Afe Babalola University Based Journals
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NAVIGATING THE FUTURE: ROBO-ADVISORS IN THE FINANCIAL LANDSCAPE.
Get PDFRobotic advisors have emerged as a disruptive force in the rapidly evolving financial technology landscape, revolutionizing traditional wealth management practices. Driven by artificial intelligence and automation, these intelligent systems offer investors a novel approach to financial decision-making. This study delves into the multifaceted realm of robotic advisors, examining their development, regulatory framework, challenges, and immense potential in Nigeria. Utilizing a comparative research method, the study meticulously analyzes primary and secondary legal sources to achieve its objectives. Findings reveal that while the legal framework for robotic advisors exists, it remains susceptible to inherent faults and biases. Additionally, the study identifies a degree of human intervention in robotic advisory services, undermining claims of complete autonomy. Based on these findings, the paper advocates for monthly external auditing and independent contractor supervision to enhance investor confidence and security. Furthermore, it recommends regular oversight of human intervention to ensure adherence to regulatory standards. It is anticipated that these recommendations will contribute to restoring confidence and trust in robotic advisory services within the Nigerian landscape
THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) IN ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY (ART): EXAMINING THE LEGAL AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS.
Get PDFIn a world where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly gaining prominence, its potential application in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) cannot be overlooked. AI in ART has revolutionized the field of reproductive medicine, promising enhanced efficiency and outcomes. This article delves into the legal and ethical considerations surrounding this burgeoning intersection. AI algorithms are increasingly utilized in ART procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), embryo selection, and gamete screening, optimizing success rates, and minimizing risks. AI holds promise. This study explores the intersection of AI and ART, investigating the legal challenges arising from their integration. It scrutinizes the implications of employing AI in reproductive technologies, delving into concerns such as data privacy, consent, liability, and the potential necessity for novel regulatory frameworks. The research provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving legal and ethical landscape in this domain. Employing a doctrinal methodology, which involves analyzing legal principles and doctrines, the study aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on the ethical and legal framework essential for ensuring the responsible and equitable utilization of AI in ART. Despite the numerous challenges, the amalgamation of AI and ART is poised to significantly influence the trajectory of medical advancement in the future
Diversity and Inclusion and Team Performance of Oil and Gas Firms in Rivers State, Nigeria
Get PDFThe study investigates the relationship between diversity and inclusion and team performance of the oil and gas firms in Rivers State. A survey study was carried out in this study. The population comprised 4520 employees of the oil and gas firms in Rivers State and the samples were 317 employees of the oil and gas firms. The Taro Yamane 1967 formula was used to derive the sample size. The spearman rank order correlation coefficient was used in analysing the stated hypotheses. The findings revealed a positive correlation between the dimensions of diversity and inclusion (diversity training and inclusivity of voices and perspectives) and team performance. The study concludes that diversity and inclusion relate with the team performance of the oil and gas firms. The study recommends enhancing diversity training and inclusivity of voices and perspectives for improved team performance
Nigeria’s Foreign Policy and the Major Geographical Drivers
Get PDFThe thinking in the literature is that states develop different foreign policy interests and priorities depending on their geographical endowments. That is, the foreign policy of a state is sensitive to its geography. This article examines the defining role that geographical descriptors have played in the conduct of Nigeria’s foreign policy. Relying on data generated from major ranking bodies/platforms and other secondary sources, this paper contends that geographical factors have always shaped Nigeria’s foreign policy towards the coterminous or contiguous countries, Gulf of Guinea, ECOWAS region, and African continent. While Nigeria has leveraged its size, location, natural and human endowments to launch itself into global relevance, there are major constraints. These include the ineffective governance of Nigeria’s land and borders and occasional border disputes with the adjoining states, poor demographics in terms of nutrition, health, education and work, and the mismanagement of the proceeds from the country’s natural resource endowments. These problems must be addressed if Nigeria is to harness the full benefits of its geography
Women and Urbanisation in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria
Get PDFThis study examines women's role in the urbanisation of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. From the standpoint of feminist theory, urbanisation is believed to create expanded opportunities for the general populace as well as for women, who typically face discrimination in rural economies. However, the initial FCT master plan ended up being distorted by the dynamics and complexities of Abuja's urbanisation and growth process over time, which is driven by political and economic realities. There are drawbacks to urbanisation in civilisations with strong sociocultural norms and values, such as the fact that women must endure various forms of gender inequality, discrimination, and exclusion, particularly in the political sphere, which present significant difficulties. This study makes use of secondary data to demonstrate how the FCT's 2003 reconstruction to its original Master Plan provided chances for active participation in which women were included for both native people and newcomers. In a similar vein, the Federal Capital Development Authority's (FCDA) and other local council offices, which hired indigenous people for their departments and agencies, significantly altered the way of life for women from being rural farmers to empowered workers. In order to address the issues facing women in the FCT, empowerment must be a multifaceted process that transforms the economic, political, social, psychological, and legal conditions of the weak (women). It must also aim to demolish cultural, traditional, and social norms that devalue, disempower, and dispossess women, with a primary goal of meeting their needs
Combating Corruption in Nigeria: A Case Study of Public Prosecution under Buhari’s Administration (2015-2023)
Get PDFThe menace of corruption in Nigeria has lingered on for years, the conscious awareness towards this malady has gained prominence over the years, to the extent that the main opposition party, All Progressive Congress (APC), ascended to power in the 2015 General Elections, emerging victorious at the polls with anti-corruption campaign, echoed by the change mantra. This study dissected the much-anticipated fight against corruption in the eight years of Muhammadu Buhari’s APC led administration; it unravels that the principle
