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Examining the Nexus of Human Ecology and Functional Apparel among Home Economics Students in Tertiary Institutions in Lagos State, Nigeria
No full textThis study examines the nexus between human ecology and functional apparel among Home Economics students in tertiary institutions in Lagos State, Nigeria. Human ecology emphasizes the dynamic relationship between individuals and their environments, while apparel serves as both a functional and expressive medium reflecting personal, cultural, and environmental values. The study adopted a descriptive survey design with a population of 300 respondents drawn from Lagos State University of Education, University of Lagos, and College of Education (Technical), Akoka. A structured online questionnaire was used to gather data on factors influencing apparel preference and the functionality of clothing to students’ environments. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Friedman’s tests. Findings revealed significant factors influencing apparel choices, including values, cultural identity, peer group influence, institutional dress codes, climate, and fashion trends (χ² = 300.297, p < 0.001). Similarly, apparel functionality, comfort, environmental adaptability, eco-friendliness, and suitability for academic and social activities was found to significantly affect students’ environmental engagement and performance (χ² = 1311.781, p < 0.001). The study concludes that Home Economics students’ apparel preferences are shaped by a complex interaction of ecological, socio-cultural, and technological factors. It recommends the adoption of functional and eco-friendly clothing aligned with environmental conditions and institutional standards to promote comfort, identity, and professional development.
Keywords: Human Ecology, Functional Apparel, Home Economics, Lagos State, Tertiary Institutions, Fashion Trends, Eco-friendly Clothin
Surface Water Pollution in Lagos, Nigeria
Get PDFSurface water is one of the most vulnerable in terms of pollution in Lagos State. The risks of surface water were high in many areas of the state because of polluted activities on the water bodies. And this has reduced the quality of surface water and made it unfit for human use. The primary data for the study was collected through direct oral interviews of 25 residents of the state through random sampling technique. It also involved the use of secondary data like textbooks, newspapers and journals. This paper focused on the causes of surface water pollution in Lagos State Nigeria, which include, industrial wastewater, agricultural effluence, sawdust seepage, direct flush of septic tanks into the seas and commercial sand dredging. The research therefore concluded that revocation of hazardous activities around surface water in Lagos State such as, open defecation, commercial sand dredging and relocation of sawmills to area that could contain them without causing problems to the surface water will preserve the quality of surface water in the state.
Keywords: Lagos State, Sand dredging, Sawdust seepage, Sustainable development Surface water, Water Pollution
‘Adie ba l’okun; ara o r’okun - ara o r’adie’ – A Socio-Cultural Dissection of Gender Stereotypes and its Implications for the Contemporary Nigerian Society
Get PDFExposure to various cultures, civilization, and technological developments has brought in diverse knowledge and experiences to Africa in contemporary times. These intrusions have far reaching negative implications for us as a people especially as it regards authenticating and propagating our values and identity. To this end, it is only apt to assert that unlike the roles and essence of gender assertion and propagation that stood us out as Africans in the past, socio-cultural factors such as education, ethnicity and economic status amongst others have come to be indices for continually redefining and propagating gender and its roles contextually. Thus, this new phenomenon which wears the gab of gender stereotyping, is catalytic in family bound. This paper therefore utilizes a sociological gender conceptual framework to analyse selected works of Ahmed Yerima and Ezenwanebe Osita, examining perceived gender stereotypical performances especially in the contemporary Nigeria. The work critically analyses identified characters in Ahmed Yerima’s The Mirror Cracks and Ezenwanebe’s Adaugo vis-a-vis their actions, in the light of the theoretical frameworks of hegemonic masculinity and African Womanism under the ambience of the social reality of the present-day Nigeria. The implications of gender stereotype in the analysis is used to evaluate and interrogate factors responsible for individual and family disorientation and disillusionment while advocating for a critical revisit to the gender theories in Africa that shall tilt towards solving the peculiar problems of family units in Africa and by extension the society at large. The paper concludes that the Matriarchal Womanism and Womanist Masculinity is not only a preferred tangible and pragmatic solution to most of the questions bedevilling the society presently, but it is equally worth subjecting to more academic rigours. The result will provide tangible solutions to the identified problems in the paper, and also to those problems present in some homes and the society.
