Arabic Language and Islamic Values: Bridging Ethnic Diversity for National Development in Nigeria

The formation of organizations at global, regional and sub-regional levels among nation-states, especially after the World War II in 1945 was to nip n the bud situation that could escalate into war and promote global peace. It was also to promote political, economic and socio-cultural unity and welfare among member states. It was on this premise that the United Nations (UN), organizations of Africa Union (OAU) now AU, Arab League, European Union (EU), etc were formed to promote unity among nation states. The main thrust of this paper was to analyze the implications of agitation by various ethnic groups on national integration and development in Africa. The paper also x-rays the nexus between leadership failure and development in Nigeria. The study was anchore0d on the structural functionalism theory to address agitations and conflict among ethnic groups in Nigeria. This theory recognizes the need for restructuring the political system that will enable each component unit to function effectively for sustainable development. The study relied on much of the data scooped from secondary sources such as textbooks, internet materials, magazines, newspaper, journals etc. The study found out that agitations and conflict among ethnic groups was threat to national integration and development, citing the case of Indigenous people of Biafra popularly known as IPOB, Niger Delta militant, etc. The paper concluded that national integration was the bedrock to peace and national development in Nigeria. It was also recommended that government should desist from the actions and inactions that are threat to national integration and peace. The study recommended that Nigerian government should seriously focus on empowerment and investment in youth, through education, skill acquisition and also implementing policy that will eliminate all forms of agitations. The paper equally recommended adoption of regional government and true Federalism to address the problems of national development.
 Keywords: Agitations, regime change, political restructuring, integration, and development

The study examined the contributions of FIRS as one of the regulatory bodies to national economic development in Nigeria. The issue of harsh policies which becomes a noticeable threat to manufacturers (main tax payers) for relocating to neighbouring countries coupled with unfriendly tax policies approved by federal government and its attendants’ effects on the economy becomes the focus of the study It employs regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between FIRS’ tax policies to national development for the period of 12yrs (2011 - 2021). Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP) was used as substitute for national development while Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Company Income Tax (CIT) and Custom and Excise Duties (CED) were employed as proxy for contributions of FIRS to tax policies. The findings of this study revealed that all explanatory variables have significant relationships with dependent variable respectively; PPT- 0.0383, CIT - 0.000 and CED - 0.000. The study concluded that there is significant relationship between FIRS’ tax policies to national development in Nigeria. Therefore, recommended that, since policies are meant for the well-being of citizens and progress of the economy, views and objects of tax payers must be well- integrated in the formulation of those policies and the need for constant feedback and review to suit the economy. Also, there is need for a more pragmatic FIRS institution approach to the control and management of evasion, tax avoidance and other illicit practices in the tax system, in order to take advantages of positive effect of taxes on the National Economic Development.

The Impact of Public Debt on National Development in Nigeria (1986-2022). This study employs quantitative research for the empirical assessment. The study adopts the ex-post facto. Ordinary Least square (OLS) were used to analyse the long-run relationships between the variables. The data for the analysis were sourced from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Debt Management Office (DMO), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, using the time series data spans from 1986 to 2022. The variables included are domestic debt, external debt, exchange rates and the Human Development Index (HDI) as a proxy for national development. The study revealed that domestic debt has a positive effect, and it is statistically significant on national development in Nigeria, which means that a 1% increase in domestic debt resources resulted in a 21% increase in the HDI. However, external debt and exchange rate fluctuations have negative and positive impacts on national development, respectively. Furthermore, a 1% increase in external debt resources resulted in a 1% decrease in HDI by 16 per cent and a 1% rise in the exchange rate, resulting in a 4% decrease in HDI. The study concluded that Public Debt has an impact on National Development in Nigeria. The study recommends that the Federal Government of Nigeria shift towards domestic borrowing in order to achieve development targets and policy measures that will curb excessive external borrowing and exchange rate fluctuations to ensure that public debt management enables Nigeria to achieve its national development and economic sustainability.

This study accessed the impact of executive-legislature relations on national development in Nigeria with special emphasis on the 8th National Assembly which ran its course from 2015 to 2019. The objective of the study is to determine the extent to which the relationship between the executive and the 8th National Assembly have impacted on national development in Nigeria within the period under review. This study anchored on structural-functional approach propounded by Gabriel Almond, ex-post facto research design, documentary method of data collection and qualitative descriptive method of data analysis. It discovered that the fragile relationship between the executive and the 8th National Assembly negatively impacted on national development in Nigeria, so it went further to recommend that the National Orientation Agency must take it as a paramount duty to conduct periodic seminars for our legislators and executives in order to tune their minds toward national development.

The paper examined Peace and National Development in Nigeria: The Rivers State Experience. The paper argued that whereas peace is a sine qua non for National Development, the nature and character of Nigerian state has exacerbated conflict which threatens peace and national development in Nigeria and Rivers State in particular. The Marxian Political Economy and the Frustration-Aggression theory (F-A) were used as analytical constructs. One of the major assumptions of the Marxian Political Economy is that society is divided into two classes – those who own the means of production (Bourgeoisie) and those who do not own the means of production (Proletariats). The Bourgeoisie exploit the proletariats by appropriating the surplus value generated from a social production. For Frustration-Aggression theory, frustration leads to aggression. The paper relied on secondary sources of data and the paper noted that there are unresolved, destructive and seemingly perennial conflicts which encumber peace and national development in Nigeria and Rivers State. The paper recommended inter alia, that democratic institutions should not only be strengthened, but also democratic culture should be imbibed and demonstrated by Nigerians, particularly the political elites in Nigeria. Key words: Peace, National Development; Conflict; Nigerian State. DOI : 10.7176/DCS/9-9-08 Publication date :September 30 th 2019

The paper examined the place of Distance Education (DE) as a method of Adult Education in Nigeria and its contribution to national development. The paper discussed DE practice and challenges in some African countries and related this to the Nigerian situation. The paper further noted the challenge of the national admission body for regular tertiary institutions with reconciling the ratio of applicants to those admitted. Incidentally, DE, which is originally a form of Adult Education, is fast becoming a replacement for regular higher education. The implication of this on Adult Education practice in Nigeria is that the changes in the demographics of participants in DE, along with other challenges, affect the essence of Adult Education provision, access and its conduct. The paper analyzed the concept of DE and noted that distance education is currently used to replace, instead of support mainstream education in Nigeria by eroding the more desirable non-formal approach. The paper agrees that DE can be used as a tool, per excellence, for human and national development, if practiced in its proper context, and attracts the desired target candidates. Several suggestions were proffered for better conduct of DE, including the use of awareness campaigns to attract the right candidates into DE programs as well as better provision of access to regular education for the youth to stem their influx into DE. The discourse has great implications for lifelong learning, access, national development and adult education practice in Nigeria and globally.

Nigeria since independence has been facing a lot of problems. These problems cut across economic, social, political, cultural and moral spheres. Thus, political instability, religious and community conflicts, crisis, economic underdevelopment, cultural misdirection, poverty, moral decadence and many other vices become the order of the day. It was for these reasons that the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Policy on Education (2004) institutionalized the teaching of Business Education subjects at the lower, middle and upper Basic Education levels, with the hope that if properly taught at these levels, Business Education subjects will help to develop in the youth, the desired knowledge, attitudes, values, skills and competences that will make them to be useful and effective members of their society. It is believed that Business Education will help the youths to acquire social and civic literacy that will promote and bring about peaceful co-existence and national development in Nigeria. This paper therefore seeks to address how Business Education programme can be repositioned to be highly effective in providing quality skilled-type education that will bring about peaceful co-existence and national development in Nigeria.

