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This study analyzes data from 1999–2019, evidencing strategies utilized by Nigerian Subnational Governments (SNGs) for attracting inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). These strategies are unique for several reasons, including the fact that they highlight the evidence of paradiplomacy in Nigeria, a case study that is understudied in the paradiplomacy literature. These strategies are also a deviation from the conventional protocols for FDI mobilization in Nigeria. Drawing on Duchacek's conceptualization of these strategies as a percolation of sovereign boundaries, i.e. the idea that SNGs are permeating inter-sovereign 'sieves' designed to restrict their forays into the international plane, this paper conceptually maps and empirically assesses the varied expressions and prevalence of these strategies. Although these strategies are yet to be constitutionally challenged by the central government, they reveal a growing porosity of Nigeria's sovereign boundaries and necessitate a critical reassessment of the extant intergovernmental frameworks that govern FDI mobilization in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culture is an essential component of Indigenous public spaces. However, a gap in knowledge exists regarding cultural influences on Indigenous public spaces in Africa. This paper, therefore, explores the impact of cultural worldviews on the landscape and functionality of Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo squares in Nigeria. It also assesses the contemporary state of the Nigerian squares. The paper employs mixed methods, including a systematic review of literature, observations, interviews, and photographic recordings, to shed light on the strengths and deficiencies of the Indigenous squares. Findings revealed that while Indigenous public spaces cater to the socio-cultural needs of different ethnic groups, they do not fully meet modern needs and expectations, especially concerning safety and comfort. This paper advocates for the fusion of Indigenous landscape practices with contemporary approaches to foster harmonious synergy between tradition and modernity and enhance public space utilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South African bioeconomy strategy did not clearly articulate the measurement framework to monitor the implementation of the strategy. This paper provides an analysis of bioeconomy patents, the most prolific organizations and citations at the EPO and USPTO for South Africa, BRICS, Egypt and Nigeria during the Ten-Year Innovation Plan 2008–2018. The terms 'biotechnology', 'medical technology', 'pharmaceuticals' and 'selected environment-related technologies' were used to search for patents. The OECD patents by technology, the EPO PATSTAT and the USPTO PatFT databases were used to map patents and citations. The results show that South Africa ranked last in the BRICS group but produced a higher number of patents than Egypt and Nigeria. The number of patents generally decreased for the selected countries except for China. The total citations for the selected countries was generally inconsistent. The important innovators for South Africa in the bioeconomy are mainly universities and public research institutions. A new fiscal approach to encourage knowledge application in bioeconomy in South Africa is required. Incentives from government that encourage collaboration between research institutions and industry to direct research with industry application are required. The study contributes to the development of metrics to monitor the bioeconomy in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a historical and ethnological review about the Anioma people of Nigeria. The popular narrative regards the Anioma land as Benin kingdom territory, and generally describes the people as Benin immigrants or refugees in their present locale. This brand of thought has been amplified to the extent that their past is distorted, and they are now experiencing crisis of identity and with time, they will be as little informed about their past. The paper deploys the critical historical analysis method to interrogate the origin of the Anioma clans. It depends on primary source materials which consist of archival and oral testimonies obtained from the field and supplemented with available secondary materials. The paper argues that any workable hypothesis on Anioma identity in the present time must begin with a plausible explanation of the original groups. It shows that the current identity crisis among Anioma people has much to do with the event of the Nigerian civil war. It concludes that although there were external stimuli into Anioma area, such had been absorbed linguistically over time, the innovations they came with reinterpreted completely in the climate of the aboriginal Igbo culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the neglected subject of the beginnings of civil aviation in Nigeria in the aftermath of World War I. Until now, the literature on civil aviation in British colonial Africa had focused largely on Kenya, Central and South Africa and on post-World War II West Africa. This paper, relying on previously unexploited archival material, examines policy debates and options considered by the Colonial Office, the Air Ministry and the Nigerian colonial government. The unique, pioneering aviation drive of Nigeria's Governor Hugh Clifford took place in the context of immediate post-World War I dynamics: economic vicissitudes, Anglo-French rivalry in West Africa and the policy interface between London and the colonies. This paper demonstrates that aviation development in Nigeria had roots in the early 1920s, and that the initiative was not a metropolitan monopoly, thereby illustrating the extent of colonial gubernatorial autonomy vis-à-vis London. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the cultural imperatives to determining democratic survival in Nigeria. It observes that the general notion that cultural inequality may systematically obstruct democratic participation by the members of subordinated groups is trite. It argues rather that the current crisis faced by democracy is linked essentially to the lack of a space capable of dealing with both social complexity and cultural pluralism. The paper is a desk study borrowing heavily from secondary sources of data and review of extant literature. While not pretending about the potential for ethno-cultural and religious violence imminent in Nigeria's attempt at democratic consolidation, findings, however suggest that in a multicultural society like Nigeria, democracy has the potential to flourish if the different cultural groups understand and tolerate one another by enlarging the space for public participation and debates naturally encapsulated in the principle of popular rule. It recommends that a practical engagement with federal democracy, rooted in the principle of federalism, remains an attractive model for the survival of Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the lived experiences and roles of children under Boko Haram's two factions. Unlike case studies of Islamic State "cubs," children in Boko Haram have been neglected in the literature. Filling that gap, this article analyzes more than thirty videos and photograph sets from the two factions. Visual ethnography is utilized to examine material depicting children in both "staged" and "unstaged" roles in Boko Haram, and in ways to maximize impacts on viewers. The four main activities of the children in videos and photographs include combat and training with weapons as well as participating in Islamic education; gathering for prayer; using technology to create media content, including filming battles; and, in the case of the Chibok schoolgirls, being filmed as hostages or, eventually, as loyal members. The videos of the Chibok girls also reveal how children are gendered in Boko Haram. Child soldiers is an issue at the forefront of the paper's framing. Given the depictions of children in our data, we move beyond labeling child soldiers as all those under eighteen and differentiate between those under fifteen and those between fifteen and eighteen years old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the post-9/11 event has animated how state actors frame terrorism, contemporary studies have failed to address the politics inherent in proscribing, repressing, and labeling separatist movements as terrorists. This paper explores the politics of framing terrorism using the contemporary self-determination struggles advanced by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Yoruba Nation's freedom frontiers. The study proposes a United Nations-coordinated global framework for regulating and evaluating states' activities in identifying specific groups as terrorists. Taking such a stance would prevent aggrieved agitators from being persecuted by the state in the name of terror. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novelty claims in carbon forestry often obscure the complex histories and the colonial entanglements of carbon forest socioecologies. This paper argues that the conditions of possibility of carbon forestry in ‘Nigeria’s last rainforest’ are tightly linked to the uneven colonial production of forests across Southern Nigeria. Drawing on archival research, ethnographic fieldwork and analysis of program documents and academic literature, the paper unsettles claims of novelty in Nigeria’s carbon forestry by demonstrating the material continuity between colonial forestry and carbon forestry. Focusing on the development of colonial forestry in Southern Nigeria under British colonial rule, the paper traces the coloniality of scientific forestry as a form of environmental rule, and its entanglements with imperial capitalism and presumptions of racial hierarchy. If the success of scientific forestry in Southern Nigeria meant the draining of Nigeria’s forests as timber export, its failure in Cross River paradoxically produced ‘Nigeria’s last rainforest,’ a literal ‘colonial residue’ . In colonial forestry, as in contemporary carbon forestry, a reductionist knowledge of forests, capitalist interests and a racialized global division of labor all interact in consequential ways. The paper concludes that decolonizing Nigeria’s forestry is a precondition for saving its ‘last rainforest.’ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education-UK and British private schools more specifically are often framed as a global brand of 'world-class' quality. However, the increased competition within the international education market has meant British private schools cannot rest on their laurels but instead must continue to project their 'world-classness' in a way that does not diminish their brand image. Drawing on interviews of parents and key gatekeepers, this paper examines how British private schools in Nigeria (BPS-NIG) and British private boarding schools in the UK (BPBS-UK) evoked and projected their supposed world-classness through the strategic use of white symbolism and the expensive admission process. The paper contends that the latter are types of soft-sell marketing techniques utilised by BPS-NIG and BPBS-UK to sell British schools without imperilling their brand image. The paper concludes by drawing attention to the racial implication of framing whiteness and white British specifically as synonymous with high-quality, 'world-class' education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of multinational oil companies (MOCs) in Nigeria. Its special focus is to investigate the impact of the global memorandum of understanding (GMoU) on enhancing rural women's financial inclusion in the areas of access to credit, insurance, propensity of women to save and the widening of economic opportunities in the Niger Delta. A total of 800 rural women were sampled across the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Results from the use of a combined propensity score matching and logit model indicate that the GMoU model has made significant impact on closing the gaps in financial services, thereby removing women's constraints on their efforts to enhance their financial literacy. The results also confirm that innovative delivery channels and social networks of the GMoUs have reduced some costs in the areas of access to credit, insurance, propensity to save and the widening of economic opportunities of rural women in the oil host communities. However, a further look at the rural women's participation in the CSR activities using SCOTDI shows that even though the involvement of the women is appreciable, it is insignificant when compared with their male counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the panic-buying of COVID-19 vaccines by wealthy countries for their citizens, otherwise known as 'vaccine nationalism', and the quest to develop local capacity for the production of vaccines in Nigeria. The paper argues that in the light of the global race, and attempts by countries to urgently secure the COVID-19 vaccines for their citizens, it behoves on the government of Nigeria to invest in the health security of its citizens and put aside the over-dependency on charity and goodwill of Western countries at every turn. The paper concludes that vaccine nationalism can spur the development of home-grown capabilities not just for vaccine against COVID-19 but vaccines and other novel therapeutic or prophylactic products for the prevention and treatment of endemic and emerging disease. This will in turn create jobs, improve healthcare delivery, curb medical tourism and stem the tide of migration of health professionals. The methodology is descriptive in approach, relying on personal observation and data gleaned from journals, magazines and Newspapers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the various labels ascribed to males in the heterosexual discourse among female undergraduates in Nigeria. Insights from Community of Practice and Sexual Script Theory were used to demonstrate the use of situated linguistic choices to establish the differentials in male sexual behaviours. Data for the study were generated through participant observation and unstructured interviews with the aid of audiotape recordings and field notes. The study involves a representative sample of 22 female undergraduates who served as participants and research assistants. The findings reveal that situated language practices stimulate heterosexual discourses where female undergraduates creatively ascribe labels to the different males' sexual scripts. The labels include those related to male sexual performance, body size and size of sex organs, financial and marital status, familial and gatekeeping roles, and other routine sexual behaviours shown by men in sexual phases such as advances, arousal and intercourse. The scripts are also combined to re-enact the peculiar sexual narratives by the female students that show emerging sexual orientations. It is believed that the categorisation of such males' sexual behaviours in the University social contexts, would provide a basis for comparison with the sexual practices of other young adults' social groups across the globe. The paper discusses the various strands of sexual scripts shown by men in their heterosexual relationships with female undergraduates in a Nigerian University. The students ascribed labels based on the sexual performance, economic and marital status, and other routine behaviours that have an impact on the male sexual lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates traditional textile weaving among the people of Ologbin-Adewole in