Trade, Aid and Human Rights: China’s Africa Policy in Perspective

This paper looks at China’s aggressive hunt for resources in Africa, reviews thecriticisms levelled against China regarding its involvement in the contine examines continuities,changes and the dynamics of China’s Africa policy, and evaluates the prospects of integratinghuman rights into China’s foreign policy. Given growing trade and investment relationship betweenChina and Africa, what is the role of human rights in hina’s Africa policy? Can China integratehuman rights into its foreign policy considerations? Drawing on the history of US’ attempt tointegrate human rights into the United States’ foreign policy, what are the prospects of andchallenges to integrating human rights into China’s Africa policy? Instead of ‘human rights’, mightthe concept of ‘development’ be a more useful but no less effective paradigm for infusing peopleoriented values into China’s Africa policy calculations

Herbert Macaulay As The Father of Nigeria’s Nationalism: A Historical Misnomer and Misogyny Regarding the Role of Igbo Women in the Decolonization Process

For over six decades of Nigeria\u27s independence, history has continued to place the role of women in the decolonization process in Nigeria in a state of oblivion. Such obloquy on Nigerian women is the primary concern of this research. This paper raises questions on the impositions of Herbert Macaulay as the father of Nigerian nationalism. Historical evidence points to the direction that King Jaja of Opobo, Nana of itshekiri and Oba Ovaranwen, were the pioneer nationalists because of their resistance struggle against British colonial rule. Yet they were not acclaimed fathers of the nationalist movement in Nigeria. With the huge demographic loss of women in the decolonialisation process, the activities of Magret Ekpo, Janet Mokelu, Funmilayo Ransom Kuti, there would have been a sense of equity if any of them has been placed as the mother of Nigeria nationalism. This historical loophole is the concern of this paper, to redirect our focus on the decolonization history of Nigeria, by examining the extent of doctored gender imbalance, in pursuing the objectives of securing independence in Nigeria. This paper has been written based on primary data retrieved from the National Archives in Nigeria and secondary materials in journals and books using the historical narrative style of methodology

The politics of monetary sector cooperation among the Economic Community of West African States members

The author tries to explain why monetary cooperation and integration have been difficulty to achieve among member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He shows how different interest groups--both members and nonmembers--have over time influenced policies and positions on various ECOWAS member states. Unfortunately, most negotiations for cooperation among ECOWAS member states have a much better monetary cooperation and integration program, mainly because of France's active support and participation in negotiations, mediation, and consensus building. Unfortunately, Nigeria-which has been the main force behind bilingual regional integration in West Africa--has a different agenda from France. Its promotion of a bilingual economic grouping in West Africa was in part an attempt to reduce France's influence in West Africa, so France is unlikely to allow economic and monetary cooperation and integration along Nigerian lines. The fact that Nigeria is still a weak state does not help. The choice for francophone West African countries is therefore between closer ties with France--which has provided development aid, ensured currency convertibility, and guaranteed monetary stability in those francophone countries--and closer ties with Nigeria (which has done none of the above for itself, much less for its neighbors). The increasing convergence of macroeconomic indices among ECOWAS member countries--which is essential for monetary cooperation and integration--has come about largely because of events outside of ECOWAS or because of externally (International Monetary Fund) imposed structural adjustment programs. France's support is essential for the development of a meaningful ECOWAS.Payment Systems&Infrastructure,Earth Sciences&GIS,Economic Theory&Research,National Governance,Fiscal&Monetary Policy,National Governance,Trade and Regional Integration,Earth Sciences&GIS,TF054105-DONOR FUNDED OPERATION ADMINISTRATION FEE INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT,Economic Theory&Research

Women and the Upsurge of ‘‘Baby factories’’ in Southeastern Nigeria: Erosion of Cultural Values or Capitalism?

The erection and proliferation of baby factories constitute one of the major injustices directed at women especially teenage girls in southeastern Nigeria. Under this arrangement, women are incarcerated for the purpose of procreation alone. A litany of scholarly works has been written on this subject, placing the blame for this impunity, in Nigeria on the capitalist system. This paper insists that beyond capitalism, there is a need to interrogate the cultural erosion of values mostly responsible for this scourge. To achieve this, newspapers, interviews, archival materials and other extant secondary sources have been used for data collection, analysis and for the interpretation of results. The paper employs the qualitative method of analysis

Sustainable Socio-Economic Development In Nigeria: A Case For Road Infrastructure Maintenance

Roads are among the vital assets of any nation. Apart from carrying people, vehicles and goods, roads also provide avenues for such service apparatuses as water, electricity, sewerages, etc. thereby serving as a veritable tool for socio-economic development. A close look at the Nigerian road network reveals the enormous infrastructural systems problems. These problems, in the main, are more maintenance related. Since the provision of roads is cost intensive, one would have expected appropriate maintenance to safeguard them from total deterioration which ultimately leads to eventual rehabilitation or reconstruction with its cost implications. Regrettably, this is not so in the country for no sooner these road infrastructure are commissioned than they are abandoned to dilapidate. Roads, like any other development assets function maximally over the whole period of their economic life when regular maintenance is applied. This paper therefore examined the road maintenance situation in Nigeria and concluded that there is virtually no noticeable road maintenance culture in the country. It therefore proffers pro-active road maintenance strategies for sustainable socio-economic development and good governance. Keywords: Infrastructure, Road Maintenance, Sustainability and Economic Development

The Dynamics of Land Ownership by Deities in Anambra State Nigeria.

