DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

This study investigated the impact of microfinance on small business development in Nigeria, using a case study of Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO) Microfinance Bank in Benin City, Edo State. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are critical drivers of economic growth, employment generation, and poverty reduction in Nigeria, yet they consistently face severe challenges accessing traditional credit. The main objective of this study was to assess how LAPO Microfinance Bank’s credit facilities, savings mobilization, and business advisory services influence the growth, operational capacity, and survival of small businesses in Benin City. The research adopted a descriptive survey research design. The target population comprised small business owners in Benin City who are active beneficiaries of LAPO Microfinance Bank's financial services. A structured questionnaire was utilized to gather primary data from a sampled size of respondents, selected via simple random sampling techniques. Data collected were analyzed using both descriptive statistics (mean, frequencies, and percentages) and inferential statistics (Multiple Linear Regression or Chi-Square analysis) via the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The empirical findings revealed that access to micro-credit from LAPO Microfinance Bank has a positive and significant impact on the business expansion, asset acquisition, and sales volume of small enterprises in the region. Furthermore, the study established that LAPO’s group-lending methodology and flexible repayment structures effectively mitigated traditional collateral bottlenecks, making capital more accessible to the active poor and female entrepreneurs. However, challenges such as high interest rates, short loan repayment moratoriums, and insufficient loan amounts relative to inflation were identified as limiting factors affecting the long-term sustainability of these businesses. Based on these findings, the study concludes that microfinance institutions are pivotal to grassroots economic development, but their impact can be enhanced through policy adjustments. Consequently, it is recommended that LAPO Microfinance Bank review its interest rates and extend repayment periods to reduce financial strain on borrowers. Additionally, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should provide specialized intervention funds to microfinance banks to enable them to offer cheaper, more sustainable long-term credit to small businesses.

The Sahel region is a semi-arid belt stretching across Africa south of the Sahara Desert, and has in recent decades become one of the world’s most volatile and insecure regions. It comprises states such as Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, and parts of Nigeria. Between 2005 and 2025, the Sahel has witnessed a rapid escalation of terrorist activities and violent extremism, primarily linked to the spread of jihadist ideologies and the collapse of effective governance structures in key states. The increasing fragility of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso has created a fertile environment for extremist movements such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), and several local militias to thrive.¹

In pre-colonial times the Africa traditional society could be said anchored on the facts that institutional beliefs social orders norms and several practices which are of truth must of necessity be given foundational rites of passage. It can be in form of dance music folklore or drama etc. most often the interpretation are engaged to demonstrate and highlight social demeanor and decorum as it is mirrored in the thought and beliefs of a cherished culture of the people

This study examine the role of festivals in preserving the cultural heritage of the nsit ibom people. The Ekpo Festival, one of the most prominent and ancient festivals in Nsit Ibom, is a classic example of how a traditional event can serve as a reservoir of cultural knowledge and identity. Ekpo, derived from ancestral spiritual beliefs, is not just a masquerade performance but a complex traditional system that embodies spiritual authority, moral instruction, community justice, artistic excellence, and social hierarchy. The masquerades, believed to represent the spirits of ancestors, appear during the dry season and are used to enforce traditional laws, entertain the public, and remind the people of their connection to the spiritual world. Each performance is laced with symbolic gestures, coded language, and historical references, which serve as a cultural textbook for the youth and a source of pride for the elders. The Ekpo institution is passed down through secret societies that initiate and train members in the meanings, functions, and codes of the tradition, ensuring that this sacred heritage is not lost over time.

Elections are fundamental to democratic governance, but they often generate disputes arising from competing political interests, ideologies, and perceptions of injustice. In Nigeria, the management of post-election disputes has remained a significant challenge, with litigation increasingly facing criticism regarding its effectiveness in resolving electoral conflicts. This study examines the impact of the Nigerian judiciary on post-election litigation between 2000 and 2023. The research explores the nature, causes, and patterns of electoral disputes, as well as the role of the judiciary in adjudicating election petitions and maintaining electoral justice. Using a doctrinal and analytical approach, the study reviews relevant electoral laws, judicial decisions, legal literature, and institutional practices relating to election dispute resolution in Nigeria. Findings reveal that electoral disputes are largely driven by electoral malpractice, political interference, abuse of state resources, corruption, ethnic and partisan interests, electoral violence, and perceived deficiencies in electoral administration. While the judiciary has played a critical role in resolving electoral disputes and safeguarding democratic processes, concerns remain regarding delays in adjudication, inconsistent judgments, allegations of judicial bias, and declining public confidence in election litigation outcomes. The study concludes that despite its challenges, the judiciary remains a vital institution for the peaceful resolution of electoral disputes and the preservation of democratic stability in Nigeria. It recommends reforms aimed at strengthening judicial independence, improving the efficiency of election tribunals, enhancing electoral integrity, and promoting public trust in the electoral justice system.

