I lecture as an adjunct at the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies and the Institute for African Studies of the University of Ibadan. Both institutes are multidisciplinary and I teach in three of their graduate programmes, namely: Cultural and Media Studies; Peace and Conflict Studies; and Peacebuilding and Development Studies. I am also the project manager of Information Aid Network (IFAnet) Supervisors: Dr Sola Olorunyomi
In this presentation, I argue that that the friction between Ekeh's Primordial and Civic Publics ... more In this presentation, I argue that that the friction between Ekeh's Primordial and Civic Publics as derived from ethnicism has led to the emergence of an (im)moral public in postcolonial Nigeria, while advocating for a return to Volonte Generale as opposed to Volonte de l'Elite, which has separated the people from their governance architecture
The report details the deployment of technology by both the Nigerian Military and the insurgents,... more The report details the deployment of technology by both the Nigerian Military and the insurgents, including the efforts of the Nigerian Government at improving investments on technology for counterinsurgency purposes
Nigeria’s mono-economic dependence on oil has been a paradox of an albatross on socio-economic gr... more Nigeria’s mono-economic dependence on oil has been a paradox of an albatross on socio-economic growth and development, as the country grapples to secure a cure for its Dutch disease since the oil boom era of the 1970s. In inverting the dependency theory, as a conspiracy of the rich to make the poor dependent, this paper contends that the reverse is the case as the wealth of rich socio-political elites within the Nigerian context is solely dependent on the exploitation of the less developed oil bearing communities within an impoverished population. These communities perpetually live under hazardous ecological conditions in spite of their resources upon which the Nigerian state is dependent. It posits that the Boko Haram insurgency is an offshoot of this paradox while exploring the emerging dynamics of the oil factor amidst the resurgence of attacks in the Northeast. It thus advocates the need to rehumanize the Nigerian populace through Amartya Sen’s human capabilities’ approach, whereby socio-economic conditions are addressed through structural and institutional changes amidst a socially and environmentally responsible population. Key Words: Boko Haram insurgency, oil-induced conflicts, human capabilities theory, mono-economic oil dependency
The perennial nature of ethno-religious conflicts the World over indicates the need for lasting s... more The perennial nature of ethno-religious conflicts the World over indicates the need for lasting solutions which would lead to sustainable peace and ultimately development. This can only be made possible when peace practitioners go beyond the politicization of the conflict situations and adopt genuine strategies of interventions. One of the major steps of such interventions is therefore an in-depth analysis of the historicity of conflicts which helps in the discovery of the interplay of certain factors which encapsulates its patrimony, memory and identity. The author of this work therefore attempts to identify the interplay of the aforementioned factors in the Nigerian example of the Zango - Kataf crises in Kaduna State of Northern Nigeria. The paper focuses on the issue of land ownership and ethnic minority complexities which are core issues in the dynamics of the crises. It examines the key actors of the conflict situation and its spill over effects on other parts of the state. The various attempts at the resolution of the conflict were also espoused alongside reasons why the conflict has remained so recalcitrant within the context of its patrimony, memory and identity. Finally, the paper affirms that it is only when the genuine interests of the people are attended to using appropriate media that sustainable peace can be achieved and recommended ways through which this can be achieved.
The foundational Socratic maxim of self knowledge, “man know thyself”, though spanning through ag... more The foundational Socratic maxim of self knowledge, “man know thyself”, though spanning through ages, has retained its relevance down the years. This relevance cannot as well be underestimated in our age as the world struggles to keep covering thousands of miles within milliseconds. Nonetheless, there exists the danger of self loss amidst the rush which characterizes the continual discoveries and developments in a highly technological global space. Subsequently, the persistent developmental distinctions between nations and cultures with reference to developed, developing and less developed countries; and the latest addition of the fourth world to the earlier categorization of first, second and third worlds, has led to the shift in the definition of what it means to be developed, civilized and advanced. The resultant effect of this is the unhealthy wholesome consumption of what is regarded as civilization by nations who have been made to believe that all there is about them is backward. The author of this paper therefore seeks to situate the gradual loss of identity which is insidiously eating deep into the cultural ambience of the Nigerian geo-political space. While espousing the importance of culture in the creation of identity, he proposes the need for a sort of cultural resurgence to preclude further alienation of Nigerians from their cultural heritage. This is in the bid to pave a way forward by adapting modernity to our unique Nigerian situation.
