13 research outputs found
THE AFRICAN UNION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN AFRICA: A STUDY OF THE DARFUR CRISIS
No full textThe research study evaluated the role of African Union in resolving the Darfur crisis of Sudan. The study made used of only secondary source of data, exploring various literatures on the issue from scholars. The functionalism theory of international relations was adopted and argued that African Union intervened in the Darfur crisis because the nature of the crisis demanded international collaboration and support which the Sudanese Government did not had the capacity to manage the crisis. It was revealed that the Darfur crisis which lasted between 2004 and 2011 ensued as the result of political subjugation, economic exploitation and underdevelopment of the Darfur region of Sudan. The People Southern Sudanese considered these trends as injustice and as such they violently revolted against the Sudanese Government with the agitation for independence. The wanton destructive nature of the crisis necessitated the intervention of the international community. The study revealed that African Union was the first body to intervene in the crisis through mediation and sending of troops in July 2004 before the United Nations took over the mission in 31st December, 2007. The study showed that even after United Nations took over the Peace keeping operation, African Union still made significant contributions in terms of troops, finance, and humanitarian services. It was concluded that despite the weaknesses of African Union in managing the conflict, the success story of United Nations in Darfur region cannot be analyzed without taking into cognizes the effort of African Union put in the crisis. Therefore, it was recommended that African Union should be proactive and timely in intervening in conflict in the continent so as to avoid escalation
The International Conference On The Great Lakes Region (ICGLR): Achievements, Challenges And Prospects
No full textThe paper critically examined the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR),an association that was formed with the objective of solving conflict issues between member states within the Great Lakes Region, after recognizing the fact that political inability has a considerable regional dimension and thus requires a concerted effort in order to promote sustainable peace and development. It was formed to bring peace among the member states and by doing that, foster development with member states. The paper examined the background of the organization as regard to this objective. In doing that, secondary method of data collection was used to collect data such as articles, books, journals and so on. The paper adopted the theory of liberal Intergovernmentalism and through the aid of this theory, the paper was able to examine the organization while stating its challenges like; :member states have not shown enough commitment or willingness to put the Dar-es-Salaam, Nairobi and Addis Ababa agreements into action, financial constraint, and overlapping membership of international organizations and the prospects of the organization. After critical analysis of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the paper made recommendations like: need for member nations to show more commitment towards the organization in order to implement the Dar-es-Salaam, Nairobi and Addis Ababa agreements into action, and need for the member states to do better in their financial contributions
Leadership, Governance and Socio-Economic and Political Development: The Case of Rwanda,2000-2020
No full textThe importance of leadership and good governance in the development of any society cannot be overemphasized, and this is demonstrated in Rwanda under Paul Kagame. Anchoring the study on Contingency Theory and relying on secondary data –data fromjournal articles, and textbooks, among others, it was revealed that Rwanda, before the eclipse of Kagame on the political space, had long been plagued by weak governance based on dictatorship, fear politics, segregation, and isolation of the people from their owncountry's government. However, since Kagame became the country's president, serious progress has been made. The economy has advanced, with per-capita GDP (purchasing power parity) anticipated to reach 631 in 2000. The annualincrease averaged 7% per year between 2000 and 2020. Youth education is a top priority in Rwanda, where 17% of its yearly budget is allocated to education. Findings also show that Rwanda has the highest percentage of female representation in the government of anycountry on the planet. In 2017, for example, 49 women were elected to the lower house of parliament, accounting for more than half of its 80 members, among other achievements. Despite these accomplishments, some political and social issues remain unresolved, like the crisis in neighbouring Congo and the government’s persistent support for armed rebels. At the same time, human rights violations and the persecution of opposition leaders continue. To address these issues, the government should do more to protect minority rights, end repression of the press and political opponents, and increase investment in education, healthcare, and infrastructure
NIGERIA'S BILATERAL TRADE RELATIONS WITH CHINA: AN ASSESSMENT, 2010 – 2019