Ilorin, Nigeria. This traditional craft is one of the ancient crafts that gave Ologbin-Adewole recognition among other communities in Ilorin. Over the years, this indigenous thriving industry has dwindled both in production and skilled workers. The decline has been partly associated with the influence of westernization through the importation of European goods. This paper presents processes of textile production in Ologbin-Adewole as well as examines changes in the craft over time based on oral history and ethnographic records. This is aimed at documenting this important African art and preventing it from becoming a part of Africa's past. The paper concludes by bringing to limelight the significance of this indigenous craft of textile weaving among the people of Ologbin-Adewole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the oral and dermal health risks of potentially toxic elements in water samples collected from Ojoto area in southeast Nigeria were studied using HHRISK code and water quality index. The water samples were analysed for physicochemical parameters based on standard guidelines. Average concentration of the potentially toxic elements in the water was in the order: Pb2+ > Fe2+ > Zn2+ > Ni2+ > Cr3+. To assess the level of surface and groundwater pollution, water quality index was calculated. Results of the water quality index suggest that 11% of the water samples are in good condition; 25% have poor quality, 3% have very poor quality, and 53% have quality that is unfit for human consumption. The HHRISK code was used to quantify the health risks associated with the use of the water resources. Results revealed that most of the water samples expose their users to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks. Cumulative non-carcinogenic risk scores (for both children and adults) and the majority of cumulative carcinogenic risk values were found to be above regulatory limits. The adult population is exposed to lower non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks, implying that children are more vulnerable. The water supplies are of substandard quality and could cause serious health issues when ingested than when used for bathing and washing purposes. Simple linear regression models showed positive agreement between the results of the WQI and HHRISK code. To safeguard the water resources, avoid additional water contamination, and reduce public health hazards associated with poor water quality, strategic mitigation strategies are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we provide an alternative reading to one of the most fundamental claims of the exhibitionary complex, which argues that museums are symbols of power, greatness, wealth, and progress. On the contrary, we adopt Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann's (1996) concept of social constructionism and Star & Griesemer's concept of the border object and infrastructure to deconstruct the possibility of the fixity of meaning in Bennett's argument about the exhibitionary complex. We therefore argue that the many museums in Africa are slightly different. Rather than being a symbol of the people's power, wealth, and greatness, they reflect powerlessness and pain, which characterise their history. With histories such as the Transatlantic slave trade and British imperialism, which lasted through the 17th and 19th centuries, we discuss the Badagry Black Heritage Museum as a site not exclusively about power and greatness. The paper concludes that the defining characteristic of museums is their diversity, which offers multiple perspectives on their functionality, significance, and theoretical underpinnings. While Bennett's idea is laudable, there is a need to open up the concept of accommodating the specific features of museums across the world and develop new concepts or ideologies that reflect them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The observed low level of information and communication technology (ICT) usage among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) firms in many African countries may serve as a major constraint to their productivity. The productivity of service and manufacturing firms is impacted differently due to this low uptake of ICT. This paper seeks to examine the differential effects of ICT on MSMEs' productivity in emerging African economies, specifically Egypt and Nigeria. This study evaluates the effects of ICT on MSMEs' productivity across different sectors (services and manufacturing), by size and aggregated. The estimated results support the positive impact of MSMEs' website presence and use of email on their productivity, though the magnitude varies across different analyses and sectors. This appears to support the differential sectoral impacts of ICT on MSMEs' productivity across countries in emerging markets. Specifically, this study finds evidence for a higher impact of firms' website presence on productivity in the manufacturing sector than the services sector across emerging economies. The study, therefore, recommends that emerging markets economies that want to implement appropriate national technology policies to enhance their firms' productivity should always consider their differential effects on various sectors, as universal ICT policies may not achieve the desired objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, ignited by rising levels of police brutality towards youth in Nigeria, the #ENDSARS movement erupted in Nigeria. Protestors rallied against the nation's Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), calling for its disbandment after people became fed up with the brutality it unleashed on innocent citizens. However, the issues raised by the #ENDSARS movement are not new, and the movement is reminiscent of decades of organizing against Nigerian police forces. Drawing on archival data, this paper investigates the nature of police violence against Black women in Nigeria under colonialism between 1925 and 1930. This article examines two separate instances of Black women's organizing in southeastern Nigeria against market tolls that particularly affected women. In both instances, their cries were met with brutal force from the police which prompted new rounds of activism from the women. Findings reveal that police violence against Black women was gendered, racialized, and capitalist. In turn, this paper seeks to uncover what the Movement for Black Lives has termed the 'vestiges of colonialism' in the system of policing in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northwest Nigeria has been devastated by armed banditry, with Zamfara state being the epicenter of the crisis. The use of vigilantes in non-state policing against armed banditry has accorded legitimacy to these groups. However, their activities also pose significant challenges. Where scholarly work has examined the legitimacy of vigilantes, the focus has mostly been on legitimacy derived from the nation-state. This paper, contributes to the literature by interrogating the legitimacy of vigilantism as a non-state policing tool toward countering armed banditry, derived from affected local communities in Zamfara state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature and pattern of sustenance of democratic rule in Nigeria since the inception of the fourth republic which followed the exit of military rulers in 1999 have continued to generate scholarly debates. The conundrum of whether or not the country has freed itself from the ominous influence of the culture of military rule is a huge concern. Using former President Obasanjo and current President Buhari as case studies, this article examines the extent to which the reemergence of Nigeria's former military Heads of State as civilian administrators since 1999 has affected constitutionalism and democratization in Nigeria's