ISSN: 3007-1712 (Online) ISSN: 3007-1704 (Print) NIU Journal of Humanities is an interdisciplinary journal published by Nexus International University, Kampala, Uganda. As a theoretical and empirical Journal, the aim is to challenge, provoke and excite positive thinking in the areas of Arts and Social Sciences such as media studies, methodology, philosophy, political science, population Studies, psychology, public administration, sociology, social welfare, linguistics, literature, performing arts (music, theatre & dance), religious studies, visual arts, gender studies, onanthropology, communication studies, criminology, cross-cultural studies, demography, development studies, education, ethics, geography, history, industrial relations, information science, international relations, linguistics, library science and so on. The journal puts particular focus upon issues that are of concern to the Third World. NIU Journal of Humanities will only publish articles that have not been previously submitted to, or published by any journal. In addition, the journal will only publish articles that have been thoroughly assessed and adjudged to be fully or partly accepted for publication. It is the sole responsibility of the author(s) to ensure that articles submitted are new, original and have not been published fully or partly any media. Such article(s) to be submitted must not violate the copyrights of others and must not contain plagiarized contents/materials. Author(s) will be solely responsible for the violation of such ethics of academic publication. Contributions that examine developments at national, regional and continental level are particularly welcome.
Nexus International University, Kampala, Uganda.
This edition of NIU Journal of Humanities touches on Development Administration, Social Philosophy as well as Language and Literary Studies. One of the papers, in the last section on Language and Literary Studies, evaluates the the survival strategies and economic issues facing traditional media in the digital era. The study reveals that traditional media's financial sustainability is hampered by the decline in advertising revenues, fragmentation of audiences, high operating costs, digital competition, and shifting consumer tastes. It is suggested that greater investment in digital infrastructure, staff training, an audience-first content strategy, and privacy-preserving monetization models will help sustain the changing media landscape. The second part of the Journal focuses on Development Administration. Using Nigeria as a case study, one of the papers in this section empirically argues that positioning a country on the path of socio-political and economic development requires a balanced understanding of religious practices by civil servants at the workplace, while law makers should formulate and implement policies that can checkmate religious practices of civil servants in the civil service system. Papers in the last section are on Social Philosophy. One of the papers in these sections argues theoretically and demonstrates empirically that Artificial Intelligence can be viewed not as a replacement for God's creative power but as a catalyst for interdisciplinary dialogue and reflection within the academy, particularly concerning the relationship between innovation and theology, and their moral and ethical dimensions. This issue of NIU Journal of Humanities features many empirical and theoretical based articles which can be of great benefit to every reader.
Embodied Love: Cognitive Poetics and the Somatic Imagery in E. E. Cummings’ Love Poetry
The data of this research project provides an in-depth study of cognitive poetics and the mechanisms of somatic imagery and embodied love in the lyrical oeuvre of E. E. Cummings. This love poetry is historically denied by the early formalist critics either of being sentimentally conventional or just typographical eccentricities, but is here reinstated as an extremely refined phenomenological place of abstract emotional experiences made concrete through visceral body experiences. This study is based on a combination of three theories: Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), Image Schema theory, and cognitive blending, and examines how Cummings evades Cartesian dualism to develop an ontology of love that is based on biological and physical reality. The cognitive frames in which linguistic disorientation calls readers to experience love as a spatial, embodied and tactile phenomenon are traced in a careful textual analysis based on canonical texts such as "somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond," "i carry your heart with me (i carry it in," and "love is thicker than forget. Cummings' typographic or syntactic aberration, the paper posits, is not simply a form of aesthetic novelty, but rather a means to conceptualize his emotionally intimate experience and one that mirrors emotional proximity. In sum, this study situates Cummings as a major player among the linguistic embodiment folks, showing that in his poetic cosmos love is not a mental state or a thing, but something that is impossible to escape, that is constantly happening, in the body.
