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Exploring the Drivers of Labour Force Participation in Nigeria: A Multi-Variable Analysis
Full text linkThis study employed a comprehensive multi-variable analysis to explore the drivers of labour force participation in Nigeria. Objective was to explore the intricate interrelationships among key socioeconomic factors, including Access to Electricity (AE), Oil Revenue (OR), Total Secondary School Enrollment (TSSE), Total Unemployment (TU), and the Total Labor Force Participation Rate (TLFPR) in Nigeria. The study utilized data from the World Bank spanning 2000 to 2020. An ex post facto design guided the study, diagnostic tests to validate assumptions, ensuring the reliability of regression results employed. The findings revealed several crucial insights. Firstly, Access to Electricity (AE) did not exhibit a statistically significant relationship with TLFPR (Coeff. =-0.216785; p-value=0.2612). In contrast, Oil Revenue (OR) demonstrated a statistically significant connection with TLFPR (Coeff. = of 0.000623; p-value=0.0151). Furthermore, Total Secondary School Enrollment (TSSE) also showed a statistically significant relationship (Coff. =0.194391; p-value= 0.0292). Lastly, Total Unemployment (TU) did not display a significant relationship with TLFPR (Coeff. = -0.256802; p-value = 0.5683). In conclusion, this study provided valuable insights into the dynamics of labour force participation in Nigeria, underscoring the need for comprehensive policies that address the diverse array of challenges and promote inclusive and sustainable economic development. The study underscores the complexity of labour force participation determinants in Nigeria, emphasising socio-economic and contextual factors. These recommendations aim to foster inclusive economic growth and enhance labour force participation rate in the country.
Chatbot Programmes’ ‘Arms Race’: Africa and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethics
No full textThis paper argues that the AI revolution which is currently unfolding and being fuelled by the significant strides in Generative AI-powered technologies, calls for an urgent response by the African continent, to ensure that possible harms associated with this cutting-edge technology are mitigated. The ‘arms race’ to create chatbots that can rival Open AI’s ChatGPT-4.0 technology by big technology companies such as Google and Meta, is not only hastening the pace of the AI revolution but is also bringing to the fore the double-edged nature of this technology. The benefits of AI generative technologies such as chatbots in fields such as the academy; health; agriculture; music and art, have been touted in recent times, but the ethical concerns around issues of bias; possible proliferation of misinformation from algorithms that are trained on datasets that are not fully representative of the global South’s realities, especially Africa; breaches in privacy issues and threats of job losses, still linger. The fact that in March 2023, an Elon Musk-led petition to have a six-month moratorium on AI chatbot innovations began circulating raises serious ethical concerns around the AI revolution, which makes it critical for a continent such as Africa, which has largely been a consumer of these technologies and notan innovator, to urgently draft measures that can protect it. The paper contends that even though Africa is not homogenous in nature, it needs to come up with an AI ethics-driven framework that protects the majority of its population which is mired in poverty and likely to be on the receiving end of any cons associated with AI technologies. This framework should be largely anchored in the African philosophy of Ubuntu, but also pragmatic enough to include positive facets of global-North philosophical strands such as deontology, which largely places currency on ethical principles and rules above the outcomes they produce
Electoral Violence and Political Alienation in Africa: A Survey of the 2019 Nigerian General Elections
No full textThe research investigated the impact of electoral violence on voter alienation in Africa using Nigeria as a case. It attempted to ascertain the cause of low turnout of voters in the 2019 general elections and to determine the extent to which violence in elections can affect participation by gender, age and educational status. The aim of the study was to find out the relationship between violence and alienation in the Nigerian electoral process. The study adopted the survey research design and used data elicited from a sample of 1,200 respondents selected from six local government areas representing the six geo-political zones. The simple percentages and Chi- Square statistical techniques were utilized to test and determine the degree of association intrinsic in the stated hypotheses. The findings from the study show a positive relationship between violence and alienation. Thus, electoral violence is responsible for the alienation of voters from the electoral process. Consequently, the following suggestions are made: The federal and state governments should put on modalities to mitigate the incidences of violence during elections; perpetrators of electoral violence should be sanctioned; accordingly, while the African Union should closely monitor the various African States electoral processes to sanction any breach and mitigate incidences of violence in elections
