Contemporary Nigeria Research Articles

EDUCATION IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA: TRENDS, CHALLENGES AND THE WAY FORWARD

There are diverse challenges confronting humanity in the 21st century. Education in contemporary Nigeria is confronted with several o f such challenges. This paper x-rays the challenges confronting the Nigerian Education system at all levels, especially in the last decade and offers suggestions on the way forward for the attainment o f improved, qualitative education delivery in Nigeria. The paper concludes that if the suggested solutions to the diagnosed ailments to the education system are implemented, the present influx of Nigerian students to other countries will be checked and the pathway towards greatness will be realistically open.

Rejecting Continuity and Rupture

Patronage and financial corruption are rife in the contemporary Nigerian state and have gained widespread social acceptance, indicating a belief that it is legitimate to appropriate state resources for personal gain. In this paper I concentrate on the historical antecedents of this state of affairs. Focusing on the Igbo-speaking south-east of the country, I argue that an understanding of contemporary Nigeria must be based on a syncretic analysis: that is, a combination of influences from pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial eras. Despite this, the colonial era should not be downplayed as an influence, as some have sought to argue. In particular, I argue that the imposition of warrant chiefs in previously acephalous communities with participatory governance engendered a belief that government did not belong to local people.

Some Thoughts about Literature as a Means of Advancing Sustainable Unity and Stability in the Contemporary Nigerian State

An in depth investigation was conducted on the possibility of literature employed to enhance cohesion, sustainable unity, national stability and security of lives and property in the contemporary Nigeria. These three elements- Unity, national stability and security of lives and property are considered the key-pillars of a modern state, the absence of which render the Country volatile and uninhabitable. The contemporary Nigeria lacks these elements in a large dose, thereby rendering it a country without peace and security. This has been the root cause of the current nationwide agitation for a national conference required to define the future for a country that has existed for a century, but still grappling unsuccessfully, with the problems of nationhood. This paper identified the cause of the problems to arise from the multi-ethnic composition of the one-hundred and seventy million people and over three hundred different ethnic nationals of Nigeria. The fact of uniting so many ethnic groups into one country is not peculiar to Nigeria, as many other countries have a similar composition.

Managing police grievances in a depressed economy: the Lagos Colony Police mutiny of 1933

Its command structure notwithstanding, police forces are composed of men whose actions and reactions are influenced by prevailing circumstances. Even when their responses could negate the norms and mores of the organisation, the management of such responses is essential to the protection and promotion of the corporate integrity of the police force, on the one hand, and social wellbeing, on the other. Given the centrality and the continued relevance of the economy to tenure, productivity and welfare of workers – including policemen – this article discusses grievance management strategies employed by the police high command in the case of the Lagos Colony Police mutiny of 1933. The article situates the mutiny in the context of the economic depression of the 1920s and 1930s and assesses the effectiveness of the measures adopted to control it vis-à-vis the nature of the police grievances, the nature of the police force and the prevailing economic situation. The study concludes that its grave dangers to the police force and the country notwithstanding, a mutiny in the police force, like any other segment of the armed forces, could not really be stopped (as seen in contemporary Nigeria) but the manner of its management could make a significant difference (hence the need for the force to be more proactive, responsible and responsive).

A 'nation' in wilderness: Youth and insurgency in Nigeria

ABSTRACTPrior to and immediately after independence, young Nigerians, under different political and intellectual platforms, had individually and collectively instituted and succeeded in fostering progressive change in the Nigerian polity, most times without being violent and destructive. Through these platforms, they were able to checkmate and monitor the excessiveness of the ruling elites. However, it appears that such spirit of nation-building and patriotism is fast disappearing in contemporary Nigeria. Young Nigerians are increasingly becoming violent and destructive, probably because they are angry and frustrated. The brutal killings of innocent Nigerians in schools and other places by the Boko Haram have thrown the country into a state of pandemonium and mourning. This article examines the emergence of insurgency across the geopolitical zones in Nigeria within the context of social movement theories. It argues that the inherent social structural maladies and/or prevailing sociopolitical environment have provided impetus for the emergence and maintenance of insurgency among the youth in Nigeria. It calls for the need to subject and interrogate the current waves of insurgency across ethnic cleavages in Nigeria to a more nuanced and pragmatic analysis in order to dissect and unravel their sociostructural and political undertones.