Anambra State is one of the five Igbo-speaking States that make up South Eastern Nigeria. Among the Igbos of South Eastern Nigeria, land is believed to be owned by both natural and supernatural persons (deities). Ownership of land by the deities in Igboland is as old as the communities themselves. These lands owned by deities include ‘Ajo-ofias’ meaning ‘evil forests’, ‘okwu muo’, or ‘sacred groves’, ‘ana nso’ or sacred land. People who died of dreaded illnesses or who committed grievous ‘offences’ or ‘nso ani’ were deposited in the evil forests. Ownership of an evil forest by any deity arose where someone who committed an offence against the deity died from retribution and the corpse deposited on the deity land thereby converting the land into an Ajo Ofia or an Evil forest. Okwu Muo or Sacred Groves are the earthly abode of the guarding spirits in Igbo land while Ana Nso or Sacred land are such lands where mystical and miraculous events took place in the past. Most Igbo villages had Deity lands. A critical look at the villages in recent times revealed that most of these lands owned by deities are disappearing at an alarming rate while some still remaining exhibit serious human incursions. This paper therefore explored the dynamics of land ownership by deities in Anambra State of Nigeria and concludes that, at the rate the deity lands are disappearing, in the next few decades, all such lands would have disappeared with serious implications on land ownership by deities. Keywords: Dynamics, Land Ownership, Deities, South Eastern Nigeria

Establishment of Criteria for Standardized Land Valuation Mechanism within the Context of Land Titling and Registration in Nigeria

The topic envisages a discussion on the establishment of criteria for standardized land valuation mechanism within the context of land titling and registration in Nigeria in furtherance of the implementation of the land reform agenda of the Federal government. The imperative to reform the existing land policy in Nigeria presupposes that a more functional, dynamic, development friendly and user/owner security conscious land policy should be articulated. Generally, land valuation mechanism is dynamic and evolves to suit the peculiar motive, time and system in place in a particular society. It is necessary, therefore that methods put in place are such that would ensure success and efficiency in achieving the set objective. It is only through the continuous monitoring and assessment of any existing principle can the long-term favorable strategies be achieved. The work attempts to analyse the different approaches and recommends the most appropriate mechanism towards achieving the set objectives. Keywords: Criteria, Standardized, Land Valuation, Mechanism, Land Titling, Land Registratio

University Effectiveness With Respect to Perceived Student Satisfaction: A Comparative Study of Selected Factors

The problem of this study concerned the needs of business students and their perceptions of effectiveness with respect to their satisfaction at two universities. A related purpose was to measure, evaluate, and analyze students' needs and perceptions of the effectiveness of their universities with respect to their level of education

Data on one-dimensional vertical free swelling potential of soils and related soil properties

Most of the damaging geo-hazards recorded in modern history are caused by soil swelling or expansion. Therefore, proper evaluation of a soil's capacity to swell is very crucial for the achievement of a secure and safe ground for civil infrastructures and related land developments which are founded on the soil. In order to simulate as well as estimate the heave that can occur under field conditions, laboratory one-dimensional oedometer vertical swell-strain testing are most frequently used. Hence, in this brief, one-dimensional swelling tests adopted to measure soil swelling on laboratory-engineered and natural soils covering various regions on the globe are reported. The testing standards and procedures followed in the measurement of one-dimensional swelling are those enumerated in the American Standards for Testing of Materials (ASTM), and American Association of State Highways Transport Officials (AASHTO). Slight modifications to the measurement procedures (such as the use of different surcharge loading and custom-made consolidation rings) reflecting special laboratory testing conditions and for the purposes of comparisons, are also reported.Corresponding soil properties characterising the dataset includes moisture content, void ratio, specific gravity, unit weight, liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index, clay content, silt content, maximum dry unit weight, optimum moisture content, and soil activity index, all of which are known to bear either direct or indirect influences on soil. Determination of the state of compaction of the soils where applicable, are carried out based on the American Standards for Testing of Materials (ASTM), Turkish Standards (TS), American Association of State Highways Transport Officials (AASHTO)and a combination of both standard and modified efforts. A total of 395 data samples on soil swelling potential are reported. With regards to the corresponding soil properties, a total of 219 data records of soil specific gravity, 321 data records of initial moisture content, 163 data records of void ratio, 273 data records of dry unit weight, 347 data records of liquid limit, 347 data records of plastic limit, 395 data records of plasticity index, 209 data records of activity index, 339 data records of clay content, 174 data records of silt content, 246 data records of optimum moisture content, 228 data records of maximum dry density and 347 data records of Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) are presented. Finally, the dataset of one-dimensional soil swelling described herein are intended to aid geotechnical engineers and researchers who are involved in statistical correlation studies, data analytics, and machine learning predictions using soft computing methods mostly aimed at evaluating soil expansion especially during the preliminary phases of soil investigation and foundation design