FACULTY OF ARTS

This study examines the use of metaphor as a tool for social criticism in selected poems from Kola Eke’s August 1985. The research explores how Eke employs figurative expressions to expose and challenge social, political, and economic injustices in Nigerian society. Through vivid metaphors, the poet critiques corruption, class oppression, gender inequality, and moral decay that characterize post-colonial realities. The study interprets these metaphors as symbols of resistance and social awakening, reflecting the voice of the marginalized and the oppressed. The analysis focuses on how Eke transforms ordinary experiences into powerful social commentaries that provoke thought and inspire change. His language of protest and imagery of struggle reveal the tension between the ruling elite and the common people, making his poetry not only artistic but revolutionary. The study finds that Eke’s metaphors deepen the meaning of his criticism, turning poetic language into a weapon of awareness and reform.
The research concludes that metaphor in August 1985 is not just a stylistic device but a conscious political act. It exposes inequality, questions authority, and advocates social justice. By merging art with activism, Kola Eke’s poetry strengthens the tradition of Nigerian writers who use literature to mirror society and drive transformation.

This study investigates the stylistic rendition of hymns in selected Pentecostal churches in Benin City, Nigeria.
While African Christian music has received considerable scholarly attention, limited studies have provided detailed stylistic and ethnographic analyses of hymn performance within Edo State’s unique socio-cultural context, as most focus on broader or Yorùbá settings. This research fills that gap by examining how hymns are musically, linguistically, and theologically reconfigured across five major Pentecostal denominations in Benin City. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study integrates stylistic analysis covering phonology, lexis, syntax, and semantics—with ethnographic methods. Data were obtained through non-participant observation, audio recordings, and semi-structured interviews with pastors, music leaders, and congregants. Findings are expected to reveal that hymn renditions in these churches feature increased tempo and rhythmic intensity, code-switching into Nigerian Pidgin and Edo languages, and semantic expansion through new themes emphasizing prosperity, healing, and spiritual
warfare. These stylistic adaptations reflect intentional strategies by church leaders to foster cultural relevance, encourage congregational engagement, and root theological messages in the local lived realities of worshippers. Ultimately, the study contributes to African religious and music scholarship by offering a contextualized framework for understanding the dynamic interplay between musical performance, linguistic adaptation, and theological interpretation in Pentecostal worship in Benin City

This study examines how societal maladies are depicted and understood in Nigerian society. It does so by comparing two well-known Nigerian literary works: Frank Ogbeche's Harvest of Corruption and Femi Osofisan's Midnight Hotel. Instead of focusing on specific details, the study takes a thematic approach to explore the various aspects of these societal issues as presented in the two narratives. By closely analyzing the characters, plot developments, and socio-political contexts, the project aims to reveal the authors' criticisms and observations of the current realities in Nigeria. Additionally, by comparing the treatment of these themes in the two works, the study provides insights into the unique perspectives and storytelling techniques employed by the authors. Ultimately, this project enhances our understanding of the complex dynamics surrounding political corruption, sexual immorality, and religious bigotry in contemporary Nigerian literature. It also emphasizes the role of literature as a reflection of societal norms, challenges, and aspirations.

This study investigates the phenomenon of generational language change and variation in the Edo language, focusing on the differences between urban elders (60+ years) and youths (15-25 years) in Benin City, Nigeria. Framed within the sociolinguistic theories of Language Change and Social Networks, the research employs a mixed-methods approach to analyze linguistic data across lexicon, phonology, and grammar. Findings reveal a significant linguistic divergence: the youth variety is a systematic hybrid, characterized by high rates of intra-sentential code-mixing and the integration of exclusive English loanwords and slang (e.g., Mád, Crúz). Conversely, elders preserve the traditional Edo lexicon and grammar. This innovation is strongly correlated with exposure to formal education, mass media, and peer-group dynamics, which serve as "loose" social networks accelerating change. Elders view the change with anxiety, perceiving it as degradation, while youths view it as pragmatic evolution necessary for urban identity and modernity. The study concludes that age is the primary vector for language change in the urban Edo community, leading to the formation of two distinct generational speech varieties..

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Cybercrime has emerged as one of the most significant challenges facing Nigeria in the digital age, with its effects being particularly evident among youths. This study examines the impacts of cybercrime in Nigeria, using youths in Benin City as a case study. The research investigates the social, economic, and psychological consequences of cybercrime on young people, as well as its influence on societal values, employment opportunities, and the reputation of Nigeria both locally and internationally. Data were collected through surveys, interviews, and relevant secondary sources involving youths within Benin City. The findings reveal that while cybercrime provides short-term financial gains for some individuals, it contributes significantly to moral decadence, youth unemployment, loss of trust in online transactions, financial losses to victims, and the stigmatization of Nigerian youths in global digital spaces. The study further identifies factors such as unemployment, poverty, peer influence, and the quest for quick wealth as major drivers of cybercrime among youths. The research concludes that cybercrime poses serious threats to sustainable development and social stability in Nigeria. It recommends increased employment opportunities, digital literacy programs, stricter law enforcement, and youth empowerment initiatives as effective measures to curb cybercrime and promote responsible use of information and communication technologies among young people in Benin City and Nigeria at large.

