Western Nigeria Research Articles

The Relevance of the Practice of Ifá Divination in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods are not to Blame

The custom of Ifá divination is common among the Yorùbá of Western Nigeria, and among Africans generally. This paper attempts an evaluation of the relevance of the practice of Ifá divination in the selected play of Ola Rotimi to Yorùbá culture and metaphysics. This is purposely to attain a greater and more profound awareness of its role as a symbol of communal and cultural identicalness. Using The God Are Not to Blame (1975) as an illustration, the paper contends, in a poignant manner, that the elements of Yorùbá Ifá divination, through oracular devices, well manifested in the structuring principles of Rotimi’s work. This is analyzed from spiritual and mythological angles. With an overwhelming lucidity, the paper posits that actions in the play are influenced by an assumption that any collective catastrophe or adversities are the outcomes of disharmony between disparate cosmos. The aforementioned includes a detailed interrogation of the rationality and logic of these beliefs as Rotimi presents them. Through the ambiance of the various events in the play, the paper establishes that the practice of Ifá divination in Yorùbá land is not only a way of life but has also transcended traditional, Christian, and Muslim traditions and beliefs. Finally, while recognizing the enduring popularity and artistic forte of Rotimi’s magnum opus, the paper broadens spasmodically our perception of the pervasiveness and practical relevance of the practice of Ifá divination as means for rectifying evil destiny, regulating what the future holds and resolving problems of existence in Yorùbá culture and metaphysics.

The Slave Ship and Badagry in Ndidi Dike’s ‘Waka-into-Bondage: The Last 3/4 Mile'

In 2008 Ndidi Dike, a Nigerian artist, held an exhibition titled ‘The Last ¾ Mile: Waka-into-Bondage’. Curated by Bisi Silva, this exhibition, which responded to ongoing events between 2007 and 2008 as part of the Democrazy series curated by the Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in Lagos, also served to mark the 2007 bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade by Britain. The exhibition depicted the dangerous itineraries that characterised the capture and eventual departure of slaves through Badagry, in western Nigeria, to the New World. In this article I show how Dike deployed certain objects to visually and conceptually accentuate the significance of the slave ship as the epicentre of political and cultural crises during the heyday of capitalism. I argue that Dike reinscribes Badagry in the forgotten narratives of points of origin and attempts to counter a neoliberal reading of Britain’s bicentenary commemoration of the slave trade. In so doing, she presents contemporary society as one where the violent travails and political realities of slave ships are re-enacted.

Sedimentological and palynostratigraphical modeling of sediments penetrated by KW field wells, onshore western Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria

Sedimentological and palynostratigraphical studies were performed on 189 ditch-cutting samples composited at 50 ft intervals from four well sections located in KW field, onshore western Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria, using sieving and visual microscopic observations, hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids digestion methods to determine their lithological character and palynologic content of the sedimentary successions. The basis of these data is to interpret the lithofacies and biostratigraphy, establish the age of the strata, establish the palynological zones and infer the environments of deposition. Five lithofacies delineated based on the sedimentological study were very coarse sand, coarse to fine sand, shaly sand, muddy sand, and sandy to silty shale. The age of the sedimentary successions ranges from Early Miocene to Pliocene based on the bio-assemblages of these key species. The Early Miocene age is characterized by the occurrence of Magnastriatites howardi, Psilatricolporites triangularis, Praedapollis africanus, Pachydermites diederixi, Spirosyncoilpites spiralis, Praedapollis flexibility, Racemonocolpites hians, Verrutricolporites rotundiporus, Verrutricolporites microporus, and Psilatricolporites divisus. The Middle Miocene age is characterized by the FAD of Crassoretitriletes vanraadshooveni, the occurrence of Belskipollis elegans, in association with Striatricolporites catatumbus, Verrutricolporites rotundiporus, Verrutricolporites microporus, Crassoretitriletes vanraadshooveni, Racemonocolpites hians, Retibrevitricolpites obodoensis, and Retibrevitricolpites protrudens. The Late Miocene age is characterized by the occurrence of Multiareolites formosus, Cyperaceaepollis sp., Stereiosporites sp., Peregrinipollis nigericus, Gemmamonoporites sp. (Cleistopholis patens), Laevigatosporites sp., Verrutricolporites sp., Nymphaeapollis clarus, and Verrutricolporites usmensis. The Pliocene age is characterized by the basal occurrence of Retistephenocolpites gracilis in association with Nymphaeapollis clarus, Cyperaceaepollis sp., Laevigatosporites sp., Verrutricolporites sp., and Crassoretitriletes vanraadshooveni. The boundary between the Early Miocene and Middle Miocene from the studied oil well sections is marked by the first appearance datum (FAD) and numerical maximum occurrence of Striatricolporites catatumbus and Belskipollis elegans and FAD of Crassoretitrilettes vanraadshooveni. The boundary between the Middle and late Miocene is defined by the LAD of Verrutricolporites rotundiporus, the quantitative top and numerical maximum occurrence of Racemonocolpites hians, and the numerical maximum occurrence of Zonocostites ramonae. The boundary between the late Miocene and the Early Pliocene is marked by the first appearance datum (FAD) and the numerical maximum occurrence of Retistephenocolpites gracilis, the numerical maximum occurrence of Echiperiporites icacinoides, and the highest abundance of Monoporites annulatus. Four palynozones PAZ-1, PAZ-2, PAZ-3, and PAZ-4, and ten sub-zones were erected. Finally, Fluvial-coastal to shallow marine environments of deposition were inferred for the sedimentary successions using sedimentological study, nature of organic matter, and association of key environmentally-sensitive biomarker species.

