Programme: International Relations
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://itsupport.cu.edu.ng:4000/handle/123456789/28796
Here you will find works strictly related to International Relations
News
https://pol.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/
Browse
213 results
Search Results
Item ASSESSMENT OF CROSS BORDER ARMS TRAFFICKING IN NIGERIA AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR REGIONAL SECURITY(Covenant University, Ota, 2026-06) OFFONG, Jeremiah Etuk; Covenant University, DissertationThe study assesses cross border arms trafficking in Nigeria and its implications for Regional Security. The illicit movement of arms across the borders is one serious challenge to Nigeria's national security, institutional integrity and sustainable developmental path. Even though Nigeria has an extensive regime of international, regional and national legal obligations on the issue of small arms and light weapons, such as the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, the Arms Trade Treaty and the United Nations Programme of Action, hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been killed and millions displaced by the insurgency, banditry, farmer-herder clashes and organised crime that continues to plague the country via its 4,047 km borders with Niger, Cameroon, Chad and Benin. To achieve the objective of this study, qualitative research design with descriptive trend analysis of secondary data were used in the study. Some secondary sources were analysed using systematic document analysis that was structured around SDG 16 indicators and organised into five categories: Arms seizure reports, Violence and conflict datasets, Border Security and governance assessments, Regional and international organisation reports, and peer-reviewed journal articles (2010 to 2025). The study findings showed that cross-border arms trafficking in Nigeria is a self-reinforcing structural governance problem, which requires concurrently integrated reforms in institutional integrity, border infrastructure, socio-economic development, regional security cooperation and technological modernisation. The study recommended that the government of Nigeria needs to make an urgent priority reform of institutional integrity in the border security agencies as a precondition for all other investments in counter-arms trafficking and concluded that Nigeria, ECOWAS and the international community need an integrated, simultaneous and structurally adequate response to the issue of arms trafficking on a global scale.Item DISINFORMATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE: AN ASSESSMENT OF NIGERIA-US SECURITY RELATIONS, 2017-2025(Covenant University, Ota, 2026-08) CHIMA, Samuel Kalu Chima; Covenant University, DissertationDigital disinformation has become a major obstacle in the functioning of bilateral security relationships in today's international order, especially with regard to cooperation between developed and developing countries. As a result, this study to examined the effect of digital disinformation on Nigeria-United States security cooperation between 2017 and 2025, when Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been present and foreign malign influence operations in Africa have been on the increase. This research adopted a qualitative approach, grounded in semi-structured key informant interviews with 20 purposively selected respondents from academia, military, intelligence, diplomatic practice, media and civil society, complemented by policy documents, institutional reports and publications. The results show that disinformation has had a significant effect on bilateral trust, especially in the form of exaggerated claims of religious persecution that led to Nigeria being redesignated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in October 2025. The disinformation strategies that are used are multi-layered, such as social media amplification, generative AI, recontextualized content, influencer laundering, and high-level lobbying. The study reveals a diverse multi-actor landscape of foreign state actors, domestic political actors, separatist/extramist groups, religious advocacy networks, and profit-driven platforms. The research combines constructivism and realism, highlighting the disinformation as an instrument of power competition and an ideational reconstruction process. To counter the erosion of bilateral trust, this study recommends the establishment of a joint Nigeria-United States bilateral mechanism for the coordinated identification, attribution, and disruption of disinformation networks targeting their security cooperation, building on and expanding the framework previously developed by the US Global Engagement Center before its mandate lapsed in December 2024.The study concludes that coordinated approaches of the statutory, technological, communicative, educational and bilateral cooperative nature are necessary for the effectiveness of countermeasures. Suggested solutions encompass establishing of a formal bilateral mechanism for countering disinformation, institutionalisation of fast-track strategic communication, strengthening regulatory processes with safeguards for civil liberties, increasing digital literacy initiatives, and independent fact-checking institutions.Item EFFECT OF FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENTS ON EMPLOYEES’ PRODUCTIVITY IN LAGOS STATE PUBLIC SERVICE(Covenant University, Ota, 2026-08) DEBO-ADELEYE, Naomi Adefesola; Covenant University, DissertationThe growing adoption of flexible work arrangements (FWAs), accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and Nigeria's 2024 fuel subsidy removal, has raised important questions about their productivity implications in bureaucratic public institutions. Although the Lagos State Government introduced a formal flexible work policy in February 2024, empirical evidence on its effectiveness remained limited. This study examined the effect of telecommuting, flexible working hours, compressed work schedules, and job sharing on employee productivity in the Lagos State Public Service and assessed the moderating roles of supervision, performance monitoring, and accountability mechanisms. A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was adopted. The population comprised 4,665 employees from three selected Lagos State ministries, sampled