African Journal of Social and Behavioural Sciences

DIGITAL ENTREPRENEURIAL INTELLIGENCE IN EMERGING ECONOMIES: AN MIS CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR DIGITAL VALUE CREATION IN NIGERIA

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Despite accelerating investments in enterprise digital transformation, empirical evidence regarding the link between digital technology adoption and sustainable competitive advantage remains fragmented and inconclusive. Management Information Systems (MIS) scholarship has traditionally prioritised the acquisition of technological assets and the development of data infrastructure, leaving a critical theoretical gap in understanding the internal mechanisms by which firms systematically convert digital information abundance into strategic entrepreneurial action. This gap is particularly noticeable in emerging economies like Nigeria, where rapid, platform-driven digitalisation coexists with systemic institutional uncertainty, infrastructural constraints, and acute resource instability. To address these theoretical and contextual limitations, this paper develops Digital Entrepreneurial Intelligence
(DEI) as a novel, higher-order organisational dynamic capability. We create a thorough, multifaceted conceptual framework by combining viewpoints from Dynamic Capabilities Theory, Organisational Information Processing Theory (OIPT), the Knowledge-Based View (KBV), Absorptive Capacity Theory, and Entrepreneurial Cognition. Environmental Scanning Intelligence, Digital Analytics Intelligence (DAI), Opportunity Recognition Intelligence, Innovation Evaluation Intelligence, and Adaptive Intelligence are the five distinct dimensions that make up DEI. The study develops a theoretically based model that illustrates how management skills and digital information resources drive the growth of DEI, which in turn improves firm-level innovation capability and long-term organisational competitiveness. We conclude by delivering a rigorous future empirical validation roadmap, which includes exact
statistical power analysis calculation for structural equation modelling and comprehensive psychometric scale development phases.

RETHINKING AND MANAGING CONTEMPORARY GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS TENSIONS: IMPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL LABOUR POLICY REFORMS

Barinem Wisdom Girigiri — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

One of the objectives of the paper is to analyse the implications of global industrial relations tensions and how to integrate and adapt framework for national policy. The paper argued that, contemporary global industrial relations are undergoing profound transformation as geopolitical fragmentation, technological innovation, platform-mediated work, climate transitions, global supply chain reconfiguration, labour migration, and shifting demographic patterns increasingly reshape the governance of work. While these developments generate new economic opportunities, they simultaneously intensify institutional tensions by exposing the growing
disconnect between rapidly evolving labour market realities and national labour policy frameworks that remain largely rooted in conventional employment models. Anchored in Dunlop's Systems Theory and complemented by institutional and political economy perspectives, the paper critically examines how these tensions reconfigure power relations among the state, employers, organised
labour, and emerging labour market actors. It further demonstrates that resilient industrial relations systems depend upon labour policies capable of integrating flexibility with employment security, economic competitiveness with social justice, and national priorities with evolving international labour standards. Through a comparative analysis of national policy responses in Nigeria, South
Africa, China, and the United Kingdom, the study evaluates labour legislation, collective bargaining institutions, social protection systems, employment regulation frameworks, and tripartite governance structures. The study concludes that adaptive, inclusive, and resilient labour policy frameworks, supported by strong institutions and international cooperation, are essential for promoting sustainable industrial relations systems in an increasingly interconnected global economy.

THE POLITICS OF SILENCE: A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON HOW INSTITUTIONALISED PATRIARCHY AND HIGH-POWER DISTANCE CULTURE SUPPRESS FEMALE EMPLOYEE VOICE IN NIGERIAN WORKPLACES

Hope Imuetinyan Iguodala-Cole, Joseph Chinedum Nwanne, Monica Alexander Ankeli — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines how institutionalised patriarchy and high-power distance culture suppress female employee voice in Nigerian workplaces. The study explores the role of religious norms in reinforcing silence among female employees, thereby addressing a significant gap in existing literature, which has largely overlooked the intersection of religion and gender in shaping employee voice-out behaviour in non-Western contexts. The study is anchored in social dominance theory, which provides a robust framework for understanding how masculine hegemony perpetuates occupational segregation and silences women's contributions. A qualitative
phenomenological design was employed, utilising primary data collected through 52 semi-structured interviews and 200 hours of non-participant observation across banking, engineering, information technology, marketing, customer service, and academic sectors. The findings reveal that contextualised religious teachings reinforce patriarchal norms and legitimise silence as a virtuous feminine trait, embedding voice suppression within moral and spiritual frameworks. The study concludes that cultural and religious factors operate as powerful, intertwined forces that systematically marginalise women's voices in Nigerian workplaces. It recommends that organisations implement culturally sensitive diversity policies that explicitly address patriarchal norms and partner with religious leaders to reinterpret teachings in ways that affirm women's right to speak and participate fully in professional settings.