An Overview of the Knowledge and the Practice of Female Genital Mutilation Among Adult Women in Ondo State, South Western Nigeria

The practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) is one of the very significant health and human right issues in the world according to UNICEF. A qualitative research methodological and in-depth interview of one hundred and twenty informants were used to investigate FGM’s knowledge and practice in Ondo state, southwestern Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the participants from the study population. The findings of the study revealed that the majority of the residents are aware of FGM as it is being widely practiced by traditional birth attendants, an health officials. The study also confirmed that the majority of the respondents are of the opinions that FGM reduces promiscuity, initiates young girls into womanhood; ensures spiritual cleansing; enhances fertility and prevents instant mortality while the majority have inadequate knowledge about the untoward health consequences of the practice. The study concluded that there is high rate of prevalence and poor understanding of the harmful effects of FGM. It is therefore recommended that certain collaborative measures which include aggressive enlightenment programmes. Among the communities, enactment of laws as punitive measures for the practitioners of government policy re-engineering and early education of girl’s children on FGM among others have to be implemented to eliminate the scourge in society.

A Comprehensive Review on Nutritional and Medicinal Properties of Pleurotus ostreatus: An Oyster Mushroom

Abstract: Mushrooms are an important aspect of the human diet, and their popularity has increased over the years. Pleurotus ostreatus (P. ostreatus) are the most commonly consumed mushrooms by the rural dwellers in South Western Nigeria, perhaps, based on their nutritive value and health-enhancing benefits. Pleurotus is a genus of about 40 mushroom species popularly referred to as "oyster mushrooms." P. ostreatus is one of several Pleurotus species that are widely consumed for their flavour, nutritional value, and medicinal properties. Polysaccharides, proteins, peptides, triterpenoids, lectins, lipids, and their derivatives are all found in the P. ostreatus mushroom, in addition to its essential therapeutic components. P. ostreatus commonly consumed as food or as food supplement have been reported in folklore for their antihypertensive property with limited scientific proof. This review emphasizes the excellent nutritional value of P. ostreatus mushrooms.

