Afe Babalola University Based Journals
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Balancing Justice and Stability in Liberia: Implementing Transitional Justice in a Fragile Society Facing Socio-Economic Issues
Get PDFThe purpose of this study is to examined the balance between seeking justice and maintaining stability in post-conflict Liberia, that is fragile and has many socio-economic issues. The study employed a mixed-methods with convergent parallel design. The 399 respondents sample for quantitative data had a 100% response rate. Ten participants were interviewed for qualitative data. Stratified proportional sampling was used for quantitative data, whereas purposive and snowball methods were used for qualitative data. Findings from the inferential statistics showed that Economic Security has a strong positive effect on the dependent variable, Transitional Justice, explaining 61.7% of the variance (R² = 0.617, p < 0.001), with a significant standardised coefficient (β = 0.444, p < 0.001). The findings from the qualitative data showed that the most significant hindrances to the pursuit of transitional justice in Liberia include political will, finance, corruption, and inadequacies in the justice system. Threat of instability, economic hardship, and political convenience deprioritised justice, leaving victims bereft of redress. For the achievement of sustainable peace and the consolidation of democracy, Liberia must pursue a balanced approach that unites both reconciliation and justice
Multiplier Effects of the Israeli-Hamas War on other Armed Non-State Actors in the Middle East
Get PDFThis paper examines the multiplier effects of the Israeli-Hamas war on non-state actors, emphasizing how the conflict has reshaped regional security dynamics and militant strategies. Situating the study within Conflict Diffusion Theory and New Wars Theory, the research explores how the war has not only escalated hostilities between Hamas and Israel but has also influenced broader geopolitical alignments, radicalization patterns, and proxy engagements in the Middle East. The study employs a qualitative analytical approach to interrogate how the war has served as a catalyst for the expansion of asymmetric warfare tactics, ideological mobilization, and external state sponsorship of militant groups. Several interrelated conclusions emerge from the analysis. First, the war has enhanced Hamas's strategic visibility, legitimizing its role as a resistance movement despite suffering significant military losses. Second, the conflict has provided a tactical and ideological blueprint for other violent non-state actors (VNSAs), including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran-backed militias, enabling them to expand their operational scope and influence. Third, the war has intensified regional proxy confrontations, disrupting the security architecture of the Middle East and challenging Western strategic interests. To mitigate these challenges, the study recommends a restructured counterterrorism approach that prioritizes intelligence-driven operations over broad military campaigns, an internationally mediated diplomatic framework for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and targeted humanitarian interventions to prevent Gaza’s collapse into a perpetual conflict zone
Assessment of Heavy Metals and Phytochemicals in Soil and Rice Samples Cultivated in a Selected Agricultural Region of Nigeria.
Get PDFRice is a staple food consumed daily by millions of Nigerians, making the safety of its cultivation critical to public health. Given the potential for bioaccumulation and toxicity, the presence of heavy metal residues in rice poses serious health risks, necessitating a thorough assessment of both heavy metals and phytochemicals in rice and the soils where it is cultivated across selected agricultural regions of Nigeria. This study assesses the concentrations of heavy metals and phytochemicals in soil and rice samples (parboiled and paddy) collected from Abuja and Kogi State in Nigeria. Determination of Pb, Cr, Zn, Cd, Mn, Fe, Ni and Cu in soil and rice samples was analyzed Using AAS Buck Scientific 211 AAS VGP, while the Determination of essential elements (Ca, Na, K and Mg) in soil and rice samples was done Using flame photometry (Jenway Digital Flame Photometer, PFP7 Model). The most prevalent essential and heavy metals are calcium (32.25±0.354), magnesium (14.292±0.008), and zinc (28.167±0.004), and the results showed that paddy rice had higher amounts of these elements than parboiled rice. Some metals exhibited bioaccumulation tendencies, with bioaccumulation values surpassing 1, particularly zinc and cadmium. Phytochemical analysis was carried out using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with the highest flavonoid component, Apigenin (0.2632 mg/g) in paddy rice obtained from Kogi State, while rice samples obtained from Abuja, had Protocatechuic acid (0.9076 mg/g) and Ferulicacid (0.97 mg/g) as the highest phenolic components. Higher amounts of phytochemicals, which are advantageous for their antioxidant qualities, were retained in parboiled rice, suggesting that conventional parboiling techniques can aid in the retention of substances that promote health. For adults, the Hazard Index (HI) values of the metals were all less than 1, indicating low health risk while the HI value for the children in both locations was greater than 1 indicating potential adverse health effects. In order to guarantee food safety, the results highlight the necessity of routinely checking rice for pollutants and encouraging safer farming methods
Prediction of Reservoir Flow Capacity in Sandstone Formations: A Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning Models
Get PDFSand production is one of the major challenges in the oil and gas industry, impacting the operational integrity and economic efficiency of oil extraction activities. This study focuses on predicting Reservoir Flow Capacity (RFC) in sandstone formations by analyzing geological and petrophysical properties critical to reservoir performance and mechanical stability. It also identified key factors that impact the mechanical stability of formations during production. Given a large number of input variables that enclose geological and environmental factors, the study set the correlation of these conditions to provide profound analysis and reveal profound patterns within the data. With the following supervised machine learning algorithms: Random Forest, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Support Vector Regression (SVR); the study modeled RFC. The algorithms were selected for their ability to model complex relationships in reservoir characterization, with Random Forest excelling in high-dimensional data handling, ANN in pattern learning, and SVR in regression-based predictions. Model evaluation using R-Squared metrics showed that the Random Forest model possesses a good level of accuracy of 0.9573 in predicting the RFC, compared to the ANN and SVR model which had R-Squared values of 0.9390 and 0.7294 respectively. The SVR model had large variations from the actual values and hence was not very useful for our predictions. Further analysis using the developed machine learning models revealed that geological formation thickness, reservoir thickness, and permeability are the most critical parameters influencing reservoir flow capacity and overall rock stability
