Entrepreneurship has been seen as a linchpin for economic development, employment generation, cit... more Entrepreneurship has been seen as a linchpin for economic development, employment generation, citizen
empowerment and wealth creation all over the world. More importantly, entrepreneurship development has been
conceived as an instrument to suppress major avatars of poverty and socioeconomic deprivations among
Nigerian citizens and for engendering social cohesion. However, harnessing the foregoing benefits has been
hamstrung by lack of access to or inadequate supply of entrepreneurial finance. In addition to blistering
ecological forces such as spotty power supply, an inept and unorganised political leadership that is irresponsible
and irresponsive to the plight of the people, polygonal political corruption, putrefied or inadequate basic
infrastructure like roads, among others, lack of SME finance has remained a minatory albatross to
entrepreneurship development in the country. This paper, therefore, examined extant SME funding windows in
Nigeria, identified their challenges and proffered solutions, while generally suggesting ways to operationalise
both existing and neoteric funding options to enable entrepreneurship development happen in Nigeria.
Today, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have redefined the way communication is ... more Today, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have redefined the way communication is carried out and further pushed the envelope with regard to the way information is disseminated, creating more channels of interaction between stakeholders in the society. Studies are ongoing on how ICTs can be useful in language teaching and learning in tertiary institutions today. The impact ICTs have had in improving governance, agriculture, medicine, banking and commerce, education, inter alia, so far, is being predicted to have the same impact when utilised for language teaching and learning. Thus, ICT tools like PowerPoint, e-conferencing, compact disks (CDs, VCDs and DVDs), technology-aided distance learning, among others, are instruments that can facilitate knowledge acquisition, language teaching and learning in tertiary institutions. Through ICTs, the teacher-student interaction in the learning process is situated within a dynamic pedagogical context that could go beyond the four walls of a traditional classroom. This situation forebodes better days for teachers and students alike as more channels of interaction are created, thus enhancing language teaching and learning. It now behoves teachers and students to take advantage of these technologies in furthering knowledge acquisition with regard to language teaching and learning. Among other things, in this paper, the authors have critically appraised the use of ICTs in language teaching and learning in tertiary institutions in Nigeria, identified the various limitations to 186 this process and made recommendations that can be useful to policy makers and stakeholders involved in tertiary education.
Since the adoption of the neoliberal policy in Nigeria in the 1980s, its impact on the human deve... more Since the adoption of the neoliberal policy in Nigeria in the 1980s, its impact on the human development indices of the citizenry has not been satisfactory as manifested by the unequal income distribution gap between the rich and the poor over the years. Besides, the health conditions of Nigerians have experienced a decline as revealed by the increasing rate of child/infant mortality and maternal mortality which expresses the failure of government reforms in adequately addressing some aspects of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Using secondary sources of data, this paper investigated how government's implementation of the neoliberal policies had impacted on the healthcare and human development indices of the citizens. It was observed that rather than improve the healthcare situation and human development indices of citizens, the Bretton Woods-authored reforms have rather narrowed opportunities for healthcare and human development in Nigeria. To improve the declining human development indices of citizens, the paper recommends the roll out of a politics of paradise to rein in the poverty and deprivation suffered by many Nigerians and the need for a human-faced approach to economic reforms, among others. Abstract-Since the adoption of the neoliberal policy in Nigeria in the 1980s, its impact on the human development indices of the citizenry has not been satisfactory as manifested by the unequal income distribution gap between the rich and the poor over the years. Besides, the health conditions of Nigerians have experienced a decline as revealed by the increasing rate of child/infant mortality and maternal mortality which expresses the failure of government reforms in adequately addressing some aspects of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Using secondary sources of data, this paper investigated how government's implementation of the neoliberal policies had impacted on the healthcare and human development indices of the citizens. It was observed that rather than improve the healthcare situation and human development indices of citizens, the Bretton Woods-authored reforms have rather narrowed opportunities for healthcare and human development in Nigeria. To improve the declining human development indices of citizens, the paper recommends the roll out of a politics of paradise to rein in the poverty and deprivation suffered by many Nigerians and the need for a human-faced approach to economic reforms, among others. The paper concludes that government must revisit the neoliberal reforms package in the country and stamp out the use of ad hoc and discretionary handouts and market-led growth which have failed to engender a trickledown effect on the social realities of Nigerians. Citizen welfare and comfort must guide government's actions and intentions and should remain the benchmark for assessing the impact of any form of economic or social reforms that it desires to implement in the country.
If women make up half the population of Nigeria, harnessing the potentials of this huge community... more If women make up half the population of Nigeria, harnessing the potentials of this huge community, especially with regards to promoting entrepreneurship among them, promises numerous benefits at multiple levels including at the individual, family and national levels. As more women take the centre-stage in the global economy with many of them running successful enterprises, Nigerian women with education, management training, access to funding and the right environment can also excel. Dehexing women entrepreneurship in Nigeria will necessitate the expunction of existing obstacles and the conversion of possibilities to realities. Doing this will make women become greater contributors to the economic development of the country and engender the much anticipated social change. This paper asserts that women entrepreneurs in Nigeria can succeed if given the opportunity like their male counterparts.
Labor movements are known to exist for the primary purpose of protecting the interests of labor i... more Labor movements are known to exist for the primary purpose of protecting the interests of labor in the society. They ensure members' welfare and interests are given priority attention by employers and government. However, in Nigeria, labor movements have emerged as champions of causes that exist outside the walls of corporate employment. They have become the voice of the voiceless, platform for the unheard and downtrodden, and the hope of the masses. Situated within the context of a belligerent climate of repression, exploitation, and subjugation by the political and economic managers of the state, labor movements have turned around to push for reforms and transformation of the Nigerian society in different spheres. This study therefore examines the dynamic and phasic evolution of labor movements in Nigeria, and how they have transformed from being a strictly industrial relations actor to a dynamic force for social change in the face of an unwilling, repressive, and indifferent state.
There are contradictions located in the Nigerian political economy. There is
small group of elite... more There are contradictions located in the Nigerian political economy. There is small group of elite that controls the political and economic levers of the state for the perpetuation of its hegemonic interests, and indulges in a panoply of stupefying ostentation, grandeur and waste while the majority leads a precarious existence. The youth precariat class, now a dangerous class, has emerged all over the country vociferously demanding equal access to the resources of the state, which up until now have been in the stranglehold of the plutocracy. Situating this study within Social Conflict Theory, the conflict between the dominant minority with the dominated majority appears unavoidable and increases Nigeria‘s fragility if existing contradictions in the Nigerian political economy are sustained. This paper calls for a multi-stakeholder intervention to arrest the looming apocalypse that may threaten Nigeria‘s statehood unless the social and economic realities of the youth precariat class are improved upon.