Delineation of source magnetization and subsurface discontinuity of Ririwai Ring Complex along Kano, North Western Nigeria

High Resolution Aeromagnetic (HRAM) data of Ririwai (sheet 126) which lies between latitude 10° 30' to 11° 00' N and longitude 8° 30' E to 9° 00' E, was used for this research. The study area, Ririwai is situated along Kano, in the Northwestern part of Nigeria, both qualitative and quantitative interpretation techniques were employed in this study. This procedure was carefully undertaken by employing enhancement filters; vertical derivative, upward continuation, analytical signal amplitude processing, and quantitative approaches such as Euler 3D deconvolution and an apparent susceptibility filter to help further give solutions for depth estimates and magnetization. The Euler deconvolution was able to show that the solution plotted clustered around the region where the geological structures are located with average depths range of <139.8 to >904.5 m, with very few solutions having depths less than 200 m, the most prominent structure particularly the Ririwai ring complex have a depth range of 182.9 to 301.5 m. The magnetic susceptibility reading obtained shows that the area is composed of rocks high in magnetic minerals such as magnetite along the western end of the area, it is also flanked by medium to high magnetic values around the central parts with only regions of low magnetic values predominantly along the Ririwai complex and its adjoining outcrops towards the eastern half of the area under study.

Intensive care unit deaths among neurosurgery patients in a tertiary hospital in South Western Nigeria

Background: Neurosurgical patients are the most critical ICU admissions. While advancements in neurosurgical ICUs (NICU) have improved outcomes of care globally, ICU mortality remains a major clinical issue in developing nations. This study evaluates ICU mortalities of neurosurgical patients in a general ICU setting at the UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria.
 Method: Case records of neurosurgery patients who died in the ICU of UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, South-Western, Nigeria from June 2012 to May 2022 were reviewed. Simple descriptive statistics of data on demographics, clinical diagnoses, management and outcome were done.
 Results: Mortality rate was 38.9% (84 of 216 admissions). Males were 67(79.8%) and the mean age was 41.5years (Range: 2-85years). The average duration of ICU stay was 3.5days (Range: 30minutes-20days). Most patients had severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) (62, 73.8%). This was followed by cerebrovascular diseases (12, 14.3%) and brain tumours (6, 7.1%). Two had brain abscess. One patient each had mixed subacute/chronic subdural haematoma and severe cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Of the 69 whose case files were found, 7(10.1%) had a diagnosis of brainstem death before eventual 'final' death after an average of 13.5 additional hours on mechanical life support. The identified secondary causes of death included raised ICP, sepsis, primary surgical haemorrhage, seizures, acute kidney injury, malignant hypertension, poor glycaemic control and aggressive blood pressure lowering. Only 1 patient had autopsy.
 Conclusion: Most ICU mortalities among neurosurgical patients were from severe TBI. The establishment of NICU is necessary to improve outcome of care of neurosurgical patients.

Aquifer characteristics in the basement complex of Lere, Kaduna North western Nigeria

Aquifer characteristics in the basement complex of Lere, Kaduna North western Nigeria

Development of Pedagogical Competence Scale for Lecturers in Universities Using Item Response Theory

To ascertain whether lecturers had the pedagogical competency skill needed in impacting students with necessary skills they need outside school, this study developed a scale to measure Lecturers’ Pedagogical Competence (LPCS) in universities using item response theory. The pedagogical competence of university lecturers was assessed using a set of items designed and evaluated the scale's construct validity. The initial scale consisted of a 70-item four options Likert-type. The multi-stage sampling procedure was employed. Proportional sampling was used to choose four universities in South Western Nigeria. At each of the institutions selected, 20% of the staff population was selected from all faculties using stratified random sampling with a cadre as a stratum. Thus, 906 lecturers from federal universities and 294 were selected from federal state universities, respectively. In all, 1,086 of the 1200 lecturers selected completed the study's instrument. The results showed that four of the six optimal factors underlying lecturers’ pedagogical competence were reliable. Eventually, 20 can measure LPC. Furthermore, the LPCS showed validity by optimally measuring the theoretical construct underlying the scale. Evaluation of learning outcome; managing student behavior during lecture; using ICT to Enhance learning; and lecturers’ student interaction remains the most important factors in LPCS.