The 1993 Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) emphasized t... more The 1993 Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) emphasized the shift in emphasis of human security from the protection of the state to that of individuals within the state; where the protection of the territorial integrity of a state, through the use of arms, gives way to developmental policies and projects to better the lot of the individual citizens of the state with the adequate provision of food, shelter, clothing, social amenities, conducive and habitable environment; and the empowerment of these individuals to initiate and sustain whatever developmental projects being undertaken. This paradigm shift in man’s defense against factors which constitute threat to his existence is not unconnected with the emerging trends of conflicts in the post-cold war era where a decrease in inter-state tensions paved the way for a spontaneous rise in the spate of ethnic intrastate violence globally and more especially in Africa. Apart from this, the continent had indeed been plagued by varieties of other threats to security such as armed robbery, accidents, sickness, poverty, Unavailability/Inaccessibility of Quality Education, corruption and natural disaster. The unquantifiable and somewhat irreparable loss of human lives and valuable properties resulting from such threats are indicators that the absence of adequate human security is a fillip underdevelopment in any nation. This shall constitute the crux of this discussion with specific focus on Nigeria. This paper therefore focuses on deriving sustainable solutions to the problem of underdevelopment that plagues the Nigerian nation. The author herein examines the aforementioned threats to human security which contribute largely to the stagnation and stunting of sustainable programs that are imperative to the achievement of millennium development goals in Nigeria. In combating the problem of insecurity therefore, they proposed the need for the development of proactive policies which would help preclude factors that are hazardous to human security. The most important of these policies, in his opinion, must be one which enhances the empowerment of citizens through effective and efficient developmental programs geared towards the maximization of the potentials of human capital as central to the growth of other available resources. This is necessary considering the strategic position Nigeria occupies in Africa. More importantly, the paper emphasized the central role of the judiciary in reinstating the rule of law in the quest for the enhancement of sustainable development. The judiciary must itself be ready to uphold its tenets of high moral standard and be purged of corruption, which is fundamental to all other human security threats. It must be the watchdog of the other arms of government and must as such be truly independent to adequately carry out its functions. This being done, Nigeria would be able to validate her claim as a leading force in the pursuit of development in Africa and also foster her cooperation with other sub Saharan African nations.
This study conceptualizes techlienation from the historical standpoint of imperialism, which has ... more This study conceptualizes techlienation from the historical standpoint of imperialism, which has created a legacy of sociocultural entanglements within asymmetrical relationships in Africa. It argues that the vestiges of imperialism are perpetuated through certain technological affordances that require new approaches to the interpretation of alienation within emergent African intra-diasporic contexts. It therefore explores the theorization on alienation from the Hegelian normative/ontological perspective that holistically interrogates man’s objectification outside of the Absolute Spirit; and the Marxian descriptive historical cum socioeconomic contextualization of the politics of separating man from the products of his labour. The study also establishes the theoretical underpinnings of alienation in Africa within anti-imperial discourses, especially following its application to the experiences of slavery and colonialism in the quest for decolonisation. It subsequently contends that the forces of neo-imperialism have appropriated digital tools, especially those of new information and communication technologies, to transform the operational dynamics of digital labor in reinforcing cultural imperialism while creating African intra-diasporic contexts. The study concludes that the reparations debate should incorporate the reality of digitally afforded cultural estrangement through the quest for digital justice, as it relates to content creation and dissemination; while postulating the need for Afrocentric retooling and remodeling of today’s digital culture.
This study conceptualizes techlienation from the historical standpoint of imperialism, which has ... more This study conceptualizes techlienation from the historical standpoint of imperialism, which has created a legacy of sociocultural entanglements within asymmetrical relationships in Africa. It argues that the vestiges of imperialism are perpetuated through certain technological affordances that require new approaches to the interpretation of alienation within emergent African intra-diasporic contexts. It therefore explores the theorization on alienation from the Hegelian normative/ontological perspective that holistically interrogates man’s objectification outside of the Absolute Spirit; and the Marxian descriptive historical cum socioeconomic contextualization of the politics of separating man from the products of his labour. The study also establishes the theoretical underpinnings of alienation in Africa within anti-imperial discourses, especially following its application to the experiences of slavery and colonialism in the quest for decolonisation. It subsequently contends that the forces of neo-imperialism have appropriated digital tools, especially those of new information and communication technologies, to transform the operational dynamics of digital labor in reinforcing cultural imperialism while creating African intra-diasporic contexts. The study concludes that the reparations debate should incorporate the reality of digitally afforded cultural estrangement through the quest for digital justice, as it relates to content creation and dissemination; while postulating the need for Afrocentric retooling and remodeling of today’s digital culture.
