JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN MANAGEMENT AND HUMANITIES
Power, Persuasion and Ideology in Pentecostal Sermons in Nigeria: A Critical Discourse Analysis
This study examines the interplay of power, persuasion, and ideology in Pentecostal sermons in Nigeria using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as its theoretical and analytical framework. It investigates how linguistic choices in selected sermons construct religious authority, influence congregational interpretation, and reproduce dominant ideological meanings within contemporary Pentecostal Christianity. The study is anchored on Norman Fairclough’s three-dimensional model of CDA and supplemented by Teun A. van Dijk’s socio-cognitive approach to discourse and ideology. The data consist of six purposively selected Pentecostal sermons delivered in Nigeria between 2024 and 2026, which were analysed qualitatively at the levels of textual features, discursive practice, and social practice. Attention was paid to lexical choices, modality, intertextuality, rhetorical strategies, and directive speech acts as key discursive resources for meaning construction. Findings reveal that Pentecostal sermons consistently employ high-modality assertions, declarative statements, biblical intertextuality, and directive language to establish preacher authority and construct asymmetrical power relations between preacher and congregation. Persuasion is achieved through rhetorical questioning, repetition, contrastive framing, and conditional reward structures that link obedience and faith to divine favour, breakthrough, and success. Ideologically, the sermons reproduce belief systems centred on obedience, divine determinism, prosperity, and spiritual warfare, which are naturalised as unquestionable spiritual truths. The study further establishes that power, persuasion, and ideology operate as interconnected discourse mechanisms within Pentecostal sermon practice, where power legitimises authority, persuasion regulates audience response, and ideology sustains belief systems that shape social reality. The study concludes that Pentecostal sermons in Nigeria function not only as religious instruction but also as ideological instruments that influence cognition, behaviour, and social orientation, thereby reinforcing institutional authority within contemporary Nigerian Christianity.
ICT Adoption and Operational Efficiency in Local Government Administration: Evidence from Selected Local Governments in Anambra State, Nigeria
The integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into public administration has become increasingly important for improving institutional efficiency and service delivery in developing countries. This study examined the effect of ICT adoption on operational efficiency and employee output within selected local government areas in Anambra State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study focused on Aguata, Awka South, and Onitsha North Local Government Areas. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) served as the theoretical foundation of the study. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted, while quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to civil servants across the selected local governments. From a target population of 3,687 employees, a sample size of 361 respondents was determined using Taro Yamane’s formula, out of which 311 valid responses were retrieved and analyzed. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square analytical techniques were utilized for data analysis. Findings revealed that ICT adoption significantly improves operational efficiency by reducing bureaucratic delays, automating administrative workflows, and minimizing operational costs. The study also established that ICT positively influences the quality of employee output through improved task accuracy and access to real-time information systems. However, inadequate digital training, weak technical infrastructure, and poor system reliability were identified as major constraints limiting the full realization of ICT benefits within local government administration. The study concluded that strategic ICT adoption remains a critical driver of institutional modernization and effective public service delivery in grassroots governance. It recommended sustained investment in digital infrastructure, regular ICT training for civil servants, and the development of adaptive e-governance frameworks within Nigerian local government systems
Ideology and Communicative Practices in Nigerian Town Hall Meetings: An Ethnographic Critical Discourse Analysis
This study investigates ideology and communicative practices in Nigerian town hall meetings using an Ethnographic Critical Discourse Analysis (ECDA) framework. Town hall meetings are commonly presented as democratic platforms that encourage interaction between political office holders and citizens; however, communicative exchanges within these forums often reveal underlying ideological structures and unequal power relations. The study examines how discourse functions as a medium through which political authority, participation, legitimacy, and accountability are negotiated in contemporary Nigerian civic engagement. The study is anchored on Fairclough’s three-dimensional model of discourse, van Dijk’s socio-cognitive theory of ideology, and Wodak’s Discourse-Historical Approach within an ethnographic orientation. Ten discourse extracts from selected Nigerian town hall meetings involving government officials, moderators, and citizens were purposively selected and analyzed. Attention was given to linguistic and interactional features such as turn-taking, topic control, modality, mitigation, interruption, participant positioning, and discourse management strategies. Findings reveal that communicative practices in Nigerian town hall meetings are characterized by institutional regulation and interactional asymmetry. Moderators frequently control participation through turn allocation and speaking restrictions, while government officials dominate discourse through strategies of abstraction, temporal deferral, mitigation, and technocratic framing. Citizens, on the other hand, largely employ experiential and interrogative discourse to express dissatisfaction and demand accountability. The analysis further shows that ideological meanings are reproduced through strategic linguistic choices that legitimize political authority while minimizing governance failures. The study concludes that Nigerian town hall meetings function not as ideologically neutral democratic spaces but as structured communicative arenas where discourse is strategically managed to sustain institutional legitimacy and regulate public participation. By integrating ethnographic observation with Critical Discourse Analysis, the study contributes to scholarship on political communication, civic discourse, and democratic participation in Nigeria, while extending ECDA to the study of interactive political engagement in African contexts.
