Quantitative study of 375 Nigerian tertiary students links societal factors to perceived value-reorientation need

A quantitative study of 375 students from diverse Nigerian tertiary institutions found that the sociocultural atmosphere within institutions was significantly associated with students’ perceived need for value reorientation concerning obedience, honesty, discipline and patriotism. The article’s abstract also identifies evolving societal norms and ethical challenges as strong predictors of that perceived need, while describing the results as preliminary.

Researchers collected data on cultural and societal factors and used structural equation modeling in SmartPLS 4 to examine relationships among those factors and the perceived need for value reorientation. The analysis was intended to assess how sociocultural conditions relate to students’ views about reorienting four major human values in tertiary education. The abstract reports associations and model-based predictors rather than changes in students’ behavior or the effects of implementing a reorientation program.

According to the abstract, the findings indicate that complex interactions among cultural and societal factors can shape the perceived need for value-reorientation programs. They provide evidence relevant to policymakers, educators and institutions considering how programs might respond to changing social conditions and a diverse student population. The reported results do not, however, establish that any such program is effective or that the four values have measurably declined among Nigerian tertiary students.

The evidence summarized here is limited to the published abstract and its preliminary findings. The abstract identifies the quantitative design, sample size and structural equation modeling approach, but does not provide sampling procedures, measurement instruments, effect sizes or detailed model results. It also does not indicate how representative the 375 participants were of Nigeria’s tertiary student population, so the findings should not be treated as a national assessment of student values. Moreover, the observational relationships reported do not by themselves demonstrate causality. The authors recommend further analysis to clarify the nuanced dynamics between cultural and societal factors and the perceived need for value reorientation in tertiary education.

Subject of Research: Perceived need for value reorientation among Nigerian tertiary students

Article Title: Shifting socio-cultural values: the call for re-orientation in Nigerian tertiary institutions

Article References: Olohunfunmi, A. I., Bamiro, N. B., & Taofeek, Q. A. (2026). Shifting socio-cultural values: the call for re-orientation in Nigerian tertiary institutions. SN Social Sciences, 6(9), Article 375. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-026-01644-w

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s43545-026-01644-w

Keywords: Nigeria, tertiary education, value reorientation, student culture, societal norms, ethical challenges, structural equation modeling, survey research, Shifting, socio-cultural, values, call