FACULTY OF ARTS

This Study Examined a semiotic analysis of items used in Igbo traditional marriage of Aguluzigbo community, Anambra State. The study relied on data collected from primary sources. The primary method involved oral interviews with 4 competent speakers of Aguluzigbo compising 3 women and 1 man, who are also vast with the cultural and traditional practices of Aguluzigbo, with their ages ranging from 40 years and above. The theoretical framework employed for the research is the "Semiotic theory" by Saussure (1916). The findings revealed that the items used in Igbo traditional marriage in Aguluzigbo carry significant symbolic meanings that reflect cultural values and social norms. Money, particularly the N1,000 paid by the groom, symbolizes his commitment and readiness to take on marriage responsibilities, serving as a marker of respect and social status. Palm wine represents unity, fertility, and prosperity, while also legitimizing the marriage between the two families. Items like small stout and malt drinks are symbols of strength, celebration, and inclusivity, reflecting the groom's ability to provide and the communal spirit of the ceremony. The male goat and yams signify fertility, provision, and respect for the bride’s family, emphasizing the agricultural roots of the community. Modern elements like Gulder beer symbolize the blending of tradition with contemporary practices, while raffia wine connects the ceremony to ancestral traditions. The cash payment and additional gifts, including palm wine and a goat, highlight the formal exchange and social identity within the community. The research concludes that the items used in the marriage ceremony of the Aguluzigbo community of Anambra State reinforce unity, respect, and the continuity of cultural practices.

This study examines reconciliation efforts in post-conflict societies through a comparative analysis of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and Nigeria’s Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (HRVIC), popularly known as the Oputa Panel. Both commissions were established to address decades of state-sponsored violence, promote national healing, and facilitate democratic renewal following systemic abuses apartheid in South Africa and military dictatorship in Nigeria. The research explores their legal foundations, operational frameworks, achievements, and limitations, assessing how political will, institutional design, and resource availability shaped their effectiveness. Findings reveal that while the South African TRC operated under a robust constitutional framework with statutory powers to grant amnesty and recommend reparations, the Nigerian Oputa Panel functioned as an ad hoc presidential commission lacking legislative backing. Consequently, the TRC succeeded in fostering national dialogue and establishing an enduring historical record, whereas the Oputa Panel’s impact was undermined by chronic underfunding, political interference, and weak enforcement mechanisms. The study concludes that truth commissions can serve as vital instruments for transitional justice and democratic consolidation, but their success depends on strong legal authority, sustained political commitment, adequate funding, and credible followthrough on recommendations. By comparing these two experiences, the research underscores essential lessons for post-conflict societies seeking lasting reconciliation, justice, and institutional reform across Africa.

This study examines a comparative analysis of the numeral systems of the Edo and Urhobo languages. The main aim was to identify the similarities and differences in their structure, formation, and cultural significance. Both languages belong to the Niger-Congo family and are spoken in southern Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive and comparative research design, drawing data from native speakers and existing linguistic materials. Findings from the analysis show that both Edo and Urhobo use a decimal (base-ten) numeral system and share similar patterns of additive and multiplicative formation. Numerals from eleven to nineteen are formed through addition, while twenty and its multiples are formed through multiplication. The two languages also share several phonological and lexical similarities, especially in the lower numerals (one to ten), suggesting a shared historical background or long-term language contact. However, there are notable differences in word usage and pronunciation. Edo uses the conjunction nye (“and”) when combining numbers, while Urhobo uses egbe’ (“of” or “plus”). Minor sound variations also occur due to differences in tone and vowel length. Beyond their structural features, the study reveals that numerals in both languages carry cultural meanings and are used in naming, trade, and traditional counting systems. Overall, the study concludes that while Edo and Urhobo numeral systems share many linguistic features due to their historical and cultural connections, each language maintains its own distinct identity. The research contributes to the understanding of numeral formation in Nigerian languages and highlights the close relationship between language, culture, and cognition in human societies.