Conflict management strategies as predictors of teachers’ task performance in public secondary schools in delta state
This study examined conflict management strategies as predictors of teachers’ task performance in public secondary schools in Delta State, Nigeria. Three research questions and three null hypotheses guided the study. A correlational research design was adopted. The population comprised 11,011 teachers in public secondary schools across the 25 local government areas of Delta State. A sample of 551 teachers was selected using proportionate stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected using two researcher-developed instruments: the Conflict Management Strategies Questionnaire (CMSQ) and the Teachers’ Task Performance Questionnaire (TTPQ). The instruments were validated by experts in Educational Management and Measurement and Evaluation, while reliability was established using Cronbach Alpha, which yielded an overall coefficient of 0.750. Data were analysed using simple regression at the 0.05 level of significance with the aid of SPSS version 27. The findings revealed that dialogue conflict management strategy significantly predicted teachers’ task performance, whereas avoidance and dominating conflict management strategies did not significantly predict teachers’ task performance. The study concluded that dialogue-based conflict management strategies are more effective in enhancing teachers’ task performance in public secondary schools. The study therefore recommended that principals should adopt dialogue-oriented conflict management approaches that promote open communication, collaboration, and mutual understanding within the school system.
The girl-child and absentee mothers in Yejide Kilanko’s Daughters Who Walk This Path and Chinelo Okparanta’s Under the Udala Trees
Literature has been an avenue through which the society is viewed. In this paper, a major aspect of the society is portrayed as it examines the issue of absentee mothers and the girl child in Nigerian literature. By means of betrayal trauma theory and attachment theory with the content analysis method, this study through Yejide Kilanko and Chinelo Okparanta’s Daughters Who Walk This Path and Under the Udala Trees examine the impact of pain of betrayal on the girl child and its effect on the society as against previous studies that explored the bildungsroman/womanist approach. This study finds that the authors in their novels address a prominent societal problem and that through their engagements in the novels, they hope to bring about a much needed societal change.
An Assessment of the effectiveness of the use of e-learning in improving distant learning system and organizational development in Geography departments in colleges of education in Anambra state
The rapid advancement of technology has significantly transformed educational systems worldwide, with e-learning emerging as a powerful tool in enhancing distance learning and organizational development. This study used a descriptive survey design to assess the effectiveness of e-learning in improving distance learning systems and organizational development in Geography departments of colleges of education in Anambra State. A sample of 107 respondents (lecturers and students) was selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a validated and reliable structured questionnaire, analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and ANOVA. Results showed moderate usage of e-learning platforms, with a mean ranging from (2.24) to (2.91). Organizational development strategies were moderately adopted, with a focus on professional development (mean = 3.35). E-learning moderately enhanced learning outcomes, with a mean ranging from (2.37) to (2.73). A moderate positive correlation (r = 0.471) was found between e-learning and organizational development. Hypotheses revealed significant differences influenced by factors like marital status and age group. However, the study also found inconsistent adoption across departments, suggesting that more strategic implementation is needed for maximum impact. This study provides evidence supporting the role of e-learning in enhancing both the educational and organizational dimensions of Geography departments in Anambra State, while also highlighting the need for further investment in infrastructure and faculty training to ensure more effective integration. The findings contribute to the understanding of e-learning’s potential to reshape teaching and organizational practices in higher education in Nigeria.
