Nigerian Child Research Articles

Department of History, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria nanasidi@abu.edu.ng

Abstract. In 1999, the Nigerian government launched its Universal Basic Education (UBE) program to provide free and compulsory education for every Nigerian child. Despite this effort, girls’ enrollment and school retention are still at their lowest ebb. This problem is even more apparent in Northern Nigeria where economic, religious and cultural factors often deny most girls access to education, especially in the NorthWest. Using a qualitative research methodology, this paper assesses the factors debilitating against girl child education in Northern Nigeria between 1999 and 2015 and their implications. This study finds out that factors such as early marriage, gender discrimination, low government support and the condemnation of co-education were responsible for the low enrollment of girls in schools across the Northern region. The paper concludes that to achieve the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals2 (MDG2) and Sustainable Development Goals-4 (SDG 4), the government, international community, NGOs and parents must put their hands on deck to break the social, economic, religious and cultural barriers denying girls full and equitable access to education in Northern Nigeria. Keywords: Girl child education, Social Inclusion, MDG2, SDG4, Northern Nigeria, Challenges

Ben Okri’s Eco-Imagination in Every Leaf a Hallelujah (2021): An Afropolitan Approach

There are possibly myriad approaches to an examination of Sir Ben Okri’s African folktale, Every Leaf a Hallelujah (2021), that sings the praises of Mother Nature’s ability to transform human nature. Premised on the phenomenology of the eco-imagination that adopts Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka’s Imaginatio Creatrix as the pivotal force of the genesis/ontopoiesis of human life and reality, coupled with Arne Naess’s notion of “deep ecology” that likewise emphasises the intrinsic interconnectedness of all lifeforms and geophysical features on Planet Earth, the discussion shows that Every Leaf a Hallelujah implicitly explores the developmental phenomenology of perception via Achille Mbembe’s notion of Afropolitanism. It does this through the agency of the innocent prescience of a small Nigerian girl child, the seven-year-old Mangoshi who is attuned to the choral voices of nature. Writing against the rift of the prevalent Western belief in a nature that is utilitarian or where nature serves human needs, this article is embedded in an African eco-critical imaginary that investigates the interrelationship between human nature and Mother Nature from an Afropolitan literary perspective in which there is a mythic conjunction between humans and nature, as well as art and science. Echoing Tymieniecka’s phenomenology of life and the human creative condition, the argument concludes that Every Leaf a Hallelujah represents a significant contribution to contemporary discourse on conservation for sustainability.

Assessment of Inclusion in Upper Basic English Language Curriculum in Nigeria

The study assessed the current English language curriculum at the upper basic level in Taraba state with particular emphasis on the relevance of the content to the English language inclusive curriculum needs. Two towns and 7 public schools were selected for the study through purposeful sampling method. Thirteen English language teachers at the upper basic levels in the schools responded to a 22-item questionnaire titled ‘Inclusive Education Curriculum Needs Questionnaire’ (IECNQ). Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while t-test statistic was used to test the hypotheses. The study revealed that the current curriculum falls below expectation in catering for the demands of English language inclusive curriculum needs. Teachers of English language at the upper basic level in Taraba state for instance, possess little or no knowledge about inclusive learning and what it means for a student to be language impaired. It is therefore necessary that there be a review of the English language curriculum at the upper basic level to cater for the needs of the English language inclusive curriculum. The stakeholders of the field of education in Nigeria will have to take drastic steps in enlightening the English language teachers at this level the concept of inclusive education if the goal of equal educational right to every Nigerian child will be achieved.

Bilateral Chilaiditi Syndrome in a Nigerian Child with Severe Acute Malnutrition: A Case Report

Abstract
 Chilaiditi syndrome is characterised by abdominal pain, usually in the right upper quadrant, associated with a radiological finding of sub-diaphragmatic free air due to colonic interposition between the diaphragm and the liver. The Chilaiditi sign is the radiological finding of sub-diaphragmatic pneumoperitoneum due to colonic interposition between the diaphragm and the liver without any clinical symptom. It can be a source of diagnostic dilemma considering bowel perforation as a common differential leading to unnecessary exploratory laparotomy.
 We report a four-year-old boy who presented with abdominal pain, fever, abdominal distension and diarrhoea with intermittent long-standing constipation. A plain abdominal radiograph in the erect position showed bilateral sub-diaphragmatic free air with associated haustration markings in free air. He was managed conservatively with antibiotics and nutritional rehabilitation with remarkable clinical improvement. While evaluating a child with an acute abdomen, the radiographic finding of free sub-diaphragmatic air, which is discordant with clinical signs, should heighten the suspicion of Chilaiditi syndrome. Knowledge of Chilaiditi syndrome is essential to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention while considering bowel perforation as a common cause of sub-diaphragmatic air.

