Covenant Journals (Covenant University)
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“Let the City Breathe”: Re-imagining Lagos as City of the Muses in Nigerian Poetry
Full text linkFor many Nigerian poets, Lagos is not just their abode but also the City where the Muses can be invoked for literary creativity. In this sense, the city represents the meeting point of all networks of intellectual and creative interactions. The symbolic representation of life in the city is depicted in Odia Ofeimun’s Lagos of the Poets (2010). This paper examines and analyses selected poems from the empirical experiences of the poets who have invoked the muse to capture their imagination of in different appellations of the city. This is an attempt to underscore the environmental influences, the metropolis, private dwelling, interiors, and self-awareness in the chaotic and ever busy city. Apparently, many of the poems traverse the realm of the manipulating words to initiating and revealing the journey of self-discovery. The paper deployed some methodological insights of Betrad Westphal’s Geocriticism to explicate the textual and literary representations of the spaces in the city as shown by the various poets. It concludes that Lagos is the sky where every writer with poetic wings can fly. It is a city of the muses for many Nigerian creative writers.
 
Integrating Climate Leadership and Adaptation Policies for Resilient Development in West Africa
Full text linkThe impact of climate change in West Africa presents a substantial obstacle, jeopardizing its socio-economic progress and intensifying existing conflict vulnerabilities. The manifestation of rising heat temperatures, unpredictable precipitation patterns, desertification, flood, and drought all impact agricultural activities and water availability. These effects weaken the ability to access and maintain an adequate food supply, increase the level of poverty, and put pressure on economic development. Existing adaptation plan/policies in West Africa reveal that, in Nigeria, policies such as the National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action on Climate Change in Nigeria (NASPACCN) have been formulated, yet its impact is constrained by little funding and bureaucratic inertia. Chad and Niger, grappling with severe droughts and flooding adopted the Chad the Chad National
Adaptation Plan Advancement Project, and National Policy on Climate Change respectively. However, these policies face significant challenges due to internal or regional conflicts and sociopolitical instability. Cameroon’s adaptation policy, including the National Development Strategy (SDN30) is undermined by limited stakeholder engagement and resource allocation. Existing literature emphasized two key issues. First, there is an urgency for robust climate leadership and effective adaptation policies to foster resilient development in the region. Second, ‘climate leadership’ should involve proactive governance, innovative policy frameworks, and regional cooperation to mitigate and adapt to climate impacts. The research utilizes secondary sources to explore how climate leadership and effective adaptation strategies are crucial for sustainable progress in West Africa. Findings reveal that while these countries have established various climate adaptation frameworks, their implementation and efficacy are hindered by weak leadership and governance, limited financial resources, and insufficient political will. The paper recommends that climate leaders must prioritize climate concerns within their comprehensive development plan
Pervasive Violence in Contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa, Impediments to Peace-Building and Socioeconomic Development
Full text linkThis study explores the pervasive violence and its impact on peacebuilding and economic development. A qualitative method of data collection is adopted. Content and descriptive analysis are used to analyse the data collected. Conflict theory was chosen for the underpinnings of the study. Findings have shown that attempts to tackle these issues encounter notable obstacles such as corruption such as where Nigerian elites are alleged to be behind most violent activities for selfish interests, lack of political will, and weak institutional capacities such as the failure of the judiciary to stand firm as the hope of the people by ensuring justice and openly undermining the rule of law. Complex power dynamics, mistrust among parties, and entrenched interests benefiting from instability frequently make peacebuilding projects difficult to implement. Conclusively, the challenges that emanate from pervasive violence in Sub-Saharan Africa highlight the pressing necessity for all-encompassing approaches that give peacebuilding equal weight with socioeconomic advancement. All stakeholders should promote efforts toward grassroots, national and international peacebuilding. Rules on violence must be clear, and sanctions should be applied to defaulters. The findings of this study will provide valuable insights for policymakers in making policies that will enhance unity, peacebuilding efforts and promotion of socio-economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa. 
