International Journal for Social Studies

Investigating the Emergence of AI Startups and Public-Sector Administration in Nigeria

2026-01-24T13:58:31+00:00

This study investigates the integration of AI into public sector administration in Nigeria from 2013 to 2023. The study adopts the neo-institutional theory, integrating historical and sociological institutionalism to analyse how institutional structures, cultural norms, and path dependence shape policy outcomes. Adopting an ex post facto research design, the research utilises documentary data collection and content analysis to analyse the research questions. The findings revealed that government investment in AI R&D during the review period was minimal, fragmented, and lacking in strategic direction. This insufficient investment directly correlated with Nigeria’s peripheral and reactive participation in global AI governance forums. In this light, the government should foster structured public-private partnerships to integrate AI startups and capacity-building outcomes into public sector governance. To bridge the gap between private sector innovation and public sector adoption, the government must create institutionalised pathways for AI startups and capacity-building initiatives to contribute to governance reform. This requires moving beyond ad hoc collaborations to structured, sustainable partnerships.

Domain-Dependent Validity of an Inequality Derived from a Classical Absolute Value Identity

2026-01-26T08:42:52+00:00

The classical identity √(−Y)² = |Y| is universally valid for all real Y, arising from the principal square root and absolute value definitions. However, when this identity is reformulated as an inequality—namely √(−Y)² ≤ Y—its validity becomes domain-restricted rather than universal. This paper provides a rigorous analytical examination of the inequality and demonstrates that it holds if and only if Y ≥ 0. For Y < 0 the inequality fails due to the non-negativity constraint imposed by the principal square root. The results highlight that transforming universally valid equalities into inequalities introduces implicit logical constraints not visible in the original formulation. The findings underscore the importance of explicit domain awareness in algebraic reasoning, inequality analysis, and pedagogical practice.

Education and Feminist Disillusionment: Empowerment and Alienation in the Works of Bama and Manju Kapur

2026-02-17T17:02:39+00:00

Education is widely conceptualised within feminist theory and social-development discourse as a transformative instrument capable of enabling women’s empowerment, autonomy, and social mobility. In the Indian context, however, literary narratives frequently complicate this assumption by revealing the emotional, cultural, and structural consequences of education for women situated within rigid caste and gender hierarchies. This paper examines education as a site of feminist disillusionment in Bama’s Karukku and Manju Kapur’s Difficult Daughters and A Married Woman. It argues that while education sharpens feminist consciousness and ethical awareness, it often intensifies social and emotional marginalisation when institutional and cultural structures remain unchanged. By integrating literary analysis with feminist social theory, the study demonstrates that education often produces awareness without emancipation, exposing the gap between developmental promises and lived realities. The paper concludes by outlining policy implications for gender and education that emerge from these narratives.

Exploring the Prevalence of Cyber-Criminality among Undergraduate Students of Universities in South-Eastern Nigeria

2026-03-02T09:24:02+00:00

Cybercrime has become a growing global concern, affecting individuals, corporations, and governments alike, with its reach extending far beyond national borders. The paper adopted a theoretical approach to examine the prevalence of cybercriminality among undergraduates of universities in Southeastern Nigeria. The paper used two theoretical approaches: the routine activity theory and the differential-association theory. The routine activity theory stipulates three necessary conditions for most crime: a likely offender (cybercriminals), a suitable target (victims) and the absence of a capable guardian (unprotected information), coming together in time and space. That is, for a crime to occur, a likely offender must find a suitable target in the absence of capable guardians. And the differential-association theory asserts that an individual is influenced to participate in criminal behaviour through watching and interacting with other individuals who are engaging in the criminal behaviour. The study revealed that the high level of corruption and the spread of poverty are seen by university undergraduates as the principal cause of cybercrime. Findings also show that the effort to get rich quickly by most Nigerians, especially the youths, is often exploited by cyber fraudsters. Again, findings also show that many security personnel, instead of looking at how to arrest this cybercrime operator, serve as bodyguards to them and cover them up in order to gain cash rewards. The conclusion is that cybercrime can adequately be controlled if law enforcement agencies are trained on the use of technology. The study recommends that there should be a more proactive approach that will allow law enforcement agencies to track and investigate students’ involvement in cybercrime within and outside the institution.

Examining the Role of the AU in Combating Xenophobia in Africa

2026-03-02T09:30:01+00:00

The AU goal of a cohesive and integrated continent is greatly impeded by xenophobia. Xenophobic views and violent crimes remain in many African countries, harming social cohesiveness, socioeconomic stability, and continental integration despite the AU's efforts to promote unity. The results illustrate how xenophobia effects a number of socioeconomic aspects, such as work, education, and resource accessibility for both African migrants and host communities. Migrants, generally considered as economic threats, face exclusion from labour opportunities and critical utilities, resulting to ruined livelihoods and repeated cycles of poverty. Despite the AU's stated opposition to xenophobic violence and support for protective regulations, critics contend that its policies lack enforcement and proactive steps to prevent xenophobia at its root. The study's findings demonstrate that xenophobia continues to be a major hurdle to the African Union's aim of a united and prosperous continent. To foster long-lasting unity, the AU must reaffirm its commitment to inclusivity and cooperation among member states. It is therefore recommended that the AU and its member states implement educational campaigns promoting Pan-Africanism and the economic contributions of migrants to reshape public perceptions, strengthen anti-discrimination laws, and enhance border and migration policies that would facilitate smoother integration and reduce community tensions.