Collective behaviour and social movements have been instrumental in engendering social change, in... more Collective behaviour and social movements have been instrumental in engendering social change, including regime change, and impacting the policy space in many societies. In fact, in the past 200 years, they have become a part of the popular and global expression of dissent. The political class, supported by elite groups and state institutions, most times, does not concede to popular demands until some form of public agitation and ruckus is witnessed. Therefore, social researchers have contemplated the rationale behind social change or social statics. This is because a decipherment of what social change drivers are will help social researchers better understand these “forces”, know how to manage or regulate them and how or when to predict social change or otherwise. In Nigeria, an instance of social dynamics was the role Organised Labour and Civil Society groups played in vociferously demanding the return to democratic rule after many years under statocratic hegemony. This was achieved through the expression of different organised collective actions which forced the military overlords in power to acquiesce and capitulate to democratic governance. Akin to this, the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill by the legislature in Nigeria was an upshot of years of agitation by the intelligentsia, members of the fourth estate of the realm and the civil society sector. The FOI bill was conceived with the aim to hold the political and economic managers of the state more accountable to the people. This paper seeks to carry out a conceptual review of collective behaviour and social movements with some reflections on the Nigerian experience.
ABSTRACT All over the world, the debouchment of a new class has been observed with new demands fo... more ABSTRACT All over the world, the debouchment of a new class has been observed with new demands for the progressive troika of equality, liberty and fraternity. Far from being the forlorn cry for the establishment of a Marxian utopia or pantisocracy, the genuine demands for egalitarianism necessitating the restructuration of economic, social and cultural capitals has become a desideratum for society’s preservation. Social upheavals, civil protests and collective movements led by a determined precariat class to address social ills and worsening inequalities will continue unabated until the political and economic managers of the state capitulate to these demands. In Nigeria, the elite is already aware of the potential vituperation and precariousness of this class. Existing diurnal narrative in Nigeria is awash with the virulence and dudgeon expressed by this class. Violent crimes such as terrorism, armed banditry, carjacking, cybercrimes, human trafficking of persons, militancy and kidnapping are major highlights of the viciousness and masochism manifested by this class. Evil contrivances have become weapons for economic compensation and retribution on an insensitive elite and society. The imagery of Nigeria’s future is akin to sitting on a time-bomb or walking a jagged precipice. In this paper, authors contend that the growing precariat class in Nigeria must not be ignored. Leaning on the political-economy paradigmatic thesis, they argue that the political class must reverse its natural shenanigans and rhetoric for change programmes that will impact on Nigerian youths who are simmering with rage and disenchantment. Lurking around for the right moment, this dangerous class could spell the doomsday for an already divided polity if genuine efforts are waved aside. Youth empowerment programmes must be practically rolled out soon and fast with a genuine politics of paradise built on the principles of economic security and social wellbeing to integrate this class into mainstream society.
The 2004 pension reform in Nigeria was a paradigm shift in social policy from the social model of... more The 2004 pension reform in Nigeria was a paradigm shift in social policy from the social model of the pre-2004 era to the Anglo-Saxon contributory model that aligns with the emergent "convergence downwards" in the global South, driven by the globalization of neo-liberalism. A major flaw of the reform was that it tended to uncritically follow the dictates of supranational institutions without accounting for important endogenous factors that undermined the pre-2004 social security model. These include state irresponsibility, social dumping, lack of state accountability and its incapacity for competent but disinterested bureaucrats. This paper, therefore, undertakes a comparison of the old and new pension schemes in Nigeria -using selected variables. It further examines external constraints and local possibilities integral to the social protection question in Nigeria, drawing attention to important lessons from the Welfare State experiences in Europe, with particular reference to the Nordic model. It also highlights certain micro-level creative responses of worker cooperatives and trade unions that are instructive for social policy direction in the light of decent work agenda in Nigeria.
International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, Dec 31, 2010
This paper presents a sociological appraisal of the efforts of various governments in Nigeria tow... more This paper presents a sociological appraisal of the efforts of various governments in Nigeria towards economic self-reliance using state-owned enterprises as the vehicle for this purpose. However, due to the internal contradictions inherent in most developing societies like Nigeria, achieving economic self-reliance has continued to elude these states. Nigeria's public-sector driven economic system has been replaced by government in Nigeria with different privatisation models aimed at strengthening the institutional mechanisms of the state and creating an efficient and effective economic system to drive its development agenda. This paper has identified the factors that negatively affected the functioning of state-owned enterprises and made recommendations to address these problems with the goal of engendering economic self-reliance in Nigeria.
Entrepreneurial development is now regarded as the magic bullet that can remedy some of the embed... more Entrepreneurial development is now regarded as the magic bullet that can remedy some of the embedded socioeconomic challenges facing the modern state. Poverty, unemployment, falling standards of living and dipping personal economies of citizens have conflated to raise the national temperature of various countries to uncomfortable levels as protests, youth restiveness, economic-related crimes and a militant and irascible citizenry have become common symptoms of an existing economic blight. Literature on entrepreneurship points to the positive effect of entrepreneurial activities on the civil population with greater impact on the vulnerable sectors. This has strengthened the argument for greater entrepreneurial culture in a developing country like Nigeria. Job creation, massive product development, strengthening of the macro economy through export of products and services, inter alia, are some of collateral benefits of entrepreneurial activities within the society. In achieving sustainable entrepreneurial development initiatives in Nigeria, actors within the policy, social and business ecologies must address the socio-cultural and demographic dynamics that could hamper an effective maturation of the entrepreneurial development process. Issues of institution building, creating the right environment for small-and medium-scale businesses and initiatives to thrive and a general paradigm shift towards citizen empowerment will help to overcome the hydra-headed challenges of gender bias, population explosion, poverty, corruption, unemployment, poor infrastructure, insecurity and leadership crisis, which are some of the banes that may tackle entrepreneurial development. Leaning on the State Theory's position that development can be achieved through internal growth, this paper argues that for sustainable entrepreneurial development to happen in Nigeria, certain internal contradictions bordering on socio-cultural and demographic dynamics must be addressed.