A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Selected Historical and Non-Historical Proverbs in Yorùbá
Existing works on Yorùbá historical proverbs submits that such proverbs are a veritable source of history which emphasises various moral and ethical values while studies on non- historical proverbs dwell on their different uses and functions ranging from role relationship in the society, morality, decency, caution and peaceful co-existence. None of the existing works has addressed a comparative analysis of historical and non-historical proverbs, the language choices and their sociolinguistic implications. This study investigates a socioliguistic view of historical and non-historical proverbs. It analyses the genealogy of the Yorùbá proverbs from the historical and non-historical perspectives, explores the use of the proverbs in everyday discourse and how they shape the attitudes, perception and worldview of the Yorùbá people. Emphasis is placed on the social, cultural, and the linguistic contexts of the proverbs. The study also examines how the proverbs are used to articulate collective values and beliefs, and how their meanings are modified and transferred over time. This study adopts Dell Hymes (1972) ethnography of communication for its analysis. The data for this study were obtained from native speakers of Yorùbá in their towns and villages such as Òsogbo, Ọ̀yọ́, Ìbàdàn, Ìkirè, Ògbómọ̀ṣọ̣́, Ọ̀fà and Ìjàbẹ́. Proverb texts were also used for clarification on meaning and explanations. This study is partly a reaction to Lucas (1965) claim that proverbs are anonymous wisdom. Findings in this study show that historical proverbs are product of historians who witnessed the events that are used as references before they became proverbs. The study also argues that non-historical proverbs are products of creativity and deep thought. This study calls for a dichotomy in the acknowledgments rendered before relating the two proverbs (historical and non-historical), such that tributes given to the historians who witnessed the history and those to whom they handed them over to should differ from the creative thinkers who through their ingenuity, invented proverbs. This study contributes to knowledge by recommending different pre-proverbs acknowledgments rendition before the historical and non-historical proverbs to show their sources. Keywords: Historical Proverbs, Non-Historical Proverbs, Sociolinguistics, Historians, Creative Thinkers, Yorùbá Language.
Comparative Analysis of Divination (Ifá) in Yorubaland and Russian Societies
Human’s existence is prone to different forms of challenges, which could be physical, emotional or spiritual. Human beings have always looked for answers to the mysteries they encounter in their lives. There is archeological evidence that a need to know and deep spiritual seeking are universal human traits, and that some form of divination has been used since the earliest times, to support this quest. Divination is a way of exploring the unknown in order to elicit answers (that is, oracles) to questions beyond the range of ordinary human understanding. All known peoples on earth have practiced some form of divination. Divination can be done with things, such as consecrated or significant objects, bones, shells, stones, tea leaves, or cards. This paper adopts symbolic and interpretative approaches for its analysis. Ifá religion is orally transmitted from one generation to another rather than scriptural. The religion believes in a Supreme Being, divinities, spirits, veneration of ancestors, and mysterious powers that have to do with magic, and traditional medicine. The religion can be found through art, rituals and festivals, beliefs and customs, names of people and places, songs and dance, proverbs, and myths. Many studies of East Slavic paganism are based on written sources. These are scant and consist mainly of brief chronicle entries, sermons, and instructions, dating from the Christian era. East Slavic written sources give a list of probable deities, and, occasionally, their attributes and functions. Keywords: Divination, Ifa, Paganism, Spirits, Deities.
Reconfigurations of Trauma and Self-representation in Remi Raji’s Wanderer Cantos
The relationship between poetry and trauma is multifaceted and significant in contemporary Nigerian literary scholarship. This implies that literature reflects different experiences that have to do with psychological trauma such as physical health conditions, political aggression, violence, economic disparities and cultural disruption. While most studies on the exploration of trauma in Nigerian poetry are focused on war, social and domestic violence, there are scant critical works on covid-induced trauma in poetry. The COVID-19 pandemic which has generated profound disruptions in human existence, producing both individual and collective trauma, demands literary documentation and interpretation. Remi Raji’s Wanderer Cantoes emerges as a poetic response to the pandemic, exploring the psychological, social, and cultural dimensions of suffering and resilience. This study, therefore, investigates how traumatic experiences like loss, isolation, and fear are mediated through poetic language, and are shaped by self- representation in Raji’s poetry collection, Wanderer Cantos. Poems were carefully selected from the second section of the poetry collection that dwells on the COVID-19 infection, and are subjected to qualitative