Keywords: Gender, stereotypes, disillusionment, sustainability, conceptual evolutio
Representations of Child-Soldier Trauma in Biyi Bandele’s Burma Boy
Get PDFThe exploration of child trauma in literature has received robust attention in Africa. Though, this study is focused on the phenomenon of child-soldier trauma narratives in African literature. This study, investigated the representations of traumatised child-soldiers in Biyi Bandele’s Burma Boy (2007). The selected text was subjected to qualitative, literary analysis, identifying the traumatic experiences suffered by the child-fighters featured in them. The study utilised the tenets of trauma theory to account for the mental state of the characters. The analysis reveals that there are different episodes of trauma like fear, anxiety, aggression, depression, hallucination, manifested by the child-soldiers in the novel. Bandele’s Burma Boy imaginatively explores how young fighters (Chindits) were traumatised during the Second World War. In the novel, the child-fighters including Ali Banana, became traumatised as a result of their exposure to the devastating experience of war and deaths. The examined novel highlights the traumatic experiences of child soldiers especially Ali Banana thereby resulting in anxiety and depression. It also facilitates psychological health awareness, and this makes the research relevant to fields like clinical psychology and trauma studies.
Keywords: Trauma Studies, Child-Soldier, War, Mental Health, Fear
The Church’s Leadership Role in Nigeria: A Critical Examination of its Historical Impact and Current Challenges
Get PDFWhile it may not be farfetched to assert that the church consisted of the cradle of leadership in Nigeria and indeed Africa, it is more perturbing to say that the church has drifted from its noble position to chasing after fantasies. The rationale behind this phenomenon remained enigmatic. It is believed that Christianity has in no small measure affected the polity through meaningful leadership in various capacities in Nigeria, however, it is regrettable to say that the church has shy away from its assignment. It posed serious problems on what measure the church should adopt in reclaiming its leadership mandate. The paper thus examines heuristically the position of the church and her impacts in Africa, taking a cursory look at the Nigeria experience. Leadership is fundamental to all aspects of human endeavour and cannot be handled with levity, hence it becomes paramount to critically examine these fledging leadership tussles that have bedevilled the country in recent times. The paper seeks to establish that religious leadership has a stronghold in the nation’s politics. The discourse captured salient areas such as the concept of religion, leadership and the impact of church leadership in Nigeria. To achieve this goal, therefore, the historical and phenomenological methods of religious research were deployed. It also adopts the transformational leadership theory which examines transformational leaders as those connected to their followers in such a way that it raises the level of motivation and morality committed to a collective good. The paper concludes by recommending the values of Christian leadership espoused by the church should be imbibed to revamp the lacuna already created in the country. It advanced for the adoption of Christian leadership traits and values as a panacea to effective leadership structure in the Nigerian polity.
Keywords: Church, Leadership, Nigeria, Transformational Theor
Inequality Issues and Their Effects on Social Relations in Society: A Philosophical Perspective
Get PDFHumanity is still plagued by inequality. In line with J. J. Rousseau, this article aims to investigate how social relationships in society have been impacted by existing inequality. The purpose of this paper is to show how inequality was the basis for human society's modernity, civilization, and political advancement. We argue that nature itself has produced inequality among humans since each person is born with their own unique set of potential. Despite this, we also argue that a number of measures, such as the creation of legislation and universal access to opportunities, should be taken by individuals to lessen these differences. As a result, the threat of inequality in our social relationships will change. Rousseau's theory of inequality will be discussed, with both its advantages and disadvantages noted. The subject of inequality is contextualized through the experience of Nigeria. This work's insightful analysis allows us to illustrate, within the framework of Rousseau's postulate, the tremendous threat that inequality has presented to our society.
Keywords: Inequality, Social Relations, Rousseau, Corruptio
Harnessing Customary Land Tenure for Sustainable Land Resource Management in Rural Nigeria
Get PDFCustomary land tenure is the primary form of management of rural land in Nigeria. Although other land tenure systems operate alongside it, it primarily regulates the ownership rights and the appropriation of land resources in the rural settings. This study overviewed customary land tenure and the Land Use Act 1978 (LUA). The changes the LUA introduced to its operation and the results of the intervention were discussed. The study appraised the role of customary land tenure in sustainable rural development. A doctrinal research method which made use of primary and secondary sources was used. The primary source included the domestic statutes such as the Land Tenure Law 1962, LUA, 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, etc. and case law The secondary source included textbooks, journal articles, conference proceedings and the internet. It was revealed that in most parts of Nigeria, rural lands are under the customary land tenure, regulated by customs and culture of the communities. It was suggested that the LUA adopted the operation of the customary land tenure with modifications and that the intervention on the system dislocated rural peace. However, the incidents of customary land tenure were found to be capable of ensuring sustainable development in the rural areas. While reforms were suggested, the use of customary land tenure is recommended for the reduction of poverty, hunger and violence and an increase in employment and wealth creation.