The discourse on demography, democracy and development issues is an inclusive one that focuses on... more The discourse on demography, democracy and development issues is an inclusive one that focuses on the need to create a hu man environ ment where the quality of life of the people is greatly enhanced. Today, the measurement of progress on the development agenda, as encapsulated by the Millenniu m Development Goals (MDGs) and Hu man Develop ment Index (HDI), goes beyond economic ind icators (such as economic gro wth, per capita income), to include both political and social indicators. This paper argues that the real challenge of develop ment in Africa is not the size of its population and/or resource endowments, but the poor management and politicization of its demographic dynamics captured by census data as well as adopting economic and social policies that ultimately leave the people far behind for whom development is meant. Furthermore, the paper contends that the failure of political leaders and policy makers at all levels of governance in Nigeria to pay adequate attention to the generation of quality demographic data, upon which relevant policy interventions and decisions are framed to address the problems of poverty, inequality, fertility, mortality, youth unemployment and illiteracy, negatively impact the chances for effective poverty reduction, infrastructural p rovision, security and reproductive health. This paper concludes that for countries in Africa, particu larly Nigeria, to attain the status of a democrat ic develop mental state and deliver on the much-anticipated 'demographic div idends', the leaders must exercise the political will to invest massively in human capital and develop a reservoir of reliable demographic data that will address the socioeconomic conditions of their citizens, including the monitoring and evaluation of development plans and programs.
Journal of Educational and Social Research, Jan 5, 2014
The world has increasingly become a global clan through the instrumentality of ICT tools. The beh... more The world has increasingly become a global clan through the instrumentality of ICT tools. The behemoth influence of ICTs can
be felt in their dominance of all areas of human endeavours where they seem to define and refine interactions, social relations,
work processes and standards. ICTs have recorded much success in many sectors and it is the contention in this paper that
they can transmogrify the educational sector positively, particularly higher education. However, there are political and
economic forces which have conflated to hamstring higher education of the much anticipated role it can play in the Nigerian
society. In the presence of these albatrosses, even the integration of ICTs in higher education may not change the ugly
narrative. However, ICTs have been identified as having the potential to change the complexion and content of higher
education if the tools are put to work. It is expected that government will provide the required political and economic
wherewithal needed for the easy adoption of ICT tools in driving higher education processes and objectives in Nigeria.
All over the world, the debouchment of a new class has been observed with new demands for the pro... more All over the world, the debouchment of a new class has been observed with new demands for the progressive troika of equality, liberty and fraternity. Far from being the forlorn cry for the establishment of a Marxian utopia or pantisocracy, the genuine demands for egalitarianism necessitating the restructuration of economic, social and cultural capitals has become a desideratum for society’s preservation. Social upheavals, civil protests and collective movements led by a determined precariat class to address social ills and worsening inequalities will continue unabated until the political and economic managers of the state capitulate to these demands. In Nigeria, the elite is already aware of the potential vituperation and precariousness of this class. Existing diurnal narrative in Nigeria is awash with the virulence and dudgeon expressed by this class. Violent crimes such as terrorism, armed banditry, carjacking, cybercrimes, human trafficking of persons, militancy and kidnapping ar...
Globalisation has become a compelling force dragging nations into the mainstream global system. I... more Globalisation has become a compelling force dragging nations into the mainstream global system. It has led to an integration of cultures, economies, markets, political systems and technologies among nations today. Any nation operating outside the global system willy-nilly does so at its own peril. Among the impacts of globalisation on African nations, nay Nigeria, are the impetus towards Westernisation and Anglicisation. English has become the lingua franca or official language spoken for business, governance and education. However, it is yet to be seen how globalisation can facilitate the effective oral and written communication of students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
This paper is an exploratory study that examines the interplay between political violence and the... more This paper is an exploratory study that examines the interplay between political violence and the role of the mass media in addressing this with a focus on the period between 1999 to date in Nigeria. Violence becomes political when it is intended to disrupt the immediate and future political process. Political violence may involve a process of perpetuating an existing government in power and eliminating perceived opponents or it could be a response to frustrating circumstances and an inability of those in government to fulfill their campaign promises to the people. As the fourth estate of the realm, serving as the watchdog of the three arms of government, the media has often been hijacked by political office holders to manipulate and create falsehood including acts of political propaganda. Ideally, the media ought to be for information, education and entertainment. This role has often been circumvented by those at the helm of affairs especially the political class, as he who pays the piper calls the tune. Has the media exercised the right professionalism and work ethics needed in the execution of their task? Has the reporting of news items by the media resulted in acts of political violence or in its reduction? To what extent has lack of press freedom affected the correct reporting of events by the media? Based on the Normative and Marxist theories, this study tries to uncover these critical questions with a view to finding appropriate solutions to the lingering political violence in Nigeria
Entrepreneurial development is now regarded as the magic bullet that can remedy some of the embed... more Entrepreneurial development is now regarded as the magic bullet that can remedy some of the embedded socioeconomic challenges facing the modern state. Poverty, unemployment, falling standards of living and dipping personal economies of citizens have conflated to raise the national temperature of various countries to uncomfortable levels as protests, youth restiveness, economic-related crimes and a militant and irascible citizenry have become common symptoms of an existing economic blight. Literature on entrepreneurship points to the positive effect of entrepreneurial activities on the civil population with greater impact on the vulnerable sectors. This has strengthened the argument for greater entrepreneurial culture in a developing country like Nigeria. Job creation, massive product development, strengthening of the macro economy through export of products and services, inter alia, are some of collateral benefits of entrepreneurial activities within the society. In achieving sustainable entrepreneurial development initiatives in Nigeria, actors within the policy, social and business ecologies must address the socio-cultural and demographic dynamics that could hamper an effective maturation of the entrepreneurial development process. Issues of institution building, creating the right environment for small-and medium-scale businesses and initiatives to thrive and a general paradigm shift towards citizen empowerment will help to overcome the hydra-headed challenges of gender bias, population explosion, poverty, corruption, unemployment, poor infrastructure, insecurity and leadership crisis, which are some of the banes that may tackle entrepreneurial development. Leaning on the State Theory's position that development can be achieved through internal growth, this paper argues that for sustainable entrepreneurial development to happen in Nigeria, certain internal contradictions bordering on socio-cultural and demographic dynamics must be addressed.
The world has increasingly become a global clan through the instrumentality of ICT tools. The beh... more The world has increasingly become a global clan through the instrumentality of ICT tools. The behemoth influence of ICTs can be felt in their dominance of all areas of human endeavours where they seem to define and refine interactions, social relations, work processes and standards. ICTs have recorded much success in many sectors and it is the contention in this paper that they can transmogrify the educational sector positively, particularly higher education. However, there are political and economic forces which have conflated to hamstring higher education of the much anticipated role it can play in the Nigerian society. In the presence of these albatrosses, even the integration of ICTs in higher education may not change the ugly narrative. However, ICTs have been identified as having the potential to change the complexion and content of higher education if the tools are put to work. It is expected that government will provide the required political and economic wherewithal needed for the easy adoption of ICT tools in driving higher education processes and objectives in Nigeria.
