Programme: Policy and Strategic Studies
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Item ASSESSMENT OF NATIONAL COUNTER TERRORISM STRATEGY AND HUMAN SECURITY IN BORNO STATE, NIGERIA(Covenant University, Ota, 2026-08) JOSEPH, Ruth Modupeoluwa; Covenant University, DissertationTerrorism is still impacting Borno State more than a decade after the National Counter- Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) of Nigeria was adopted, leaving a question of how far the strategy has gone in yielding its desired results. While military operations have played a role in territorial recovery, a focus on timely security responses appears to have overshadowed other non-kinetic considerations, such as civilian protection. The study addresses the four pillars of the strategy: Forestall, Secure, Identify, and Implement and their respective dimensions for addressing issues relating to radicalisation, civilian protection, early warning, and institution coordination. The analysis is guided by Human Security Theory and Policy Implementation Theory and adopts a single-case embedded qualitative design. Borno State was selected because its setting of insurgency, military action, displacement, and reintegration provides a suitable context for understanding the implementation of policy decisions. Primary data were collected through twenty semi-structured interviews with military personnel, civil society representatives, community members, and academic experts. Thematic and discourse analyses were adopted to analyse these accounts using secondary sources. The findings reveal that NACTEST remains military oriented and, at times, states’ security focus is more on military than on human security. The Forestall pillar is still hindered by socio-economic exclusion and resistance to the return of the former combatants. The Secure pillar has helped reclaim territory from insurgent groups but has also been associated with reductions in civil rights and disruptions to livelihoods. Competition amongst institutions further inhibits the sharing of intelligence and cooperation and reduces the impact of the Identify and Implement pillars. Patterns show that military success is not enough for long-term stabilisation in an environment of institutional weaknesses and unresolved community grievances. There is a need for a more balanced approach, with focus on civilian welfare, human rights and effective security operations. The study calls for the enhancement of socio-economic measures, accountability of institutions, protection of victims, and reliable information sharing. This can help ease the de-radicalisation of environments and help foster social cohesion in these communities. The study also advances the literature on security studies by studying and assessing counterterrorism policy through civilian safety and public trust as measures of policy success.Item Inclusive or Exclusive Democracy? Interrogating Structural Violence in Elections in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic(Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, 2024) Dele-Dada, Moyosoluwa; Gberevbie, Daniel; Olu-Owolabi, FadekeElection is primate to democracy to the extent that it serves as a benchmark for evaluating a country's democratic quality. The recognition, acceptance and respect of the right to vote and be voted for is thus highly fundamental in a democratic system. However, the electoral sphere in Nigeria, since the country's return to democracy in 1999, has been marred by systemic issues that amount to structural violence. This includes gross violations of political rights, the marginalization of women and youths, and widespread manipulations and inconsistencies. These troubling aspects not only hinder the democratic process but also perpetuate inequalities and injustices within the system. With the overall objective of interrogating structural violence in Nigeria’s electoral system, this study adopted a qualitative approach using secondary data sources and thematic analysis. Findings of this study revealed the structural limitations and inequalities prevalent in the country’s elections. Since Nigeria’s return to democracy, structural violence has taken different forms and has had significant implications for the country’s electoral system. This study concludes that structural violence in the electoral process is detrimental to the country's democratic quality, social cohesion, and long-term stability.Item Workforce Diversity and Organisational Development: A Study of Federal Inland Revenue, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria(Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 2024) Anigbata, Davidson O.; Ezebuilo, Paul Chibuike; Chukwudi, Celestine Ekene; Ogbonna, SymplusOrganizations all over the world are facing many challenges in the management of their workforce. One of the challenges is workforce diversity. Thus, because they are recruiting people from different backgrounds. The paper sought to examine the effects of workforce diversity in the federal inland revenue service Abakaliki. The broad objective of the paper is to examine the effect of workforce diversity in organizational management. The specific objectives are to find out whether workforce diversity brings about industrial harmony or disharmony; to ascertain the effects of managing multicultural organization and to examine the impacts of workforce diversity in the organizational development of federal Inland Revenue Service Abakalliki. Content Analysis was used in the study. This is because the study relies mainly on secondary data. Situational theory propounded by Fieldler, A (1967) was used as the basis upon which the framework of the study is hinged. The paper after analyses found that workforce diversity is an inevitable organizational challenge if organizations are recruiting workforce from diverse environments etc. The study therefore recommended that management should brace up for the challenges of managing multi-cultural organizations among others. The study implies that as many people from different strata of society are employed in organizations, workforce diversity.Item Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Development: An Assessment of the 'One Youth-Two Skills' Scheme in Anambra State, Nigeria(Janna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Volume 7, 2025) Ezebuilo, Paul Chibuike; Chukwudi, Celestine Ekene; Obiora, Charles Arinze; Ofuonye, Joseph NdubuisiBackground: Youth empowern1ent and development can be achieved through adequate training and empowerment. Perhaps governments implement different programmes to empower their young generation with this in mind. Objective: This study investigates the effect of the 'One Youth-Two Skills' scheme on youth empowern1ent and sustainable development in Anambra State, Nigeria. Methodology: The study adopted a quantitative research design. A purposive random sampling technique was used to select the targeted respondents. Data was sourced through questionnaire copies and participant observation and presented and analysed using inferential statistics, such as frequency tables, mean, and chi-square, to test the hypotheses. Results: The study found that the 'One Youth-Two Skills' scheme has significantly influenced youth empowerment and sustainable development. An effective transfom1ationalleadership style with clearly set goals and good management has helped achieve this. However, insufficient funds, unequal distribution of materials and allocations, and poor monitoring and supervision, among other challenges, are affecting the 