College of Leadership and Development Studies

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Start date: 2023

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    DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND BUREAUCRATIC REFORM IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC SECTOR EFFICIENCY
    (4th International Conference, School of Vommunication and Information Technology,Federal University of Technology Ilaro, 2026) Abasilim, Ugochukwu D.; Peter, Mark J.; Udofia, Anieti N.
    Abstract Digital transformation has become a central strategy for bureaucratic reform in developing countries, particularly to enhance public-sector efficiency and advance sustainable development. In Nigeria, reforms in payroll management, public procurement, financial systems, digital identity infrastructure, and open government data are widely promoted as mechanisms for modernising the public bureaucracy. However, their capacity to deliver measurable efficiency gains and advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 8, 9, and 16) remains contested. This paper examines the implications of digital transformation for bureaucratic reform and public sector efficiency in Nigeria. Drawing on New Public Management, Institutional Theory, and Sociotechnical Systems Theory, the study adopts a qualitative design based on secondary data, including policy documents, government reports, and existing empirical studies across six reform domains. Findings show that while digital initiatives have improved procedural transparency and standardisation, efficiency gains remain uneven and are constrained by entrenched institutional weaknesses, fragmented governance structures, and limited subnational capacity. The paper argues that a predominantly technocratic reform approach, insufficiently aligned with political and institutional realities, undermines transformative outcomes. The study concludes that without strengthened accountability, institutional coherence, and subnational inclusion, digital transformation in Nigeria risks yielding symbolic rather than substantive improvements in public sector efficiency.
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    INVESTIGATION OF EMOTION REGULATION SKILLS TRAINING IN ENHANCING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AMONG STUDENTS OF COVENANT UNIVERSITY SECONDARY SCHOOL
    (Covenant University, Ota, 2026-05) Babajide, Faith Ebunoluwa; Covenant University, Thesis
    Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by intense emotional experiences. When emotional needs are neglected during childhood, it can negatively affect the development of emotional intelligence. Existing studies have established this relationship but there is limited evidence on effective interventions to improve emotional intelligence among affected adolescents. This study investigated the effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Skills Training (ERST) on emotional intelligence among adolescents with a history of childhood emotional neglect. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design was adopted with a sample size of 54 adolescents from Covenant University Secondary School, Ogun State selected using criterion sampling. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, incorporating demographic items as well as items from the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) and the Multidimensional Neglectful Behaviour Scale (MNBS). Hypotheses was equally analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, Paired and Independent Sample T-tests, ANCOVA, and Regression analysis using Hayes’ PROCESS macro. Findings revealed that there was a negative relationship between childhood emotional neglect and emotional intelligence (r = -.239, p = 0.041). Furthermore, ERST significantly improved emotional intelligence among adolescents in the experimental group (t= -10.059, p= 0.000). There was also significant difference in emotional intelligence compared to the control group (t = 4.580, p = 0.000. The pretest did not significantly influence the intervention’s effectiveness F(1, 51)= 31.807, P= 0.000, η² = 0.384 and gender did not significantly moderate the effect of the intervention (b = 8.46, p = 0.2403). The study concludes that ERST is an effective intervention for enhancing emotional intelligence offering substantial evidence to support adolescents of both genders; promoting emotional and mental well-being. The study recommends to schools, engagement in emotion training during orientation programs and as well psychoeducate parents on the need for emotional responsiveness in the home.
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    Going superstitious and blaming the invisible “other”: a linguistic appraisal of social media posts on “village people”
    (Languages and Cultures, Vol. 58, 2024) Igwebuike, Ebuka Elias; Chimuanya, Lily; Egwu, Anya Ude
    In this study, we explore how superstitions and blame are weaved in the linguistic con structions and representations of “village people”, the infamous mystic villains. Using Cultural Discourse Analysis (CuDA), we examine selected social media tweets and posts in which netizens deployed a mix of linguistic humour, the traditional African belief sys tem, and quasi-religious sensibilities to project the irrational belief in supernatural infl u ences of village people. We show how discursive conceptualisations such as evilifi ca tion, enemifi cation, remote controlling and monitoring are used superstitiously to blame the imaginary “village people” for individual and personal adversities of the unfortunates. This article underscores how peculiar Nigerian socio-religiosity and shared socio-cultural background shape the instantiations of fear and the institution of potency of vicious su pernatural powers.
