Security and Peace Mechanisms for Good Governance in Nigeria: Islamic Paradigm Shifts

Security and peace are interwoven and inseparable. One cannot be achieved without the other. Security is a corollary to peace. The factors which bring about peace contribute to the establishment of security in a society. Scholars of diverse disciplines including the International Relations and Security Studies have analysed security and peace from different perspectives. The fact still remains that the world at present is still battling with series of conflicts and insecurity. In Nigeria, governments at all levels have intensified efforts to address issues bordering on insecurity with a view to building security and peace for good governance. It is however, disheartening that despite various security measures put in place to tackle the problem, Nigeria is yet to be free from recurrent cases of armed robbery attacks, kidnappings, bombings, hired assassinations, ethnic and religious clashes, etc. Examining the issue of security and peace from another angle, this paper discussed the Islamic perspective of security and peace. It identified the Islamic mechanisms for achieving peace and security during the golden period of Islam particularly during the lifetimes of Prophet Muhammad and his faithful companions. Bearing in mind Nigeria’s multi-religious situation, the paper offered recommendations with a view to utilizing the Islamic security and peace mechanisms for good governance.Keywords: Peace, Security, Social Justice, Religious Tolerance, Good Governanc

Interface between Religion and Culture: A Critical Study of the Infiltration of Yoruba Tradition on the Practice of Title-Holding Among Egba Muslims of Ogun State, Nigeria

Title-holding is an age long practice before the penetration of Islam in Egbaland an area predominantly inhabited by the Yoruba speaking people of Ogun State Nigeria The acceptance of Islam by the Egbas reformed to a large extent the socio-religious and cultural lives of the people The Yoruba traditional systems of marriage naming and burial rites were among others influenced and reformed by Islam However a good number of the Egbas like other Yoruba tribes which profess Islam still retain some of their cultural beliefs and traditions Consequently there was an infiltration of Yoruba tradition and culture on certain Islamic practices and rites such as marriage naming and funeral rites Such infiltration can also be noticed in title-holding among the people This paper therefore critically appraises the fusion of the Yoruba traditional elements to the Islamic practice of the title-holding among Egba Muslims The paper adopts the historical approach establishing the institutionalization of titleholding in Islam It then x-rays the practice of title-holding among the people The paper then considers the similarities between the Muslim titles and the traditional titles patterned along the traditional set up among the four sections of the people Realizing the fact that title-holding has become a firmly rooted institution among the Egba Muslims the paper offers a number of recommendations for the restructure of the institution for better administration of the people and further development of Islam in Egbaland in particular and Yorubaland in genera

Interface between Religion and Culture: A Critical Study of the Infiltration of Yoruba Tradition on the Practice of Title-Holding Among Egba Muslims of Ogun State, Nigeria

Title-holding is an age long practice before the penetration of Islam in Egbaland an area predominantly inhabited by the Yoruba speaking people of Ogun State Nigeria The acceptance of Islam by the Egbas reformed to a large extent the socio-religious and cultural lives of the people The Yoruba traditional systems of marriage naming and burial rites were among others influenced and reformed by Islam However a good number of the Egbas like other Yoruba tribes which profess Islam still retain some of their cultural beliefs and traditions Consequently there was an infiltration of Yoruba tradition and culture on certain Islamic practices and rites such as marriage naming and funeral rites Such infiltration can also be noticed in title-holding among the people This paper therefore critically appraises the fusion of the Yoruba traditional elements to the Islamic practice of the title-holding among Egba Muslims The paper adopts the historical approach establishing the institutionalization of titleholding in Islam It then x-rays the practice of title-holding among the people The paper then considers the similarities between the Muslim titles and the traditional titles patterned along the traditional set up among the four sections of the people Realizing the fact that title-holding has become a firmly rooted institution among the Egba Muslims the paper offers a number of recommendations for the restructure of the institution for better administration of the people and further development of Islam in Egbaland in particular and Yorubaland in genera

