NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES (NJAH)
Nigerian Journal of Arts and Humanities (NJAH) (ISSN: 2814-3760 PRINT, E-ISSN: 2955-0343 ONLINE) is an interdisciplinary and a multidisciplinary journal dedicated to the promotion of scholarship and research in Arts and Humanities. It publishes well-researched scholarly papers in all areas of arts and humanities and related disciplines. The journal welcomes the submission of manuscript that is original and devoid of plagariasm. NJAH accepts papers in English, French, Chinese and Nigerian languages. It is domiciled in the department of Chinese Studies, Faculty of Arts, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
EDUCATION AS A TOOL FOR EMPOWERING AFRICAN WOMEN: CONFRONTING OBJECTIFICATION AND SUPPORTING SURVIVORS IN WOUNDING WORDS
This study explores the transformative power of education in empowering African women to challenge objectification and support survivors of domestic violence in Evelyn Accad’s Wounding Words. The study is grounded in a feminist approach and draws on Objectification Theory as articulated by Fredrickson and Roberts (1997), which suggests that the societal objectification of women can lead to internalized oppression, self-objectification, and other negative outcomes. The study reveals that education can empower African women to recognize and resist objectification, develop critical thinking and self-awareness, and support survivors of domestic violence. Evelyn Accad’s Wounding Words examines issues of identity and self-awareness, highlighting how women negotiate these challenges and are often portrayed as “outsiders.” The study advocates the integration of gender-sensitive education, the provision of support services, and the promotion of community engagement. When women are empowered with knowledge, skills, and confidence, education becomes a catalyst for positive change, promoting women’s self-worth and fostering a safer society for all.
Education, Female Objectification, Domestic Violence, Accad’s Wounding Words
Oluchi Stephanie Onuabuobi, PhD; Nkwocha Marvellous Ebere
SOCIO-POLITICAL INTERVENTION THROUGH LITERARY DRAMA IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF SELECTED PLAYS (2008-2018)
Drama in Nigeria transcends its aesthetic and entertainment value to serve as a dynamic tool for social critique, political resistance, and civic education. Despite its transformative potential, drama remains largely undervalued by policymakers and society, resulting in a persistent gap between its possibilities and its practical application in fostering democratic values, social change, and national development. Within the period under review (2010–2018), Nigerian dramatists illuminated issues of corruption, inequality, and systemic oppression through stage and community theatre. Using a qualitative research approach that combines case study and content analysis methods, the study analyzes selected play texts to evaluate their thematic concerns and socio-political potency. Karl Marx’s Classical Marxism and Bertolt Brecht’s Epic Theatre theories provide the theoretical framework for interrogating how drama functions as a medium of protest, education, and empowerment. The study concludes that drama in Nigeria, though affected by censorship and limited access, remains a powerful tool for resistance, social critique, and civic transformation when properly supported. The study recommends the use of drama in sensitizing the populace.
Socio-Political, Intervention, Literary, Drama, Nigeria
Chukwuemeka Marcellus ONYEKA; Emmanuel O. IROH, Ph.D; Chibuike M. ABUNIKE, PhD
AN ATTEMPT TO USE RWANDA AS AN ASYLUM BASE BY BRITAIN IN JUNE 2022: PROS AND CONS
Britain through Brexit quitted the EU (European Union) in 2020. In April 2021 a bill was introduced in the House of Commons and in April 2022 the bill became law. This law made it impossible for asylum seekers going through irregular routes to UK (United Kingdom), not to be granted asylum but to be moved to a third safe country possibly Rwanda. A lot of negatives linked to Rwanda have been pointed out against the policy of not granting asylum to people in UK. However, this study has been able to bring out some positives associated with Rwanda, noting that despite these positives Rwanda should not be a place to send asylum seekers. The positives and negatives associated with the asylum transfer policy are highlighted here, with a preamble to the UK-Rwanda asylum partnership. The major sources of data are gleaned from the internet. Findings reveal that the acceptance by Rwanda to house asylum seekers forcefully ejected from UK by the UK government was to prove to the world that she was a safe country, which was untrue. She had poor human rights records. This study recommends that Britain as a bastion of democracy should lead by example instead of abdicating her responsibility to another country.