This study is a documentation of the gender dynamics of Nigeria's Conflict context. It details th... more This study is a documentation of the gender dynamics of Nigeria's Conflict context. It details the structures of resilience alongside conflict management efforts across the six regions: Northeast (Borno), Northwest (Sokoto), Northcentral (Plateau), Southeast (Enugu), Southwest (Oyo), and Southsouth (Bayelsa).
This study details the gendered dynamics of the structures of resilience amidst the ongoing chall... more This study details the gendered dynamics of the structures of resilience amidst the ongoing challenge of Banditry and other forms of insecurity in Northwest Nigeria
Bulletin de l'Observatoire international du religieux N°47, 2024
The current crises in Gaza, which was triggered by the attacks on Israel by members of Hamas on O... more The current crises in Gaza, which was triggered by the attacks on Israel by members of Hamas on October 7, has led to the rise of antisemitism globally. There have been a lot of pro-Palestinian protests initiated to call for what some consider the occupation of the Palestinian territory by Israel, where others have highlighted the humanitarian crises resulting from Israel's response through air and land operations to seek out hostages and end the reign of terror by Hamas in the territory. Along with these Expressions of Jewish hate have been on the rise in different European countries alongside the US, and these include the vandalization of Holocaust-related memory initiatives, earmarking Jewish residences with swastikas, and physical violence, sometimes resulting in Jewish fatalities, especially during attacks on Jewish synagogues. The threats of antisemitic sentiments have led Jews to adopt coping mechanisms that include changing of names, refraining from wearing Jewish attire, skipping classes and other social activities, and relocation outside of locations considered unsafe for Jews. The global resurgence of antisemitism thus necessitates the need to explore the its implications for the Global South, especially among practicing Jews. The study leverages on the conventionally endorsed definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance to explore the nuances of politics of identity as relates to religion and consanguinity in understanding the application of antisemitism to the Jews in Nigeria.
This report traces the history of the re-enactment of the Nigerian Police Act and Outlines propos... more This report traces the history of the re-enactment of the Nigerian Police Act and Outlines proposal for its implementation
In this presentation, I argue that that the friction between Ekeh's Primordial and Civic Publics ... more In this presentation, I argue that that the friction between Ekeh's Primordial and Civic Publics as derived from ethnicism has led to the emergence of an (im)moral public in postcolonial Nigeria, while advocating for a return to Volonte Generale as opposed to Volonte de l'Elite, which has separated the people from their governance architecture
The report details the deployment of technology by both the Nigerian Military and the insurgents,... more The report details the deployment of technology by both the Nigerian Military and the insurgents, including the efforts of the Nigerian Government at improving investments on technology for counterinsurgency purposes
Nigeria’s mono-economic dependence on oil has been a paradox of an albatross on socio-economic gr... more Nigeria’s mono-economic dependence on oil has been a paradox of an albatross on socio-economic growth and development, as the country grapples to secure a cure for its Dutch disease since the oil boom era of the 1970s. In inverting the dependency theory, as a conspiracy of the rich to make the poor dependent, this paper contends that the reverse is the case as the wealth of rich socio-political elites within the Nigerian context is solely dependent on the exploitation of the less developed oil bearing communities within an impoverished population. These communities perpetually live under hazardous ecological conditions in spite of their resources upon which the Nigerian state is dependent. It posits that the Boko Haram insurgency is an offshoot of this paradox while exploring the emerging dynamics of the oil factor amidst the resurgence of attacks in the Northeast. It thus advocates the need to rehumanize the Nigerian populace through Amartya Sen’s human capabilities’ approach, whereby socio-economic conditions are addressed through structural and institutional changes amidst a socially and environmentally responsible population. Key Words: Boko Haram insurgency, oil-induced conflicts, human capabilities theory, mono-economic oil dependency
The perennial nature of ethno-religious conflicts the World over indicates the need for lasting s... more The perennial nature of ethno-religious conflicts the World over indicates the need for lasting solutions which would lead to sustainable peace and ultimately development. This can only be made possible when peace practitioners go beyond the politicization of the conflict situations and adopt genuine strategies of interventions. One of the major steps of such interventions is therefore an in-depth analysis of the historicity of conflicts which helps in the discovery of the interplay of certain factors which encapsulates its patrimony, memory and identity. The author of this work therefore attempts to identify the interplay of the aforementioned factors in the Nigerian example of the Zango - Kataf crises in Kaduna State of Northern Nigeria. The paper focuses on the issue of land ownership and ethnic minority complexities which are core issues in the dynamics of the crises. It examines the key actors of the conflict situation and its spill over effects on other parts of the state. The various attempts at the resolution of the conflict were also espoused alongside reasons why the conflict has remained so recalcitrant within the context of its patrimony, memory and identity. Finally, the paper affirms that it is only when the genuine interests of the people are attended to using appropriate media that sustainable peace can be achieved and recommended ways through which this can be achieved.
