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Boko Haram’s Terrorist Campaign in Nigeria: Contexts, Dimensions and Emerging Trajectories
Get PDFBoko Haram has fast become one of the world’s most notorious terrorist groups. The longevity of Boko Haram, coupled with its dynamic nature, necessitates that scholars keep abreast with a vast and intersectional array of developments. As a result, much ink has been spilt providing analysis and insight into the group’s motives, activities, internal politics, tactics, and future trajectories. Boko Haram’s ever-green endurance both in Nigeria and the wider West African region paves the way for a scholarly momentum which Oriola, Onuoha and Oyewole’s edited collection aligns with. The book has 12 chapters which are split across five thematic areas, namely: gender, the media, displacement, non-state actors, human rights, and non-state actors. It is beyond the scope of this review to place each chapter under the microscope. Instead, the reviewer will highlight some of the most important contributions the book makes to the academic discourse on Boko Haram. Chapter three (by Oyewole and Onuoha) provides the reader with a comprehensive account of the Dapachi Kidnapping of 2018; this contribution is significant as much scholarship as focused on the Chibok Kidnappings of 2014. Oyewole and Onuoha unpack why the Dapachi Kidnappings took place, placing an emphasis on the need for Boko Haram to portray itself as a resilient origination so as to appear appealing to prospective members, to raise funds (by means of hostage negotiations), and rewarding hardworking foot solders with ‘wives’ and sex slaves. Furthermore, context is given to Dapachi’s geographical and political vulnerability vis-à-vis Boko Haram’s terrorist campaign.
Road traffic crashes trends of severity and injuries in Osun state, Nigeria
Get PDFRoad traffic accidents (RTA) have been of concern both in developed and developing nations of the world. This study examined the road accident trends in Osun State, Nigeria, over 7 years (2015 to 2021). The dataset used is secondary data obtained from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Osun State, Nigeria. This includes the number of cases (fatal, serious, and minor), the number of people dead, and the number of people injured. Multivariate Time Series analysis shows that an average of 243 and 44 people were injured and killed, respectively, quarterly. For the total of 1859 reported cases, 6809 and 1232 people were injured and killed, respectively, for the 7 years. The Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model was applied to study the underlying patterns and forecast future values for the number of deaths and injuries for the year 2022. Based on the value of Akaike\u27s Information Criteria (AIC) and Bayesian\u27s Information Criteria (BIC), the model with the constant was the best of all. The result of the forecast indicates that 245 people are predicted to be injured in the first quarter of 2022 and 243 people in the second, third, and fourth quarters. 44 people are predicted to be killed in the first quarter of 2022 and 45 people in the second, third, and fourth quarters, accident occurrence for the 7 years has a low severity index. According to the findings, it was discovered that the number of people injured and killed in traffic accidents has been rising over time. This is the outcome of several variables, including environmental, human, and road-related factors. Therefore, to decrease traffic-related deaths and injuries, the government and concerned non-governmental organizations must embark on educating drivers about defensive driving, enforcing road traffic laws, and traffic education to the populace
Assessing the Role of China’s Investment on Youth Empowerment in South Africa
Get PDFChina is indeed the biggest investor in South Africa but it is very important to understand the effects that its investment has on the youth of South Africa. This study aims to analyse whether China\u27s investment empowers the youth of South Africa through entrepreneurial skills, access to advanced technology, and provisions of scholarships. The findings of the study reveal that there is a level of inconsistency when it comes to China empowering the youth of South Africa. The study, therefore, recommends that China\u27s relationship with South Africa should prioritize the youth of South Africa and be consistent in do so to contribute to their development as individuals
e-Governments in Africa: The Integration of Technology into Public Ministries
