Image Re-branding in a Fragile State: The Case of Nigeria

In todays globalized world, nations are increasingly concerned about how they are perceived by their publics, often carefully planning and executing policies to maintain a positive identity or shed a negative image. While some countries are able to execute nation branding, others are not. Using the Nigerian experience as a case study, this article shows how the character of a state can undermine its capacity for successful nation branding. We argue that countries are judged not just by what they say but also by what they do, and that inherent contradictions such as sectarian violence, ethnic tension, and corruption underline Nigerias underdevelopment and its reputation at home and abroad. We assess this trajectory in the context of state fragility and prebendalization politics in a country with a powerful colonial legacy, and suggest a duality of order and disorder involving formal and informal structures of governance that impingesignificantly on re-branding efforts

From Alms to Arms: The Almajiri Phenomenon and Internal Security in Northern Nigeria

State and multinational efforts aimed at containing jihadist terrorism in northern Nigeria have only yielded modest results despite the repressive nature of these efforts. The ranks of the foot soldiers of Boko Haram and Ansaru fundamentalist Islamic sects continue to swell even in the face of the ferocious onslaught on their membership by state troops. In contrast to mainstream analyses that highlight the salience of radical Islamism in coming to terms with insurgent proliferation, this article demonstrates that jihadist insurgency in northern Nigeria is better understood as a consequence of youth bulge syndrome, particularly the low-cost availability of foot soldiers from the almajiri demographic cohort. Abandoned by parents and the state, the itinerant Quranic pupils resort to street, begging for alms and survival. And street life exposes the urchins to abuse, criminalization and subsequent mobilization for violent causes including terrorism. It is argued that until the practices of rampant child abuse and state neglect of the almajirai and other vulnerable groups are addressed through better education, employment opportunities and poverty reduction, northern Nigeria is likely to remain a breeding ground of violent conflicts

BREAD, NOT BULLETS : BOKO HARAM AND INSECURITY MANAGEMENT IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Nigeria has experienced pervasive violence since it returned to civilian rule in 1999 after more than 15 years of military dictatorship. Despite the brutal strategy followed by the state in response to public disorder, efforts to establish peace in Africa's most populous and largest oil-producing nation have failed. Indeed, state repression has increased rather than reduced violence in many areas. This empirical study investigated the effect of the military strategy to manage the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in northern Nigeria. Despite the emphasis on economic empowerment as a viable mechanism for conflict mitigation, which has permeated mainstream discourse since the end of the Cold War, the application of this approach in much of sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria, remains at the level of rhetoric or political spin. Our data also reveal the ineffectiveness of military brutality in managing anti-state uprisings. Thus, this study contributes evidence to the debate regarding economic empowerment as tool to manage security. In the context of the prevailing socioeconomic problems and inequities in northern Nigeria, including rampant poverty and mass illiteracy, this study suggests that economic empowerment (bread) is a more effective strategy than is brutal force (bullets) for insecurity management in the region

Assessment of Standard Setting through Differential Item Functioning Procedures in Mathematics Achievement Test in Edo and Ondo States

The study assessed standard setting through differential item functioning (DIF) procedures in achievement test in Mathematics multiple choice test of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB). Two research questions were answered and one hypothesis was tested. The ex post facto research design was adopted. The population comprised 4,800 examinees who sat for the Mathematics multiple choice test examination in Edo and Ondo States. The sample used was 4,751, comprising 3,186 male and 1,565 female examinees. A 50-Mathematics multiple choice test item was the instrument used to gather data. The data was analysed using frequency, percentage and chi square statistic. The findings revealed that thirteen items functioned differentially by sex, 9 items favoured the male while 4 items favoured the female. Also, there was no significant difference in the items functioning differentially. It was therefore, recommended that DIF analysis should be performed regularly when developing large scale assessments for multipurpose tasks

Image Re-branding in a Fragile State: The Case of Nigeria*

Abstract: In today's globalized world, nations are increasingly concerned about how they are perceived by their publics, often carefully planning and executing policies to maintain a positive identity or shed a negative image. While some countries are able to execute nation branding, others are not. Using the Nigerian experience as a case study, this article shows how the character of a state can undermine its capacity for successful nation branding. We argue that countries are judged not just by what they say but also by what they do, and that inherent contradictions such as sectarian violence, ethnic tension, and corruption underline Nigeria's underdevelopment and its reputation at home and abroad. We assess this trajectory in the context of state fragility and "prebendalization" politics in a country with a powerful colonial legacy, and suggest a duality of order and disorder involving formal and informal structures of governance that impinge significantly on re-branding efforts