GLOBALIZATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA, 2020 TO 2025
Globalization is a potent force shaping the economic, social, environmental landscape and hence sustainable developments of nations. This study examines the impact of globalization on Nigeria’s sustainable development, with particular focus on its economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Specifically, the research aimed to assess the economic effects of globalization in terms of trade, foreign direct investment, and technological advancement; analyze its social implications, including employment, income inequality, and cultural transformation; and investigate its effects on environmental sustainability, particularly resource extraction, pollution, and ecological conservation. The study adopts the Modernization Theory as its theoretical framework, which posits that development is achieved through the adoption of modern practices, technologies, and institutional reforms that enable societies to transition from traditional to modern systems. This theory guided the examination of how globalization facilitates economic growth, social progress, and environmental management in Nigeria. A descriptive research design was adopted, and data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 366 respondents in Lagos State, as well as interviews conducted with six key informants. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square (χ²) hypothesis testing to examine the relationship between globalization and sustainable development. The findings revealed that globalization has a significant positive impact on Nigeria’s sustainable development, promoting trade, attracting foreign direct investment, and enhancing technological capacity. Socially, globalization has contributed to employment creation, knowledge sharing, and cultural exchange, although it has also exacerbated income inequality in some sectors. Environmentally, globalization has intensified resource exploitation and industrial pollution, but it has also facilitated awareness of environmental protection and adoption of modern conservation practices. The study concludes that globalization, when guided by modern institutional practices and policies, is a major driver of sustainable development in Nigeria.
Keywords: Globalization, Sustainable Development, Social Implications, Environmental Sustainability, Nigeria