The foundational Socratic maxim of self knowledge, “man know thyself”, though spanning through ag... more The foundational Socratic maxim of self knowledge, “man know thyself”, though spanning through ages, has retained its relevance down the years. This relevance cannot as well be underestimated in our age as the world struggles to keep covering thousands of miles within milliseconds. Nonetheless, there exists the danger of self loss amidst the rush which characterizes the continual discoveries and developments in a highly technological global space. Subsequently, the persistent developmental distinctions between nations and cultures with reference to developed, developing and less developed countries; and the latest addition of the fourth world to the earlier categorization of first, second and third worlds, has led to the shift in the definition of what it means to be developed, civilized and advanced. The resultant effect of this is the unhealthy wholesome consumption of what is regarded as civilization by nations who have been made to believe that all there is about them is backward. The author of this paper therefore seeks to situate the gradual loss of identity which is insidiously eating deep into the cultural ambience of the Nigerian geo-political space. While espousing the importance of culture in the creation of identity, he proposes the need for a sort of cultural resurgence to preclude further alienation of Nigerians from their cultural heritage. This is in the bid to pave a way forward by adapting modernity to our unique Nigerian situation.
The 1993 Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) emphasized t... more The 1993 Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) emphasized the shift in emphasis of human security from the protection of the state to that of individuals within the state; where the protection of the territorial integrity of a state, through the use of arms, gives way to developmental policies and projects to better the lot of the individual citizens of the state with the adequate provision of food, shelter, clothing, social amenities, conducive and habitable environment; and the empowerment of these individuals to initiate and sustain whatever developmental projects being undertaken. This paradigm shift in man’s defense against factors which constitute threat to his existence is not unconnected with the emerging trends of conflicts in the post-cold war era where a decrease in inter-state tensions paved the way for a spontaneous rise in the spate of ethnic intrastate violence globally and more especially in Africa. Apart from this, the continent had indeed been plagued by varieties of other threats to security such as armed robbery, accidents, sickness, poverty, Unavailability/Inaccessibility of Quality Education, corruption and natural disaster. The unquantifiable and somewhat irreparable loss of human lives and valuable properties resulting from such threats are indicators that the absence of adequate human security is a fillip underdevelopment in any nation. This shall constitute the crux of this discussion with specific focus on Nigeria. This paper therefore focuses on deriving sustainable solutions to the problem of underdevelopment that plagues the Nigerian nation. The author herein examines the aforementioned threats to human security which contribute largely to the stagnation and stunting of sustainable programs that are imperative to the achievement of millennium development goals in Nigeria. In combating the problem of insecurity therefore, they proposed the need for the development of proactive policies which would help preclude factors that are hazardous to human security. The most important of these policies, in his opinion, must be one which enhances the empowerment of citizens through effective and efficient developmental programs geared towards the maximization of the potentials of human capital as central to the growth of other available resources. This is necessary considering the strategic position Nigeria occupies in Africa. More importantly, the paper emphasized the central role of the judiciary in reinstating the rule of law in the quest for the enhancement of sustainable development. The judiciary must itself be ready to uphold its tenets of high moral standard and be purged of corruption, which is fundamental to all other human security threats. It must be the watchdog of the other arms of government and must as such be truly independent to adequately carry out its functions. This being done, Nigeria would be able to validate her claim as a leading force in the pursuit of development in Africa and also foster her cooperation with other sub Saharan African nations.
