This special issue focuses on the Fourth Industrial Revolution that builds on its predecessor (i.e., third industrial revolution), which entailed proliferation of computers and automation of record keeping. The themed issue is aimed to extend the frontiers of knowledge by soliciting quality contributions from academics and industry practitioners. It seeks how and why this new wave of transformation has potential to empower individuals and communities. by creating new opportunities for economic, social and personal development during and after COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted lives, livelihoods, communities, businesses and governance around the globe.

Sub-Themes

Theoretical, empirical or case-based papers that offer new insights into sustainable development from innovation and fourth industrial revolution are of interest – especially, the following sub-themes:

1. Entrepreneurship, Small & Medium Enterprises and Fourth Industrial Revolution in the ‘Next Normal’.
2. Post COVID-19 Regional Integration and Sustainable Development.
3. Post COVID-19 Gender Equality, Innovation and Sustainable Development.
4. Post COVID-19 Africa’s Industrial Sector and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
5. Internet of Things and Environmental Stability in the ‘Next Normal’.
6. Democratic Governance and Sustainable Development in the ’Next Normal’.
7. Post COVID-19 Policy and Regulations Implementation in the Macroeconomic Environment.
8. Security Management, Peace, Conflict Resolution and Integration of Internally Displaced Persons in the “New Normal”.
9. Scientific Innovation and Sustainable Development in the Post COVID-19 Era.

Thus, this Special Issue calls for papers covering the above sub-themes (and other related areas) that innovatively address issues in the interactions between Fourth Industrial Revolution and sustainable development in Africa and the global south. The editors, therefore, welcome original articles, including quantitative or qualitative studies, case studies, and critical reviews, dealing with sub-themes from a multidisciplinary analytical/theoretical framework.

Manuscripts should follow the instructions for electronic submission of papers to International Social Science Journal (ISSJ) using the online submission system. Authors are to follow the guidelines prescribed by ISSJ and should indicate that they wish their manuscripts (between 6000 & 8000 words) to be reviewed for inclusion in the Special Issue. The editors of this Special Issue would be happy to review the plans for papers in advance of their receipt.

The closing date for submitting papers is 4^th February, 2022. Click HERE to submit

BRIEF INFORMATION ON THE GUEST EDITORS

Evans OSABUOHIEN is a Professor of Economics, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria. He has been recognised as One of the 6 Youngest Professors in Nigeria. He is the Pioneer Chair, Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR) as well as Regional Centre of Expertise, Ogun State (RCE Ogun). He is an Alexander von Humboldt Visiting Professor, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany, and a Visiting Scholar, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He has published four books and over 160 scholarly articles. He is a Guest Editor for African Journal of Economic and Management Studies [Emerald] & Contemporary Social Science [Taylor & Francis]. He is a member of numerous professional associations, a reviewer and editorial board member for many journals. [Email: [email protected] ; [email protected] ]

Dr. Anthonia Adeniji is an Associate Professor of Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management, Covenant University, Nigeria. She has acted as Head, Industrial Relations and Human Management Unit, Department of Business Management. She is the Deputy Coordinator Faculty Women Advance (FWA), and the Chair, Seminar and Conference Organising Committee, College of Business and Social Sciences. She has successfully supervised more than 30 postgraduate candidates. She is a member of many Professorial Associations and has published a book as well as over 85 scholarly articles. She serves as a reviewer to many international journals. [Email: [email protected] ]

Rowland Worlu is a Professor of Marketing and Organisational Behaviour at Covenant University. He is a playwright and novelist who has notched up a good number of credits in academic writing. He has served as Head of Department and Director of Centre for Life-Long Learning. Currently, he is the Editor-In-Chief, Covenant Journal of Business & Social Sciences. He is a Visiting Professor to Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique and has served on several accreditation panels of National Universities Commission, Nigeria. He belongs to many editorial boards and is a Fellow of National Institute of Management Consultants. He is a member of Commonwealth Academy of ICT in Education as well as the Institutional Representative of the Academy of Management, Nigeria. [Email: [email protected] ]

Dr Obindah Gershon lectures at the Department of Economics and Development Studies and serves as the Chair, Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR), Covenant University. He previously taught at Georgetown University and University of Dundee, UK. He is also a Visiting Professor to Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique and St. Jerome University, Cameroon. He has published a book and many journal articles, and he reviews for many journals. He is a member of International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE), British Institute for Energy Economics (BIEE), Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF), among others. [Email: [email protected] and [email protected] ]

Kehinde Adetiloye is an Associate Professor of Finance at Covenant University, Nigeria. He is a former Head, Department of Banking and Finance and the coordinator of the Bankers’ Linkage Programmes that connects the Department of Banking and Finance with the professionals in the industry. He is also a former Coordinator of Postgraduate Programmes in the Department. He is a reviewer and on the editorial board of reputable journals indexed in Scopus. He is the current Head of Publications Committee in the Department of Banking and Finance. He holds the Associateship of several professional bodies in the financial industry and he is deeply interested in researches that improve the lives of humanity. [Email: [email protected]]