| 1 |
Author(s):
Tigere Richard, Ndlovu Everson.
Page No : 1-20
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Rethinking the Death Penalty in Zimbabwe: The Hidden Trauma of Executioners and Families of the Condemned.
Abstract
The global discourse on the death penalty is polarized, with proponents and opponents presenting deeply entrenched arguments. In Zimbabwe, no executions have occurred since 2005, reportedly because of the unavailability of the executioner. On 31 December, 2024, Mnangagwa signed a bill into law abolishing the death penalty for all crimes and Zimbabwe joined other abolitionist states. This study contributes a unique perspective to anti-capital punishment debates, focusing on the psychological and emotional toll on executioners, their teams, and families of the condemned. Drawing on Amnesty International data and other key sources, this research highlights severe trauma and mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), frequently suffered by execution teams, due to exposure to inhumane and brutal execution practices. Previous literature overlooks these impacts, creating an incomplete narrative. This study argues for other African countries to abolish the death penalty on ethical and humanitarian grounds, urging the governments to consider these hidden impacts in their reviews of capital punishment. Moreso, capital punishment does not seem to align well with African cultural values and beliefs about murder and appropriate punishment.
| 2 |
Author(s):
Wenibowei Korikiye, Binaebi Bariweni.
Page No : 21-36
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The Role of Research and Innovation in Socio-Economic Development of Bayelsa State.
Abstract
This study investigates the role of research and innovation in driving socio-economic development in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, and identifies the core challenges limiting its effectiveness. Globally, research and innovation are recognized as critical engines for development, fostering a complementary relationship between idea formulation and practical application to solve societal problems. In Bayelsa State, which is rich in resources but faces high rates of poverty, unemployment, and infrastructural decay, research and innovation are positioned as key mechanisms for transformation, capable of improving sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, and public service delivery. Employing a descriptive survey design and thematic analysis of data gathered through key informant interviews from academics, researchers, and innovators in the state, the findings reveal that the impact of research and innovation is significantly constrained. The major obstacles identified are inadequate funding for tertiary institutions and research activities, the severe lack of supporting infrastructure (such as reliable electricity and internet), and a pervasive absence of political will and supportive policies from the government. To harness the state's potential, the study recommends strategic interventions, including supportive government policies, increased funding for research institutes, enhanced collaboration between the private and educational sectors, and the creation of specialized institutes to guide research activities toward localized developmental needs.
| 3 |
Author(s):
Tariro Portia Tendengu, Ashely Tome, Flora Takavarasha, Iybric Rice, Olida Ruvimbo Mushapaidze.
Page No : 37-43
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Contextualisation of Human Rights Issues and Treatment of Women in African Contemporary Anthropological Traditional Justice Systems.
Abstract
The article aims to unravel the efficacy of anthropological traditional Justice systems on women's rights concerns which need to be monitored in the facets of cultural anthropological perspectives.
| 4 |
Author(s):
Authority O. A. U..
Page No : 44-60
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Episto-Musical Pedagogy Theory: A Decolonial Framework for Sound-Based Curriculum in African Education.
Abstract
This article presents Espito-Musical Pedagogy Theory (EMPT), a transformative framework developed by Albert Authority that reclaims African music as a sovereign epistemological foundation for education. EMPT emerges in response to the persistent marginalization of indigenous sonic traditions within formal curricula, particularly in Nigeria. Through comparative analysis, the study critiques dominant Western pedagogical models, Formalist, Structuralist, and Cognitive, which often privilege abstract cognition and epistemic detachment. In contrast, EMPT offers an “inside-out” approach rooted in communal memory and ancestral sound. It positions rhythm, storytelling, and performance not as cultural embellishments but as vital instruments for transmitting ethical, historical, and identity-based knowledge. By centering lived experience and Afrocentric wisdom, EMPT charts a decolonial pathway for pedagogical renewal. It calls for a reimagining of teaching and learning practices that honor Africa’s sonic heritage, inviting educators to listen deeply, remember collectively, and transform education in ways that promote cognitive justice, cultural sovereignty, and a resonant, community-grounded learning experience.
| 5 |
Author(s):
Chikere Peter Nnamdi, Elizabeth Ngozi Okpalaenwe (Ph.D.), Patrick Mwania (Prof.).
