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The name of Alexandre Biyidi Awala, the famous Camerounian dissident writer and activist, better known by his pseudonym of Mongo Beti needs no further introduction in the annals of African literature of French expression. So much has been said and written about his very first novel titled Ville Cruelle (Cruel town), the only novel he used the pseudonym of Eza Boto. The most common narrative that critics prefer to launder about the work, is the fact that the novel took the decolonisation struggle head-on, at a time when more elderly intellectuals like Camara Laye preferred to either be diplomatic, or ignored the leprous subject of the evils of colonialism in Africa. The gap in knowledge about this novel, which has often been overlooked by scholars and critics alike, and which this paper seeks to close, is the fact of the collaboration between the African traditional/cultural system and the colonial machine to monetise and commercialise Africa's socio-cultural norms and values, thereby imposing the gerontocracy of the elders for the purpose of economic exploitation. Using the socio-historical approach, this paper explores how this gerontocracy worked as a tool of economic exploitation of African youths by exploitative elders in the name of the colonial system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, lexis and style in Tanure Ojaide's Delta Blues and Home Songs, examined how meaning is negotiated through the use of cohesive devices and other stylistic features in the text. Previous studies have concentrated on phoric relations in the text as well as on the text's treatment of environmental issues without much attention paid to how cohesive devices coalesce in the text to produce meaning. Data for the study comprised five poems purposively selected from Ojaide's Delta Blues and Home Songs. Also, the study undertook a qualitative research procedure. Equally, since the paper focused attention on the use of language (lexical choices) to address social situations, the theoretical base adopted was Halliday and Hasan's (1976) Cohesion Theory. The research discovered that style and meaning are inseparably linked. This was revealed through the assessment of the author's deployment of cohesive devices like reiteration, synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy as well as the stylistic features of hypotaxis and parataxis. The paper was concluded with the notion that by the author's placement of cohesive and stylistic features in the foreground, meaning in the text became more pronounced and clearly underlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalization and the increasing interconnectivity of the international system has brought about changes in the nature of state relations and newer trends in security threats within the international system. Security threats that hitherto did not exist are now made manifest with the aid of globalization particularly as a result of advancement in information, communication and transportation technologies. Cyber-crime, transnational crimes, money laundry, human trafficking, terrorism financing, proliferation of small arms and light weapons amongst several other security threats now characterize the global system. This paper therefore attempts to interrogate globalization as a driver for insecurity. It is the position of this paper that national and international security dynamics have changes because of globalization. It is desk research and relies basically on secondary data. The paper therefore recommends the need for states to adopt security strategies that are in line with global trends so as to address security challenges. It also recommends the application of technology in addressing national security challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is not an overstatement to say that the level of development witnessed in the world today: especially in developing countries is a product of research. In fact, the author is of the opinion that research is "synonymous' to development as it leads to advancement in all facets of life such as education, health, governance, agriculture, infrastructure, building, commerce and industry, transportation, banking and finance, information technology, engineering, security to mention but a few. This paper takes a look at the role of research in development. It is aimed at promoting research in developing countries of the world. A philosophical approach is adopted while gathering data from a pool of literature, personal observation of major trends in Nigeria. The paper examines the level of development in key area of life; as well as highlighting those challenges facing research development using Nigeria as a reference point. Recommendations are made in the paper that could promote research development in young countries of the world. The paper concludes that without thorough research activities, stagnation in national development and human existence is endangered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the Obolo women and the historical development of Christianity in Obolo from 1870 to 2020. The origin of Christianity in Obolo in the 19th century was traced to Madam Ngban Ijo who was a worshipper of Adumu prior to her conversion. She was converted by her Bonny trading customer, Mr. Ibitomie Hart who she accommodated during his trading expeditions in Ataba. Through her, Christianity was established in Ataba and Ataba became the first place in Obolo to embrace the new religion. Her house became the first centre of worship and early church activities. Other women were similarly converted and the church grew from her house to what is known today as St. James Anglican Church, Ataba. Obolo women were also instrumental in the spread of Pentecostal churches in the area. The women have contributed enormously to the expansion of Christianity in Obolo in several ways. They built parsonages and supported the church financially. The finding of this paper is that through Christianity, Obolo experienced great transformation which influenced the socio-economic life of the people and Obolo society. The methodology adopted to reconstruct this past are the primary and secondary sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the Nigerian government continues to counter terrorism and reclaim areas previously under Boko Haram, many persons have been rescued especially women and children by the Nigerian Army since 2015 and have been returned to their communities now safe. However, upon returning, they are faced with another burden of severe stigmatization and social exclusion from members of their own communities especially for those who have been sexually violated and have bore children and become mothers. This paper, therefore, seeks to examine the manner of stigmatisation and social exclusion faced by these returnees. It went further to examine the implications of stigmatisation and social exclusion for the peace and security of the Nigerian polity. The study takes a qualitative method of research with in-depth interviews conducted at Malkohi IDP camp, Jimeta, and Madagali in Adamawa state. The findings of the paper reveal that these returnees are rejected, marginalised and excluded socially, politically and economically. The paper concludes by recommending that the government along with relevant bodies must ensure a proper reintegration plan for these returnees as well as set up monitoring teams to check stigmatisation and social exclusion in these areas so as to give the returnees a sense of belonging and ensure their rights are guaranteed as citizens of Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The military institution is structured in a manner that is meant to promote smooth flow of orders and instructions for implementation. Perhaps this is premised on the fact that time and disciplines are two critical variables that drive the military culture. Thus, this paper finds that in the theatre of operations, poor supply of equipment and lack of basic force projection and protection indices for soldiers