using Krejcie and Morgan's (1970) method, with 335 questionnaires yielding 304 valid responses (76.2%) and 15 structured interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, one-way ANOVA, multiple regression, and moderation analysis; qualitative data were analysed thematically. FWA prevalence was uniformly low across all three ministries, with no significant inter-ministerial differences [F (2, 301) = 0.545, p = .580, η² = 0.004], supporting the first null hypothesis. Regression analysis showed that FWAs significantly predicted employee productivity, explaining 69.3% of variance (R² = 0.693, p < 0.001), rejecting the second null hypothesis. Job sharing and flexible working hours were the strongest independent predictors. Supervision, performance monitoring, and accountability mechanisms did not significantly moderate the FWA–productivity relationship (p > 0.05), supporting the third null hypothesis, though each independently predicted productivity. Qualitatively, paper-based processes, inadequate ICT infrastructure, and presence-based supervision were the primary barriers to implementation. FWAs, particularly through job sharing and flexible working hours, hold significant potential for productivity in the Lagos State Public Service. It is therefore recommended that the Lagos State Government institutionalise a comprehensive FWA Policy Framework, invest in ICT infrastructure, and transition to output-based performance management.Item Peace in the shadow of conflict: exploring the potential of constructive language strategies in Israel–Hamas relations(International Journal of Conflict Management, 2025) Osimen, Goddy Uwa; Dele-Dada, Moyosoluwa; Chidozie, Felix; Osere, Janefrances NkemPurpose – This study aims to explore the potential of constructive language strategies in transforming and creating open avenues for sustainable peacebuilding amid ideological rigidity and cycles of retaliatory violence. Design/methodology/approach – Using critical discourse analysis grounded in the theory of linguistic relativity, moral disengagement, structural violence and epistemic injustice, this study analyses 75 purposively sampled texts, including official statements, media reports and grassroots communications. The analysis is structured across textual, discursive and sociocultural levels, with coding conducted through NVivo 12. Findings – The findings demonstrate that language is not merely a reflection of conflict but a powerful tool in shaping it. Dehumanising, moralising and binary narratives dominate official discourse from both parties, sustaining hostilities and limiting the discursive space for peace. Practical implications – Constructive communication strategies, particularly in ceasefire negotiations, education and media reporting, can lower emotional intensity, challenge adversarial narratives and foster environments conducive to dialogue and reconciliation. Originality/value – This research moves beyond traditional analyses of military and political strategies to offer a discourse-centred perspective on peacebuilding, revealing both the potential and limitations of language as a transformative tool in asymmetric conflicts.Item Appraisement of glocalisation in the context of Nigeria’s foreign policy: A concentric approach(Cogent Arts & Humanities, 2024) Folorunso, Gideon I.; Duruji, Moses M.; Chidozie, Felix CThis paper examines the nexus between Nigeria’s foreign policy and glocalisation. Glocalisation is an emerging concept in foreign policy discourse, with the sole intent of forging a synergy between globalisation, global governance, and local relations, hinging on domestic peculiarities. As it were, foreign policy has largely projected the interest of the ruling class and other private interests rather than the greater good regardless of the gains for the ruling elites, as posited by Jeremy Bentham. The concentric model was the theoretical framework used by the study to explain the levels of relation from the core to the periphery, a globalised foreign policy to a glocalised foreign policy. Qualitative research methods were adopted for this study, using secondary sources of data collection, and textual analysis. While little or no attention has been paid to glocalisation efforts in foreign policy discourse in Africa, it has been on the table of discussion for the western world, notwithstand ing the current level of development occasioned by diplomatic relations worldwide. Progressively, within foreign policy discourses, the need to glocalise foreign policy cannot be overemphasised, as it marks the beginning of real polity as explained by Aristotle, as against simply focusing on the localisation of globalisation.Item Unpacking the Political Economy of Member States' Withdrawal from ECOWAS: The Cases of Burkina Faso, Mali, and the Niger Republic(2025) Chukwudi, Celestine Ekene; Essien, Nick Pe ter; Ezebuilo, Paul ChibuikeThe Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional organisation that has worked since its inception to maintain member states' unification and improved relationships with other regional and Western nations to ensure political and socio-economic development. Despite all efforts, ECOWAS faces numerous challenges, such as an undemocratic government, insecurity, a lack of member cooperation, and, most recently, the exit of its trio-member nations. The study explores the political and socio-economic consequences of ECOWAS member nations like Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Niger's exit, and the effect on regional integration and cooperation. Rational Choice theory was adopted as a theoretical framework suitable for the underpinnings of this study. A qualitative research method, i.e., content analysis, was adopted to analyse the collated data. The study used secondary sources of data collection, e.g., textbooks, journals, conference proceedings, and internet sources, which were thematically discussed. The study finds that the trio-member nations that withdrew their membership are not parasitic and dependent on ECOWAS but have contributed to the continuous well-being of the organisation towards promoting and ensuring the regional integration, cooperation, growth, and development at large. The study concluded that the ECOWAS political and socio-economic system has been seriously affected, including the organisational image