CRIMINOLOGY AS CULTURAL PRACTICE: A COMPARATIVE DOCUMENTARY ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS

Ajayi Ohiomah, Promise Chinedu Udeh — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The study utilised a comparative documentary analysis to examine criminology as a distinct professional and cultural practice across seven diverse countries: Nigeria, Uganda, India, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Argentina, and Australia. Utilising a
purposive sampling method, these countries were selected to represent a broad global spectrum of socio-legal environments. Unlike ethnographic research, which requires primary fieldwork, the study systematically synthesised secondary literature, official reports, and legal documentation to investigate how the discipline of criminology is applied in varied field settings. The study adopted
structural functionalism as its primary theoretical framework to evaluate how crime is perceived, prevented, and controlled; however, it acknowledged that this framework’s focus on system equilibrium poses inherent limitations for a fully transformative decolonial critique. Findings demonstrated that criminological practice is fundamentally shaped by local cultural negotiations, revealing a significant disparity between standardised theoretical protocols and the realities of diverse justice systems. In nations such as Nigeria and Uganda, the study highlighted how informal power structures and communal justice models operate independently of formal state definitions, challenging the universality of Western-centric models. The study affirmed that a robust understanding of social order requires a decolonised methodology that views criminological practice as a socially situated act rather than a mere data-collection exercise. It advocated for a pluralistic research approach that integrates indigenous knowledge systems into formal criminological inquiry to ensure that policy and academic study remain culturally grounded and contextually valid.

EXAMINING THE CYCLE OF DEVIANCE IN SOCIAL MEDIA BODY SHAMING AMONG YOUTHS IN NIGERIA

Kehinde Boluwatife Akintola, Tijjani Halliru, Tajudeen Yusuf Adeyinka — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The increasing use of social media among youth has contributed to the rise of cyber body shaming, a form of online harassment that involves the ridicule, humiliation, or mockery of individuals based on their physical appearance. Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram,
X, and Facebook have increasingly become spaces where appearance-based interactions, comparisons, and online aggression occur among young users. Although existing studies have examined cyberbullying largely from psychological and media perspectives, limited scholarly attention has been given to the victim-offender overlap in cyber body shaming and how experiences of online victimisation may contribute to the reproduction of similar harmful behaviours among youths. This study, therefore, investigates the cyber-victim-offender overlap and the cycle of deviance in social media body shaming among youths. The study is anchored on
the Online Disinhibition Effect, the Victim-Offender Overlap perspective, and the Social Learning Theory. The study adopted a qualitative desk-based research design, relying on secondary sources of data, including journal articles, books, online reports, documented social media incidents, and existing scholarly literature on cyberbullying, online victimisation, digital deviance, and body
shaming among youths published between 2010 and 2025. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed that anonymity, peer validation, repeated exposure to online hostility, and the interactive nature of social media platforms contribute significantly to the persistence of cyber body shaming among youths. The study found that victims of online body shaming may
later engage in similar behaviours, thereby reinforcing cycles of online victimisation and digital deviance within social media environments. The study recommends improved digital literacy, stronger online safety awareness, and more proactive institutional responses to reduce harmful online behaviours among youth.

EFFECTS OF POVERTY ON THE DEVELOPMENT LEVEL OF IDEATO-SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF IMO STATE (2020-2025)

Ekelem-Chukwu Peter Osodiuru, Chijioke Sunday Umeh — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This paper examined the effects of poverty on the development level of Ideato-South Local Government Area of Imo State (2020-2025). The objective was to determine ways unemployment, inefficient education system, as well as people’s poor socio-economic status affect the development level of the Local Government Area. A community-level survey study was adopted. 380 respondents were randomly selected out of 159,879 persons in Ideato-South Local Government Area of Imo State. An instrument titled Poverty and Development Survey Questionnaire (PDSQ), structured in a four-point Likert format, was administered for data collection. The data collected were analysed using frequency counts, percentages and mean. The study is anchored on System Theory. It was revealed that unemployment, an inefficient education system, and people’s poor socio-economic status negatively affected the development level in
Ideato-South Local Government Area of Imo State. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the government at all levels should provide effective employment opportunities, improve the education system, and improve the people’s socio-economic status to enhance the development level in the communities. It was further recommended that the government should, as a matter of
urgency, emphasise the diversification of the Nigerian economy through agriculture, which will increase the GDP and per capita income of people in the rural communities, reducing poverty in Ideato-South Local Government Area of Imo State.