Asylum Seekers, Rwanda, United Kingdom, Pros, Cons
Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo: Mixed Legacies. Poems (2013-2018)
Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo is an accomplished academic; one of the few Nigerian female writers whose creative writing combines with public speaking and scholarship to cover practically all genres of literature – prose fiction (the novel and short story), drama, poetry, children’s literature, etc. A teacher per excellence and recipient of multiple awards and international scholar, Ezeigbo is probably one of the most prolific authors in present-day Nigeria: her children’s books alone amount to 26 publications. She also has to her credit 5 novels, 8 poetry collections including Mixed Legacies, 2 plays and about 9 non-fiction books. Adimora-Ezeigbo is a professor of English, currently teaching at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND PEACE-BUILDING DYNAMICS IN NIGERIA’S NORTH-EAST CONFLICT REGION
This study examined youth engagement in peace-building initiatives in Nigeria’s North-East conflict belt, using a descriptive survey research design to investigate how young people participate in peace-building efforts across Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Gombe States. A total of 327 respondents—including youth leaders, NGO peace officers, community leaders, and participants in peace programmes—completed a structured four-point Likert-scale questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (mean, frequency, percentages) and multiple regression analysis were used to address the research objectives. Findings revealed a high level of youth engagement in peace-building, with an overall mean of 3.42 and a standard deviation of 0.88, indicating consistent involvement in community dialogues, peace campaigns, and mediation activities. Regression analysis showed that socio-economic factors significantly influenced youth engagement (β = 0.614, p < 0.05), demonstrating that improved education and livelihood opportunities enhance willingness to participate in peace initiatives. The study further established that conflict exposure and institutional support strongly predicted engagement levels (β = 0.693, p < 0.05), indicating that youths who experienced conflict firsthand and had access to NGO or government support were more motivated to contribute to peace-building activities. All three null hypotheses were rejected, confirming that youth engagement is substantial, that socio-economic factors exert a meaningful influence, and that conflict exposure combined with institutional support significantly shapes youth involvement patterns. The study concluded that youths remain central actors in grassroots peace-building initiatives and can contribute to long-term stability when adequately empowered. It recommends strengthened livelihood interventions, expanded community-based peace programmes, and enhanced institutional collaboration to sustain youth-led peace-building efforts in the North-East.
Youth Engagement, Peace-Building Initiatives, North-East Nigeria, Socio-Economic Determinants
A PHILOSOPHICAL APPRAISAL OF XENOPHOBIA AS A STUMBLING BLOCK TO THE QUEST FOR NIGERIA’S UNITY
The key role of unity among individuals, societies, nations, and countries in achieving desirable social order and holistic development is not contestable. In line with this position, many thinkers who seek solutions to Nigeria’s developmental crises often identify the unity of the Nigerian peoples—epitomized by the maxim “One Nigeria”—as a prerequisite for effective development and sustainable progress. These thinkers frequently attribute the challenges of Nigerian unity and underdevelopment to the historical antecedents of colonialism and neo-colonialism. However, less emphasis appears to be placed on the negative role of xenophobia in undermining the quest for national unity. Employing the method of phenomenological exposition and philosophical analysis of political issues and events in Nigeria, this paper argues that xenophobia constitutes a major stumbling block to the attainment of unity among Nigeria’s diverse peoples. It observes that, among other causes, the lack of proper knowledge of the unique identities and cultural heritages of Nigeria’s various ethnic groups remains a fundamental trigger of xenophobic attitudes and actions. Consequently, the paper recommends the establishment of a specialized Nigerian Orientation Agency with broad membership drawn from the country’s ethnic, economic, cultural, and religious communities. Such an agency would be responsible for rationally articulating and disseminating knowledge about the self-identity, history, and values of the different ethnic groups in Nigeria. As the saying goes, “the fear of the unknown is far greater than the fear of the known.” Increased knowledge and awareness of one another’s identities will significantly reduce xenophobic tendencies. It will also predispose Nigerians to a collective healing process from the damage already caused by xenophobic actions, thereby contributing meaningfully to the promotion of unity and national development.
Xenophobia, Nigerian Unity, Communalism, Nigerian Orientation Agency
THE PROLETARIAT IN AFRICAN PROLETARIAN NOVEL: A SOCIOLOGICAL READING OF PETER ABRAHAM'S MINE BOY AND FESTUS IYAYI'S VIOLENCE
Workers have been the most marginalised aspect of the human society. The rise of capitalism ensured the dehumanisation of the working class. Writers over the years have captured the plights of the working class with such verisimilitude that the genre “proletarian novel” has come to represent all works depicting the existential condition of the working class in the entanglement of capitalism. This paper seeks to investigate how writers in Africa have captured and represented the lives of the proletarian class in their fictions. Furthermore, using the principles of sociological criticism, the material condition of the workers of Africa as represented in Festus Iyayi's Violence and Peter Abrahams' Mine Boy is investigated. The novels, it is observed, were written at different phases of African history. Mine Boy was written in the epoch of colonial hegemony while Violence was written years after the deconstruction of colonial structures. However, uneducated and unskilled workers in the novels share similar fate and survived under similar existential conditions.It is concluded that, African proletariat share common fate, especially unskilled labourers who try to etch a living amidst crunching poverty, illiteracy and the scythe of capitalism. In calling the attention of the world to the abject situation of the proletariats, proletarian novelists move towards bettering the lot of the workers.
proletariat, capitalism, Marxism, proletarian novel
Ayodele Anthony Bamidele (PhD) & Paul Kennedy Ndubuisi Enesha (PhD)
LANGUAGE USE, PARENTING STYLES, AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
The performance of students at all levels is influenced by a variety of factors, including parenting. This study examines how good parenting and students’ academic performance can be shaped through language use. Drawing on secondary data and observation, and employing a qualitative method supported by content analysis, the study demonstrates that language use is central to parenting, just as it is fundamental to all human activities. Consequently, the way parents use language in the course of parenting either enhances or undermines their children’s academic performance. It also influences their parenting style and determines whether their parenting practices are considered effective or ineffective. Baumrind’s theory of parental styles identifies authoritative parenting as the most effective style, one that makes positive and constructive use of language and is associated with good parenting and high academic achievement among children. The study concludes that the positive use of language in parenting supports authoritative parenting practices, enhances parenting quality, and fosters high or excellent academic performance in students. It recommends that parents consistently employ positive and effective language and adopt the authoritative parenting style in order to significantly support their children’s attainment of optimal academic outcomes.
