DIGITAL TOOLS FOR DEMOCRATIC CITIZENSHIP: ENHANCING SOCIAL STUDIES TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN NIGERIAN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

This mixed-methods study analyses how digital tools
increase democratic citizenship teaching and human
trafficking awareness in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Grounded on Democratic Citizenship Theory, Critical
Pedagogy, Technological Pedagogical Content
Knowledge and the Digital Citizenship Education
Framework, the study draws on data from 317 students
and 38 lecturers across three Colleges of Education.
Quantitative results showed that exposure to digital
tools was a strong predictor of democratic learning
outcomes, accounting for 42% of the variance (R² = .42,
F(3, 313) = 74.88, p < .001). The main predictors were
digital tool usage (â = .38), lecturer support (â = .31),
and student digital literacy (â = .17). Digital civic
involvement also explained 39% of the differences in
trafficking knowledge (R² = .39, F(3, 313) = 66.41, p <
.001). Exposure to civic media (â = .43) had the most
influence. The chi-square test showed that using digital
platforms is strongly linked to feeling more at ease
talking about civic issues (÷² = 27.43, p <.001). Qualitative themes showed that digital platforms help
people have safer conversations, think about ethics,
and develop a civic identity that is focused on justice.
The NCCE and Ministry of Education should mandate
integrating digital tools and civic media into Social
Studies curricula to enhance democratic learning and
anti-trafficking awareness