The rigorous nature of academic tasks coupled with financial and social pressures make university students susceptible to depression. While research has shown that depression does affect one's communication skills, there has not been much light shed on the picture of how this affects the Nigerian Mass Communication student - a need that needs to be addressed given the Mass Communication student's need for a good command of communication skills. This study was therefore done to investigate the effects of depression on the communication skills of undergraduate Mass Communication students at the University of Benin. This study was carried out with the objectives of determining the prevalence and causes of depression among undergraduate Mass Communication students the University of Benin, how it affects their communication skills as well as the objective of proposing potential interventions to address the impact of depression on the students' communication skills. The study was anchored on the tenets of the Spiral of Silence theory and Beck's Cognitive theory. The study used a quantitative research design and collected data through a questionnaire which consisted of 24 close ended questions and 3 open ended questions and was administered to 265 students. The respondents were selected using the Krejcie and Morgan Table as well as stratified random sampling technique. The data was analysed using simple frequencies, percentages, and thematic analysis all presented in tabular forms. Findings from this study revealed a high prevalence of depressive symptoms, with 65.7% of the respondents screening positive with financial pressure (26%) and academic stress (20%) identified as the primary contributing factors. The study also found out that depression significantly impaired the affected respondents' verbal, non-verbal and interpersonal communication skills. A majority of affected students reported difficulties with verbal expression (66.5%), speaking up in class even when they had ideas (70.1%), and public speaking (65.5%). Non-verbal communication skills were also severely affected, with students reporting challenges with maintaining eye contact (69%), negative changes in body language (51.7%), and an inability to pay attention in conversations (54%). The challenges in utilizing interpersonal skills reported by the affected respondents were revealed through thematic analysis which highlighted social withdrawal and avoidance (20.6%) interpersonal difficulties and feelings of disconnection (21.6%) among other key effects. The study concludes that depression creates substantial barriers to the development and utilization of core communication skills essential for Mass Communication students' academic and career success. It recommends the implementation of a multi-tiered support system, including accessible professional mental health services, the fostering of peer support networks, and institutional reforms to alleviate the stressors

This study examined the representation of war memory and national trauma in Wale Ogunyemi’s The Flood and Ahmed Yerima’s Echoes of War. It explored how both playwrights employ dramatic art to expose the lingering scars of conflict and the struggle for national healing. Through close textual analysis, the research showed that Ogunyemi used symbolism and myth to portray a community haunted by guilt and divine retribution, while Yerima utilized ritual and performance but focuses on silence as a symbol of unresolved suffering. Both plays transformed memory into resistance, revealing how the burden of war continues to shape Nigeria’s collective conscience. The study concluded that theatre functions as a medium of processing collective trauma, remembrance and renewal, transforming pain into awareness and tragedy into moral reflection. Ultimately, both playwrights affirmed that true healing begins when a nation remembers

The researcher assessed the crisis communication strategies of the University of Benin, Edo State. The objectives of the study were, among others; to know the extent to which University of Benin engage in crisis communication, identify the strategies use by the university to engage in crisis in communication as well as finds out the level of effectiveness of the crisis communication of University of Benin. The study was anchored on the Contingency Theory of Strategic Conflict Management and Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT). The study used the mixed method research design (survey and interview), using the questionnaire and interview guide as data collection instruments. From a population of 77,000 students and 8,000 staff, a sample of size of 749 (382 students and 367 staff) respondents was arrived at using Krejcie & Morgan’s sample size formula while the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the University was purposively selected for the key participant interview (KPI). The data collected were analysed using simple percentages (survey data) and Yin’s Explanation Building Model (interview data) to provide answers to the research questions. The findings showed that the University of Benin engages actively in crisis communication, as majority of staff and students agreed that the university communicates during crises. It was also found that the university employs a mix of press releases, social media, emails, and its website for crisis communication. However, the PRO noted that while official channels like email are underused, more immediate platforms like WhatsApp are more effective for reaching stakeholders quickly, while the university’s crisis communication was found to be moderately effective, amongst others. The researcher concluded that crisis communication at the University of Benin is active but not fully effective. Based on the findings and conclusions, the researcher recommended that the University of Benin should adopt a proactive crisis communication approach, ensuring that timely, anticipatory messages are released before misinformation spreads and also integrate student-friendly platforms like Instagram into its official communication channels to increase reach and engagement, amongst others.