Language use, good Parenting, Academic performance, Students, Authoritative parenting style
Ebere Florence Adoromike; Judith Chinedu Udeh & Jacinta Onyinyechi Chris-Urom
THE CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE AT NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA: CHALLENGES, PROSPECTS, AND THE PROMOTION OF CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE IN NIGERIA
It is evident that several factors can influence the teaching and learning of a language within any linguistic establishment. This paper focuses on the challenges Nigeria currently faces regarding the effective teaching and accessible learning of the Chinese language at the Confucius Institute, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. The research employed a descriptive survey design and utilized questionnaires and interviews for data collection. During the second semester of the 2023/2024 academic session, the researcher designed, distributed, and retrieved questionnaires, and conducted interviews. The data obtained from both instruments were analyzed and revealed several challenges, including a shortage of native Chinese teachers, irregular electricity supply, and the absence of an informative online presence. The study also found that learning the Chinese language is of great importance to Nigeria’s economic development, particularly in the international arena, and that there is growing interest among students in learning the language. The paper concludes with recommendations such as recruiting and training more teachers, developing a learning website, and exploring alternative energy sources.
Confucius Institute, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Chinese language, Nigeria-China relations
SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED ANGLICAN CHURCH NAMES IN THE DIOCESE ON THE NIGER
This study examines the semantic dimensions of Anglican Church names within the Diocese on the Niger, the oldest diocese in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). It explores how the naming of parishes embodies theological meaning, spiritual identity, and cultural context. Employing semantic field theory, the research categorizes parish names into apostolic, Christological, doctrinal, angelic, eschatological, pastoral, and contextual types. Using qualitative analysis supported by descriptive data, one representative church name from each of the twenty Archdeaconries of the Diocese was examined to reveal patterns of meaning. The findings demonstrate that Anglican Church names in the Diocese function as vehicles of theology, ecclesial memory, and mission, articulating both continuity with apostolic faith and adaptation to Igbo Christian culture.
Semantic, Anglican Church, Names, Diocese on the Niger, Semantic Field
A MORPHO SEMANTIC ANALYSIS ON ONITSHA PERSONAL IGBO NAMES
This study examines Onitsha Personal Names (OPN) from a morpho-semantic perspective. The major objective is to analyse the syntactic and morphological structures of selected OPN. Specifically, the study seeks to identify the morphological processes and internal structural relationships among the morphemes that combine to form these names. A sample of 250 male and female names was used for the analysis. The data were collected from school name lists and from men’s and women’s religious associations. Oral interviews were also conducted with native speakers to obtain clarifications regarding the meanings of the names. The roots, stems, and affixes of the names were analysed using the descriptive approach, applying relevant word-formation rules. The findings reveal the following: most of the morphological processes involved in the formation of OPN are predominantly clipping, prefixation, and suffixation, occurring in a hierarchical manner such that the meanings of the names are predictable from their structural components; many of the names are derived from clauses through a desententialisation process; the philosophy or deeper meanings behind the names are often lost due to clipping; OPN at the sentential level can function as statements, interrogatives, imperatives, or commands; and the morphological components, in terms of size or structural complexity, can be monomorphemic, dimorphemic, trimorphemic, or polymorphemic. Structurally, the names may be single-stem, compound, or complex.
Morpho-Semantic, Onitsha, Igbo, Names, Morphological Processes
A MORPHOSEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF PLACE NAMES IN ASABA QUARTERS
This journal focuses on the names of the Asaba quarters. It examines the names of the five quarters that make up Asaba and provides a brief history of the town, including its landmass, population, and the predominant occupations of its ancestors. Despite the numerous studies carried out on Asaba, this area of morphosemantic investigation has received little or no attention, particularly with respect to the names of its quarters. A notable linguistic feature among three of the five quarters is the presence of the morpheme Umu, which means “children” in the Igbo language. Data for the study were obtained through interviews and archival sources (books). The theoretical frameworks adopted for this research are the Conceptual Theory of Meaning as propounded by John Locke (1960) and the Referential Theory of Meaning as propounded by C. K. Ogden and I. A. Richards (1923). Findings reveal that two of the five quarters’ names express particular ideas in the minds of Asaba natives, while the remaining three refer to the children of their ancestors. The study shows that the original name of Asaba is Aniahaba (present-day Cable Point in Asaba), which translates roughly to “I have arrived.” The five quarters that make up Asaba are said to be the five sons of Ka anyi nye be isi nwa (Nnebisi), and their names are Ezenei, Ugbomanta, Umuagu, Umuaji, and Umuonaje. It is therefore concluded that the names of the Asaba quarters reflect the lineage and descendants of their originator.