Migration, Identity, and Belonging in Nigeria: The Ife- Modakeke Example
Full text linkThe Ife and Modakeke conflict has, between the mid-19th and the early 21st centuries, witnessed a series of reoccurrences, peacemaking efforts and textual documentations. Nevertheless, more than two decades after the last outbreak of a violent conflict, the nature of the Ife and Modakeke relation has continued to oscillate between concord, contests, and in certain instances, the outbreaks of violent skirmishes associated with divergent identities with consequences on land ownership and territorial autonomy which appear to be emerging ferment for a renewal of the crisis. Therefore, this study was conducted to interrogate the place of migration, identity, and land conflict in the Ife and Modakeke relations. This study adopted a descriptive historical research method, and data were obtained from primary and secondary sources. The findings of the study revealed how the crystallisation of identities among these groups has intensified disputes over land ownership both in the Ife metropolis and farmlands, which, after the outbreak of the last conflict in 2001, has become a source of contention. Furthermore, in addition to the dispute escalating into significant tension and violence at several points over the years, it has continued to push the Ife and the Modakeke populations to the brink of another round of violent conflict. This article concludes that addressing the question of identity and land ownership requires concerted efforts from both the government and stakeholders to foster integration, promote shared values, and ensure justice for the concerned parties. Recommendations include leveraging shared cultural practices to smooth cleavages and promote communal harmony
Entrepreneurship Education: Effective Ict Skills for Music Educators in Nigerian Higher Institutions
Full text linkThe integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into music education is exceedingly imperative for preparing music students for entrepreneurial success in the digital age. This study examines the ICT skills required for music educators in the selected Nigerian tertiary institution of higher learning to effectively deliver music entrepreneurship education. A descriptive research design was employed; information from the respondents was collected through the use of a well-structured questionnaire. Mean scores and standard deviation were used for analysis, with the study sampled of one hundred and twenty respondents. The findings reveal that essential ICT skills required for entrepreneurial success include digital literacy, proficiency in music technology, utilization of e-learning platforms, social media marketing, and familiarity with business and financial software. These skills will enable music educators to create dynamic, interactive, and practical learning experiences, equipping students with the tools needed for music production, marketing, and business management.
 
The Role of Entrepreneurship Education and Entrepreneurial Experience in Venture Creation Among Ugandan Migrant Workers in Qatar
Full text linkThis study examines the role of entrepreneurship education and prior entrepreneurial experience in venture creation among Ugandan migrant workers in Qatar, where migrants constitute a significant portion of the labour force. Drawing on a sample of 334 Ugandan expatriates, the research examines how these two factors influence their entrepreneurial intentions and outcomes. The findings reveal strong positive correlations between both entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial experience with venture creation, with education showing a particularly robust effect (β = 0.728, p < 0.001). Regression analysis indicates that these variables explain 94.7% of the variance in venture creation (adjusted R² = 0.947). Despite facing challenges such as limited access to capital, discriminatory practices, and legal barriers, Ugandan migrants, equipped with business education and prior entrepreneurial experience, are well-positioned to establish successful ventures. The study highlights the importance of targeted entrepreneurship education programs and experiential learning opportunities to foster self-employment among migrants. These findings have important implications for policy development, suggesting that supporting migrant entrepreneurship could drive economic growth, improve remittances, and contribute to the broader development goals of both host and origin countries. Future research could expand on these insights by examining the specific barriers and enablers across different migrant groups and host economies.
