FACULTY OF ARTS

PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES OF DESIGNING COSTUMES FOR A THEATRICAL PRODUCTION

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This study systematically investigates the complex problems and systemic challenges impeding the practice of costume design within Nigerian theatrical contexts, focusing primarily on university theatre programs and professional companies in Benin City, Edo State. Recognized as a vital visual language essential for establishing character identity, social status, and narrative clarity, costume design in Nigeria is fundamentally constrained by factors ranging from chronic resource limitations to inadequate professional structures. Specifically, designers operate under severe financial constraints marked by low budgetary priority, coupled with extensive infrastructural deficiencies such as the lack of dedicated, equipped costume workshops. This environment is compounded by significant educational and training gaps, where a shortage of specialized university programs perpetuates a cycle of amateurism rather than professional expertise. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing a descriptive survey design alongside document analysis of production records. Data were gathered via structured questionnaires from a purposive sample of eighty respondents, including professional theatre practitioners and students of costume design at the University of Benin. Findings overwhelmingly confirmed that costume design is a cornerstone of theatrical success, with over 85% of respondents affirming its role in enhancing aesthetic coherence and audience comprehension. However, the study also empirically validated the severity of the identified problems, revealing structural, financial, and pedagogical limitations as the core obstacles. Key interventions were proposed, with a strong consensus advocating for increased institutional funding (93%), the establishment of modern costume workshops (91%), and developing industry partnerships for material and skill exchange (90%). The conclusion posits that sustainable artistic excellence requires comprehensive systemic reform, including enhanced professionalrecognition and the development of digital archives, to elevate costume design to its rightful standing as a serious creative discipline in Nigerian theatre.Here’s a suitable Keywords section you can add to the end of you’re abstract: Keywords: Costume Design, Nigerian Theatre, University Theatre Programs, Professional Theatre, Benin City, Theatrical Production, Resource Constraints, Costume Workshop, Theatre Education, Artistic Development, Cultural Production, Systemic Challenges, Visual Aesthetics, Creative Industry Reform.
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CONSTRUCTION OF SPECIALLY ADAPTABLE COMPARTMENTS FOR DISPLAY AND STORAGE OF TEXTILES

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Storage and display of textiles are as important as creating the textiles it self. The longitive of textiles depends on how well it has been stored, handled and preserved, also to appreciate properly a good textile produce it has to be displayed in the right manner to be appealing to the human sense of sight. This research is aimed at tackling the problem of storage and display of textiles in the textile unit, which will help improve the lifespan of textiles produced, protecting them from factors that damage textiles and also help showcase the beautiful textiles done in the university of Benin by the textile unit of the department of fine and applied art. The major aim of this research is to provide specially adapted compartments for the display and storage of textiles through construction. The concept of the compartments are gotten from comparative studies of various display and storage compartments in art museums, galleries and other higher institutions with a textile unit. It is hoped that the specially adapted compartments for storage and display of textiles will be useful in reducing fabric damage and help display textiles properly for it's beauty to be appreciated
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USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN CONTEMPORARY GLOBAL CONFLICT SINCE 2000AD

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This study examines the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in contemporary global conflict since 2000AD. The rapid advancement of digital technology and artificial intelligence has significantly transformed the nature of warfare, security operations, intelligence gathering, and international conflict management in the twenty-first century. The study explores how AI technologies have been applied in modern conflicts through autonomous weapons systems, surveillance technologies, cybersecurity operations, drone warfare, intelligence analysis, and military decision-making processes. It also investigates the implications of AI on global peace, security, and international relations. The study adopted a descriptive and analytical research design using secondary sources of data, including books, journal articles, government publications, online reports, and scholarly materials related to artificial intelligence and modern warfare. Findings revealed that AI has improved military efficiency, speed, precision, and intelligence capabilities in many countries involved in global conflicts. Nations such as the United States, China, and Russia have increasingly invested in AI-driven military technologies to strengthen national defense and strategic advantage. The study also found that AI has contributed to the rise of cyber warfare, automated surveillance systems, misinformation campaigns, and the development of autonomous combat weapons. Despite these advantages, the study identified several challenges associated with the use of AI in contemporary conflicts. These include ethical concerns, civilian casualties resulting from autonomous systems, loss of human control in warfare, cyber threats, privacy violations, and the possibility of AI technologies being used by terrorist groups and criminal organizations. The study further revealed that the absence of comprehensive international regulations on military AI poses serious risks to global security and stability. The study concluded that artificial intelligence has become a major factor shaping the nature of contemporary global conflict since 2000AD. While AI offers opportunities for improved security and military effectiveness, its misuse and uncontrolled expansion could threaten international peace and human safety. The study therefore recommended the establishment of global policies and ethical frameworks to regulate the use of AI in warfare, encourage international cooperation, and ensure that AI technologies are used responsibly for the promotion of peace and security worldwide.
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CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES INFLUENCE IN OWERRI 1910-1990