Asaba, Morphosemantic analysis, Place names, Semantics
SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS IN ENGLISH: IMPLICATIONS FOR ESL TEACHING
This study investigates the semantic analysis of idiomatic expressions in English and examines their implications for language teaching in English as a Second Language (ESL) contexts. A total of thirty idiomatic expressions were randomly selected from novels, newspapers, online media, and conversational discourse. These idioms were analysed using the operational (contextual/functional) approach, which considers meaning not merely as a matter of dictionary definition but as something constructed through use and situated context. The findings reveal that idioms perform multiple functions in communication: they condense cultural knowledge, express attitudes indirectly, add humour, and convey pragmatic force. However, their figurative nature poses serious learning challenges for non-native speakers. The study concludes that the teaching of idioms should be embedded in context-driven activities that highlight cultural meaning and communicative purpose. Recommendations include integrating idioms into classroom dialogue, using drama and role-play to demonstrate pragmatic use, and encouraging learners to document idioms from real-life interactions.
Semantic Analysis, Idioms, Idiomatic Expressions, English, ESL Teaching
INEQUALITY AND ITS ECONOMIC ABSURDITY: THE PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS OF BRIAN BARRY
The issue of inequality is not just economic but also social and cultural, requiring a nuanced understanding of its various dimensions and impact on different communities. For instant, Nigeria as a country is indeed facing significant economic hardship which is affecting millions of its citizens. When one is poor, the individual simply live with fear. Imagine two individuals existed side by side, one had clean home with everything life can think of, well furnished house, enjoyed access to quality education, healthcare and job opportunities, and felt secure, safe and valued. In contrast, the other individual struggled to make ends meet. There is limited access to quality education, healthcare, and job opportunities. Here, crime and violence becomes rampant and the feeling of marginalized and ignored. This highlights the stark contrasts in opportunities, resources and treatment that exist in many societies, perpetuating inequality and social injustice. In many societies, inequality in income, education, and access to resources hinder social mobility and fuel social unrest. The method adopted is hermeneutics so to uncover the underlying principles inequality has placed on man. Tackling inequality is crucial for developing country and development agencies: as well as being a valuable goal in itself, improving equity constitutes a central place in our understanding of beneficial change and development, driving poverty reduction in combination with growth. A society with less inequality means more people can afford to participate in the economy as consumers, leading to greater demand for products and services, which ultimately benefits businesses and investors.
Inequality, Absurdity, Egalitarianism, Universalism
Okoye, Amarachukwu Chinelo & Prof. Charles Nweke
FUNCTIONAL LITERACY AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND POLICY DIRECTIONS TOWARD 2030
Functional literacy refers to the application of reading, writing, numeracy, and increasingly, digital competencies in every sphere of human life. For Nigeria, with her large population, functional literacy is vital to human capital development, poverty reduction and democratic stability. Today, it is sad to observe that while enrolment in primary education has grossly increased, functional literacy acquisition is hampered. Furthermore, reports from UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (2023) identify Nigeria as one of the countries with the largest populations of illiterate adults globally. The global push by the United Nations in 2023 toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 4, which commits countries to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities reinforce the urgency for policy reforms to integrate literacy. This research, therefore, is aimed at investigating the place of functional literacy in national development, identifying those barriers to its achievement in contemporary Nigeria and suggesting viable measures to improve and implement the policies toward 2030. In view of this, the study adopts three sociological theories, the Functionalist theory founded by Emile Durkheim in the 20th Century which states that functional literacy is central to the achievement of the social, economical and political stability of any society. Theory of Human Capital by Gary Becker, Adam Smith and Theodore Schultz (1964) argues that literacy is central to labour productivity and modernization theory by Max Weber and Karl Max (1950) links literacy to democratic participation and social mobility. Data collected involved government reports, National Policy on Education and global reports on SDG 4, AU Agenda 2063.Findings show that there are challenges such as inequities, poor financing, weak teacher capacity, and lack of quality learning materials. The study, therefore, recommends evidence-informed policy directions; the alignment of functional literacy policy with labour-market demands, digital literacy frameworks, and inclusive financing mechanisms as indispensable tools for improving functional literacy and accelerating sustainable national development agenda via 2030.