CYBERCRIME AND YOUTH BEHAVIOUR IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA: A MIXED-METHODS INQUIRY INTO THE “YAHOO” SUBCULTURE

Ajayi Ohiomah, Promise Chinedu Udeh — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The study investigated the nature and strength of the relationship between cybercrime involvement and youth behavioural outcomes in Edo State, Nigeria. The research was grounded in Merton’s Strain Theory, which explains how societal pressures and structural
limitations drive individuals toward innovative yet illicit adaptations to achieve success. Adopting a mixed-methods research design, quantitative data were collected from 1,200 respondents using cluster and stratified sampling methods, while qualitative data were collected via in-depth interviews with 9 purposefully selected interviewees from the "Yahoo" subculture. Statistical analysis, using the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, revealed an extremely strong positive relationship between cybercrime and behavioural shifts (r = 0.8889; p < 0.05). The findings indicated that cybercrime involvement is a primary driver for the normalisation of digital deviance. The study concluded that cybercrime in Edo State has evolved from a peripheral offence into a central socio-structural identity that has reconfigured traditional values. The study recommended the establishment of digital incubation hubs and trauma-informed rehabilitation services to redirect youth technical proficiencies toward legitimate global sectors.

BEYOND POWER POLITICS: LIBERAL AND CONSTRUCTIVIST CRITIQUES OF REALISM AND THEIR CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE

Tope Shola Akinyetun, Solomon Jijoho Oke, Aihonsu Samuel Ahoton — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Realism has provided a concise explanation of state behaviour based on anarchy, power struggle, and self-help since it became the leading grand theory of international relations. However, by the end of the 20th century, constructivism and liberalism had launched serious objections that changed the direction of academic research. This study uses a qualitative interpretive approach and draws on a broad literature review of classic works. It systematically contrasts constructivism’s assumption that ideas, identities, and shared beliefs fundamentally determine state interests with liberalism’s emphasis on institutions, economic interdependence, and democratic
norms, as well as realism’s materialist perspective. The analysis shows that the fundamental contributions of liberalism have greatly broadened the toolset for understanding cooperation in anarchy. Constructivism emphasises both the strength of normative dissemination and the flexibility of state identities. However, there are issues with both schools: constructivist explanations can downplay the enduring role of material incentives, while liberal optimism is tested by non-democratic conflict players. The resurgence of great-power rivalry has reinvigorated realist scholarship while simultaneously exposing the limits of purely ideational or institutionalist explanations. This study concludes that the dynamic interaction of institutions, ideas, and power in modern international affairs cannot be adequately captured by a single grand theory. A more integrative research strategy is advised, one that systematically evaluates normative and material variables against comparative empirical evidence across diverse regional contexts.

A STRATEGIC ANALYSIS OF WORKPLACE GRIEVANCE RESOLUTION AND ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM THE FEDERAL AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF NIGERIA

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Unaddressed employee grievances lower morale, disrupt harmony, and reduce productivity, yet many organisations overlook effective grievance management. This study investigates the impact of employee grievances on organisational performance, focusing on the
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in Lagos State. It focuses on leadership style, communication, and employee relations as key dimensions influencing productivity, efficiency and effectiveness. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected through structured questionnaires from 75 of 80 sampled employees and analysed with regression models. Findings reveal significant
positive relationships between leadership style and organisational productivity, as well as employee relations and organisational effectiveness, while communication enhances efficiency. The study concludes that unresolved grievances hinder performance with emphasis on the need for proactive grievance management. It recommends regular reviews of organisational policies and practices to
identify and address employee concerns, thereby promoting harmony, boosting morale, and fostering a supportive work environment that enhances overall productivity and effectiveness.