Entrepreneurship has been seen as a linchpin for economic development, employment generation, cit... more Entrepreneurship has been seen as a linchpin for economic development, employment generation, citizen
empowerment and wealth creation all over the world. More importantly, entrepreneurship development has been
conceived as an instrument to suppress major avatars of poverty and socioeconomic deprivations among
Nigerian citizens and for engendering social cohesion. However, harnessing the foregoing benefits has been
hamstrung by lack of access to or inadequate supply of entrepreneurial finance. In addition to blistering
ecological forces such as spotty power supply, an inept and unorganised political leadership that is irresponsible
and irresponsive to the plight of the people, polygonal political corruption, putrefied or inadequate basic
infrastructure like roads, among others, lack of SME finance has remained a minatory albatross to
entrepreneurship development in the country. This paper, therefore, examined extant SME funding windows in
Nigeria, identified their challenges and proffered solutions, while generally suggesting ways to operationalise
both existing and neoteric funding options to enable entrepreneurship development happen in Nigeria.
Today, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have redefined the way communication is ... more Today, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have redefined the way communication is carried out and further pushed the envelope with regard to the way information is disseminated, creating more channels of interaction between stakeholders in the society. Studies are ongoing on how ICTs can be useful in language teaching and learning in tertiary institutions today. The impact ICTs have had in improving governance, agriculture, medicine, banking and commerce, education, inter alia, so far, is being predicted to have the same impact when utilised for language teaching and learning. Thus, ICT tools like PowerPoint, e-conferencing, compact disks (CDs, VCDs and DVDs), technology-aided distance learning, among others, are instruments that can facilitate knowledge acquisition, language teaching and learning in tertiary institutions. Through ICTs, the teacher-student interaction in the learning process is situated within a dynamic pedagogical context that could go beyond the four walls of a traditional classroom. This situation forebodes better days for teachers and students alike as more channels of interaction are created, thus enhancing language teaching and learning. It now behoves teachers and students to take advantage of these technologies in furthering knowledge acquisition with regard to language teaching and learning. Among other things, in this paper, the authors have critically appraised the use of ICTs in language teaching and learning in tertiary institutions in Nigeria, identified the various limitations to 186 this process and made recommendations that can be useful to policy makers and stakeholders involved in tertiary education.
Since the adoption of the neoliberal policy in Nigeria in the 1980s, its impact on the human deve... more Since the adoption of the neoliberal policy in Nigeria in the 1980s, its impact on the human development indices of the citizenry has not been satisfactory as manifested by the unequal income distribution gap between the rich and the poor over the years. Besides, the health conditions of Nigerians have experienced a decline as revealed by the increasing rate of child/infant mortality and maternal mortality which expresses the failure of government reforms in adequately addressing some aspects of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Using secondary sources of data, this paper investigated how government's implementation of the neoliberal policies had impacted on the healthcare and human development indices of the citizens. It was observed that rather than improve the healthcare situation and human development indices of citizens, the Bretton Woods-authored reforms have rather narrowed opportunities for healthcare and human development in Nigeria. To improve the declining human development indices of citizens, the paper recommends the roll out of a politics of paradise to rein in the poverty and deprivation suffered by many Nigerians and the need for a human-faced approach to economic reforms, among others. Abstract-Since the adoption of the neoliberal policy in Nigeria in the 1980s, its impact on the human development indices of the citizenry has not been satisfactory as manifested by the unequal income distribution gap between the rich and the poor over the years. Besides, the health conditions of Nigerians have experienced a decline as revealed by the increasing rate of child/infant mortality and maternal mortality which expresses the failure of government reforms in adequately addressing some aspects of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Using secondary sources of data, this paper investigated how government's implementation of the neoliberal policies had impacted on the healthcare and human development indices of the citizens. It was observed that rather than improve the healthcare situation and human development indices of citizens, the Bretton Woods-authored reforms have rather narrowed opportunities for healthcare and human development in Nigeria. To improve the declining human development indices of citizens, the paper recommends the roll out of a politics of paradise to rein in the poverty and deprivation suffered by many Nigerians and the need for a human-faced approach to economic reforms, among others. The paper concludes that government must revisit the neoliberal reforms package in the country and stamp out the use of ad hoc and discretionary handouts and market-led growth which have failed to engender a trickledown effect on the social realities of Nigerians. Citizen welfare and comfort must guide government's actions and intentions and should remain the benchmark for assessing the impact of any form of economic or social reforms that it desires to implement in the country.
If women make up half the population of Nigeria, harnessing the potentials of this huge community... more If women make up half the population of Nigeria, harnessing the potentials of this huge community, especially with regards to promoting entrepreneurship among them, promises numerous benefits at multiple levels including at the individual, family and national levels. As more women take the centre-stage in the global economy with many of them running successful enterprises, Nigerian women with education, management training, access to funding and the right environment can also excel. Dehexing women entrepreneurship in Nigeria will necessitate the expunction of existing obstacles and the conversion of possibilities to realities. Doing this will make women become greater contributors to the economic development of the country and engender the much anticipated social change. This paper asserts that women entrepreneurs in Nigeria can succeed if given the opportunity like their male counterparts.
Labor movements are known to exist for the primary purpose of protecting the interests of labor i... more Labor movements are known to exist for the primary purpose of protecting the interests of labor in the society. They ensure members' welfare and interests are given priority attention by employers and government. However, in Nigeria, labor movements have emerged as champions of causes that exist outside the walls of corporate employment. They have become the voice of the voiceless, platform for the unheard and downtrodden, and the hope of the masses. Situated within the context of a belligerent climate of repression, exploitation, and subjugation by the political and economic managers of the state, labor movements have turned around to push for reforms and transformation of the Nigerian society in different spheres. This study therefore examines the dynamic and phasic evolution of labor movements in Nigeria, and how they have transformed from being a strictly industrial relations actor to a dynamic force for social change in the face of an unwilling, repressive, and indifferent state.
There are contradictions located in the Nigerian political economy. There is
small group of elite... more There are contradictions located in the Nigerian political economy. There is small group of elite that controls the political and economic levers of the state for the perpetuation of its hegemonic interests, and indulges in a panoply of stupefying ostentation, grandeur and waste while the majority leads a precarious existence. The youth precariat class, now a dangerous class, has emerged all over the country vociferously demanding equal access to the resources of the state, which up until now have been in the stranglehold of the plutocracy. Situating this study within Social Conflict Theory, the conflict between the dominant minority with the dominated majority appears unavoidable and increases Nigeria‘s fragility if existing contradictions in the Nigerian political economy are sustained. This paper calls for a multi-stakeholder intervention to arrest the looming apocalypse that may threaten Nigeria‘s statehood unless the social and economic realities of the youth precariat class are improved upon.
