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E-Voting as a Panacea to Voter Apathy in Nigeria
No full textVoter apathy has emerged as one of the most critical challenges to democratic consolidation in Nigeria. Despite the adoption of reforms intended to strengthen electoral credibility, turnout has consistently declined, raising concerns about the legitimacy of governance. This paper examines the potential of electronic voting (e-voting) as a panacea to voter apathy in Nigeria. Anchored on Rational Choice Theory, the study argues that citizens often disengage when the costs of participation outweigh the benefits. Drawing on secondary sources, comparative experiences from countries such as Estonia and Brazil, and institutional reports from Nigeria, the study finds that e-voting can reduce apathy by improving transparency, minimizing electoral violence, and enhancing inclusivity. However, infrastructural deficits, cybersecurity concerns, and institutional weaknesses remain obstacles to its adoption. The paper concludes that while e-voting offers a pathway to revitalizing participation, it must be embedded within broader electoral reforms to strengthen institutions, build citizen trust, and promote inclusivity
Decentralizing Power: Empowering Local Communities in Development Decision-Making in Nigeria
No full textThis study critically examines decentralization and local community empowerment within Nigeria's governance framework through theoretical and documentary analysis. Drawing on Arnstein's Ladder of Citizen Participation (1969) and Sen's Development as Freedom (1999), the research analyzes the gap between constitutional guarantees of local government autonomy and centralized power realities. Despite Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution guaranteeing local government existence, political, institutional, fiscal, and socio-cultural barriers impede genuine community empowerment. The 2024 Supreme Court judgment affirming local government financial autonomy represents a watershed moment, yet implementation challenges persist. This research contributes actionable recommendations for constitutional reform, institutional strengthening, and enhanced participatory mechanisms, arguing that meaningful decentralization is essential for sustainable development and democratic consolidation in Nigeria.
Keywords: Decentralization, local government autonomy, community empowerment, participatory governance, Nigeri
Impact of Digitalized Administrative Procedures on Personnel Performance at Borno State University's Department of Education in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
No full textThis study assessed the impact of digitalized administrative procedures on personnel performance at Borno State University’s Department of Education in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. The objectives of this study were to determine the extent of utilization of these digital administrative tools by administrative personnel and Impact of digitalized administrative processes on personnel job performance ar Borno State University. In order to investigate how digitalized administrative procedures affect human resource job performance at Kashim Ibrahim University in Borno State; this study uses a quantitative survey research approach. The quantitative approach is justified because it enables statistical generalizability to the 80 administrative and human resources staff members of the university by collecting numerical data from a large sample (50 respondents) and allowing for objective measurement of the relationships between digitalization and job performance. Stratified random sampling minimizes bias by guaranteeing proportionate representation across several administrative units. Lack of instrument dependability. A structured questionnaire comprising three sections serves as the research tool: Section A (Demographic Information) collects age, gender, and Department; Section B (Level of Digital Resource Utilization) evaluates the use of tools such as e-filing and HR software; and Section C (Impact and Effects) measures changes in workload, job satisfaction, and efficiency. This non-parametric test is perfect for survey data since it analyzes relationships between nominal and ordinal variables without assuming a normal distribution. Data were analyze using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation). The finding revealed that majority of the respondents believed that digital tools were used for administrative activities by administrative staff in Borno State University, Maiduguri Borno State, Nigeria. The finding further revealed that majority of the respondents believed that used of digital tools significantly impacted on personnel job performance in Borno State University, Maiduguri Borno State, Nigeria. Based on the findings of the study, the researchers conclude that majority of the personnel believed that digital tools were used for administrative activities by administrative staff. The researchers further conclude that used of digital tools for administrative processes has a significant impact on personnel job performance in the Department of Education, Borno State University, Borno State, Nigeria. Since conflict resolution strategy, delegations' strategy, training development strategy were found to significantly related to human recourse job performance in the Department of Education, Faculty of Education, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. Therefore, staff in the department should adopt the strategies in management of personnel
Keywords: Digitalized Administrative Procedures, Personnel Performance, Utilizatio
Urhobo Cosmological and Theological Contents of Udu Songs: A Vehicle for Preservation of Tradition and Culture in Nigeria
No full textThis research examines Urhobo cosmology and theology as expressed in traditional songs. These songs reveal the intimate connection between cosmology and theology, showing that the two concepts are interrelated; theology often helps to explain aspects of cosmology. Urhobo cosmology encompasses beliefs in Oghene (God), edjo (divinities), ega ese emo (ancestral veneration), the realities of the physical and spiritual worlds, and the relationship between the here and now and the hereafter. Theology, understood as the discourse on God, and cosmology, which represents the total worldview of a people, is clearly articulated in Urhobo traditional songs. The purpose of this study is to investigate Urhobo cosmology and theology as revealed in the songs of Udu traditional musicians. The project focuses on selected songs and analyzes them to highlight the codified and systematic worldview embedded within them. The musicians whose works are examined include Chief Amos Ogute Ottan, Chief Gometi Oyibo, Sir Juju Debala, Mr. Udjabor Okololo, and Don Francis Egbeku Kenairu. These musicians, who were born and nurtured within deeply religious environments, naturally reflect in their songs the cosmological and theological beliefs of the Urhobo people. To achieve this purpose, the study adopts phenomenological, hermeneutical, and participant-observation approaches. These involve pre-field preparations, actual fieldwork, and post-field (desk) analysis. After the field process, the selected songs are examined and interpreted to reveal the underlying cosmology and theology of the Urhobo.