Get PDFMultiple authors have come to view Africa as a victim of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), a continent which has not been able to take part as one of the driving forces of this technological advancement. This is more so true when considering the state of the African continent during the first, second and third industrial revolutions where Africa\u27s role had been of a more minimal nature. This assumption is however not true when considering how multiple countries in Africa have embraced and entrenched technology into the daily operations of their government institutions during the 4IR. Furthermore, it can be identified that the introduction of the 4IR has only led to an increase in the efficiency and effectiveness of African governments and their institutions in the act of service delivery. This illustrates that not only is the African continent ready for this revolution but that it has also been able to take advantage of it. This paper aims to illustrate the growing potential of digitalisation and e-government in African states. It will do this by providing an observation of the development that technology has fostered better service delivery using five African states as case studies, namely South Africa, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tunisia. It aims to analyse the transformations that have taken place from the periods of 2000 to 2022 whether they be an increase in the overall quality of the services provided, or a reduction in time required for the execution of those said services. The paper uses secondary sources as a mechanism to analyse the impact that the introduction of technology has had on government systems in the five African countries. The main focus will be on the ministries of home affairs, finance, education, transport and health and how the incorporation of technology into these departments and departments that are of similar interests in the other countries has assisted in the improvement of the effectiveness of service delivery of these departments
Online Education Adaptability for South African Learners with Dyscalculia and Dyslexia using Digital Learning Methods
Get PDFThe United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 defines equal and inclusive education. Countries of the global south, including South Africa, have several interventions to achieve before making headway on this goal. South Africa has a unique political and historical narrative, and almost three decades post-apartheid, there remain stark differences in school and post-school education. Amongst some of these include learners with learning disabilities. This research focuses on learners with learning disabilities, such as Dyscalculia and Dyslexia. The introduction of digital technologies within higher education institutions excludes these learners as the adaptability of digital learning techniques has not been considered for specific learning disabilities. The challenges are now heightened. Although primary studies have been conducted in the past, no definitive solutions have been established for the seamless integration of these learners into mainstream education. Hence a different research approach was undertaken. An expansive review of existing scholarship was conducted using online academic resources and search platforms such as Google Scholar, Scopus and EBSCOhost. The purpose was to engage with a wide range of national and global literature. A discussion and comparison of available resources and tools were outlined and structured according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study was underpinned by the universal design for learning theory. Global research indicated the availability of online tools that were too expensive for South African education and incompatible with the lack of skills and infrastructure. The literature provided adequate information to develop an introductory clinical sociology intervention and embark on a process of awareness and support for educators and affected learner
A Postcolonial and Material Theory of Knowledge for the Study of Religion: A Comparison of Durkheim and Chidester’s Epistemologies
Get PDFThis article addresses the fundamental question of how knowledge about reli-gion is acquired in the academic study of religion. It does so by means of a comparison of the answers to the question by Emile Durkheim and David Chidester. Durkheim, in engaging with the conventional distinction between rationalist and empiricist theories of knowledge of his time, as well as their combination by Kant, argues that categories of thought (such as space, time, causality, number, and classifications) are not mere abstract conditions of understanding, but are to be conceptualized as constructs of particular socie-ties. This social-anthropological shift in the theory of knowledge has been of decisive influence since the beginning of the 20th century, among others on the late 20th-century and beginning of the 21st-century South African scholar of religion, David Chidester. From a comparison of Durkheim’s epistemolo-gy with that of Chidester it is, however, clear that the latter brings new in-sights to the epistemological question by insisting on a postcolonial and ma-terial approach to the study of religion. The comparison of the two episte-mologies that I provide here should give substance to this point by comparing ways in which they deal with a selection of categories and concepts in their study of religion
Christian Learners’ and Parents’ Choice of Faith-Based Homeschooling