Collective behaviour and social movements have been instrumental in engendering social change, in... more Collective behaviour and social movements have been instrumental in engendering social change, including regime change, and impacting the policy space in many societies. In fact, in the past 200 years, they have become a part of the popular and global expression of dissent. The political class, supported by elite groups and state institutions, most times, does not concede to popular demands until some form of public agitation and ruckus is witnessed. Therefore, social researchers have contemplated the rationale behind social change or social statics. This is because a decipherment of what social change drivers are will help social researchers better understand these “forces”, know how to manage or regulate them and how or when to predict social change or otherwise. In Nigeria, an instance of social dynamics was the role Organised Labour and Civil Society groups played in vociferously demanding the return to democratic rule after many years under statocratic hegemony. This was achieved through the expression of different organised collective actions which forced the military overlords in power to acquiesce and capitulate to democratic governance. Akin to this, the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill by the legislature in Nigeria was an upshot of years of agitation by the intelligentsia, members of the fourth estate of the realm and the civil society sector. The FOI bill was conceived with the aim to hold the political and economic managers of the state more accountable to the people. This paper seeks to carry out a conceptual review of collective behaviour and social movements with some reflections on the Nigerian experience.
ABSTRACT All over the world, the debouchment of a new class has been observed with new demands fo... more ABSTRACT All over the world, the debouchment of a new class has been observed with new demands for the progressive troika of equality, liberty and fraternity. Far from being the forlorn cry for the establishment of a Marxian utopia or pantisocracy, the genuine demands for egalitarianism necessitating the restructuration of economic, social and cultural capitals has become a desideratum for society’s preservation. Social upheavals, civil protests and collective movements led by a determined precariat class to address social ills and worsening inequalities will continue unabated until the political and economic managers of the state capitulate to these demands. In Nigeria, the elite is already aware of the potential vituperation and precariousness of this class. Existing diurnal narrative in Nigeria is awash with the virulence and dudgeon expressed by this class. Violent crimes such as terrorism, armed banditry, carjacking, cybercrimes, human trafficking of persons, militancy and kidnapping are major highlights of the viciousness and masochism manifested by this class. Evil contrivances have become weapons for economic compensation and retribution on an insensitive elite and society. The imagery of Nigeria’s future is akin to sitting on a time-bomb or walking a jagged precipice. In this paper, authors contend that the growing precariat class in Nigeria must not be ignored. Leaning on the political-economy paradigmatic thesis, they argue that the political class must reverse its natural shenanigans and rhetoric for change programmes that will impact on Nigerian youths who are simmering with rage and disenchantment. Lurking around for the right moment, this dangerous class could spell the doomsday for an already divided polity if genuine efforts are waved aside. Youth empowerment programmes must be practically rolled out soon and fast with a genuine politics of paradise built on the principles of economic security and social wellbeing to integrate this class into mainstream society.
The 2004 pension reform in Nigeria was a paradigm shift in social policy from the social model of... more The 2004 pension reform in Nigeria was a paradigm shift in social policy from the social model of the pre-2004 era to the Anglo-Saxon contributory model that aligns with the emergent "convergence downwards" in the global South, driven by the globalization of neo-liberalism. A major flaw of the reform was that it tended to uncritically follow the dictates of supranational institutions without accounting for important endogenous factors that undermined the pre-2004 social security model. These include state irresponsibility, social dumping, lack of state accountability and its incapacity for competent but disinterested bureaucrats. This paper, therefore, undertakes a comparison of the old and new pension schemes in Nigeria -using selected variables. It further examines external constraints and local possibilities integral to the social protection question in Nigeria, drawing attention to important lessons from the Welfare State experiences in Europe, with particular reference to the Nordic model. It also highlights certain micro-level creative responses of worker cooperatives and trade unions that are instructive for social policy direction in the light of decent work agenda in Nigeria.
International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, Dec 31, 2010
This paper presents a sociological appraisal of the efforts of various governments in Nigeria tow... more This paper presents a sociological appraisal of the efforts of various governments in Nigeria towards economic self-reliance using state-owned enterprises as the vehicle for this purpose. However, due to the internal contradictions inherent in most developing societies like Nigeria, achieving economic self-reliance has continued to elude these states. Nigeria's public-sector driven economic system has been replaced by government in Nigeria with different privatisation models aimed at strengthening the institutional mechanisms of the state and creating an efficient and effective economic system to drive its development agenda. This paper has identified the factors that negatively affected the functioning of state-owned enterprises and made recommendations to address these problems with the goal of engendering economic self-reliance in Nigeria.
Entrepreneurial development is now regarded as the magic bullet that can remedy some of the embed... more Entrepreneurial development is now regarded as the magic bullet that can remedy some of the embedded socioeconomic challenges facing the modern state. Poverty, unemployment, falling standards of living and dipping personal economies of citizens have conflated to raise the national temperature of various countries to uncomfortable levels as protests, youth restiveness, economic-related crimes and a militant and irascible citizenry have become common symptoms of an existing economic blight. Literature on entrepreneurship points to the positive effect of entrepreneurial activities on the civil population with greater impact on the vulnerable sectors. This has strengthened the argument for greater entrepreneurial culture in a developing country like Nigeria. Job creation, massive product development, strengthening of the macro economy through export of products and services, inter alia, are some of collateral benefits of entrepreneurial activities within the society. In achieving sustainable entrepreneurial development initiatives in Nigeria, actors within the policy, social and business ecologies must address the socio-cultural and demographic dynamics that could hamper an effective maturation of the entrepreneurial development process. Issues of institution building, creating the right environment for small-and medium-scale businesses and initiatives to thrive and a general paradigm shift towards citizen empowerment will help to overcome the hydra-headed challenges of gender bias, population explosion, poverty, corruption, unemployment, poor infrastructure, insecurity and leadership crisis, which are some of the banes that may tackle entrepreneurial development. Leaning on the State Theory's position that development can be achieved through internal growth, this paper argues that for sustainable entrepreneurial development to happen in Nigeria, certain internal contradictions bordering on socio-cultural and demographic dynamics must be addressed.