literary analysis, showing how they explore the idea of self-portrait and trauma. this is complemented by secondary data are derived from journals, articles, essays and books. The study adopts Trauma Theory as its theoretical approach, to investigate manifestations of coronavirus-induced trauma in the poems. Trauma theory becomes more relevant to this study because trauma theory in literature try to show how traumatic experiences are represented, processed and transmitted through narrative. The analysis of the poems reveals that, through a personal account, the poet recreates the traumatic experience triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. It demonstrates that poetry functions as a therapeutic tool for reimagining survival. Indices of covid trauma are identified in the poems through dissociative language, alienation, isolation, pain, suffering, hysteria, hallucination, traumatic disruption of time, psyche disruption, fragmented narrative and disorientation. The poet’s use of imagery, metaphor, paradox, personification to illustrate the painful experience of the COVID-19 infection, expose the traumatic experience of the poet and as well reflect an autobiographical account. The study concludes that Wanderer Cantoes reconfigures trauma by transforming unspeakable suffering into aesthetic testimony. Keywords: Trauma studies, Self-Representation, COVID-19 infection, Nigeria poetry, Remi Raji Wanderer Cantos
Echoes of Queen Victoria: A Foucauldian Interrogation of Colonial Legacies in the Construction of the “Good Student” in Nigeria
Queen Victoria of 19th-century expansionist Britain may not have held sovereignty over an amalgamated Nigeria, yet the institutional echoes of her imperial era remain deeply embedded within the country’s pedagogical system. The missionary and colonial schools that proliferated during her reign introduced a pedagogy of obedience, temporal regulation and physical decorum that survived the transition to state sovereignty. Rather than dismantling this foundation, contemporary educational governance has operationally metricised it. Through an archival-genealogical analysis of qualitative policy documents and secondary institutional indicators – specifically school codes of conduct and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) affective domain grading scales – this study examines how historical imperial imperatives are translated into modern administrative formats. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s analysis of power, normalising judgement and subjectification alongside decolonial critique, the paper interrogates how these quantitative monitoring mechanisms construct the normative category of the "good student". The analysis suggests that by converting qualitative moral traits like obedience and neatness into calculable data points, modern schools function as panoptic apparatuses. This continuous tracking encourages learners to internalise inherited regimes of truth through active self-surveillance, ultimately constraining the critical independent agency required for sovereign citizenship. This study contributes to decolonial dialogues in the sociology of African education by demonstrating that disrupting colonial legacies requires a fundamental deconstruction of the administrative and statistical machinery that measures and validates student identity. Keywords: Echoes of Queen Victoria; Good Student; Nigerian education; Subjectification; Queen Victoria
Traditional Media in the Digital Age: Survival Strategies and Economic Challenges
This research looks at the survival strategies and economic issues facing traditional media in the digital era. The internet, artificial intelligence, social media and mobile connections have revolutionized how people consume media, and the traditional revenue models of newspapers, radio and television stations are now under threat. The study examines the economic challenges traditional media are currently facing, how well adaptation strategies are working, and how data privacy laws and concepts of “free news” affect digital monetization, using a desk-based qualitative research methodology based on the analysis of secondary data from published scholarly articles, reports and industry publications. The research is based on the Technological Determinism Theory that states that technology has revolutionized media production, distribution and audience engagement. The analysis shows that traditional media's financial sustainability is hampered by the decline in advertising revenues, fragmentation of audiences, high operating costs, digital competition, and shifting consumer tastes. The study also reveals numerous companies are adopting digital transformation tactics like subscription models, sponsored content, integration of social media, streaming, platforms-first and audience engagement strategies. But, barriers like lack of digital infrastructure, skills, and rigid data privacy regulations remain in the way of successful monetization. The study's findings indicate that traditional media's future is contingent upon constant innovation, diversified revenue streams, strategic digital investments and a long-term commitment among traditional media to credible journalism. It makes recommendations for greater investment in digital infrastructure, staff training, an audience-first content strategy, and privacy-preserving monetization models that will help sustain in the changing media landscape.