Get PDFCurrently, the South African Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA) (Clause 37) replaces and adds provision to the South African Schools Act including regulating homeschooling. Home education research found that more and more parents appreciate/opt for the benefits of faith-based home-schooling, in this case, the Christian faith. The main reason is that since COVID-19, many Christian parents had the urge to preserve their Christian principles, Christian worldview, and quality education by opting for Christian faith-based homeschooling. This is a qualitative study and the purpose of this research was to determine which driving forces propel the choice of parents and their children to do homeschooling. The findings suggest that Christian faith-based homeschooling is a process facilitated by a triadic relationship consisting of the pastor, the parent/s, and the learner/s. In addition, based on the factors identified, their faith is paramount as they believe/think they are led by the Holy Spirit. Recommendations are offered regarding Christian faith-based homeschooling
Rainfall-Groundwater Table Fluctuations Impact on Root Zone Soil Water Simulated in Upflow for Crop Production Planning in Obio Akpa Watershed, Nigeria
Get PDFThe non-predictability of rainfall-groundwater table relationships in the ungauged Obio Akpa watershed has rubbished remedial measures against seasonal crop losses. This study utilizes ten years (2011-2020) climate data obtained from the study area to predict the seasonal rainfall-groundwater table variations and simulate the effects on crop root zone using Upflow model. Twelve wells monitored monthly, characterized the seasonal behaviour of the Groundwater Table (GT). Gravimetric direct measurements of soil water contents were the inputs to UPFLOW model used to simulate the seasonal responses of GT to rainfall. Correlation-regression analysis was used to obtain a prediction equation of GT responses to rainfall. Results showed that in the month of April, the mean rainfall of 230mm induced GT rise of 1.35m (35%) from 3.85m in March to 2.50m in April. The effect on the soil water properties included a corresponding increase of 1.8 vol.% (10.7%) in field capacity at equilibrium with the water table in the preceding month. Mean soil water condition remained optimal at 15.9 vol.% with the GT at 1.5m below the root zone. In September and October when 1859mm and 2129mm of the mean annual rainfall was received, the water table increased by 72% and 74% respectively, and field capacity in equilibrium with the GT increased to 34.9 vol.%. causing GT inundation of the root zone (RZ) and deficit aeration in 74% of the RZ respectively. In November, with reduced rainfall amount and decreased input to groundwater, only 16% of the RZ was in deficit aeration. UPFLOW simulations of the annual soil water regime showed the months of September, October and November as high GT months suitable for planting and harvesting of only shallow rooted, short maturity crops. This knowledge will guide effective water resources and crop management in the watershed
Art therapy and social activism in community-based projects
Get PDFThis article describes the current interventions and experiences of grassroots members of community-based organisations across South Africa that were presented during the Training Art Therapists for Social Justice conference. The theme of the panel was art therapy and social action in community-based projects. The panel was positioned as a conversation contextualised by the moderator within the South African landscape. After the introductions to the work of Butterfly Art Project, Lefika La Phodiso, Intlantsi Creative Development Project, Creative Mentorship Hub, and Angela Rackstraw, three main questions were discussed by the panellists: How can therapeutic art training programmes incorporate social justice principles to better prepare community workers such as community art counsellors and community art facilitators to address systemic inequalities and remind inclusivity in their practice; What is the role of supervision and mentoring in your specific organisation and how it helped you to sustain the work between the advocacy, the mental health and facilitation; and What examples do we have of community programmes that effectively address any social action or social justice issues and would you measure success in advocating for or achieving a social justice aim
Beyond Digital Flexibility: Standing’s Labor Securities Framework and the Precarious Lives of Migrant Food Delivery Couriers in Johannesburg
Get PDFThis qualitative study explores the experiences of food-delivery couriers employed by UberEats, MrDFood and BoltFood in Johannesburg, South Africa. Through in-depth interviews with Black African male migrant food delivery couriers from Zimbabwe, Malawi and Uganda, the study investigates the opportunities, challenges and coping strategies characterising their work in the gig economy. Key findings reveal increased earning potential, multiple job opportunities and flexible schedules as the main benefits. However, food delivery couriers also experience challenges including crime and safety risks, lack of fringe benefits, customer harassment, and rising petrol and data costs. To cope with these challenges, food delivery couriers utilise several individual strategies such as WhatsApp support groups and networks to help them with job-related challenges. The article concludes with several interventions to policy change to improve the working conditions of food delivery couriers