The discourse on demography, democracy and development issues is an inclusive one that focuses on... more The discourse on demography, democracy and development issues is an inclusive one that focuses on the need to create a hu man environ ment where the quality of life of the people is greatly enhanced. Today, the measurement of progress on the development agenda, as encapsulated by the Millenniu m Development Goals (MDGs) and Hu man Develop ment Index (HDI), goes beyond economic ind icators (such as economic gro wth, per capita income), to include both political and social indicators. This paper argues that the real challenge of develop ment in Africa is not the size of its population and/or resource endowments, but the poor management and politicization of its demographic dynamics captured by census data as well as adopting economic and social policies that ultimately leave the people far behind for whom development is meant. Furthermore, the paper contends that the failure of political leaders and policy makers at all levels of governance in Nigeria to pay adequate attention to the generation of quality demographic data, upon which relevant policy interventions and decisions are framed to address the problems of poverty, inequality, fertility, mortality, youth unemployment and illiteracy, negatively impact the chances for effective poverty reduction, infrastructural p rovision, security and reproductive health. This paper concludes that for countries in Africa, particu larly Nigeria, to attain the status of a democrat ic develop mental state and deliver on the much-anticipated 'demographic div idends', the leaders must exercise the political will to invest massively in human capital and develop a reservoir of reliable demographic data that will address the socioeconomic conditions of their citizens, including the monitoring and evaluation of development plans and programs.
Journal of Educational and Social Research, Jan 5, 2014
The world has increasingly become a global clan through the instrumentality of ICT tools. The beh... more The world has increasingly become a global clan through the instrumentality of ICT tools. The behemoth influence of ICTs can
be felt in their dominance of all areas of human endeavours where they seem to define and refine interactions, social relations,
work processes and standards. ICTs have recorded much success in many sectors and it is the contention in this paper that
they can transmogrify the educational sector positively, particularly higher education. However, there are political and
economic forces which have conflated to hamstring higher education of the much anticipated role it can play in the Nigerian
society. In the presence of these albatrosses, even the integration of ICTs in higher education may not change the ugly
narrative. However, ICTs have been identified as having the potential to change the complexion and content of higher
education if the tools are put to work. It is expected that government will provide the required political and economic
wherewithal needed for the easy adoption of ICT tools in driving higher education processes and objectives in Nigeria.
All over the world, the debouchment of a new class has been observed with new demands for the pro... more All over the world, the debouchment of a new class has been observed with new demands for the progressive troika of equality, liberty and fraternity. Far from being the forlorn cry for the establishment of a Marxian utopia or pantisocracy, the genuine demands for egalitarianism necessitating the restructuration of economic, social and cultural capitals has become a desideratum for society’s preservation. Social upheavals, civil protests and collective movements led by a determined precariat class to address social ills and worsening inequalities will continue unabated until the political and economic managers of the state capitulate to these demands. In Nigeria, the elite is already aware of the potential vituperation and precariousness of this class. Existing diurnal narrative in Nigeria is awash with the virulence and dudgeon expressed by this class. Violent crimes such as terrorism, armed banditry, carjacking, cybercrimes, human trafficking of persons, militancy and kidnapping ar...
Globalisation has become a compelling force dragging nations into the mainstream global system. I... more Globalisation has become a compelling force dragging nations into the mainstream global system. It has led to an integration of cultures, economies, markets, political systems and technologies among nations today. Any nation operating outside the global system willy-nilly does so at its own peril. Among the impacts of globalisation on African nations, nay Nigeria, are the impetus towards Westernisation and Anglicisation. English has become the lingua franca or official language spoken for business, governance and education. However, it is yet to be seen how globalisation can facilitate the effective oral and written communication of students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
This paper is an exploratory study that examines the interplay between political violence and the... more This paper is an exploratory study that examines the interplay between political violence and the role of the mass media in addressing this with a focus on the period between 1999 to date in Nigeria. Violence becomes political when it is intended to disrupt the immediate and future political process. Political violence may involve a process of perpetuating an existing government in power and eliminating perceived opponents or it could be a response to frustrating circumstances and an inability of those in government to fulfill their campaign promises to the people. As the fourth estate of the realm, serving as the watchdog of the three arms of government, the media has often been hijacked by political office holders to manipulate and create falsehood including acts of political propaganda. Ideally, the media ought to be for information, education and entertainment. This role has often been circumvented by those at the helm of affairs especially the political class, as he who pays the piper calls the tune. Has the media exercised the right professionalism and work ethics needed in the execution of their task? Has the reporting of news items by the media resulted in acts of political violence or in its reduction? To what extent has lack of press freedom affected the correct reporting of events by the media? Based on the Normative and Marxist theories, this study tries to uncover these critical questions with a view to finding appropriate solutions to the lingering political violence in Nigeria
Entrepreneurial development is now regarded as the magic bullet that can remedy some of the embed... more Entrepreneurial development is now regarded as the magic bullet that can remedy some of the embedded socioeconomic challenges facing the modern state. Poverty, unemployment, falling standards of living and dipping personal economies of citizens have conflated to raise the national temperature of various countries to uncomfortable levels as protests, youth restiveness, economic-related crimes and a militant and irascible citizenry have become common symptoms of an existing economic blight. Literature on entrepreneurship points to the positive effect of entrepreneurial activities on the civil population with greater impact on the vulnerable sectors. This has strengthened the argument for greater entrepreneurial culture in a developing country like Nigeria. Job creation, massive product development, strengthening of the macro economy through export of products and services, inter alia, are some of collateral benefits of entrepreneurial activities within the society. In achieving sustainable entrepreneurial development initiatives in Nigeria, actors within the policy, social and business ecologies must address the socio-cultural and demographic dynamics that could hamper an effective maturation of the entrepreneurial development process. Issues of institution building, creating the right environment for small-and medium-scale businesses and initiatives to thrive and a general paradigm shift towards citizen empowerment will help to overcome the hydra-headed challenges of gender bias, population explosion, poverty, corruption, unemployment, poor infrastructure, insecurity and leadership crisis, which are some of the banes that may tackle entrepreneurial development. Leaning on the State Theory's position that development can be achieved through internal growth, this paper argues that for sustainable entrepreneurial development to happen in Nigeria, certain internal contradictions bordering on socio-cultural and demographic dynamics must be addressed.
The world has increasingly become a global clan through the instrumentality of ICT tools. The beh... more The world has increasingly become a global clan through the instrumentality of ICT tools. The behemoth influence of ICTs can be felt in their dominance of all areas of human endeavours where they seem to define and refine interactions, social relations, work processes and standards. ICTs have recorded much success in many sectors and it is the contention in this paper that they can transmogrify the educational sector positively, particularly higher education. However, there are political and economic forces which have conflated to hamstring higher education of the much anticipated role it can play in the Nigerian society. In the presence of these albatrosses, even the integration of ICTs in higher education may not change the ugly narrative. However, ICTs have been identified as having the potential to change the complexion and content of higher education if the tools are put to work. It is expected that government will provide the required political and economic wherewithal needed for the easy adoption of ICT tools in driving higher education processes and objectives in Nigeria.
