Digital Economy and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: An appraisal of the Public Service Delivery Dimension

Abstract

The paper discusses the relationship between ineffective leadership and the risk of social exclusion of the Almajiri demographic cohort in Nigeria within the context of sustainable development. It's interesting to note that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been promoted by the UN. These goals are essential for the country to provide its population with opportunities for overall development. Regrettably, a large portion of the Almajiri population has historically been unable to access formal education due to the poor leadership in the country, and their traditional educational system has not provided them with the skills needed to engage in the creation of human capital, which will enable them to contribute to the innovation and socioeconomic competitiveness of the Nigerian state. This limits the country's prospects of attaining the Sustainable Development Goals by reinforcing a cycle of ignorance, poverty, and social exclusion. The objective of this article is to determine the degree of social exclusion and poverty experienced by the Almajiri cohorts in northern Nigeria, with an emphasis on Kano State. The study used mixed method approach with explanatory sequential design in which both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using questionnaires and an interview respectively. According to the findings from this study, social exclusion or poverty were potential risks for 73% of the Almajiris surveyed in the three local governments that were chosen. Thus, the recommendation centers on leadership efforts to determine the proportion of Almajiris who are unable to meet their needs at a given level and on taking further action to enhance the social inclusion of demographic cohorts of Almajiris and meet the requirements of contemporary sustainable development.