Effects of Mobile Blogs Augmented Learning Strategies on Pre-Service Teachers’ Learning Outcomes in Woodwork in North Western Nigeria

Effects of Mobile Blogs Augmented Learning Strategies on Pre-Service Teachers’ Learning Outcomes in Woodwork in North Western Nigeria

The Dynamics of Makondoro’s Arabic-Islamic Pedagogy in Western Nigeria

Zumrat al-Mu’minīn (the Believers’ Group), also known as Makondoro, is a group of conservative Arabic-Islamic scholars in Yorubaland, a region in Western Nigeria. When studying, teaching, and professing their Arabic and Islamic knowledge, they utilize a pedagogical method of discipleship that links students with their teachers and shapes their learning. They have devised strategies to retain this method, such as creating epistemological networks that have earned them authority in Yorubaland since the middle of the twentieth century. Although modernization has held sway in Arabic-Islamic education of the region post-independence, the Makondoro maintain and preserve their ways. Drawing on ethnographic research, participant observation, and personal interactions with scholars and students of the Makondoro, this article seeks to understand their pedagogical dynamics in the last fifty years when they came into prominence in major cities of Western Nigeria.

Adaptive Changes in the Working Environment of Community Pharmacists during the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Kano Metropolis, North-Western Nigeria.

Background: Rapid spread of COVID-19 and the resultant strict access to conventional hospitals forced the public to turn to community pharmacies being the most accessible points of primary healthcare, thus overloading the pharmacy services. This study aims to assess the coping strategies and adaptive changes in the work environment of community pharmacists in Kano Metropolis, NorthWestern Nigeria during the lockdown periods due to the COVID-19 pandemic Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was carried out across selected community pharmacies within Kano Metropolis, North-Western Nigeria. A non-probability (convenience) sampling was used in this study. Convenience sampling also known as availability sampling, here units are selected for inclusion in the sample because they are easiest for the researcher to access. The survey retrieved relevant data from the participants, including socio-demographic data and changes in the work environment during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown periods. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 23.0. Results: A total of 97 licensed pharmacists responded to the survey. Majority of the pharmacists (73.2%) reported increased workload, caused mostly by more prescriptions, and higher demand for safety equipment, antiseptics, and disinfectants. Moreso, 79.4%, reported higher stress levels during the pandemic as compared to the pre-pandemic era. About 89.9% of participants reported adjusting their working conditions to include the use of facemasks as protective equipment which is available in sufficient quantities as reported by 61.9% of pharmacists. The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns aroused concerns in the majority of participants (90.7%) for their health and that of their families. This prompted majority of the community pharmacists (92.7%) to suggest that pharmacists should be authorized to independently renew prescriptions of patients with stable chronic conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, 91.8% supported the idea that pharmacists should be authorized to participate in the COVID-19 immunization process to widen coverage. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an increased workload and altered working conditions of community pharmacists in Kano metropolis of North-Western Nigeria. This prompted pharmacists to professionally re-strategize to accommodate such an increased workload despite being frontline healthcare providers in the healthcare system.

Foliar epidermal studies in the family Sapindaceae Juss. in South Western Nigeria

A comparative study of leaf epidermal features of selected species of the family Sapindaceae in Nigeria was undertaken with a view to obtain additional characters for the elucidation of taxonomic relationships, delimiting species and identification of the taxa. The epidermises were separated from the mesophyll by soaking in concentrated Nitric acid. Bubble appearance on the surfaces of the leaves indicated their readiness for separation. They were then rinsed in water thrice before the layers were separated with the aid of forceps and Camel hair brush, stained with Safranin O. It was then mounted in 25% glycerol on clean glass slides, covered with cover slips. The micro morphological characters of leaf were more or less uniform in all taxa in the family. The adaxial cuticle was striated in most species. The polygonal epidermal cells with straight anticlinal walls on the adaxial surface of Cardiosermum halicacabum separated it from the other species with irregular shaped epidermal cells. Undulated anticlinal walls were observed on both surfaces. The leaves were hypostomatic in most species except in C. halicacabum where amphistomaty was observed. Stomata types included anomocytic, tetracytic and staurocytic but the anomocytic stomata were the most predominant.