Power Rotation, Ethnic Politics and the Challenges of Democratization in Contemporary Nigeria

This article examines contemporary arguments and counter-arguments about zoning and power rotation, and the overall implications of these principles for the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria. Because geopolitical zone structures roughly approximate to ethnonational groups, they play a central aggregating role in Nigeria’s body politic. However, arguments about zoning and power rotation tend to undermine the geopolitical system and bolster the nation’s North/South division. The death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010 opened a “Pandora’s box” of intrigue within Nigeria’s political elite. In the run-up to the 2011 Nigerian presidential election, logics of ethnicity, geopolitical zones, and geographic dichotomization were employed as justifications for claiming the presidency. Post-election riots and Nigeria’s general lack of security are rooted in, and dictated by, the logic of this struggle for power. Delimiting the country in terms of North and South rather than geopolitical zones, depersonalizes and undermines ethno-national identities, which are important building blocks for the Nigerian Federation. It may also result in the creation of structural flaws that will drive and sustain political tension within the polity and pose a serious challenge to the consolidation of Nigeria’s democratization. Key Words: Power rotation; Democratization; Ethnic politics; Geopolitical zones; Political restructuring.

Representation of Islam and Shari‘ah by Nigerian Print Media An Analysis

Islam is one of the major religions in the contemporary Nigeria; it dominates in the north and holds strong numbers in the south western part of the country. The print media in general and some Nigerian newspapers in particular are known to have been fueling religious conflict and disharmony in Nigeria. The Nigerian newspapers depict Islamic sharʑah in a horribly negative manner. This article tries to highlight how some Nigerian newspapers purposely try to sabotage national harmony, on the one hand, and extend suggestions to Nigerian print media that can be utilized to strengthen and enhance religious tolerance, peace, harmony, and unity in Nigerian Society, on the other.

One Voice, Multiple Tongues: Dialoguing with Boko Haram

Using “official” documents from the government and Boko Haram and other fundamentalist Islamic groups in Nigeria, this study examines the prognosis of the dialogue option between the Boko Haram fundamentalist Islamist group and the federal government of Nigeria. To achieve this, the study compares the stated and inferential motives of Boko Haram with Nigeria's pluralist nature and argues that insofar as Boko Haram remains an internal dialogue within Islam, especially in northern Nigeria, and an offshoot of a process derived from socioeconomic and political imbalances in contemporary Nigeria, the government could dialogue with Boko Haram on the second issue but would breach its own constitution and legal codes on the first.

Newspaper Inquest into Tiv-Jukun Conflict 2001: An Analysis of Ethnic Inequality and Domination in Contemporary Nigeria

On October 22 to 24, 2001, the Nigerian army killed more than two hundred unarmed Tiv and destroyed homes, shops, public buildings and other property in more than seven towns and villages in Benue State, Nigeria. Vanguard newspaper held an Inquest into the crisis to discuss causes, pattern, history, and solutions (Vanguard 2001, November 19 ) to the Tiv/Jukun conflict. This paper attempts a discourse analysis of the conflict, to determine how ethnic inequality and domination in contemporary Nigeria are constructed and presented in text, what discursive structures, strategies, and other properties of text were used in defining ethnic minority relations and identities and polarising group opinions on the conflict. The study found routine discrimination against minority Tiv in these states, justified by positive representation of the Jukun majority and negative opinions about of Tiv. This positive and negative opinion about Us versus Them is legitimized by indigene-settler ideology and justified by systematic association of Tiv ethnic group with problematic and negative social and cultural differences in order to sustain existing negative attitudes about them. Keywords: newspaper discourse, ethnic conflict, inequality, domination, citizenship

Graphics Communication an Appraisal of an Art of Learning in Contemporary Nigerian Education

The concept of communication graphics is characterized by the technology that is infused with inormation and communication technology which cover any product that stores, retrieves, mani- pulates, transmits or receive information that helps in disseminating knowledge through graphic device visuals. That generates interest which is the key note to instruction, motivation, stimulation and ultimate finding relevance through the provision of changing experiences in knowledge disseminating. It is a genetic term that incorporates many professional fields of wide spectrum which ranges from product designs that communicate with various forms of electronic gadgets and tools from the information and communication technology sector such as project computer, television channels and other emerging media that allows organization to share information in learning process. The study highlights the historical background of graphic communication and the appraisal of graphic design communication in contemporary Nigeria. It discusses the role that communication plays in Nigerian contemporary education. It goes further to discuss the issues in graphic communication as regards to art of learning and finally concludes with the efficacy of graphic communication in contemporary Nigerian education.