This study investigated the influence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on banking loyalty among customers of United Bank for Africa (UBA) in Benin City, Edo State. The study was motivated by the growing interest in how socially responsible practices affect customer relationships in the Nigerian banking sector. The objectives of the study were to examine the specific CSR initiatives implemented by UBA, assess customer perceptions of these efforts, determine their impact on banking loyalty, and identify key factors that influence the effectiveness of CSR in fostering customer commitment. The study is anchored on the stakeholder and the social exchange theories which state that customers are more likely to remain loyal to organizations that actively contribute to societal welfare and engage transparently with their communities. A sample size of 384 respondents was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique involving purposive and random methods across three Local Government Areas in Benin City: Oredo, Egor, and Ikpoba-Okha. Data was collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed quantitatively. The findings revealed that although UBA has launched several CSR initiatives—such as educational support, healthcare programmes, and environmental sustainability projects—many customers are either unaware of these efforts or perceive them as ineffective, with most respondents expressing neutral or negative attitudes toward the bank’s CSR engagement. The study concluded that UBA carries out CSR activities but its impact on customer loyalty is small. Accordingly, it was recommended that UBA enhance its CSR communication strategies by leveraging digital and face-to-face platforms, actively involve community leaders in programme design and execution, among others

Mass communication is a broad department with various niches. This can sometimes make it difficult for students to have a defined career choice. This study was carried out to explore the factors that shapes the career decisions of mass communication students, paying close attention to personal motivations, industry influences, and hands-on learning, questionnaire was used to gather data on 1240Mass communication students, the results showed that career choices are not determined by a single factor but are instead the outcome of several overlapping influences, The results also shows how role of the media exposure alongside industry trends shapes students career decisions. This study was necessary cause even though some studies have mentioned these issues individually, there was a lack of a comprehensive study to address the personal, social, and institutional influences affecting students, which would direct students towards a logical and favorable career decision. Hence the empirical importance of carrying out the study.

The aim of this study was to examine selected Igbo proverbs with a view to understanding how cultural and thematic meanings are embedded within them. The objective of the study is to identify common themes in Igbo proverbs, and explore the cultural messages they convey. Using semiotics and ethnography of communication approaches, the data for this study were collected by oral interviews with native Igbo speakers. The findings of the study reveal that Igbo proverbs are rich in cultural values, moral teachings, and traditional wisdom. The study shows that the themes embedded in the proverbs reflect societal beliefs on truth, social control, wisdom, hospitality and patience. It concludes that Igbo proverbs serve as linguistic tools for preserving culture and transmitting moral values across generations. Most of the proverbs carry deep meaning that comes from the Igbo culture and are used in everyday interactions to teach, correct, and advise, thereby reflecting the worldview of the Igbo people.

This study was carried out to assess the use of mobile apps for health communication in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Questionnaire was used to gather data from 100 healthcare professionals and patients at UBTH. The study which adopted the survey research method was anchored on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory and the Health Belief Model (HBM). Findings of the study revealed that the level at which healthcare professionals and patients of UBTH are exposed to mHealth applications is high. The findings also indicated that mHealth apps enhance communication between patients and healthcare providers, although respondents revealed that they rarely use these apps. This was indicated to be so because respondents prefer to communicate directly over using mHealth apps due to concerns about data security and cultural preferences for in-person consultation. Based on the findings, the researcher concluded that mHealth applications have not been successfully put to regular use in the hospital. The researcher therefore recommended among other things that the government should establish and execute policies at the health policy stage that would make the use of mobile applications a key aspect of healthcare delivery in the nation’s healthcare system. The researcher also recommended that developers of mHealth apps need to implement robust security data measures.