This study conceptualizes techlienation from the historical standpoint of imperialism, which has ... more This study conceptualizes techlienation from the historical standpoint of imperialism, which has created a legacy of sociocultural entanglements within asymmetrical relationships in Africa. It argues that the vestiges of imperialism are perpetuated through certain technological affordances that require new approaches to the interpretation of alienation within emergent African intra-diasporic contexts. It therefore explores the theorization on alienation from the Hegelian normative/ontological perspective that holistically interrogates man’s objectification outside of the Absolute Spirit; and the Marxian descriptive historical cum socioeconomic contextualization of the politics of separating man from the products of his labour. The study also establishes the theoretical underpinnings of alienation in Africa within anti-imperial discourses, especially following its application to the experiences of slavery and colonialism in the quest for decolonisation. It subsequently contends that the forces of neo-imperialism have appropriated digital tools, especially those of new information and communication technologies, to transform the operational dynamics of digital labor in reinforcing cultural imperialism while creating African intra-diasporic contexts. The study concludes that the reparations debate should incorporate the reality of digitally afforded cultural estrangement through the quest for digital justice, as it relates to content creation and dissemination; while postulating the need for Afrocentric retooling and remodeling of today’s digital culture.
This study conceptualizes techlienation from the historical standpoint of imperialism, which has ... more This study conceptualizes techlienation from the historical standpoint of imperialism, which has created a legacy of sociocultural entanglements within asymmetrical relationships in Africa. It argues that the vestiges of imperialism are perpetuated through certain technological affordances that require new approaches to the interpretation of alienation within emergent African intra-diasporic contexts. It therefore explores the theorization on alienation from the Hegelian normative/ontological perspective that holistically interrogates man’s objectification outside of the Absolute Spirit; and the Marxian descriptive historical cum socioeconomic contextualization of the politics of separating man from the products of his labour. The study also establishes the theoretical underpinnings of alienation in Africa within anti-imperial discourses, especially following its application to the experiences of slavery and colonialism in the quest for decolonisation. It subsequently contends that the forces of neo-imperialism have appropriated digital tools, especially those of new information and communication technologies, to transform the operational dynamics of digital labor in reinforcing cultural imperialism while creating African intra-diasporic contexts. The study concludes that the reparations debate should incorporate the reality of digitally afforded cultural estrangement through the quest for digital justice, as it relates to content creation and dissemination; while postulating the need for Afrocentric retooling and remodeling of today’s digital culture.
This study is a documentation of the gender dynamics of Nigeria's Conflict context. It details th... more This study is a documentation of the gender dynamics of Nigeria's Conflict context. It details the structures of resilience alongside conflict management efforts across the six regions: Northeast (Borno), Northwest (Sokoto), Northcentral (Plateau), Southeast (Enugu), Southwest (Oyo), and Southsouth (Bayelsa).
This study details the gendered dynamics of the structures of resilience amidst the ongoing chall... more This study details the gendered dynamics of the structures of resilience amidst the ongoing challenge of Banditry and other forms of insecurity in Northwest Nigeria
Bulletin de l'Observatoire international du religieux N°47, 2024
The current crises in Gaza, which was triggered by the attacks on Israel by members of Hamas on O... more The current crises in Gaza, which was triggered by the attacks on Israel by members of Hamas on October 7, has led to the rise of antisemitism globally. There have been a lot of pro-Palestinian protests initiated to call for what some consider the occupation of the Palestinian territory by Israel, where others have highlighted the humanitarian crises resulting from Israel's response through air and land operations to seek out hostages and end the reign of terror by Hamas in the territory. Along with these Expressions of Jewish hate have been on the rise in different European countries alongside the US, and these include the vandalization of Holocaust-related memory initiatives, earmarking Jewish residences with swastikas, and physical violence, sometimes resulting in Jewish fatalities, especially during attacks on Jewish synagogues. The threats of antisemitic sentiments have led Jews to adopt coping mechanisms that include changing of names, refraining from wearing Jewish attire, skipping classes and other social activities, and relocation outside of locations considered unsafe for Jews. The global resurgence of antisemitism thus necessitates the need to explore the its implications for the Global South, especially among practicing Jews. The study leverages on the conventionally endorsed definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance to explore the nuances of politics of identity as relates to religion and consanguinity in understanding the application of antisemitism to the Jews in Nigeria.