Strategies in Real Time: Unconscious Strategy Use in Consecutive Interpreting
This article investigates the largely unconscious use of interpretative strategies in consecutive interpreting within high level diplomatic settings, drawing on the author’s experience as a language consultant in the Nigeria–China strategic partnership. Grounded in equivalence-based translation theory and the Interpretive Theory of Translation, it conceptualizes consecutive interpreting as a real time, sense-oriented process comprising comprehension, de verbalization, and reformulation, in which interpreters rely on cognitive representations rather than surface linguistic forms. Adopting Li’s (2015) taxonomy of knowledge, language, meaning and delivery-based strategies, the study identifies how anticipation, paraphrasing, compression, omission, text expansion, and other techniques are mobilised, often implicitly, to manage cognitive load and communicative goals alongside core note taking principles of economy, instantaneous seizability, and individuality. The discussion further examines practical challenges—time management, abbreviations, uniformity of reaction, professional jargon, numbering systems, and shifts between professional and casual registers—and illustrates how these factors affect message fidelity and rapport in diplomatic encounters. The article argues that while many strategies emerge from deep seated linguistic competence and situational awareness rather than explicit training, systematically foregrounding strategy awareness and sense-oriented processing in interpreter education can enhance accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and communicative effectiveness in complex cross-cultural negotiations. Keywords: Interpretation, Consecutive Interpretation, Strategies, Time Management;
Pesticides Waste Disposal Pattern among Users in Floriculture Gardens in Benin Metropolis, Edo State, Nigeria
The study examined Pesticides waste disposal pattern among users in floriculture gardens in Benin Metropolis, Edo State, Nigeria. The study described socioeconomic characteristics of respondents, identified their pesticides disposal pattern, perception on disposal pattern, types of pesticides practices in floriculture gardens in study area, and challenges they faced in pesticides disposal. A multistage sampling techniques were used to select respondents (66) in the study while frequency count, means, and percentages descriptive and Pearson product movement correlation were used in this study. The mean age of respondents was 14.8 years, male respondents were higher (63.6%). Most (94.0%) of them had formal education background, higher (78.8%) number of the respondents disposed their pesticides waste into waste bins and reasonable number (m = 4.64) of they do not perceive that proper pesticide waste disposal to be of great importance. Respondents commonly used Attack” brand of pesticide while lack of adequate information on pesticide waste disposal and lack of training/ expertise were some of the challenges respondents were facing while inferential statistic result showed that empty pesticide waste disposal (r = -0.613; <p0.001) and pouring/burying pestide waste (r = -0.421; p<0.030) were negatively correlated while flushing drainage/sewages (r = 0.417; <0.05) was positively correlated with respondents’ perception of pesticides waste disposal at 0.01 and 0.05% levels of significance. The study recommends that government should create agencies that would regulate the disposal of pesticide wastes; Extension agents should be mobilized to train floriculturists on the proper ways to dispose pesticide waste and to also sensitize the gardeners on the effects of improper pesticide waste disposal; and none chemical pesticide control method alternatives should be considered to minimize and reduce pesticide wastes. Keywords: Pesticides, Users, Waste Disposal, Floriculture Gardens, Benin Metropolis.
Impediments To Acceptance of Covid-19 Vaccine in Ifon Town, Ose Local Government, Ondo State, Nigeria
This study sought to investigate impediments to acceptance of Covid-19 vaccine in Ifon town, Ose local government, Ondo State. One research question was raised to guide the study. Descriptive research design was used for this study. The population of this study consists of 11,985 all males and females above eighteen (18) years old representing fifty-one percent (51%) of the whole population of Ifon town. The sample size used for this study consisted of three hundred and ten (310) unvaccinated respondents. The research instrument for data collection that used for this study was a structured closed ended survey questionnaire tagged "Questionnaire on Impediments to Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine" and was in two sections. Completed copies of the questionnaire was collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency count, percentage to explain the research questions raised and Chi-square inferential statistics was used to test the formulated hypotheses at a significant level of 0.05. Majority of the respondents cited concerns about vaccine safety, the vaccine not being properly tested, fear of rumors against the vaccine, and the belief that they cannot contract COVID-19 as reasons for their reluctance. Additionally, many participants expressed skepticism about the necessity of the vaccine, viewing the COVID-19 issue as mere propaganda or suggesting that reported cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria are fabricated lies. Concerns about potential side effects, fear of the unknown, and discomfort with injections were also prevalent among the respondents. Age was found to have a significant influence on several impediments to vaccine acceptance, including uncertainty about where to get vaccinated, belief in personal invulnerability to COVID-19, fear of social repercussions such as neighbors laughing or parents scolding, concerns about the vaccine's effects on men. It was recommended that given the diverse concerns identified among different demographic groups, targeted and tailored public health education campaigns should be developed to address specific misconceptions and concerns. These campaigns should address vaccine safety, efficacy, and the importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Establishment of the West African Frontier Force: A Historical Overview of the Recruitment, Training and Organization of the Force (1897-1900)
This paper examines the establishment of the West African Frontier Force, an imperial force, in 1897 with particular focus on military recruitment exercises, training and organization of the force. The amalgamation processes of all West African Forces of British colonies of Nigeria, the Gold Coast (now Ghana), Sierra-Leone and the Gambia Frontier Police are well discussed in this paper. Essentially, these forces were brought together as formidable force to checkmate French and German incursion on the territories already occupied by the British. Another reason was to subjugate local opposition to British occupation and rule by carrying out punitive expeditions and campaigns as contribution to British imperial defence. Primary sources in form of archival materials, documents, hand written and official letters, and secondary sources in form of books and journals were used in the course of this research. This paper contributes to studies on Military History and serves as a research material for students and researchers of Military History around the globe. Keywords: Recruitment, Training, Organization, West African Frontier Force, Imperial forces, Amalgamation.