and recognition in Africa and globally. The study recommends that policymakers and international organisations such as ECOWAS, AU, EU, etc., should ensure inclusivity of all member nations, which would bring a sense of value and belonging that will keep them committed and loyal to their organizations, to avoid any member nation rising to disobey the principles of this organisation with the mindset of exit.Item Tax Administration and Timely Payments: A study of selected State Internal Revenue Service in South-West Nigeria(PERSPEKTIF, 2024) Adesemowo, Modupeola Morenike; Chukwudi, Celestine Ekene; Bello, Wasiu OlaideThis study examined the effect of tax administration and timely payments: a study of selected Internal Revenue Service in South-West Nigeria. A field survey research method was adopted, primary data obtained through the administration of a structured questionnaire was used and the hypotheses were tested using regression analysis. The population of the study consisted of 4499 members of staff in the tax revenue office in South-West Nigeria. Three hundred and eighty-seven copies of questionnaires were administered while 382 (98.7%) were retrieved. The findings of the study revealed that the tax administration of the selected State Internal Revenue Services has a significant effect on timely payments (Adj.R2 = 0.115, F(3, 383) = 17.405), p < 0.05). The study concluded that a significant relationship exists between Tax administration measured as Tax assessment (TASS), Tax remittance (TREM) and Tax collection (TCOL), and Timely Payments of taxpayers' declarations of selected State Internal Revenue Services in South-West Nigeria. The study recommended that State tax authorities should restructure their tax administration system to increase their efficiency and effectiveness in tax assessment, tax collection, and tax remittance that will provide adequate and relevant training for members of staff on the use of information technology and update the technological equipment's used so that the members of staff can be technologically competent Technological devices should be made available to staff members in the various tax stations outside the head office.Item Soft Power Strategies and Reshaping of Global Affairs: A Comparative Analysis of China and Nigeria in the 21st Century(Nnamdi Azikiwe Journal of Poli1tical Science, 2025) Chukwudi, Celestine Ekene; Isaac, Grace UgochiTills study does a comparative analysis of the soft power strategies of China and Nigeria, highlighting their unique resources, approaches, and challenges in the 21"1 century. It explores how China leverages initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, media influence, and cultural diplomacy to assert global influence, while Nigeria struggles to capitalize on its rich cultural heritage. Drawing on reports, literature, and 12 qualitative interviews as primary data, the paper analyses how economic, social, and political factors shape each country's soft power. A key finding reveals that China's centralized coordination enhances its soft power impact, whereas Nigeria's fragmented institutions hinder its effectivenessItem Reassessing the Role of Culture in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The Nigerian Narrative(PERSPEKTIF, 2026) Chukwudi, Celestine Ekene; Isaac, Grace UgochiNigeria's extensive cultural diversity, spanning over 250 ethnic groups, and its expanding creative economy hold significant potential for advancing sustainable development However, the underutilization of cultural assets in national development strategies represents a persistent challenge. This study investigates how culture contributes to sustainability in Nigeria and evaluates the extent to which government policies, particularly the 1988 National Cultural Policy, align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study analyses policy documents, government reports, and academic literature using thematic and content analyses, guided by the Cultural Heritage and Creativity Framework Findings reveal that culture has been deployed in sustainability efforts through arts, music, media campaigns, and creative industries to promote civic education, peace-building, and environmental awareness. Despite this progress, weak policy implementation, funding limitations, and exclusion of cultural stakeholders constrain impact The study concludes that systematic integration of cultural heritage and creativity into development planning, education, and SDG monitoring is crucial to strengthening Nigeria's sustainability agenda and providing a replicable model for other African states.Item Technological Integration and Educational Administration: Addressing the Contemporary Societal needs in West Africa(African Journal of Advances in Engineering and Technology Vol. 1, 2025) Chukwudi, Celestina EkeneThe West African region faces a low technological resource with its growing youth population, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to educational resources. This study investigates how mobile apps, data management systems, and e-learning platforms can enhance decision-making in educational settings and streamline administrative processes. The study also examines how these technological developments could assist in bridging the divide between rural and urban populations. Despite its potential, several challenges include cultural resistance to change, inequalities in digital competency, and a lack of funding. This study employs a qualitative methodology and is analysed using descriptive and content analysis. For the underpinning of the study, diffusion of innovation theory is well applied, which shows the use and importance of modern technology in our African society. Findings demonstrate how technology impacts educational systems in West Africa and equip the next generation with the skills they need. The report concludes with helpful recommendations for anyone who might be interested in maximising the benefits of incorporating technology into school administration. Previous studies have shown interest in education and development, while this study closes the gap by delving into technology in education administration as a major key in developing education in West Africa. The study provides policymakers with information for making better policies concerning technology and educational administration in West Africa.