Journal of Current Social and Political Issues

Preventing Cyberbullying in Nigeria: The Effectiveness of Social Media Literacy Education for Young People

2024-07-08T02:22:46+00:00

The widespread integration of technology into daily life has transformed human interactions, creating unprecedented opportunities for creativity, collaboration, and communication. However, this digital evolution has also exacerbated cyberbullying, which poses significant threats to global and individual well-being. Cyberbullying is particularly prevalent among teenagers, who are active users of digital platforms and highly vulnerable to its negative impacts. In Nigeria, rapid technological advancements have heightened the incidence of cyberbullying, severely affecting the mental health, social development, and overall well-being of young people. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of social media literacy programs in reducing cyberbullying among Nigerian youth and examine how sociocultural and technological factors influence these interventions. Employing a quantitative cross-sectional design, data were collected from 480 students across three tertiary institutions in Lagos State using validated questionnaires. The findings revealed that social media literacy programs significantly reduced cyberbullying incidents. This study underscores the need for culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate interventions and highlights the importance of comprehensive strategies that address Nigeria's unique sociocultural and technological landscapes. Recommendations include the development of robust, evidence-based social media literacy programs tailored to diverse Nigerian communities, enhanced collaboration among stakeholders, and ongoing evaluations to refine and sustain these initiatives.

A Comparative Analysis of the Impact of Niger Delta Crisis on Edo and Delta States

2024-07-24T12:51:09+00:00

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria has faced crises for over 40 years, resulting in high crime rates and increased insecurity of people, property, and investments. This study examines the impact of the regional crisis on the socioeconomic development and well-being of the inhabitants of Delta and Edo States. Employing quantitative research methods, including primary data collection instruments such as surveys and structured interviews, the study refined and codified the data for regression analysis. The findings reveal the detrimental effects of the Niger Delta crisis on the socioeconomic well-being of residents in both states, particularly in hindering access to essential needs such as clean water, quality education, and a healthy environment. Regression coefficients and modified coefficients of determination showed that residents of Delta State are more significantly affected by the crisis than those in Edo State. The study suggests enforcing international best practices in corporate social responsibility for oil and gas companies in the region. It also emphasizes the need for basic infrastructural development and adequate compensation and environmental remediation to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.

Professional Jurisdiction: an Exploration of the Police Experiences in Taking Indigenous Witness Statements

2024-07-22T07:05:49+00:00

Research shows that the inaccurate translation of indigenous witness statements is a global phenomenon. This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon by exploring the experiences of South African Police Service (SAPS) members in taking indigenous witness statements. Using a qualitative method, interview schedules were administered to eighteen (18) SAPS members from nine Community Service Centres (CSC) in a township in the Gauteng province. Ethical considerations and measures of trustworthiness were applied to the study. Data were analyzed using Atlas.ti. The results showed that a majority of SAPS members reported there were no translators stationed at the designated CSCs, so they collaborated with colleagues to transcribe the indigenous witness statements into English. Five dominant themes emerged from the most regularly repeated responses: "skills," "collaboration," "resources," "duration," and "language." The Theory of Performance (ToP) was used to articulate these themes. Findings indicated that the SAPS members' levels of performance were influenced by their skills, available resources, time, and their collaboration in overcoming language challenges when transcribing indigenous witness statements. The conclusion drawn from this study is that the lack of translators at CSCs impacts the accuracy of indigenous witness statement translations, which is mitigated by the collaboration and skills of SAPS members. This research contributes to understanding the challenges faced in the translation process of indigenous witness statements and highlights the importance of providing adequate resources and training to improve police performance in this context.

Land Dispute Settlement: A Key Issue to Ensure Long-lasting Peace in Chattogram Hill Tracts

2024-08-04T13:11:37+00:00

Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) constitutes nearly 10% of the total landmass of Bangladesh. Extremely beautiful, yet this part of Bangladesh was ravaged by almost 27 years of insurgency. It indeed came to a formal end with the signing of the historic Peace Agreement between the Government of Bangladesh and Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS) on 02 December 1997. So far, 48 out of the 72 clauses have already been implemented and the rest are in the process. The land issue is one of the major issues that have beset the progress of the agreement. Most communal clashes and unwanted situations usually erupt from disputes over the possession of the land. To settle the land disputes, a commission was formed in 2001 in light of the CHT agreement. The government has recently amended the Land Commission Act 2001 into 2016 as per the demand of the tribal leadership. The amendment has been viewed as discriminatory by the Bengali community, which fears losing their land rights if it is implemented. Against this backdrop, the research was undertaken to identify the probable challenges for the Land Commission to settle the land disputes and suggest a comprehensive modality to resolve the crisis. The study followed a mixed method methodology. During the study, issues like the credibility of the Commission, the land management system in CHT, communal disharmony, absence of a cadastral survey, the security situation, and conflicting issues of the amended Land Commission Act -2016, came out as the major challenges and impediments to the peaceful resolution of land disputes.The study suggests a consensual approach of the Government and concerned stakeholders to address the identified issues in order to resolve land disputes in CHT. As this also bears significant importance in the full implementation of the hard-earned CHT Agreement, any delay in the settlement of land disputes would presumably complicate the situation and likely make the overall security environment of the CHT region unstable once again.

Competency-Based Human Resources (HR) Development in the Digital Era

2024-07-22T06:51:24+00:00

The increasingly tight global market competition requires organizations to improve their competitiveness through competency-based human resource (HR) development. This approach focuses not only on technical training, but also on the development of interpersonal skills, leadership, and adaptability. This article analyzes the implementation strategies and challenges in competency-based HR development using qualitative research methods and explores case studies to illustrate the positive impact of this approach. Qualitative research was conducted through in-depth data analysis from various organizations and previous studies that have implemented competency-based HR development. The results show benefits such as increased employee performance, organizational adaptability to change, and employee motivation and satisfaction. Digital technologies such as e-learning and virtual simulations expand the scope and effectiveness of competency development programs. Case studies and qualitative data show that organizations that successfully implement this approach can achieve competitive advantage and sustainable growth. However, challenges such as identifying relevant competencies, implementing effective training programs, and data security still need to be addressed. With a well-planned strategy and the right technology integration, organizations can optimize the potential of competency-based HR development to achieve competitive advantage and sustainable growth. This article provides a contribution in the form of an analysis of implementation strategies, challenges, and the use of digital technology in competency development programs, as well as providing relevant case studies and qualitative data, so that it is expected to be a reference for organizations that want to implement this approach.