Change and Continuity in Women's Work in Colonial Benin Society, Nigeria
The paper examines the nature and changes women's work underwent during the colonial period, and also the place of women in the pre-colonial Benin kingdom. The paper discusses the traditional roles that pertain to women in society as presented in various institutions, as well as traditions that exist in traditional Benin society. The incursion of the European and the emerging influences arising from that contact, such as new economic opportunities arising from Western economic policies, affected their industry, agriculture, trade, and entrepreneurial activities. The evolution of the Benin woman from the traditional society to the modern society is recognizable. The skillful adaptation of Benin women in this period of change exhibited their capacity to engage in the process of transformation without completely losing their identity. It is within this context that the paper seeks the transformational history of the Benin woman as one of change and continuity. Keywords: Benin Woman, Colonial Period, Change, Continuity, Agriculture, Crafts, and Industry.
Civilian’s Contributions and the Management of Health-Related Issues in the Nigerian Military during the Nigerian Civil War, 1967-1970
This work looks at the Nigerian federal military government's medical outsourcing during the Nigerian Civil War as a way to complement its medically challenged logistics. Thus, it pays attention to civilians’ contributions on health-related issues during the Nigerian Civil War, 1967-1970, which contributed to winning the war strategy. Salient aspect put forward by the paper includes services of paid and volunteer health workers from the Medical School of the University of Ibadan, who diagnose, cure and rehabilitate injured and sick soldiers to complement the overwhelmed medical corps of the Nigerian Army. The paper utilises historical and analytical methods to interpret primary and secondary sources. By implication, it posits that the civilian services sustained the war for it prolong period, most especially interrupted civilian blood donation and transfusion to the injured soldiers on the front lines. Such civilian services were motivated by international organisations such as the Nigerian Red Cross, which assisted Military Hospitals, visiting the wounded soldiers, holding prayer sessions with victims and distributing gifts of biscuits and other provisions to the wounded soldiers. Nigerians offer spiritual therapy coordinated by Gideon International Organisation; The Jama’atul Nasril Islam under the Grand Khadi of Northern Nigeria and Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, augment and complement the health logistics of the Nigerian military, which improves its combat effectiveness. It gives hope to the wounded and sick veterans as they feel some people are there for them and improve their spiritual, psychological and emotional well-being. It contributes to scholarship on Nigeria's Civil War Win-the War efforts. Keywords: Win-the-War, Spiritual therapy, War Support and war pharmaceutical
Religion, Civil Service System and Economic Development in Nigeria
Political, social and economic development is impossible without a functional and efficient civil service system. This is because the civil service system is one of the key drivers of policies and programs of government in any nation of the world. However, in recent times, there has been noticeable decline of the quality of civil service in Nigeria occasioned by the influence of some religious practices on the civil service system. The economic losses accruing from such religious practices are inestimable and portend a serious danger to the overall development of the country. Therefore, this paper examines the nexus between religious practices of civil servants and the current decline in quality of civil service system in Nigeria. In particular, the paper investigates how Christians’ and Muslims’ religious practices particularly prayers at the workplace can potentially inhibit socio-political and economic development in the country. Using the methodologies of desk research and critical discussion, the paper underscores the fact that a nation in which civil service system is characterized by religious practices like Nigeria definitely risks socio-political and economic development. The entire paper is hinged on the views of Max Weber’s Spirit of Capitalism, secularization theory, and institutional theory while also incorporating insights from Émile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, and Sriya Iyer. Overall, the paper argues that to position Nigeria on the path of socio-political and economic development requires a balanced understanding of religious practices by civil servants at the workplace, while law makers should formulate and implement policies that can checkmate religious practices of civil servants in the civil service system. Keywords: Religion, Civil Service System, Civil Servants, Development and Nigeria.
