http://ir.library.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/268 FACULTY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:44:53 GMT 2026-04-08T09:44:53Z http://ir.library.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/9542 Title: Exposure and connectedness to natural environments: An examination of the measurement invariance of the Nature Exposure Scale (NES) and Connectedness to Nature Scale (CNS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups Authors: Swami, V.; Whitec, M. P.; Voracekc, M.; Tranc, U. S.; Aavikd, T.; Ranjbare, H. A.; Adebayo, S. O.; Afhamig, R.; Oli, A. h,; Aimei, A.; Olapegba, P. O. Abstract: Detachment from nature is contributing to the environmental crisis and reversing this trend requires detailed monitoring and targeted interventions to reconnect people to nature. Most tools measuring nature exposure and attachment were developed in high-income countries and little is known about their robustness across national and linguistic groups. Therefore, we used data from the Body Image in Nature Survey to assess measurement invariance of the Nature Exposure Scale (NES) and the Connectedness to Nature Scale (CNS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N =56,968). While multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA) of the NES supported full scalar invariance across gender identities and age groups, only partial scalar invariance was supported across national and linguistic groups. MG-CFA of the CNS also supported full scalar invariance across gender identities and age groups, but only partial scalar invariance of a 7-item version of the CNS across national and linguistic groups. Nation-level associations between NES and CNS scores were negli-gible, likely reflecting a lack of conceptual clarity over what the NES is measuring. Individual-level associations between both measures and sociodemographic variables were weak. Findings suggest that the CNS-7 may be a useful tool to measure nature connectedness globally, but measures other than the NES may be needed to capture nature exposure cross-culturally. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.library.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/9542 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.library.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/9028 Title: Globalization and conflicts in Africa: the Nigeria experience Authors: Johnson, I. A.; Salau, J. O. Abstract: This paper examines the nexus between globalization and conflicts in Africa with Nigeria as a case study. Globalization through neoliberal economic policy is contradictory to the sustenance of social cohesion in developing countries. It is argued that the phenomenal growth of conflicts in Nigeria was attributed to the decay in state institutions and economic crisis of late 1980s and 1990s. With the adoption of neo-liberal economic policy, the Nigerian state was weak and incapable of providing social Services to majority of its citizens. Margmalized groups with unrealized expectations became particularly hostile to the elements of economic liberalization within the state System which they perceived to be responsible for thè demolition of state welfare programmes. Alienation from the state made them ripe for participation in violent conflicts. It is observed that the contemporary conflicts in Nigeria are associated with worsening income distribution as a result of market economic reform in developing countries like Nigeria. Also; citizens who were deprived of social means of existence as a result of forces of economic globalization resulted to violent activities such as terrorism, kidnappings, armed banditry and armed robberies. Thus, there was a resentment of different social groups in Nigeria who did not benefit from social Services. The study concludes that Nigeria should re-evaluate all externally induced programmes by weighing their effects on economic development and pursue redistribution of economic and social benefits among various groups with the implementation of a social welfare programmes Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.library.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/9028 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.library.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/9027 Title: Piracy as threat to Africa’s security and economic development Authors: Johnson, I. A. Abstract: The paper explores the links between piracy, security and economic dilemma in Africa. The phenomenal increase in the activities of pirates in the coastal region of Africa in the 1990s brought out more forcefully the need to address the causes and consequences. The paper argues that the significant dependence of African countries on global trade makes maritime transport a crucial factor in Africa’s economic development. However, the scale and sophistication of piracy on the continent threatens the global flows of goods and services across the world’s shipping lines. Thus, the consequences of African piracy manifest themselves locally and globally. The central argument of this paper is that until there is a proper understanding of the geostrategic importance of Africa’s maritime domain, piracy will continue to pose a threat not only to Africa but also to global security and maritime trade. The argument summits that an effective strategy to combat piracy along the coastal region of Africa will require the international community to trace and address the principal cause of the menace Sat, 01 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.library.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/9027 2018-12-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.library.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/9026 Title: An appraisal of leadership role conception and Nigeria’s foreign policy at the regional level Authors: Johnson, I. A. Abstract: This paper examines leadership role conception within the context of Nigeria 's foreign policy at the regional level. The nature and scope as well as the rational basis of Nigeria 's leadership role in Africa are examined. It argues that leadership role is not only an aspect of Nigeria's dignity as the most populous country in Africa but is also crucial to no{e that there was a tacit international recognition that Nigeria is destined to play a leading role in African affairs. Thus, international legitimacy of Nigeria through independence in 1960 gave the country the responsibility of playing an active role in African affairs. Central to this discourse are: the psychological reasons why Nigeria is supreme in Africa, factors that influence Nigeria 's leadership role in Africa, including the interrogation of selected foreign policies within the context of Nigerian-African diplomacy. Since 1970s, Nigeria's leadership role in regional affairs has been very visible and commendable. However, Nigeria's diplomatic influence in Africa declined in the 1990s as a result of domestic political and economic crisis. In spite of these challenges, no external policy issues has preoccupied Nigeria more than Nigerian­ African diplomacy. The paper concludes by asserting the need for Nigeria to stabilize its domestic polity in order to continue playing a leading role in regional affairs. Fri, 01 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.library.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/9026 2018-06-01T00:00:00Z