could result in open or 'passive obedience' where troops' morale are either dampened or become an endless test on their patriotism and an albatross in their quest to defend the territorial integrity and citizens of their nation. This paper argues that for the best possible outcomes of combat efficiency to be gotten from field combatants, there must be an availability of the basic requirements that would aid the field combatants in attaining their strategic objectives. Furthermore, the paper drives the position that failure in the preceding areas will only portend extensive threats to the country's national security. The paper relied mostly on secondary sources available in extant literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrity as the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values, is a virtuous value which the society at large expect its members to inculcate. As a Christian religious value, Christians are expected to promote social control and live acceptable standard of lives in the society thereby assisting in reducing vices such as corruption in Nigeria. Focusing on the Christian religion, this paper argues that the prevalence of corruption in Nigeria today is an indication that the Christian religion is not doing enough in promoting integrity as a religious value in the society. The paper adopted a descriptive analytical methodology making use of both primary and secondary sources for its research. The work discovered that Christianity has been bastardized and commercialized to the extent that it is losing its appeal as a promoter of integrity as a religious value. The paper concluded that Christianity as an antivirus is not doing enough in its function to cure a virus such as corruption in Nigeria and recommended that religious leaders, Christians and entire masses should get involved in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today in Nigeria, insecurity, terrorism, prostitution, child-witch and stigmatization and child-trafficking remains the order of the day. Recently, domestic violence becomes one of the challenges facing the world and Nigeria in particular. The family is often portrayed as the sources of comfort, security and safety, a place of which its members retreat to escape the rough and trouble of the public world of work and school. Today, the family is a source of conflict and possibly danger. Indeed, the comfort, security and safety in families are threatened by domestic violence. This paper seeks to address the issue of domestic violence in Nigeria: Christian response in the Niger Delta Region. Descriptive method through a body of literature was used to gather information. It is discovered that children and women are the most vulnerable of this problem in the Niger Delta. The paper recommends that some traditions which encourage domestic violence in the Niger Delta should be faced-out by law. Religious leaders should vehemently preach against all forms of domestic violence to their members and possibly sanction erring ones. NGOs should join hands to organize symposia, seminars, workshops to create awareness on the fundamental right of the citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African Wisdom has remained on the verge of collapse arising from Western knowledge dominance. In the global knowledge revolution however, all knowledge is critical in social transformation. This study examines the value of African wisdom in modern education. It interrogates the role of African wisdom in developing modern competence-education. Thus, the article documents the philosophical scope of African wisdom as naturalized epistemology. It explores the status of African wisdom in the wake of colonialism, painting the hegemonic character of Western knowledge production. It empirically examines the value of African Wisdom in development of competence-based education. Using qualitative research on Uganda, the paper analyzes the hidden educational treasure embedded in two African wisdom sources. Researchers used quantitative research to document the benefits and challenges of integration of African wisdom in modern education. Finally, the paper recommends transformative education in the social reconstruction of African education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a comparative study of Chukwuemeka Ike's The Bottled Leopard and Chịkodịlị Emelụ-madụ-'s Dazzling. The thrust of the paper is found in the study of the protagonist's transformation from adolescents into their roles as leopard personalities. The crucial aspects identified of their development include: the unity of life in the Igbo worldview and their understanding of the cosmological realities depicted in the novels. The theory adopted for the study is magical realism. The findings reveal that the transition into their inherited roles is made easier with the knowledge of Igbo traditions, mythology and initiation rites. Second is that Emelụmadụ's story shows evidence of individualism and syncretism in the depiction of cosmological realities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To the Igbo, names are quite revelatory of lives experiences by parents who give names to their children as verbal codes of their individual and collective memory. When a mother loses her child during childbirth and this becomes a recurrent decimal, the last surviving child is given the name, Onwughalu, meaning, may death spare this child. When a child is born to a wealthy family, her name reflects their season of plenty. It would seem that Igbo names may provide insights into the Igbo philosophy of life. In the same way, the Igbo also have names for their various masquerades which this paper refers to as a system of verbal coding. By decoding such names, one discovers that they provide easy access to mask identities, associated mask types, costumes and performance strategies. Relying on both oral and written evidence, the paper examines how names of masquerades provide easy access to Igbo mask typology in their classification, inventory of costumes and how mask theater provides a useful context for aligning mask performance strategies to deferring mask identities and even audience responses to mask displays. The paper concluded that names provide vital clues as verbal codes to Igbo masquerade identities, mask types, costumes and performance strategies in the context of mask theater at the village square. Paper had decoded that which had been coded in the context of Igbo masking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religion and Culture permeates the life of every human being as well as every society throughout the world. Every religion and culture has norms, values and acceptable standards reflected in its doctrines and ways of life. By inculcating in adherents and members of the society these norms and values, religion and culture are expected to act as agents for sustainable development in Nigeria. In-spite of this, Nigeria is facing problems of underdevelopment that are evidenced in the educational sector, social, political and economic deterioration. This paper therefore seeks to discover the reason for the lack of development and look at the various roles religion and culture can play in the sustainable development of Nigeria. The paper adopted phenomenological approach and discovered that, vices like corruption and materialism contributes largely to this underdevelopment and that religion and culture can play cardinal roles in growth of our society for sustainable development. The paper recommends that Religious leaders, Traditional rulers, Custodians of morality and Government at all levels should not isolate religion and culture to the background since the two could be found in every strata of the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leadership in the church is the noble art of cooperatively planning and uniting to achieve the goals God has set for humankind in the life, teachings, death, resurrection and the coming back of Jesus, the Christ. This indeed is Christian leadership. However, at the heart of the success of the efforts