FACULTY OF ARTS

Most African states got independence in the period of superpower (United State and the Soviet Union) rivalry for world dominance and fortunately, some post-colonial states in Africa experience civil or internal war during this same period. The civil wars witness huge consequences such as lose of life and property as well as involvement of superpowers for various reasons. In the case of Nigeria, between 1967-1970 the Soviet Union weapons played a key role in the Federal government of Nigeria fight for “one Nigeria’.1 Thus, this long essay will examine the involvement of the superpowers in the Nigeria civil war, 1967-1970. The study will focus specifically on the Soviet Union involvements in Nigeria before the war and during the civil war. It will also examine the motive or reasons for the Soviet Union involvement in the fight for one Nigeria.

Inter-group relations is “whenever individuals belonging to one group, interact collectively or individually, with another group or its members in terms of their group and identification,”.1 Inter-group relations imply therefore, the existence of mutually exclusive groups that are in constant interaction with one another. The study of Inter- group relations is significant because it reveals the fact that the communities in Nigeria and Africa in general were not disunited nor isolated from each other; they related with each other before colonial conquest.2 Works on Inter-group relations debunks the euro- centric view that Africans were uncivilized and barbaric, and that no meaningful interaction took place within the region prior to the arrival of Europeans.3 However, there exist several literature on this subject. These available materials examine the various patterns and nature of interactions which existed in Africa among Nigerian communities in particular. In Nigeria, the various communities cooperated and had meaningful intercourse before the advent of Europeans colonialism. The interactions among the communities were dynamic in nature. It was a robust and diversified relations. There were socio-cultural, political and economic relations.4

This research paper looks at the features of the language used in new media today. The analysis reveals how this new media has created new language mostly used in these media platforms and the effects it has in our everyday English. Majority of the people that use this language in new media are teenagers and young adults, so this paper also shows the effect of these media language in speech writing in schools.

Sarcasm is a figurative language that uses words that mean opposite of what the speaker says. Detecting sarcasm is a difficult task, even for humans because when utterance is decoded by the listener, it takes a level of understanding to detect sarcasm. This study approaches this challenging problem primarily from a linguistic perspective, focusing on the discourse analytic aspects of sarcasm. Twitter is a social media platform that allows people or social media users to express themselves using sarcasm. To achieve different communicative purpose, Sarcastic terms has been detected to be absurd or further expressed in a mimicking manner. In this study, the qualitative research method was adopted due to its naturalistic research approach as regards the case study. The collation of data was primarily user generated contents on twitter like comments, videos and pictures, memes of social media users in Mummy G.O’s trend on Twitter. The theory adopted in the study was the Media Discourse Analysis, it is the analysis of the interactions that take place through a broadcast platform. Further looking into the findings of this study, it hasbeen conclusively observed and noticed that the mental representation of social media users is expressed through absurd terms and mimicry to incite hurt or mockery in Mummy G.O’s Discourse on Twitter.

The study was an assessment of the influence of social media on the sexual behavior of undergraduates in the University of Benin(UNIBEN). The study became necessary following the claim that social media is capable of influencing sexual behavior positively and negatively. Social learning theory (SLT), Diffusion of Innovation, Uses and Gratification Theories servedas the framework for this study. Survey design was employed with a 10 item questionnaire of a population of 385 UNIBEN Undergraduate, 378 or 98.2% of them actively participated in the study. Data generated from this study were analyzed with the aid of frequency tables and simple percentage. The study found that social media influences sexual behavior negatively by perpetuating harmful and unrealistic sexual stereotypes, it was also revealed that social media exerts high sexual expectations leading to pressure and conformity to certain sexual norms, etc. Hence, it was recommended among other things that the University of Benin should develop and implement comprehensive sexual education programmes aimed at promoting safe and responsible use of social media exploration by its undergraduates. The study concluded that social media may be harmful but are still useful in influencing sexual behavior of the undergraduates.

This study looked at several selected Yoruba proverbs that were translated into English. For the selected proverbs, the researcher used a contextual and functional analysis. According to the results of the contextual study, despite the proverbs serving various contextual purposes in our daily interactions, the English translation reflected some lexico-semantic qualities, such as meaning distortion, meaning substitution, meaning modification, meaning constriction, and sometimes, the meaning is actually kept. However, the study found that the poetic elements embedded in Yoruba proverbs were not well disseminated through translation practice in the use of proverbs in communication.