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This study examines the influence of Christian missionaries in Owerri between 1910 and 1990. The arrival of Christian missionaries in Owerri brought significant social, educational, religious, and economic changes that transformed the traditional structure of the society. The study investigates the activities of various missionary groups and evaluates their contributions to the development of Owerri during the colonial and post-colonial periods. It also explores the interaction between Christianity and the indigenous beliefs and practices of the people of Owerri. The study adopted a historical research design using both primary and secondary sources of data. Primary sources included oral interviews and archival materials, while secondary sources consisted of textbooks, journals, articles, and previous research works related to missionary activities in Eastern Nigeria. Findings from the study revealed that Christian missionaries played major roles in the establishment of schools, hospitals, churches, and other social institutions in Owerri. They contributed greatly to the spread of Western education, literacy, healthcare services, and moral teachings, which helped in shaping modern social and political development in the area. However, the study also found that missionary activities led to the decline of some traditional religious practices, cultural values, and indigenous institutions. The introduction of Christianity created both cooperation and conflict between converts and traditional worshippers. Despite these challenges, the overall impact of Christian missionaries in Owerri between 1910 and 1990 was largely positive, particularly in the areas of education, religion, and social transformation. The study concluded that Christian missionary activities significantly influenced the historical development of Owerri and contributed to the modernization of the society. It therefore recommended that the positive legacies of missionary efforts, especially in education and healthcare, should be preserved while promoting respect for indigenous cultural heritage and values.
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WOMEN’S RIGHT OF INHERITANCE IN ESANLAND IN THE LIGHT OF NUMBERS 27:1 – 11

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The aim of this study was to examine the age long practice of denying Esan women the right to inherit from their parents. This practice which is rooted in custom and tradition of the Esan people have resulted in social, economic and political disequilibrium among family members. Parents are abandoned by their rich children in protest of a tradition that denies them the right of inheritance. The objectives of the study were to analyze the geographical location and the world view of the Esan people, examine the phenomenon of inheritance in Esan land as it relates to women, investigate women's rights to inheritance, investigate the root causes of the denial of women’s rights to inheritance in Esan land, bring to the fore the impact of disinheritance on Esan women, identify the similitude of Zelophehad’s daughters in Numbers 27:1-11 with the Esan situation and investigate if Moses’ judgement was a one-off practice or it became the norm in Israel. The study deployed a multidimensional methodological approach. The first is African biblical hermeneutics approach which has to do with the decolonization of biblical studies by putting into consideration African social, cultural, political and economic environment in interpreting biblical text. Another is the exegetical approach of biblical inquiry. This approach, adopts the grammatico- historical analysis of words and clauses in biblical text and applies its findings to a particular context. Additionally, this thesis utilized various secondary materials such as Hebrew dictionaries, lexicons, journal collections, and library resources. Oral interviews were also conducted to get views of the
Esan people on the subject of inheritance. The findings of the research include inter-alia: that the denial of inheritance to women in Esanland is against the 1999 Nigerian constitution as amended in section 42 which protects every Nigerian against discrimination. Denial of inheritance to women in Esan is rooted in economic and spiritual matrix. The ancient Israelite society, though patriarchal in nature in an exceptional case gave inheritance of land to Zelophehad daughters; that the analysis of Numbers 27:1-11 is relevant to the Esan context as a model to address women right of inheritance; that there is a similarity between the ancient Israelite custom of inheritance and the Esan people in relation to women; that in the course of this research it was discovered that the beneficiaries of this current system prefer the status quo. While other who are disadvantaged by the system want a change. The research concludes that Esan land faces the problem of implosion if inheritance laws are not amended. Moses’ approach would go a long way in correcting a practice that has become a ticking time bomb in Esanland.
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THE ETHICS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: DO MACHINES HAVE MORAL RIGHTS?