political leadership. The patterns of administration of civilian government as well as democratic infractions of both regimes are considered. The paper relies on secondary data and the descriptive method of analysis. The Military Transition Model, a strand of Transition Theory, was used as a framework for further clarification. Rather than improve on the tenets of democracy, findings show that elements of absolutism and arbitrary rule are strongly perceptible. There are no convincing proofs that the reappearance of Nigeria's former military rulers into political leadership is reinforcing the country's long awaited democratization processes. The current political leadership in Nigeria has not demonstrated sufficient political will to eschew the dregs of contempt for rule of law. The study concludes that problems of democratic infractions are prevalent in the current political system largely due to the persisting influence of military culture of political leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines how displacement has exacerbated poverty among internally displaced people (IDPs) in Nigeria. While there has been significant research on IDPs in Nigeria, studies specifically addressing the relationship between displacement and poverty are scarce. This survey was conducted in five locations: Tse Yandev in Benue State, Durumi Area One in Abuja, Rann in Borno State, Nbyiro in Adamawa State, and Government Lodge in Yobe State. Twenty five informants were purposively selected for the study, and thematic analysis was employed. The findings reveal a high incidence of poverty among IDPs due to their lack of access to basic necessities such as shelter, food, and clothing. It was gathered that people become dislocated when they are internally displaced. This condition has heightened the poverty situation that many in Nigeria find themselves in. It was also established that dislocation never left anyone the same. Rather, it either makes them poorer or simply makes their condition worse. Recommendations are also provided for addressing these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deliberate efforts of Nigerian World War II veterans to advance their material interests amid the wave of radical anticolonial nationalism helped them to mediate colonial rule in Nigeria. Most literature on World War II and nationalism in Nigeria portrays veterans as objects of nationalist mobilization. Drawing on colonial records and newspapers from archives in Nigeria and the United States, this paper argues that Nigerian veterans were far more interested in their social and material interests than being objects of radical anticolonial nationalist mobilization in postwar Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIntroductionResultsDiscussionThis paper reviews the literature on suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, suicide methods and correlates of suicidality among Nigerian LGBT persons. Understanding the suicidality-related issues facing LGBT Nigerians can inform the designing of evidence-based interventions to reduce suicidality.Findings revealed that Nigerian LGBT persons experienced self-harm, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and the repetition of suicidal behavior using suicide methods such as pesticide self-poisoning, jumping, hanging, and overdose of medicines. LGBT persons who attempted suicide more than once reported experiencing different forms of minority stress. Several LGBT suicide attempters and ideators reported experiencing prior internalized homophobia, anti-LGBT bullying in schools and the larger society, anti-LGBT discrimination from family and conversion therapy. Minority stress was found to be linked with self-harm, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among Nigerian LGBT persons. Additionally, experiencing anti-LGBT discrimination, conversion therapy and depression were found to be correlates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among Nigerian LGBT persons.This study highlights the importance of addressing the minority stress experienced by Nigerian LGBT persons in order to reduce their vulnerability to suicidality. Finally, this study highlights research gaps and discusses the implications of the study findings for suicide prevention interventions, advocacy and policy making in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main concern of this paper is providing a flexible discrete model that captures every kind of dispersion (equi-, over- and under-dispersion). Based on the balanced discretization method, a new discrete version of Burr–Hatke distribution is introduced with the partial moment-preserving property. Some statistical properties of the new distribution are introduced, and the applicability of proposed model is evaluated by considering counting series. A new integer-valued autoregressive (INAR) process based on the mixing Pegram and binomial thinning operators with discrete Burr–Hatke innovations is introduced, which can model contagious data properly. The different estimation approaches of parameters of the new process are provided and compared through the Monte Carlo simulation scheme. The performance of the proposed process is evaluated by four data sets of the daily death counts of the COVID-19 in Austria, Switzerland, Nigeria and Slovenia in comparison with some competitor INAR(1) models, along with the Pearson residual analysis of the assessing model. The goodness of fit measures affirm the adequacy of the proposed process in modeling all COVID-19 data sets. The fundamental prediction procedures are considered for new process by classic, modified Sieve bootstrap and Bayesian forecasting methods for all COVID-19 data sets, which is concluded that the Bayesian forecasting approach provides more reliable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How does a terror movement like Boko Haram employ language and discourse towards collective action? This is the central question our paper addresses. Focusing on Boko Haram as a militant jihādist social movement organisation (SMO), our article shows how the movement's ideology, evidenced through its discourse, "frames" narratives that identify the problem, call for action and motivate adherents and potential recruits towards violent repertoires. Using interview data, critical discourse analysis (CDA) and Social Movement Theory (SMT), specifically framing analysis, we interrogate Boko Haram's Qur'anic exegesis based on the group's publications, exhortations, lectures and sermons between 2008 and 2016. Along with calls for jihād (holy war, within the movement's interpretation) and criticism of Nigeria's federal constitution vis-à-vis Sharī'a (Islamic law) as a superior social alternative, Boko Haram employs a specific takfir (apostate declaration) doctrine that divides the world into two camps: unbelievers (al-kāfirūn) or (kuffar) and believers. Such identity construction constitutes part of a "framing" approach to mobilisation and recruitment. In this sociological analysis of Boko Haram's discourse, we identify diagnostic, prognostic and motivational "framing" patterns employed alongside an injustice master frame as a means to encourage collective action by the "in-group" (adherents and potential recruits) against "out-group" identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rivers State, Niger Delta, Nigeria often referred to as the 'treasure bed of the nation' is the seat of crude oil production activities with the accompanying environmental degradation. The severity of the environmental pollution and contaminated air quality took a new turn for the worse in November 2016, when the residents of Port Harcourt city, Rivers State, a major oil producing State experienced for the first time, aerosol deposition of plumes of black soot. This systematic review paper is aimed