DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

Ritual killings, the unlawful and often gruesome act of murdering individuals for the purpose of using their body parts, blood, or other human materials for spiritual, magical, or economic purposes, remain a persistent social menace in various parts of Nigeria, including Ibadan Metropolis, the capital of Oyo State. Ibadan, as a traditional Yoruba city with a rich heritage of religious pluralism including indigenous beliefs, Christianity, and Islam—has long been a site where traditional beliefs in supernatural powers intersect with pressures for wealth and success. Ibadan, as the largest city in West Africa and the capital of Oyo State, has witnessed several reported and unreported cases of ritual killings linked to deep-seated cultural beliefs, economic desperation, and criminal exploitation of traditional religion.

The study of the place of women in the socio-political and economic life of the society from the early period to the present has aroused a wide range of interests amongst scholars and writers in recent times. Women’s study received a boost after independence especially with the declaration of the United Nations Decade for women, 1976-85. Attention was not only drawn to the need to grant greater freedom and more privileges, to womenfolk throughout the world, but also the need to study the role of women in society, their problems, and the best way to enable them to participate effectively in their own self-actualization as well as their societies and the world at large.1 It is imperative to note that even till date, Africa is not left out in the marginalization, subjugation and underrepresentation of women in politics, they have also undermined the roles women have played over time in the economic and socio development of the continent. This is despite the fact that, African women had a prestigious and recognized place in the traditional society which made it possible for the gifted ones among them to rise to positions of political, social and economic eminence.²Among them were: Queen Nefertiti of Egypt, Queen Amina of Zaria, Queen Sheba of Ethiopia, Queen Moremi of Ife, Queens Idia, Iden and Emotan of Benin, Omu of Onitsha, Omu of Ossomari among others.

A mysterious pneumonia known as COVID-19 broke out from Wuhan, China in late December, 2019. The early stages of what would become a global health crisis were first identified in December 2019 when reports surfaced regarding an initial outbreak at a bustling market, which impacted the market’s workforce with approximately 66% of it’s staff reportedly falling ill. The severity of the situation prompted a swift response from local health authorities. On December 31, 2019, an epidemiological alert was formally announced, leading to the decisive measure of shutting the market on January 1, 2020.

The outbreak of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China in 2019 was phenomenal. It significantly altered the patterns of political and economic behaviour across the globe. COVID-19 engineered the rise of new rhetoric and narratives in academic discourse. This includes the concept of covidnomics that espouses the intricate between COVID-19 and economics in general. As the impact of coronavirus on humanity begins to unfold gradually, its impact on the economy of nations in Africa is glaring. Among the many unprecedented economic challenges it engendered, the dramatic fall in the demand for goods and services in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa stands Tall. The result is that some manufacturers in the continent Have been overwhelmed by the imbalance between demand and supply.1 The fall in demand under the pandemic had nothing to do with a lack of want on the part of the people but, it was a manifestation of the decline of human development index that had impeded consumers’ capacity to make
demands of goods and services.

This study explores the nature and dynamics of diplomatic relations between the Ukwuani and Urhobo people in pre-colonial Nigeria. It examines how both groups, through geographical proximity and shared socio-economic interests, developed systems of interaction that fostered peaceful coexistence, mutual cooperation, and conflict resolution. The study argues that diplomacy in this context was not formalized in the modern sense but was embedded in indigenous institutions such as kinship ties, marriage alliances, trade partnerships, and the use of emissaries and traditional rulers. The research further analyzes the role of trade particularly in agricultural produce and local crafts as a major driver of diplomatic engagement, alongside cultural exchanges that reinforced inter-group solidarity. It also highlights mechanisms for resolving disputes, including the intervention of elders, councils, and ritual practices that maintained balance and order. Despite occasional conflicts, these indigenous diplomatic strategies ensured relative stability and continuity in relations. The study concludes that Ukwuani–Urhobo relations in the pre-colonial era reflect a sophisticated system of indigenous diplomacy rooted in reciprocity, respect, and shared values. It underscores the relevance of these traditional practices as a foundation for understanding inter-ethnic relations and conflict management in contemporary Nigerian society