Holistic Education: A Needful System of Education for Learners in Conflict Affected Areas in Nigeria

This paper examines the interconnections between holistic education and education of learners in conflict affected areas in Nigeria. It is not uncommon that the two engaged and integrated at once so that issues in conflict affected areas are addressed in holistic education. The paper posits that education is central to shaping attitudes and social interaction and both are critical to addressing the legacies of conflict. This is based on the feelings that learners in the conflict affected areas are not being given transformative education to align them with the community. The paper argues that holistic education teaches learners how to care about the world, because being care about the world, means being care about our communities. It is believed that kids learn in communion. To learn in communion means to experience connection. To this end, the paper submits that holistic education could be a functional tool in curbing insurgency in Africa continent and Nigeria in particular provided is properly implemented and monitored towards blending and interfacing local wisdom with global knowledge, values and skills required in contemporary Nigeria society.

The presence of the past: youth, memory making and the politics of self-determination in southeastern Nigeria

This article focuses on recent reconstructions of Igbo ‘memory’ by the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB). MASSOB is a second-generation Igbo separatist movement that draws on a collection of ‘memory repertoires’ to agitate for the self-determination and exit of the Igbo ethnic group from the Nigerian state into an alternative political and administrative arrangement known as the Republic of Biafra. The core issues relate to dual narratives generated by the Nigerian–Biafran War. While the state shapes the official history, memories and narratives of the war to suit its own vision, interests and politics, MASSOB contests these official views as the sole legitimate framework for remembering and interpreting the war, but still connects to the war as a war of Igbo national liberation. These contestations provide the context for the enactment of memory claims and counterclaims, and their association with political violence in contemporary Nigeria.

(De)legitimising I-banks: the controversy over Islamic banking in contemporary Nigeria

Since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) published guidelines on the establishment and regulation of Islamic banking (I-banking) in Nigeria, differing sentiments have been offered to (de)legitimise this financial product. This paper therefore evaluates contending perspectives on the institutionalisation of I-banking in Nigeria. It argues that in spite of the globally acknowledged benefits of I-banking, the peculiar character of religiosity in Nigeria may render this financial product an instrument of conflict, and ultimately trivialise its anticipated advantages. Although some of the negative opinions against I-banking are informed by sectarian sentiments, the legal, constitutional and social arguments advanced by some of its antagonists seem persuasive. Consequently, the paper recommends some alternative options that will bring about a liberalised non-interest banking regime that reflects Nigeria's national peculiarities without necessarily compromising peace and unity.

Federalism, intergovernmental relations and the headmaster complex in Nigerian federalism 1999-2007

Between 1960 and 1999, the Nigerian ‘federal ’ state had had twenty eight years of military leadership. Thus rather than being ruled as a federal state, the military ruled it as a unitary state with total disregardfor the fine tenets of federalism. However, the post 1999 military period provided a conducive climate for robust debates and discourses in the political and legal climes on issues of allocation of tax powers and expenditure responsibilities and the custody of the federation’s funds. Here the state governments contested the overbearing influence and jurisdictional competence of the centre in matters of the “commonwealth”. These contests have had serious implications for intergovernmental relations in contemporary Nigeria. Using the longitudinal approach, the paper examines the various contours of intergovernmental relations in Nigeria between 1999 and 2007.The study relied essentially on primary sources from the national archives for the reconstruction of the historical background of this piece. The paper also analyses the post 1999 contestation between the centre and federating units on revenue sharing. Secondly it evaluates the role of the Judiciary in adjudicating between the centre and component units particularly on the issues of apportionment of oil revenue in the fourth republic. The central problem of this paper is that why has the contest over revenue allocation been so intense? Much more importantly, why did the central leadership in that dispensation (personified by the President) have so much challenges with intergovernmental relations? Also why did the regime engage in acts which undermined the ethos of federalism and reinforce the unitary traditions of the preceding military regime? This article contends that given long years of military rule, the administrators and politicians in Nigeria have not internalized the sacred ethos offederalism and the federation has to all intents and purposes remained a unitary state in the garb of a federal state. The paper affirms that the challenge is first andforemost a constitutional problem. It suggests ways by which the dominance of the centre can be diluted towards a coordinated relationship fostered between the centre and the federating units.

