Papers by Harrison A D E W A L E Idowu
Politikon: The IAPSS Journal of Political Science, 2020
Across most democracies in Africa, election management is largely problematic, and peaceful alter... more Across most democracies in Africa, election management is largely problematic, and peaceful alternation of power between incumbent and opposition governments is usually infrequent and rancorous. The role of election management systems in such power alternations, specifically in Ghana and Nigeria, is not adequately covered in literature. Adopting an exploratory research design and qualitative methodology, this article explores the role of election management in the peaceful alternation of power between incumbent governments and opposition parties in the countries. It relies on primary data sourced from semi-structured interviews and secondary literature. The results show that, in Ghana, election management system is largely credible, thus, influenced incumbents’ willingness to peacefully hand over power to opposition, whereas, in Nigeria, peaceful alternation took place despite flawed election management system. The study concludes that while election management was significant for p...
African Journal on Conflict Resolution, 2020
Conflict is inevitable in any human relationship. The situation is the same in the university sys... more Conflict is inevitable in any human relationship. The situation is the same in the university system where several groups with diverse interests exist.While scholarly attention has focused on conf lict and conf lict resolution in the larger human society, less attention has been directed towards conf lict and its resolution between and among various groups within a university. This article empirically examines the relations between the Students’ Union (the body representing the students) and the management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), and the conf lict resolution mechanismsavailable to the groups. The article adopts secondary and primary data sourced from semi-structured interviews, and analyses the data using descriptive and content analysis methods. Findings show that the relations between the Students’ Union and the management of OAU are mixed, largely depending on the strategies adopted by the union leaders and the university administrators; that conf licts are mostly tr...
Conflict Trends, 2020
This paper examines the dynamics of conflicts in Nigeria amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in the country
Journal of African Elections , 2021
The paper interrogates the prospect of attaining sustainable democracy in Africa using biometric ... more The paper interrogates the prospect of attaining sustainable democracy in Africa using biometric technology (BT) for elections. Technology has become relevant in virtually every aspect of human endeavour, including election management and democratic development. In Africa, BT has also been deployed to improve the quality of elections and democracy. Using document analysis and review of relevant literature, findings indicate that to a large extent, BT is charting the path for sustainable democracy in Africa. However, the deployment of BT for African elections still faces serious challenges such as its high cost, inability to address some forms of electoral fraud, and lack of technical know-how. The paper concludes that the cultivation of political will to improve the quality of elections is important in order to address the current challenges of using BT in African elections and increase the prospect of attaining sustainable democracy.
Cogent Psychology, 2020
The paper examines the perceptions and attitudes of undergraduate students in Obafemi ... more The paper examines the perceptions and attitudes of undergraduate students in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) towards alternative sexual relationships (ASRs). In most parts of Africa, ASRs are largely frowned against, as most countries on the continent have illegalised the practice. While literature abounds generally on the acceptance or otherwise of ASRs, studies x-raying this subject matter from the perspective of an enthusiastic and explorative youth population among undergraduate students in Nigeria are scanty. The paper adopts descriptive research design and mixed (quantitative and qualitative) method. Structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Data were analysed using inferential and descriptive statistical tools of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings show that majority of undergraduate students in OAU (70.4%) hold negative perception of ASRs; and 55.2% of the students hold negative attitude towards ASRs. On gender basis, while more male students (56%) show negative attitude towards ASRs, a lower percentage (54.37%) of female students shows negative attitude towards the practice. The paper also finds that background characteristics (age, gender, religion and level of study) of students do not influence their perceptions and attitudes towards ASRs. The paper concludes that OAU students condemn and do not condone ASRs.