Race and Territory in the Pan-Africanist Thought of Kwame Nkrumah
This study examines the relationship between race and territory in Pan-Africanist thought, with a particular focus on the ideas of Kwame Nkrumah. It aims to clarify whether Pan-Africanism developed as a single evolving tradition or as distinct but overlapping frameworks shaped by different historical conditions. The study adopts a qualitative and interpretive methodology, relying on textual analysis of Nkrumah’s major writings and speeches, alongside a critical engagement with existing scholarship on Pan-Africanism. The findings show that Pan-Africanism manifested in both racial and territorial forms. While its early development in the diaspora was grounded in racial solidarity and the struggle against discrimination, its later articulation in Africa responded to the demands of colonial rule, political independence, and state formation. Rather than representing a simple transition, these forms coexisted and addressed different concerns. Nkrumah’s thought illustrates this dynamic, as he rejected racialism as a guiding principle while advancing a territorially grounded vision of African unity and political organization. The study contributes to ongoing debates by offering a clearer distinction between racial and territorial Pan-Africanism and by situating Nkrumah within this framework. It is relevant to scholarship on African political thought, decolonization, and the intellectual history of Pan-Africanism. Keywords: Pan-Africanist thought, Kwame Nkrumah, race and territory, anti-racialism, continentalism, African unity, political organization
Crossing Currents: The Role of the Niger River in Shaping Inter-Ethnic Relations among the Okun, Nupe and Igala in Nigeria Since Antiquity
The Niger River has historically served as a lifeline for West Africa, shaping the economic, political, and cultural relations of the Okun, Nupe and Igala peoples. In the pre-colonial period, the river functioned as a vital trade artery, facilitating barter exchanges, political alliances, and cultural integration. Canoe transportation enabled the movement of goods and ideas, while disputes over fishing rights and trade routes emphasised its strategic significance. Colonial rule disrupted these dynamics by imposing artificial boundaries, introducing a currency economy, and restructuring indigenous political systems, thereby altering inter-group relations. Despite these disruptions, the communities adapted, participating in colonial and post-colonial economies while preserving traditional networks. Post-independence, infrastructural projects such as Niger bridges in Lokoja and Onitcha reshaped trade and regional development, even as they displaced communities. The rivers also fostered cultural exchange, with shared languages, festivals, and religious practices reinforcing inter-ethnic identity. Today, environmental degradation, economic inequality, and modernisation pose new challenges, yet the Niger remains central to the resilience and integration of these communities. This study reinforces the enduring significance of the river in understanding inter-ethnic relations and regional history in Nigeria. Keywords: Niger River, inter-ethnic relations, colonial disruption, cultural integration, Nigeria
Wasambo Were and the Impetus of Context-Smashing: Assessing Changing Patterns of African Performance Aesthetics
The paper investigates the changing patterns of African performance aesthetics using terms deployed to evaluate the encrustations to which African performances have been exposed and the corrosive factors that now characterize performance in the African setting. Particular attention has been paid to Wasambo Were and other seminal contributions to the preservation and rejuvenation of indigenous artistic sources that Africa can rely on for contemporary artistic creation and production in theatre and film. Within the vortex of this proposed discourse, on one side are what constitute an African performance, elements and patterns like folkism, polycentrism, curve-linear and other patterns; on the other side are the postmodern, globalizing, consumerist and postcolonial factors which have exerted their influences on the artistic space that now determine the dominant artistic expressions within the continent. At this point, a perspective which emerges when a normative scenario of creative operation is established, bringing with it all its negative encumbrances. If some individuals take this challenge to the hilt to protect what is pristine and progressive to the continent, then a context is being smashed. Keywords: Context, Patterns, Performance Aesthetics.