Atypical electroclinical presentation of Landau Kleffner syndrome: a case report of an 8 year old Nigerian child

Epileptic seizures account for common neurologic presentations in paediatric neurology units in developing countries. Atypical presentation of syndromic epilepsy may be missed especially sensory, psychic or autonomic manifestations. An 8 year old male Nigerian child presented with recurrent vomiting and delayed motor milestones, regression of speech (acquired aphasia) with unremarkable birth history or any underlying medical or surgical condition. He had delayed gross motor development and continuous bilateral polyspike waves of slow sleep on EEG. Self-limited autonomic epileptic seizure syndrome which was a strong differential of autonomic seizures in early childhood was not suggestive as his EEG findings failed to demonstrate occipital spike wave pattern nor did photic stimulation evoke any epileptiform waves. Child made significant clinical improvement with anticonvulsants, neuro vitamins, and behavioural therapy, evidenced by regain of non-verbal communication, resolution of autonomic symptoms and temper tantrums. A high index of suspicion should be applied in patients with acquired aphasia with subclinical or recurrent autonomic symptoms.

Coexistence of Ureterocele with a Solitary Kidney in a Nigerian Child: Case Report

Ureterocele is a cystic dilatation in the terminal section of the ureter that is located inside the bladder, the urethra, or both. Renal agenesis refers to a congenital absence of one or both kidneys. If bilateral is referred to as classic potter syndrome, the condition is fatal, whereas if unilateral, patients can have a normal life expectancy. Unilateral renal agenesis affects approximately 1 in 500 live births while bilateral agenesis is less common affecting approximately 1 in 4000 live births. There may be a slightly greater male predilection. Radiographic studies have been valuable in diagnosing and confirming diseases in the genitourinary system. Ultrasonography, intravenous urography (IVU) and computed tomography urography (CTU) has greatly helped in evaluation of patients presenting with renal symptoms/abdominal pains. Our case study is a 9 years old male child who presented to the Radiology department for abdominopelvic CT scan/computed urography (CTU) on account of recurrent abdominal pains of two years. Previous abdominopelvic ultrasound scan done reviewed a solitary kidney with left ureterocele not in our center. However, the CT scan done in our center showed the left kidney with left ureterocele.

Assessment of Levels of Bi-Literacy Among Bilingual Learners at The Middle-Basic Education: The Case of Abia and Nassarawa States of Nigeria

Going by the language provisions of the National Policy on Education (NPE), every Nigerian child in school is bilingual. Bilingual in the sense that the NPE provides for mother tongue (MT) or Language of the immediate environment/community (LIE/LIC) medium of instruction at the first three years of primary education otherwise called the Early Basic and transition into the English medium from primary 4 (The Middle Basic). The implication is that at the early basic, both the MT or the LIE/LIC as a subject and the other content subjects would be taught in the prescribed medium of MT/LIE while English studies would be taught in English medium and conversely at the Middle Basic where English is the medium except for MT/LE as a subject. Some of the basic skills targeted at the primary education level are functional literacy and numeracy skills. Literacy, simply is defined as the ability to read and write in a given language. The purpose of this study is to ascertain whether the bilingual pupils in Abia and Nasarawa states of Nigeria are also achieved bi-literacy, (that is acquire literacy skill in both the Ìgbò/English and Hausa/English) respectively. It also sought to compare the learners’ level of literacy between Ìgbò and English and Hausa and English respectively, between male and female bilinguals and between Abia and Nasarawa bilinguals. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. The population of the study was purposively the grade 5 Middle Basic while sample of 302 pupils (121 from Abia and 181 from Nasarawa states) were randomly selected from 5 primary schools proportionately selected in Aba North LGA of Abia State and Akwanga LGA of Nasarawa state respectively. Data was collected through researchers- constructed tests titled, Bi-literacy Reading and Writing Test (BRWT) comprising simple comprehension passages in English and its equivalents in Ìgbò and Hausa languages as well as translation exercises from English sentences into Ìgbò and Hausa respectively. The instrument had face and content validity. Data was analyzed using Mean and Standard Deviation for the research questions. Hypotheses1was tested with paired t-test while hypotheses 2 and 3 were tested using MANOVA. Findings include: both the bilingual Basic 5 pupils in Abia and Nasarawa states are bi-literate in their MT and English. There is a significant statistical difference in the biliteracy levels of bilingual Basic 5 pupils in Igbo/English and Hausa/English respectively. Hence, Abia bilinguals are more literate in English than in Igbo while the Nasarawa bilinguals are more literate in Hausa than in the English language. There is no significant statistical biliteracy difference between male and female Abia and Nasarawa bilingual Basic 5 pupils, the difference in their Mean scores is negligible. Finaly, there is a statistically significant biliteracy difference between the Abia Basic 5 bilinguals and their Nasarawa counterparts with the Abia bilinguals found more biliterate than the Nasarawa bilingual Basic 5 pupils. While Abia is recommended to get more intentional with MT/LIC medium at the basic levels of education, Nasarawa state is recommended to teach English in English and not in Hausa medium.