An Assessment of Nigeria's Foreign Policy under the Buhari Administration: Priorities and Challenges
The foreign policy of the Buhari administration in Nigeria has been faced with the challenge of policy inconsistency, domestic constraints and changing international dynamics that have cast doubt on whether the administration has been effective in promoting the national interests and international influence. The current empirical study explored the diplomatic policy of Nigeria during 2015-2023, focusing on its main goals and the challenges that accompany them. The study analysed foreign policy of Nigerian President Buhari through a qualitative research approach, particularly focusing on its priorities and challenges. The information was collected using secondary sources such as academic literature, governmental reports and reports by international organisations. A policy evaluation of policy effectiveness and barriers was carried out through an analytical research design. The salient themes were found through content analysis, whereas the relevance of the foreign-policy theories informed the understanding of the external relations of Nigeria in the period in question. Results indicate that there are continuities and changes in the diplomatic interactions of Nigeria before and after the Buhari regime. The research revealed priorities of core foreign-policy, including anti-corruption, security, and economic diplomacy, as well as successes. However, a number of setbacks such as economic limitations and lack of security were also noted. The analysis also evaluated the policy effectiveness and consistency, compared it to previous administrations, and its consequences in Nigerian regional leadership, international impact and future diplomatic orientation. The conclusion is that although the foreign policy of Buhari was in support of the traditional Afrocentric views of Nigeria, the net effect was limited by both internal and external factors. It is recommended to increase policy coherence and institutional capacity strengthening.
Language Contact and the Emergence of Ethnically Oriented Varieties of English in Multilingual Nigeria
This study examines language contact and the emergence of ethnically oriented varieties of English in multilingual communities, with particular emphasis on English as the focal language. It investigates the causes, effects, and outcomes of language contact, as well as the linguistic consequences arising from English interacting with other languages. Using Nigeria as a case study due to its highly multilingual nature, the study explores how sustained contact between English and indigenous languages has led to the development of distinct local and global varieties of English. The research adopts a qualitative descriptive approach and is theoretically anchored in Thomason and Kaufman’s (1988) Language Contact Theory. Data were presented and analyzed textually. Findings reveal that English has come into contact with numerous languages, resulting in the fusion of linguistic features and the emergence of multiple English varieties. The study identifies factors such as colonization, trade, war, intermarriage, tourism, and conquest as major drivers of language contact. These interactions have produced linguistic phenomena including multilingualism, code-mixing, code-switching, language shift, and language death. The findings further demonstrate that language contact brings significant changes to both indigenous and imported languages, with the degree of influence determined by the intensity of contact. The study concludes that language contact is a major catalyst for linguistic variation and multilingual practices and recommends the standardization and strengthening of indigenous languages to mitigate excessive external influence
Re-evaluation of Widowhood Rites and Widow’s Coping Strategies in Adebowale’s Lonely Days and Amadi’s The Trials of a Widow
Widowhood has often been seen as a medium through which women are subjected to oppressive socio-cultural practices, ranging from economic deprivation to psychological trauma. Nigerian novelists such as Bayo Adebowale and Ray Amadi have used their works as important avenues to question and re-evaluate these practices, while also highlighting widows’ resilience and coping strategies. This study examines Adebowale’s Lonely Days and Amadi’s The Trials of a Widow. From Focu-feminist’s perspective, this article analyzes how widowhood is portrayed, the challenges the widowed protagonists- Yaremi and Egolu encounter and the coping mechanisms they adopt. Content analysis approach of qualitative research method is used. The findings reveal that widowhood becomes a space for survival, revolution and redefinition of womanhood. The paper concludes that Nigerian literature provides a powerful platform for re-evaluating cultural practices, advocating gender justice and self-rediscovery.