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With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, the ethical implications and moral rights associated with it are becoming more significant. This research looks into whether AI systems, especially those that are very advanced, deserve moral attention. The analysis focuses on important ethical concepts, including utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics, to assess the moral position of AI. Furthermore, it looks at different standards for moral personhood, such as awareness, independence, and the ability to feel pain. This study also explores the actual effects, such as legal systems, the role of AI in making decisions, and the possible impacts on society if AI does or does not receive moral consideration. By examining these debates, this research seeks to offer a fair perspective on the challenge of whether machines can or should be granted moral rights, as AI technology becomes more integrated into our lives. In this research, we will be using the critical analytic method for us to be able to understand the topic
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co-supervisor

THE ETHICS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: DO MACHINES HAVE MORAL RIGHTS?

Year of Publication
Publication Type
Abstract
With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, the ethical implications and moral rights associated with it are becoming more significant. This research looks into whether AI systems, especially those that are very advanced, deserve moral attention. The analysis focuses on important ethical concepts, including utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics, to assess the moral position of AI. Furthermore, it looks at different standards for moral personhood, such as awareness, independence, and the ability to feel pain. This study also explores the actual effects, such as legal systems, the role of AI in making decisions, and the possible impacts on society if AI does or does not receive moral consideration. By examining these debates, this research seeks to offer a fair perspective on the challenge of whether machines can or should be granted moral rights, as AI technology becomes more integrated into our lives. In this research, we will be using the critical analytic method for us to be able to understand the topic
Supervisor(s)
co-supervisor

THE IMPACT OF CELEBRITY AMBASSADORS AS PROMOTIONAL STRATEGIES IN BRAND ADVERTISING: A STUDY OF GLOBACOM, NIGERIA

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This study aims to investigate the impact of celebrity ambassadors as promotional strategies in brand advertising. A study of Globacom Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to identify the extent to which celebrity ambassadors influence consumer perception of Globacom, examine how celebrity endorsement affects brand loyalty among Globacom subscribers, assess whether the use of celebrity ambassadors translate into increased competitiveness for Globacom in the telecommunications industry, ascertain the challenges associated with using celebrity ambassadors in Globacom’s brand advertising. The theory adopted was the source credibility theory, while the methodology meant used was the survey research design. Copies of questionnaire were distributed to students of Theatre Arts, UNIBEN. The findings show that celebrities enhance brand visibility, appeal, and consumer trust while fostering emotional connection and long-term loyalty. The findings also showed that their presence is not sufficient to prevent subscriber churn, and the impact on competitiveness, while positive, is not universally assured. Furthermore, celebrity endorsement comes with notable challenges, including high costs, reputational risks, and the potential to overshadow the brand or product. It was concluded that celebrity endorsements significantly influence consumer perception, brand loyalty, and competitive positioning for Globacom. It was therefore recommended that management should organize regular management training programs and professional Globacom should ensure that celebrity endorsements align closely with brand values and marketing objectives to avoid overshadowing the core product or service. It was also recommended that the company must establish protocols to manage reputational risks associated with scandals or negative publicity involving celebrity ambassadors.
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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DANCE AND MUSIC EXPRESSION IN OGHOGHO DANCE OF THE BENIN PEOPLE

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This project examines the Oghogho dance as a tool for cultural revival to achieve this, the dance was staged to provide a more authentic knowledge of the dance in the kind of the reader or audience. Literary/artistic methodology were explored to determine the theoretical / practical aspects of the research. Thus, the research conclude that dance is an essential necessity for reviving culture
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VERBS OF PERCEPTION IN YORUBA LANGUAGE

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The correct, proper interpretation and application of perceptual verbs in English is a major challenge to the Yoruba learners. The topic "PERCEPTUAL VERBS" such as "look, see, taste, hear, touch, smell, e.t.c. is an unresolved problem for linguistic theories. This work examines the meaning and understanding of the various perceptual verbs in relation to Yoruba language. Languages differ in their number of basic verbs that describe perceptual experiences. Some languages have only two of such verbs. One for visual perception, another for non-visual perception. Yoruba is a language of verbs which has different verbs for each perception. This
research work is aimed at solving perceptual verb problems, educating people on the true meaning and reality of perception. I collected the data in Lagos state by choosing from random people with potentials in Yoruba language. People who speak the language profoundly, scholars in the language. The providers of the data of this research work were "twenty one old generation speakers" and "thirteen new /younger generation of Yoruba speakers". These two generational speakers gave amazing feedbacks just that the older generation feedback was more competent as they had the translation to all the verbs I provided them with. The new generation now mix English with their Yoruba when speaking while the older generation make use of pure Yoruba. This work is laid out in five different chapters followed by the references and appendix. The work allocates the semantic perceptual verbs that fall under the five classes of perceptual verbs into their various classifications.
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