No full textThis work is an assessment of Nigeria-Sino bilateral trade relations. This assessment was done using secondary sources of data such as books, journals, newspapers, etc. Dependency theory was used to examine the trade relations between Nigeria and China to show how dependent Nigeria is on China. Nigeria needs China for finished goods and getting loans and China need Nigeria for certain raw materials but Nigeria has over time been dependent on China and this has increased the Nigerian debt burden. The study discovered that trade imbalance in the bilateral relations persisted and, that the bilateral trade relations have made Nigeria dependent on China. The study also discovered that trade relations benefited the two countries within this period and China benefited more due to the persistent trade imbalance. After seeing all these, the study made the following recommendations: Nigeria needs to invest massively in the manufacturing sector in order to close the massive gap in the economic strength between the two countries, and the two countries should do more to increase foreign direct investment (FDI), Nigeria should do more in exporting finished goods to China and this can be actualized through massive industrialization.INTRODUCTION
Nigeria is stirring vigorously to project a new stand of power with China: the most populous nation on earth and second-biggest economy in the world. The two countries are of geographical and demographic significance in their respective regions. China is ready more than ever before to expand spheres of diplomatic and economic ties in an ever-changing world economic and political order (Agubamah, 2014). Nigeria is a country that cannot be ignored in Africa as it is the most populous nation in the region with the biggest economy. In the 21st century, China speaks about economic and commercial matters rather than the military agenda. Both Nigeria and China seek to explore and discover how to strengthen not only diplomatic ties but also expand and deepen economic and technical fields of cooperation. Both want to create mutually beneficial deals by narrowing their differences in order to go beyond normal diplomacy (Agubamah, 2014).
China's bilateral trade and economic partnerships with African countries can be traced back to the early 1900s. However, China and Nigeria did not establish diplomatic relations and economic partnerships until 1971 under the administration of Yakubu Gowon. Prior to the establishment of these diplomatic relations, Nigeria and China had a trifling Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), bilateral relations, and diplomatic exchange (Tom-Jack, 2016). After Nigeria's independence in 1960, Nigeria and China did not have any form of diplomatic relations or economic partnership until 1971 because prior to that period, China was in support of the Biafra war by providing those fighting for Biafra with weapons. There are some possible reasons for this partnership in the year mentioned previously. First, it was in 1971 that the Nigerian oil industry was nationalized. Nigeria joined the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in accordance with the declaration of the organization and as a result, in 1977, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) (formerly known as the Nigerian National Oil Corporation) was established (Tom-Jack,2016). This portrayed the Nigerian oil industry as a credible industry with regulation and supervision of fiscal policy that enables it to express total control over this industry. Secondly, in the quest for more resources to securitize their energy, China started offering "unconditional" development aid to African countries. Both countries perceived this as an effort to strengthen global South-South cooperation to enable both countries to achieve their economic and development goals (Tom-Jack, 2016). Additionally, in 1971, Nigeria supported China's bid to represent East Asia at the United Nations (U.N.). Since then, China has become a major export destination for goods from the Nigerian market. In Nigeria, China's focus is on the oil and gas, manufacturing, transport, water, and power sectors; however, their initial investment was limited to the agricultural sector, which is one of the potential sectors of the Nigerian economy which can expand the job market for this oil-dependent economy. Nigeria imports machinery, chemicals, and manufactured goods from China. Also, the country exports rubber, cocoa, and some other agricultural products (Tom-Jack, 2016)
DEBT BURDEN AND THE UNDERDEVELOPMENT OF THIRD WORLD NATIONS: THE NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE
No full textThe activities of colonialism, neocolonialism, the current subtle penetration of fiscal neoliberalism, and the debt burden ravaging the economies of Third World countries and Nigeria as a case in point, leave much to be desired. In light of this, the paper sought to establish the link between the Third World debt burden and underdevelopment to make findings and come up with recommendations that can bring the countries out of underdevelopment. Therefore, the paper is intended to be used to solve the problem of underdevelopment by tracing its source within a defined scope of reference. And that is why the paper posits that the debt burden and underdevelopment of Less Developed Countries (LDCs) and Nigeria as a case in point, is a result of the unpredictable global economic conditions of 1968-the 70s, oil prices in 