Taiwan Journal of Democracy, 2020
This essay investigates the critical factors contributing to peaceful power alternation and, by e... more This essay investigates the critical factors contributing to peaceful power alternation and, by extension, charts the path for democratic consolidation in Ghana and Nigeria. It adopts an exploratory research design which involves systematic collection, presentation, and analysis of data through relevant texts, observations, interviews, and documentary evidence. The essay relies on primary and secondary data from Ghana and Nigeria. The results show that, for Ghana, factors such as the country's transparent electoral management system and formidable democratic culture have been major contributors to the nation's democratic trajectory. Whereas in the Nigerian experience, an improved electoral management system; the perceptions of the electorate; pressure from stakeholders; and the personality of the incumbent president have had significant effects. The essay concludes that the transparent electoral management system and solid democratic culture in Ghana and the improved electoral management system and the personality of the incumbent president in Nigeria have been the greatest influences on power alternation and the democratic process. However, Ghana has fared better than Nigeria in these respects.
African Journal of Conflict Resolution, 2020
Conflict is inevitable in any human relationship. The situation is the same in the university sys... more Conflict is inevitable in any human relationship. The situation is the same in the university system where several groups with diverse interests exist. While scholarly attention has focused on conflict and conflict resolution in the larger human society, less attention has been directed towards conflict and its resolution between and among various groups within a university. This article empirically examines the relations between the Students’ Union (the body representing the students) and the management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), and the conflict resolution mechanisms available to the groups. The article adopts secondary and primary data sourced from semi-structured interviews, and analyses the data using descriptive and content analysis methods. Findings show that the relations between the Students’ Union and the management of OAU are mixed, largely depending on the strategies adopted by the union leaders and the university administrators; that conflicts are mostly triggered by issues bordering on students’ welfare; and that mechanisms such as mediation, negotiation, and consultation are some of the conflict resolution mechanisms between OAU students and management. The article concludes that the central issue between the Students’ Union and management of OAU is student welfare, and that to avert future conflicts, student welfare must be management’s priority at all times.
Politikon, 2020
Across most democracies in Africa, election management is largely problematic, and peaceful alter... more Across most democracies in Africa, election management is largely problematic, and peaceful alternation of power between incumbent and opposition governments is usually infrequent and rancorous. The role of election management systems in such power alternations, specifically in Ghana and Nigeria, is not adequately covered in literature. Adopting an exploratory research design and qualitative methodology, this article explores the role of election management in the peaceful alternation of power between incumbent governments and opposition parties in the countries. It relies on primary data sourced from semi-structured interviews and secondary literature. The results show that, in Ghana, election management system is largely credible, thus, influenced incumbents' willingness to peacefully hand over power to opposition, whereas, in Nigeria, peaceful alternation took place despite flawed election management system.
Journal of Research in National Development , 2019
This paper made use of secondary data and applied Game theory of conflict and coalition to analyz... more This paper made use of secondary data and applied Game theory of conflict and coalition to analyze the situation the federal government of Nigeria found itself in using either negotiation or military force to seek release of the remaining one hundred and thirteen (113) Chibok school girls in Boko Haram captivity. The paper found that the dominant option available to the government is the use of force whereas use of the non-dominant strategy of negotiation will yield better payoff (outcome/benefits). As a result, the paper recommends that negotiation is better employed and used cautiously and diplomatically in order for the federal government to gain maximally.
United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy, 2019
The paper explores the role of social and solidarity economy in achieving sustainable finance in ... more The paper explores the role of social and solidarity economy in achieving sustainable finance in Nigeria. It adopts a local and specific case study dimension, using Awovarsity CICS as a case study, while also interrogating the role of a national actor, N-SIP in achieving sustainable finance in Nigeria. The paper adopts exploratory research design with primary data sourced mainly from semi-structured interviews. The results show that the activities of Awovarsity CICS such as savings, loaning, mortgage services, etc. are capable of achieving sustainable finance. It also finds that Awovarsity CICS affords members’ access to fair and affordable finance via a largely democratized process, indicating some form of sustainable finance. In spite of this role, some constraints/challenges such as corrupt leadership, nepotism and politicking, among others are identified to pose threat to the sustainability of the cooperative. The study concludes that indeed, cooperative societies, an arm of social and solidarity economy, where properly managed, are veritable tools to achieving sustainable finance. They feed into the agenda of sustainable national development in Nigeria. The implication is that the activities by cooperative societies can also be replicated at the national level to speed up the achievement of sustainable finance in the country.