The menace of corruption in Nigeria has lingered on for years, the conscious awareness towards this malady has gained prominence over the years, to the extent that the main opposition party, All Progressive Congress (APC), ascended to power in the 2015 General Elections, emerging victorious at the polls with anti-corruption campaign, echoed by the change mantra. This study dissected the much-anticipated fight against corruption in the eight years of Muhammadu Buhari’s APC led administration; it unravels that the principle of rotation of power with its patron-client network and identity politics are enablers of corruption in Nigeria. Similarly, it is posited that plea bargain constitutes a huge hindrance to the successful eradication of corruption in Nigeria, just as the poor reward system for career public office holders constitutes a challenge to the fight against corruption in Nigeria. The study concluded that the Buhari administration’s fight against corruption, although had Nigerians filled with hopes from inception, could not achieve much in the end with the anti-corruption Caesar (Ibrahim Magu) removed in what appears as a power play. We recommend the establishment of institutional mechanisms to prevent corruption, review of reward system for public officers, creation of credit system to facilitate citizens’ immediate access to meeting their needs, prosecution of civil/public servants who are complicit in corrupt practices, and compensation of whistleblowers, among other measures
Reflections on Conducting Field Research on Women in Polarised Post-Conflict Communities in Plateau State, Nigeria
Get PDFDue to the fragile nature of peace in polarised post-conflict communities, conducting qualitative phenomenological research on women in such communities is not easy for researchers. Consequently, conducting fieldwork in such a location requires adequate and thorough planning before proceeding to the field. In this article, the authors shared their common experiences of conducting research on women in polarised post-conflict communities. This article emphasised on the need for a researcher to establish multiple initial contacts with persons in the research locations, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and/or Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that have done some work or are currently working in the locations. The contacts can provide useful insights about the nature of the research locations, the potential participants, and the sensitivities. The article shows that when conducting interviews and Focused Group Discussions (FGDs), the researcher should ensure the safety of both the researcher and the participants by choosing suitable times and safe locations. The article emphasised the need to ensure that ethical considerations should guide the research process. The researcher, in conducting the fieldwork, must ensure that continuous informed consent is obtained from the participants in the research process. This will ensure that the researcher “does no harm” to the participants. Trust building through confidentiality and anonymity should be guaranteed to the participants to build rapport to ensure their full participation
Public-Private Partnerships and Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria
Get PDFThe attempt by the United Nations (UN) to assist member states, especially developing countries with huge financing gaps, to meet the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) necessitated the need for public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a financing strategy. The PPP initiative is generated by the World Bank to give policy advice to developing economies on the need to involve the private sector in financing and operating infrastructure. The paradigm shift from traditional public service delivery to public-private partnerships (PPPs) is a modern financing strategy for mobilising resources so that developing countries characterised by constrained resources can optimise the public utilities, and more importantly, meet the SDGs targets by 2030. The study provides insights into the wide variety of PPP arrangements and the sometimes rather diffused contractual framework under which PPPs take place. Due attention is given to the motives and rationale for relying on PPPs and the expected outcomes of PPP arrangements. A major conclusion derived from this study is that, for sustainable development goals to be achieved in developing economies, the partnership should not be limited to resource sharing, but also involve accountability, people-centredness, risk-sharing and revenue distribution between the public and private stakeholders. The study adopts a qualitative research method, encompassing the use of journals, books, internet materials and secondary data
Casualisation of Work and Employees’ Satisfaction in the BUA Group of Companies, Lagos, Nigeria
Get PDFCasualisation of work in the globe and certainly in Nigeria is in contrast to the labours’ tenets as this has most often resulted in conflict between employees, their unions, and employers across different workplaces in Nigeria and the world at large. The study investigated the impact of casualisation of work on employees’ job satisfaction in the BUA Group of Companies, Lagos, Nigeria. This was done with a population of 864 and sample size of 273. The hypotheses of the study were tested with the use of Pearson Correlation statistical tool. Findings of the study exhibited a positive significant impact of: temporary employment on staff’s personal growth; and non-standard employment on workers’ job competency in BUA Group of Companies, Lagos. It was concluded that casual workers in the organisation used to enjoy some measures of cares that are given to their permanent counterparts. The study, then recommended stern measures by the Nigerian Government at all levels to make sure that workplaces in the country comply with the provisions of the 2010 Casualisation Prohibition Bill which is capable of guaranteeing equal rights to all workers
Reliability-based Assessment of the Structural Integrity of some Existing Reinforced Concrete Columns
Get PDFAbnormal loading can initiate the progressive collapse of a reinforced concrete building. A progressive collapse may start as a local failure, followed by a sequence of reactions leading to a massive portion failure of an entire structure. Reinforced concrete columns are significant structural elements in ascertaining the integrity of framed buildings. This paper presents the report on the structural integrity of reinforced concrete columns of two selected university buildings labelled A and B investigated by using non-destructive testing techniques. First-Order Reliability Method (FORM) was deployed to process the data from the field in order to generate the implied safety indices for all accessed columns in the two buildings. The computed safety indices decrease as the simulated designed practical axial loads/moments increase for all the assumed steel ratios (0.4%, 1.59% and 6%) based on BS 8110:1997:1. When compared with the target safety level of 3.8 according to BS EN 1990:2002+A1:2005 for 50 years reference period of Class RC2 structural members in the ultimate limit state, almost all the columns passed the reliability test except the columns labelled 71 in building A; and C81A and C85 for building B. The highlighted critical columns show the direction for immediate repairs to forestall the initiation of eventual progressive failure of the buildings