for the development of Pentecostalism in Nigeria is effective Christian leadership. Leadership is not the private preserve of a few charismatic men or women; rather it is a process ordinary people use when they are bringing forth the best from themselves and others. Leadership is so powerful and important that it gives direction, pace and energy to people and empowers them. The main thrust of this paper is to examine the issue of Christian leadership and its implications on the development of Pentecostalism in Nigeria. It argues that the major threat to the development of Pentecostalism in Nigeria is traceable to poor Christian leadership manifesting in corruption and weak value base. This paper adopted a participant observation method for its research. It concluded that, until good Christian leadership is guaranteed, the development of Pentecostalism in Nigeria will continue to experience slow growth and development will continue to be a mirage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated the local content programming and cultural imperialism in the Nigerian broadcast media with a view to determining the extent to which cultural imperialism influences radio and television stations in Nigeria local content programming and the impact of their programmes on the indigenous culture. The theories of cultural imperialism and cultivation Analysis were employed to underpin or support the study. A survey method was used to gather data for the study. Based on the empirical data obtained, it was revealed that broadcast stations in Nigeria are involved in local content programming but the extent is not significant as foreign programmes still take the lead in our broadcast stations. Even most of the programmes that are regarded as indigenous in our broadcast stations, are in most case, dominated by the content of foreign materials. This to a large extent has contributed to cultural imperialism as our indigenous programmes are in most cases relegated to the background even by the indigenous viewers. Findings also revealed that the reasons for this horrible and hideous situation is lack of finance for local programming, lack of digitalized equipment which constitutes poor quality programming and lack of austere monitoring by the NBC. The study concludes that broadcast media in Nigeria is still infantile as well as juvenile in terms of local content programming, thereby opening wider fissure for foreign programmes to fill in. The study recommends that the broadcast media in Nigeria should come back to the drawing board and pay keen attention to local programming as this is the only way our core values as a people and nation can be promoted. NBC must not relent in ensuring compliance and sanctioning violators of the local content provisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imperial incursion into most countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and so on have been contextualized, re-contextualized, and aggregated in strongly evocative linguistic terms. Arising from that background are such terms as "subaltern", "postcolonial", and so on. Many disciplines have appropriated this omnibus structure in their advancement of knowledge. Literary studies draws from this composite structure in its mediation on this existential condition. This is where subaltern literature comes into play. Subaltern literature has consistently portrayed colonial encounter or the aftermath of colonial encounter. It is categorized as postcolonial literature. It often speaks back to the former colonial masters; although Spivak in her seminal essay posits that the subaltern cannot speak. Her assertion is predicated on many stifling conditions the subaltern face. Mindful of Spivak's position, this paper argues that the subaltern can speak, irrespective of how they speak and when they speak. In the current study, they speak of multiple exploitation of: the colonial / postcolonial space, the subaltern population, and ultimately the women subaltern. This study, through the postcolonial theory, interrogates the different shades of exploitation represented in Kaine Agary's Yellow Yellow. The discovery is that both women and the environment in the text are victims of exploitative colonial, postcolonial and patriarchal structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explored the resilience and empowerment narratives of women entrepreneurs in small-scale businesses in Ipetu-Ijesha, a southwest community in Nigeria with a view to examine the strength and determination exhibited by these women as they confront various challenges while striving for a better future.An in-depth qualitative interviews were used through semi-structured interviews on women who have thrived in the same business for over 15 yearsand content analysis was used to analyse the interviews. The findings revealed that the participants' perceptions of empowerment varied, encompassing financial independence, stability, freedom, and the ability to make choices for oneself. Each woman's journey towards empowerment was unique, involving the negotiation of societal norms, surmounting barriers, and confronting systemic inequalities and access to emotional support was identified as a crucial element in their empowerment journey. These women, as agents of change, shaped their destinies, overcame adversity, and contributed to the betterment of their communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thrust of this paper is to unravel the role of perceived motivation and workers' productivity in educational sectors. By its objectives, It will show the importance of motivation to employees, It will reveal the strategies likely to motivate employees for better work results. To achieve the purpose of this study, one research question was posed, and one null hypothesis was generated. Survey research design was adopted for the study. A sample of seven hundred and ninety-two (792) respondents out of eight thousand one hundred and twelve (8112) administrative staff being the population was randomly selected from this study. The selection was done through the stratified random sampling technique. Questionnaire was the main instrument used for data collection. The instrument was subjected to face validation. The reliability estimate of the instrument was established using the Cronbach-Alpha reliability method. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis was the statistical analysis techniques adopted in the study. The hypothesis was subjected to testing at 0.05 level of significance with relative degrees of freedom. The results of the findings revealed that, there is a positive relationship between medical services as motivational factor and workers' productivity. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that management of all educational sectors should ensure that they build a healthy public policy, zero bills, subsided medical services as motivational package for efficient and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Treaty establishing the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market Protocol advocates for the cross-border legal practice in the EAC. To effectively implement cross-border legal practice, other legal instruments were needed at the EAC level. It has been more than a decade since such instruments were drafted but not adopted. In addition, the Partner States needed to adopt laws that favor cross-border legal practice. So far, some Partner States have tried to do so, while others have not. Such disparities are the subject of this paper which, after taking stock of the status and obstacles to cross-border legal practice in the EAC, formulates recommendations to make cross-border legal practice a reality in the EAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covenant is a contract under seal, a promise to do or not to do certain action or that a given state of thing shall exist or not. Because of this complex nature, African people do not have just a word for covenant. Thus, African words for covenant includes, promise, oath, vow, bargain or agreement. In modern