This report traces the history of the re-enactment of the Nigerian Police Act and Outlines propos... more This report traces the history of the re-enactment of the Nigerian Police Act and Outlines proposal for its implementation
This article demonstrates the ways Nigerian youths responded to the tragic shooting of a Nigerian... more This article demonstrates the ways Nigerian youths responded to the tragic shooting of a Nigerian by agents of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a Unit of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), in Delta State, Nigeria. We examined the activities that characterized the ENDSARS protest on Social media and ensuing physical protests that represent the ability of youths to plan, organize, execute, and force the Nigerian government to act. This article consists of a qualitative artifact and textual analysis of tweets from between 11 September 2020 and 11 October 2020. the findings revealed the various strategies Nigerian Youths used to shape the discussion on police brutality and force the Government to abolish the SARS Unit of the Police Force
The debate on the power dynamics of pedagogy within multilingual teaching and learning environmen... more The debate on the power dynamics of pedagogy within multilingual teaching and learning environments has encapsulated discussions around suitable approaches to teaching second languages in an additive context that prioritises the preservation of indigenous languages. Scholars of linguistic pedagogy have historically theorised additive and subtractive multilingualism, with current debates centring on translanguaging pedagogy, which entails harnessing the different linguistic repertoires of the learner. This, among other things, involves codeswitching, during which the educational experience is extended beyond the classroom to the sociocultural context of the learning environment. While there has been much focus on teaching second languages early, there needs to be more literature exploring the expression of the translanguaging experience among young adults and professionals seeking to acquire second languages as cultural capital. Therefore, this study advances the discourses by unpacking the extant debates on the practices of Mandarin pedagogy in Africa, drawing from the educational experiences at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Nigeria and the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. The study adopted an analysis of in-depth interviews, primary and secondary literature, and digital archival materials to understand how Mandarin pedagogy is gradually gaining legitimacy on the continent. It advocates for indigenising the teaching staff to maximise the impacts of translanguaging on Mandarin pedagogy in Africa. It also postulates the need for the intentional development of indigenous languages to manage agitations around subtractive bilingualism by adopting national policy frameworks that enable the creation of multilingual centres for a mutually reinforcing pedagogy.
The hedonistic claim that the ultimate human motivation is the quest for pleasure and the avoidan... more The hedonistic claim that the ultimate human motivation is the quest for pleasure and the avoidance of pain has been fundamental to philosophical discourses on human actions through different epochs. This reflects the fact that both pleasure and pain are central to existential realities. However, the contrasting nature of these phenomena reflects the need for coping mechanisms to overcome pain in order to attain pleasure. Therefore, this study applies the analytical method of critical discourse to explore Nigerian netizenship by creating a historical narrative of sociopolitical engagements through the comedy genre of entertainment. The study thus traces the transitions through different technological evolutions in the entertainment industry while positing that the Metaverse is the future of the sociopolitics of Nigerian netizens as a safer option for digital activism and for engaging in socioeconomic interactions.
ABOUT CRADPI CRADPI is a centre for education and research on technology and innovations with foc... more ABOUT CRADPI CRADPI is a centre for education and research on technology and innovations with focus on Africans on the continent, as well as in the Diaspora. Its aims include to deliver impacts for digital futures. It therefore engages in capacity-building for relevant stakeholders on state-ofthe-art policy making processes as relevant to technological innovations globally, while providing technical support to governments and regional bodies on inclusive approaches to access of technology. It also engages with its network of scholars to carry out research on the technicalities of formulation, implementation and evaluation of digital policies relevant to Africa and its Diaspora with the aim of generating innovative ideas that provide supportive technological resources to advance development of Africans that are relevant to the creation of smart futures.
Nigeria, as a multi-ethnic state, has been rife with perennial conflicts resulting from struggles... more Nigeria, as a multi-ethnic state, has been rife with perennial conflicts resulting from struggles for territorial dominance, administrative and political legitimacy and resource control. This study thus explores the relational contexts of these conflicts, which are often subtended by contours of ethno-religious differences as was the case between the Hausa and Atyap in the Zangon Kataf Community of Kaduna State, Nigeria. The study details the historical context of manipulation of these differences by state actors in asserting and changing the dynamics of political legitimacy and control. The latter part of the paper describes qualitative research supporting earlier assertions. It employs a qualitative methodology with the use of key informant interviews and personal observation involving major stakeholders within a three year period between 2011 and 2014. It subsequently contends that the restoration of peace in the community was dependent on the transformation of relations between...