Literacy, Functional literacy, National development, Policy, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4
Illicit Drug and Drug Trafficking: Reflection on Methamphetamine (Mkpuru Mmiri) and the Youth Population
Most governments and international organizations in the world have had heated debates given the act on the basis in which global drugs ravage the entire globe. By this, it has been identified that the production, trafficking and consumption of number of organic and inorganic narcotic substance which have been declared illegal by government are indeed a problem for the whole of mankind. Against this backdrop, this study is on illicit drug and drug trafficking: reflection on methamphetamine (mkpuru mmiri) and the youth population. The study queries the emergence and consumption of mkpuru mmiri/methamphetamine as well as its debilitating effects on the youth population, using descriptive and historical analysis. The paper argues that mkpuru mmiri intake by some of the youth population is as the result of socio-economic and cultural decadence in most the local communities, especially in the South-eastern state of Nigeria and the society at large. This paper finds that methamphetamine/mkpuru mmiri addiction has caused mental disorders and frustration among the youth population. The paper proffers solution to abate the menace of mkpuru mmiri by calling on the relevant authorities, institutions and agencies to collaborate with the local communities in playing a well-desired role. The paper concludes that total eradication of mkpuru mmiri is possible only if the channel of supply and consumers are seriously dealt with by all the necessary approaches.
Illicit Drug, Drug Trafficking, Methamphetamine (Mkpuru mmiri), Youth Population and Communities
Udeagwu, C. Okechukwu & Chidiobo, Okechukwu Christian
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF THEATRE FOR DEVELOMENT (TFD) IN COMMUNICATING HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS VACCINATION (HPV) AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL GIRLS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA
This paper evaluated the experimental study of the influence of Theatre for Development (TFD) in communicating Health Preventive Menstrual Vaccination (HPMV) among junior secondary school students in Anambra state. This relatively new health practice has not been fully adopted by the people, hence the need for this study. The researchers aimed to determine whether TfD can effectively create awareness about HPMV, and to examine the correlation between TfD and development of positive attitudes towards the practice. This study was anchored on the Diffusion of Innovation theory. The study area is Anambra state, Nigeria, and the research design adopted was survey approach. The population of the study was 112,087 junior secondary school students in Anambra state, from which a sample size of 384 students was drawn. The students were exposed to theatrical performance on HPMV in their school environments. Thereafter, a questionnaire was administered as a research instrument to gather respondents' views on both HPMV and TfD. Data obtained from the study were presented in simple frequency distribution tables and subsequently analysed. The results revealed that TfD was affective in encouraging the students to adopt the therapeutic behavior associated with HPMV practice. The study recommended that government and None Governmental Organisations (NGOs) should scale up the use of TfD as a health communication strategy.
Theatre, Development, Communicating, HPMV, Practice
ENEOME, CHINWEOKWU EUGENIA; OWOH, JENNIFER ADAOBI & UZOR, FORTUNATUS CHINWEUBA
A PRAGMATIC STUDY OF CONVERSATIONAL IMPLICATURES IN PRESIDENT TINUBU’S SPEECHES ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND GOVERNANCE
The essence of political speeches lies in their powerful ability to shape public perception, unify diverse groups and drive political action. These speeches serve as a vital communication tool for leaders to articulate their visions, justify decisions and more especially to manage conflicts and respond to crisis. This study investigates the conversational implicatures embedded in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s speech, through the lens of Grice’s Cooperative principles. Employing a qualitative research approach, it analyzes and interprets selected speeches to uncover the implied meanings shaped by context and pragmatic cues. The findings reveal that Tinubu often conveyed meanings indirectly, relying on the interpretative efforts of his audience to grasp the intended message. However, the analysis indicates that the selected speeches deviated from the issues it ought to have addressed, they failed to respond to the pressing needs and the concerns of his constituents, instead it focused on assigning blames, displaying ethnic bias and engaging in self- promotion. The study further demonstrates that Tinubu’s rhetoric is better understood only when interpreted pragmatically, through the theory of conversational implicature. The frequent flouting of the Gricean maxims as observed in the speeches, contributed to ambiguity and obscurity, especially for readers who lack critical reading skills. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of clarity and pragmatism in political communication, urging public figures to adopt more direct and responsive language when addressing their audience.
Conversational implicature, Crisis, Cooperative principles, Political speeches.
THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF MOURNING: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF WIDOWHOOD AND BURIAL PRACTICES IN NKEREFI, NIGERIA
This study is an ethnographic exploration of the cultural politics of mourning in Nkerefi, a rural community in southeastern Nigeria. It examines traditional burial practices with particular attention to the experiences of widows during the burial and mourning process. The study finds that these practices are shaped by a complex interplay of cultural norms and expectations that often privilege the interests and needs of men over those of women. It also reveals that widows in Nkerefi face significant social, economic, and emotional challenges during this period, including loss of property and livelihood, social isolation and stigmatisation, as well as emotional trauma and distress. Using a qualitative research methodology involving in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with widows and other stakeholders in Nkerefi, the study uncovers the complex and often fraught nature of burial and mourning practices in the community. It argues that the cultural politics of mourning in Nkerefi are informed by patriarchal ideologies that reinforce the subordination and marginalization of women. The study concludes that the experiences of widows in Nkerefi are shaped by intersecting cultural, social, and economic factors, and that these experiences have significant implications for understanding the broader cultural politics of mourning in rural Nigeria.