Chapter Summary ICTs have become the creator of a fast-forward modernising post-utopian society w... more Chapter Summary ICTs have become the creator of a fast-forward modernising post-utopian society with the promise of totalitarian transformation that has affected many sectors and areas of human interests. Fast-paced technological and economic changes have accelerated human experiences in a triumphalist fashion, providing convenience, ease, time-and cost-saving advantages. The Nigerian banking industry has not been left behind. Rather, the industry has grown from a manually driven to a digitally dependent industry with ICT-enabled services and product innovations to improve the lives of bank consumers in the country. Silhouetted against the modernisation paradigm, the industry and country need to brace up to tap into the opportunities and possibilities created by ICTs. Since ICT is the face of the future, the challenges facing ICT-enabled banking services must be removed so that the Nigerian banking industry can deepen its application of ICTs in the industry and provide citizens with greater product options and innovations which are needed for these banks and citizens to ably function in the new global techno-market order.
In the democratic family of nations, Nigeria is reputed to host one of the most expensive democra... more In the democratic family of nations, Nigeria is reputed to host one of the most expensive democratic political systems. The Nigerian democratic system has become a new minting causeway producing nouveaux riches, political jobbers and a tiny political aristocracy who control the vast resources and opportunities in the state. In the midst of this megalomaniac plutocracy, a distended army of the Nigerian unemployed is palpable. This precariat class is a victim of a democratic system that seems to legislate wealth avenues for a minority while pauperising the majority. On the other hand, while China's democratic system has earned epithets such as " pseudo democracy " , " flawed democracy " or socialist or communist democracy, the country is a modern example of an economic phoenix. Within 30 years, China rose from a dark silhouette as one of the poorest agricultural countries in the world to its second-largest economy status, lifting six hundred and fifty million of its citizens out of grinding poverty, about 80% of the entire world's bottom billion. The Chinese economic model and particularly its positive and unconditional friendship to African nations have stood out. While its democratic model provides an alternative to the Western-chiselled liberal democratic orthodoxy, its approach to governance with zero tolerance for corruption and its lean political structure may become a learning point for Nigeria and its African kindred nations. This study aims to examine the scale of Nigeria's expensive democratic politics, and investigate its impact on the festering unemployment situation in the country vis-à-vis the Chinese democratic model and its cost of governance. Lessons drawn from this analysis and using the Marxist and Deprivation theories are expected to compel the present political class in Nigeria to overturn its natural shenanigans for responsible and benign leadership, which has the potential of reversing the unemployment dead weight in Nigeria.
The maturity of Sociology as a field of study in Africa leaves no one in doubt. It has been led b... more The maturity of Sociology as a field of study in Africa leaves no one in doubt. It has been led by various outstanding African scholars whose fecund contributions refined and redefined the discipline giving it an ambitious toga of independence and autochthonous evolution. Nevertheless, the present state of African sociological scholarship seems to betray those noble efforts. The works of Akiwowo which developed a Nigerian sociological interpretation have been left to smother. Subsequently, African sociology like its social science disciplines has become tethered to neo-colonial hegemony. This status quo does not bode well for the development of African sociological scholarship in the 21 st century. Based on the dependency theory and an exploratory approach, the study examines the present dependency of African Sociology on offshore scholarship and its deleterious impact. It emphasises the imperative of competitive African publication outlets for African works; and also identifies the need for the proper mentorship of young African scholars as a way of advancing sociological scholarship in particular and knowledge production in general. The paper concludes that African sociological scholarship should wrest itself from foreign domination so it can serve, promote and protect the interest of the present generation of African scholars in preparation to give a soft but strong landing to the next generation.
The political system in Nigeria has remained iron-gated manned by mean and supercilious political... more The political system in Nigeria has remained iron-gated manned by mean and supercilious political ironsides whose goal in governance is to perpetuate personal and clannish interests, objectives and motivations. The masses are treated as expendables needed to foster the political ambitions of these strongmen and are considered as cannon fodder only required to further and feather their access to power, private accumulation of national resources and state capture. This anecdote is further complexified as the political system continues to recycle leadership, promote senescent and infirm leadership and affirm a decadent gerontocracy with spent visionary appetite for the pursuit of true national leadership and transformation. Ensconced within this political disillusionment is a youth bulge full of existential dread because of the scarcity of opportunities or elite colonisation of the inadequate opportunities that the system allocates to them. These youths are largely unemployed or underemployed. They seem only useful to the political managers and party machineries during electioneering campaigns or as soldiers in their private armies. The entrepreneurial environment that could have weaned some of these youths off idleness and crime is challenged and experiences paroxysms manifesting systemic neglect, disinvestment, primordial corruption and politicised or partisan citizen assistance. Thus, Nigerian youths have become the new denizens treated as undeserving of equitable state intervention. Drawing from the Social Conflict Theory, authors have attempted to peruse the study of youths in Nigeria and how they are situated within the political, entrepreneurial and wealth creation conversations, interventions and contraptions in Nigeria. To achieve a new narrative, the political and economic managers of the state should pay greater attention to youth empowerment, liberalise the political, entrepreneurial and wealth creation mises en scene and remove anthropogenic blockades which inhibit greater youth participation in the political and economic destiny of Nigeria.
By the third quarter of 2017, unemployment rate in Nigeria had reached a gruesome 40% with youth ... more By the third quarter of 2017, unemployment rate in Nigeria had reached a gruesome 40% with youth unemployment for those aged between 15 and 24 standing at 33.1% and 20.2% for those aged between 25 and 34 years. While this figure may likely understate the crisis unemployment has become, however, it is becoming patent that decent jobs and wages are fast evanescing from the labour market, leaving more citizens and particularly the youths in the precarity trap. Also erected as megaliths in the path of youth job seekers are impregnable walls which continue to narrow the chances employable youths have to secure decent jobs in the country. Although the artificiality of these walls cannot escape a careful observer, the impregnability of these walls nonetheless cannot also be denied since their anthropogenic, systemic and autochthonous natures have made them into the bugbears they presently are. Youth unemployment has continued to surge because of artificial problems created by the Nigerian state, narcissistic and clannish actions and words of politicians and their military overlords, among others. Using the Political Economy Theory in analysing the study, authors attempted to establish the collaborative roles of politics and economy in creating the ugly dystopia that presently haunts the country. Framed as a descriptive study based on a qualitative approach, data were painstakingly drawn and verified from secondary sources. The study proposes an Inclusive Country Framework built on a tripod consisting of Inclusive Politics, Inclusive Economy and Inclusive Sociocultural Context as the way out of the youth unemployment challenge in Nigeria.