Diasporic communities, as geographies of national cultures abroad, are central to cultural hybrid... more Diasporic communities, as geographies of national cultures abroad, are central to cultural hybridity as new cultures emerge when migrants intersect with their host communities. They have also been construed by national governments as informal trajectories for continuities of economic and diplomatic relations. This study examines the cultural intersectionality of the Yoruba and Chinese diasporic communities by situating the points of convergence for normative ethics within the Yoruba – Chinese sociocultural experiences as cross-cultural templates for diasporic spaces serving to consolidate official national partnerships. The study explores case studies from performances of the Chinese Ru tradition, founded on three basic virtues of ren, yi and li, and juxtaposes them with Yoruba ethical equivalents of ṣ’ènìyàn (humaneness), òdodo (righteousness) and ìwà-ètọ́ ̣(propriety) as prerequisites for qualifying as omo ̣ lúàbí ̣ . The study contends that these ethical codes, retained in diaspo...
Postmodern contradictions in postcolonial Nigeria have led to the fetishisation of alternative lo... more Postmodern contradictions in postcolonial Nigeria have led to the fetishisation of alternative local security measures often labelled as vigilante activities. The profiling of these groups as ethnic militia often undermines their essential bid to provide security while delimiting security needs to the physical. The fallouts of such profiling are frictions between federal security agents and ethnic-based security groups, often resulting in violence, as exemplified by the 7 May 2013 incident between the Nigerian federal security agents and the Ombatse. This study focuses on the emergence and activities of the Ombatse as an alternative security apparatus of the Eggon. It presents three years of field research which entailed the use of ethnography, key informant interviews and observation. The findings reveal that the Ombatse emerged to assert historical legitimacy for both the physical and spiritual securitisation of the Eggon through a return to the ancestral ways of social engineerin...
The report details the weaponisation of the Covid-19 by Boko Haram and how different contexts det... more The report details the weaponisation of the Covid-19 by Boko Haram and how different contexts determine vulnerabilities of communities in terms of compliance, and exposure to attacks and propaganda
The presentation is on how the character of space defines the valuation of artefacts based on how... more The presentation is on how the character of space defines the valuation of artefacts based on how their use in the diaspora and the rituals at home
Animals were also not immuned from diplomatic sanctions in Cuba as the ban of Havana an Afghan ho... more Animals were also not immuned from diplomatic sanctions in Cuba as the ban of Havana an Afghan hound shows. As Huddleston explained, the ban was a diplomatic move to check the excesses of he Chief of the US Interests Section. This was tagged Doggie Diplomacy in the media to show how animals get implicated through their affiliation within diplomatic rifts.
The chapter details the historical context of challenges to press freedom in setting the context ... more The chapter details the historical context of challenges to press freedom in setting the context for subsequent modules designed for educating all stakeholders on the challenges to press freedom and how to better guarantee it
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Key Words: Boko Haram insurgency, oil-induced conflicts, human capabilities theory, mono-economic oil dependency
The paper focuses on the issue of land ownership and ethnic minority complexities which are core issues in the dynamics of the crises. It examines the key actors of the conflict situation and its spill over effects on other parts of the state. The various attempts at the resolution of the conflict were also espoused alongside reasons why the conflict has remained so recalcitrant within the context of its patrimony, memory and identity. Finally, the paper affirms that it is only when the genuine interests of the people are attended to using appropriate media that sustainable peace can be achieved and recommended ways through which this can be achieved.
Subsequently, the persistent developmental distinctions between nations and cultures with reference to developed, developing and less developed countries; and the latest addition of the fourth world to the earlier categorization of first, second and third worlds, has led to the shift in the definition of what it means to be developed, civilized and advanced. The resultant effect of this is the unhealthy wholesome consumption of what is regarded as civilization by nations who have been made to believe that all there is about them is backward.
The author of this paper therefore seeks to situate the gradual loss of identity which is insidiously eating deep into the cultural ambience of the Nigerian geo-political space. While espousing the importance of culture in the creation of identity, he proposes the need for a sort of cultural resurgence to preclude further alienation of Nigerians from their cultural heritage. This is in the bid to pave a way forward by adapting modernity to our unique Nigerian situation.
This paradigm shift in man’s defense against factors which constitute threat to his existence is not unconnected with the emerging trends of conflicts in the post-cold war era where a decrease in inter-state tensions paved the way for a spontaneous rise in the spate of ethnic intrastate violence globally and more especially in Africa. Apart from this, the continent had indeed been plagued by varieties of other threats to security such as armed robbery, accidents, sickness, poverty, Unavailability/Inaccessibility of Quality Education, corruption and natural disaster. The unquantifiable and somewhat irreparable loss of human lives and valuable properties resulting from such threats are indicators that the absence of adequate human security is a fillip underdevelopment in any nation. This shall constitute the crux of this discussion with specific focus on Nigeria.