society, this can be called a contract. However, this is a very intimate kind of contract. It is believed in Africa that the notion of covenant is not in any way foreign to African Tradition Religion. In any typical African Religion, the very idea of religious worship presupposes some form of covenant relationship between the worshipper or worshipping community and the deity. However, the covenant normally does not terminate at the vertical pole. Besides the fact that the members of the community themselves may actually enter into particular covenants among themselves, the bond between each individual and the gods also has horizontal covenantal implications in their daily life interactions. This paper x-rays the view of Africans on covenant. The method adopted for this paper is sociological approach. This paper believes that "there is a covenant between earth and man. The earth produces the food that man eats. The earth becomes the greatest supernatural force that controls every product that is in it. Covenant is very sacrosanct in African religious view. This work also concludes with the types of covenant obtained in the African society and reasons for entering into covenants. People resort to covenants administered with the ancestral staff and other objects such as kolanut. The administration is usually by a ritual leader or a priest before a shrine. We therefore recommend that our society should resort to covenant to restore discipline and tranquility in the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is extensive use of humour in Chinua Achebe's Arrow of God. In the heart of very engaging plots and sub-plots bordering on the colonial tremor in Africa, Achebe still finds time and space to infuse humour into his narrative of culture contact and conflict. This paper analyzes the stylistic use of humour in realizing Achebe's overall artistic vision in Arrow of God. As it is, humorous usages dot discourses in the narrative, even in the midst of very severe or intense circumstances. The paper examines the role of humour and the language in which humour is couched to enrich the narrative of culture contact and conflict in an African society. The language of humour in the text under study is found to be sometimes metaphoric, sarcastic, ironic, satiric, hyperbolic and euphemistic. It is therefore concluded that Achebe's deployment of linguistic resources to create humour with which serious communal concerns are attended to is a significant contribution to the development of African storytelling technique, elevating humour as an integral part of the tools of an African oral artist-cum-novelist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avalanche literature exists on the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami even from the economic perspective. However, these studies are not done using historical tools of analysis and most of them are not academic in nature and also lack in-depth analysis. This paper is a departure from extant studies. It takes a historical analysis of the phenomena of the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 and its implications on the economy of the affected countries. It is an attempt to narrow the existing historiographical gap on the subject. Using extant literature and oral historical sources, it affirms, the indispensable nexus between the Tsunami and catastrophe of the affected areas; with specific attention to agriculture and related livelihoods, tourist industries, manufacturing industries, wildlife, and transportation industries, et cetera. Besides the paper analyses the international response to the catastrophic tidal waves. Evidence threw up leads to the major conclusion that, the tsunami truncated the economic activities leading to economic destruction and retardation in the affected countries. Given the debilitating economic challenges associated with the tsunami, the paper suggests, among others, a more proactive involvement of the universities and scholars in studying catastrophic events and disaster management with the hope of averting its future occurrence, the installation of scientific earthquake and tsunami detecting gadgets so that early warning could be issued to people to run to the higher ground when the need arises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is aimed at evaluating the women inheritance practices in Ibibio traditional society with reference to change and continuity. Inheritance, which involves the transfer of property from parents to heirs, is a normative experience which every, family regardless of sociocultural settings, must experience to ensure that family and social system are fulfilled. However, the transfer of properties from older generations to the younger generation has become a major problem in African society. It was a tradition of the people in Ibibio that female children must not inherit any property such as lands, houses from the family nor widows at the demise of their husbands, but in recent times, it seems the practice has changed. The gap this work sets out to fill therefore is to discover if truly this practice has changed. This paper adopts historical approach. To enrich the work with vital facts, oral interview was equally conducted. From the information gathered, it is discovered that women inheritance in traditional Ibibio society has changed over-time as women are now given full fledged freedom to inherit property of all kinds. This paper recommends that parents should not place or prioritize a gender above the other in privileges and inheritance right. This is important because both male and female children have their responsibilities based on financial status, not gender [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinua Achebe, as an icon of African Literature, has distinguished himself as a teacher par excellence and enjoys world acclaim as "the bestselling author.... (and) among the most powerful and original writers in English fiction" (Publisher's blurb). A simple answer to the 'secret of fiction' of his success as a master artist lies in his unique style of storytelling. This paper, therefore, explores two features of his style which pervade his entire fiction, namely, jurisprudence and pedagogy. The classroom teacher of English Literature or Literature in English will demonstrate his teacher competence by drawing attention of his learners to the stylistic devices used in a literary text and explains how they enhance literary corpus. The stylistic devices are consciously or unconsciously woven into a literary work to make thematic statements. The burden of this essay is poor communicative competence of Nigerian leaners of English, the nation's official language. Another problem is the learners' poor reading culture, which results in poor storytelling. The paper is not unaware of other features of Achebe's style, which he has harnessed to teach his infinite audience. It must be pointed out though that this essay does not say the final word on the features of Achebe's style for examination in this essay. The novels of Achebe that are used for this analysis are Things Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease while the paper adopts literary research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper has addressed the dreadful and chaotic state of contemporary society in form of herdsmen attack, insurgency, banditry, revolutionary tendencies and war; as portrayed by Jean-Paul Sartre in The Reprieve. Our fundamental objectives are to unveil the horrible effects of violence and war in our society and to project the role of literature and national consciousness in national transformation of characters, nation building, emergence of peace and human freedom in the expected new normal world. We have adopted the analytic method. This method has helped us to critically examine and unfold the catastrophic effects of war in The Reprieve. The paper has adopted the theory of existentialism and the socio-psycho critic approach. This approach has helped us to understand and logically unveil the socio-psychological disposition