Cultural Politics, Mourning, Exploration, Burial Practices, Nkerefi, Widows
BETWEEN DEMOCRACY AND EXCLUSION: THE ENDURING CRISIS OF IGBOPHOBIA IN NIGERIA’S SECOND AND FOURTH REPUBLICS (1979–1983 AND 1999–2020)
This study examines the persistence of Igbophobia in Nigeria’s democratic dispensations, focusing on the Second and Fourth Republics (1979–1983 and 1999–2020). The objective is to interrogate how democratic structures, instead of mitigating ethnic hostilities, have inadvertently reinforced anti-Igbo prejudice through political exclusion, zoning arrangements, and ethno-regional dominance. Employing a historical-comparative and qualitative methodology, the study relies on primary and secondary sources to analyse patterns of political representation, state policies, and electoral behaviour. Findings reveal that both republics sustained systemic marginalization of the Igbo through institutional and informal mechanisms of exclusion, elite manipulation, and media stereotyping, which undermined the democratic ideal of inclusiveness. The study concludes that democracy in Nigeria has been ethnically mediated, and until the structures of federalism are reconfigured to promote justice and equal representation, Igbophobia will remain a recurring threat to national cohesion and democratic stability.
Igbophobia, Ethnic Politics, Democracy, Exclusion, Nigeria
Simeon Ndukwe Elekwa & Ukwuma, John C.N.
REVITALIZING THE YORÙBÁ LANGUAGE CURRICULUM IN NIGERIAN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION FOR SELF-RELIANCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
One of the problems observed in the Yorùbá language curriculum in Colleges of Education in Nigeria is its inability to make students self-reliant after graduation. The main objective of this paper is to explore ways of upgrading the Yorùbá language curriculum in these Colleges of Education so as to make language students self-reliant upon graduation. The paper examines the meaning and scope of curriculum, Yorùbá as a language, and the relationship between Yorùbá and entrepreneurial curricula. In addition, some courses are proposed to upgrade the Yorùbá language curriculum to meet the economic challenges facing the country. Metod of data collection for this paper was secondary data, using Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory as postulated by David Kolb. The findings of the study reveals that for students who struggle with the current one-size-fits-all schooling system, the new Yorùbá–Entrepreneurial curriculum will help them to develop their creativity and design a life where earning and learning become lifelong activities. The major finding of the study suggests that Yorùbá traditional entrepreneurial skills provide a pathway for learners to survive in the business world. The paper concludes that the present Yorùbá language curriculum in Colleges of Education in Nigeria needs to be upgraded or revitalized in order to meet global demands. Traditional Yorùbá occupations such as hair plaiting, soap making, and tie-and-dye are recommended for inclusion in the curriculum, as research has shown that the government can no longer provide jobs for all Nigerian youths.
CRITICAL THINKING AS THE ABODE OF HUMAN DIGNITY
Human dignity is often understood as the intrinsic worth that defines and distinguishes human beings. Yet, this dignity is not merely a natural endowment but is sustained and expressed through the capacity for critical thinking. This paper argues that critical thinking provides the foundation for human dignity by enabling individuals to question assumptions, resist manipulation, and make reasoned choices that affirm their autonomy and moral worth. Adopting the method of library research in a textual investigation, through an examination of philosophical perspectives on rationality, freedom, and ethics, the paper explores how critical thinking safeguards human dignity against dehumanising forces such as dogmatism, oppression, and blind conformity. Furthermore, it emphasises the role of critical reasoning in fostering dialogue, justice, and respect in human relations. The paper concludes that to cultivate critical thinking is to protect the very essence of human dignity, affirming the human person as both a rational and moral agent.
REDEFINING GENDER ROLES: AN ODYSSEY OF TESTS AND TRIUMPHS FOR AFRICAN WOMEN IN IRENE SALAMI-AGUNLOYE’S SWEET REVENGE AND IDIA, THE WARRIOR QUEEN OF BENIN
This study explored the renegotiation of gendering of roles, as well as the portrayal of the struggles and successes of African women in Irene Salami-Agunloye that are reflected in her plays, Sweet Revenge and Idia, the Warrior Queen of Benin. Although the feminist African discourse has increased, both prose and poetry, little emphasis has been put on the female playwrights whose plays criticise the patriarchal system and rewrite history. This research paper addressed this gap by talking about the dramaturgical elements, characterisation, and themes of Salami-Agunloye, which depict women as leaders and change agents in the male-dominated societies. The research design was based on a textual analysis, and it was illustrated on the concepts of Feminist Theory and Social Role Theory to explore how societal expectations on women were reinforced and violated in the selected plays. Studies have shown that Salami-Agunloye was conscious of the active use of practices of symbolism, historical reconstruction and dialogue in pre-empting the resistance, agency and political power of women. The plays succeeded in rejecting the old stereotypes of the two sexes and offered a counter-discourse to the marginalisation of women in literature and history. The Salami-Agunloye drama was discovered to be a critical tool of gender activism and social transformation that played a crucial role in African feminist discourse and contributed to the progressive redefining of female roles within the contemporary African society.