Experimental Validation of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Blending and Testing Methodologies for Small Turbofan Engine
Get PDFMuch research has been undertaken on the sustainable aviation fuels as the alternative to jet A-1 fuels due to magnitude demands of having carbon-free alternative fuel in the aviation industry. This study gives information on the combustion dynamics and emission performance of synthetic fuel blends of a small PTD 500 turbofan engine using a kinetically shaped reactivity model that is dependent on chemical kinetics and thermodynamics. Several blends of fuels containing different volumes of SAF content were created and tested on their conformance with ASTM D7566 and ASTM D4054 requirements. The experimental test of the engine measured thrust, fuel consumption and emissions over a range of operating conditions, reactivity model included activation energy and combustion kinetics to measure the dependence of fuel mass flow on exhaust gas forming Combustion behaviours was correlated to thrust output and CO and emissions by use of α 1 reactivity coefficient. In terms of the Take-off operation, the thrust contribution of engines ranged between 80%-90% but in idle operation, recorded 10%-15.As evident in the results, addition of SAF has insignificant impact on engine thrust gain, with significant impacts on combustion paths and routes related to the incomplete combustion formation. This was proved empirically as there was no difference in the consistency of the fuel blends and these differences in combustion chemistry were related to the change in the composition and calorific value of the hydrocarbons. The present research has established the compatibility of SAF with the existing engine systems and also the need to have a detailed kinetic model to optimize the use of fuel and reduce its environmental effects. The reactivity model is expected to be extended in future to include long-term engine operating conditions under typical SAF applications, which can be used to support the propulsion aviation sector transition to green propulsion
AI-Powered Platforms for Protecting Women’s Rights and Transforming Widowhood Practices in Southern Nigeria
Get PDFRecently, there is an increasing attention of the media and other organisations on Women Rights violation and several myriad social challenges faced by vulnerable women in the Southern Nigeria. Thus, the study seeks to review these challenges and how the adoption of AI platforms can help to accelerate the protection of women Rights and the practice of widowhood in Southern Nigeria. Findings shows that there must be identification of the fundamental Rights and the women which are vulnerable in this area especially the widows. However, it was established that adoption of AI-platforms to help these women could also have impact on their Rights and protection. Hence, impact assessment is necessary to understand the level of risk associated with the usage of the tool. But most importantly, AI-powered solutions will help in enhancing their lifestyles and sustainable living if adequately deployed and monitored
Communication Cues, Identities and Errors of English in the Bottom-up Linguistic Landscape in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
Get PDFCommunication identity in linguistic landscape is a means in which sign producers express their linguistic or cultural background in their signage. This also influences the sign consumers to form their understanding of signage emplaced. However, linguistic landscape (LL) makeup is often shaped by extra-linguistic factors such as, the background, culture and environment. As a result of dichotomy in the language use in the society, most bottom up signage are characterised by the use of the English language and do not showcase the local identity. The study examined how sign producers reflect their identity focusing on the language errors and reproduction on the selected bottom-up signage. It also explored whether these signs communicate effectively to sign-viewers/consumers. The study adopted descriptive qualitative approach using geosemiotics theory to analyse how language elements in public discourse convey meaning beyond their literal interpretation. Signage around Ado-Ekiti metropolis were used for the study. Relevant articles, journals and archives were sourced to gather information for the study. The findings of the study showed that most signage reflect errors like grammatical errors, substitution, sound deletion, substitution and reproduction of English in their use of the English language. The choice of language used on these signage is informed largely by attitudes towards the use of the English language being a Lingua Franca and assumed that it is widely used in their environment. The study concluded that most of the bottom-up signage reproduced the ideologies of the top-down signage hence, the local language is not found on the signage
Adaptations of Shakespeare’s Tragedies: A Comparative Study of Othello and Ahmed Yerima’s Otaelo
Get PDFAdaptation is one of the fertile grounds of literary scholars both in criticisms and writing. And there is no doubt that series of literary figures have succeeded in this both nationally and internationally. It is also an avenue for discourses and counter-discourses thereby engendering the scope of literature. Writers like Ola Rotimi, Femi Osofisan, Olu Obafemi among others have excelled in this regard making references to Western literary works intertextually to foreground their ideologies and the literary world in turn gives them attention. The purpose of the paper is to explore the adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello by the Nigerian playwright, Ahmed Yerima and examine the intertextuality of Othello in the construction of Yerima’s Otaelo. The paper gives insights into the European and African cultural backgrounds of the two playwrights and their influences on the construction of both plays. It is thus discovered that the field of adaption in literary discourse helps to unravel lots of meanings in the original text of adaption and at the same time reflecting the socio-politcal and cultural tradition of the adopted culture. Therefore, this paper posits that postcolonial writers who parody European texts should not stop at just trying to rewrite the texts but find a means of making such works fit into African realities. There is no gainsaying about the fact that Armed Yerima, through improvisation, produced a play that successfully plants a European text on African soil.