JOB STRESS AND EMPLOYEES' PERSONAL FULFILLMENTS IN NIGERIAN BANKING ORGANISATIONS

In this modern world, stress has become a global phenomenon that occurs in a variety of ways in every organization, irrespective of the profession. In today’s work life, employees are generally working longer hours as the rising levels of responsibilities require them to exert themselves even more strenuously to meet targets and raise expectations about their work performance. Banking is an inherently stressful profession characterized by long working hours, serious competition, ethical dilemmas, regulatory bottlenecks, and dealing with a diverse customer base.Hence, the thrust of this paper is to examine the effects of job stress on employees' personal fulfilments in Nigerian banking organizations, with the objectives of identifying the drivers of job stress and examining the coping strategies to managing job stress to enhance employees’ personal fulfilments. While adopting Two-Factor Theory of Job Satisfaction and the Person-Environment Fit Theory, a secondary method of data collection was utilized, in which books, journals, and internet-based articles were reviewed and their content analyzed. Based on the literature reviewed, the paper showed that inadequate resources to do the job, high demands, workload, time pressures, lack of job security, understaffing, technological revolution, role ambiguity, and role conflict, among others, were the major causes of job stress affecting bank employees. The paper also showed that headaches, eating disorders, sleep disturbances, fatigue, muscle aches and pains, anxiety, irritability, low morale, depression, alcohol and drug use, feeling powerless and isolation from family, friends, and co-workers, among others, were the major effects of job stress on the employees personal fulfilments in the Nigerian banking organizations. Based on these findings, it was concluded and recommended that managers should invite employees who think that they are being given jobs that are in contradiction with their skills and clarify their roles. They should facilitate an employee skill audit that will help to place employees that feel underutilized. Management should introduce stress management techniques into banking organizations. An Employee Assistance Program should be introduced for early identification and intervention of problems capable of causing stress e.t.c

SOCIAL EFFECTS OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY IN NIGERIA: A SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

To bolster the Nigerian economy's industrialization efforts, successive governments have devised and enacted various industrial policies for sustainable economic development. Therefore, using structural functionalist approach and secondary sources of data, the paper examined the social effects of industrial policies in Nigeria, with a focus on their socio-economic implications. The paper revealed that recent industrial policies in Nigeria includes fuel subsidy removal, national blockchain initiatives, exchange rate unification, Structural Adjustment Programme, economic recovery plans, and COVID-19 stimulus packages among others. The paper also revealed that industrial policies however yield both positive and negative effects on citizens' livelihoods, as well-executed industrial policies have the potential to generate employment opportunities, increase productivity, and foster overall economic development. The paper identified obstacles to policy implementation in Nigeria to include corruption, political inertia, political instability, privatization challenges, technological limitations, and inadequate infrastructure among others. The paper therefore recommended among others that combating corruption is very important for effective policy formulation and implementation in Nigeria. It also advocates for policies that promote trade and economic integration on the international stage, emphasizing the necessity of collaboration with developed nations to maximize the societal benefits of industrial policy formulation. &nbsp

Organoleptic Analysis of Doughs Fermented with Yeasts From A Nigerian Palm Wine (Elaeis guineensis) and Certain Commercial Yeasts

Yeasts isolated from a freshly tapped palm wine obtained from Akure, Nigeria were identified as Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Debaryomyces hansenii, Geotrichum lactis and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii. Each of the isolates was used to ferment wheat flour dough and baked. Sensory analysis of the doughs was carried out on leavening, texture, aroma, taste and appearance. Saccharomyces cerevisiae performed best in leavening the dough while Debaryomyces hansenii produced doughs with the best taste and aroma. Appearances of the doughs made with all the isolated yeasts did not differ significantly (P<0.05) from that of the dough that lacked yeast

The Content of COVID-19 Information Searches and Vaccination Intention: An Implication for Risk Communication