This study examines the historical relationships between Egbaen and its immediate neighboring communities during the pre-colonial period. The research explores the political, economic, social, and cultural interactions that shaped intergroup relations and contributed to the development of the communities within the region. Particular attention is given to patterns of migration, settlement, trade, diplomacy, intermarriage, and conflict resolution mechanisms that characterized the relationship between Egbaen and its neighbors before the advent of colonial rule.
The study adopts a historical research methodology, relying on both primary and secondary sources. Oral traditions, interviews with community elders, archival records, and relevant scholarly literature were utilized to reconstruct the historical experiences of the people. Findings reveal that Egbaen maintained extensive contacts with neighboring communities through trade networks, cultural exchanges, and kinship ties, which fostered peaceful coexistence and mutual development. The study also identifies occasional disputes over land, resources, and political influence; however, indigenous institutions and traditional leadership structures played significant roles in managing conflicts and preserving regional stability.
Furthermore, the research demonstrates that interactions between Egbaen and its neighbors facilitated the exchange of ideas, customs, and technologies, contributing to social cohesion and economic growth within the area. The study concludes that the history of Egbaen and its immediate neighbors reflects a dynamic pattern of cooperation and competition that shaped the socio-political landscape of the region in the pre-colonial era. It recommends further documentation of oral traditions and local histories to preserve indigenous knowledge and enhance understanding of intergroup relations in Nigerian histor

This study examines intergroup relations in Ekpoma before 1897, with a focus on the political, economic, social, and cultural interactions among the various communities that inhabited the area prior to the establishment of British colonial rule. The research investigates the nature of relationships that existed among neighboring groups, the factors that promoted cooperation, and the sources of conflict and rivalry within the region. The study adopts a historical research methodology, utilizing both primary and secondary sources, including oral traditions, archival materials, historical records, and relevant scholarly literature.
Findings reveal that intergroup relations in Ekpoma were largely characterized by peaceful coexistence, trade, intermarriage, cultural exchanges, and mutual assistance among communities. Economic activities such as agriculture, local commerce, and craft production served as important avenues for interaction and cooperation. The study also identifies traditional institutions, kinship ties, festivals, and religious practices as significant factors that strengthened social cohesion and promoted harmonious relationships among different groups.
However, the research further shows that disputes over land ownership, political authority, resource control, and boundary issues occasionally led to conflicts between neighboring communities. Despite these challenges, indigenous conflict-resolution mechanisms, including the intervention of elders, traditional rulers, and community assemblies, played a crucial role in maintaining peace and stability. The study concludes that intergroup relations in Ekpoma before 1897 were shaped by a dynamic combination of cooperation and competition, which contributed significantly to the social, economic, and political development of the area. Understanding these historical interactions provides valuable insight into the foundations of contemporary social relations and community development in Ekpoma.

TherelationsbetweenIkotEkpeneandArochukwuareacomplexandmultifacetedphenomen on that has been shaped by their sharedhistory,culturalpractices,andeconomicties.Tounderstandthedynamicsoftheirrelationship,itisessentialtoexplorethehistoryofbothcommunities.IkotEkpene,locatedinAkwaIbomState,Nigeria,hasarichculturalheritageandalonghistoryoftradeandcommercewithneighboringcommunities.1Arochukwu,ontheotherhand,issituatedinAbiaState,Nigeria,andisknownforitssignificantroleintheprecolonialeraasamajorcommercialcenter.Thehistoryofbothcommunitiesdatesbacktotheprecolonialera,withevidenceofhumanhabitationintheregiontracingbackthousandsofyears.Theprecolonialerasawtheriseofvariouskingdomsandempiresintheregion,withIkotEkpeneandArochukwuplayingimportantrolesintheeconomicandculturallandscape.Thetwocommunitiesengagedintrade,exchanginggoodssuchaspalmoil,ivory,andcloth.TheireconomictieswerefurtherstrengthenedbythepresenceofEuropeantraders,whosoughttoexploittheregion'snaturalresources.

This study provides a comprehensive historical and legal analysis of jungle justice—extrajudicial killings and mob action—in Nigeria, tracing its roots from the erosion of traditional pre-colonial justice systems and deep-seated public distrust in contemporary law enforcement and the judiciary, while evaluating its severe legal implications under Nigerian constitutional law, international human rights frameworks, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.

This study examines China and infrastructural development in Nigeria between 1999 and 2023, with particular attention to the evolution, nature, and impacts of Chinese involvement in key infrastructure sectors such as railways, roads, ports, and energy. It situates the analysis within the broader framework of Nigeria–China relations and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has significantly expanded China’s infrastructural footprint in Nigeria since 2013. The study adopts a qualitative, descriptive approach relying on secondary sources, including journal articles, policy reports, and official documents. Findings reveal that China has become a dominant external partner in Nigeria’s infrastructure financing and construction, particularly through loans from the China Exim Bank and China Development Bank. Major projects such as the Lagos–Ibadan railway, Abuja–Kaduna rail line, and several highway and port developments demonstrate China’s central role in addressing Nigeria’s longstanding infrastructure deficit. Evidence suggests that these projects have improved connectivity, reduced transportation costs, enhanced trade facilitation, and contributed to job creation and technology transfer. However, the study also identifies significant challenges, including rising external debt exposure, concerns about project sustainability, delayed project execution in some cases, and debates over sovereignty and dependency. Critics argue that while infrastructural gains are visible, Nigeria’s heavy reliance on Chinese loans raises long-term fiscal and policy risks. The study concludes that China’s infrastructural engagement in Nigeria between 1999 and 2023 has been both transformative and contentious: transformative in addressing critical infrastructure gaps, yet contentious due to financial and governance implications. It recommends stronger contractual transparency, improved domestic capacity, and diversified funding sources to ensure sustainable infrastructural development in Nigeria.