A logico-semantic analysis of Prof. Kate Omenugha’s acknowledgement speech and the NUASS felicitation speech on the event of the professor’s nomination as a substantive Vice-chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University
This study examines the logico-semantic relations employed in Prof. Kate Omenugha’s acknowledgment speech and the NUASS felicitation speech delivered during her nomination as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University. Anchored on Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG), specifically the ideational meta function that accounts for clause complexes and their logico-semantic relations, the study adopts a qualitative approach to identify and analyse the patterns of meaning-making within the speeches. The analysis reveals three dominant logico-semantic relations: elaboration, extension, and enhancement. Elaboration functions to clarify and intensify the presentation of Omenugha’s qualifications and accomplishments; extension introduces related ideas that broaden the context and underscore the significance of the nomination; while enhancement creates temporal and causal linkages, guiding the audience through the sequence of events and reinforcing their relevance. The findings demonstrate how these relations enhance coherence, persuasiveness, and rhetorical appeal in formal institutional discourse. The study underscores the strategic deployment of language in academic and ceremonial contexts, offering insights into the interaction between linguistic choices and institutional power relations
Copyright (c) 2025 JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN MANAGEMENT AND HUMANITIES
Manipulative Discursive Strategies in Facebook Posts of Failed Online Ponzi Schemes a Study of Investment Narratives
This study investigates manipulative discursive strategies employed in Facebook posts of some failed Nigerian Ponzi schemes disguised as business entities between 2020 and 2021. Previous language studies (Chiluwa & Chiluwa (2022), Chiluwa, Kamalu & Anurudu (2020), Onanuga & Taiwo (2020)) on the proliferation of Ponzi schemes on social media focused on the famous Mavrodi Mundial Moneybox (MMM), iCharity, ultimate cycler and Loom, therefore the present study expands the scope by including other schemes like MBA Forex, Barimike Group, Chinmark/FinAfrica Investment and Ovaioza Food Produce and Storage Business (OFPSB). The research adopts a descriptive approach to identify and analyse manipulative discursive strategies used to attract potential clients, foster trust, and encourage financial engagement. Data were purposively collected from eight promotional posts made by four businesses/investment schemes —MBA Forex, Barimike Group, Chinmark Group and OFPSB and analysed using Ruth Wodak’s Discourse Historical Approach (DHA). The analysis reveals recurrent manipulation strategies, including rebranding of investment schemes as business partnership, promise of high returns on investment with no risk, use of exaggerated figures for legitimization, fear tactic, trust framing, false proof, scarcity framing, temporal urgency, and pseudo authority through quotations. These tactics are often employed to create an illusion of safety, inclusivity, and inevitability of profit. The study concludes that online investment discourse blends interpersonal rapport-building with subtle pressure to influence audience decision-making.
Copyright (c) 2024 JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN MANAGEMENT AND HUMANITIES
Women Against Fundamentalism: The Journey of Zoya in the Struggle for Afghan Women's Freedom
Zoya’s Story: An Afghan Woman’s Struggle for Freedom is a compelling biography that chronicles the life of Zoya, a brave young Afghan woman navigating the socio-political turbulence and gendered oppression under fundamentalist rule (Taliban-ruled Afghanistan). Born into a society where women's voices are systematically silenced and their rights dictated by patriarchal norms, Zoya's journey is one of resistance, loss, and firm resilience. She endures personal tragedies, including the deaths of family and friends, while confronting a regime that enforces violence and denies women autonomy. Her pursuit of education and liberation becomes both a personal mission and a collective crusade, as she works to enlighten others, echoing the philosophical awakening described in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. Anchored in postcolonial feminist theory, this narrative critiques the local and global structures perpetuating women's subjugation, emphasizing the intersection of culture, politics, and gender. Through grassroots activism and community empowerment, Zoya transforms her pain into purpose, becoming a symbol of hope and resilience for Afghan women and oppressed women globally. Her transformation from victim to activist accentuates the power of solidarity and the agency of women in resisting systemic injustice. Her story surpasses geographic boundaries, symbolizing the universal struggle for female dignity, autonomy, and equality. Finally, Zoya is not merely a survivor but a beacon of defiance and hope, an embodiment of resistance that inspires women to confront oppression not for visibility but for genuine emancipation in the ongoing fight against fundamentalism.
Traumatic Neurosis: An Alternative Prognosis to Feminism in Gloria Ogo’s While Men Slept
A closer look at Gloria Ogo’s While Men Slept provides another critical approach through which the novel can be explored as against feminism that occupies a wider space in the reading of the text. This study, therefore, by means of trauma/traumatic neurosis examines the actions and conducts of Ikemba in the novel. It provides an alternative basis for the ‘why’ of his hostilities towards his wife and children especially after he returned from the war. It was observed that albeit not physically wounded, Ikemba was psychologically and mentally scarred by the pain, shame and vulnerability he harboured within him causing an emotional disconnect from himself and everyone. Based on this, this paper ‘pleads’ that he not be sentenced so easily without a consideration of the rationale for his provocation as this will be similar to sentencing him to a judgement from a ‘kangaroo court’. Moreover, Ikemba’s plight and experiences present a call towards awareness and enlightenment of the impact of trauma on an individual. It is equally hoped that through this, victims of trauma will be amenable to speak up and speak out about the challenges they face.