of humanity in terms of war propaganda, the fear of war outbreak, death and lamentations. We have discovered that literature is the instrument that develops national consciousness and national transformation for peaceful coexistence in an ideal society. The paper reveals that in the new normal world human existence is built on ethical values of justice, equity, integrity and prevalent peace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Language is at the heart of literature, and Nigerian creative writers deploy the resources of language in intriguingly compelling ways to express their sociocultural realities. Among these linguistic strategies are proverbial and metaphorical expressions. However, studies on the novels of two prominent Nigerian novelists -- Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie -- have paid negligible attention to how these novelists' literary characters engage proverbs and metaphors as discourse strategies. This paper studies the discursive functionality of proverbial and metaphorical expressions as conversational strategies which the novelists' characters deploy in interactive situations to make their contributions align with the issue being discussed. The data for this paper were collected from four novels: Achebe's Things Fall Apart (henceforth TFA) and Anthills of the Savannah (henceforth AS) and Adichie's Purple Hibiscus (hereafter PH) and Half of a Yellow Sun (hereafter HYS). The analysis undertaken in this paper is guided by Braj Kachru's concentric theory, which delineates the use of English across the world. It is revealed that the novelists utilise proverbial and metaphorical expressions to articulate Igbo of south-eastern Nigeria cultural ways of interacting with social reality. This study contributes to extant studies on anthropolinguistics and literary studies. In so doing, the novelists insightfully exemplify how English words heave with the indigenous thoughts of their Igbo people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental conservation is one of the key issues of concern in major world blueprints and visions like United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2063 of the Africa We Want, East African Community Vision 2050 and Kenya's Vision 2030. African indigenous knowledge systems can provide mechanisms and strategies to conserve the environment for the betterment of humanity. Humanity belongs to the earth and the earth depends on the activities of human beings on earth. This paper interrogates the interface between literature and environment within the notions of Africa indigenous knowledge system. Using ecocriticism as a theoretical frame work, the paper examines selected Kiigeembe eco-proverbs as literary texts to show the interface between literature and environment. The paper is premised on the fact that literature is a product of environment and that environmental issues and ecological challenges can be portrayed through literary environmentalism genres and Kiigembe ecoproverb is no exception. The findings of this study point toward the need to go back to our Africa roots, especially on indigenous knowledge systems, for solutions to environmental challenges facing humanity today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culture is the very bedrock of a society, and in its entire dimension, is a fundamental component of national development. It is known generally as the total way of life of a people. The paper examines the role of cultural security in development in Nigeria. Using only secondary sources, it is emphasized here that cultural security plays an important role in development, cutting across the economic, political, social, environmental spheres. It brings about social cohesion, unity, peace and stability, progress and growth. It reduces poverty, provides employment opportunities and generates income inter alia. While the paper identified certain factors that militate against cultural security such as globalisation, conflict and violence, breakdown in cultural norms and values, lack of cultural intelligence, it reiterates the need to place culture at the core of governance. It also calls for a deliberate and conscious efforts of government at all levels to plan and implement policies and programmes that are culture-centred and culture-sensitive in order to promote cultural security and in turn engender national development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amma Darko's Faceless and Bolaji Abdullahi's Sweet Sixteen creatively interface a dialogue that centres on the prevalent social order, charts the course for salvaging the disoriented mass from the present socio-cultural pervasion. The two novels are read critically and inter-textually towards discerning the complex socio-cultural dynamics of postmodern society that seem adrift on the cleavages of moral precipice. The thrust of this paper hinges on the strategies of representation by which writers serve as chroniclers of the state of the world, sensitisers of humanity, and as advocates for the vulnerable, with particular interest on the girl child and the younger generations. Darko's major characters portray the grim picture of the present social order, just as Abdullahi's story projects pedagogically, the propositions towards arresting the prevalent situation and healing society of its falling ethical foundation. A combination of the two creative scenarios constitutes veritable platform for dialogue, for synergising discourse of value re-engineering, socio-economic justice and of moral repair. The analytical thrust of this paper is therefore guided by postmodernism as theoretical tool suitable for interrogating the complex cleavages of contemporary socio-cultural experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of gender inequality and exploitation of the sexes has been a recurrent and ongoing issue in the literary space. The woman and the girl child are often seen as the peripheral and the exploited =Others'. This paper is a deconstruction of the notion of patriarchal dominance and exploitation of the girl child and women in genral in the Northern Nigerian Muslim society. The man has often been seen in feminist discourse as the impediment for the female's economic, educational and political growth. Through a close reading of Mohammed's Habiba, the paper deconstructs the above issue by revealing that it is the man that is actually impeded. He is only a priest in the shrine of the women as gods in his life. The women are portrayed as the exploiters of the girl child. The significance of this paper lies in the fact that the general notion in feminist literary discourse is often the exploitation of the females by the men for their economic, political and educational advancement when in reality the opposite is the case as seen in this text. Through the utilization of deconstruction and content analysis research methodology, the paper comes out with the findings that the problem of the girl child is caused by women. The girl child is made a sacrifice by the gods- the older women and the man is merely a priest who executes orders given to him by the gods. The paper further finds out that any resistance by the priest in carrying out the order of the gods spells doom for him. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every country's development is practically anchored on education and its basic conditions for socio-economic and technological transformation of the nation. This paper examined the extent to which public-private partnership and collaboration in education contributes in the sustainable development of tertiary institutions in the areas such as infrastructural and human development. The paper x-rays the concepts of publicprivate partnership and sustainable development of tertiary institutions, types of public-private partnership. The paper also examine the benefits public-private partnership and collaboration in education, such as cost saving, enhancement of revenue generation and others. It further examines the role of public-private partnership and collaboration in education; it also highlighted the risks associated with public-private partnership in development programmes. The paper further reveals that the attainment of meaningful and sustainable development requires the genuine participation of the public, the organized private sectors, donor agencies, individuals and civil society. Such as loss of control by the public sector where private partners commit more funds to a project than the public sector, there is a likelihood that private partners would seek for more control over how services are provided and priced. It further examined the ten tips for successful public-private partnership in higher institution. The paper recommended among others that public-private partnership should be encouraged for sustainability of our university systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of education to the development of any society cannot be gainsaid. However, decades after the inauguration of Nigeria's National Policy of Education, achieving the required educational goals for the nation's development, has largely, remained a hard sale. In consequence, the country faces alarming rates of social stability and underdevelopment. In the light of the current clamour of tongues and quest for effective ways of achieving more positive outcomes regarding the nation's educational goals, this paper critically interrogates the major challenges to the attainment of these goals. As the way forward, it presents the ideals of Confucius' philosophy of education as a philosophical perspective that could be utilized in transforming Nigeria's education sector towards a more effective attainment of the nation's educational goals. The analytic, critical and prescriptive methods of philosophical research are adopted in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our essay is entitled : « The Response of man to his metaphysical condition in The Rebel by Albert Camus. » The paper attempts to unveil the response of man to his metaphysical condition in the absurd world. Camus's philosophy depicts the irresolvable emptiness of man in his futile search for meaning and clarity in his existence. Man is perplexed and as such, runs to God, gods and goddesses, powers and principalities for help. His perplexity and futile search for meaning and help in his existence through metaphysical and telelogical creation constitute the problem of this study. As a response to this unabridged gap of the irresolvable emptiness, man in Camus's work is nehelist. He denies God, gods and goddesses and other powers that never find a lasting solution for his quest for meaning and clarity in the absurd world. We have adopted the analytic method to unfold mans response to his metaphysical condition. Our fundamental objective is to show how man in Camus's work takes a metaphysical revolt to react to his endless cycle of his futile search for meaning in the absurd world. The essay has adopts the philosophy of absurdity to human confrotation in the search of meaning and clarity. In addition, the essay has adopted the sociological approach to look at man's relationship with his universe. We have discovered that man in Camus's universe has taken a metapysical revolt as a response to his endless cycles of futile search for meaning and clarity. He is nihilist and confrontational. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising number of cases of sexual violence in Nigeria has become so worrisome and mindboggling that, despite several widespread condemnation and punitive measures, bringing an end to it seems farfetched. The argument of this article is that early identification of the red flags will play a significant role in curbing incessant cases of sexual violence. At the front pages of our national dailies, one reads several cases of sexual violence and unfortunately, women of all age brackets are victims of this heinous crime. It cuts across all sectors of the society, the homes, schools, workplace, hospitals and even the churches where people consider to be sacred and safe. In addressing this problem this work adopts the method of critical textual analysis and it is purely qualitative. Findings show that several deterrent measures have not been able to eradicate the rising cases of sexual violence especially rape cases in Nigeria. Contributing to this discussion, this paper concludes that identifying the early signs (red flags) and taking a proactive rather than a reactive step will help in minimizing the incessant cases of sexual violence in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Arts Council is established for the purpose of "preserving, promoting, propagating and fostering the arts and culture of their various states". Other aims of an Arts Council are to improve the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts, and to make them more accessible to the public. Paradoxically, the Arts Council has been widely criticized by critics as the citadel of bureaucratic establishment art, whose objectives are too ill-defined to make evaluation possible. Most charges are those of being unrepresentative, undemocratic and irresponsible. The questions evolving from these are: how accessible is the arts to the public? Who does the Arts Council serve? Why do we have an Arts Council? In an attempt to answer these questions and others, the paper examines the trends in public and private support for government-owned cultural institutions. Particular reference is made to the Oyo State Council for Arts and Culture as a prototypical example of a government-owned cultural institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a plethora of studies on agricultural development in Benue State generally. However, only few of these studies examine the nature of agricultural development. Even the ones that have been done are in isolation of the role and challenges of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its quest for agricultural development. This chapter is a departure from the previous studies; it hinges on the CBN and agriculture development with a specific attention on Benue State between 1978 and 2020. Using extant literature and oral sources in line with interdisciplinary approach; it analyzes the challenges of the CBN in its quest for agricultural development in the area under consideration. It affirms, the daunting challenges that have hindered the CBN from maximally achieving its aim of agricultural development paved the way to a rudimentary state of agriculture in Benue State. The evidence has thrown up leads to the major conclusion that there are prospect for agricultural development in the area under review. To achieve this, the paper suggests that all the challenges facing the CBN and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector should be nipped in the bud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Exile' as an aspect of the Diaspora concept has been explored in literary writings the world over. Exile could be voluntary or forced. Living in exile has been described variously. However, to live away from one's home or home country is not an easy thing. Whenever one feels maltreated, whenever one feels isolated there is the longing for home. In view of this, Douglas S. Smith describes such experiences as isolation, alienation, separation or loneliness as "both wounding and expressions of our woundedness". Nigerian writers like counterparts in other climes also reflect these experiences in their works. Therefore this paper looks at how Tayo Olafioye in his poems on life in exile portrays woundedness at the physical, psychological/ emotional, social, racial or cultural levels. Physical- movement from home, new environment, absence from loved ones / one's roots; Psychological/emotional- life of anxiety, uncertainty, depression, solitude; Social- class, lack of acceptance/ failed attempts and Racial or Cultural- accents and skin colour, and so on. This paper focuses on Olafioye's three collections of poetry- Ubangiji: the conscience of eternity, My Heart Swims in the tears of Happiness and A Carnival of Looters. Materials are drawn