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Nigerian Criminology and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Challenges, Opportunities and Directions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 July 2025

Richard Abayomi Aborisade*
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper explores the intersection of Nigerian criminology and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the opportunities and future directions for aligning criminological research, education and practice with global development priorities. While Nigeria faces complex challenges such as poverty, inequality, insecurity, gender-based violence, environmental degradation and ineffective justice institutions, criminologists have a vital role in finding sustainable solutions. This paper explores how specific SDGs, notably Goals 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13 and 16, provide significant opportunities for criminological involvement, including crime prevention, youth empowerment, community safety and tackling cybercrime. It suggests that incorporating SDGs into criminology curricula, enhancing data collection, encouraging field research, shaping policy reforms and accessing global funding can greatly improve the impact and relevance of the discipline. By taking an interdisciplinary, culturally aware and community-focused approach, Nigerian criminologists can advocate for evidence-based reforms that confront both the immediate and underlying factors of crime and insecurity. The paper concludes that aligning Nigerian criminology with the SDGs offers a timely chance to bolster academic and policy relevance while also serving as a strategic avenue for promoting peace, justice and inclusive development in Nigeria.

Abstracto

Abstracto

Este artículo explora la intersección de la criminología nigeriana y los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de las Naciones Unidas, destacando las oportunidades y las futuras direcciones para alinear la investigación, la educación y la práctica criminológicas con las prioridades globales de desarrollo. Si bien Nigeria enfrenta desafíos complejos como la pobreza, la desigualdad, la inseguridad, la violencia de género, la degradación ambiental y la ineficacia de las instituciones judiciales, los criminólogos desempeñan un papel vital en la búsqueda de soluciones sostenibles. Este artículo explora cómo los ODS específicos, en particular los Objetivos 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13 y 16, brindan importantes oportunidades para la participación criminológica, incluyendo la prevención del delito, el empoderamiento juvenil, la seguridad comunitaria y la lucha contra la ciberdelincuencia. Sugiere que la incorporación de los ODS en los planes de estudio de criminología, la mejora de la recopilación de datos, el fomento de la investigación de campo, la formulación de reformas políticas y el acceso a financiación global pueden mejorar considerablemente el impacto y la relevancia de la disciplina. Al adoptar un enfoque interdisciplinario, con conciencia cultural y centrado en la comunidad, los criminólogos nigerianos pueden promover reformas basadas en la evidencia que aborden tanto los factores inmediatos como los subyacentes de la delincuencia y la inseguridad. El artículo concluye que la alineación de la criminología nigeriana con los ODS ofrece una oportunidad oportuna para fortalecer la relevancia académica y política, a la vez que sirve como una vía estratégica para promover la paz, la justicia y el desarrollo inclusivo en Nigeria.

Abstrait

Abstrait

Cet article explore l’intersection entre la criminologie nigériane et les Objectifs de développement durable (ODD) des Nations Unies, soulignant les opportunités et les orientations futures pour aligner la recherche, l’enseignement et la pratique criminologiques sur les priorités mondiales de développement. Alors que le Nigéria est confronté à des défis complexes tels que la pauvreté, les inégalités, l’insécurité, les violences sexistes, la dégradation de l’environnement et l’inefficacité des institutions judiciaires, les criminologues jouent un rôle essentiel dans la recherche de solutions durables. Cet article explore comment des ODD spécifiques, notamment les Objectifs 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13 et 16, offrent des opportunités significatives pour l’implication de la criminologie, notamment dans la prévention du crime, l’autonomisation des jeunes, la sécurité communautaire et la lutte contre la cybercriminalité. Il suggère que l’intégration des ODD dans les programmes de criminologie, l’amélioration de la collecte de données, l’encouragement de la recherche sur le terrain, l’élaboration de réformes politiques et l’accès à des financements mondiaux peuvent considérablement améliorer l’impact et la pertinence de la discipline. En adoptant une approche interdisciplinaire, culturellement sensible et centrée sur la communauté, les criminologues nigérians peuvent plaider en faveur de réformes fondées sur des données probantes qui s’attaquent aux facteurs immédiats et sous-jacents de la criminalité et de l’insécurité. L’article conclut que l’alignement de la criminologie nigériane sur les ODD offre une opportunité opportune de renforcer la pertinence académique et politique, tout en constituant une voie stratégique pour promouvoir la paix, la justice et le développement inclusif au Nigéria.

摘要

摘要

本文探讨了尼日利亚犯罪学与联合国可持续发展目标 (SDG) 的交汇,强调了将犯罪学研究、教育和实践与全球发展优先事项相结合的机遇和未来方向。尼日利亚面临着贫困、不平等、不安全、性别暴力、环境恶化和司法机构效率低下等复杂挑战,而犯罪学家在寻找可持续解决方案方面发挥着至关重要的作用。本文探讨了具体的可持续发展目标,特别是目标 3、4、5、8、9、11、13 和 16,如何为犯罪学的参与提供重要机会,包括预防犯罪、增强青年权能、社区安全和打击网络犯罪。本文建议,将可持续发展目标纳入犯罪学课程、加强数据收集、鼓励实地研究、推动政策改革以及获得全球资金,可以极大地提升该学科的影响力和相关性。通过采取跨学科、文化意识和以社区为中心的方法,尼日利亚犯罪学家可以倡导基于证据的改革,以应对犯罪和不安全问题的直接和潜在因素。本文得出结论,将尼日利亚犯罪学与可持续发展目标相结合,提供了一个及时的机会来增强学术和政策相关性,同时也是促进尼日利亚和平、正义和包容性发展的战略途径。

ملخص

ملخص

تستكشف هذه الورقة البحثية تقاطع علم الإجرام النيجيري مع أهداف الأمم المتحدة للتنمية المستدامة، مسلطةً الضوء على الفرص والتوجهات المستقبلية لمواءمة البحث والتعليم والممارسة في علم الإجرام مع أولويات التنمية العالمية. في حين تواجه نيجيريا تحديات معقدة كالفقر، وعدم المساواة، وانعدام الأمن، والعنف القائم على النوع الاجتماعي، والتدهور البيئي، وضعف مؤسسات العدالة، يضطلع علماء الإجرام بدور حيوي في إيجاد حلول مستدامة. وتستكشف هذه الورقة البحثية كيف تُتيح أهداف التنمية المستدامة المحددة، ولا سيما الأهداف 3 و4 و5 و8 و9 و11 و13 و16، فرصًا مهمة للمشاركة في علم الإجرام، بما في ذلك منع الجريمة، وتمكين الشباب، وسلامة المجتمع، والتصدي للجرائم الإلكترونية. وتشير الورقة إلى أن دمج أهداف التنمية المستدامة في مناهج علم الإجرام، وتعزيز جمع البيانات، وتشجيع البحث الميداني، وصياغة إصلاحات السياسات، والحصول على التمويل العالمي، من شأنه أن يُحسّن بشكل كبير من تأثير هذا التخصص وأهميته. باتباع نهج متعدد التخصصات، واعي ثقافيًا، ومركّز على المجتمع، يمكن لعلماء الجريمة النيجيريين الدعوة إلى إصلاحات قائمة على الأدلة، تُعالج العوامل المباشرة والكامنة للجريمة وانعدام الأمن. وتخلص الورقة إلى أن مواءمة علم الجريمة النيجيري مع أهداف التنمية المستدامة تُتيح فرصة سانحة لتعزيز أهميته الأكاديمية والسياسية، كما تُمثّل وسيلة استراتيجية لتعزيز السلام والعدالة والتنمية الشاملة في نيجيريا.

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© International Society of Criminology, 2025

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