 
Assessing the Impacts of Participatory Communication in Promoting Girl-Child Education in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja
Get PDFThis study examines the impact of participatory communication inpromoting girl-child education in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),Abuja, Nigeria. The research is conducted in two phases, integratingboth qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide a comprehensiveunderstanding of how participatory communication strategies influenceaccess, retention, and academic success among girls in FCT. The first phasefocuses on gathering qualitative insights through focus group discussions(FGDs) and in-depth interviews with educators, parents, policymakers, andstudents, capturing lived experiences and perceptions on communicationdriveneducational advocacy. The second phase employs a quantitativesurvey to assess the statistical significance of participatory communicationinitiatives on girl-child education, analysing variables such as enrollmentrates, classroom participation, and community involvement. Findingsindicate that community-driven dialogue, interactive media programmes,and inclusive decision-making significantly enhance awareness and reducesocio-cultural barriers that hinder female education. The study concludesthat participatory communication serves as a crucial tool in fosteringeducational inclusivity, recommending policy frameworks that integrategrassroots communication strategies to enhance girl-child education in FCTAbuja. These findings contribute to existing literature by emphasising the role of communication in addressing educational disparities and advocating for sustainable interventions to bridge the gender gap in education
Building on the Theory of the Comfort Zone of Gender Inequality: Analysis of Survey Findings
Get PDFDespite centuries of efforts to end gender inequality (GI), the world is stillnot on track to achieve gender equality by 2030. No country has achievedgender parity, and it is not likely that an additional 15 years at the end of2030 (what can be called “Progressive Sustainable Development Goals –P-SDGs”) will do the magic by 2045. The World Economic Forum GlobalGender Gap report 2024 made it clear that at the current rate of progress,full gender parity will not be reached until the year 2158. Based on theforegoing, the central argument of this paper is that gender inequality haspersisted because it is a comfort zone for men. It is a place where men preferto stay because of the benefits to them, regardless of the consequences forthe disadvantaged group (women). Two main research questions, amongother questions, addressed in this paper are: is gender inequality a comfortzone for men, and if yes, what is your understanding of gender inequalityin line with the comfort zone thesis? Using survey data, this paper buildson the theory of the comfort zone of gender inequality, which was firstadvanced by Osondu-Oti (2024) in an article titled “The Comfort Zoneof Gender Inequality: A Reflection.” Findings from this survey affirmthat gender inequality is a comfort zone for men, especially those with “authoritative power”- the main beneficiaries of gender inequality. In linewith the comfort zone thesis, findings from the survey show that genderinequality is a rational choice because of men’s fear of losing power andauthority in both private and public domains. Gender inequality also putsmen in an advantageous position where they feel more at ease and incontrol, and being that it is familiar terrain, they are reluctant to leave theircomfort zone. It is therefore recommended that more awareness be createdabout gender inequality being a comfort zone for “men,” so that advocatesof gender equality, including feminist movements and scholars, can engagein a stronger push for equality. This is because these men are less likely tobe committed to the struggle for gender equality, since they are in their“hegemonic palace” with the comfort therein. In addition, more practicalcommitments by organisations to the empowerment of women and girlsare needed more than ever, especially investing in girl-child education.Education is power, and it remains the first and a crucial step that willguarantee more placement of women in positions of authority in the yearsto come, as authoritative power is still less available to women