at quantifying the severity of this public health challenge. Using appropriate search words, the following databases SCOPUS, PUBMED, Google Scholar, and AJOL were searched from 1990 to 2022 to enable comparative analyses of data before and after the emergence of black soot deposition. Air-related morbidities and mortalities such as cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM), chronic bronchitis, measles, pertussis, hemoptysis, cough, pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonia, and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), pneumonia, eye irritation, conjunctivitis, traumatic skin outgrowth, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and child deformities were compared with levels of air pollutants and particulate matter. The results showed that Port Harcourt city's ambient air quality data were above the standard National Ambient Air Quality data and that of other regulatory agencies having higher levels of both inorganic and organic pollutants. There were significant relationships between air pollutants concentration with morbidities. These correlations were significant in the period covering 2016–2022. Consequently, it is concluded that the black soot emissions in Port Harcourt city, Nigeria has worsened the public health situation in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Nigeria's external and domestic debt have been rising very rapidly in recent years despite the crushing weight of debt burden that almost crippled its economy in previous decades. This study examines the likely determinants of public debt in Nigeria over the period 1970–2020 with a focus on the effects of armed conflict, arms imports, and military spending. Unlike most previous studies that focus only on external debt, this study employs the three separate measures of public debt, namely, government gross debt, external debt, and domestic debt. In addition to being more applicable to the case of Nigeria, this also allows us to investigate whether the drivers of public debt vary with the measure of debt used. Employing the ARDL approach to cointegration and a number of robustness checks, findings suggest that whereas conflict, arms imports, and military spending have statistically positive effects on external debt, they do not have a significant effect on domestic debt. Conflict and arms import have positive effects on gross government debt which is unsurprising given that gross debt includes foreign currency denominated debt. Policy recommendations based upon these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small proportion of women are found in the prison population worldwide and consequently they have been ignored in prison studies and policy engagements designed to mitigate their "pains of imprisonment." Despite the growing literature on prison science, only a few data-based studies have investigated the negative experiences of women prisoners in Nigeria. This research, therefore, sets out to empirically examine the gender-specific problems facing female inmates. A thematic analysis of the in-depth oral interview data generated from 25 inmates purposively selected from the women population revealed that their dietary, medical, personal hygienic and motherhood needs were grossly insufficient and dehumanizing. The situation is so debilitating that they have no option but to reuse such personal hygienic requirements as sanitary/menstrual pads and sometimes, use toilet papers and pieces of cloths in its stead. Other needs were occasionally met by their family members, churches, charity organizations, and individual donors. Confining women in correctional facilities established and equipped for men rather intensified their plight. The study calls for continuous determined efforts by governments, civil liberty organizations, faith-based institutions, and the academia to obtain – through policy, research, and practice – empirical evidence that is capable of providing practical solution to the problem. The intervention is both multi-sectoral and cross-disciplinary based, demonstrating a new drive and potential for harm reduction, as well as strengthening the growing advocacy on the treatment of (women) prisoners for better results. The call for further studies was also discussed to justify any perceived limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like most low-and-middle-income countries, Nigeria has been finding it difficult to meet the basic needs of her populace including their health needs. Nigerians are dying of preventable diseases because of poverty and the lack of a functional healthcare system. As a result, the Nigerian government introduced the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to cater to the health needs of its population. This study assessed the knowledge, accessibility and utilization of the NHIS among registered employees of federal government institutions in Ebonyi state. The study used Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) to collect data from 43 participants. The collected data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed that most of the participants have accessed and utilized the scheme and saw it as a good healthcare system. They also reported a lack of most of the prescribed drugs and inadequate personnel at the NHIS clinics which is impacting the effectiveness of the scheme. The paper recommends that NHIS should create more awareness about the scheme, and cover more dependents, drugs, tests, and treatment bills to make it more effective in healthcare delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the dynamics of banditry in northwest Nigeria through qualitative and quantitative research methodology. To populate their cells, bandits apply economic incentives and coercion. They also leverage existing social relationship with members of the communities. Banditry manifests through the deployment of large-scale violence, but it is strongly undergirded by a criminal economy. The organizational structures of bandits have developed over time by accident and by design depending on the evolution of each cell and the contexts in which they operate. The paper concludes that efforts to eliminate, neutralise and disrupt (END) banditry in northwest Nigeria must embrace three strategies – the peacebuilding approach, security sector reform, and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young mothers often encounter stigma and discrimination, affecting their lives and that of their children. This paper explores stigma management strategies and their effectiveness for young mothers in rural Nigeria. Ten key informants and 24 young mothers were recruited from Ife-East in South-Western Nigeria. Data from semi-structured interviews showed that societal disapproval of pregnant teenagers and young mothers were common experiences. Women used a range of strategies to actively cope with stigma including: belief in predestination, avoidance, concealment, and cohabitation. These strategies could be seen as tools to mitigate negative stereotypes and discrimination. However, they also had the unintended consequences of compounding many young women’s difficult circumstances and exposing them to adverse outcomes, including gender-based violence, repeat pregnancies, poor mental health, and low uptake of services. The results show the need for policy frameworks to actively combat stigma by addressing the negative framing of early pregnancy and motherhood and promoting supportive environments for young mothers. Health professionals need to be trained to offer de-stigmatising services to encourage young mothers to seek help and reduce pre-existing inequities in access to services, and policies need to include measures that address the rights of young mothers and protect them from violence and abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the