Department of Political Science and International Relations

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    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 Ugochi
    Tills 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 effectiveness
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    Reassessing the Role of Culture in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The Nigerian Narrative
    (PERSPEKTIF, 2026) Chukwudi, Celestine Ekene; Isaac, Grace Ugochi
    Nigeria'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.
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    SOFT POWER AND FOREIGN POLICY OUTCOMES: A STUDY OF NIGERIA- CHINA RELATIONS (2019-2024)
    (Covenant University Ota, 2025-08) ISAAC, Grace Ugochi; Covenant University Dissertation
    Nigeria’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.
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    Principles, Objectives, And Socio-Political Realities Of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy, 2019-2023
    (Journal of Namibian Studies, 35 S1, 2023) Gberevbie Daniel E.; Udom Adaeze Charlyn; Ayankoya Abimbola Rachel; Okeke Ngozi Okwuchukwu; Osimen Goddy U.
    The goal of developing a country's foreign policy is to advance and safeguard the country's national objectives. Therefore, the essence of this study is to analyse the principles of Nigeria’s foreign policy in the context of the country’s present socio-political realities. The study engaged secondary data, while the theory of Manifest Destiny was adopted. Findings revealed that Nigeria has not reaped the rewards of all its sacrifices and dedication to the African course. This study recommends that there should be a reconstruction of Nigeria’s foreign policy based on its current realities of tribal sectioning and religious interest by pursuing a foreign policy that is centred on the country and her citizens as a united entity.
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    Principles, Objectives, And Socio-Political Realities Of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy, 2019-2023
    (Journal of Namibian Studies,, 2023) Gberevbie Daniel E.; Udom Adaeze Charlyn; Ayankoya Abimbola Rachel; Okeke Ngozi Okwuchukwu; Osimen Goddy U.
    The goal of developing a country's foreign policy is to advance and safeguard the country's national objectives. Therefore, the essence of this study is to analyse the principles of Nigeria’s foreign policy in the context of the country’s present socio-political realities. The study engaged secondary data, while the theory of Manifest Destiny was adopted. Findings revealed that Nigeria has not reaped the rewards of all its sacrifices and dedication to the African course. This study recommends that there should be a reconstruction of Nigeria’s foreign policy based on its current realities of tribal sectioning and religious interest by pursuing a foreign policy that is centred on the country and her citizens as a united entity.