Corruption Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: The Need for Anti-corruption Recovered Funds and Assets Investment Management Commission in Nigeria
Corruption has been a pervasive and deeply entrenched issue in Nigeria, impeding the nation's progress and undermining its development aspirations. Despite efforts to combat corruption, the effective management and utilization of recovered funds and assets have remained a significant challenge. This paper examines the theoretical foundations of principal-agent theory and institutional theory to understand the dynamics of corruption and the role of institutional frameworks in promoting transparency and accountability. It analyzes the economic, social, and political consequences of corruption in Nigeria, quantifying its staggering costs. The paper provides valid empirical evidence for the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Recovered Funds and Assets Investment Management Commission as a potential solution to the contemporary problem. In addition, global best practices for managing recovered funds were examined to provide a basis for the paper’s core argument. The proposed commission's mandate, structure, functions, and responsibilities are discussed, including asset recovery, transparent investment strategies, effective application of funds in development-related areas, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and public reporting. Potential challenges and concerns associated with establishing the commission are addressed, such as legal and regulatory requirements, ensuring independence, securing funding, and building public support. The paper concludes by emphasizing the potential long-term benefits of the commission, including unlocking resources for sustainable development initiatives, fostering public trust, and promoting good governance while combating the root causes of corruption.
Impoliteness in language use: a study of barrow pushers and the public in onitsha main market
This study examines the language use of barrow pushers and the public in Onitsha Main Market, focusing on impoliteness strategies. Using a discourse analysis approach, the researcher analysed audio recordings of interactions between barrow pushers and customers, revealing the prevalent use of impolite language, including insults, blame and criticism. The study shows that impoliteness serves as a means of negotiating power, managing conflicts and maintaining social relationships. However, it also leads to communication breakdown and conflict escalation. The findings highlight the importance of language sensitivity training for barrow pushers and the public-potential customer to enhance effective communication and conflict resolution in market settings. The study contributes to the understanding of impoliteness in language use in African markets, emphasizing the need for context-specific approaches to communication and conflict management.
Social Responsibility and the Female Self in Women’s Autobiography: Emecheta and Angelou
There is a general neglect of autobiographical narratives by women in African literary scholarship. This neglect is rooted in the overall traditional perception of the woman as an appendage, the other that completes the man but who cannot be on her own. From this conception, the woman is because the man has been; after all, it is assumed, she exists and derives her value in a man’s world. But of recent very few women have taken to the pen, the instrument of power in the hands of the man, and wielding it to account for the female self. In these accounts we witness not only a projection of the female self, a woman’s individuality, and a conscious recognition of the uniqueness of self, but recognition that she is answerable to society; that a sense of self imbues on her an authority to act and to decide independently. These core concerns of re-writing the female self, of freeing herself from “the danger of the single story”, to recall Chimamanda Adichie, animates the autobiographical accounts of Buchi Emecheta and Maya Angelou. We will explore these concerns by focusing on the representation of the inter-relationship between social responsibility and the female self in Head Above Waters and The Heart of a Woman. The discussion is organized in four main sections. It begins with the background account on real stories of women trapped in the discourse of patriarchy. This is followed by the enunciation of the feminist theory of reclamation as a tool for re-writing the story of the woman and freeing the female self. This is followed by practical acts of re-writing the female self and her acts of social responsibility in Emecheta’s Head above Waters and Angelou’s The Heart of a Woman. Ultimately, the autobiographical works of Buchi Emecheta and Maya Angelou challenge patriarchal discourses by reclaiming the female self through self-representation. Their narratives highlight autobiographical writing as a powerful tool for women’s empowerment and social change.
Interwoven Dynamics of Family and Society in Ikechukwu Ezema's The Reward
This paper investigates the complex relationship between family dynamics and societal influences in Ikechukwu Ezema's poignant novel, The Reward. Despite the paucity of research examining these concepts within the text, family and society are intricately linked and hold deep sociological significance. Through a meticulous analysis of the novel's narrative, this study explores how human actions and behaviour shape the contours of familial relationships and their reverberating impact on the broader societal fabric. By scrutinizing the events and scenarios depicted in The Reward, this paper illuminates the ways in which parenting, upbringing, and familial bonds mold individuals, ultimately influencing their roles and contributions to society. The study offers a nuanced examination of The Reward, unveiling the multifaceted interaction between the microcosm of family and the macrocosm of society. It delves into the complexities of human behaviour, parental influence, and the intricate web of familial dynamics, shedding light on their profound impact on individual development and societal structures. Through a comprehensive analysis, this paper unravels the profound truths woven into Ezema's narrative, accentuating the long-term significance of these sociological concepts in shaping the human experience.