 
Strategic Communication: Resolving the GMO Paradox in African Food Security and Sustainability
Full text linkGenetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) have become central to global debates on agricultural innovation, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where food insecurity remains a pressing concern. Nigeria, like many African countries, faces mounting pressures to modernise its agricultural sector amidst challenges linked to climate change, population growth, and scarce resources. Thus, GMOs are increasingly promoted as tools for enhancing productivity, yet they remain controversial due to concerns about health risks, farmers’ rights to indigenous seeds, and broader socio-economic implications. This paper examines the positioning of GMOs within African agricultural policy discourses, with a focus on Nigeria as a case study. It explores how media and academic narratives, often invoking themes of “deglobalisation”, reflect historical anxieties around capitalist development and state failure. The objective is to understand how communication strategies around GMOs intersect with broader development ideologies and to assess how the strategies shape public perception and policy direction. Drawing on critical discourse analysis, the paper proposes a framework that connects media narratives on GMOs with emerging African political-economic imaginary. It contrasts these discourses with China’s “New Development Thinking,” offering a comparative lens on how strategic communication reconfigures agricultural futures in the Global South. The paper argues that GMO advocacy in Africa is not only about science and food production but is also deeply entangled with contested visions of sovereignty, modernity, and economic independence. It concludes that the framing of GMOs in public discourse has significant implications for sustainable food security, agricultural policy, and Africa’s positioning in global development frameworks
Gender and Its Impact on Knowledge Management and Employee Engagement in Banking
Full text linkThis study explored the impact of gender on knowledge management practices and employee engagement in selected commercial banks in Akoka, Shomolu LGA, Lagos State, Nigeria. A descriptive research design was adopted, and data were collected from 200 conveniently sampled employees across ten commercial banks using a structured questionnaire. The instrument incorporated the Knowledge Management Assessment Instrument (KMAI) by Lawson (2003) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) by Schaufeli et al. (2006), both with established reliability. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22, employing descriptive statistics and Independent Samples t-tests to assess gender-based differences. Results revealed no significant gender differences in most aspects of KM, except for the storing knowledge dimension, where male employees scored significantly higher. In contrast, all three dimensions of employee engagement (vigour, dedication, and absorption) showed statistically significant gender differences, with male employees reporting higher engagement levels than their female counterparts. These findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive strategies to boost female engagement while maintaining inclusive knowledge-sharing practices across the sector.
 
Impact of Youth Empowerment Scheme on Poverty Alleviation in Federal Capital Territory (ABUJA),
Full text linkYouth empowerment schemes play a crucial role in poverty alleviation in Nigeria by providing young people with the skills, resources, and opportunities necessary to improve their socio-economic conditions. These programs typically focus on education, vocational training, entrepreneurship, and access to financial services. By equipping the youth with the tools to become self-sufficient and economically productive, these schemes help reduce unemployment and underemployment, which are significant contributors to poverty. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the impact of the youth empowerment scheme on poverty alleviation in FCT, Abuja, Nigeria, using KEKE NAPEEP as a case study. The paper's objective is to investigate the impact of KEKE NAPEEP scheme on drivers' financial situation, standard of living, and employment opportunities in FCT, Abuja. It aims to assess the scheme's effectiveness in these critical areas. We used Spearman's rank correlation coefficient as the estimation technique. The findings indicate that KEKE NAPEEP scheme has significantly enhanced drivers' financial situations, improved their standard of living, and provided better employment opportunities in FCT, Abuja. The paper concludes that the KEKE NAPEEP scheme in FCT Abuja exemplifies effective youth empowerment by significantly improving drivers' financial stability, quality of life, and employment opportunities. It reduces poverty by providing financial aid and vocational training, demonstrating the potential of targeted programs for broader economic and social benefits. To enhance the KEKE NAPEEP scheme's impact, the government should expand it nationwide, invest in comprehensive training, and offer incentives for vehicle upgrades. Regular monitoring and improved access to financial services will also support drivers' financial stability and living standards
Religion as a Tool in Promoting Conflict Management, Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa
Full text linkReligion is a social phenomenon that pervades every aspect of human existence and human interactions. Religion is an established institution in every human society in the world. The power of religion, as an instrument of peace, substantially rests on morals which every religion preaches and propagates. Morality deals with the question of what is right and good and what is wrong and evil in human conduct. Morality and religion go together. Conflict in human society is inevitable. It is part and parcel of human existence. Conflict in Nigeria evolve as war, violence which are predominantly ethno - religious in nature. Peace building is essentially important for sustainable development in Nigeria. On this note, the thrust of this research is premised on religion as a tool in conflict management and peace building in Nigeria. The work adopted theories of Emile Durkheim on Religious functionalism and the Divine Command to establish its claims. It made use of descriptive methods, socio-ethical and historical approaches. Its findings showed that religious ethical values such as justice, love, tolerance. Patriotism and peace which are entrenched in various religious practices (African traditional religion, Christianity and Islam) are germane for conflict management and peace building in Africa. The work recommends religious and ethnic dialogue among communities and also encourages continental moral rebirth among religious adherents which is pivotal for sustainable development in Nigeria and Africa at large