Racial Politics and Hausa-Fulani Dominant Identity in Colonial and Post-colonial Northern Nigeria

The paper examined racial politics and identity contests in Northern Nigeria. The paper specifically traced the trajectory of racial politics and examined the dynamics of identity construction and contests in Northern Nigeria. An essentially qualitative method of data collection comprising primary data generated through in-depth interviews and secondary data generated through archival records were used. These were then subjected to content and descriptive analyses. Findings from the study revealed that racial politics originated during colonial rule with the British supposedly claiming gene/biological affinity of the Hausa-Fulani as with the Caucasoid groups of Eurasia. The Hausa-Fulani were consequently designated as the civilized group and super-imposed over minority groups that were classified as pagans. About six decades after colonial rule, Hausa-Fulani dominance remains a social reality in spite of identity contests and recreation by the minority groups of Northern Nigeria. Starting with the creation of the Middle Belt identity in the late 1950s, the constituent groups within the Middle Belt have consequently recreated other ethnic identities within Northern Nigeria. Notwithstanding, Hausa-Fulani remains the dominant group in Northern Nigeria socio-political structure

The Igbo Entrepreneur in the Political Economy of Nigeria

Central to the capitalist orientation introduced to the Third World nations through colonialism is the role of entrepreneurs in development. This group is still perceived as inevitable if these nations are to develop. In spite of all the attempts to develop date, very little is being achieved. While this monograph recognises the importance of entrepreneurs in development, it asserts that these entrepreneurs have always existed in pre-colonial Nigeria but the re-orientation brought about through capitalism has fundamentally affected the pre-colonial situation. As such, there is a disjuncture between the latter and the present capitalist expectation. More importantly, the author tries to debunk the position of certain Europian writers that certain ethnic groups are better entrepreneurs than others. Thus, the responsiveness of the Igbo ethnic group of Nigeria to European economic incentives was a result of a certain historico-sociological position that this group occupies in Nigeria, It is posited that as the nation approaches the twenty-first-century, one cannot say with certainty that ethnicity should be the main consideration for entrepreneurial ability. It is the political economy of each nation within the World Capitalist System that will determine the emergent scenario

T’EBI B’ATI KURO NINU ISE, ISE BUSE: The Dilemma of Conceptualizing Poverty Among the Yoruba of Southwestern Nigeria

Societies all over the world have defined their existence based on the understanding of their environment, but their contacts with other cultures have often redefined their existence. Such is the case with the conceptualization of poverty in the contemporary world. Central to the question of poverty among the Yoruba of Southwestern Nigeria was the necessity of food. Today, the definition of poverty has extended far beyond this point. Indeed, the ‘new’ definition seems to have become elusive as it is popularized through western images. As the concept of poverty becomes increasingly elusive, development continues to be a mirage. This paper shows this dilemma as developing nations seek to redefine their existence. Except the people return to the basics, underdevelopment and the perpetuation of poverty shall continue to be inevitable. Key words: Poverty, western images, Indigenous knowledge, underdevelopment

Traditional Apprenticeship, Normative Expectations and Sustainability of Masonry Vocation in Ibadan, Nigeria

The purpose of this article is to examine whether the normative expectations among masons has positive or negative influence on young people’s interest in masonry. The norms and values a vocation’s practitioners operate with may affect the appeal of the vocation to new and potential apprentices. Yet, whether or not a vocation continues to survive depend on how successful its norms and values order expectations of different categories of people in its fold. Data were derived from interviews and focused discussions among 30 masons and 16 apprentices. The results show that normative relations between masons and apprentices increase apprentices’ anxiety. There are indications that apprentices find challenging some of the conventions that dictate the process of training. Whereas master masons feel less concern about traditional expectations on apprentices, many apprentices believe that some aspects of informal apprenticeship training process emphasize disturbing social and economic interaction with attendant disinterestedness among apprentices

'TINA', Aids, and the underdevelopment problem in Africa

The assumption that 'There Is No Alternative' (TINA) to capitalism as practiced in the United States of America and Western Europe has been the bane of aids effectiveness in assisting to solve the underdevelopment problem in Africa. This paper attempts to show that except there is a fundamental reorientation in the conceptualization of capitalism-free market and democracy-the underdevelopment problem would only be further complicated with aids

“By slapping their laps, the patient will know that you truly care for her”: A qualitative study on social norms and acceptability of the mistreatment of women during childbirth in Abuja, Nigeria