from works and essays of writers and researchers on the Diaspora concept to support this effort. We conclude that living in exile has been a long standing phenomenon and will not cease in the nearest future, in spite of the pains. This is as a result of the economic, political, social and cultural dynamics that are prevalent in our societies. It is also indicated that Olafioye's approach to the issue of woundedness can in some way ameliorate the despair and debility associated with living in exile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal experiences of David Rubadiri, as a Malawian born in colonial Africa and rising into literary and academic prominence in its postcolonial state, shaped his literary endeavours. This paper explores how Rubadiri's poetry serves as a critique of Africa's postcolonial state plunged into disillusionment and hopelessness by its rulers. The paper deploys Biographical Criticism as a guiding theory from which significant contextual background reliance is justified. The analysis dwells on his only poetry collection, An African Thunderstorm and Other Poems (2004) which spans across his writing career and depicts the socio-political malaise plaguing the (post)colony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since late 2019, new discussions on the global minimum tax rate have emerged in international tax law, centered on the GloBE proposal. The central issue discussed in this paper is the plausible impact of GloBE on developing countries. Given its origin, it is assumed that the GloBE will benefit developed countries to the detriment of developing countries. In this paper, I draw on scholars' criticisms of similar projects like GloBE to prove that GloBE is highly critical of developing countries' interests as they risk losing taxing rights and revenues. I hence advise developing countries to be mindful of this and adopt GloBE rules cautiously as they reserve the sovereign right to walk out of multilateral measures in favour of unilateral measures concerning the allocation of taxing rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Provision of relevant educational services is the concern of researchers in the contemporary society. This paper conceptual paper argues that adult education is relevant only if it meets the personal and societal aspirations of adult learners. It further maintains that such relevant education is necessary for addressing contemporary national and global challenges. However, despite the laudable goals and objectives of adult education, there are usually problems in the implementation process. The methodology adopted was the Content Analysis Format. The paper however affirms that adult education remains a significant weapon for solving global challenges. It recommended that educational-- stakeholders should effectively fund and manage this sector of education in order to contain the severe global changes affecting humanity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though slavery as a social institution had been part and parcel of almost all human societies for a time immemorial, the concept lacks a proper foregrounding and all-encompassing definition. Similarly, most literature tend to have overlooked the major characteristics of slavery as the concept was in most cases impliedly treated. Using written documents and qualitative research methodology, this paper brings out the major features of slavery and its varying perspectives from one African society to another. It also examines some conceptual issues revolving around the meaning, forms, roles and challenges associated with the concept of slavery. This paper finds out that though slaves were highly persecuted by slave owners aside the deprivation of all their rights, Islam and other African societies provided some basic 'rights' to people that are enslaved. These include rights to marry, or even own properties as the case may be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper on culture, religion and women's socio-economic needs in 2st century Nigeria explores the place of the woman through the two major religions in Nigeria: Christianity and Islam. The two religion s permit the woman to own or inherit certain properties either from their fathers or late husbands. A woman is even allowed to buy properties provided she has the means. However, culture restricts the woman from owning certain properties in Nigeria. When culture comes to play the woman is relegated to the background. The woman is only meant to be seen and not to be heard. In some Nigeria's custom sand traditions culture is often used as a tool for justifying the violations of women's rights especially in the areas of marriage and property, reflecting deepseated patriarchal structures and harmful gender stereotypes. The paper is anchored on Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Abraham Maslow as a renowned researcher in the study of human needs and motivation, came up with his famous hierarchy of needs theory with a proposal that people are motivated by five levels of needs namely: (1) Physiological needs (2) Safety needs (3) Love and belonging needs (4) Esteem and prestige needs (5) Self-actualization needs. Two additional levels of needs namely: (6) Understanding needs and (7) Aesthetic needs were later included in Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The focus of Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs is now on motivation of people by seven (7) levels of needs in human environment. The emphasis on Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs is that there are certain basic needs which must be met before other needs can, indeed, be considered in human environment, especially in the case of women in Nigeria. Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs further focuses on exploration of human desire to address people's needs in order to improve their living conditions in human environment. No man is an island unto himself in Nigeria. Social groupings, associations, affiliations and belongings which are based on love are needed to enhance harmonious human co-existence in both genders. This gives people the courage and confidence to contribute or stand up to women's needs to improve their living conditions. This paper helps to equip the place of women's in Nigeria with a better understanding of Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs and its application to real life situations of needs among women in Nigeria. The paper reveals that, culturally, women are viewed as inferior to men, and a male-child is generally celebrated and allotted higher portions of properties. However, the tenets of both Islam and Christianity do not disregard the woman in terms of right to own properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discussed television programmes productions and the aesthetics germane to them. The paper noted that a good number of television stations are snubbed by viewers due to lack of interest conducted by poor aesthetics quality. The complete enumeration method was adopted together with in-depth interviews (IDI) of Directors of Nigeria Television Authority, Port Harcourt (NTA) and Rivers State Television (RSTV) Port Harcourt as well programme producers of the aforementioned stations and purposefully selected viewers resident in Port Harcourt metropolise. In addition, documentary research method was used to supplement the IDI. Finding indicate that aesthetics of programme in review were poorly done and caused viewers apathy. Panning and movements of camera to indicate changes in scenes, moods and transition of shot where shoddily manipulated by the Directors and videographers. Again, improper positioning/placement of properties (props), lighting, costume and microphone placement did not add phillip to the overall aesthetics. It was concluded that the responsibility of achieving aesthetics, rests on the television programme producer. The paper recommends that the right production elements should be deployed to enable a good programme production as well as training and retraining of personnel