“THE FATHER WOUND”: NARRATIVES OF PATERNAL ABSENCE, SELF-WORTH AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AMONG YOUNG MEN IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE

Enitan Oyenuga — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This qualitative narrative article explores how young men in Jos, Plateau State, make meaning of paternal absence and how this absence shapes self-worth, emotional development and masculine identity. Guided by Attachment Theory, Trauma Theory and masculinity perspectives, the article asks how young men narrate father-related absence as a lived emotional and developmental experience rather than only a family-structure problem. It draws on composite narrative reconstructions from eight young men aged 20 to 35 whose childhoods were marked by death, separation, abandonment, harsh fathering, inconsistent care or emotional distance within the home. Narrative conversations were examined through reflexive thematic analysis, with attention to shame, longing, anger, guardedness, substitute father figures and attempts to break intergenerational patterns. Findings suggest that paternal absence did not affect participants in a uniform way. For some, it produced a lasting search for validation; for others, it appeared through
excessive self-reliance, distrust of older men, difficulty with intimacy or anger that concealed sadness. Mothers, uncles, pastors, teachers, friends and personal reflection sometimes served as protective influences, although participants rarely described these supports as complete replacements for paternal recognition. The article argues that young men’s emotional struggles should not be dismissed as weakness or irresponsibility because many are negotiating childhood injuries within cultural expectations that demand toughness, provision and silence. It recommends trauma-informed, male-sensitive counselling, family psychoeducation and community spaces where father-related pain can be discussed without ridicule or moral judgement.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE GROWTH OF WOMEN-SPECIFIC SERVICE-ORIENTED ENTERPRISES IN LAFIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Sylvia Kaka Arop, Elizabeth Njo Obimbua, Grace Kaka Arop — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid diffusion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies across global economic landscapes has fundamentally altered how enterprises deliver and offer services. Service-oriented enterprises are widely recognised as engines of economic growth, and the specific role of AI in empowering women entrepreneurs in Lafia Local Government, Nasarawa State is under-explored. This study examines the relationship between artificial intelligence and the growth of women-specific service-oriented enterprises in Lafia Local Government, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The study was guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework. The study was
qualitative, incorporating focus group discussions (FGD) and a key informant interview guide (KII), which were adopted for the study with stakeholders such as AI developers, local government officials, and successful women entrepreneurs. The study employs purposive sampling to select participants from the six political units (Adogi, Ashinge, Chiroma, Makama, Shabu/Kwandere, and
Lafia Central) within Lafia LGA. Two FGDs and four KIIs were conducted in each political unit. The article argues that while AI presents transformative growth opportunities for service enterprises in Lafia Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, in terms of increased revenue, improved efficiency, and faster decision-making, adoption of AI is hindered by factors such as socio-cultural constraints, limited digital literacy, and poor infrastructure. The study highlights the need for policy interventions and financial support programmes targeted at digital literacy training. By demonstrating the link between AI adoption and enterprise growth, this research contributes to the growing body of literature on women’s entrepreneurship in developing economies and on the role
of AI in promoting growth through MSMEs.

DIGITAL NATIVITY AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION AMONG BANK CUSTOMERS IN IBADAN, NIGERIA

Luqman Adekunle Morakinyo, Adeboye Titus Ayinde — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates how influence the prediction of digital nativity on digital technology adoption among bank customers in Ibadan, Nigeria. Despite the rapid expansion of digital financial services, the adoption rate varies significantly across age groups. Using a cross-sectional research design, data were collected from 642 respondents across six local governments in Ibadan. The study employed structured questionnaires to assess customers’ adoption of digital technologies. Descriptive statistics and independent-samples t-test were used to analyse the data. The results revealed that age classification significantly influenced digital technology adoption (t(640) = -2.175, p < .05), with digital immigrants (29 years and above) demonstrating higher adoption rates than digital natives (28 years and below). The study concludes that age continues to serve as a significant demographic factor influencing digital financial inclusion in Nigeria. It further recommends developing user-friendly platforms and implementing targeted awareness initiatives designed to engage individuals across different age categories.

DETERMINANTS OF SCHOOL BURNOUT AMONG UNDERGRADUATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THE FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL PHASE IN NIGERIA: A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELLING ANALYSIS

Dare A. Fagbenro, Salamot A. Yunus — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria has heightened different challenges, especially among university undergraduates, contributing to the growing problem of school burnout. Based on this premise, this study examined the predictive role of financial strain and
academic resilience on school burnout among undergraduates of the University of Ilorin. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and data were conveniently collected from 212 undergraduates using standardised measures of academic resilience, financial strain, and school burnout. Structural equation modelling was used to test the hypothesised relationships. Results showed that financial strain positively predicted school burnout. Academic resilience also significantly and negatively affected school burnout. These findings suggest that while financial strain remains a risk factor for school burnout, academic resilience serves as a protective resource
toward mitigating school burnout. Overall, the study contributes to the scarce literature on undergraduate school burnout in Nigeria and offers valuable insights for government, academic policymakers and educational institutions seeking to eradicate the menace of school burnout and improve student well-being.