1973-74 and 1979-1980, the high-interest rate in 1980-82, declining export prices and volume associated with the global recession, problems of domestic economic management etcetera. Additionally, the review of some articles, works of literature, a thorough analysis and application of dependency theory, and the specific debt amounts of Nigeria’s current public debt figures of $64b as of 2019 justify the purported negative intentions of Bretton Wood institutions and other loan clubs with the Third World. Further findings showed (in a descriptive manner) that the loans caused the bilateral and multilateral balance of trade/payment deficits. Unfortunately, income disparities made the debt burden and underdevelopment of LDCs inevitable. The paper recommends an internal/external equitable economic solution, debt reduction, forgiveness, and possibly repudiation which it is hoped will spur the Third World especially Nigeria to an alternative cause of action and put her back on the path of development
Adaptive Process Distribution at the Edge of IoT using the Integration of BPMS and Containerization
No full textTäna levivad pilvepõhised värkvõrgu (asjade interneti) süsteemid tuginevad protsesside halduseks kaugel asuvatel andmekeskustel, mis toob endaga kaasa latentsusprobleeme. Vastusena sellele probleemile on varem välja pakutud servaarvutuse lähenemine, kus arvutused viiakse läbi asjade interneti süsteemi võrgule füüsiliselt lähemal. Mitmete servaarvutuse metoodikate seas on uduarvutus lähenemine, kus rõhk on arvutuste liigutamisel värkvõrgu seadmetele endile. Ehkki uduarvutusel põhinev arhitektuur on paljutõotav, tõstatab see küsimuse – kuidas värkvõrgu protsessihaldussüsteemid (BPMS4IoT-süsteemid) äriprotsesse heterogeensetele värkvõrgu seadmetele jaotama peaksid? Levinud on lähenemine, kus protsesside töövooülesannete käituseks tuginetakse ühisele platvormile. Näiteks, kui haldusserver defineerib teatud töövoo ülesandena Pythoni skripti ja määrab selle seadmele, siis peab seadme töövookäitusmootor toetama vastavat mehhanismi skriptide jooksutamiseks. Selline nõue ei ole paindlik, arvestades värkvõrgu seadmete heterogeensust. Käesolevas magistritöös pakub autor välja raamistiku, mis eraldab töövoo ülesannete käitusmeetodi käitusmootorist kasutades selleks konteinertehnoloogiat. Töö käigus arendati välja raamistiku prototüüp ning viidi läbi katseid mikroarvutitel põhinevail seadmetel. Lisaks võrreldi väljapakutud uduarvutuse raamistiku jõudlust pilvearvutusel põhineva süsteemiga.Emerging cloud-centric Internet of Things (IoT) system relies on distant data centers to manage the entire processes, which raises the issue of latency. To address the issue, researchers have introduced the Edge computing methodologies that carry out computation closer to the edge network of IoT system. Among the numerous Edge computing approaches, Mist computing paradigm emphasises the mechanism that moves the computation further to the front-end IoT devices. Although the architecture of Mist computing is promising, it raises a new challenge in how the Business Process Management System for IoT (BPMS4IoT) distributes the business process workflow to the heterogeneous IoT devices? In general, executing business process workflows relies on the common platform for executing customized tasks. For example, if the management server defines a Python script task in a workflow, which has been allocated to an IoT device, the workflow engine of the IoT device must have the compatible execution method. Such a requirement is less flexible when one considers the heterogeneity of the IoT devices. Therefore, in this thesis, the author proposes a framework to decouple the workflow task execution method from the workflow engines using the containerization technology. A proof-of-concept prototype has been developed and has been tested on several single-board computers-based IoT devices. Further, a case study has been performed to demonstrate the performance of the proposed framework comparing to the cloud-centric system
NIGERIA TECHNICAL AID CORPS (TAC) AND NATIONAL INTEREST, 1999-2023: AN ASSESSMENT
No full textThis paper assesses the impact of Nigeria's Technical Aid Corps (TAC) on the country's national interest from 1999 to 2023. TAC is a pivotal element of Nigeria's foreign policy, established to provide technical assistance to developing nations in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. This paper examines the program’s effectiveness in advancing Nigeria's diplomatic, economic, and socio-political objectives. The study adopted qualitative data from books, journals, official data, and the Internet, and the soft power theory was considered in advancing the essence of establishing TAC. Findings indicate that TAC significantly enhances Nigeria's diplomatic relations and international image, promotes trade and investment, and contributes to capacity building and regional stability. However, the program faces challenges such as logistical constraints, political instability, and economic limitations. The research provides practical recommendations for improving TAC's operational framework and strategic alignment with Nigeria's foreign policy goals. This assessment not only contributes to the academic discourse on international aid and national interest but also offers actionable insights for policymakers to optimize the impact of TAC in fostering sustainable development and enhancing Nigeria’s global influence
NIGERIA’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE AFRICA UNION’S (AU) PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IN SOMALIA, 2010 – 2019
No full textThe work examined the contribution of Nigeria in the Somalia peacekeeping operations under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). It utilized both primary and secondary methods to collect data. As a framework of analysis, the research adopted the functionalist theory. From the findings of the research, it was discovered that the conflict in Somalia was caused by the legacy of colonialism, clannism, corruption, and competition for economic resources which informed the intervention of the African Union (AU) peacekeeping operations. Examining the role of Nigeria, findings revealed that Nigeria contributed significantly to the peace process in Somalia. These were in the areas of protecting civilians, providing humanitarian assistance, and providing an enabling environment for negotiation, among others. These, however, were not without challenges, including lack of staff and resources, financial, and logistical constraints. The research, therefore, recommends that certain measures should be taken to address these challenges. These measures are proper training and retraining of Nigerian officials on peacekeeping with modern equipment, sincerity on the part of the Nigerian government in procuring modern equipment, and eschewing corruption
The impacts of COVID-19 on older adults in Uganda and Ethiopia: Perspectives from non-governmental organization staff and volunteers
No full text© 2024 Dhillon et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.The COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial impact on older adults, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). To support older adults during this time, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) coordinated programs to help provide for basic needs related to food and water security and healthcare. This research explores the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of NGO staff and volunteers who provided support to older adults in SSA in rural East Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. In-depth interviews (n = 28) were conducted with NGO staff and volunteers in Uganda and Ethiopia between September and December of 2022. Overall, NGO staff and volunteers reported high levels of knowledge surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and stated that one positive of the COVID-19 pandemic was the improved hygiene practices. However, the NGO staff and volunteers also reported that the pandemic and the associated public health measures exacerbated pre-existing social inequalities, such as increasing pre-existing levels of food insecurity. The exacerbation of pre-existing social inequalities may be one reason for the increased reliance on NGO services. The learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health measures can be utilized to create targeted strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of future public health crises on vulnerable populations.Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council || Ontario Graduate Scholarship
Rethinking North–South Research Partnerships Amidst Global Uncertainties: Leveraging Lessons Learned from UK GCRF Projects during COVID-19
No full textInternational research and development projects (or grand challenge projects) consist of multicultural, multi-country, multi-sectoral, and multi-stakeholder initiatives aimed at poverty reduction. They are usually conceived as partnerships between actors in the global north–south. The COVID-19 pandemic was a major unexpected disruption to ongoing projects and challenged their already complex management. The aim of this paper is to present evidence on how international development projects were impacted by COVID-19 with a particular focus on the relationship between research institutions in the north and south. We conducted a mixed-methods research study, combining a reflective exercise with the co-author team and a survey with principal investigators, project managers, and capacity development leads drawn from 31 Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) projects funded through the UK government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) and focused on social–ecological system research. The survey contained closed- and open-ended questions in order to (i) demonstrate how those involved in managing projects adapted to risks, including both threats and opportunities, presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and (ii) consider the implications for tailoring adaptive management approaches in international research projects amidst uncertainties, with a special focus on enhancing equities in global north–south partnerships. The paper offers the following recommendations on designing, planning, and implementing international research and development projects: (i) devolve project management in order to enhance project resilience and improve north–south equities; (ii) allocate dedicated resources to enable equitable north–south research partnerships; (iii) rely more on hybrid and agile approaches for managing a project’s life cycle; and (iv) improve resource flexibility, transparency, and communication through enhanced funder–implementer collaboration