Congenital Bilateral Proximal Radio-Ulnar Synostosis in a Nigerian Child

Congenital Bilateral Proximal Radio-Ulnar Synostosis in a Nigerian Child

‘There is not much we can do’: The roles and challenges of Nigeria's child protection social workers

AbstractResearch on the challenges child protection social workers (CPSWs) face has increased remarkably in developed nations with the goal of finding sustainable solutions. There is a significant number of vulnerable children in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), yet little is documented and known about the role of CPSWs in supporting the children, and the challenges they face that must be addressed to ensure effective and efficient service delivery. The study presents findings from in‐depth interviews with 11 certified social workers recruited from five non‐governmental organizations in Lagos and Kano states, Nigeria. A realist thematic methodological analysis was performed on the data. Findings were organized and discussed around two major themes including child‐focused remedial work and challenges encountered. Providing essential remedial services such as food, clothing, shelter and counselling/therapeutic services emerged as the primary responsibilities of Nigerian child protection social workers (NCPSWs). Their work‐related challenges include frustration due to limited resources and resistant children, shortages of social workers and high caseloads, whereas systemic challenges include the non‐adoption and non‐implementation of the 2003 Child Rights Act (CRA), the lack of legal recognition for the profession and government support. Implications and recommendations are drawn for practice, policy, and research.

Domestic Violence and the Welfare of the Nigerian Child: An Evaluation of the Role of Child Protection Services and Law Enforcement Authorities

This paper assesses how child protection services and law enforcement agencies deal with domestic violence and its effects, on children's welfare. It also examines the efficiency of frameworks and investigates the difficulties these institutions encounter in offering sufficient protection and assistance to children exposed to domestic violence.

UNETHICAL AND UNCENSORED CONTENT CREATION IN NIGERIA ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY: SPRINGING THE LAW TO ACTION

Though it can be argued that the essence of the Nigerian entertainment industry meant to entertain the general public, however, it is apt to opine that the Nigerian entertainment industry also has the duty to educate, pass informative messages, and model the character of young adults and children within Nigeria. However, it has been observed that the majority of the content creation within the Nigerian entertainment industry is becoming very sexually dissipated, decadent, and corrupting the Nigerian’s child morals. It is in this regard, that this study embarks on a hybrid method of study concerning the legal and ethical issues of uncensored content creation in the Nigerian entertainment industry. In this regard, 304 questionnaires were sent to respondents resident in Nigeria. The study found that there are legal frameworks censoring content creation within the Nigerian entertainment industry. However, there are still high incidences of sexually dissipated content that could corrupt the good morals of the Nigerian child. It was therefore concluded and recommended that to effectively modeled the morals of the Nigerian child, there is a need for judicial activism and various stakeholders to swing the law into action in curtailing incidences of uncensored content creation within the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Moral Education and Corruption in Nigeria: A Reflection on Plato's Counsel on Education