This paper therefore focuses on deriving sustainable solutions to the problem of underdevelopment that plagues the Nigerian nation. The author herein examines the aforementioned threats to human security which contribute largely to the stagnation and stunting of sustainable programs that are imperative to the achievement of millennium development goals in Nigeria. In combating the problem of insecurity therefore, they proposed the need for the development of proactive policies which would help preclude factors that are hazardous to human security. The most important of these policies, in his opinion, must be one which enhances the empowerment of citizens through effective and efficient developmental programs geared towards the maximization of the potentials of human capital as central to the growth of other available resources. This is necessary considering the strategic position Nigeria occupies in Africa. More importantly, the paper emphasized the central role of the judiciary in reinstating the rule of law in the quest for the enhancement of sustainable development. The judiciary must itself be ready to uphold its tenets of high moral standard and be purged of corruption, which is fundamental to all other human security threats. It must be the watchdog of the other arms of government and must as such be truly independent to adequately carry out its functions.
This being done, Nigeria would be able to validate her claim as a leading force in the pursuit of development in Africa and also foster her cooperation with other sub Saharan African nations.
Key Words: Boko Haram insurgency, oil-induced conflicts, human capabilities theory, mono-economic oil dependency
The paper focuses on the issue of land ownership and ethnic minority complexities which are core issues in the dynamics of the crises. It examines the key actors of the conflict situation and its spill over effects on other parts of the state. The various attempts at the resolution of the conflict were also espoused alongside reasons why the conflict has remained so recalcitrant within the context of its patrimony, memory and identity. Finally, the paper affirms that it is only when the genuine interests of the people are attended to using appropriate media that sustainable peace can be achieved and recommended ways through which this can be achieved.
Subsequently, the persistent developmental distinctions between nations and cultures with reference to developed, developing and less developed countries; and the latest addition of the fourth world to the earlier categorization of first, second and third worlds, has led to the shift in the definition of what it means to be developed, civilized and advanced. The resultant effect of this is the unhealthy wholesome consumption of what is regarded as civilization by nations who have been made to believe that all there is about them is backward.
The author of this paper therefore seeks to situate the gradual loss of identity which is insidiously eating deep into the cultural ambience of the Nigerian geo-political space. While espousing the importance of culture in the creation of identity, he proposes the need for a sort of cultural resurgence to preclude further alienation of Nigerians from their cultural heritage. This is in the bid to pave a way forward by adapting modernity to our unique Nigerian situation.
This paradigm shift in man’s defense against factors which constitute threat to his existence is not unconnected with the emerging trends of conflicts in the post-cold war era where a decrease in inter-state tensions paved the way for a spontaneous rise in the spate of ethnic intrastate violence globally and more especially in Africa. Apart from this, the continent had indeed been plagued by varieties of other threats to security such as armed robbery, accidents, sickness, poverty, Unavailability/Inaccessibility of Quality Education, corruption and natural disaster. The unquantifiable and somewhat irreparable loss of human lives and valuable properties resulting from such threats are indicators that the absence of adequate human security is a fillip underdevelopment in any nation. This shall constitute the crux of this discussion with specific focus on Nigeria.
This paper therefore focuses on deriving sustainable solutions to the problem of underdevelopment that plagues the Nigerian nation. The author herein examines the aforementioned threats to human security which contribute largely to the stagnation and stunting of sustainable programs that are imperative to the achievement of millennium development goals in Nigeria. In combating the problem of insecurity therefore, they proposed the need for the development of proactive policies which would help preclude factors that are hazardous to human security. The most important of these policies, in his opinion, must be one which enhances the empowerment of citizens through effective and efficient developmental programs geared towards the maximization of the potentials of human capital as central to the growth of other available resources. This is necessary considering the strategic position Nigeria occupies in Africa. More importantly, the paper emphasized the central role of the judiciary in reinstating the rule of law in the quest for the enhancement of sustainable development. The judiciary must itself be ready to uphold its tenets of high moral standard and be purged of corruption, which is fundamental to all other human security threats. It must be the watchdog of the other arms of government and must as such be truly independent to adequately carry out its functions.
This being done, Nigeria would be able to validate her claim as a leading force in the pursuit of development in Africa and also foster her cooperation with other sub Saharan African nations.