Keywords: Cosmology, Theology, Nigerian culture, Traditional beliefs and Morality
Youth-Led Initiative in Re-Building Education in Crises Zone: Challenges and Innovation (A Case Study of Borno State, Nigeria)
No full textThe study examined Youth-led initiative in re-building education in crises zone: challenges and innovation. Three objectives guided the study. The study adopts a descriptive survey research design. The population of this study comprises youth leaders, volunteers, NGO staff, educators, and beneficiaries involved in youth-led education initiatives in Borno State. The population of the study is 350 youths. A sample size of 200 respondents was drawn from the target population using a purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. The instrument for Data Collection was questionnaire. Each item was measured using a five-point Likert scale, ranging from Strongly Agree (5) to Strongly Disagree (1). Data was collected using Kobo Collect, a digital data-gathering tool developed for field-based research in humanitarian and development settings. The questionnaire was designed and uploaded to the KoboToolbox server, which allowed respondents’ information to be collected efficiently using smartphones or tablets. The instrument was validated by experts in Adult and Non-Formal Education and Educational Research from the University of Maiduguri. Reliability coefficient of .849 was obtained for the instrument using Cronbach Alpha Coefficient method. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as means and standard deviation was used to answer the research questions. Findings from the study shows that; Center for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative (CATAI) plays an important role in rebuilding education and promoting youth participation in crisis-affected areas of Borno State. The organization enhances educational opportunities for vulnerable and displaced youths through literacy, skills training, and mentorship programs. Innovative approaches such as digital learning, community-based education, and psychosocial interventions are key strategies used by CATAI to sustain learning. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made; The Borno State Government and the Federal Ministry of Education should provide financial, logistis, and policy support to youth-led organizations like CATAI. CATAI should invest in continuous capacity development for its staff and volunteers in areas such as digital pedagogy, psychosocial care, monitoring and evaluation, and humanitarian education management to improve program delivery. Development partners, donor agencies, and private organizations should collaborate with CATAI to establish long-term funding mechanisms that ensure sustainability of youth-led education programs beyond short-term humanitarian cycles.
Keywords: Youth-led, Initiative, Re-building, Education, Crises Zone, Challenges, Innovatio
Religious Affiliation and Uniform Men Involvement in Family Planning in Edo State, Nigeria
No full textMale involvement in Family Planning (FP) is crucial to the reduction of maternal infant and neonatal mortality. This study examined religious affiliation and uniform men involvement in FP in Edo State. A descriptive survey research design was used and the population of this study was 3,443. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 494 respondents as sample for this study. The instrument used for data collection was a self-structured questionnaire with two sections. The questionnaire was validated by three experts in the Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education. Cronbach Statistical tool was used to analyze the data collected. It yielded an alpha value of 0.78. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics of frequency count percentage and regression. From the findings, it was revealed that majority of the respondents had high involvement in FP, and religious affiliation di not significantly, influence uniform men involvement in FP. In line with the findings of the study, it was therefore recommended that seminars and workshops should be targeted at uniform men to further improve their involvement in FP.
Keywords: Male Involvement, Family Planning, Uniform Men, Maternal Mortalit
Art and Knowledge
No full text The question of whether art can provide humans with knowledge remains a subject of sharpest controversy among philosophers, artists, and art critics over time. The controversy is no less complicated now than it was historically, nor is it any closer to being resolved. Recent objection to art’s epistemic value maintains the basic line of reasoning that art lacks propositional contents in the sense of propositional knowledge – since works of art do not typically express, clear, explicit propositions in the way that language does. More than ever, this tends to render the epistemic value of art highly questionable. However, a contrary line of response in defense of art’s epistemic value involves identifying some other epistemic aims, and showing how art’s conduciveness to them justifies its epistemic value. Identifying with this approach, I argue in this paper for the epistemic value of art. Drawing upon Nelson Goodman’s Art-symbol-theoretic, I argue that although art may not always provide factual knowledge (in a propositional sense), yet, through its symbolic nature, art is capable of conveying ideas and experiences in a way that shapes our understanding of the world – where, besides knowledge, understanding is here identified as an epistemic aim.