involved in the totality of programme production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Rwanda, young women lag behind men in terms of accessing opportunities in science. Gender stereotyping and the nature of the curriculum are among the many factors that discourage them from choosing to study science subjects in secondary school and subsequently, at university. This paper aims to explain why girls in Rwandan secondary schools are less likely to choose science subjects than their male counterparts. Using an interdisciplinary qualitative methodology and drawing on both feminist theory and a case-study approach, this paper casts light on women's experiences in their quests to study science subjects in secondary schools and later at university. The study reveals several factors behind female students' subject selection in secondary school, including the influences of male students and the impact of sexist comments from teachers and in the curriculum itself. These findings fill important research gaps on the intersection between gender and science-related subjects in Rwandan secondary schools and other similar contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing rate of crimes across cities and communities in Nigeria has prompted an all-hands- on-deck approach since security from the government and statutory security agencies has become inadequate. Today, the protection of lives and properties has become all-inclusive and participatory as citizens have taken up the responsibility for their common good to protect themselves from anything that may threaten their existence. Hence, the use of vigilante groups as alternative security body has become very popular that their presence is seen in almost cities across Nigeria. This study is qualitative, employing both primary (interviews) and secondary sources and it aims at investigating vigilante groups and crime management in Nigeria with Calabar Metropolis as case study. While community participatory theory serves as theoretical framework, findings of the study reveal that community vigilante groups in Nigeria have contributed immensely to crime prevention and management. However, they also face certain challenges which disrupt their effectiveness and efficiency. The paper thus recommends among other things that Nigerian leadership should give them more recognition as part of the security sector as well as provide adequate funding to support vigilante groups in the dispensation of their duties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sought to x-ray the role of culture in Upper Basic Education Social Studies curriculum development in Nigerian schools. The objectives of the research were; to explain the concepts of culture, Social Studies, Curriculum and Curriculum development; the objectives of Social Studies; the components of culture; cultural determinants of social studies curriculum content in Nigerian schools as well as to examine the factors influencing social studies curriculum development which include the learner, the teacher, the society (culture), philosophy of education and psychology of learning. However, the paper revealed that curriculum is the planned skills, attitudes, values and knowledge offered by the learner with an explicit goal of changing his behavior in order to become a functional and active member of the society. It also indicated that a well-coordinated and planned curriculum must be a true reflection of the society's culture where it is expected to function. The paper further revealed that the process of planning and developing a Social Studies curriculum is a strenuous journey for any society and requires a whole-system approach before it can be completed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ibibio traditional art exhibition is a permanent display in a building called Nwommo (Warrior Shrine). It has a chief priest as the custodian and curator. On display are various sizes of ceramics pots for storage and mixture of herbal medicinal concoctions. The exhibition huts also have numerous sculptures, masks, wall paintings, graphics symbols and textiles loins, wrappers for theatrical spectacle, hunting expedition and body adornment respectively. However, these traditional exhibitions are viewed as scary, diabolic and fetish. Therefore, they are rejected within Ibibio societies and beyond. They are seen except for the initiates as non-conforming to acceptable values. This paper, attempts to use the example of exhibition of the rejected, a non-conformist group in France to discuss the impact of traditional art exhibition as found amongst Nwommo permanent display. The objectives were to discuss the materials and production of Ibibio traditional art; the influence of Nwommo traditional art on contemporary art and; position Nwommo traditional art as exhibition of the rejected. The method used was unstructured interview and reviews from related literatures. Findings reveal significant activities of administration, religion, communication, preservation, entertainment and aesthetics in Nwommo Ibibio traditional art. The inference drawn from the study on the exhibition of the rejected is that of allowing for unconventional creative outlet as a means of reforms within a given society. The paper recommends restructurings through original works of traditional art as against rejection. The Ibibio traditional art exhibitions are avant-garde resources, reminiscent of the socio- economic and socio - political standards of the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature is a product of the society and the writers as watchdogs of their various societies recreate and expose the ills engulfing them. The paper focuses on social realism on the selected poems of Philip Obioma Chinedu Umeh and Sly Cheney Coker espousing how they have used their poetics in elucidating the relationships existing between the privilege few and the unprivileged majority in the society. This paper adopts Marxism as the basic theoretical underpinning. It has also been observed that the poetry of these writers acts as a driving force in exposing what Charles Bressler describes elsewhere as the "dominant class". Social realism in this context is a realistic depiction in art of contemporary life, as a means of socio-political comment. It is also viewed as an artistic creation of the life of the common man in relation to that of the bourgeoisies. The poetry of Umeh and Coker is one area of research that have not received enough critical attention in spite of the visible predatory bites of their poems, especially in demystifying and reforming the ambiguous vacuum created in the society by this insatiable lust for the country's national cake and complacency of the leaders toward the inadequacies of the led. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the essential privileges of a literary writer is the opportunity to create and re-create worlds and characters to suit the thoughts, ideologies and messages he has for the society in his literature. A literary writer can satirically represent the society of the literary product to expose the euphoria of the values and at the same time reveal possible alternatives. This will enable the audience to juxtapose what they know and the new ideologies in relation to the harmonious existence of the human society. Ed. Bullins, an African-American playwright of the Black Arts Movement era, carefully replicates the everyday struggles of the African-Americans especially the underclass with the psychological depth of the ultimate result, as well as the possible alternatives for a better tomorrow and improved standard of living. He creates characters that move through a gritty existence towards little that can be called self realization or existential triumph as far as the present African-American tradition is concern. However, he goes beyond the above to creatively inform his audience of a better alternative. The creative alternative is the major concern of this paper using Electronic Nigger and In the Wine Time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]