Language, Literature and African Common Norms
The basic function of language is communication and its users subconsciously protect its expensive capabilities. It helps in cultural transmission and each generation uses the form of language handed down by the previous generation, language is usually adapted and altered to suit the personal requirements of the next generation. Similarly, a distinctive form of language can give a cultural group a sense of identity, uniting insiders and alienating outsides. The situation in most parts of Africa supports scholars’ argument that for any group of people to share a sense of common norm, a certain minimum level of communication between them must be guaranteed. And the incontrovertible evidence shows that language has remained one of the most visible and enduring senses of that shared identity. In Africa, evident shows that language has become a very strong factor for ethno-national identity, with the ethnic loyalty overriding national interests. Previous scholarly contributions on the complex linguistic situation in Africa have discussed strategies adopted in language planning and types of language policies in many of the nations in Africa. Drawing on these contributions, as well as incorporating recent developments, this article language, literature and African common norms discusses aspects of language, literature, and African common norms and how they affect Africa. It examines language as power, norms of Africa, African literature and the importance of language in African society. The study adopts a qualitative descriptive method and uses Dell Hymes (1966) communicative competence theory. The findings show that the study of language, literature and African common norms has really contributed a lot in Africa. The study recommends that African norms should be maintained through teaching and exposing our children to them as early as possible so that it can become part of their way of living.
The Girl-Child as a Victim: A Critical Reading of Amma Darko’s Faceless
It is observed that the well-documented issues of oppression and discrimination have been an age-long tradition which affects the life of women, generally. The issues of forced marriages, sex trafficking, domestic and sexual abuse have seriously penetrated the society at large. They pose severe threat to the female gender (the girl-child). The researchers, having observed that no scholar had given needed attention to the tragedy of the girl-child in Ghana as portrayed by Amma Darko, sought to do just that. The study is thus carried out to ascertain the extent of gender induced burden on the girl-child and its adverse and far-reaching psychological implications on the female gender. Against this backdrop, this study examines Amma Darko’s Faceleess. This work makes use of Objectification Theory which is, basically, the act of seeing and/or treating a person, usually a woman as an object. In the core concept of this study, objectification connotes a patriarchal structure that evaluates the female as a means of (objects for) attaining satisfaction of certain self-desires and wants usually sexual and economic satisfaction. In order to critically analyse the status of the girl-child as a victim of societal oppression and objectification, excerpts from these selected novels are contextually discussed to show the extent to which these experiences and harsh reality often affects the female victims psychologically. Patriarchal Cultures are pinpointed as being the main cause of these ordeals, and therefore, needs to be revisited as it silences women and hinders their self-actualisation in the society.
Factors Influencing the Practice of Fertility Control among Married Women in Emure Local Government Area, Ekiti State, Nigeria
The study investigated the factors influencing the practice of fertility control among married women in Emure Local Government Area of Ekiti State of Nigeria. Descriptive research design of the survey type was used to conduct the study among 220 women in Emure Local Government. Simple random and stratified sampling techniques were used in selecting the respondents. A pretested, close-ended questionnaire was adapted from related studies. The reliability of the instrument was determined with Cronbach alpha where a coefficient of 0.68 was obtained. The research questions were answered descriptively while the formulated hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The results revealed that a considerable number of the respondents practised fertility control while injectables and oral pills topped the preferred methods of fertility control. The fear of adverse effects and opposition to fertility control by husbands were the major identified reasons influencing the practice of fertility control. Also, there was no significant difference between respondents in rural and urban location on factors influencing fertility control but a negative significant relationship was found between practice and factors influencing the adoption of fertility control. Based on the findings, it was recommended that health workers should sensitize the populace on the benefits of a planned family. The populace should be informed on the various methods of fertility control and routine sensitization should be done through the mass media.