The Role and Challenges of Education in National Development (The Nigeria Experience)

This research paper focused on the role and challenges of education in national development. It dwelt extensively on the factors that aids and fosters educational development, Nigeria being the case study in this regard. It further unravels the importance of education in the Nigeria experience stating categorically the dimensions in which education had impacted the Nigeria states with such areas as technological, Industrial, Health, law, Security and Agricultural etc. The research paper further gave a comprehensive analysis of the importance and developmental contributions of tertiary education in contemporary Nigeria society. The importance of education in Professionalism was also extensively overviewed ,that is, the contribution of education to man power development and labour force in Nigeria and the policy underlining the educational system. By and large this research paper equally look as the role of education in economic growth and development specifically the role of education in economic transformation, improved-living standard, social economic growth, political stability, infrastructural development, provision of basic amenities amongst others economic developmental variables. Societal realities governing the smooth administration of the education as it affects the civil service administration was also an integral parts of the research with a specific reference to the 1988 civil service reform. The dimensions in which education has deepened the Nigeria democratic experience was also inclusive in the research that is political and social transformation. Nigeria has within a short period witness tremendous growth in social progress, freedom of speech, freedom of association and amongst others human rights, all synonymous with the contribution of education. Finally, the project tries to ascertain the contemporary challenges confronting the educational development in Nigeria and conclusively profer solution and constructive recommendations. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n10p25

Use of mixed methods designs in substance research: a methodological necessity in Nigeria

The utility of mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) is becoming increasingly accepted in health sciences, but substance studies are yet to substantially benefit from such utilities. While there is a growing number of mixed methods alcohol articles concerning developed countries, developing nations are yet to embrace this method. In the Nigerian context, the importance of mixed methods research is yet to be acknowledged. This article therefore, draws on alcohol studies to argue that mixed methods designs will better equip scholars to understand, explore, describe and explain why alcohol consumption and its related problems are increasing in Nigeria. It argues that as motives for consuming alcohol in contemporary Nigeria are multiple, complex and evolving, mixed method approaches that provide multiple pathways for proffering solutions to problems should be embraced.

Nigeria since independence: forever fragile?

Introduction Fear of Failure: Negative Sovereignty and the Birth of State Failure The Causes and Consequences of State Failure Identifying Failed States Failure to promote human flourishing The spread and spread of the concept of state failure Conclusions The Enemy Within: Insurgency and the Failure of the Nigerian State The Ways and Extent of Nigeria's Failure Boko Haram The MEND Failure to Control Failure to Promote Human Flourishing Failure to Provide Security Failure to Provide Healthcare and Education The Dangers of Disintegration Conclusions The Emperor's New Clothes? Federalism, the Decline of Old Loyalties and the Rise of New Jealousies The Post-independence Background to Federalism The Function of Federalism 'Not a Nation': Federalism and the Preservation of Difference A Spur to Ethnic Tensions Damage to National Unity Damage to Political Rights Corruption Out of Many Came Forth One: Federalism and the Quest for Unity Conclusions Fuel to the Flames: Oil and Political Violence in Contemporary Nigeria Oil and its Lubrication of Nigeria's Failure Damage to the Economy Damage to the Environment Corruption Damage to Democracy Failure to Promote Human Flourishing and the Spread of Armed Violence Secessionism On Troubled Waters: Oil and its Contribution to Nigeria's Unity Conclusions Of the People but for the People? Nigeria and its Armed Forces The Legacy and Reputation of Nigeria's Armed Forces The Armed Forces' Contribution to Nigeria's Failure A Failure to Defend The Abuse of Human Rights The Armed Forces' Efforts to Prevent Nigeria's Failure Maintaining and Preserving Security Strengthening Public Participation and Trust in the Political Process Promoting Social Integration and Harmony Conclusions Conclusion Selected Bibliography

The Politics of Islamic Leadership and Representation in Nigeria: A Historical Analytical Study on the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA)