Locke’s Atomic Theory of Ideas: Implications for Human Understanding
This paper examines Locke’s atomic theory of ideas and its implications for human understanding. The question “how is objective knowledge possible?” marked the dividing line between rationalism and empiricism in the modern period of philosophy. Rationalism on the one hand upholds the doctrine of innate ideas which claims that man possesses certain natural intellectual properties that exist prior to experience and provides privileged access to reality. Empiricism on the other hand countered with the opposing thesis that all genuine knowledge is derived from sense experience. As the chief speaker of the empiricists, Locke presents an atomic theory of ideas which holds that there are no such things as ideas before experience. He maintains that all ideas are products of experience and serve as building blocks of human knowledge. By so doing, Locke reduces the entirety of human knowledge structure to a collection of ideas derived from sense experience. Locke’s position has far reaching implications for human understanding as it addresses the foundation, structure and extent of human knowledge. In view of this, this paper through the use of philosophical methods of analysis and criticism examines Locke’s theory of ideas and its implications for human understanding. Keywords: Rationalism, Empiricism, Mind, Innate Ideas and Sense Experience
Counselling Education as a Tool for Liberation and Sustainable Development among Secondary School Students in Ibadan
Secondary school students' education for emancipation and sustainable development is greatly aided by counselling education. The development of students' critical thinking, self-awareness, autonomy, and capacity for making wise choices that release them from social, psychological, and intellectual constraints is a key component of education for liberation. In contrast, the goal of sustainable development in education is to provide students with lifetime skills that promote economic productivity, social responsibility, and personal development. In order to improve liberation-oriented learning and sustainable development among secondary school students in Ibadan, Nigeria, this research looked at counselling education. The study design used was a descriptive survey. Secondary school pupils from a few Ibadan public schools made up the population. A multistage sampling procedure was used to choose a sample of 200 students. A standardised questionnaire called the "Counselling Education, Liberation and Sustainable Development Questionnaire (CELSDQ)" was used to gather data. Experts in educational psychology and guidance and counselling validated the instrument, and Cronbach Alpha was used to determine its reliability. The results showed that students' self-awareness (78%), decision-making skills (72%), academic engagement (75%), and career consciousness (82%) are all considerably improved by counselling education. Additionally, study shown that counselling services lower maladaptive behaviours that impede sustainable growth (68%) and increase emotional stability (70%). Additionally, it was shown that counselling education equips students with life skills that facilitate future productivity (74%) and social adjustment (80%). The research came to the conclusion that counselling education is a crucial tool for attaining education for sustainable development and emancipation in secondary schools. To improve student empowerment and development, it was suggested that the government and school officials bolster counselling services, hire more trained counsellors, and include counselling programs into school curriculum. Keywords: Secondary school students, self-awareness, decision-making, education for liberation, counselling education, sustainable development, and Ibadan
A Theological Interrogation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Face of God's Creative Power
Artificial Intelligence is playing an increasingly transformative role in knowledge creation, learning spaces and international innovation, and challenges the nature and limits of human creativity in profound theological and philosophical ways. In this paper, I am asking for an interdisciplinary analysis of this question: Is Artificial Intelligence a successful competition with God's creative powers, or is it simply the extension of human ingenuity within the parameters set by God? The study utilises classical theological teachings and concepts, including creatio ex nihilo, Imago Dei and divine sovereignty, to analyse the ontological, divine and ethical aspects of artificial creativity. This paper situates itself within the broader context of innovation and sustainability in higher education and examines changes in human identity, consciousness, and the role of the divine in the age of artificial intelligence. It distinguishes between divine creation, which has intentionality, soul-bearing life and moral agency, and artificial creation, which is based on algorithms, data, and human design. It defies technocentric hope and theological hesitation, suggesting a way forward for theological reflection on human vocation, moral boundaries, and stewardship through Artificial Intelligence. In conclusion, this paper suggests that Artificial Intelligence can be viewed not as a replacement for God's creative power but as a catalyst for interdisciplinary dialogue and reflection within the academy, particularly concerning the relationship between innovation and theology, and their moral and ethical dimensions. It promotes an educationally sustainable approach that respects human dignity, spiritual understanding and moral duty while dealing with the challenges of ongoing technological change. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Ethical Innovation, Theology and Technology, Divine Creativity
A Feminist Reconstruction of the Doctrine of Sin: A Sociology of Religion Perspective
The doctrine of sin occupies a central place in Christian theology, yet its historical formulations have often been shaped by androcentric assumptions that obscure or marginalise women’s experiences. This paper undertakes a feminist reconstruction of the doctrine of sin, critically examining how traditional interpretations have perpetuated hierarchical structures and legitimised gender oppression. ​Drawing on feminist theological discourse, hermeneutical strategies, and socio-ethical critique, the study redefines sin not merely as personal moral transgression but as a complex reality manifested in systemic injustice, relational disintegration, and institutionalised violence—particularly against women. By interrogating patriarchal readings of scripture and doctrine, this work demonstrates how feminist perspectives unveil sin as both individual and structural, exposing complicity in sustaining oppressive power dynamics. ​The reconstructed doctrine proposed here affirms the lived realities of women, reorients the understanding of sin towards liberation and justice, and contributes to a more holistic theological anthropology. In doing so, it advances a framework in which resistance to domination and the pursuit of mutuality become integral dimensions of Christian discipleship. This study examines the concept of sin within Christian theology through a feminist lens, challenging traditional interpretations that have often reinforced patriarchal structures and marginalized women’s experiences. By engaging with classical theologians and feminist scholars, this paper reconstructs sin as both personal and structural, emphasizing injustice, oppression, and broken relationships. The study proposes a liberative understanding of sin that priotizes injustice, equality and the full humanity of all persons. Keywords: Sin, Oppression, Patriarchy, Gender Justice, Christian Theology.