Many nations of the world today especially in Africa are battling with the issues of corruption and Nigeria is not an exception. Sixty years after independence, the country is yet to come out of its socio-economic and political woes despite her abundant natural and human resources. There is so much abuse of entrusted power for private gain by most public operators through diversion and embezzlement of public funds meant for development purposes. With this scenario, certain questions call for attention: (a) what could be the cause of high rate of corruption in Nigeria and by extension Africa? (b) What are the dangers posed by corruption to the development of the area? (c) How can it be reduced or completely eradicated from our society?. Adopting the expository, analytical and critical methods of philosophical enquiry, this paper attributes the problem to moral ignorance occasioned by lack of proper moral upbringing at the formative years of the Nigerian child educational foundation resulting in the weakness of the ‘will’ to adhere to moral principles. The paper agrees with the Platonic position that he who knows what is good cannot do what is bad and calls for effective crusade against moral ignorance through the training of both the intellect and the will. therefore suggests Plato’s counsel on education where much emphasis is laid on moral education; that is the inculcation of moral habituation through the training of both the intellect and the will. It is believed that if this platonic counsel is strictly imbibed, with the passage of time people will not only know the good but also have the moral will to translate same into practice. By so doing, the issue of corruption will be reduced if not completely eradicated so as to usher in a responsible society characterized by sustainable development.

Doomed Fate for the Nigerian Child? A Theoretical Analysis of the Economic and Legal Ramifications of Child Labour in Nigeria

Doomed Fate for the Nigerian Child? A Theoretical Analysis of the Economic and Legal Ramifications of Child Labour in Nigeria

Cryptococcal antigenemia in a Nigerian child with advanced HIV disease: a case report

Cryptococcal infection in Nigeria’s advanced HIV disease (AHD) population is not uncommon but is sparsely reported in children. The dearth of data on cryptococcal disease in our paediatric population suggests it is an uncommon clinical entity and may cause delayed diagnosis and preventable deaths. It is pertinent that cognizance be done of this clinical entity in our paediatric population. We report a 16-month-old HIV-positive child with complaints of weight loss of 3 months, cough of 1 month, fever, passage of watery stool, fast and difficulty in breathing for 1 week. She was initially managed as a case of paediatric AIDS with septicaemia and was receiving ceftriaxone and cotrimoxazole. The diagnosis was subsequently reviewed to paediatric AIDS with cryptococcal disease as the cryptococcal antigen screening test was positive and oral fluconazole commenced. However, the patient deteriorated and eventually died. This case report suggests a significant knowledge gap in the occurrence of cryptococcosis in our paediatric population and as a matter of urgency the need to conduct studies targeted at ascertaining the burden of cryptococcosis in children living with AHD in Nigeria.

Congenital hyperinsulinism in a Nigerian infant: A case report and review of literature

Congenital hyperinsulinism, a rare genetic disorder characterized by excess insulin secretion even during hypoglycemic episodes, has two histological subtypes; diffuse and focal. Genotypes denote which of the two subtypes presents, and this is the first case being reported in Nigeria. The aims of this study were to report the first case of genetically confirmed compound heterozygote inheritance for two non-sense mutations in the ABCC8 gene in a Nigerian child and her family. A full-term average weight (7.5 lb) female baby presented with severe hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia [HH] after birth and failed medical treatment with dextrose infusion. She had several hypoglycemic seizure episodes and spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, despite frequent feeding. Following physiotherapy, her spasticity was regressing and she was also able to say polysyllabic words. Genetic testing done 2 years after birth showed that her father was heterozygous for the ABCC8 non-sense mutation, P.W143*, and her mother was heterozygous for the P.Q416* ABCC8 mutation. This report shows the need for quick and early genetic testing for rare disorders and the possibility of collaboration with more specialized genetic laboratories. When diagnosed, diffuse or focal diazoxide unresponsive hypoglycemia may be treated by partial or complete pancreatectomy with the potential complication of diabetes mellitus later in life.

Childhood Education: Critical To Achieving Sustainable Development Goal

The early years of the child lays the foundation for solid or weak development. Much of the first two years of life are spent in the creation of a child's first "sense of self" or the building of a first identity. This is a crucial part of children's makeup—how they first see themselves, how they think they should function, how they expect others to function in relation to them. For this reason, early care ensures that in addition to employing carefully selected and trained caretakers, program policy emphasise links with family, home culture and home language. Regrettably, the Nigerian child suffers deprivation from lack of good social services in terms of poor nutrition, health care and access to safe water and sanitation, general protection from environmental hazards and insecurity. All of these gave justification for the formulation of National Policy for Integrated Early Childhood Development in Nigeria (IECD), which was officially launched in October 2007. There is serious neglect of early childhood education programme and invariably might hinder achieving the 2030 global agenda of sustainable development. This paper therefore called for an overhaul of childhood education so as to facilitate the realization of the sustainable goals. Keywords: SDG, Education, Child care, Development and Childhood.