Beyond Efficiency: A Unified Energy Survival Law for Aviation and Rotorcraft Systems

2026-03-06T12:36:59+00:00

Classical efficiency metrics are widely used to evaluate the performance of aviation systems, yet they often fail to explain the persistent saturation observed in aircraft range, helicopter hover endurance, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight time. Modern propulsion systems already operate near high thermal or electrical efficiency, but improvements in engine performance do not translate proportionally into mission-level gains. This study introduces a Unified Energy Survival–Conversion Law that explains these limitations by recognizing that useful output is governed by the fraction of energy that survives irreversible degradation across multiple stages before being converted into useful work. The framework defines an energy survival factor (Ψ) representing the persistence of absorbed energy against aerodynamic losses, induced flow, turbulence, and entropy generation, and an internal conversion competency (Cint) describing the finite ability of a system to transform surviving energy into lift, thrust, or mission output. Together, these variables yield a universal relation: Euseful = Ein × Ψ × Cint. Application of the model to fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs demonstrates that aviation performance is fundamentally survival-limited rather than efficiency-limited. The framework provides a thermodynamically consistent basis for diagnosing performance saturation and guiding survival-centric aerospace system design.

Tradition and Modernity in Indian English Literature: A Critical Study

2026-03-09T05:10:24+00:00

Indian English Literature has emerged as a significant field of literary expression that reflects the socio-cultural transformation of India in the context of colonial history, modernization, and globalization. One of the most prominent thematic concerns in this body of literature is the tension and interaction between tradition and modernity. Indian society has long been rooted in cultural traditions, religious beliefs, and social practices that have shaped its identity for centuries. However, the arrival of colonial rule, the spread of Western education, and the processes of industrialization and globalization introduced modern ideas that challenged these traditional structures. Indian English writers have explored this conflict and coexistence of tradition and modernity through their narratives, characters, and thematic concerns. This research paper critically examines how Indian English Literature portrays the dynamic relationship between traditional values and modern influences. It analyzes the works of prominent writers such as R. K. Narayan, Mulk Raj Anand, Raja Rao, Anita Desai, Salman Rushdie, and Arundhati Roy. The study highlights how literature becomes a space where traditional cultural values encounter modern perspectives, producing hybrid identities and new forms of cultural expression. Through a critical examination of selected texts, the paper argues that Indian English Literature does not merely depict the conflict between tradition and modernity but also reveals their complex negotiation and synthesis. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that the dialogue between tradition and modernity forms a central narrative in Indian English writing and reflects the broader cultural transformation of Indian society.

Feminist Literary Criticism and the Reinterpretation of Canonical Texts

2026-03-09T12:05:40+00:00

Feminist literary criticism has emerged as one of the most influential approaches in contemporary literary studies, challenging traditional interpretations of literature and questioning the patriarchal assumptions embedded within canonical texts. For centuries, literary canons were largely shaped by male authors, critics, and institutions that often marginalized or misrepresented women’s experiences. Feminist critics have sought to reexamine these texts in order to reveal the gender biases, silenced voices, and ideological structures that shaped their production and reception. By applying feminist perspectives, scholars reinterpret canonical works to uncover alternative meanings and highlight the representation of women in literature. This research paper examines the development of feminist literary criticism and its role in reinterpreting canonical texts within the broader framework of literary theory. The study discusses the contributions of influential thinkers such as Simone de Beauvoir, Elaine Showalter, Kate Millett, and Virginia Woolf. It also explores how feminist criticism has reshaped interpretations of major literary works written by authors such as William Shakespeare and Jane Austen. The paper argues that feminist literary criticism not only reveals the gendered nature of literary traditions but also expands the scope of literary interpretation by foregrounding women’s perspectives and experiences. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that feminist reinterpretation of canonical texts contributes to a more inclusive and critical understanding of literature and cultural history.

Interrogating the Use of Crime and Gender-inclusive Health Policies to Build Nigeria's Nation-Building

2026-03-25T19:22:08+00:00

Sustainable development in Nigeria's nation-building is still hampered by gender disparity, particularly in the fields of criminal justice and health. This study examines the potential benefits of gender-inclusive criminal and health policies on national cohesion, stability, and socioeconomic growth. Using secondary data from government publications, academic publications, and international organisations, findings highlight the persistent gender discrepancies in Nigeria's healthcare system, the lack of gender-sensitive healthcare infrastructure, and the financial barriers to obtaining medical care. Justice and security in the criminal justice system are still threatened by human trafficking, gender-based violence, and institutionalised discrimination in law enforcement. The paper claims that reducing these differences will advance sustainable development and national cohesion through significant policy changes, more funding, gender-sensitive law enforcement, and legal protections.

Var's Possible Applications in Nigerian Interfaith Dialogue

2026-04-16T18:14:41+00:00

Extremist organisations have been using religion as a catalyst for violence for a few years. Discrimination by members of the political elite and manipulation of sociopolitical sentiments exacerbate this. The potential of VAR in Nigerian interfaith communication and conflict resolution is examined in this essay. Secondary sources of information for the article included textbooks, journal articles, newspapers, and tech blogs. The results showed that VAR could be a major factor in enhancing religious communication and conflict resolution in Nigeria. The report also acknowledges that institutional shortcomings exacerbate religious conflict and hinder interfaith communication, creating gaps in situation management. In order to foster peace, the study suggests incorporating VAR into interfaith dialogue and conflict resolution in Nigeria.