The Use of Human Factor Approach in the Study of Connectivity between Organizational Training and Workplace Practice Using Chinhoyi University of Technology Employees’ Perceptions as a Case Study
The purpose of the study was to explore the perceptions of Chinhoyi University of Technology employees about the possibility of using the Human Factor approach as a tool of analysis in enhancing connectivity between organizational training and workplace practice through inculcation of positive attitudinal and behavioral change among its staff. The research adopted a quasi – qualitative approach allowing for triangulation of data. Data were collected through questionnaires for lower grades and interviews for heads of section. Stratified sampling was employed to select 109 respondents who filled in the self completion questionnaires which were analyzed using the social packages for social scientists (SPSS). Eleven heads of sections were interviewed and the recorded data were analyzed using a descriptive thematic generation approach. The research findings reveal that employees are aware of the negative Human Factor issues that affected organizational culture and behavioral norms, an element which was said to be working against organizational effectiveness within the university‟s service structure and departments. Lack of good work ethics, „hunhuism‟ and absence of induction was identified as a major critical component characterizing the negative workplace practice. Additionally the study highlights cases of human factor decay as evidenced by dismissal of perpetrators. Thus, the study recommends the provision of relevant training programmes as part of Human Factor development thrust through prioritization of training programmes aimed at inculcating the correct human factor characteristics in employees
The Impact of Irregular Schooling on Teaching and Learning a Case of Zimbabwe’s Education System in Mashonaland West Province During The Period 2008-2010
The study sought to establish the impact of the irregular schooling of 2008- 2010 on teaching and learning in Zimbabwe. The study focused on schools in Mashonaland West Province, randomly selecting three rural secondary schools and conveniently sampling three urban secondary schools from which a sample size of 250 form two and „O‟ Level students was selected. The objectives were to establish the level of school attendance among pupils and teachers, time spent actually learning and school dropout/ repeat cases as well as to investigate the behaviours and attitudes of pupils towards schooling, punctuality, and discipline as a result of teachers‟ strikes. A survey research method was used with questionnaires as data collection tools from students and interviews were held with headmasters. Findings revealed that most of the pupils attended school for less than two months in 2008 with very little time spent actually learning, while a moderate improvement was noted in 2010. Student misbehavior mostly lateness, noisemaking, not doing homework and absenteeism were rampant in the schools and pupils dropped out of school to help fend for their families and the girl child was more affected. There are many students who repeated grades when schools opened in 2009 due to inadequate content coverage in 2008. The study recommends that government puts in place a programme of learning to cater for the many children who dropped out of school and those who did not adequately learn due to the teacher strikes and economic hardships of the time. Parents should be oriented to own schools and be proactive in developing and maintaining the quality of education for their children. The government and responsible authorities should also work towards increasing teachers‟ salaries to levels commensurate with the cost of living in line with their qualifications as recognition of the role they play in the development of human, social and cultural capital. There should be programmes for nurturing teacher professionalism through a proactive teacher training programme in the various teachers‟ colleges and provincial education structures. Families should be encouraged to treat children the same regardless of sex or abilities so as not to lose the gains made in the fight for gender equality.
Indigenous Knowledge Systems: A Survey of Stakeholders’ Views towards the Combined Use of Traditional and Modern Medicine on Hospitalized Patients
This research sought stakeholders’ views toward the combined use of traditional and modern medicine on hospitalized patients. The research contributes towards indigenous knowledge systems in Zimbabwe. The research is a survey carried out at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital. Questionnaires and an interview guide were used. The respondents were doctors, nurses, patients and relatives of the hospitalised patients. Data was presented in frequency distribution tables. The findings revealed that traditional medicine was being used on hospitalized patients. Health professionals, patients and their relatives strongly believe that traditional medicine cures. The research findings led to the following recommendations; patients and relatives should be educated on the complications associated with combined use of traditional and modern medicine on hospitalized patients, and policy makers need to facilitate dialogue between the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, health professionals and traditional healers to map the way forward on integration of modern and traditional medicine. There is need of a further study to establish traditional healers’ views on the integration of traditional and modern medicine to compliment findings of this study.
Testing Nigeria’s Marginal Propensity to Consume (MPC) Within the Period 1980-2004
The study is an attempt to gauge Nigeria’s marginal propensity to consume (MPC),and average propensity to consume(APC).Relevant variables were identified and data on them obtained spanning from 1980-2004.The econometrics methodology of unit root, and co integration were used to determine the stationary and the long run relationship among the variables. The computation of MPC and APC were carried out using the nominal data obtained from the identified variables. The results of MPC and APC conform to Keynes proposition that is less the one and stable, however our results for MPC though less than one and stable exhibit the tendency to grow above one. This has serious policy implications for saving, capital formation, and investment on whole. The author therefore suggest for a policy to discourage consumption and encourage production.