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    Hashtag activism: Analysing linking discourse markers in #ArewaMeToo conversations on X platform
    (Masyarakat, Kebudayaan dan Politik, 2025) Chimuanya, Lily; Uduak-Abasi, Uyah
    Hashtag activism has emerged as a powerful tool for online advocacy, enabling marginalized individuals to gain visibility and foster collective action. In the absence of physical cues, users rely on linguistic elements to express engagement and support through linking discourse markers. Therefore, the subject of this study focuses on how connecting discourse markers are used in the #ArewaMeToo online conversation to express stance and inclusivity, on sexual violence. The study also explores how discourse markers function as substitutes for physical conversational cues in online activism. The study was conducted in 2024 using a qualitative method. Data were purposively selected from #ArewaMeToo conversations on X platform in Nigeria and grouped through discourse analysis. The database was collected from 300 tweets, with 63 tweets selected for analysis and reproduced in this study as representative examples. The findings of the study revealed that the discourse markers employed in the #ArewaMeToo movement such as cohesive devices, punctuation and capitalization have emerged as crucial tools for conveying engagement, support, emotional intensity and reinforcing advocacy. The study concludes that linking discourse markers substitute for vocal differences and serve as linguistic resources that signal solidarity, emotion, and resistance in the fight against sexual violence
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    Indirect Speech Act Strategies in Nigerian Online Marketing Discourse on Beauty Products
    (Journal of English Scholars’ Association of Nigeria, 2025) Chimuanya, Lily; Oladapo, Toyosi Tosin; Owoeye, Samuel T.; Tagbo, Chika
    Marketing communication is shaped in part by the perception of what consumers need and value as well as by their interests, preferences, and demographic data. Marketers generally attempt to segment their target market when choosing an audience so that they could modify the message's content and the distribution method to reach a specific audience. This study examines the discourse strategies employed by beauty product marketers on social media, with particular emphasis on the Indirect Speech Acts (ISAs). A total of 200 data set comprising 100 from Facebook and 100 from Instagram are analysed drawing on insights from John Searle’s (1979) taxonomy. The findings show the recurrent use of representative, directive, commissive, expressive, inquire, and integrative acts, with declarative, imperative, and interrogative having the highest frequency. However, Integrative speech acts exhibit the highest frequency across all brands, as they frequently engage followers by referring to them as if they were part of a family unit, indirectly urging them to take specific actions. Furthermore, many of the speech acts display similar sentence structures but have different intentions or functions, primarily serving as indirect speech acts. The study concludes that the indirect speech acts are persuasive in nature, aimed to compel potential clients and boost sales.
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    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 Nkem
    Purpose – 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.
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    Between Tradition and Modernity: Patriarchy and Power Dynamics in #ArewaMeToo Discussions on X Platform
    (Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Volume 7, Number 2,, 2025) Chimuanya, Lily; Uduak-Abasi, Uyah
    Background: Language is crucial to the production of discourses that legitimize sexual violence and rape since language is a symbolic system of power. It is through such power of discourse, that sexual violence and rape victims form linguistic narratives that enable them to share their experiences. Objective: This research examines the patriarchal, religious, and cultural practices that legitimise sexual violence in Nigeria on the X platform. Methodology: This study employed a qualitative design using Fairclough’s model of Critical Discourse Analysis. Data were purposively gathered and thematically coded. The sampled tweets comprise 100, manually gathered from #ArewaMeToo on X, produced by Nigerians. These tweets were numbered randomly from T1 to T100 based on how the data was gathered. (‘T’ represents tweets). Results: Results indicate that strong religious and cultural explanations underpin the prevalence of rape and sexual violence practices in Northern Nigeria. It also provides evidence that patriarchal power structures enhance these practices. This accounts for the prevalence of certain ideologies that accompany such events, such as the ideology of silence and fear, shame, and stigma. Unique Contribution: This study has revealed how X serves as a platform for users to express opinions on posts made by survivors and victims’ experiences of rape and sexual violence. Conclusion: This study concludes that the conversations on the Nigerian X platform reflect some ideological perspectives and contentions underlying rape and sexual violence as well as reactions showing disapproval for such ideologies. Recommendation: Further studies may embark on a critical discourse analysis of other hashtags that address rape and sexual violence and a critical discourse analysis of gender inequality using other social media platforms
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    Tracking Mental Health: A Social Semiotic Analysis of Instagram Discourse
    (Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences 22(2), 2024) Anake, Scholastica Andokie; Chimuanya, Lily; Nnorom, Paulinus N.; Ogbulogo, Charles U.
