Afe Babalola University Based Journals
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Exploring Chaos as a Form of Order: A Literary Approach to Gen Z Culture in Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give
Get PDFAs a demographic group, Gen-Z inherits the ‘chaotic’ culture that qualifies as modernism. These Gen-Zers are influencing the world prodigiously. So, our study explores the literary representation of Gen-Z in Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give with the aim of examining social identity and social justice as part of the major issues in Gen-Z culture. To achieve this, we employ the chaos theory as a theoretical framework to discuss the portrayal of Gen-Z culture in the above literary text. ‘Chaos theory enables us to see the physical world in new ways and to look anew at texts that I call “chaotic”’ (Jo Alyson Parker, 2007). Chaos itself is emblematic of modernism, which encourages continuity and ‘connotes a cultural sensibility rather than a particular period in time’ (Deborah Parsons 2007). Thus, the study of the cultural revolution that Gen-Z represents in literature here follows the thematic issues like police brutality and activism for discussion. The argument is foregrounded on the fact that we are living in a changing world and this change is driven by the media and the internet culture. So Gen-Z’s life in the text is influenced by the social media through internet connectivity. This portrayal is in itself a new order that represents chaos, where youth are depicted as having clarity of self-identity for the purpose of pushing back against unwanted pressure. Even though the youth seem to have lost the battle in the text on the path of pushing back, they still remain hopeful
Neuro-Symbolic Reasoning: Performance, Challenges, and Benchmarks: A Systematic Literature Review
Get PDFTraditional AI struggles with interpretability and generalisation in complex reasoning tasks, limiting its effectiveness in domains like healthcare and robotics. This systematic review aims to evaluate Neuro-Symbolic Reasoning (NeSy) frameworks, which integrate symbolic reasoning with neural networks to address these challenges. 28 empirical studies (2017–2024) were analysed from arXiv, IEEE Xplore, PubMed, and conferences, using a PRISMA-guided methodology with inclusion criteria focusing on NeSy frameworks, performance, and scalability. Results show NeSy systems achieve a mean accuracy of 93.00% (SD 5.35%) across visual reasoning, NLP, robotics, and healthcare, outperforming neural baselines by 26.00% on average (SD 18.29%). Methodologies like pLogicNet, DiffLogic, and NSFR enhance generalisation, e.g., in spatial reasoning tasks. However, computational inefficiencies and explainability gaps persist (mean quality score 7.53/9, SD 1.04). NeSyBench, using datasets like MIMIC-III and CLEVR, and NeSyEval for standardised metrics (accuracy, F1-score, interpretability), was proposed to refine NeSy systems. This review provides a roadmap for developing interpretable, scalable AI, advancing applications in diagnostics and autonomous systems
Sustainable Development: Assessing the Role of Corporate and Private Sector Organizations in Southwest, Nigeria: A Case Study
Get PDFThis study critically examined the role of corporate and private sector entities in fostering sustainable development in Southwest Nigeria, with a particular focus on empowering local communities. Utilising a mixed-methods approach—comprising descriptive and inferential statistics, including One-Way ANOVA, alongside semi-structured interviews—the research drew on 355 valid responses from 400 distributed questionnaires (88.8% response rate) spanning diverse professional sectors. Findings revealed a significant disconnect between corporate initiatives and the actual developmental needs of local communities. While previous scholars have emphasised the importance of partnerships and corporate social responsibility, this study advances practical, actionable recommendations. These include the institutionalisation of community-based co-design frameworks where corporations co-create development projects with local stakeholders from inception to implementation. Additionally, the study recommends the establishment of Local Development Accountability Councils (LDACs) comprising corporate representatives, community leaders, and civil society actors to ensure transparency, continuous dialogue, and contextualised impact measurement. Businesses should integrate sustainability into their core operational strategies through mandatory Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance reporting at regional levels. Moreover, the government should incentivise private sector involvement via tax reliefs, competitive grants, and access to land or infrastructure for community-oriented projects. The study provides a novel metrics toolkit for measuring corporate-community impact tailored to the socio-economic realities of the region. Overall, the research offers deeper insights for policymakers, corporate leaders, development practitioners, and researchers seeking to align profit-driven goals with inclusive and sustainable growth in the Southwest, Nigeria
The Investigation of the Drivers of Gender Inequality in Developed and Developing Countries