Gender equity in education generates a push force that accelerates progress across sectors and goals; thus national development. Gender equality constitutes central position in both national and international programmes as an accelerator for achieving development. Women’s place in national development appears subordinated. Thus, this study examined gender equity in education in Nigeria and the impact on national development. Specifically, the study sought to determine the degree of women access to education, ascertain the impact of women education on socio-economic development determine the factors that constitute barriers to women education in Nigeria, the consequences of low women access to education and benefits of gender equity and women in education. The study discovered that educated women serve as stabilizing factor in national development and recommended ‘cultural rebirth, smart economic, new education content and soft competition technique’ as the approach that will grant women the needed equity in national development in Nigeria.

Internal security challenges in Nigeria, particularly herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts, have worsened over time. In Anambra state, clashes by the two groups have equally persisted. The key concern of this study was on the effect of this challenge on national development in Nigeria. In essence, the objective of this study was to examine how herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in Anambra state have affected national development in Nigeria. To achieve the objective of this study, the following hypothesis was posed: Herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in Anambra state have not supported national development in Nigeria. Anchored on the Eco-Violence Theory and the Deprivation, Frustration and Aggression Theory as the frameworks for analysis, the study adopted descriptive survey design and Questionnaire as instrument for data collection. Analysis of data was quantitatively carried out. Among other things, the study found out that herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in Anambra state have some negative consequences which include loss of lives, farmlands, cattle and property; worsened level of poverty and threat to jobs. It also found out that Nigeria cannot achieve national development in the face of the recurring herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in Anambra state as the impacts affect the rest of the country. In view of the findings, the study recommended the need for the state government to devise strategies for effective implementation of its Cattle and Other Livestock Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2021. It equally recommended Federal Government’s proactive intervention in ending the herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in the state.

This study critically evaluates the impact of insecurity on Nigeria's national development; it explores the interplay between persistent security challenges and the country's socio-economic progress. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation and largest economy, has grappled with diverse security threats, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, and herders-farmers conflicts. These threats have not only destabilised communities but also disrupted economic activities, strained governmental resources, and exacerbated social inequalities. Utilising the descriptive approach, the research explores the direct and indirect implications of insecurity on critical areas of Nigeria’s national development. It highlights how insecurity has deterred foreign direct investment, displaced populations, and weakened institutional capacities, further entrenching poverty and unemployment. The study also examines the socio-political dimensions of insecurity, including its role in fostering corruption, eroding trust in governance, and undermining Nigeria's democratic consolidation. Drawing on secondary qualitative sources from government reports, academic literature, and field studies, the research argues that addressing insecurity requires holistic and inclusive strategies that integrate military responses with socioeconomic reforms, community engagement, and regional cooperation. The study finds that increment of public spending on security, weakening of state institutions and loss of public trust in governance are some of the economic and socio-political impacts of insecurity on Nigeria’s national development. The study concludes that to alleviate the effects of insecurity on national development, it is imperative to tackle the underlying reasons of discontent, such as poverty, inequality, and ineffective governance in Nigeria.

Nigeria is a plural state with diverse culture, ethnic and religious institutions. These portray the beauty of the country to the outside world and successive Nigerian governments have not ceased to preach the nation’s desire to forge unity in diversity. However, the reality on the ground is that ethnic chauvinism, ethnic politics, ethnic consciousness, ethnic factionalization, religious fanaticism and extremism have overshadowed the desire for unity, which is a basic ingredient for national development. These are manifested in political and constitutional instabilities, ethnic and religious violence, bad leadership and governance, political competition for power, insecurity of lives and property, corruption, tribalism and nepotism, injustice, immoral acts, bloodshed, and intolerance. The challenges of national development in Nigeria assume such an awful proportion that seems to defy any kind of antidote; this is the stage at which the concept of secularism becomes most apt. This study therefore explored the effect of secularism on national development in Nigeria’s fourth republic. A descriptive method was adopted and data was collected via a survey of 900 respondents comprises of Christian leaders, Muslim leaders, Traditional leaders, leaders of Civil Society groups and Youth leaders. Data collected were analysed using Pearson product moment correlation and linear regression analysis. The result of the study revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between secularism and national development. The result also showed that secularism does have a significant effect on national development in Nigeria’s fourth republic. Requisite recommendations and conclusion were provided in the light of theoretical and empirical findings.