Background: Many women experience mistreatment during childbirth in health facilities across the world. However, limited evidence exists on how social norms and attitudes of both women and providers influence mistreatment during childbirth. Contextually-specific evidence is needed to understand how normative factors affect how women are treated. This paper explores the acceptability of four scenarios of mistreatment during childbirth. Methods: Two facilities were identified in Abuja, Nigeria. Qualitative methods (in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs)) were used with a purposive sample of women, midwives, doctors and administrators. Participants were presented with four scenarios of mistreatment during childbirth: slapping, verbal abuse, refusing to help the woman and physical restraint. Thematic analysis was used to synthesize findings, which were interpreted within the study context and an existing typology of mistreatment during childbirth. Results: Eighty-four IDIs and 4 FGDs are included in this analysis. Participants reported witnessing and experiencing mistreatment during childbirth, including slapping, physical restraint to a delivery bed, shouting, intimidation, and threats of physical abuse or poor health outcomes. Some women and providers considered each of the four scenarios as mistreatment. Others viewed these scenarios as appropriate and acceptable measures to gain compliance from the woman and ensure a good outcome for the baby. Women and providers blamed a woman's “disobedience” and “uncooperativeness” during labor for her experience of mistreatment. Conclusions: Blaming women for mistreatment parallels the intimate partner violence literature, demonstrating how traditional practices and low status of women potentiate gender inequality. These findings can be used to facilitate dialogue in Nigeria by engaging stakeholders to discuss how to challenge these norms and hold providers accountable for their actions. Until women and their families are able to freely condemn poor quality care in facilities and providers are held accountable for their actions, there will be little incentive to foster change. Keywords: Maternal health, Childbirth, Mistreatment, Quality of care, Qualitative research, Nigeri

Strategies against poverty : designs from the North and alternatives from the South

This book presents the contributions of African and Latin American experts on economic development to the seminar Strategies against poverty: Designs from the North and Alternatives from the South organized by the Conferencia Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, CLACSO, the Comparative Research Programme on Poverty, CROP and the South- South Exchange Programme for Research on the History of development, SEPHIS. The purpose of the seminar was to open space for debate, from a historical perspective, alternative theoretical approaches on the causes of poverty and to explore the, sometimes diverging, strategies to its eradication as proposed by the North, donors and multilateral organizations, and by the South, governments and non-governmental organizations. The particular interest in studying poverty in the context of developing countries, often called the South, is to show the profound socio-economic inequalities existing in these countries and the problems that result when the programs structured to mitigate poverty are, in too many cases, a mere incorporation to local scenarios of the universal policies, from international and funding agencies. These programs made with the idea that one size fits all, ignore the needs, priorities and realities of individual countries and regions and only meet the North´s neoliberal paradigms. There is no need to stress the relevance of comparative analysis of the effects of colonial and neo-colonial powers to understand the factors constraining economic growth in developing countries. The works presented in this volume constitute one step in the direction of finding both, similar problems and akin solutions and to envision policies that respond to local and national history, conditions and priorities.Introduction. Looking Proper Answers in African, Latin American and Caribbean Countries / Samwel Ongwen Okuro and Alicia Puyana Mutis. First Part: Theoretical Alternatives for a Comprehensive Analysis of Anti-Poverty Strategies. 1.1. Neoliberal and Neo-Colonial Governmentality: Social Policies and Strategies against Poverty from the North and Alternatives from the South The Case of South America and the Caribbean / Sonia Álvarez Leguizamón. 1.2. Public Investment for Economic Development and Poverty Reduction: Theoretical and Empirical analysis / Cristina Fróes de Borja Reis. 1.3. Economic Growth, Employment and Poverty Reduction: A Comparative Analysis of Chile and Mexico with References to Argentina, Brazil and Colombia / Alicia Puyana Mutis. Second Part: Poverty Diagnosis from the South. 2.1. Social Policy in the Neoliberal Order: Conditional Cash Transfer Programmes as Mechanisms of political Legitimacy in Latin America / Andrés García Trujillo. 2.2. Ownership Question and Poverty Reduction Strategy in Nigeria: What Has Gone Wrong? / Eugene Ndubuisi Nweke. Third Part: Proposals to Alternative Policy Designs for Poverty Eradication. 3.1. Structural Adjustment and the Neglect of Intergenerational Poverty in the Caribbean / Dennis A. V. Brown. 3.2. Poverty Reduction in Ghana: Alternative Solutions by the State / John Gasu. 3.3. Fighting the Poverty War: Non-Governmental Organisations and the Challenge of Poverty eradication in Nigeria / Akinpelu O. Olutayo & Olayinka Akanle. 3.4. Rethinking World Bank Driven Land Tenure Reforms in Kenya / Samwel Ongwen Okuro. 3.5. The Macroeconomic Limits of Incomes Policy in a Dependent Country: The Need and Possibilities for Radical Reforms in Social Policies in Argentina after the Crisis (2001-2008)/ Mariano Féliz. 3.6. State Failure, Poverty and Productive Structure / Erik S. Reinert, Rainer Kattel and Yves Ekoué Amaïzo