benefits of adopting climate-resilient farming technologies without considering the heterogeneity among farmers, may not provide a sufficient evidence base for policy. Yet, most empirical studies do not go beyond documenting the average effects of climate-resilient technologies. Using farm household survey data from Nigeria, this paper examines whether and to what extent the yield and income impacts of adopting drought-tolerant maize varieties are heterogeneous. We used the stratification-multilevel, matching-smoothing and smoothing-differencing econometric methods to analyse the heterogeneous effects of the varieties on maize yield, crop income and household income. Our results show that the adoption of drought-tolerant maize varieties significantly increased maize yield, crop and household income. In addition, we find that the yield and income impacts of the adoption of drought-tolerant maize varieties are heterogeneous and depend on the farm households' propensity to adopt the drought tolerant maize varieties. Specifically, we find that the estimated yield effects of the drought-tolerant maize varieties are larger for farmers with the highest propensity to adopt the varieties, which suggests a positive selection. Our results emphasize the need for proper targeting of interventions to incentivize the uptake of climate-resilient farming technologies in order to improve the outcomes of households in drought-prone areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special section explores contemporary foreign relations of African subnational governments (SNGs), a phenomenon popularly referred to as 'paradiplomacy.' In this introductory article, we examine the historical development of paradiplomacy research in Africa, highlighting its gradual progression from initial academic interests in the 1990s to its present state. The issue comprises four full-length articles focusing on case studies from Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana. These contributions to the special issue present salient examples of African subnational governments and cities engaging in external relations, which have hitherto been overlooked in the global literature. The issue aims to expand scholarly understanding of African paradiplomacy, underscoring its significance for broader debates on statehood, governance, socio-economic development, and international relations. It also seeks to elevate the profile of African paradiplomacy studies and set the future research agenda, urging further research to explore the implications and effectiveness of African SNGs operating in the international arena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Funding is critical to the attainment of Aspiration 1 of the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, which aims to promote inclusive growth and sustainable development. However, the funds required to meet these targets are not readily available in Africa. In Nigeria, constitutional provisions for revenue mobilization and public expenditure place restrictions on the foreign economic relations capabilities of non-central governments (NCGs) as well as undermine their capacity to raise the revenue required to meet development objectives. Against this background, this article reviews the strategies utilized by NCGs to overcome their fiscal powers–constitutional responsibilities mismatch and argues that in the context of the development imperatives subsumed in Aspiration 1, the strategies are counterproductive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study evaluates new approach of digital extension services for the long-term adoption of digital extension technologies. We propose an indirect adoption approach to address following research questions. What socioeconomic factors influence rice farmers' decision to prefer one business profile over another? Which business profile is most preferred and likely to be adopted by rice farmers? What are the attributes and socioeconomic characteristics required to create the best business profile? Design/Methodology/Approach: Ten business profiles were tested with a sample size of 1440 farmers. Using the RiceAdvice as case study, we used choice experiment and the alternative-specific mixed logit model to determine most preferred business profile and analyze its determinants. Findings: The preferred business profile was predicted by gender, age, education level, rice production experience, technology knowledge, contact with extension agents, rice farm size, and household income. 49.4% of farmers selected cash payment after harvest at 9.70 USD/hectare for more than two seasons-contract as first adoption approach. Cash payment after harvest at 14.50 USD/hectare for one season-contract was chosen by 44.7% of farmers as the second option. Practical implications: Results highlight the ideal business profile, which considers all levels of education, with 14.50 USD/hectare/season as optimum price for cash payment after harvest and no access to credit. Theoretical implications: The study expands the applicability of new adoption approach combined with econometric approach in the context of digital extension service adoption. Originality/Value: This study revealed an indirect approach to the long-term adoption of digital extension technologies as most suitable for small holder farmers' adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Granting amnesty to perpetrators of gross human rights is becoming a re-emerging phenomenon in Africa. Nigeria is currently witnessing unprecedented threats of violent extremism unleashed by terrorist groups; despite efforts to curb such acts, there has been little or no success. One such counter-terrorism measure has been the grant of amnesty to the Boko-haram terrorist group. Gauging the effectiveness of such a policy is of great importance to the survival of democratic principles. The article explores the Nigerian debate around amnesty. It argues that these debates need to evaluate the substance of the rule of law and ensure that impunity is not entrenched in achieving 'peace' without justice. There is a need for the executive to justify, explain and defend decisions on the grant of amnesty. Giving such explanations will allow for the public greater participation in security matters. The grant of amnesty to 'repentant' terrorists has not effectively facilitated law enforcement agencies' disruption of terrorism in Nigeria. Inclusive decision-making process around amnesty must be invoked to have efficient amnesty program in Nigeria and safeguard the rule of law. Public debates on granting amnesty be encouraged, taking into cognisance the consequences of not prosecuting violators of gross human rights abuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a disconnect between the abundant resources at the national level and the severe poverty at individual and household levels in Nigeria. Information and communication technology is an efficient tool that the Asian economies have used to alleviate poverty. Information and communication technology is regarded as a tool which helps create an information and communication technology-based economy. This quantitative study examined how Nigeria can use information and communication technology to alleviate the enormous poverty levels. Data were sourced from the World Bank and International Telecommunication Union, for the period 1992–2020. In terms of the research methodology, the Autoregressive Distributed Lag model was employed in the research. The empirical findings showed that information and communication technology can have a projected 50% positive effect in reducing poverty. Foreign direct investment had a positive effect on reducing income inequality. Primary research findings depicted that information and communication technology, economic growth, foreign