Psychosocial Factors as Correlates of Pupils’ Academic Achievement in English Language: Implications for Educational Evaluators

Proper and adequate command of English Language is a key to understanding other school subjects. This is sequel to the fact that English Language is the official language in Nigeria’s education system. Yet, the Nigerian child is battling with achievement in the subject. It is therefore, necessary to investigate the factors responsible for poor achievement in the subject with a view to proffering solutions. Hence, the study investigated the relationship between psychosocial factors and pupils’ academic performance in English language. The study adopted correlational research design. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire developed by the researchers. The questionnaire was face validated and trial tested and an internal consistency reliability index of 0.75 was obtained using Cronbach alpha method. Data obtained were analyzed using simple linear regression analysis. The findings of the study revealed among others that there is a significant relationship between attitude and pupils’ academic achievement in English language and that there is a positive relationship between motivation and pupils’ academic achievement in English language. These findings have implications for pupils’ education career since Nigerian universities do not admit a student without a credit in English language. Based on the findings of the study, the researchers recommended among others that pupils should be adequately motivated to achieve more in English language.

Protecting the Best Interests of Children: A Critical Analysis of Child Custody and Divorce Proceedings in Nigeria under the Child Rights Act 2003

Purpose: This journal article is to analyse child custody and divorce cases in Nigeria emphasising the Child Rights Act of 2003. Design Methodology/ Approach: This study uses textual analysis including library sources, case studies, and government reports, to examine the difficulties that occur when children’s best interests are not taken into account in the course of custody battles within Nigeria’s legal system. Findings: It is obvious from the findings of this study that the Child Rights Act 2003, protects the rights and welfare of children during divorce processes. Nonetheless, practices and lack of means make it difficult to implement it. Original Value: The originality is seen through this paper’s ability to present useful information concerning Nigerian child custody and divorce processes. Moreover, it suggests some ways of improving child custody orders while at the same time implementing the Child Rights Act 2003. In Nigerian culture, this research helps us understand how we can protect children during marital disputes with its attendant problems as well as prospects

National Question: Attack on Life and School in Nigeria

Insecurity in Nigeria during the Buhari administration has got so high that the administration has become suspect. The target of school children and students of tertiary institutions only goes to establish the confessed aim of Boko Haram insurgency as being anti-western education. Thus when Deborah Samuel was murdered by Boko Haram extremists who claimed to have been appalled by her posting of an alleged blasphemous text-message denigrating Holy Prophet Mohammed on her 200 level Home Economics WhatsApp Platform at Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State, curiosity for this paper arose. This study which employs the doctrinal method surveyed the critical issues involved in the kidnap of school children and the negative impact it has had on the future of education particularly in the north. It observes that the vulnerability of the schools and the student is a soft target and a sure way to undermine the integrity of the Nigerian State in its constitutional role to protect lives and property and advance the right to education of the Nigerian child. It finds that both the State and the International community have been unable to put their acts together and the dangers posed are tremendous. It concludes that until the Buhari administration leaves office in 2023, the danger posed by insecurity to the territorial integrity of the country may not be curbed as the administration appears to be die-in-wool with the insurgents, bandits and terrorists.

Light-emitting diode bulb aspiration in a Nigerian child: A case report

We report a 7-year-old girl who suddenly developed dyspnea, which was persistent, progressive, and severe with associated stridor and hoarseness following the aspiration of a light-emitting diode (LED) bulb that she held in her mouth while playing with her friend. Plain radiograph soft-tissue neck revealed a U-shaped radiopaque object in the glottis. An otolaryngologist extracted the LED bulb from the glottis through direct laryngoscopy under inhalational anesthetic agents without intubation. She was treated with analgesics and antibiotics and admitted into the ward for observation for 24 h, following which she was discharged home in satisfactory condition. Globally, there is a paucity of the literature on LED bulb aspiration, and the index case is the first documented in our center; hence, it is an addition to the body of the literature. Therefore, we strongly recommend that the differential diagnoses of a wire-like foreign body in the airway radiographs should include an LED bulb.