The Long Journey From Arigbawonwo

The Long Journey From Arigbawonwo

Noise and Gaseous Pollutants Profiles of Outdoor Air Envelopes in Selected Areas Within Abeokuta, South Western Nigeria

This study examined the noise and gaseous pollutant levels associated with outdoor air envelopes of selected areas in Abeokuta, South Western Nigeria. Twenty-six locations were selected; Adata, Adigbe, Asero Estate, Ake, Elega, Ibara, Idi-Aba, Ilupeju, Kolobo, Itoko, Government Residential Area (GRA), Totoro, Ogbe, Onikaro, Oke Aregba, Oniyanrin Adatan, Iberekodo, Ijaye, Ita-Oshin (market), Ita-Oshin (industrial) Kuto, Itoku, Panseke, Omida, and Lanfewa. On-field measurement of CO, SO 2 , NO 2 , H 2 S, CH 4 and noise was achieved using an automated gas sampler and a sound meter. Mean noise levels varied from 36 ± 0.9 to 89 ± 0.3 dBA whilst CO values ranged from 25 to 74 ppm. S O 2 and NO 2 measurements ranged from 0.02 to 0.50 ppm and 0.1 to 0.4 ppm. The H 2 S and CH 4 values varied from 0.07 to 0.23 ppm and 0.07 to 0.24 ppm. The evaluated potential health risks to exposed individuals in the sampled areas especially concerning CO levels was worryingly very high. The observed differences between the noise and outdoor gaseous pollutant values for the different locational groups were significant ( P<0.05 ). All the mean noise values and gaseous air pollutants for the residential areas were comparatively lower than those observed for both the industrial and commercial areas. All the examined outdoor air envelopes surrounding the commercial areas are polluted with varying levels of gaseous contaminants and noise. Keywords: Abeokuta, Gaseous Pollutants, Commercial Area, Noise, Industrial area, Outdoor air DOI: 10.7176/JEES/13-2-05 Publication date: March 31 st 2023

Influence of age and education on breast cancer awareness and knowledge among women in South Western Nigeria.

The rising incidence of breast cancer (BC) in sub-Saharan Africa is aggravated by poor prognosis. Health education and several screening methods, including breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast-examination (CBE) and mammography, have been advanced to achieve early detection and reduction in its mortality rate. This study evaluated the level of awareness and knowledge of BC and BSE amongst female students and staff of six educational institutions in Ota, Southwest Nigeria. The participants, consisting of 917 (80.79%) students and 218 (19.21%) staff, aged between 13 and 60 years, were selected using a stratified random sampling technique and categorized into age groups [adolescents (13-19 years), young adults (21-40 years) and middle-aged adults (41-60 years)] and levels of education. Data was collected via questionnaires and analysed using Epi-info software and SPSS version 20. Frequencies, percentages, regression and correlation co-efficient were calculated and used to determine the levels of association between age groups and levels of education. Mean age of the participants was 21 ± 1.7 years; over 75% were adolescents. BC and BSE awareness was 94.80% and 65.11% respectively, with 7 (0.62%) having BC. The major sources of BC and BSE information were television, health workers and internet. The average BC knowledge score of the participants was 4.06 (40.57%); it was highest among young adults, 4.31 (43.07%), and least among the adolescents, 3.88 (38.78%). The same trend was observed for BSE practice among the age groups. There was a direct relationship between BC knowledge and levels of education; the postgraduates had the highest BC knowledge score of 4.49 (44.89%) while the secondary students had the least score of 3.82 (38.12%). Similar trend was observed for BSE practice and the levels of education. Paucity of BSE knowledge largely accounted for the low BSE practice among the adolescents and secondary students. The huge gap in BC knowledge and BSE practice underscores the need for a structured health education and screening programmes in Nigerian schools to enhance prevention and early detection of BC and other ailments. BSE is free, easy to perform, and able to detect BC at earlier stage. The practice should be encouraged alongside mammography to reduce the burden and mortality rate of BC in Nigeria.