Nigeria is a leading African country with a Muslim majority population. Yet Nigerian Muslims, since the spread of Islam to the country in the thirteenth century, had continued to operate in disarray and were never known to have spoken in one voice until the founding of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) in 1973. This paper traces the origins of the Nigerian Muslims? quest for a united front and articulates the factors that informed their clamour for such a platform. The paper enumerates the early initiatives of the Council and its attitudes to various political crises in the country especially that which ensued after the annulment by former President Ibrahim Babangida of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections widely believed to have been overwhelmingly won by a Vice President-General of the Council, Alhaji Moshood Abiola. The paper relies more on primary sources and oral information formally collected from a number of individuals who were not only eye witnesses but also dramatic personae in the politics of Islamic leadership in contemporary Nigeria, owing to the dearth of sophisticated scholarship on the subject. So far, references to the effects of leadership crises on Islamic leadership in the country, have been broad, loose and general so much that they can hardly be related to a particular political experience or put in a specific perspective. The paper employs a philosophical method in its historical analysis and concludes by evaluating the activities of the Council and concluding that it is fast becoming moribund.

Unnatural Creatures by Neil Gaiman and Maria Dahvana Headley (review)

Reviewed by: Unnatural Creatures by Neil Gaiman and Maria Dahvana Headley Alaine Martaus Gaiman, Neil , comp. Unnatural Creatures; comp. by Neil Gaiman and Maria Dahvana Headley; illus. by Briony Morrow-Cribbs. Harper/HarperCollins, 2013. 462p. Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-06-223629-6 $17.99 Paper ed. ISBN 978-0-06-223630-2 $9.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-06-223631-9 $9.99 R Gr. 7-10. In this collection of sixteen classic and contemporary fantasy short stories (most previously published), Neil Gaiman establishes a literary Museum of Un-Natural History, where impossible creatures that exist only in shadow and imagination are on display. The initial draw here is Gaiman himself as collector and curator, a role he appears to relish as he provides brief personal anecdotes as introductions for each story and the collection as a whole. Those willing to trust Gaiman to be their mythical docent will be rewarded with a broad spectrum of clever, well-written stories of the monstrous fantastic by a range of notable authors from the late nineteenth century to today. In tone, the included pieces run the gamut from chilling (Gahan Wilson's story of a carnivorous spot on the linen) to heartbreaking (Frank Stockton's tale of friendship and kindness between a griffin and a churchman, "The Griffin and the Minor Canon") to absurd and amusing (E. Nesbit's account of a little girl who gets on the wrong bus and faces down a villainous, laughing cockatoucan). Hallmarks of various story-types are also evident, including fairy tales (Peter Beagle's story of Death attending an eighteenth-century ball), folk tales (Nnedi Okrafor's story of a snake-charming young girl in contemporary Nigeria), and science fiction (Larry Niven's story of a time-traveler who mistakes a unicorn for a horse). Design enhances the atmosphere, with dramatic titling and illustrative headpieces the entries. The collection works well as an introduction to historically significant fantasy writers (though it's peculiar that the table of contents fails to identify the authors of the stories, so the interested will need to delve to find out who's featured) for those familiar with only contemporary fare; it will also find readers in Gaiman fans who have graduated from The Graveyard Book (BCCB 10/08) and are looking for more challenging material. [End Page 506] Copyright © 2013 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Jerusalem Council in Acts Chapter 15:1-35: Its Relevance for Sustainable Conflict Resolution in Nigeria

This paper discusses Jerusalem Council in Acts chapter 15:1-35 and its Relevance for sustainable conflict Resolution in Nigeria. The paper identifies the crucial problem and controversy that called for Jerusalem Council. It identified and discussed the contributions of Peter and the leadership of James. Resolution and implementation of the Council for contemporary Nigeria society is identified. It is established in this work that the principle, method of debate, discussion, dialogue, resolution and implementation of decisions adopted for Jerusalem Council are very relevant in our contemporary Nigeria society, they are recommended for application in our society. Historical cum exegetical approach is used as method or instrument of achieving our objective in this work. Our finding is that the recommendation of Jerusalem Council was acceptable to the Gentiles and the Jews were happy with the acceptance. The implication of this acceptance was good understanding and harmonious living as the Gentiles were accepted unto Jewish- Christian fellowship without circumcision Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA