FACULTY OF ARTS

The latter half of the 20th century saw a seismic shift in global economic thought. Neoliberalism, championing free markets, privatization, and minimal state intervention, gained traction, particularly within powerful international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF).¹ These institutions became instrumental in propagating and implementing these policies, especially in developing countries grappling with economic vulnerabilities.² Nigeria, a nation endowed with vast human and natural resources yet plagued by persistent economic challenges, found itself at the crossroads of this global economic order, becoming a focal point for the IMF's interventionist approach.

I worry that eventually technology will replace human interaction. There will be a generation of fools in the world, said Albert Einstein. John Tudor once said, "Everything but the technology is under human control thanks to technology." Without a doubt, modern communication technology has made the world a small, interconnected community. But as things stand, technology, like a coin, brings both advantages and disadvantages. The news will be what it is, and it will always have a variety of effects on candidates. It will be good, it will be bad, it will be both. (Mark E. Hyman) Prior to the internet, certain methods of learning and conducting research were put in place and appeared to be effective at the time. Some of these methods are still in use today, while others have faded with the passage of time and modern technology. The library, which is one of the oldest forms of research and could be referred to as the internet of olden days, had an index called the card catalog, and webpages were pages in paper books. The procedure was the same: come up with search terms, look them up in the index, and then read the referenced pages.

To be able to effectively discuss women and their form of nationalism in Southern Nigeria before independence, one may need to understand the role women played in precolonial Southern Nigerian societies, how women were viewed, their rights and privileges, the impacts colonial rule had on them, and how they responded to this rule. In precolonial Nigeria, the position of women was a reflection of their subordinate status. Men held the premiums in the society, and women had the sole purpose or responsibility to be mothers of the children of these men. The ability of a woman to give birth won her the closest attachment of her husband while barren women were always the object of scorn in the society. An instance is the Esan woman who is socially not recognized. She is always represented by her husband in any social affair even if the issue at stake directly concerns or affects her. Whatever contribution she has to make, she does so through her husband who is her voice and mouthpiece. This is only when she is respected, recognized and her contributions highly welcomed and valued. Also, as long as a woman is not married in sanland, no matter how successful she may be, her views and
contributions are not welcomed or accepted. She is considered to be an outcast and is treated as one without an owner. She is ot also recognized in and among the women community. Women are seen through the lens of marriage in a homestead.

Parliament of vultures and Femi Osofisan's Once Upon Four Robbers criticis the widespread moral decline and Political dishonesty that affect Nigerian Society, today. Both plays examine the intricate relationship between leaders and citizens. They explore the harmful effects of dishonest leadership and the roles individual inadvertently play in societal decline. By examining actions and motivations of the characters in these plays, this study aims to provide a deeper understanding of the factors that contribute to moral decline and the potential for societal renewal. The primary data for this study comprises of Emeka Nwabueze's Parliament of Vultures and Femi Osofisan's Once Upon Four Robbers the plays are Suitable for data collection because they provide insight on the corrupting influence of power, the roles of individuals in supporting corrupt system and the need for a just and equitable society. This study adopts a qualitative analysis. The qualitative approach rich interpretation and analysis on both plays The process of textual analysis Involves a close examination of both plays to uncovers hidden meanings, and to deepen our understanding of the plays and their significance.

his project investigates the themes of victimization and resilience in Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun, highlighting how these narratives portray the struggles of individuals and communities in the face of oppression. Through a detailed analysis of character experiences, the project examines how Kambili Achike embodies the psychological and emotional toll of domestic tyranny, while characters like Olanna, Odenigbo, and Ugwu navigate the brutal realities of the Nigerian Civil War. The project explores the mechanisms of victimization, including authoritarian control, societal expectations, and the impact of conflict, illustrating how these forces shape the characters' identities and relationships. The project emphasizes the theme of resilience as a counterpoint to victimization. It analyzes Kambili’s journey toward self-discovery and empowerment, showcasing her gradual reclamation of voice and agency, while in Half of a Yellow Sun, the resilience of characters amidst war and displacement is highlighted, demonstrating their capacity to adapt, survive, and forge connections in the face of adversity. The project also addresses the role of strong female characters, such as Aunty Ifeoma and Olanna, in challenging patriarchal structures and advocating for change.This project highlights Adichie’s refined portrayal of the human spirit's capacity to endure and resist oppression. It contributes to a deeper understanding of the socio- political contexts of both novels and the broader implications for discussions on identity, empowerment, and social justice.

This study investigates the examination of patriarchy in the following texts: Shoneyin’s the Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives and Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus. The work helps to investigate the patriarchal control in the texts and the effects it has on the women in the texts. The roles the women had to play and the identities that patriarchy gives to them. The work also shows us the resistance and the strategies that women used to survive in this text

he study aimed to examine British economic activities with particular emphasis on forest resources exploitation and utilisation in the Benin Province of colonial Nigeria. The objectives of the study were, to examine the background to the British colonial forest exploitation in Benin, to examine the Pre-colonial Benin forest and utilisation, to examine colonial rule forest policy and exploitation in Benin Province. Furthermore, to elucidate the processes of forest exploitation and utilisation in colonial Benin, and to analyse the impacts of forest exploitation on the local people and their environment. Both primary and secondary data were used in this study. The primary data included oral tradition, archival materials, and unpublished dissertation and thesis. The secondary data include published books, journals, newspapers, and magazines. The Internet was also sourced for materials and Internet sources. The primary data including oral interviews were obtained through unstructured interviews, visits to the national archive, Ibadan and the National Institute for Benin study. The secondary data were collected from different libraries such as the John Harris Library University of Benin, Department of Agricultural Science Library University of Benin, Kenneth Dike Library University of Ibadan, and online libraries such as the Jstor Library and Research Gate Library. The various data collected were subjected to critical analysis and interpretations to arrive at an objective conclusion. Qualitative analysis is the process of gathering, evaluating and interpreting non-numerical data such as interviews, raw documents like archival materials as well as textbooks and journal articles to create new
research ideas or get a deeper understanding of concepts, views, experiences, or events. The research found out from the bacKground of the study that British interest in Benin territory was motivated by economic reasons. In addition, the study found out that before the British rule, the people of Benin had an effective management of their forest to the extent that it was beneficial to the overall interest of everyone. The work also found that consequent upon British rule, forest policy became an integral aspect of the British authorities in the province. Furthermore, the study established that complex techniques and strategies were adopted in the exploitation and utilisation of timber forest products. More so, the study found out that forest exploitation had economic, socio-political and environmental impacts on the local people

This study explores the representations of gender and racial identity in Chimamanda Adichie's novel Americanah. Through a critical analysis of the novel, this research examines how Adichie challenges dominant narratives of gender and racial identity. The study focuses on the intersections of gender and racial identity, highlighting the ways in which these identities intersect to create unique experiences of oppression and marginalization. The research draws on feminist and critical race theories to analyze the ways in which Adichie's protagonist, Ifemelu, navigates multiple forms of oppression in America. The study argues that Adichie's work offers a powerful critique of dominant narratives of gender and racial identity, highlighting the need for a more nuanced understanding of the intersections of these identities. Overall, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex and multifaceted nature of gender and racial identity in contemporary literature

African countries during 18-19th centuries have been challenged by the problem of colonisation. During this period the need for heroes that can lead the African societies to freedom from the colonizers is the people's goal. Hence this essay draws a comparative analysis of different models of heroism portrayed by Ngugi wa Thiong'o to show and prove the standard model that actually leads people to liberation and freedom. This research uses the lens of postcolonial theory to reveal the standard model which Ngugi portrayed in his plays namely The Trial of Dedan kimathi and The Black Hermit. He argued that the standard model for a hero should be that of Kimathi who is selfless, fused, revolutionary and ready to sacrifice, not the alienated, tragic, selfish, and paralyzed model of heroism that Remi embodies. More also he showed us that heroism is not found in an individualistic effort (The Black Hermit) but found in a collective effort (The Trial of Dedan kimathi).

This qualitative stylistic study explores how Nigerian artist Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, uses language and creative techniques in five of his songs— This Is Nigeria, Talk, Confirm, Hypocrite , and Wehdone Sir —to criticize corruption and moral decline in Nigerian society. Using Leech and Short’s “Style as Text” model, the study examines the songs at the grapho-phonological, grammatical, and lexico-semantic levels to show how Falz’s language choices reveal social issues, reflect moral decay, and challenge corruption as expressed through Nigerian English. The findings show that Falz deliberately employs local language features such as non-standard phonetic spellings, code-switching between Standard English and Nigerian Pidgin, simple sentence structures, and the use of irony to create a style that is both relatable and socially aware. The study concludes that Falz’s stylistic approach serves as a purposeful and effective form of social activism, turning everyday language into a powerful and accessible means of promoting moral reflection and questioning corruption and hypocrisy among both leaders and citizens.