The study examined the impact of Cold War politics on the struggle against apartheid in South Africa between 1945 and 1991. It explores how the ideological rivalry between the capitalist West and the communist East shaped international responses to apartheid and influenced both support for and opposition to the apartheid regime. The research highlights that Cold War dynamics significantly affected diplomatic relations, economic sanctions, and liberation movements, particularly as global superpowers strategically aligned with or against the apartheid government based on geopolitical interests rather than human rights considerations. It also shows how liberation movements such as the African National Congress (ANC) received varying levels of external support, especially from Eastern Bloc countries, which strengthened their capacity for resistance. However, Western powers’ anti-communist priorities often delayed stronger action against apartheid, thereby prolonging the system’s existence. The study concludes that Cold War politics both complicated and shaped the international struggle against apartheid, influencing the pace and nature of its eventual collapse in 1991, and recommends a more balanced historical understanding that considers global power politics in assessing anti-apartheid efforts.

This study examines the impact of political cross-carpeting on political development in Nigeria between 1999 and 2023. Political cross-carpeting, defined as the defection of politicians from one party to another, has become a recurring feature of Nigeria’s democratic landscape since the return to civilian rule in 1999. The research explores the causes, patterns, and consequences of this phenomenon, with particular attention to its implications for party stability, democratic consolidation, governance, and public trust in political institutions. Using a qualitative approach, the study draws on secondary data, including scholarly literature, media reports, and official records, to analyze trends in political defections across different electoral cycles. Findings indicate that cross-carpeting is largely driven by personal ambition, intra-party conflicts, weak ideological foundations of political parties, and the pursuit of political survival. While some argue that defections can strengthen political participation and realignment, the study finds that frequent cross-carpeting undermines party cohesion, weakens opposition parties, and disrupts policy continuity. Furthermore, the research reveals that the practice contributes to political instability, erodes voter confidence, and hampers the overall process of democratic consolidation in Nigeria. The study concludes that without stronger institutional frameworks, ideological party structures, and enforcement of anti-defection laws, cross-carpeting will continue to pose challenges to Nigeria’s political development. It recommends reforms aimed at strengthening party discipline, promoting internal democracy, and enhancing legal mechanisms to regulate defections.

Nigeria is located in West Africa bordering on the Gulf of Guinea, and lies between the Benin Republic and Cameroon. The country has a total of 923,770square km, 13,000square km of which is covered by water. The boundaries of Nigeria extended for 4,047 km and countries with co-joining borders include; the Benin Republic (in the South West), Cameroon (in the South East), the Republic of Chad (in the North East) and Niger Republic (in the North West). The three major ethnic groups are Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo. There are, however, other sizable ethnic groups which include Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio, Ogoni, Igbira, Jukun, Tiv etc. The major religious groups are Muslim, Christian and indigenous beliefs. The official language is English. This is as result of British colonisation that lasted for more than hundred years; whereas, the other languages associated with the three major ethnics groups are Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo. These socio-cultural differences have separated Nigerians from each other and constitute one of the main factors militating against national integration. National integration is a process of creating a sense of national consciousness, uniqueness of identity and loyalty among people of different socio-cultural identities (racial, ethnic, language, religion, and so on) into a single territorial political society

The dawn of the 21st century has marked a pivotal era in the history of human civilization, characterized by unprecedented technological innovations, accelerated globalization, and the widespread proliferation of digitalcommunication tools . Among the most profound developments of this digital age is the emergence and integration of social media into the fabric of everyday life. Social media, defined as a range of internet- based platforms and applications that enable users to create, share, and exchange content in real-time, has revolutionized how individuals, particularly the youth, interact with one another and with thebroader world.

This research work seeks to examine the international response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa with reference to the Nigeria containment of Ebola Virus. The largest Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in history exploded across West Africa.1 The World Health Organization reported a total of 21,296 Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases, including 13,427 laboratory confirmed EVD cases reported from the three most affected countries Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone in 2014. Nigeria’s first case of EVD was officially announced in July, 2014. In an effort to tackle the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, the Federal Government, drawing on the experience of the Emergency Operation Centre’s work with polio, declared Ebola a public health emergency and mobilized human, financial and material resources to contain the epidemic. Nigeria was officially declared Ebola free on 20th October 2014.