FACULTY OF ARTS,

This study critically examines the poetic works of Niyi Osundare in "The Word is an Egg" and Okinba Launko in "Dream-Seeker on Divining Chain", with a focus on their visions of freedom and justice. Grounded in Marxist theory, the research situates both poets within the socio-political contexts of oppression, inequality, and historical exploitation in African societies, highlighting how poetry functions as a tool for social critique and consciousness-raising. Osundare’s work demonstrates a deliberate engagement with language as a weapon of resistance; his metaphors of the Word as fragile yet transformative, and the careful structuring of imagery and irony, reveal the mechanisms through which language challenges authoritarian power and exposes systemic injustice. Similarly, Launko’s poetry combines lyrical introspection with socio-political observation, mapping the intersections of memory, collective suffering, and hope. Through his vivid portrayals of historical violence, social decay, and the persistence of human aspiration, Launko articulates a vision of a just society where freedom is both a natural right and a moral imperative. The research foregrounds the poetic techniques employed by both writers, including metaphor, symbolism, and tonal variation, as instruments that dramatize oppression and highlight possibilities of emancipation. Close textual analysis of selected poems, including The Word is an Egg, Trapped Words, Ode to Anger, and Launko’s Freedom Song, Petals, and A Forming Fear, demonstrates how the poets’ works articulate visions of social transformation, collective memory, and moral accountability. By situating these texts within a Marxist framework, the study underscores the socio-economic and political critiques embedded in the poetry, revealing the tension between the oppressed and the structures that sustain their marginalization. Ultimately, this research presents Osundare and Launko not merely as literary figures but as cultural commentators and activists, whose poetry embodies both a critique of exploitation and a constructive vision for liberation. Their works illuminate the dynamics of power, resistance, and human aspiration, offering profound insights into the role of African poetry as a medium for social awareness, historical reflection, and the pursuit of justice.

This study examines the Yorùbá concept of àyànmọ (destiny) as a possible solution to the enduring Western philosophical debate between free willist and determinist. The research aims to: conduct systematic assessment of Western metaphysical discourse on free will and determinism with Yorùbá ontological understanding of human agency and destiny; demonstrate how the traditional Western problem may be less inflexible when approached through the àyànmọ framework; explore opportunities for combining Western analytical rigor with Yorùbá practical wisdom; and contribute to comparative philosophy by showing how engagement with non-Western traditions mirrors hidden traditions in Western approaches. The research employs hermeneutical and critical analysis methodology, drawing upon Gadamerian concepts of "fusion of horizons" to conduct cross-cultural philosophical investigation. The approach combines interpretive understanding with rigorous evaluation, investigating the historical development and cultural embeddedness of concepts within both Western and Yorùbá frameworks while sustaining standards of logical coherence and practical relevance. The study reveals that àyànmọ, etymological meaning "that which one chooses and becomes fixed," presents a cultured understanding of agency through progressive pluralism that recognizes multiple levels of agency operating at the same time. The ori's prenatal choice creates parameters within which incarnate freedom functions through character development (ìwà), creating nested orders of agency that preserve both cosmic order and moral responsibility. The Yorùbá hierarchical ontology, extending from Olódùmarè (Supreme Being) through the òrìṣà (deities) to human beings, situates personal destiny within broader cosmic relationships. This framework addresses deterministic concerns about constraining circumstances while maintaining space for genuine moral achievement, demonstrating that Yorùbá philosophy offers valuable resources for contemporary philosophical discourse on human agency and moral responsibility

