FACULTY OF ARTS

This study examines the role of women in the French Revolution, focusing on Olympe de Gouges and her fight for women’s rights between 1789 and 1793. While the French Revolution championed the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity, these democratic promises largely excluded women, relegating them to the private sphere. Utilizing a historical and analytical research design, this project investigates how female activists resisted this marginalization. The study specifically analyzes Olympe de Gouges’ seminal 1791 document, The Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen, which challenged the male-centric biases of the revolution’s founding texts. The findings reveal that despite facing political suppression and ultimate execution during the Reign of Terror, Gouges and her contemporaries successfully laid the foundational framework for modern feminism, political inclusivity, and gender equality. The study concludes that women were not mere passive observers but active political agents who shaped the radical discourse of the revolution. It recommends a continuous revision of historical narratives to fully integrate and acknowledge the contributions of women in global political struggles.

This study investigated the influence of sexual advertising appeal in Jenny’s Glow Skincare advertisements on the purchasing behaviour of female students at the University of Benin. The research was motivated by the increasing use of sexual appeal in cosmetic advertising and the debate surrounding its impact on young audiences. The study focused on three objectives: to examine the level of exposure of female students to Jenny’s Glow advertisements, to assess how sexual advertising appeal affects their purchasing behaviour, and to evaluate the influence of such appeals on their perception of the brand and related beauty ideals. The survey research method was used in this study and 396 female undergraduate respondents whose data were collected were selected through online questionnaire and selected in stratified random sampling. Data collected were presented and analysed using tables and simple percentages. The results of this showed that majority of the respondents were heavily exposed to Jenny’s Glow advertisements, and mostly through digital media channels. A large number of respondents stated that other elements like product quality and peer recommendations strongly influenced their actual purchasing decisions. Despite the fact that sexual appeal in the advertisements was successful at drawing attention the study disc that the use of sexual appeal influenced how young women perceived brands and helped to shape their standards of beauty.

This study investigates the syntactic features of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and linguistic profiling as found in The Hate U Give (2018) and Queen N’ Slim (2019). Using the dual framework of Chomsky’s Minimalist Program for syntactic analysis and Sociolinguistics for social context, the research qualitatively analyses selected scenes to identify the key AAVE structures and its contribution to stereotypical representations. The findings also establish AAVE as a rule-governed dialect while revealing that its portrayal in crime narratives often links it to criminality, thereby reinforcing stereotypes. The study concludes that media representations can perpetuate linguistic profiling but also hold the potential for more balanced depictions that affirm AAVE as a legitimate and authentic form of expression.

One thing we people tend to forget is that Karl Marx’s theory of alienation is a central theme in his critique of capitalism, where he tries to point out how labor under capitalist production estranges or alienate individuals, humans, laborers, workers, or what he clearly identifies as species-being from their work, their essence, production and society. However, the paradox founded in his non-violent humanism visualize his ideal of human emancipation seemingly contrasts with the revolutionary implications of his thought. This project research explores the inconsistencies within Marx’s humanist as well as his non-violence framework, particularly in relation to alienation. It examines how Marx’s commitment to non-violent humanism struggles to reconcile with the structural violence of capitalism, his advocacy for proletarian revolution, and the potential coercion in his vision of a classless society. By analyzing key texts and interpretations, with the critical analysis method, this research questions whether Marx’s theory of alienation can truly align with a peaceful transformation of society, we shall find out. The work concludes that while Marx’s humanism emphasizes human flourishing, his solutions inevitably involve tensions that challenge the feasibility of non-violent admiration.

This study examined the influence of repeated exposure to social media advertisements on audience adoption of Lush Hair Products, using undergraduate students of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Benin, as the study population. The study was anchored on the Social Learning Theory and the Diffusion of Innovations Theory. The researcher adopted a survey research design, with data collected from 288 respondents drawn from a population of 1,009 students using the Taro Yamane formula and a stratified sampling technique. A structured questionnaire served as the research instrument, and data were analysed using frequency counts and percentages. The study revealed that the level of audience exposure to Lush Hair's social media advertisements is high, with respondents frequently encountering the brand across various platforms. Secondly, audience perceptions were generally positive, particularly regarding visual appeal and clarity of product information, although perceptions of credibility and trustworthiness were relatively weaker. Thirdly, adoption was found to be influenced by influencer endorsements, positive online reviews, affordability, and accessibility, alongside social influence and consumer feedback. Finally, repeated exposure was found to have a positive influence on adoption, as continuous exposure strengthened brand familiarity, purchase intention, and consumer trust over time. It was concluded that sustained, well structured social media advertising, combined with credible messaging, is essential for improving consumer response. It was then recommended that advertisers pair repeated exposure with message variation to reduce ad fatigue, invest in authentic testimonials to build trust, leverage influencer partnerships and favourable product conditions, and use audience-targeting tools to improve campaign precision.