Afro Asian Journal of Social Sciences, 2018
Women involvement in governance-femocracy is rare in Nigeria and Africa in general. However, a ne... more Women involvement in governance-femocracy is rare in Nigeria and Africa in general. However, a new trend has emerged in femocracy and it becomes pertinent to interrogate this trend and its effect on the empowerment and development of women in Nigeria. Among others, the paper therefore assesses the trends of femocracy in Nigeria; and examines the role of femocracy in women empowerment and development in Nigeria under the Fourth Republic. Scholarly efforts have been made to highlight the role of women in politics/governance in Nigeria, however, it still remains to be unravelled the specific effect of femocracy on the empowerment and development of women. Hence, the study. The paper relied on secondary data. The paper finds that femocracy, although often politicised, has contributed immensely to women empowerment and development in Nigeria. It therefore recommends that femocracy be depoliticised in order to fully harness it for the betterment of women.
Conflict Studies Quarterly , 2019
Conflict and its resolution have often been part of human history. While the post-colonial state ... more Conflict and its resolution have often been part of human history. While the post-colonial state has often been the focus when explaining the persistence of conflicts and its resolution in Africa, the benefits of such focus and analysis has not been enough to explain the intra and interstate nature of conflicts and conflict management in Africa. This necessitates a reconsideration of conflict management strategies. Such reconsideration will show the intricate ways conflicts and its resolutions are shaped, especially in post-conflict societies, through the instrumentality of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism. With Liberia as the focus and unit of analysis, it noted that the country has been the epicentre of several years of violent conflicts with both internal and external dimensions, raising questions about the effectiveness of the orthodox conflict management mechanisms given that the Liberian conflict was intractable for a long time. However, the adoption of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms has helped resolve most, if not all, of the conflicts. This paper, therefore, examines the local, traditional and communal alternative dispute resolution mechanisms used to solve the Liberian crisis. Specifically, the paper interrogates traditional methods of conflict resolution , inclusive of communalism, ethnocultural perception of conflicts and its resolution, as
Conflict Studies Quarterly , 2018
This paper interrogates the negotiation and mediation techniques that was used following aggressi... more This paper interrogates the negotiation and mediation techniques that was used following aggression, violence and social disruptions in Mano River basin, particularly against the recent return to democracy in the region. While peace has largely been restored, the scattered but continuing incidence of aggression, violence and social disruptions in the Basin has raised questions about the viability of negotiation and mediation techniques. The success or failure of these techniques has effect on the sustainability of State, individual and social structures in the region. Therefore, the paper argues that enough attention has not been paid to the ethical, moral and historical dimensions of the problem of negotiation and mediation, especially the role of traditional institutions and civil society agencies as critical components in conlict resolution. Given this, the paper draws attention to some of the gaps and challenges embedded in 'imported' negotiation and mediation techniques that leverage the certiication of conlicts in Africa as being "ethnic and racial". Using secondary data and drawing on personal experiences in the Mano River Basin (MRB) countries in West Africa, the paper also raises critical questions about the relationship between negotiation and mediation techniques and conlict resolution and the lessons learned so far. It also suggests ways of addressing those aspects of negotiation and mediation techniques deicits as a basis for suggesting options that will likely reduce recourse to conlicts, encourage dialogue and inclusive participation, as well as increase the chances for peace in the region and Africa.