Nkemdirim Olubunmi ADEDINA PhD & Sodiq Babatunde ADESOKAN
CONTOUR AS TOMORPH IN ÍSÓKÓ: AN AUTOSEGMENTAL APPROACH
This paper investigates the presence and grammatical significance of a rising tone morpheme—termed tomorph—in the Ísókó language, an Edoid language spoken in parts of Delta and Bayelsa States, Nigeria. Drawing from the theoretical framework of Autosegmental Phonology, the study argues that the rising tone, though segmentless at the underlying level, functions as a morpheme marking negation in sentence-final positions. Through detailed phonological analysis and empirical data, the research demonstrates that this floating tone associates with tone-bearing units (TBUs) via autosegmental principles such as mapping, dumping, delinking, and spreading. The study provides compelling evidence that suprasegmental features such as tone can carry morphosyntactic information, supporting the view that tone and segment reside on distinct autonomous tiers. This work contributes to the growing literature on tonal morphology in African languages and highlights the need to further explore the grammatical role of contour tones.
AN ETHICAL APPROACH IN DECISION MAKING BETWEEN HUMANS AND INTELLIGENT MACHINES
The accelerating advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and intelligent machines presents unprecedented challenges to human-centered ethical decision-making. As these systems increasingly participate in critical domains such as healthcare, law, business, and security, the research investigates case studies where intelligent machines assist or substitute human judgment, highlighting both the potential for improved efficiency and the risks of moral displacement, bias, and opacity. The research addresses the question, how should ethical responsibility be shared or distinguished between humans and intelligent machines? Are there ethical frameworks that guide the decision-making processes in contexts where human judgment and machine intelligence intersect? By comparing human ethical reasoning with algorithmic logic, the research emphasizes the limitations of machine-led decision-making in capturing moral nuance, empathy, and contextual sensitivity. In the end, the researchers draw on normative theories, particularly teleological (consequence-based) and deontological (duty-based) ethics to examine how principles of fairness, accountability, autonomy, and the prevention of harm can be applied in hybrid human–machine decision environments.
Uzowulu Onyeka Emmanuel & Prof. Charles Nweke
JAPA AS AN EXODUS OF POST-INDEPENDENCE NIGERIANS IN CHIKA UNIGWE’S BETTER NEVER THAN LATE
The emerging “Centre” from the hitherto “Other” has reconstructed “Otherness” in post-independence African states. Consequently, the disillusioned subjects of the “neo-Other” find escape in japa as exodus to safety and self-actualisation. Extant studies most often concentrate on the experiences of African immigrants abroad, without much attention to the leadership at homeland which sets up the citizenry for a hellish encounter in the host land. Therefore, this study is designed to investigate japa as an escape for the disillusioned Nigerians, with a view to critiquing the homeland as the “neo-Centre”, and examining the social and economic conditions of Nigerian immigrants in Europe as depicted in Unigwe’s Better Never Than Late. Eyoh Etim’s post-postcolonialism, complemented by Homi Bhabha’s strand of postcolonialism, is adopted as framework for this paper. Interpretive research design is applied. The primary text was purposively selected because of its relevant leitmotif. Literary analysis reveals that post-independence Nigerians are forced out of their motherland because of the ineptitude of political leaders, which has wrought unemployment, hardship, insecurity, violence, and terrorism on the people. Moreover, young Nigerians resort to japa as a way of escaping Nigeria’s life-threatening sociopolitical and economic landscape. However, post-japa is traumatic to most Nigerian immigrants as the illusion about the host land is cleared by realities on arrival. Consequently, the unfortunate immigrants suffer losses, humiliation, starvation, disillusionment, and regret after leaving the homeland. Thus, japa as exodus for Nigerians is a complex web of escapism, illusion, reality, disappointment, struggle for survival, and a raffia bag of laughter and tears in the adopted land.
A STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF CHIKA UNIGWE’S THE MIDDLE DAUGHTER
This paper examines elements of style in The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe. Previous works have not paid adequate attention to how Nigerian indigenous cultural elements generate the employment of a distinctive language, a unique narrative technique, and exemplary literary devices in literary texts. To this end, the study examines Unigwe's use of diction, imagery, and syntax to convey themes of identity, gender, culture, and family dynamics in the African diasporic context. By focusing on the protagonist's journey of self discovery, the paper analyses how stylistic choices enhance the emotional depth and complexity of the characters. The novel's use of a shifting narrative voice, blending both first-person and omniscient perspectives, is explored as a tool for emphasising the protagonist's inner conflict and external struggles. This study adopts Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar as its theoretical framework. Unigwe’s The Middle Daughter serves as the primary text. Findings reveal that Unigwe's integration of Nigerian cultural elements, including folklore, and linguistic features from the Igbo language enrich the narrative, providing authenticity to the portrayal of the protagonist's experiences. This study concludes by highlighting how Unigwe's stylistic approach serves not only to engage readers but also to offer a nuanced commentary on the intersection of personal and collective identity within postcolonial African literature.