    Mental health issues are increasingly common, affecting millions of people worldwide. This health challenge has both social and economic implications for individuals and society. By examining how language is used in mental health discourse on social media, people can better understand how it shapes perceptions, experiences, and interactions, ultimately informing more effective and supportive communication practices. This study investigates how mental health discourse is represented on two selected Instagram platforms, Sanemind and the NEEM Sanctuary, using a purposive sampling technique to select cases that are intentionally chosen for their relevance to mental health discourse. By combining social semiotics, linguistics, and mental health research, the study bridges the gap between these fields and offers insights into mental health concerns on social media. Using Kress and van Leeuwen's (1996) social semiotics framework, this study examines how language and other semiotic resources facilitate or hinder empathetic understanding, diagnosis, and treatment. Our analysis reveals specific strategies used by users to advocate for mental health awareness and support, such as representation, pigmentation, and framing used to highlight contemporary mental health complexities. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of mental health discourse on social media, informing strategies for promoting awareness, support, and resources. Our findings have implications for mental health promotion, social media platform design, and online support community development.
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    An Investigation of The Dominant Themes In Online Political Leadership Campaigns: A Case Study Of The OBIdient Campaign Discourse on X
    (Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Volume 7, Number 2, 2025) Chimuanya, Lily; Tagbo, Chika; Owoeye, Samuel T.
    Background: The persuasive function of language is perhaps most evident in political campaigns.The Nigerian political context is expected to reflect a robust adaptation of persuasion. Therefore,the OBIdient movement, a new phenomenon in the Nigerian political space, would offer anengaging framework for evaluating the persuasive dynamics of political communication inNigeria. Objective: This study investigates the dominant themes in the OBIdient campaign discourse on X(formerly Twitter). Methodology: This research used a descriptive qualitative research design. The data for this workwere drawn from tweets from members of the OBIdient campaign movement. Dell Hymes' (1964)ethnography of communication (SPEAKING) was used to analyse the tweets from members ofthe OBIdient campaign movement. The ethnographic dimensions of the campaign necessitated thechoice of this model. Results: The findings of this study revealed the following dominant themes: persuasion,admiration, gratitude, religion/focus, transparency/good governance, hate politics, and politicalkilling. Unique Contribution: This work adds to the sparse literature available in this area and the use ofDell Hyme’s Ethnography of Communication - SPEAKING model in doing a case study analysisof political discourse. Conclusion: Social media platforms have changed the dynamics of political discourse globallyand Nigeria is no exception. Recommendation: Further studies may consider a comparison between data obtained from othersocial media platforms using a different theoretical framework. The researchers believe thatsuggested further studies would most likely widen the horizon of the impact of the #Obidientpresidential campaign of 2023
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    A Linguistic Investigation of Mental Health Discourse on Instagram: A Transitivity Approach
    (Forum for Linguistic Studies Volume 07 | Issue 06, 2025-06) Anake, Scholastica Andokie; Chimuanya, Lily; Evaristus, Adesina; Kayode, Oluwagbenga A.; Ogbulogo, Charles U.
    Online discourse has contributed to the widespread dissemination of mental health awareness (MHA) worldwide. These mental health advocacies are mediated using discourse, also known as language in use. However, studies on online MHA, especially from the perspective of applied linguistics in Nigeria, appear to be few. Therefore, this study examined MHA discourse in two purposively selected Instagram platforms: Sanemind and the NEEM Sanctuary. The study’s objective is to identify the discursive contents in the selected platforms and the lexical resources in the selected MHA texts using a mixed method of data analysis. The data were analysed using the transitivity strand of the systemic functional analysis. The data analysis and discussion of findings identified three main themes of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery communicated through the transitivity processes: material, mental, verbal, relational, behavioural, and existential processes. This study concludes that the material process of ‘doing’ and ‘happening’ are the most used verbs for communicating MHA, followed by the verbal process of ‘saying’ and the relational process of ‘being’, which indicates that mental health concerns are more prone to what people do, say and their relationship with self and others. The study recommends that online content creators must ensure the lexical resources employed in mental health awareness communications are accurate, concise, and clear to avoid misrepresentation and misunderstanding of their intended messages. Thus, they may require the services of language and linguistics experts to review their online content