'One Youth-Two Skills' youth empowerment and sustainable development in Anambra State. Conclusion: To ensure a strong youth orientation towards economic empowennent and growth, a serious partnership is needed to ensure inclusive policies that invest in youth training. Unique Contribution: This study contributes to the existing literature on the best practices and modalities for ensuring effective youth empowerment and sustainable development in Anambra, Nigeria. Key Recommendations: To attain the aim of empowem1ent, an increase in funds/grants, equitable allocation of resources and materials, more partnerships, collaboration, proper monitoring, and mentorship are needed.Item EVALUATION OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS OF THE 2015 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA(Journal of Public Administration and Management, 2020) Kalu, Tony; Gberevbie, Daniel E.Democracy has gained universal acceptance and periodic eledion is one of basic feature of democracy. Since the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999, several elections have been conducted at both national, state local government levels. However, the 2015 general elections served as turning points to the entire electoral process in Nigeria due to the higher acceptance of their outcomes and peaceful transition recorded. The paper evaluates electoral process of the 2015 gubernatorial election in Lagos State. The study adopted the historical method by using relevant journal articles, newspaper~ magazines and reports of eledoral bodies and agencies obtained from the internet. The study was anchored on the Procedural Theory of Democracy. The Content analysis method was used to gather from the data obtained, issues related to the eledoral process. The units of analysis include intra-party politics/candidates selection, campaign~ voting process and voters' behaviour, declaration of results and matters arising as well as performance of INEC Findings show that there was little intra-party democracy in the seledion of flag bearers among the two leading parties. Furthermore, the paper found that candidates engage in different kinds of political campaigns such as media tour~ rallies, and social media posts. The study recommends that political parties should condud proper primary elections and that INEC should improve its performances in future eledions by recruiting and training qualified personnel for proper electoral conduct in order to advance democracy for development in Nigeria.Item Inclusive or Exclusive Democracy? Interrogating Structural Violence in Elections in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic(Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, 2024) Dele-Dada, Moyosoluwa; Gberevbie, Daniel E.; Olu-Owolab, FadekeElection is primate to democracy to the extent that it serves as a benchmark for evaluating a country's democratic quality. The recognition, acceptance and respect of the right to vote and be voted for is thus highly fundamental in a democratic system. However, the electoral sphere in Nigeria, since the country's return to democracy in 1999, has been marred by systemic issues that amount to structural violence. This includes gross violations of political rights, the marginalization of women and youths, and widespread manipulations and inconsistencies. These troubling aspects not only hinder the democratic process but also perpetuate inequalities and injustices within the system. With the overall objective of interrogating structural violence in Nigeria’s electoral system, this study adopted a qualitative approach using secondary data sources and thematic analysis. Findings of this study revealed the structural limitations and inequalities prevalent in the country’s elections. Since Nigeria’s return to democracy, structural violence has taken different forms and has had significant implications for the country’s electoral system. This study concludes that structural violence in the electoral process is detrimental to the country's democratic quality, social cohesion, and long-term stability.Item A Threat to Sustainable HealthCare Services? Examining the Effect of Structural Violence on the Policy Outcomes of Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme among Enrolled Junior Officers in the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure(Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, 2024) Dele-Dada, Moyosoluwa; Gberevbie, Daniel; Olu-Owolabi, Fadeke; Atobatele, AbolajiIn Nigeria, citizens face challenges accessing quality healthcare despite the National Health Insurance Scheme. Decentralizing the scheme's implementation to states, including Lagos, aimed at universal health coverage, has not effectively addressed disparities. The implementation of the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme seems to perpetuate structural violence, reflected in increased expenses, discrimination, substandard services, and preferential treatment. Furthermore, the sustainability of the scheme remains questionable due to these systemic issues. Therefore, this study explores the effect of structural violence on policy outcomes of the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme among enrolled junior officers in the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, using primary and secondary sources of data. Findings show unintended consequences emanating from the implementation of the policy such as dissatisfaction, provider shifts, non-adherence to treatment plans, increased compensation claims, and erosion of trust among users. From these findings, the study, therefore, recommends insurance broadening coverage, addressing medical conditions comprehensively, and implementing incentive programs for quality healthcare delivery, standards adherence, patient satisfaction and long-term sustainability within the scheme.Item Impact of Voter Education on Curbing Electoral Violence in Nigeria(African Renaissance (1744-2532), 2025, Vol 22,, 2025) MOLIKI, Ahmed Olawale;; Atobatele, Abolaji; Chukwudi, Celestina; AYOMOLA, Olurant; Dele-Dada, MoyosouwaPreventing violence prevalent in democratic elections globally has remained a concern to world governments, election observation groups, electoral management bodies, civil society organisations, and academia. This is because a peaceful electoral process strengthens democracy, enhances election credibility, and boosts the legitimacy of the elected government. Voter education (VE) provides the potential voters with basic information about the significance and time of voting, the location of voting centres, how to exercise their voting rights, and measures put in place to secure votes, voters, electoral observers, party agents, and electoral officials, etc. in the bid to achieve a credible and peaceful election. However, despite several current legal and institutional safeguards, violence has been anathema to Nigeria's electoral trajectory from the start of the Fourth Republic. This study assessed the impact of voter education as a practical method for reducing violence in Nigeria's post-2019 elections, where mixed methods of data were adopted. Also, simple random and purposive sampling techniques were employed to harvest data from 389 respondents. The study was analysed using ordinal regression analysis. The study found that information dissemination impacted the reduction of the electoral violence significantly, while problem identification and communitybased processes did not impact the electoral violence significantly.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.