item Contribution of Public Private Partnership to Educational Development in Nigeria(International Journal of Research in Arts and Social Sciences Vol. 11 No.2, 2019-01) Atobatele AbolajiThis study is on the contribution of public private partnership (PPP) to education development in Nigeria. PPP is seen as a panacea to revamping educational sector that is experiencing decline in term of quality everyday due to insensitivity on the part of government to finance education to meeting up the minimum requirement benchmark put forward by the United Nation (UN). Sequel to this backdrop that the study seeks to examine the extent at which PPP has assisted in revamping the educational sector in Nigeria. However, this research adopts qualitative approach to analyze its data, the materials used in this study were garnered from the secondary sources which include Journal publications, internet, books etc. The study found out that Public Private Partnership (PPP) also known as Private Financial Initiative (PFI) has contributed to educational sector greatly. The study therefore recommends that concerted effort should be made by the government and private sectors to providing lasting solution to decline in educational sector of Nigeria.