Personality Variables and Human Resources Development in Nigeria
This research analyzed the effects of personality variables on human resources development. Trait theory of personality and its influences on behavioural (personality) tendencies formed the conceptual background. Consequently, personal variables like intellectual abilities, and physical abilities, as well as social variables emerged as the major determinants of human resources development. In order to cope with the dynamism and diversity of most modern work demand, it is necessary to develop human resources towards coping with “temporariness” (flux of changes). A number of factors were identified as being relevant implications of effective human resources development. These were reduction in lay-off, skills improvements, and work adaptation. However, the problems militating against effective human resources development in Nigeria were poorly defined personnel development programme, lack of practice of acquired skills, incompetent trainers, lack of feedback, and non-utilization of experts like psychologists. Consequently, it is recommended that these problems could be solved by ensuring that individuals are trained to be adaptive to the inevitable changing work requirements. Again, human resources development programme should be objectively focused, so as to avoid it being converted into a holiday occasion.
Exploring the Practice of “Extra” Lessons as Offered in Chinhoyi Urban Secondary Schools, Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe
The purpose of the study was to establish the practice of extra lessons in Chinhoyi urban secondary schools in Zimbabwe. A case study was adopted to facilitate an in-depth understanding of the practice of extra lessons in schools. Purposive sampling was used to select the two schools for the study and the participants. A total of 160 participants were used to solicit information for the study. Questionnaires, interview schedules and observation checklists were enlisted for gathering data for the study. The study established that extra lessons targeted those students who could pay for the service rendered; were being carried out during normal school hours, lunch hour, after school hours and weekends; the activities were not being supervised; popular with pupils preparing for public examinations; promoted elitism and unequal access to education; provided lucrative employment for teachers; were a result of shoddy teaching during normal hours and that pupils would benefit more if extra lessons are supervised and coordinated. The study recommends that extra lessons be done outside normal school hours, with parents having the honours to identify the tutors, discuss areas of the learner’s concerns with them and monitor progress made during the lessons. The study also recommends that extra lessons should be supervised and coordinated if students are to effectively benefit .School Development Committees should discuss with parents and come up with modalities to incentivise teachers so that all students benefit and that policy makers need to take a decisive position on the status of extra lessons in schools.
Role of Basic Learning Opportunities in Building Capacity for Inventiveness
The study examines the efficacy of capacity-building of basic learning opportunities in stimulating entrepreneurship inventiveness potentials of trainees. Two hypotheses were tested in the study at P < .05 significant level. The first hypothesis examined gender differences in the efficacy of basic learning opportunities in building capacity for inventiveness. The second hypothesis examined the various dimensions of entrepreneurship inventiveness as a result of capacity building of basic learning opportunities. The data for the study was of primary source. A total of 348 University students, with the average age of 23 years, were randomly sampled for the study, from technoscience disciplines, socio-behavioural disciplines, and managerial disciplines. They were challenged to provide answers to a learning exercise that embraced the trio disciplines. With multivariate analyses, it was found out that both genders have above average capacity-building to be inventive. However, the female gender developed more capacity-building to be technically creative, and exhibit social skills inventiveness than the male gender. On the other hand, the male gender had more capacity-building for leadership inventiveness than the female gender. Basically, the value system and motivation could have played significant roles in the outcome. It is therefore recommended that learning opportunities should be open and be encouraged for both genders across disciplines.
Resource Sharing, Networking and Consortia in African Libraries
This paper explores the concepts, issues and facilities offered by the library consortium and shows how the library consortium makes resources available among member libraries. The study also identifies the possibilities and problems of building library consortium in developing Africa. Recommendations suggesting models for the future prospect of library consortia in Africa are offered.
Religion and the Limits of Women’s Religious Role Identity
The paper examines religion and the limits of women’s religious role identity. In every belief system, women are more religiously active than men. Paradoxically, despite their high degree of religiosity, they are relegated to marginal positions in all major religions. The paper maintains that the subordination of women religious status and role is justified and legitimized through patriarchy built in theological mythology. However, women no longer accept the status quo as God given rather they challenge the patriarchal underpinnings of religious traditions. This agitation, no doubt, has yielded positive results as women are now ordained priests and bishops in some religion and many others play the role of Founder, Seers and Prophetesses. The paper recommends that women should not relent in the struggle to erase the subordination and devaluation of women religious role. It is only through that process that they will regain their pride of place in religious and other activities in society.