Get PDFGender inequality continues to pose significant challenges to inclusive development, undermining social, economic, and health progress across countries. This paper examines the drivers of gender inequality across 15 developed and 54 developing countries over the period 2000–2024, with the primary aim of analysing how socioeconomic, demographic, and health-related factors influence the Gender Inequality Index (GII). Using annual panel data, the study employs dynamic panel methods, including Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS), Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSEs), and Driscoll–Kraay corrections, to account for cross-sectional dependence, slope heterogeneity, and non-stationarity. The model specifies GII as a function of educationgaps, labour-force participation and employment disparities, wage and salaried-worker gaps, public health spending, infant mortality, immunization coverage, GDP per capita, and urbanization. The results reveal that in developed countries, gender inequality is significantly aggravated by wider education and employment gaps, larger labourforce participation and wage disparities, higher infant mortality, and rapid urban growth, whereas higher GDP per capita and broader immunization coverage mitigate inequality. In developing countries, the education gap, labour-force gap, wage gap, and infant mortality emerge as strong positive drivers of inequality, while GDP per capita, increased public health expenditure, and urbanization contributeto reducing it; the impact of immunization is weak and mixed, and the employment gap shows estimator-dependent significance. The findings underscore that although certain determinants are common across countries, their effects vary in intensity depending on the level of development. The study concludes that targeted interventions such as closing educational and employment disparities, formalizing labour markets, improving job quality, and strengthening health systems through sustainable financing are essential to narrowing gender gaps. The contribution of this paper lies in providing comparative empirical evidence that deepens the understanding of the context-specific dynamics of gender inequality and in proposing multi-dimensional policy frameworks relevant to both developed and developing economies
The Influence of Parental Factors on Gender Performance of Lower Primary School Children
Get PDFThis study examines the influence of parental factors on gender differences in academic performance among lower primary school children. Guided by a descriptive survey research design, the study examined how Parent involvement in school activities, Parent socioeconomic status, Parent educational background, and Parenting style relate to the performance of lower primary school pupils. A sample of pupils and their parents was selected using multi-stage sampling techniques, while data were collected through structured questionnaires and school records. Descriptive statistics and inferential tests were employed to analyse the relationships between variables. Findings from the results show that parent involvement in school activities is the main factor that influences the academic performance of lower primary school pupils. The study concludes that Parental involvement positively influences pupils’ academic performance by equipping parents with the skills to support learning at home. It recommends targeted parental sensitisation on the importance of educational support for children, and school-home collaboration strategies to narrow early gender achievement gaps
Assessing the Impact of Teenage Pregnancy in Girl-Child Education: A Case Study of Mayo-Dassa Community, Jalingo LGA, Taraba State:
Get PDFThis research critically investigates the implications of teenage pregnancy on the educational development of the girl-child in Mayo-Dassa, Jalingo LGA, Taraba State, with a particular focus on the socio-cultural and economic dimensions that foster early motherhood. Teenage pregnancy continues to serve as a significant impediment to academic progression, exacerbating gender disparities and curtailing the life prospects of adolescent girls. Grounded in Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1977), the study explores how environmental and social influences shape adolescent reproductive choices; Feminist Theory (Butler, 1990) is employed to interrogate the patriarchal systems that marginalise female educational access, while Human Capital Theory (Schultz, 1961) is utilised to elucidate the long-term economic repercussions of interrupted education among teenage mothers. Adopting a qualitative methodology, the study synthesises data from in-depth interviews, policy analyses, and case narratives tocapture the lived realities of affected individuals. Preliminary findings reveal a confluence of poverty, entrenched gender norms, cultural expectations, and limited access to reproductive health education as key drivers of early pregnancy, which in turn disrupt educational trajectories. Further exacerbating the problem are social exclusion, economic hardship, and institutional barriers, such as restrictive school policies. The theoretical framework underscores the interplay of social conditioning, systemic inequality, and economic disenfranchisement in shaping educational outcomes. The study advocates for comprehensive, context-specific interventions, ranging from gender-responsive educational reforms and youth empowerment programs to accessible sexual and reproductive health services. By promoting inclusive policy frameworks and supportive learning environments, this research aims to inform strategies that safeguard educational opportunities for teenage mothers and advance broader goals of gender equity and sustainable community development
He Who Says Organisation Says Oligarchy and She Who Says Gender Says Woman: The Quest for Men’s Interest in Gender Studies