Decolonizing the Study of Africa-Related Religions: Reflections on Translocality and Positionality Using the Example of Liberia
Full text linkThis article examines the ongoing process of decolonizing the study of Africa-related religions, which has been shaped by the Anglicizing civilizing mission in sub-Saharan Africa and the current state of English-language academic research. It highlights the importance of understanding researchers’ positionality and the power asymmetries involved in the negotiation of Africa, religion, and education. The first part of the article presents a historical example from Liberia around 1900, illustrating the role of agency and language in the institutionalization of religious studies. The second part emphasizes the significance of translocal entanglements and the differentiation of positionalities for academic collaboration. The article argues that the Christian-European civilizing project continues to influence the field, making the decolonization project and efforts to localize knowledge production about Africa an ongoing and unfinished task. Finally, it offers three theses to inspire future research and discussions on Africa, religion, and coloniality
Women’s Engagement in Decision-Making Processes in Pentecostal Church Leadership in Laikipia County, Kenya
No full textWomen are often underrepresented in leadership roles in churches due to structural, cultural, and theological factors, and face significant obstacles such as patriarchal norms and limited participation opportunities. Using the context of Pentecostal Churches, this article addresses three objectives, namely 1) to evaluate the influence of women’s participation in decision-making in Pentecostal Church leadership in Laikipia County; 2) to determine women’s consultation on decision-making; and 3) to evaluate the incorporation of women’s voices in decision-making processes of choosing leaders in Pentecostal Church leadership in Laikipia County. Guided by the female leadership theory of Warren Bennis, the article draws on a quantitative descriptive research design which utilized questionnaires to analyze women’s engagement in the decision-making processes in Pentecostal Church leadership. The target population was 150 Pentecostal Church leaders within Laikipia County, and the sample size was 45 respondents, representing 30% of the total population who was selected, using the stratified random sampling method. The quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25 while descriptive statistics were used to make meaning of women’s engagement in decision-making processes in Pentecostal Church leadership. The article indicates that while the majority of the respondents (60%) agreed that women’s participation in the decision-making processes was important, 62% of the women were excluded from consultation from church leadership’s decision-making processes (while only 38% were consulted). Additionally, most respondents (73%) agreed that women’s voices were included in choosing church leadership processes. Given that women’s participation in decision-making processes largely revolved around choosing leaders, the article calls for an enhancement of women’s representation and implementation of gender inclusive policies in Pentecostal leadership decision-making processes. This can be achieved through mentorship programs, leadership training, and fostering equal opportunities for both men and women in leadership appointments, and promoting inclusive decision-making processes through advisory councils or forums, establishing structured consultation mechanisms in Laikipia County
Patriotic history and anti-corruption activism in Zimbabwe: A case study of Pastor Evan Mawarire and Hopewell Chin’ono
No full textThis paper examines the use of patriotic history to silence anti-corruption activists in Zimbabwe. The paper uses Pastor Evan Mawarire and Hopewell Chin’ono as case studies to achieve this. The paper arose from a lack of literature examining how discourses are used to dismiss, and silence anti-corruption activists. To contribute to the literature on discourses, corruption, and anti-corruption activism, the paper uses the patriotic history discourse to understand how it has been used to silence activists in Zimbabwe. Patriotic history proclaims the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) as the alpha and omega of Zimbabwe’s past, present, and future. Zimbabweans are encouraged to be “patriotic”, which means supporting ZANU-PF, and anything short of this is considered “unpatriotic”. Methodologically, the paper draws from qualitative methodology where a discourse analysis of newspapers, politicians’ speeches, grey literature, and academic books and articles was employed. The paper argues that patriotic history especially its elements of separating patriots and sellouts and the anti-Western rhetoric were used to discredit and dismiss Pastor Evan Mawarire and Hopewell Chin’ono’s anti-corruption activism. The paper has also found that while Pastor Evan Mawarire’s activism happenedduring the Mugabe era and Hopewell Chin’ono’s was/is happening in the Mnangagwa regime, patriotic history has been used consistently. The paper concludes that in Zimbabwe those who engage in patriotic acts of fighting corruption are seen as sellouts while those who loot public funds are arguably patriots as long as they support the ruling party