Page No : 61-79
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Autonomy and Obedience: A Contextual Study of Auto-Formation at the National Missionary Seminary of St. Paul, Abuja.
Abstract
This study examines the impact of autonomy on the spirituality of obedience among seminarians of the Missionary Society of St. Paul (MSP) in Nigeria. It was motivated by concerns regarding priestly formation, especially the challenges of spiritual discontent and fragile commitment to obedience among newly ordained Catholic priests. Within the MSP tradition, seminarians are entrusted with primary responsibility for their own formation, a method termed auto-formation. Among its four components—autonomy, responsibility, self-motivation, and collaboration—this paper focuses only on autonomy, examining how it shapes the spirituality of obedience. Grounded in Kohlberg’s theory of moral development and Reimer’s covenantal model, the study employed a correlational research design. Using census sampling, questionnaires were administered to 139 members of the National Missionary Seminary of St Paul, Abuja, comprising seminarians, priest-formators, and staff. Of these, 76 valid responses were analysed. Quantitative data were processed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 20.0 and analysed using descriptive and correlational statistics, while qualitative responses from open-ended questions were examined through thematic analysis. Findings revealed a moderate, positive, and statistically significant correlation between autonomy and the spirituality of obedience (r = 0.409). Respondents reported that autonomy, rightly understood, enhances obedience as a free, interiorised commitment. The study concludes that strengthening autonomy among seminarians will enhance their capacity for Christ-like, mature, discerning and joyful obedience that is sustainable beyond ordination.
| 6 |
Author(s):
Ijiga Abutu Gabriel, Akpe Tavershima.
Page No : 80-91
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Prevalence and Pattern of Alcohol Use and Abuse Among Secondary School Students in Makurdi LGA of Benue State, Nigeria.
Abstract
Introduction: Alcohol is a substance with toxic effects on the central nervous system mainly, is metabolized primarily by the liver. The scourge of alcohol consumption by adolescents is generally becoming a worrisome phenomenon in Nigeria with increased risk of the concerned population for alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence; which pose significant threat to public health according to the Global Burden of Disease (2024) study. This study was therefore undertaken to determine the prevalence and pattern of alcohol consumption and abuse by secondary school students in Makurdi LGA of Benue State.
Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was employed for this research. The study population consisted of all secondary school pupils enrolled in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling method was employed to select 14 secondary schools and 386 students as sample. Data was collected using a self-developed questionnaire and analyzed with IBM SPSS version 21. Chi-square test was employed in analyzing the hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level.
Result: Majority of the respondents are females (50.5%) Christians (96.1%) and all fall within the age group of 10-18 years. The prevalence rate determined was 42.5%, initiation of drinking age was 13-14 years (15.8%) and with more male drinkers (59.8%). The most preferred drink is alcoholic wine (26.9%). Majority (8.8%) get the drinks through friends, while 7.8% purchase by themselves and major sources of funds used include pocket money (8.3%) and money from parents under deceit (2.3%). The feeling of happiness (4.4%) among other characterized, the drunken states. No link was established between pupils in public and private schools with regards to alcohol intake.
Conclusion: The prevalence of alcohol use and abuse among secondary school students in Makurdi LGA of Benue State is significantly high and most users begin at early age, which is of concern. It has been recommended that there is need to develop a viable underage preventive measure on alcohol use in this area.
| 7 |
Author(s):
Ijeoma Kosi Ezeora, Magnus Chijindu Onyemaobi, Chiwendu Johnson Ukwuikpenyi.
Page No : 92-108
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African Union and Humanitarian Interventions Case Study of Somalia and Sudan.
Abstract
The world's biggest concentration of wars is found on the African continent, and there is a positive association between the rise in intra- and interstate conflicts and humanitarian crisis in the continent. Currently, the conflict in Sudan has killed about 12000 people and displaced 6.1 million, while the ongoing conflict in Somalia area has resulted in severe human rights violations and mass displacement. To effectively address these humanitarian crises, AU established department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs & Social Development (HHS). This study critically examines AU’s humanitarian interventions in Somalia and Sudan. By focusing on the complexities of these crises and the limitations inherent in the AU’s approach, the study highlights the key factors that have hindered the organization’s ability to deliver effective and sustainable humanitarian responses.