This study titled “Assessment of Public Relations Strategies among Pentecostal Fellowships in the University of Benin (UNIBEN)” examined how campus based Pentecostal fellowships apply public relations to build image, attract members, retain members and manage relationships. The main objective was to identify the Public relations strategies used, assess their effectiveness, and examine their impact on fellowship growth and communication. The study was guided by Two way symmetrical communication theory and relationship management theory which emphasize two-way communication and relationship building. Using the survey method, data were collected through questionnaires and the findings showed that fellowships rely on strategies such as social media, posters, organized events, and word-of-mouth publicity. While these methods increased visibility and membership, most communication was one-way, with limited opportunities for dialogue and feedback. The study concludes that fellowships focus more on promotion than relationship-building and recommends adopting more interactive platforms, training leaders in public relations skills, and encouraging feedback mechanisms to improve trust, credibility, and sustainable growth.

This study examined the impact of fake news on media credibility, with a focus on how exposure to misinformation influences public trust in media organizations. The increasing spread of fake news, particularly through social media platforms, has raised concerns about the reliability of information and the credibility of the media. The study adopted a survey research design, using a structured questionnaire to collect data from respondents. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed, out of which 350 were retrieved and used for analysis, representing an 87.5% response rate. The data collected were analyzed using frequency counts and simple percentages. Findings from the study revealed that exposure to fake news is widespread, with the majority of respondents encountering false or misleading information, especially on social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook. The study also found that fake news has significantly reduced public trust in media organizations and has increased skepticism among media users. Many respondents indicated that they now verify information from multiple sources before believing or sharing it. The study concludes that fake news has a negative impact on media credibility and poses a serious challenge to the integrity of the media. It therefore recommends improved factchecking by media organizations, increased media literacy among the public, and stronger regulatory measures to control the spread of misinformation.

This study examined the impact of fake news on media credibility, with a focus on how exposure to misinformation influences public trust in media organizations. The increasing spread of fake news, particularly through social media platforms, has raised concerns about the reliability of information and the credibility of the media. The study adopted a survey research design, using a structured questionnaire to collect data from respondents. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed, out of which 350 were retrieved and used for analysis, representing an 87.5% response rate. The data collected were analyzed using frequency counts and simple percentages. Findings from the study revealed that exposure to fake news is widespread, with the majority of respondents encountering false or misleading information, especially on social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook. The study also found that fake news has significantly reduced public trust in media organizations and has increased skepticism among media users. Many respondents indicated that they now verify information from multiple sources before believing or sharing it. The study concludes that fake news has a negative impact on media credibility and poses a serious challenge to the integrity of the media. It therefore recommends improved factchecking by media organizations, increased media literacy among the public, and stronger regulatory measures to control the spread of misinformation.

This abstract explores the intersection of poetry and the culture of impunity as depicted in Halima Amali's "Faces of Shame." The study analyzes how Amali's poetic work serves as a critical lens through which to examine societal structures and behaviors that enable and perpetuate impunity, particularly concerning issues of injustice and societal neglect. By dissecting key themes and stylistic elements within the collection, this analysis aims to illuminate the ways in which poetry can function as a powerful tool for social commentary and critique, exposing the multifaceted nature of shame and its deep-rooted connection to a culture where accountability is often evaded. The research highlights the significance of Amali's contribution to understanding the socio-cultural implications of impunity and the role of art in challenging dominant narratives

The researcher investigated the role of social media in conflict management during the 2020 EndSARS protest in Benin City, Edo State. The rationale of the study was to establish the role of social media in conflict management during the 2020 EndSARS protest among residents of Benin City, Edo State. The objectives of the study were to determine the role of social media in managing conflicts during the EndSARS protest, find out how social media was used to spread information during the protest, identify the strengths of social media in managing conflicts during the protest and the weaknesses of social media in managing conflict during the EndSARS protest in Benin City, Edo State. The study was grounded in the agenda-setting theory and the social responsibility theory. The research employed a survey research design, using structured questionnaire to collect data from 384 internet users in Benin City, Edo State using the purposive sampling technique from the total population of 5,880,824 while descriptive statistics was used in analysing the gathered data in order to provide answer to the raised research questions. Findings revealed that social media served as a vital communication tool (M = 4.08), mobilising support (M = 4.06) and providing victims with a platform to share their experiences of police brutality (M = 4.15), among others. Findings also showed that social media strengths during the protest were that it facilitated peaceful organisation (M=3.93), amplified protest voices (M=4.06), enabled international solidarity (M=3.97), disseminated timely updates (4.09) and helped manage rumours (M=3.78) while chief among the notable weaknesses are the spread of false information (M=4.03), hate speech and inciting content (M=4.06), unverified media contents (M=4.03). The researcher concluded that social media has become an indispensable tool in modern conflict scenarios and its ability to inform, connect, and mobilise people makes it a powerful instrument for both protest and peace, especially during EndSARS protest in Edo State. Based on the findings and conclusion, recommendations made were that government agencies and civil society organisations should develop and implement digital literacy programmes focused on conflict-sensitive communication to empower citizens to use social media constructively during periods of social unrest, among others.