Gender Equality and Women Political Participation for Sustainable Development in Nigerian Forth Republic: Issues and Challenges

Political participation is a voluntary act which encompasses wide range of political activities, including voting at election, contesting for political and party offices, attending political rallies, joining political parties and many more. Although, these political activities are considered to be "free zone" to all qualified citizens, especially in liberal democracies irrespective of disparities in wealth, education and gender.  In Nigeria, Women represent about 50% of the population, in spite of this, their level of political participation and their representation is very low.  Their political participation is much being largely noticed only at the level of voting and latent support.  Men are found to have dominated the political arena to the point of almost excluding women, yet all groups (women inclusive) seek to influence dispensation of power and influence decision making in the society.  The study used qualitative method that is secondary source; books, Journal, Newspapers and internet material to examine the place of Nigerian women in politics, the reasons for their marginalization and low level of political participation. It concludes that the force of discrimination against women notwithstanding, the future is bright for women to participate in politics for sustainable development in Nigeria

Implication of Gender-Based Violence on Public Discourse in Akwa Ibom State

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) has been widely seen as one of the major challenges in today’s society causing public disorder generally and in Akwa Ibom State, specifically. Several cases of GBV have been reported in the state which has raise alarm. Despite the efforts by the government, NGOs and civil society to curb the menace, GBV keeps increasing and manifesting in different ways. This study was therefore conducted to assess the implications of GBV on public disorder in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. To achieve this objective, descriptive research design was adopted and data was obtained from secondary source. It was revealed that the Akwa Ibom State is handling GBV cases through the Ministry of Justice using the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, passed on 10th June, 2019 and assented to on 19th June, 2020 by Governor Udom Emmanuel. It was found that key stakeholders are not adequately equipped; the VAPP Law is still not comprehensive to cover some critical areas of GBV; there is still lack of free protective and legal aid for GBV survivors; Many citizens, especially those at the rural areas still lack knowledge of the existence of laws on GBV related issues; the economic opportunities provided for women are not enough to make them independent. These posed great challenges in handling GBV cases in Akwa Ibom State. It was concluded that twisted traditional practices or beliefs that encourage GBV need to be overhauled by creating a purpose driven framework. Thus, it was recommended among other things that for the efforts of the government in combating GBV in the state to be sustained, key stakeholders such as the police especially, including traditional rulers, youth and women leaders, religious leaders, community health workers, men and boys, community health workers, faith-based groups and NGOs that are playing significant roles in GBV prevention should be adequately equipped.&nbsp

Navigating NATO Framework of Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Policy in Modern Warfare

Since its inception in 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been a cornerstone in the architecture of international security, playing a crucial role in shaping the global agenda on non-proliferation and arms control. This paper critically examines the evolution of NATO's strategies and policies in these domains, assessing their significant impact on international peace and security. The study employs qualitative analysis, utilizing secondary data sources.  Through a comprehensive analysis of NATO documents, scholarly research, and policy critiques, the study delineates the alliance's pivotal contributions to the reinforcement of international norms and treaties, such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). It also explores NATO's engagements with non-member states and international organizations, highlighting its instrumental role in fostering global cooperation against the backdrop of diverse geopolitical interests among member states and the dynamic nature of security threats. Despite notable successes, the research identifies challenges that hinder NATO's effectiveness, including internal divergences and evolving global security landscapes. The conclusion presents strategic recommendations to enhance NATO's impact in nonproliferation and arms control, advocating for policy recalibrations and strengthened international collaborations to navigate contemporary and future security dilemmas effectively

Impact of Banking Regulation and Supervision on the Financial Performance of Listed Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

This study aims to provide empirical evidence that reveals how the regulation and supervision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) affect the financial performance of deposit money banks (DMBs). Specifically, the study examines the impact of the capital adequacy ratio (CAR), loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR), and asset quality ratio (AQR) on the financial performance of DMBs in Nigeria. The study obtained data from the annual reports and accounts of ten DMBS purposefully selected, covering a period of 2011 – 2020. The data were analyzed using an estimated generalized least square (EGLS) two-way random-effects panel regression analysis. The results suggest that, to a large extent, the sampled DMBs complied with the CBN requirements on CAR, LDR, and AQR. The study found that LDR positively impacted the financial performance of the DMBs, while the impact of CAR and AQR on the financial performance of the DMBs was insignificant. The study recommends that while DMBs pursue their profitmaking objective, they should comply with the regulatory and supervisory guidelines of the CBN to avoid regulatory fines and penalties