LIVED EXPERIENCES OF RECURRING TERRORIST ATTACKS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN KADUNA

Chinyereugo Nuria Udensi — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study aimed to explore how young people in Southern Kaduna narrate the effects of recurring terrorist attacks on their psychological well-being. Using a qualitative narrative inquiry design, the article draws on six composite narrative accounts from young people aged 18 to 35 across selected conflict-affected Local Government Areas in Southern Kaduna. The narratives were examined thematically, with attention to fear, grief, displacement, disrupted education, altered relationships, coping, faith and resilience. Findings suggest that recurring attacks are not experienced only as security events but as continuing psychological conditions that shape sleep, movement, trust, schooling, belonging and future planning. The article argues that casualty figures
and displacement statistics, while important, cannot fully capture the emotional injuries carried by young people in affected communities. It recommends community-based psychosocial support, school counselling, youth-sensitive trauma education and faith-sensitive referral pathways for young people living with the psychological consequences of repeated violence.

IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAMME AND U.S.–ISRAEL’S NATIONAL SECURITY: HISTORICAL APPROACH: 1990-2011

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Contemporary World Politics hardly goes without one talking about nuclear issues; if not about the World Powers, it will either be Iran or states referred to as Rogue Nations. It has become a recurring decimal, in a situation where a day hardly goes without a reference to the crisis of Iran's nuclear weapon development. This is because the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was signed in 1968, which came into force in 1970, as the centrepiece of the global non-proliferation regime. However, the recent move by Iran to develop nuclear technology and capacity has been causing serious disquiet around the globe, in addition to the volatile nature of the Middle East as the haven of Rogue States. The study investigates historically the synergy between the existential threat faced by Israel at the hands of nuclear Iran on the one hand, and the national interest of the United States in the Middle East on the other hand, via the United States insistence on denuclearising Iran. The paper made use of secondary sources of data collection such as textbooks, journals, Newspapers, Magazines and internet sources. A descriptive method of data analysis is used. The paper adopted the Power theory as its theoretical framework. The paper revealed that while America is seeking to protect its interest and that of its allies in the
Middle East, Iran, on the other hand, seeks to enhance its military capacity against real and perceived military attack, especially from its long-standing enemy, Israel. The paper recommends that both the U.S, Israel and Iran should seek a diplomatic solution to resolve their face-off rather than military confrontation. America is a victim of its contradiction, having applied a double standard on its earlier role in Iran and the entire Middle East.

GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN IJAGBO, IPEE AND OFFA TOWNS, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Surajudeen Ayobami Mohammed, Lukman Tanimowo Ishola — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Urban development in Ijagbo, Ipee and Offa, Kwara State are linked to socio-economic and political transformations in recent times. These transformations align with broader trends in post-socialist and rapidly urbanizing regions, where economic restructuring often
precipitates the large-scale conversion of agricultural land into built-up areas, as well as the often-overlooked merging of urban centres in close proximity, as observed in the study area. This study analyzed the present spatial extent of urban development in Ijagbo, Ipee and Offa as a single entity with merging landscapes, taking urban growth into consideration. Multi-temporal satellite
images of Landsat 7 and 8 were obtained from the United States Geological Survey and classified using the Maximum Likelihood Classifier (MLC) into five (5) LULC classes: cropland, built-up, vegetation, bareland and water bodies. The built-up area, which represents urban development, was extracted (mapped), and the ‘Calculate Geometry Tool’ was used to calculate the areas of the
selected polygons (in km2 and corresponding percentage) for static years across the study period to determine the spatial extent. The land use land cover classification of the study area revealed that physical urban development stood at 12.26% (34km2) in 2000 and increased to 20.45% (56.73km2) in 2010 and 28.72% (79.65km2) in 2020. The study provided an insight into the spatial extent of urban development in Ijagbo, Ipee and Offa, with a conscious probability of these overlapping urban centres developing into a single metropolis as found in other big cities across Nigeria in the near future. The integration of land use planning, strengthened environmental regulations and enforcement, sustainable urban development practices with real-time monitoring, and active stakeholder engagements are therefore recommended. These will foster a resilient and sustainable urban development in the study area.