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Papers by David Imhonopi
empowerment and wealth creation all over the world. More importantly, entrepreneurship development has been
conceived as an instrument to suppress major avatars of poverty and socioeconomic deprivations among
Nigerian citizens and for engendering social cohesion. However, harnessing the foregoing benefits has been
hamstrung by lack of access to or inadequate supply of entrepreneurial finance. In addition to blistering
ecological forces such as spotty power supply, an inept and unorganised political leadership that is irresponsible
and irresponsive to the plight of the people, polygonal political corruption, putrefied or inadequate basic
infrastructure like roads, among others, lack of SME finance has remained a minatory albatross to
entrepreneurship development in the country. This paper, therefore, examined extant SME funding windows in
Nigeria, identified their challenges and proffered solutions, while generally suggesting ways to operationalise
both existing and neoteric funding options to enable entrepreneurship development happen in Nigeria.
small group of elite that controls the political and economic levers of the state
for the perpetuation of its hegemonic interests, and indulges in a panoply of
stupefying ostentation, grandeur and waste while the majority leads a precarious
existence. The youth precariat class, now a dangerous class, has emerged all
over the country vociferously demanding equal access to the resources of the
state, which up until now have been in the stranglehold of the plutocracy.
Situating this study within Social Conflict Theory, the conflict between the
dominant minority with the dominated majority appears unavoidable and
increases Nigeria‘s fragility if existing contradictions in the Nigerian political
economy are sustained. This paper calls for a multi-stakeholder intervention to
arrest the looming apocalypse that may threaten Nigeria‘s statehood unless the
social and economic realities of the youth precariat class are improved upon.
regime change, and impacting the policy space in many societies. In fact, in the past 200 years, they have
become a part of the popular and global expression of dissent. The political class, supported by elite groups and
state institutions, most times, does not concede to popular demands until some form of public agitation and
ruckus is witnessed. Therefore, social researchers have contemplated the rationale behind social change or social
statics. This is because a decipherment of what social change drivers are will help social researchers better
understand these “forces”, know how to manage or regulate them and how or when to predict social change or
otherwise. In Nigeria, an instance of social dynamics was the role Organised Labour and Civil Society groups
played in vociferously demanding the return to democratic rule after many years under statocratic hegemony.
This was achieved through the expression of different organised collective actions which forced the military
overlords in power to acquiesce and capitulate to democratic governance. Akin to this, the passage of the
Freedom of Information (FOI) bill by the legislature in Nigeria was an upshot of years of agitation by the
intelligentsia, members of the fourth estate of the realm and the civil society sector. The FOI bill was conceived
with the aim to hold the political and economic managers of the state more accountable to the people. This paper
seeks to carry out a conceptual review of collective behaviour and social movements with some reflections on
the Nigerian experience.
be felt in their dominance of all areas of human endeavours where they seem to define and refine interactions, social relations,
work processes and standards. ICTs have recorded much success in many sectors and it is the contention in this paper that
they can transmogrify the educational sector positively, particularly higher education. However, there are political and
economic forces which have conflated to hamstring higher education of the much anticipated role it can play in the Nigerian
society. In the presence of these albatrosses, even the integration of ICTs in higher education may not change the ugly
narrative. However, ICTs have been identified as having the potential to change the complexion and content of higher
education if the tools are put to work. It is expected that government will provide the required political and economic
wherewithal needed for the easy adoption of ICT tools in driving higher education processes and objectives in Nigeria.
empowerment and wealth creation all over the world. More importantly, entrepreneurship development has been
conceived as an instrument to suppress major avatars of poverty and socioeconomic deprivations among
Nigerian citizens and for engendering social cohesion. However, harnessing the foregoing benefits has been
hamstrung by lack of access to or inadequate supply of entrepreneurial finance. In addition to blistering
ecological forces such as spotty power supply, an inept and unorganised political leadership that is irresponsible
and irresponsive to the plight of the people, polygonal political corruption, putrefied or inadequate basic
infrastructure like roads, among others, lack of SME finance has remained a minatory albatross to
entrepreneurship development in the country. This paper, therefore, examined extant SME funding windows in
Nigeria, identified their challenges and proffered solutions, while generally suggesting ways to operationalise
both existing and neoteric funding options to enable entrepreneurship development happen in Nigeria.
small group of elite that controls the political and economic levers of the state
for the perpetuation of its hegemonic interests, and indulges in a panoply of
stupefying ostentation, grandeur and waste while the majority leads a precarious
existence. The youth precariat class, now a dangerous class, has emerged all
over the country vociferously demanding equal access to the resources of the
state, which up until now have been in the stranglehold of the plutocracy.
Situating this study within Social Conflict Theory, the conflict between the
dominant minority with the dominated majority appears unavoidable and
increases Nigeria‘s fragility if existing contradictions in the Nigerian political
economy are sustained. This paper calls for a multi-stakeholder intervention to
arrest the looming apocalypse that may threaten Nigeria‘s statehood unless the
social and economic realities of the youth precariat class are improved upon.
regime change, and impacting the policy space in many societies. In fact, in the past 200 years, they have
become a part of the popular and global expression of dissent. The political class, supported by elite groups and
state institutions, most times, does not concede to popular demands until some form of public agitation and
ruckus is witnessed. Therefore, social researchers have contemplated the rationale behind social change or social
statics. This is because a decipherment of what social change drivers are will help social researchers better
understand these “forces”, know how to manage or regulate them and how or when to predict social change or
otherwise. In Nigeria, an instance of social dynamics was the role Organised Labour and Civil Society groups
played in vociferously demanding the return to democratic rule after many years under statocratic hegemony.
This was achieved through the expression of different organised collective actions which forced the military
overlords in power to acquiesce and capitulate to democratic governance. Akin to this, the passage of the
Freedom of Information (FOI) bill by the legislature in Nigeria was an upshot of years of agitation by the
intelligentsia, members of the fourth estate of the realm and the civil society sector. The FOI bill was conceived
with the aim to hold the political and economic managers of the state more accountable to the people. This paper
seeks to carry out a conceptual review of collective behaviour and social movements with some reflections on
the Nigerian experience.
be felt in their dominance of all areas of human endeavours where they seem to define and refine interactions, social relations,
work processes and standards. ICTs have recorded much success in many sectors and it is the contention in this paper that
they can transmogrify the educational sector positively, particularly higher education. However, there are political and
economic forces which have conflated to hamstring higher education of the much anticipated role it can play in the Nigerian
society. In the presence of these albatrosses, even the integration of ICTs in higher education may not change the ugly
narrative. However, ICTs have been identified as having the potential to change the complexion and content of higher
education if the tools are put to work. It is expected that government will provide the required political and economic
wherewithal needed for the easy adoption of ICT tools in driving higher education processes and objectives in Nigeria.