Psychological Resilience as a Catalyst for Effective Youth Leadership in Nigeria

The research focuses on the nature of psychological resilience as a factor that will leads to good youth leadership in Nigeria, with the help of Resilience Theory. Nigeria is home to over 60 percent individuals younger than 25 years of age and thus the potential for change by young people is huge. Nevertheless, challenges that emanate from leadership affect young leaders whereby they lack political stability and willingness to go through economic challenges, and society even complicates leadership. This research employs descriptive research design and has adopted the technique of convenience sampling to sample 100 youth leaders in educational institutions in Nigeria. The study data were gathered using standard questionnaires namely the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and the Youth Leadership Life Skills Development Scale both yielding high reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.78 and 0.744, respectively). The paper analyses personal competence, emotional regulation, and adaptability as factors influencing the status of leadership, as well identify the role of demographic factors as moderators, including age, gender, and educational level. All hypotheses were tested using Multiple regression at a 0.05 significance level. These findings portray a positive and significant association of individual subscales of psychological resilience with leadership effectiveness, especially personal competence (β = 0.268, p < 0.05), emotional regulation (β = 0.423, p < 0.01), and adaptability (β = 0.297, p < 0.05) that have significant potential to raise the young leaders’ levels. On the other hand, demographic factors were found not to have played a role in this relationship which suggests that effectiveness of leadership is not influenced by psychological resilience regardless of demographic factors. It is suggested the area of resilience should be incorporated into youth leadership programmes centred on emotional regulation, personal competencies, flexibility. For example, through Education, Mentoring programmes and Peer support structures. Development of these skills will enable young Nigerian leaders to manage Socio-political issues within the society proactively to champion sustainable leadership

AN INVESTIGATION OF SMS LANGUAGE IN WRITTEN ENGLISH COMPOSITIONS OF PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS OF FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ABEOKUTA

The popularity of SMS text abbreviations among students from the secondary school level to tertiary institutions has become increasingly evident in what passes as ‘good’ English.  SMS is a major form of communication in today’s day and age that has impacted in various areas especially in that of learning and teaching. The purpose of this study was to determine the non-standard English features in the written English of ESL pre-service teachers. This study also aimed to investigate the non-standard features that could be attributed to ESL pre-service teachers’ frequent use of SMS and its implications on teacher education in Nigeria. The study adopted the expost-facto descriptive survey approach. Two research questions and three hypotheses were raised to guide the study. A total of 81 ESL pre-service teachers and 6 lecturers participated in the study. Three instruments, teachers’ questionnaire, SMS forwarded by the students’ participants and a written composition test were used as the mode of data collection. The results of this study indicated that non-standard English features are present in the written composition of the ESL pre-service teachers. The results also showed a significant relationship between ESL pre-service teachers’ frequent use of SMS and their written composition. It was concluded that frequent usage of SMS language plays a great role in influencing ESL pre-service teachers written composition negatively. The implications for pre-service teacher education were discussed and recommendations were made

The Role of Entrepreneurship Education and Entrepreneurial Experience in Venture Creation Among Ugandan Migrant Workers in Qatar

This study examines the role of entrepreneurship education and prior entrepreneurial experience in venture creation among Ugandan migrant workers in Qatar, where migrants constitute a significant portion of the labour force. Drawing on a sample of 334 Ugandan expatriates, the research examines how these two factors influence their entrepreneurial intentions and outcomes. The findings reveal strong positive correlations between both entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial experience with venture creation, with education showing a particularly robust effect (β = 0.728, p < 0.001). Regression analysis indicates that these variables explain 94.7% of the variance in venture creation (adjusted R² = 0.947). Despite facing challenges such as limited access to capital, discriminatory practices, and legal barriers, Ugandan migrants, equipped with business education and prior entrepreneurial experience, are well-positioned to establish successful ventures. The study highlights the importance of targeted entrepreneurship education programs and experiential learning opportunities to foster self-employment among migrants. These findings have important implications for policy development, suggesting that supporting migrant entrepreneurship could drive economic growth, improve remittances, and contribute to the broader development goals of both host and origin countries. Future research could expand on these insights by examining the specific barriers and enablers across different migrant groups and host economies.               &nbsp