Profile of Paediatric Refractive Errors in a Tertiary Care Hospital of South Western Nigeria

Refractive errors are part of the priority areas for Vision 2020, a global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness introduced by W.H.O. (World Health organization). The presence of refractive errors in children is a cause for concern for the overall development and not only the vision of the child. It may also constitute a form of disability if left unattended to. This study therefore aims to determine the pattern of refractive errors and its associations with selected variables among children presenting to a tertiary hospital. This is a cross-sectional retrospective study conducted in the Ophthalmology Department of Ekiti State University teaching hospital which is a tertiary hospital in South-western Nigeria. Children of ages 5years - 16years with diagnosis of refractive error were recruited for the study. The medical records between Jan 2018- December 2020 were reviewed and patients’ data including age, gender and type of refractive error were extracted. Data obtained was analysed with SPSS version 20(inc.) and results are shown by frequency, tables and figures. Measure of association of the variables was done using chi square and P value =0.005. A total of 193 children with various refractive errors were seen during the period of study. There was a slight male preponderance. M: F (1.2:1) and highest frequency of refractive error was seen in children of ages between 5-7years. The most common refractive error seen was astigmatism in 140(36.2%) patients, most of the patients (46.4%) presented with moderate refractive error.

Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of women with unsafe abortion in south-western Nigeria

Background: Unsafe abortion is within the five leading causes of maternal mortality in sub Saharan Africa. For every one death related to unsafe abortion, about 25 more women suffer significant morbidity from complications of abortion The aim is to highlight their socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of women with unsafe abortion. Methodology: This was a 5-year retrospective cross-sectional study of 84 women managed for complications of unsafe abortion, at the Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti, in South Western Nigeria. Socio-demographic, clinical and abortion related data were obtained from their medical records. Data obtained were expressed in descriptive statistics. Results: Unsafe Abortion accounted for 5.4% of gynaecological admission during the study period. The mean age of the women was 23.2years. They were majorly single (63%), nulliparous (50%) and had secondary level of education (39.3%). Of the 54 (64.3%) who were aware of modern contraceptive options, only 20.4% (11/54) had used contraception previously. About 57% (48/84) was having induced abortion for the first time. Not being ready for a child was the commonest (22.6%) reason provided for procuring abortion. About 85% (71/84) terminated their pregnancy in the first trimester with a mean gestational age of 10.1weeks. Dilatation and curettage was the commonest (56%) method employed. Sepsis and hemorrhage were the leading complications reported in 52.4% (44/84) and 40.5% (34/84) of the women respectively. The fatality rate observed was 2.4% (2/84). Conclusion: Young, single, nulliparous, lowly educated women with no knowledge and usage of modern contraceptive options were identified to have more commonly had unsafe abortion. Sepsis and hemorrhage were the leading associated complications.

Agro-morphological characterization of Okra (Abelmoschus species) for biotic stress and yield contributing traits under rainfed conditions in South Western Nigeria

Agro-morphological characterization of Okra (Abelmoschus species) for biotic stress and yield contributing traits under rainfed conditions in South Western Nigeria

An Ethnographic Study on Clergymen Concerning the Aetiology and Management of Mental Illness in South Western Nigeria

Background: The clergy plays an important role in the care of mentally ill people in developing countries because of the predominant belief that supernatural factors are responsible for mental illness and spiritual healers are sought by the mentally ill and/or their relatives for treatment. This study aimed to assess clergymen’s beliefs about the etiology and treatment of mental illnesses in southwest Nigeria.
 Methods: The study was qualitative design and ethnographic in nature, conducted on one hundred and forty-eight clergymen at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. A convenient sampling technique was used and Self-administered questionnaires to obtain sociodemographic details. An In-depth/Semi-structured interview involving Focus group discussions (FGD) and key informant interviews (KII) was used for the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. The sociodemographic variables were presented on a frequency table.
 Results: The study involved hundred and forty-eight respondents with male preponderance. From the focus group discussion and key informant interview, respondents believed that mental illness depends on the victim’s predispositions and could as well result from spiritual attacks directly or indirectly through or from ancestral lineage, genetic factors, or evil forces. Although most of the respondents argued that mental illness is caused solely by spiritual attacks and can only be treated by spiritual means like an exorcism. However, the majority believed that a holistic approach to treatment must involve the spiritual, psychological and medical.
 Conclusion: The factor of theological education shines through in the definition, recognition, treatment, the concept of cure and clergy role in the management and community advocacy for mental illness although within the context of cultural beliefs of supernatural etiology of mental illness. With improved knowledge and their holistic approach to care, the clergymen will be able to effectively work with the orthodox medical practitioners in a wholesome way through an effective referral system, ensuring compliance, rehabilitation and banishing discrimination.