This paper examines the roles of political parties in democracy and democratization, with focus o... more This paper examines the roles of political parties in democracy and democratization, with focus on how the existing political parties have assisted in democratic consolidation in Nigeria since 1999. Political parties are the engine room of democratic societies and without them, there will be no genuine democracy. Hence, Schattchneider (1942), revealed the importance of political parties when he stated that " modern democracy is unthinkable save in terms of political parties ". Indeed, the existence of vibrant political parties is a sine qua non for democratic consolidation. Therefore, it is not just the existence of political parties themselves per se, but the existence of vibrant ones in the polity. The degree of democratic consolidation in a country depends largely on the character and conduct of the country's political parties. The paper adopts Schedler's democratic consolidation theory and Arthur Fisher Bentley's group theory as tools of analysis, while also accessing data through the review of relevant literature: books, journals, magazines, articles, newspapers, and the internet. Data gathered are analyzed via content analysis. The paper observes among others, that Nigerian political parties, which have grown from a mere two in the 3 rd Republic to forty registered parties today, have not scored high in terms of democratic consolidation when placed side by side other countries heading towards stable democracy. This, is observed, is often due to factors such as; opposition parties are rarely alive to perform their political responsibilities, most of them are only but fragile entities, hence have only developed shallow roots in the society. Furthermore, incessant fragmentation/division within the ruling parties and opposition parties, the un-institutionalized nature of most political parties in Nigeria, to mention a few, pose a major drawback to democratic consolidation. Finally, the paper suggests among others that an overhaul of Nigerian political parties is inevitable.
Books by Harrison A D E W A L E Idowu
Springer Nature, Switzerland AG, 2020
The entry comparatively explores the operations of local governance and public service delivery i... more The entry comparatively explores the operations of local governance and public service delivery in Ghana and Nigeria. While Ghana is ahead of Nigeria in most of the aspects studied, both countries still experience poor local governance and public service delivery.
Springer Nature, Switzerland AG, 2020
The entry comparatively explores the operations of local governance and public service delivery i... more The entry comparatively explores the operations of local governance and public service delivery in Ghana and Nigeria. While Ghana is ahead of Nigeria in most of the aspects studied, both countries still experience poor local governance and public service delivery.
St. James’s Studies in World Affairs Academica Press Washington - London , 2019
This paper examines the devastating impact of insecurity on governance in West Africa.
IGI Global, 2019
Given the deplorable state of higher education and the relatively poor attention given to educati... more Given the deplorable state of higher education and the relatively poor attention given to education by African leaders and university administrators, the chapter interrogates global best practices in higher education and how Africa can key into this. Europe and the Asian Tigers, considered to have made significant progress in quality of higher education, are used as benchmarks for best practices in higher education. Relying on the review of extant relevant literature and document analysis, the chapter finds that practices such as massive inclusion of vocational and technical trainings in higher education cur-ricula; increase budgetary allocations to higher education and policy implementation beyond mere formulation have impacted positively on higher education in Europe and among the Asian Tigers. As such, the chapter concludes that if Africa must make significant progress and improve on the quality of its higher education, it must begin to use these practices.
IGI Global, 2019
Higher Education in Africa has gone through various stages and processes. Starting from the colon... more Higher Education in Africa has gone through various stages and processes. Starting from the colonial period, higher education was conceived as the fulcrum to drive development, provide skilled workers for administration, and showcase the best in knowledge production in the continent. The listed aims were seen as the Higher Education agenda. However, years after independence, questions are being raised about the quality of knowledge dispensed and viability of graduates to compete in the labor market, within and outside Africa. To answer these questions, the chapter, relying on survey and secondary data, addresses the challenges of quality management in African universities in view of the Higher Education Agenda. This is with a view to recommending policy options that address the quality management deficits in Africa's Higher Education.
WISG Academic publishers, 2018
Theories are important to understanding real life situation and events. As such, it becomes perti... more Theories are important to understanding real life situation and events. As such, it becomes pertinent to theorize conflicts in Africa in order to get a better understanding of their causes, patterns, trends and prevention. This is with the view to enhance prevention mechanisms. This is the very thrust of this chapter.
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Papers by Harrison A D E W A L E Idowu
Books by Harrison A D E W A L E Idowu