“Let the City Breathe”: Re-imagining Lagos as City of the Muses in Nigerian Poetry

For many Nigerian poets, Lagos is not just their abode but also the City where the Muses can be invoked for literary creativity. In this sense, the city represents the meeting point of all networks of intellectual and creative interactions. The symbolic representation of life in the city is depicted in Odia Ofeimun’s Lagos of the Poets (2010). This paper examines and analyses selected poems from the empirical experiences of the poets who have invoked the muse to capture their imagination of in different appellations of the city. This is an attempt to underscore the environmental influences, the metropolis, private dwelling, interiors, and self-awareness in the chaotic and ever busy city. Apparently, many of the poems traverse the realm of the manipulating words to initiating and revealing the journey of self-discovery. The paper deployed some methodological insights of Betrad Westphal’s Geocriticism to explicate the textual and literary representations of the spaces in the city as shown by the various poets. It concludes that Lagos is the sky where every writer with poetic wings can fly. It is a city of the muses for many Nigerian creative writers.   &nbsp

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contaminants in Local Cassava Chips Associated with Vehicular Traffic in Makurdi Metropolis, an Agrarian City

In the present study, we investigated the levels of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) using cassava chips dried by select road junctions as an indicator for heavy metals associated with automobile emissions in Makurdi Metropolis. Fresh cassava tubers were obtained and processed like the locals' producing cassava chips, which were sun-dried at the selected junctions. Metal analysis was carried out using Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (Agilent 4210 MP-AES). The analysis revealed varying concentrations of heavy metals at road junctions. Lead concentrations ranged from 1.26 mgkg-1 to 5.18 mgkg-1, exceeding safe limits set by WHO and NAFDAC. The levels of Cadmium in cassava chips exposed at some Junctions were also found to be above the maximum permissible levels set by local regulatory agencies. Copper concentrations ranged from 2.50 mgkg-1 to 2.78 mgkg-1, falling within permissible limits but varied across sampling points. Chromium concentrations 0.001 mgkg-1 to 0.245 mgkg-1. No permissible limit was found for chromium concentration from the local regulatory authorities. The findings highlight the significant contribution of vehicular emissions to environmental metal pollution in the studied area. Therefore, consuming cassava chips dried at these Junctions poses risks of toxic metals poisoning. Public awareness campaigns on the dangers of heavy metal exposure and the promotion of alternative drying methods for agricultural produce are recommended to safeguard public health

The Philosophy of Effective Leadership, Good Governance, and Improved Living Conditions in Nigeria

It is obvious that Nigerians are passing through hard times and unfavourable conditions of living, making many psychologically lose their mind and sense of citizenship. The deteriorating situations have been so severe these days making survival very difficult for the masses. It is worrisome that we have leaders who are supposed to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians through good leadership and Governance, our leaders are supposed to have the desire to promote development as well as provide social and human advancement, however these indications of improved standard of living have eluded us because our leaders are not ready to sacrificed for the people, they only conformed to “Nigeria system” of operation, adversely the country have been struggling with development, advancement, and forwardness ,but unfortunate, no achievement have been made, Nigeria have nothing to show as the giant of Africa; it believe in anything goes. A good leader may be elected but because of our bad system the leader may end up at not thing. Some of the elected leaders just want to make money and exhausted names. leadership in Africa is a means of enrichment, they are selfish, self-centre, shallow rooted and lack focus, they are suppose to provide good Governance and development but unfortunately unable to perform. This paper is focus on the means and panacea to improve citizens living conditions and restored confidence of the people, through improve leadership and Governance, these can be achieved through, good policies; policies that are people oriented; policies that are people focus, and above all, there should be policies “monitoring and evaluation”, immediately policies are established they should be monitored, to make sure they achieved their purpose and evaluate their performance to  give  feedback report to the people. The method used for collating data is secondary means; data are collated from the media, research work, Government policies and programs, NGOs, commissions, civil society, interviews, public confabs etc. A conclusion is drawn through my recommendations on electing good leaders that are ready to sacrifice for the people and not mere names, Leaders that will ameliorate the suffering of the people beyond the philosophy of leadership and good Governance