Objective: The main objective of this study was to examine the association between COVID-19 information search activities and vaccination intention. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected using online surveys. Independent variables included COVID-19 information search on the (1) science of viral effects of COVID-19 on the body, (2) origin of COVID-19, (3) symptoms and outcomes, (4) transmission and prevention, (5) future outbreak, and (6) policies/procedures to follow. The outcome variable was vaccination intention. A multivariable regression analysis was conducted. Results: Participants (N = 501) had a mean age of 32.44 ± 11.94 years, were 55.3% female, and 67.9% were white. Most COVID-19 information searches were on symptoms and outcomes (77.7%) and policies/procedures to follow (69.9%). Intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 was higher among participants who searched for information on the science of viral effects of COVID-19 on the body (β = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.03-0.43; P = 0.03) and policies/procedures to follow (β = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.03-0.41; P = 0.02). Conclusions: People who searched for information about (1) the science of viral effects of COVID-19 and (2) policies/procedures recommendations also reported higher vaccination intention. Risk communication seeking to increase vaccination should meet the consumers’ information demand by prioritizing the scientific rationale for COVID-19 vaccination and by clarifying what policies/procedures are recommended

Assessment of Limited Joint Mobility of the Hand in Black Africans with Diabetes Mellitus and in Non-diabetics

ABSTRACT Objective: This study is designed to further characterize Limited Joint Mobility (LJM) of the hand using quantitative goniometric measurements among Black Africans with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and nondiabetes. Methods: Seventy-six patients with Type 2 diabetes and 63 normal controls matched for age and gender were purposively selected. Visual clinical examination and quantitative goniometric assessment of patients with DM and non-DM controls were done. The LJM was graded using the criteria of Silverstein et al. Glycaemic control and proteinuria were also assessed. Results: Prevalence of LJM among Type 2 DM patients was 26.3% compared with 4.8% in normal controls. Subjects with LJM within the control group were significantly older than those with LJM within the DM group (p < 0.05). Prayer sign was 11.8% in DM patients compared with 4.8% of control. The flattening sign demonstrated by the inability to flatten their hands on a flat surface was more in patients with DM (10.5%) compared with 4.8% in the control group. Stage II LJM with 18.4% prevalence was the commonest followed by Stage III (7.9%) among patients with DM. Poor glycaemic control was found in 85%, using fasting plasma glucose and 70%, using 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2 hpp). Conclusion: We conclude that Black Africans with Type 2 DM only have moderately severe cases of LJM. Evaluación de la Limitación de la Movilidad Articular de la Mano en Africanos Negros que Padecen de Diabetes Mellitus y en los no Diabéticos RESUMEN Objetivo: Este estudio fue diseñado para caracterizar más a fondo la limitación de la movilidad articular (LMA) de la mano, usando mediciones goniométricas entre africanos. Métodos: Setenta y seis pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 y 63 controles normales pareados por edad y género fueron seleccionados para este propósito. Se realizó un examen clínico visual y una evaluación goniométrica cuantitativa de los pacientes con DM y controles no DM. La LMA fue graduada usando los criterios de Silverstein et al. También se evaluaron el control glicérico y la proteinuria. Resultados: La prevalencia de LMA entre pacientes con DM tipo 2 fue de 26.3% comparada con 4.8% en los controles normales. Los sujetos con LMA en el grupo de control fueron significativamente mayores en edad que aquellos con LMA en el grupo con DM (p < 0.05). La signo de las manos en oración fue 11.8% en los pacientes con DM comparado con el 4.8% del control. El signo de aplanamiento demostrado por la incapacidad de los pacientes de poner sus manos totalmente planas sobreuna superficie, fue mayor en aquellos con DM (10.5%) en comparación con el 4.8% del grupo control. La LMA de la segunda etapa con una prevalencia de 18.4%, fue la más común seguida por la de etapa III (7.9%) entre pacientes con DM. Un control glicémico pobre fue hallado en 85%, usando glucosa plasmática en ayunas. Conclusión: Concluimos que los africanos negros con DM tipo 2 presentan sólo casos moderadamente severos de LM