This research was conducted to examine the coverage of new CBN policy on redesigned naira note, by select mainstream newspapers in Nigeria. Its aimwereto ascertain the level of coverage given to CBN new policy on redesigned naira note, find out what prominence was given to new CBN policy on redesigned naira note, ascertain the possible position of newspapers in the newspaper reportage of CBN policy on redesigned naira note, determine the pattern of reports given to report age on new CBN policy on redesigned naira note and lastly ascertain the frequency of stories on the CBN policy on redesigned naira note. The content analysis method was adopted to carefully collect data from newspaper stories published from October 26, 2022 to February 2023. A total of 71 editions of both Vanguard and Guardian newspapers were collated and analyzed. The study was anchored on the Agenda-Setting theory and the media dependency theory. The findings of the research revealed that; Media organizations in Nigeria, gave a high level of reportage onCBNpolicy on redesigned naira note, media organizations did not give prominence to there portage of activities on CBN policy on redesigned naira note, media organizationsfailed in their correlation or interpretative function as most of the items on the subject matter were reported as straight news, newspapers in Nigeria were not frequent enough with the reportage of CBN policy on redesigned naira note, media organizations is on the negative stand point on the issue of CBN policy on redesigned naira note, media organizations, covered more items on criticism and reactions of the public on the policy. The researcher however recommends that; Media organizations should avoid adding too much emotions to their new stories, so that the audience will not get too emotional and miss the message, on issues of government policies, media organizations, should be more frequent in the reportage of stories, that has to do with policies at its early stage, rather than engaging in the rush hour approach, to ensure proper understanding, more media practitioners should be trained on financial analysis, so that when any policy that has to do with finance, is made by the government, they will be able to conduct proper analysis on it, while trying to represent the public, on issues of government policies, the media should place more focus on stories that will enlighten the members of the public rather than projecting stories of attack and problems emanating from the policy, the media should try as much as possible to be on a neutral position and uphold truth and accuracy, so that they will not present the government in a bad light.

The study investigated an aspect of the morpho-phonological structure of Ẹdo language and its focus was to examine the structure of names and the linguistic processes associated with name derivation. The study was based on the desire to get a proper insight into the structure of words in Ẹdo language and how they affect the general world view of the people in the process of naming. The method of data analysis employed is the qualitative research method which consists of personal names analyzed by breaking them down into components units. The study shows that names represent an important aspect of the morphological and phonological structure of Ẹdo language and they possessed a unique compositional nature and are expressed following the circumstance of birth. Naming of children is of great significance in the African society and it often marked by ceremonies and rituals. Within Edo community Osa personal names assigned to children carry deeper meanings, cautions, emotions, and references to God’s guidance and protection and the names also function as a form of acknowledgement to God for his mercies as the names in Ẹdo are drawn from the general beliefs of the people, and are believed to guide the child through life and determine their fate. Personal names in Ẹdo can be a phrase or even complete sentence which are often abbreviated for ease of use. This means that the names are post-lexical forms that have been merged into a single word by desententialization.

In the competitive market of goods and services, language plays a pivotal role in attracting the target audience, customers and residents within the Benin metropolis. It is against this backdrop that the study assesses the effectiveness of the use of Pidgin English language by brands in the promotion of their products and services among residents of the Benin Metropolis. Through a comprehensive approach incorporating quantitative surveys, data were collected from the residents of Benin metropolis. Findings revealed that the use of Pidgin English in advertisements by some brands
seem more persuasive than advertisements made with the standard English language within the Benin Metropolis. Based on the findings, the researcher concluded that the adoption of the use of Pidgin English by brands to reach out to a wider audience and also make relatable advertisements would resonate with the target audience experiences in order to capture their attention and make more sales

Language is a dynamic and multifaceted tool of communication, often characterized by polysemy and lexical ambiguity, which contribute to depth and richness in meaning. This study examines the phenomena of polysemy and lexical ambguity in Urhobo proverbs, exploring how multiple meanings of words shape interpretations, cultural wisdom, and linguistic expression. Given that proverbs serve as an essential comp nent of Urhobo oral tradition, their meanings are often layered, requiring contextual understanding to fully grasp their implications. The study investigates various polysemous words in Urhobo proverbs, such as "evun" (which can mean stomach, pregnancy, or inside), "oto" (ground, movement, or meaning), and "hwe" (kill, punish, or break), among others. These words introduce lexical ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations depending on the speaker’s intent, audience, and cultural setting. By analyzing specific proverbs, this research highlights how ambiguity is intentionally used to convey moral lessons, social values, and philosophical insights within the Urhobo language. A qualitative approach was employed, drawing data from Urhobo oral literature, linguistic analysis, and interviews with native speakers. The findings reveal that polysemy and lexical ambiguity are deliberate linguistic strategies that enrich Urhobo proverbs, making them flexible tools for storytelling, education, and moral instruction. Moreover, the study emphasizes the role of context in deciphering the intended meaning of ambiguous expressions, underscoring the complexity of Urhobo semantics.