This study explored the potential of social media for effective mass mobilization and community engagement to attain national development in Nigeria. Premised on the fact that social media have become popular platforms attracting millions of subscribers, the study examined how the opportunities they offer could be harnessed and purposefully deployed to galvanize the citizens to pursue national development causes. This was done against the backdrop of the technological determinism theory that provides the framework for investigating the indispensable role which technology plays in the advancement of a nation’s socio-economic development. The secondary research approach was adopted to carry out the study and studied the 2020 #EndSARS protest (SARS refers to Special Anti-Robbery Squad), a youth uprising that aimed to put an end to all forms of police brutality and systemic injustices in the country. This study examined the nature of digital activism that social media facilitated during the protest and how that translated into real-life activism, thereby galvanizing the youth to actively execute the protest. By considering the challenges of the platforms in this regard such as the possibility of being hijacked and negatively deployed in a counterproductive manner, the study concludes that proper mainstreaming of social media into the community engagement and national development struggle would help engage meaningfully with the citizens and mobilize them to attain socio-economic development in the country. Conclusively, the #EndSARS experience demonstrates that social media portends considerable opportunities to engage citizens positively for national development in Nigeria.

The concept of governance and leadership are intertwined. Good governance and leadership is critical for the achievement of results. It is often said that no country can develop beyond the level of its leadership. The predicament of Nigeria in terms of underdevelopment and corruption can be adduced to the problem of leadership and governance. Nigeria needs committed leaders who will govern with integrity and doggedly influence its human and natural resources toward the actualization of sustainable national development. This paper is descriptive; it looks at the place of leadership and good governance in the actualization of overall national development in Nigeria. Transformational leadership theoryand contingency theory of leadership viewpoints are examined vis a vis diverse impediments to national development in Nigeria, as vital to feasible and substantial national development; The paper recommends that; The leaders who govern should be made accountable by publicly declaring what they have been able to achieve in terms of performance as well as how much was expended in every sector on a yearly basis; Auditors with integrity should be made to verify their claims in order to ascertain the genuineness of the claims; Corrupt leaders should be brought to book and made to face necessary and lawful penalties without fear or favour; and elections made free and fair and not rigged. When citizens are allowed to choose their leaders, leaders would in turn have a sense of responsibility that they owe the people good governance.

Corruption which ever dimension has tremendous negative implications for the development and growth of any society. Corruption in the public sector involves the looting and embezzlement of public funds for personal use. On the political dimension, it involves the corrupt manner in which political leaders ascend to positions of authority. Economically, corruption involves the investment of public funds on projects that will line individual pockets rather than benefiting the generality of the populace. On the social dimension, corruption destroys the social system and makes the citizens not to have trust on the political system. The quest for self-preservation has superseded national interest and the absence of national interest manifest in lack of national development in Nigeria. The objective of this paper was to establish the correlation between corruption and national development in Nigeria. Findings revealed that corruption is albatross to national development in Nigeria. As a remedial measure, the paper recommended among others that secondary schools and higher institutions of learning should introduce corruption studies into its curriculum in order to inculcate in the students the act of discipline and educate them on the ills of corrupt practices. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n3s1p27

This study examines the relationship among gender, democracy, and national development in Nigeria. This translates to a discussion of the possible linkages among gender identity, gendered representation, and national development in the country. Beyond the typical gender theorization, this article squarely focuses on women’s political representation within the Nigerian state and the power implications of the inherent challenges. The work reechoes the issue of underdevelopment as a societal phenomenon. The methodology of the contribution is normative argumentation. The theoretical framework is the power theory. The study concludes that the disarticulations between gendered representation and democracy have invariably led to contentious national development in Nigeria.