The study is based on the impact of Netflix in the advancement of the Nigerian movie industry. The study analyzes the impact of Netflix on Nollywood and how it has aided the growth of the industry amongst youths in Benin City. This study examines the role of Netflix in advancing the Nigerian movie industry by analyzing its impact on film production, distribution, and audience engagement.The motive of this research was further explained by the researcher using diffusion of innovation theory. The research draws insights from existing empirical studies and emphasizes how Netflix provides a structured platform for global exposure, encourages higher production standards, and opens new economic opportunities for filmmakers through funding and partnerships. By situating Nollywood within the global digital entertainment landscape, this study highlights how Netflix is not only reshaping viewing patterns but also positioning the Nigerian movie industry as a competitive player on the world stage.

This study, titled Comparative Assessment of Antonyms in Udi Dialect of Igbo, investigates the nature, structure, and dialectal realization of antonymy within the Udi dialect, with comparative reference to Standard Igbo. The research was motivated by the need to describe how oppositional meaning, a key component of semantic organization, manifests across dialectal variations within the Igbo language. Despite extensive studies on Igbo grammar and phonology, little attention has been given to the comparative semantics of dialects, particularly in the area of antonymy. The study employed both Lexical Semantic Theory and Dialectological Theory as its analytical frameworks. The Lexical Semantic Theory provided a structural explanation for meaning opposition within the lexicon, while the Dialectological Theory accounted for the influence of regional variation on phonological and morphological realization. Data were obtained through oral elicitation from ten native speakers of the Udi dialect and analyzed qualitatively. The collected data were grouped into four categories of antonyms—gradable, complementary, relational, and contextual—to capture the full semantic range of oppositional relationships. Findings revealed that antonymy in the Udi dialect operates within a highly systematic semantic structure comparable to that of Standard Igbo. The dialect demonstrates strong semantic stability but exhibits phonological and morphological reduction, characterized by syllable shortening, tonal simplification, and vowel elision. Across all categories, oppositional meanings remained constant, indicating that dialectal variation in Igbo affects form rather than meaning. The study concludes that antonymy serves as both a structural constant and a dialectal identifier within Igbo, confirming the resilience of meaning relations across linguistic varieties. It is therefore recommended that further research extend comparative analysis to other Igbo dialects to build a more comprehensive understanding of meaning relations and to support the preservation of dialectal diversity within the Igbo language.

This research analyses the 2023 UNIBEN staging of Ola Rotimi’s If: A Tragedy of the Ruled as protest theatre to confront systemic poverty in Nigeria. Through TfD’s participatory lens. The production, performed by 200-level students exposed poverty as elite-orchestrated betrayal rather than personal failure, using satire, Pidgin choral resistance, and direct audience address to dramatize healthcare collapse, gendered exploitation, and inflation-driven evictions. Script and observational analysis reveal how the tenement microcosm sparked conscientization, viral discourse, and micro-petitions, while challenging “education ends poverty” myths amid graduate joblessness. Yet resource constraints, urban-academic isolation, and solution deficits limited impact. Marking the first documented Nigerian university use of canonical protest theatre for direct poverty advocacy, findings highlight theatre’s power to forge empathy and agency

This study presents a stylistic analysis of Chigozie Obioma’s An Orchestra of Minorities, focusing on his use of language, proverbs, characterisation, imagery and symbolism, narrative structure. Obioma’s blending of English, Igbo, and Nigerian Pidgin through code- switching and code-mixing serves as a means of revealing the cultural and social Identity of the characters. Obioma’s deployment of proverbial expression helps to position his narrative within Igbo traditional storytelling method and serves to impart moral lessons, exploring theme such as destiny, communal bonds, and spirituality. The characters, especially, Chinonso and his spiritual guide(Chi) are rendered with considerable depth. The narrative is rich in symbolism which are derived from Igbo beliefs to illustrate core themes such as fate, suffering, and resilience. The narrative developes through non-linear structure, narrated by Chinonso’s Chi. This narrative choice provides a unique point surpassing the constraints of linear time. The novel is set in Nigeria and Cyprus which highlights the contrasting changes between tradition and modernity. This analysis demonstrates how Obioma’s distinct style is not merely aesthetic but inherently linked to the narrative’s central themes which presents the novel’s significance within contemporary African literature. It further emphasises the value placed on traditional storytelling within a postcolonial context