Keywords: Art, Epistemic Aims, Understanding, Nelson Goodman, Knowledge
Japa (Migration) Syndrome in Nigeria Palace: A Reading of Selected Francophone and Anglophone Literature
No full textThe phenomenon of ‘Japa’ syndrome, characterized by the mass emigration of Nigerians abroad, has emerged as a significant aspect of Nigeria's contemporary landscape. This paper adopts a literary lens to delve into this phenomenon, employing Lee’s push-pull theory and Bhagwati’s brain drain phenomenon as integral components of its methodology with an interpretive design. Through an analysis of Sanusi's un nègre a violé une blonde à Dallas (Nègre) from the French literary bloc and Adichie's "Americanah" from the English literary bloc. This study seeks to unravel the complexities of Japa and its repercussions on Nigerian society. The selected literary works are scrutinized to discern the motivations and experiences driving Nigerians to migrate abroad, shedding light on the social, economic, and political forces underpinning Japa. By employing a comparative framework, the study elucidates the similarities and disparities in the portrayal of Japa across linguistic boundaries. Furthermore, it probes into the potential influence of language itself in shaping perceptions surrounding Japa. The findings of the study reveal that many Nigerians, like most Africans and third-world-nation citizens, experiencing Japa are pushed by factors like limited economic opportunities and political instability while being pulled by the promise of higher wages, better living conditions, and greater opportunities in the West. This trend could lead to brain drain and obstruct the country's advancement as talented people leave. The study contributes to a more complex understanding of Japa syndrome by elucidating its causes, effects, and position within Nigeria's broader migration and identity narratives.
Keywords: Japa, Emigration, Nigeria, Americanah, Un nègre a violé une blonde à Dalla
Editorial
No full textThis issue of NIU Journal of Legal Studies touches on the Issues such as Public Policy Implications of Immunity Practice in U.S.A and Nigeria Jurisdictions, Combating the Hurdles of Prosecuting Sexual Slavery and Insurgency in Nigeria, Interrogating the Crisis of Prison Congestion in Nigeria and The Role of Law in Ensuring Equitable and Sustainable Use of Water in Africa
One of the papers, in this edition, critically explores relevant legal provisions, constitutional articles, and statutory frameworks in both the United States and Nigeria, drawing attention to their similarities and notable distinctions, particularly concerning which officials are covered and the scope of their protection. While this paper in its submission does not advocate for the outright elimination of constitutional immunity due to the risks of politically motivated lawsuits from habitual litigants, it strongly recommends that impeachment procedures, as outlined in the Constitution, should be activated in verified instances of constitutional violations.
Another paper examines the surge of sexual violence during armed conflict in Northern Nigeria, primarily driven by Boko Haram’s war, its psychological and physical toll on women and girls, and the persistent failure of the Nigerian legal system to hold perpetrators accountable due to outdated laws, lack of political will, and the absence of specialized legal frameworks. The paper therefore concludes that Nigeria must urgently reform its legal system to criminalize conflict-related sexual violence and establish special courts for effective prosecution, thus, ensuring justice for victims and survivors and by extension deterring future violations.
In sum, this issue of NIU Journal of Legal Studies features many empirical and theoretical based articles which can be of great benefit to every reader
Editorial
No full textThis edition of NIU Journal of Educational Research touches on Assessment Practices of Teachers, Digitalized Learning Delivery, The Role of Education in Transforming Youth Identity and Purpose, Leadership Succession Planning in Higher Education and Educational Psychology.
One of the papers, in this issue, examines how integrating YouTube technology has an impact on secondary school students’ academic performance and attitudes in Civic Education in Akoko Metropolis, Ondo State, Nigeria, and underscores the need for improving teacher training in digital pedagogy, providing infrastructure for internet access in schools, and reforming curricula to include digital content delivery methods formally.
Another paper also reveals persistent challenges Nigeria’s Higher Education, including the absence of formalized succession frameworks, limited leadership development opportunities, resource constraints, and inadequate administrative commitment. Emerging practices emphasize embedding leadership development into academic career pathways, fostering diversity and inclusion in leadership pipelines, and utilizing data-driven technologies for talent management and informed decision-making. The paper therefore, recommends that strengthened policy support, capacity building, and continuous mentorship will be vital to embedding leadership succession into the strategic culture of higher education institutions.
On the whole, this edition of NIU Journal of Educational Research features many empirical and theoretical based articles which can be of great benefit to every reader