Alvin Goldman on the Trust of Experts: Appraising Pathways to Rational Decision Making
This paper appraises pathways to rational decision making within the framework of Goldman's analysis of the trust of experts. In epistemology, knowledge from testimony has often been frown at as lacking the level of certainty associated with the traditional understanding of knowledge. This has led to testimonial scepticism: the idea that information receive from others is unreliable. However, the fact that practical challenges of life necessitate reliance on expert counsel creates a problem for rational decision making. In view of this, Alvin Goldman in his article titled “Experts: Which Ones You Should Trust?” exposes the dilemma a novice encounters when confronted with conflicting experts’ advice on critical issues of life. He outlines five criteria that justify a novice’s trust in a particular expert against the other(s). Against this backdrop, this paper seeks to ascertain whether one can ever be justified in believing an expert's testimony and what justifies the believe in that expert’s testimony. In order to achieve its objective, the paper clarifies what it means to trust and who an expert is. It presents and examines Goldman’s criteria for trusting experts to ascertain their credibility and sufficiency for rational decision making. Finally, it suggests an additional criterion to strengthen the novice trust in experts’ counsel. Keywords: Expert, Trust, Testimony, Novice, Testimonial Scepticism
Names as Persons: A Reflection on the Normative Character of Naming in the Debate of Personhood in African Philosophy
This paper examines the question of personhood in African philosophy. It evaluates the debate between Menkiti-Gyekye which latter gave birth to two distinguish but related schools of thought in African philosophy of personhood. The work argues that the cleavage between the two schools of thought is an artificial one contrary to the watertight distinction found in the ideas of some scholars say (Molefe 2019, Ikuenobe, 2006; Gyekye, 1992; Matolino; 2014). Furthermore, this work avers that the neglect of the normative and metaphysical character of naming in the debate of African philosophy of personhood attest to the inability of thinkers to resolve the problem. Hence, a careful analysis of the notion of names and naming in African philosophy will dissolve the problem of personhood in African philosophy. Keywords: African philosophy, Personhood, Names, normative, metaphysical, communitarianism, individualism.
Assistive Technology Deficit and Pedagogical Stagnation: A Tam-Samr Analysis of EdTech Integration for Inclusive Education in Private Primary Schools in Abuja
The enormous potential of Educational Technology (EdTech) for promoting inclusive education often remains unrealized in resource-restricted environments, where the systemic factors limit both the adoption and innovative utilisation of technology in educational settings. This study identifies system-level barriers to the adoption of EdTech tools for inclusive education in private primary schools in Abuja, Nigeria. In contrast to the availability-focused evaluations, the research adopts the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and SAMR (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition) model to assess not only the availability but also the incorporation of EdTech into pedagogical processes. For data collection, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 697 participants (497 pupils, 176 teachers, and 24 school administrators) in 24 private primary schools selected in three wards of the Abuja Municipal Area Council on purpose, with respect to three key inclusion criteria (at least five years of existence, the presence of some kind of technology infrastructure, such as computers or projectors, and proprietor permission to participate in the research). Data collection was done using three questionnaires (for pupils, teachers, and administrators), with questions organised into six sections, which include evaluation of the availability of technologies, teachers' skills, pedagogical use of technologies (SAMR-related questions), and TAM constructs (Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use). The content validity of the questionnaires was ensured through expert review, while reliability was estimated with the help of Cronbach’s alpha (with values ranging from 0.76 to 0.84 for subscales). Findings have shown a twofold gap: a relatively high level of adoption of general-purpose EdTech tools, as evidenced by the use of interactive whiteboards in roughly 66% of schools, and a critical shortage of assistive technologies, as evidenced by the total lack of speech-to-text tool usage by students. Pedagogically, the use of EdTech tools was primarily at the level of Substitution and Augmentation of SAMR model, with 68.6% of teachers used EdTech for individualized instruction. This study identifies two significant obstacles to inclusive education: a continuing gap between the availability of assistive technologies and the superficial incorporation of EdTech into pedagogical practice. The report proposes a mandatory inclusive EdTech framework that incorporates competency-based transformative teacher training, ring-fenced financing for assistive technologies, and required technical support to address this issue. Keywords: Educational Technology, Inclusive Education, Assistive Technology, Technology Integration, TAM, SAMR.