Integrating Battery Systems with Solar Inverters to Enhance Solar Energy Utilization and Grid Stability for a Sustainable Future: A Review
No full textThis study examines the critical role of energy storage solutions in integrating solar photovoltaic systems into the power grid. The focus is retrofitting battery systems to existing transformers and their limitations as direct adjuncts to solar inverters. Advancements in battery technology, including hybrid inverters and smart energy management systems, are explored. The study investigates the advantages of integrated systems, such as improved energy efficiency, enhanced grid stability, and increased self-consumption of solar PV energy. Economic and environmental benefits are also analyzed, including reduced reliance on fossil fuels, lower electricity costs, and decreased CO2 emissions. Finally, the study addresses large-scale implementation challenges, encompassing grid interconnection, safety protocols, and regulatory frameworks. This work comprehensively reviews current solar energy storage technologies and their importance for a sustainable energy future
Chronicles of a Collective Claim to Religious Authority: KUPI’s Women Ulama
No full textThis paper chronicles KUPI’s collective claim to religious authority for women ulama in Indonesia, from the perspective of the initiators of this movement. It reveals some of the thought process behind key actions taken by KUPI during its first decade in making this collective claim, particularly on how KUPI locates itself in Indonesia’s multiple histories of struggle towards social justice, how it constructs its broad-based and inclusive movement in order to make its bold claim, and how recognition of religious authority takes form at the community level and in the personal lives of KUPI’s women ulama. This chronicle draws on the authors’ engagements, analysis, and reflections as part of the initiators and leadership of KUPI
Education by Algorithm
No full textDerek Moore began a Wikipedia article about the longer-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education. During lockdown students began to learn online. Big tech assisted public universities, education provision was further unbundled, and algorithmic led education became normalised. Others have also contributed.
Please click on the link to view:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LLMs_in_higher_education
Traditional Extractivism and the Politics of Suistainability: Interrogating International Oil Companies (IOCs) Social Investment Approaches in Nigeria\u27s Niger Delta
Full text linkNatural resource extraction in contexts of limited regulation can generate significant adverse environmental outcomes, with negative implications for sustainability. Enhancing sustainability in turn requires targeted policy approaches to protect impacted communities’ social and economic conditions. This paper spotlights International Oil Companies’ (IOCs) social investment approaches in the Niger Delta region and how it impacts sustainability in the context of traditional extractivism. Through the lens of the political economy perspective, this paper investigates the interplay between the political economy of oil in Nigeria and the social investments of IOCs, elucidating the repercussions for the region’s development. The political economy perspective offers a robust framework for comprehending the intricate mesh of interests, power dynamics, and resource allocation that mold the actions of IOCs in the Niger Delta. This perspective provides a holistic foundation for deconstructing the manifold challenges and opportunities arising from oil extraction in the region. The paper posits that IOCs’ extraction activities in the Niger Delta entrench practices and processes which undermine social investment goals and impede sustainable development. The paper further notes that despite substantial financial commitments, IOCs’ social investments often fall short in delivering substantial enhancements in overall living conditions in the Niger Delta. The paper underscores the imperative of embracing a comprehensive and sustainable developmental approach that champions the well-being of local communities and the environment. As a result, it recommends among others that there should be paramount importance on community engagement, fortifying transparency and accountability, adopting a perspective oriented towards long-term development, championing environmental responsibility, and bolstering economic empowerment and cultural preservation