direct investment and private domestic credit were key tools for reducing poverty in Nigeria. Concerning policy recommendations, it was suggested that private domestic credit and foreign direct investment should be channelled to the information and communication technology sector to have a greater impact on poverty alleviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in surface and underground water sources from Ifite Ogwari, Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State were investigated. Ecological and human health exposure risks were assessed following US EPA methods. The surface water sources are Isiachala, Iyiutu, Ube, Ahala Tabasi, Nabaloku, Atammele, Ogbu streams, and Omambala river. Underground water sources include Igbazine, Double, Ogba, Onowulugbe, Orator, and Commodore hand-dug wells. The water samples were collected using precleaned 500 cm3 glass bottles and were analysed for the presence of 16 US EPAPAHs using Gas Chromatography – Flame Ionisation Detector (GC- FID). The validated method showed that regression (R2) for all the PAHs ranged between 0.9622 and 0.9983. Limits of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.0033 to 0.1236 µg L−1 and limits of quantification (LOQ) from 0.0109 to 0.4115 µg L−1. Precision CV values ranged from 5.12 to 18.24%, and recovery values of the analytes in water varied between 83.94 and 99.99%. Naphthalene and chrysene were present in all the water samples while pyrene was absent in all except in Iyiutu. All the PAHs analysed were detected in Isiachala and Iyiutu except pyrene which was absent in Isiachala. All the samples contained at least three PAHs with concentrations ranging from 1.003 ng/µl of benzo[a] pyrene in Tabasi to 128.652 ng/µl of chrysene in Iyiutu. Ecological risk shows that the value was above US EPA background value. Human health risk assessment depicts that hazard index and total cancer risk ranges from 9.63E-05 to 1.93E-02. This study has shown that the inhabitants of Ifite Ogwari will experience adverse health and cancer illnesses over some time and therefore, a holistic approach by researchers and government agencies is needed to mitigate the ecological and health risk effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice (Oryza sativa) is an important source of human internal exposure to radionuclides and heavy metals because, worldwide, a large fraction of the population consume rice as their daily basic diet. In this study, the levels and correlation of natural radioactivity (232Th, 226Ra and 40K) and heavy metals (Pb, Ni and Cd) in local rice sold in Enugu urban markets, a southeastern part of Nigeria, were examined. Possible health implications were also evaluated. The mean activity concentrations were estimated to be 235.81 ± 12.93, 54.29 ± 8.08 and 63.70 ± 3.93 Bqkg−1 for 40K, 226Ra and 232Th respectively. Obtained values were higher than values reported in the literature for rice in other locations. The estimated committed effective doses for 226Ra and 232Th exceeded the global ingestion dose average of 0.12 mSvy,–1 whereas that of 40K is below the 0.17 global average. The average concentrations of the metals were estimated to be 0.41, 3.70, and 0.02 mgkg–1 for Pb, Cd and Ni, respectively, with only Ni having an average concentration below the threshold food safety limit of FOA/WHO. Only the concentrations of Cd were of significant levels with their health risk indices exceeding the tolerable reference levels for both children and adult. Only the pairs, 232Th-Ni and Pd-Cd, correlated significantly (p < 0.05) which implies common sources. Multivariate principal component analysis indicated common natural sources for 226Ra, 232Th and Ni in local rice, possibly of lithogenic and paedogenic in nature. It is believed that the results of this study will be valuable to the radiological and toxicological food safety and policy framework of WHO/FAO in Nigeria and the rest of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is scarce information on the relationship between women's empowerment and completed fertility, briefly defined as the number of children born by a woman at the end of her reproductive years, in most sub-Saharan African countries including Nigeria. This study examined the modulating effect of religion on the relationship between women's empowerment and completed fertility among married women/women in union aged 45 to 49, using the 2013 and 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) datasets. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution and Poisson regression. The study concludes that empowered women have significantly lower completed fertility compared to non-empowered women and that religion slightly influenced the relationship between women's empowerment and completed fertility among married women/women in union aged 45 to 49 in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the funding of community-based organizations (CBOs) as instruments for reducing the extreme behaviors of violent extremist organizations (VEOs). Evidence abounds that CBOs in industrialized nations like the USA and Canada have budget lines designated for government expenditures to deal with extremist behaviors in their local communities. This state-level effort to reduce violent extremism and VEOs behavior is absent throughout Africa, especially in Nigeria. This gap is the focal point of our investigation into how external resource dependence affects CBOs in northeast Nigeria. We triangulated our data sources using secondary data, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. However, this study discovered that in Nigeria, external donor agencies, NGOs, and organizations that support CBOs financially, logistically, materially, and in terms of training also tend to impact their programming selection, training content, and accountability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deficiencies associated with the proficiency of many Nigerian Built Environment graduates are a source of concern for the nation and academic community. A major factor responsible for the dysfunction are the challenges facing undergraduate students during the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). The purpose of this study is to investigate major challenges confronting students during SIWES and further propose measures to mitigate the challenges. Data was collected using quantitative research methods from 159 undergraduate students spread across six departments of the built environment. The findings reveal that the commitment of instructors, duration of the program, inadequate training resources, menial works allocated to students, and uncomfortable work environment were major challenges confronting the students during SIWES. The study found the need for routine stakeholders' engagement meetings, reevaluation of the program duration, synchronization of policies and regulations, simplified registration and documentation, timely placement of students in relevant organizations, and gender parity. The Industrial Training Fund (ITF), institutions, and employers could consider findings from this study as a basis to improve the performance of SIWES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building contractors' value systems is a powerful force in establishing a construction sector free from corruption. Thus, this study examined the value systems of building contractors and assessed how these systems' psychological impacts affected the construction industry's corruption indicators. Using the theoretical lens of social adaptation theory, this study postulated that a building contractor's tolerance for corruption is psychologically influenced by their value system. Quantitative data were collected from contractors engaged in building and civil engineering projects in Nigeria. Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) was used to test the proposition. The study discovered that the value system of building contractors includes achievement, teamwork, openness, resourcefulness, excellence, precision, efficiency, and self-respect. Results from the MLR showed that none of the values in the value system have very notable effects on corruption indicators. The study's conclusions imply that the building contractors' current value system does not provide the desired level of anti-corruption defense. The conclusions suggest that the building contractors' value system should be modified and reformed through ethical education and professional growth. The study added to knowledge by showing that a value system may not be corrupt-oriented while still lacking the anticipated anti-corruption defense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the energy type used for household cooking in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. Primary data were obtained from the 15 existing political wards in the LGA. Secondary data was obtained from the National Population Commission and the State Independent National Electoral Commission. Responses were analyzed using frequency, percentage, pie-graph and Analysis of Variance. Results showed that Kerosene with (58.9%) is the dominant energy used in the area. Variations in fuel energy used in the area were significant (F=25.2, P < 0.05). In conclusion, hydrocarbons from unclean energy types dominate in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women's empowerment is essential in improving maternal health. We analyse the geographical variability of women's empowerment using data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Eight indicators of empowerment were created using latent scores derived from factor analysis and used to assign the women into one of low, moderate or high category of empowerment. A geoadditive ordinal model was used to quantify the effects of demographic and geographical factors. The findings indicate that a determinant can have different effects on women's empowerment indicator and women from majority of the northern states are less empowered based on all the indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on a Nigerian example and framed around postcolonial theory, this study explored teachers' conceptions of a good citizen and civic education ideologies in postcolonial hybrid-identity contexts, using qualitative data collected from 21 civic education teachers. Results revealed that personally responsible and participatory citizenship ideologies, along with a communitarian perspective, dominate teachers' beliefs about good citizenship and civic education, with participation in traditional African sociopolitical systems omitted. Justice-oriented citizenship was rarely emphasized. Teachers' reference to social change as a civic education goal emphasized individuals' responsibilities with limited consideration of structural impediments. Lessons learned include that civic education is used to maintain power structures; ethnocentrism, violence, and government's non-accountability limit teachers' engagement with critical citizenship; structural violations are excluded from human rights classroom discourses; active participation is centered at national spaces; and teachers frame leadership as the only efficient avenue for meaningful active participation. Consequently, the author recommends a rethinking of critical civic education to incorporate Indigenous civic practices and the realities of challenging asymmetric structures to better position the subject for justice-oriented citizenship and democracy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability and the future of food systems have become major food policy discourses in recent years. While prior research has focused on analyzing social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability separately, the present study takes a broader approach to understand the interconnectedness of these dimensions. The present study involves a cross-sectional survey of 90 biofortified cassava base of pyramid (BoP) producers in Nigeria. Data for this study were collected through structured interviews and analyzed using a combination of descriptive analysis and the structural equation modelling (SEM) method. The analysis of the fit indices indicates that the model is appropriate, and the associations between the dimensions and their constructs are statistically significant and positive, suggesting a robust relationship that supports the hypothesized path movements. Our analysis revealed a strong correlation between environmental and economic issues, emphasizing the significance of value-based supply chain practices as a marketing option and its considerable market potential, among other considerations. The study supports adopting a systemic approach in managing sustainability challenges and, thus, serves as a foundation for developing sustainable policies that align the demands of the market, society, and environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The safety of the COVID-19 vaccines has been a topic of concern globally. This issue of safety is associated with vaccine hesitancy due to concerns about the adverse effects of the vaccines. Consequently, this study determined the short-term safety profile of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between May and July 2021 among individuals who had received the first dose of the first batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. A Google form was used to collect data on the adverse effects of the vaccine. Out of over 1,000 individuals who were approached, 758 respondents completed the study. A large percentage (57.4%) of those who received the vaccines were healthcare workers. Adverse effects were reported in 70.8% of the participants with most manifesting on the first day of the vaccination. The predominant adverse effects were injection site soreness (28.5%), followed by fatigue (18.7%) and muscle pain (8.6%). There was no report of severe adverse effects such as anaphylactic reactions, thrombosis, myocarditis, transient myelitis, or Guillen-Barre syndrome. This study found that self-reported adverse effects of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine were mild and short in duration. This outcome has promising implications for improving COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the immediate environment and Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the influence of personality traits on career satisfaction and job performance of electrical/electronic technology education lecturers in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The study covered 10 tertiary institutions (Colleges of education and Universities) in South – West, Nigeria offering electrical/electronic technology education. The data were collected using structured questionnaire. One hundred and sixty-nine electrical/electronic technology education lecturers in 10 tertiary institutions in six states of Nigeria participated in the study. The data collected were analysed using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, standard multiple regression and one-way ANOVA. The study revealed that extraversion, openness to experience, neuroticism, conscientiousness and agreeableness were significant predictor of career satisfaction. Study established that extraversion, openness to experience, neuroticism, conscientiousness and agreeableness were significant predictor of job performance. Furthermore, this study found that demographic profiles (gender, years of teaching experience, ranking and qualification) influence personality traits, career satisfaction and job performance of electrical/electronic technology education lecturers in tertiary institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]