Africa personality and Leadership has been a major challenge to governance in the continent and this has brought crises coupled with policy inconsistency and summersault is no doubt serious problems confronting Nigeria and Africa.1 In the case of Nigeria, several policies, political and constitutional reforms and conferences have been put in place by previous regimes in order to address the question of leadership, development and good governance in Nigeria.2 It is against this backdrop this study seek to examine the influence of Africa personality on democracy with reference to President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The study investigates the role of ITV's 'You and the Law' programme in raising human rights awareness among residents of Benin Metropolis, Nigeria. The research seeks to assess the programmes's contribution to human rights awareness, identify the specific human rights issues it addresses, and examine the challenges that Benin residents face in accessing the programme. The study draws upon two theoretical frameworks: the Social Responsibility Theory, emphasizing the media's responsibility to society, and the Agenda Setting Theory, which highlights the media's influence on public perception. The researcher employs a survey method to gather and analyze quantitative data from Benin Metropolis residents who are familiar with human rights awareness programs. The findings indicate that 'You and the Law' significantly informs, educates, sensitizes, and exposes human rights violations among Benin residents. However, there are varying opinions regarding its empowerment, influence, and ability to draw attention. The program effectively addresses a range of human rights issues, including poor infrastructure, police brutality, minimum wage, discrimination, violence, and security. Based on the findings, the researcher concludes that the study underscores the critical role of media, represented by ITV's 'You and the Law,' in advancing human rights awareness. It advocates for strategic improvements to maximize the positive impact of media in promoting human rights, fostering a more informed and empowered citizenry in Benin Metropolis, and contributing to broader discussions about human rights in Nigeria. Based on
the conclusion, the researcher recommends among others the improvement in content quality, a stronger online presence and potential program timing adjustments. Implementing these measures will enable ITV's 'You and the Law' to continue its vital mission, furthering awareness and driving positive change in Benin Metropolis.

This research examines the role of Instagram as an advertising platform for promoting small-scale businesses. With its vast user base and visual-centric format, Instagram has become an increasingly popular medium for businesses to reach potential customers. This study presents the findings from a comprehensive field survey conducted in 2023, investigating the effectiveness of Instagram in business promotion, user perceptions, and the convenience of its advertising platform for buying and selling..The survey collected responses from 250 participants covering demographics, Instagram usage patterns, and attitudes towards the platform's role in business promotion. The results indicate a balanced gender distribution among respondents, with the majority falling between 15 and 30 years old. A significant portion of participants reported being single and having diverse educational qualifications. Regarding Instagram usage, the survey highlighted that approximately half of the respondents were frequently on the platform, with a significant percentage using it as a primary shopping destination. The findings further indicated that a notable proportion of respondents viewed Instagram as an effective platform for promoting small-scale businesses, emphasizing its impact in generating awareness and reaching potential customers. However, concerns about the authenticity of goods and services emerged, with almost half of the respondents expressing reservations about the platform's consistency in delivering what was advertised. Additionally, a considerable number of participants acknowledged that the effectiveness of Instagram in business promotion may be affected by factors like hacked social media accounts, raising questions about security and trustworthiness. Despite the mixed perceptions, the study revealed that Instagram's advertising platform is perceived as convenient for buying and selling, primarily attributed to its user-friendly interface, direct shopping features, and seamless integration with various payment options. In conclusion, Instagram has shown significant potential as an effective advertising platform for small-scale businesses, benefiting from its visual appeal and influencer marketing strategies. However, addressing concerns regarding authenticity and security will be critical in sustaining its effectiveness in the long term. The research provides valuable insights for businesses seeking to leverage Instagram's potential and lays the groundwork for future investigations into the evolving landscape of social media-driven business promotion.

Cette étude examine la perception des femmes aux postes de direction politique au Nigeria, en explorant les facteurs socioculturels, institutionnels et économiques qui façonnent les attitudes du public et du système envers la participation féminine à la gouvernance. Malgré les garanties constitutionnelles d'égalité, les femmes restent considérablement sous-représentées dans le paysage politique nigérian, souvent reléguées à la périphérie des processus de prise de décision. À travers une analyse qualitative et quantitative, cette recherche étudie comment les normes patriarcales profondément ancrées, les systèmes de croyances traditionnels et les interprétations religieuses influencent la confiance de l'électorat et la volonté de l'élite politique à soutenir les candidates. L'étude souligne également l'impact de la violence politique, le coût élevé des campagnes électorales et l'effet du « plafond de verre » au sein des structures partisanes qui entravent l'ascension des femmes vers les postes de direction de haut niveau. En analysant les tendances politiques contemporaines et des études de cas de femmes ayant surmonté ces défis, ce travail soutient qu'un changement de perception — couplé à des réformes législatives robustes telles que des quotas de genre — est essentiel pour parvenir à une démocratie plus inclusive et représentative. En définitive, cette recherche démontre que changer le récit entourant les femmes leaders n'est pas seulement une question d'équité, mais une condition préalable au développement politique durable et à la stabilité nationale du Nigeria.