Get PDFThis paper interrogates the gynocentric orientation of gender studies, arguing that its prevailing focus on women’s experiences has produced a harmful “single story” that marginalises male-specific burdens and diverse masculinities. Drawing on Robert Michels’s Iron Law of Oligarchy and critiques of exclusionary narratives, the study posits that the field frequently narrows the expansive concept of “gender” to exclusively denote “woman”. Employing a critical-analytical approach guided by the intersectionality framework, the research synthesises theoretical literature and lived-experience accounts to expose exclusionary practices. Our analysis demonstrates how this women-centred focus systematically occludes the study of diverse masculinities and male suffering, often relying on a reductive narrative that frames men primarily as oppressors and women as victims. Thepaper specifically highlights unique male burdens—such as elevated occupational risk, social role strain, suppressed emotional expression, and poorer help-seeking behaviour—that remain largely unexamined in mainstream scholarship. Furthermore, we show that formal and informal exclusionary practices within academic and activist communities discourage men from participating as researchers and interlocutors, thereby reinforcing narrow gynocentric epistemological boundaries. The conclusion is that a genuinely intersectional and reoriented gender studies, one that actively incorporates men’sperspectives and experiences, is crucial to strengthening the field’s explanatory power, reducing harmful single-story framings, and advancing collective strategies to address gendered injustices affecting all people
OPINION: Maritime Crimes in the Gulf of Guinea: Trends, Gaps in Response, and Solutions
No full textCatalysed by the Somali civil war and state fragility, piracy re-emerged in the Gulf of Aden around 2000. Originally formed to deter illegal foreign fishing, these Somali militias transitioned into a lucrative kidnapping-for-ransom enterprise. By 2011, they conducted over 220 attacks, costing the global economy 16 billion (Alessi & Hanson, 2012). While global attention focused on Somali piracy, the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) emerged as a new hotspot for maritime criminal activities, such as piracy, armed robbery, and kidnappings for ransom. This region, vibrant for its petroleum and gas production, has become a substantial concern for global energy security, with pirates often targeting vessels in the offshore oil and gas industry. They use sophisticated weapons to intimidate crew members and facilitate their illicit activities, primarily concentrated in Nigerian and Benin waters
Aesthetics of Streetscapes in University Outdoor Environments: A Case Study of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD)
No full textStreetscapes in universities are very vital spaces that can influence peoples’ perception of the cultural identity that is summed up in the aesthetics and functionality of an academic institution. The aim of this study is to investigate the aesthetics of streetscapes within the outdoor environment of a Southwest university by examining the interplay of design elements, such as architectural facade designs of buildings, landscape elements, urban art and furniture and art installations. These elements were analysed to ascertain the benefits of their aesthetic qualities and how they resonate with the students’ quality of life and psychological wellbeing. The research methodology followed a qualitative approach that involved a structured interview and keen observation of visual data via a qualitative photographic study. The photographic data were analysed using construct variables such as cohesiveness, aesthetic preference, and visual satisfaction by a team of six experts from academia. This was done to gain deeper insights into students’ perceptions and preferences of aesthetic streetscapes under a conducive academic environment. Thirty students offering ARC 211 (Visual design and photography) at ABUAD were asked to capture their three favourite outdoor aesthetic experiences using a digital camera and explain the reasons for such choices of the sceneries. Findings from the study revealed that outdoor environments with lots of greenery and seat-outs encourage more outdoor meetings, which enhances outdoor learning outside classrooms; well-designed roads with clear vehicular and pedestrian access tend to enhance clarity of purpose and focus in students, while facade aesthetics of buildings impact a sense of place and wellbeing of students. The study recommends that more trees should be planted to increase shade at the car parks among coloured shrubby plants
Leveraging Public Relations for Societal Stability and Development in Nigeria: A Communication Perspective
No full textThis study examined the role of public relations (PR) as a communication tool for fostering societal stability and national development in Nigeria. PR has long been recognised as a strategic mechanism for shaping public perceptions, managing government-public relations, and promoting sustainable development. The study aimed to explore how PR strategies contribute to governance, economic growth, and peacebuilding while addressing challenges that hinder its effectiveness. A qualitative research approach was adopted, relying on secondary data from existing literature, policy reports, and relevant case studies. This method provided a comprehensive understanding of PR’s influence in Nigeria, highlighting best practices and areas for improvement. The findings revealed that PR played a crucial role in governance, crisis communication, and economic development by facilitating transparent engagement between the government, private sector, and the public. However, issues such as misinformation, unethical practices, and institutional limitations posed significant challenges to PR’s effectiveness. The study stressed the need for structured PR education and professionalism, advocating continuous training, certification, and ethical enforcement. In addition, it emphasised the adoption of digital PR and social media strategies to enhance communication and counter misinformation. Strengthening public-private collaboration, improving PR transparency, and integrating PR into governance structures were also identified as critical steps for enhancing its impact. The study demonstrated that PR is integral to national development and public trust-building in Nigeria. Strengthening its institutional framework and ethical standards would ensure a more effective and sustainable approach to communication, thereby fostering a stable and progressive society.