Keywords: Deemed Customary Rights, Land Tenure, Rural Conflicts, Sustainable Developmen
Intellectuals as Patriots: Contributions of Nigerian Academics to Democratic Movements (1999–2023)
Get PDFThe role of intellectuals in shaping democratic governance has been a subject of global scholarly inquiry, yet the contributions of Nigerian academics to democratic movements in the Fourth Republic (1999–2023) remain underexplored. This study examines how Nigerian intellectuals, through activism, policy advocacy, and public engagement, have influenced the trajectory of democracy in the country. Using a multidisciplinary approach that combines historical analysis, political theory, and qualitative interviews, the research highlights key moments where academics have acted as patriots challenging authoritarian tendencies, advocating for electoral reforms, and promoting inclusive governance. The paper traces the evolution of academic participation in Nigeria's democratic struggles, from early resistance to military autocracy to more recent interventions in electoral accountability and social justice campaigns. It identifies pivotal contributions by university-based think tanks, civil society organizations, and individual scholars in fostering political consciousness and mobilizing grassroots participation. While acknowledging the constraints of institutional decay, brain drain, and political co-optation, the study argues that Nigerian academics have played a dual role: as critics of state inefficiencies and as architects of reformist ideas. The research concludes by exploring the prospects of intellectual engagement in an increasingly digitalized public sphere, emphasizing the need for sustained scholarly advocacy to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions
Practice Pattern of Healthy Lifestyle Indices of University Health Education Students
Get PDFUnhealthy lifestyle is increasing at alarming rates with University students being one of the drivers of the lifestyle. The study was undertaken to determine the pattern of practice of healthy lifestyle indices of the students. One research question and eight hypotheses were verified at 0.05 level of significance. The survey research design of a cross-sectional approach and the 201 Health Education students who were successful in the 2022/2023 Academic Session were used for the study. A sample of 138 made up of 109 females and 29 male students were randomly chosen using disproportionate stratified sampling technique. An adapted ‘Healthy Lifestyle Scale’ which was validated and reliability established at 0.798 was used to collect data from the students. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed that the practice pattern of University Health Education students is either good or poor. Moreover. While the exercise behaviour, regular behaviour, health risk behaviour and life appreciation were statistically significantly different by gender, nutrition, health responsibility, social support and stress management were not statistically significantly different by gender. It was recommended from the findings that the poor practice pattern of the students in healthy lifestyle indices can be improved through sensitization of the students by their lecturers on indices in which they reported poorly.
Keywords: University, Health Education, healthy lifestyle, students, good, poor, exercise behaviour
The Role of the Church in Mobilizing Women for Sustainable Peace in the Niger Delta
Get PDFThe paper explores the role of the church in mobilizing women to promote sustainable peace in the Niger Delta region. Its aims are to investigate the roles women play towards peace building and discuss how the church can effectively mobilize them towards sustaining peace. The data for this paper are based on secondary sources, while it is examined through the lens of Feminist Peace Theory. It was discovered that the women contribute to peace through prayer for peace, peaceful protests, formation of women groups and organizations and by discouraging their husbands and sons from taking part in conflicts. It was also discovered that the church in the Niger Delta can mobilize women through rereading of Biblical texts on gender; faith-based peacebuilding; women education and healthcare system; encouraging women organizations in the Church to be involved in peace building, and organization of programmes and outreaches for women. Others are: advocacy for women’s rights and interest; encouragement of women’s active participation in politics; reintegration of female combatants and victims of conflicts into society; promotion of gender equality and campaign against root causes of conflict. The study concludes that the church's focus on mobilizing women for sustainable peace is essential for addressing the complex challenges facing the Niger Delta region. The study recommends among others, that government should provide resources and support for church-led peacebuilding initiatives by encouraging and supporting women's participation in peace processes and decision-making and encourage increase in women’s participation in politics as well as ensuring gender equality in the society and in all government appointments.
Keywords: Church, Women, Peace, Peacebuilding, Niger Delt