GENDER DYNAMICS AND ROLE PERFORMANCE AMONG FEMALE POLICE OFFICERS IN KWARA STATE POLICE COMMAND, ILORIN

Discrimination against female gender is a universal phenomenon and it is more evident in Africa particularly Nigeria. The female gender is being stereotyped in almost all facets of human life including the police force. The disparity in career opportunities, promotions, and workload distribution between genders is troubling and demoralizing for women, especially among female police officers. Because of its historically unequal representation of men and women, the police profession is deeply patriarchal and male dominated. Women are still underrepresented in the Nigerian Police, despite the country's policy of making reservation for them. As a result, this study examined gender dynamics and role performance among female police officers in Kwara State, Nigeria. The Radical Feminist Theory and Liberal Feminism constitute the theoretical framework for the study. Descriptive design was adopted and 50 female officers, ranging in rank from corporal to chief inspector were purposively selected from the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ilorin, Kwara State. Data were gathered using questionnaire while analysis was done using descriptive statistics, including percentages, frequency counts, mean, and standard deviation. The findings revealed that the various gender relations experience of female police officers in the Kwara State include sexual harassment, bullying and intimidation and lack of respect. The study recommends that Police departments should establish mandatory training programs focused on gender sensitivity, diversity, and inclusion, while efforts should be made to create support networks, mentorship programs, and flexible work arrangements for female police personnel.&nbsp

INTERROGATING THE PARADOX AND CONJECTURES OF POLITICAL LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE DEFICIT IN AFRICA

This paper examined leadership and governance crisis in contemporary Africa, and its attendant consequences on state development. Leadership failure has been the bane of African states since post-independence, decades ago. Lack of ideology and absence of leadership with transformative attitude has been one of several reasons why governance isreceding on the continent. The impact of leadership in promoting good governance and development of a state and a strong linkage between political leadership and good governance is what define transformative and responsive government that cares for welfare of the citizenry. However, with few exceptions in some African states, citizens have continued to bear the burden of leadership failure. The key objective of this paper is to examine the major impacts of leadership on good governance. While the paper acknowledges the efforts of some of these political leaders to transform their states, the fact however, remains that the means of executing these noble transformative goals are in a “state of vacillation”. The studyadopted elite theory as its theoretical framework and relied on secondary source of information for its data. The paper found that the recycling of poor leadership has continued to dash all hopes of achieving growth and development in Africa and recommends that stakeholders in these countries must device new approaches to leadership recruitment; while the political leadership must strive to promote probity, accountability and good governance

KIDNAPPING IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES

The phenomenon of kidnapping has emerged as a significant security concern on a global scale, with particular concern in the recent past within Nigeria. The objective of the study was to assess the phenomenon of kidnapping in Nigeria, focusing on its challenges and mitigation strategies. Being a theoretical paper, data for the study were obtained from reviewing pertinent publications, which served as secondary sources of data. The study examined the high incidence of abduction in Nigeria and implicated the influence of socio-economic factors such as unemployment, poverty, and greed, for the emergence, prevalence and challenges associated with kidnapping in the country. The study further revealed that the pursuit and glorification of material wealth can be a further driver of kidnapping, as it is perpetrated by individuals who seek to satisfy their material needs without consideration for the physical, emotional and economic trauma they visit on their victims. The study recommends that governments at all levels should provide employment opportunities for the large number of unemployed youths in Nigeria, particularly in light of the increasing poverty rates among the civilian population. This can be done through deliberate collaborative efforts between the government and the private sector to generate job opportunities for the country's expanding population, particularly for the younger generation. The government should create conducive atmosphere for the expansion of businesses to retain those in paid employment