Jackson Archibong ETUK PhD & Precious Asukwo Edet
PRINCIPALS’ FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AS CORRELATES OF ADMINISTRATIVE EFFECTIVENESS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA
This study examined principals’ financial management practices as correlates of administrative effectiveness in public secondary schools in Anambra State, Nigeria, specifically examining cash budgeting, cash control and cash auditing practices. The study was guided by three research questions and corresponding null hypotheses. A correlational research design was employed. The population comprised 7,248 teachers across 269 public secondary schools in the six education zones of Anambra State, from which a sample of 580 teachers was drawn through a multistage sampling procedure involving proportionate stratified and simple random techniques. Data were collected using two validated instruments: The Principals’ Financial Management Practices Questionnaire (PFMPQ) and the Principals’ Administrative Effectiveness Questionnaire (PAEQ). Reliability was established through the Cronbach Alpha method, with coefficients of 0.79 for PFMPQ and 0.88 for PAEQ, confirming internal consistency. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to analyze the research questions, while the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using test of significance of Pearson. Findings revealed that principals’ cash budgeting, cash control, and cash auditing practices each exhibited strong positive and statistically significant relationships with administrative effectiveness in public secondary schools. Specifically, these financial management practices jointly accounted for substantial proportions of the variance in administrative effectiveness, underscoring their critical role in strengthening school administration. The study concluded that sound financial management practices are vital drivers of administrative effectiveness, promoting accountability, efficient resource utilization and improved institutional performance in public secondary schools. It was recommended that the Ministry of Education should institutionalize participatory budgeting, strengthen internal financial controls and enforce periodic audits to enhance accountability, optimize resource utilization and promote sustainable administrative effectiveness in public secondary schools.
HASHTAG ACTIVISM AND STANCE-TAKING IN NIGERIAN TWITTER DISCOURSE: A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF #BBNAIJA (SEASON 10)
Twitter hashtags have developed into vital sociolinguistic instruments that structure publics, coordinate attention, and enact stance in real time. This paper examines hashtag activism and stance-taking during the Nigerian Twitter discourse surrounding #BBNaija (Season 10), and contextualizes the phenomenon within the convergence of pragmatics, sociolinguistics, and digital media studies. Informed by Du Bois’ (2007) stance triangle, which frames stance as the simultaneous acts of assessment, positioning, and alignment, the study explores how followers of Big Brother Naija adopt hashtags to negotiate cultural values, gender norms, civic responsibilities, and ethical concerns. A mixed-methods, pragmatics-oriented approach combines computational mapping of hashtagged interactions with qualitative coding of stance moves, thereby balancing macro-level digital trends with micro-level interactional analysis. The paper demonstrates that what may appear to be ephemeral pop-cultural commentary—such as evaluations of contestants’ authenticity, morality, or behavior—are in fact patterned performances of stance, which ultimately construct identities, alliances, and normative frameworks. Drawing on Honeycutt and Herring’s (2009) description of Twitter’s interactive affordances, as well as Bucholtz and Hall’s (2005) model of identity as emergent and relational, the study argues that recurring practices of stance-taking on “Hashtag Twitter” go beyond entertainment, scaffolding publics around issues of gender justice, fairness, human rights, and civic participation. The paper concludes that Twitter hashtags—particularly in cases such as #BBNaija—function as pragmatic stance-taking tools that not only structure online discourse but also shape cultural identities, moral evaluations, and civic engagement in Nigerian digital spaces.
SUBVERTING SILENCE: A FEMINIST HERMENEUTIC RE-EXAMINATION OF 1 CORINTHIANS 14:34–35 AND PAULINE TEXTS ON WOMEN’S SPEECH IN CHURCH
This study addresses the longstanding issue of the enforced silence of women in church, primarily rooted in traditional interpretations of Pauline texts such as 1 Corinthians 14:34–35. These interpretations have contributed to the systemic exclusion of women from speaking and leadership roles within Christian worship. Employing a feminist hermeneutical framework, this research critically re-examines the socio-historical context and textual nuances of the passage to uncover alternative, liberative meanings that challenge patriarchal readings. The methodology includes textual and contextual analysis combined with feminist biblical criticism to provide a comprehensive reinterpretation. Findings reveal that Paul’s injunctions were context-specific, aimed at addressing particular disruptions, rather than establishing universal prohibitions on women’s speech. Moreover, the study highlights contradictions within the Pauline letters—many of which affirm women’s active participation in ministry—thus undermining rigid mandates of silence. The research recommends that church leaders, theologians, and religious educators adopt feminist hermeneutics to promote gender-inclusive interpretations and ecclesiastical practices. It also calls for revised church policies that recognize and empower women’s voices in worship and leadership. By challenging traditional notions of silence, this thesis contributes to both biblical scholarship and practical theology by providing a foundation for greater gender justice in Christian communities. Ultimately, this work advocates for renewed dialogue and reform that fully embraces the participation of women in the life of the church.