Adams Oshiomhole was the governor of Edo State, Nigeria, for two terms in the past. After taking over office with the now-defunct Action Congress (AC) in 2007, he served under the auspices of the All Progressive Congress (APC). Oshiomole rose to prominence as the leader and president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) prior to entering politics.1 When the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole took over office in November 2008, it realized that the Board of Internal Revenue needed to be reorganized and reformed in order to maximize the government's Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the provision of infrastructure and other services. This decision, which aims to institutionalize and improve tax and revenue administration while embracing the Comrade Governor's vision of a people- and results- oriented government, was a very brave and well-considered step.2 Since all other facets of growth have been put on hold, the comrade governor Oshiomhole's plan for infrastructure development has taken a different direction. This is because it is the exclusive goal of their government. In contrast to sports, social welfare, and security, the health sector is in a vegetative state, agriculture is in decline, and industry is not given attention. Nobody is fighting over these mistakes because everyone has the right to set viii their own priorities. However, arguments can arise if projects are prioritized yet lack cost-effective quality.3 The much-discussed highways are the first cause for alarm during comrade governor Oshiomhole. The administration has referred to its accomplishments in building roads as its "Magnus opus." The accomplishment reports are skillfully delivered without providing all the details. The public has never been informed of the number of kilometers of completed roads or the length of the corresponding drainage systems.4 It is feasible to complete 1,000 roads measuring 100 kilometers, as well as 100 roads measuring 1,000 kilometers. The one who has completed 1,000 roads appears to have accomplished something that Napoleon was unable to, while the person who has completed 100 roads is likely considered a trailblazer.5 But an appropriate assessment and appraisal become simple when the number of roads is compared side by side with the length in kilometers. As a result, O.O. Ikelegbe and D.A. Edokpa found that infrastructures are important indicators of development as well as quality of life and have the ability to promote endogenous growth,6 prevent rural-urban migration, stimulate economic activity, and raise living standards in Edo State's rural areas. It is clear that, many parts of Benin City, the capital of Edo State, have deplorable infrastructure currently, and urgent infrastructural provision and upkeep are needed to stop the eventual consequences on quality of life of the citizens. It is clear that emerging nations have quite different levels

Over the years different philosophers have proffered answers to the question “who is a person?” However, given the contradictory theories offered by these various thinkers such as Rene Descartes, Segun Gbadegesin, Kwame Gyekye and Mogobe Ramose, the problem seems to have eluded any attempt at resolving it. In African philosophy, Wiredu’s idea of the Akan notion of a person marks a watershed to the discuss on a personhood.resent scholars like Osemwengie and Asia explored the Edo notion of a person and Obinyan on his part examined the notion of Oria in Esan ontology. However, with the method of hermeneutics, this study crystallizes Ifeanyi Menkiti’s notion of a person and argues with the fact in forms a defense and a better approach to the problem of personhood. This work concludes in line with Menkiti that an understanding of the qualitative relationship between a person and a community cannot be ignored in defining personhood.

Nigeria's national security landscape has undergone significant transformations since independence in 1960. The country's security challenges have shifted from traditional state-based threats to non-state actors, asymmetric warfare, and transnational crimes.1 This study examines the changing nature of national security threats in Nigeria from 2009 to 2022, exploring historical roots, contemporary challenges, and government responses. Nigeria's national security trajectory is deeply rooted in its colonial legacy. The British colonial administration's divide-and- rule policy created ethnic and regional tensions that persist today. Post-independence, Nigeria's national security concerns shifted from internal stability to regional and global issues, including the Nigerian Civil War and the Cold War. The post-Cold War era saw the emergence of non- state actors, terrorism, and insurgency.2

All known human societies have a system of rules and a machinery for ensuring compliance. These machinery is known as the government. In every society, the government exists solely to protect the lives of her citizens and their properties through a social contract. Through this highly contractual relationship, people surrender their inalienable rights to the government to establish order and stability. This have led to the development of a police system to protect tranquility and
sanity in the political clime. In Nigeria, the Nigeria police force (NPF) exists to maintain laws and orders. The integration of Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914 foreshadowed the creation of the current Nigerian National Police on April 1, 1930, headquartered in Lagos (Oluwasola, 2016).