PERCEPTION OF MAIDS AND NANNIES AS “NECESSARY EVILS” BY BAYERO UNIVERSITY KANO FEMALE STUDENTS’ EMPLOYERS

This paper explores the views of Bayero University Kano female students’ employers toward maids and nannies – girls aged 8 to 15 – who they engage to help them care for their children and in the performance of some household chores. Without the services of these maids and nannies, many such students may be constrained to pursue their education and career. The women employers are privileged, high status individuals; the maids and nannies, on the other hand, are poor and drawn mainly from rural areas, compelled to take up such employment to help put food on the table for their families. Interviews with the respondents (the employers of the maids and nannies) revealed that despite sorely needing the services of the maids and nannies, they have a poor perception of them, they are “a necessary evil.” The irony of the fact that the maids and nannies are children who risk physical and emotional hazards, in addition to being deprived of the opportunity to pursue education is lost on their employers and the larger society that turned a blind eye to it. In other words, as long as the conditions that propel young children to seek jobs as domestic workers persist, and for as long as there are no alternatives for the privileged urban-based woman, child domestic work will continue. The paper recommends that child employment and compulsory education legislations be enforced in addition to the provision of crèche facilities at tertiary institutions and work places, where none exists, as a panacea to the problem.&nbsp

PREVALENCE OF KIDNAPPING OF CATHOLIC PRIESTS AND THE EROSION OF SOCIAL ORDER IN NIGERIA

The core responsibility of the government is to protect lives and property. In the last decade, Catholic priests had been the target of kidnappers in Nigeria, thereby negatively impacting the Church and social order. This study examined the kidnapping of Catholic priests and the erosion of social order in Nigeria. The study was guided by the assumptions of the social contract theory developed by Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Utilizing secondary data obtained through media reports, journal articles, government publications and church publications, the paper employed thematic-content analysis to make sense of the data elicited for the study. The results revealed a widespread threat, with the Port Harcourt Diocese reporting the highest number of cases (20.65%), followed by Owerri Diocese (17.03%), Kaduna Diocese (11.23%) and Onitsha Diocese (10.87%). The kidnapping of Catholic priests in Nigeria spanning the period of  2015 and 2025, has been a systemic and escalating crisis with far-reaching consequences for social order, undermining security, disrupting religious life and weakening public trust and communal stability. The implication of the finding for the study is that the widespread and targeted kidnapping of these harmless men of God, reflects a deepening security crisis in Nigeria, revealing the country’s inability to protect religious figures and emphasizing the pressing need for comprehensive security and socio-political interventions. Addressing this requires comprehensive security reforms, socio-economic interventions and enhanced collaboration between the Church, communities and the government, to restore public safety, religious dignity and societal stability

ANALYSIS OF PROFITABILITY OF TOMATO (Lycopersicum spp) MARKETING AMONG RURAL WOMEN IN OLAMABORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE-NIGERIA

This study assessed the constraints to tomato marketing among rural women in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study looked at the cost and returns of tomato marketing; ascertained the effects of tomato marketers’ socioeconomic variables on their income; and identified major constraints to tomato marketing. These objectives were delineated to address the problems of tomato perishability due to absence of storage facilities and paucity of market information among the marketers. A purposive random sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents for the study. Primary data obtained through structured questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics, gross margin model, Ordinary Least Square (OLS) multiple regression model, and mean score from Likert type of scale. Findings of this study revealed that 65.1% of rural women involved in tomato marketing were in their active age of 32 years with a mean household size of 7 members, and an average marketing experience of 11 years. Most (73.3%) had no extension contacts. The gross margin analysis indicated a gross margin from tomato marketing per month of N54, 745 with a benefit cost ratio of N1.90k. Estimates of the OLS revealed that the semi-log was chosen as the lead equation due to its R2 of 0.877which implied that about 88% of the variation in the changes in income from tomato marketing is influenced by the independent variables considered. The results showed that years of schooling, household size, and marketing experience positively influenced the income from tomato marketing at 1% level of significance. Major constraints faced by women involved in tomato marketing in the area included high perishability of tomatoes (M = 3.4), poor storage facilities (M= 3.4), disease and pest infestation (M = 3.3), high transportation cost and low price of tomato (M = 3.2 respectively), high labour cost and lack of operational cost constituted (M = 3.1 respectively). The study therefore recommends that tomato marketers should expand their scale of operation as this will enable them enjoy economies of scale with positive effects on increased income, while both the Kogi State and Federal governments should improve rural infrastructure to address marketers’ associated problems such as storage facilities, good road networks, markets and power supply

