Nigerian "Digital Natives'" Knowledge, Reception, and Engagement with Indigenous Knowledge Systems Practices in the Era of AI, Big Data, and Cultural Transformation

Abstract

Following the global rapid and steady evolution of digital technologies, including AI and Big Data, there has been a sudden and widespread adoption of these technologies among the ever tech-savvy young people referred to as “Digital Natives”. In Nigeria, this adoption has led to observable cultural transformations and raises a  concerned fear and risk of erosion of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) practices among these “Digital Natives”. The researchers investigate the knowledge and reception of IKS practices as well as examine the extent to which AI and Big Data influence engagement with the IKS practices among the Nigerian "Digital Natives". Focusing specifically on Mass Communication undergraduates in three select universities within Anambra State, Nigeria, this
research aims to bridge the existing gap in understanding how much these “Digital Natives” know about the IKS practices, their level of reception, and engagement with traditional knowledge in the evolving era of AI, Big Data, and cultural transformation. The study employed quantitative (surveys) research design. The questionnaire served as a data collection instrument, while the data collected were analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). Expected findings offered critical understanding into the evolving relationship between  modern technological advancements and traditional heritage, informing curriculum development in higher education, guiding cultural preservation efforts, and shaping policies that promote the relevance and integration of IKS for sustainable development in the digital age. The study is anchored on Technology Determinism Theory (TDT) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).