PERCEPTION OF WOMEN’S INFERTILITY AMONG THE YORUBAS IN IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Cultural beliefs are consequential in explaining the general perspective of any disease(s) and this has led to discrepancies in the description of the etiology of diseases between patients and professional health care providers, thereby affecting the care provided and patients’ compliance with treatment. Infertility is also seen in that light. This study thus examined the perception of women’s infertility and treatment of infertility among married men and women in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire copies were administered on 400 respondents while data were elicited from 12 married men and women that were yet to give birth (3 in each of the 4 selected LGAs) through Key Informant Interview (KII) guides. The study measured the perception of infertility, causes of infertility, solution to infertility and association between some demographic variables and the perception of infertility. The results revealed that infertility was majorly discerned as a spiritual problem (40%) and ancestral curses (24%). Solutions to the challenges were diverse as shown by indulgence in prayer (39%), consumption of herbal concoction (29%) and making sacrifices to appease the gods (15%.. Statistically, the Chi Square test showed significant relationship between religion and perception of women infertility. The study recommends aggressive public advocacy programs and pragmatic reproductive health education programmes targeted at addressing misconceptions/fallacies about infertility coupled with accessible and affordable health care for couples horse-trading with infertility

PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF TYPE2 DIABETES AND FACTORS INFLUENCING HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOUR IN KATAGUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BAUCHI STATE

This research examined knowledge of type2 diabetes among members of the public in Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria. It assessed the factors that shape health-seeking behaviour among the public in general and people with type 2 diabetes in particular as well as provide insights into healthcare practices in the region. Through a mix of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including surveys and interviews, the study succeeded in bringing to the fore, salient issues impacting health-seeking practices in this population. The study recommends that tailored interventions should consider working with religious leaders to spread awareness about Type 2 Diabetes as religious leaders could be powerful allies in disseminating health messages that will increase not only public awareness, but patient care strategies in managing type 2 diabetes as well

IMPACT OF SOCIOCULTURAL BELIEFS ON MATERNAL HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOR AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN ZAMFARA STATE

Maternal health outcomes in Nigeria remain among the poorest globally, particularly in northern states such as Zamfara, with socio-cultural factors playing pivotal roles in influencing women’s health-seeking behavior. This study explored how cultural norms, religious beliefs, gender roles, and traditional healthcare systems affect the utilization of maternal health services among women of reproductive age in Zamfara State. Employing a mixed-methods design, data were collected from 150 women through surveys and 12 Focus Group Discussion (FGD) sessions across three local government areas: Gusau, Kaura Namoda, and Anka. The findings revealed that early marriage, low level of women's autonomy, practice of spiritual healing, reliance on traditional birth attendants, and minimal male involvement, pose significant obstacles to accessing antenatal and skilled birth care. Even though there is an awareness of the advantages of formal healthcare, cultural preferences, financial limitations, and interpretations of religious beliefs affect women’s choices. The study recommends culturally sensitive health interventions, community engagement, and policy reforms to enhance maternal healthcare utilization

DEMOGRAPHY OF AGEING POPULATION IN NIGERIA: TRENDS, CHALLENGES AND IMPLICATIONS

Nigeria, like many other African countries, is experiencing a rapidly ageing population, with significant implications for healthcare, social security, and economic growth. Lack of functional national policy on the care and welfare of older persons in Nigeria, the breakdown of the family structure and the absence of a social security system, present unique challenges to the elderly in Nigeria. This paper analyzes the demography of the ageing population in Nigeria with a focus on the trends, challenges, and implications for healthcare, social security and economic growth. The paper relied on secondary sources of data such as journal articles and books in the area of the ageing population in Nigeria for its analysis. The Disengagement Theory provided theoretical pathway for the study. Based on the review, it was found that the rapidly ageing population poses challenges to Nigeria’s development including strains on social security system, increased healthcare costs, and potential decline in economic productivity. These challenges are due to lack of policies and the appointment of personnel capable of understanding and responding to the current social priorities and complex needs of an increasingly aging population in the country. The paper recommends among others, the need for policy makers to put in place, functional policies towards a robust public pension, insurance and healthcare system to ensure a more sustainable and equitable future for the ageing population in Nigeria