WILLIAMS ORUKPE

Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry, has grown to become the second-largest film industry in the world in terms of volume, producing thousands of movies annually and distributing them across Africa and beyond. Its rapid expansion, since the 1990s, has transformed it into a cultural powerhouse, contributing not only to the Nigerian economy but also to the global perception of Nigeria. This transformation has sparked significant interest in Nollywood’s potential as an instrument of cultural diplomacy, whereby films act as tools for communicating national values, traditions, and identity to international audiences¹. The concept of cultural diplomacy involves the strategic use of a nation’s cultural assets to promote mutual understanding, enhance its image, and strengthen diplomatic relations with other countries. Historically, nations have deployed art, music, literature, and cinema as tools to achieve soft power objectives. In Nigeria’s case, Nollywood represents a powerful cultural export capable of influencing international opinion and projecting a positive image of the country. By depicting everyday life, cultural traditions, and societal challenges, Nollywood offers global audiences nuanced insights into Nigerian society²

In most cases, students’ academic performance is not totally and entirely a function of their intellectual capability and ability. Some other extraneous variables such as the state of the nation’s general economic condition play major role in their academic performances. Undergraduate students are constantly influenced by multiple stressors from different aspects of their lives and the society.1 Life and academic stress often generate difficulties and impact on university students’ mental health. University students have been stressed by intensive demands of developmental and academic tasks. With current economic contraction, many additional economic stressors are added to university students’ existing stress levels.2 It is against this backdrop, this study examine the
response and adaptation of University of Benin students economic hardship. Over the years University of Benin has played significant roles in actualizing quality education to Nigerians, with array of academic programmes and courses offered in the areas of Medicine, Law, Journalism, Banking and Finance, Engineering and Technology, Architecture, Health, Safety and Security, Agriculture, as well as the field of education itself where teachers are raised as architect of nation building.

This study examines the relationship between cultism and national insecurity in Nigeria, with a specific focus on Benin City, Edo State. Cultism, which has evolved from secret confraternities in higher institutions to violent, organized groups, has become a significant contributor to insecurity, manifesting in armed clashes, assassinations, kidnapping, and other criminal activities. The research investigates the causes, patterns, and impacts of cult-related violence on the socio-economic and political stability of the area.
Using a case study approach, the study draws on both primary and secondary data, including interviews, questionnaires, and existing literature. Findings reveal that factors such as unemployment, peer pressure, political manipulation, poverty, and weak law enforcement systems contribute significantly to the proliferation of cult groups. The study further establishes that cultism exacerbates national insecurity by undermining public safety, discouraging investment, and eroding trust in government institutions.
The paper concludes that cultism poses a serious threat to sustainable development and national cohesion. It recommends a multi-dimensional strategy involving government agencies, community leaders, and educational institutions to address the root causes. Measures such as youth empowerment, stricter law enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and policy reforms are suggested as essential steps toward curbing cultism and enhancing security in Benin City and Nigeria at large.

Nigeria's national security landscape has undergone significant transformations since independence in 1960. The country's security challenges have shifted from traditional state-based threats to non-state actors, asymmetric warfare, and transnational crimes.1 This study examines the changing nature of national security threats in Nigeria from 2009 to 2022, exploring historical roots, contemporary challenges, and government responses. Nigeria's national security trajectory is deeply rooted in its colonial legacy. The British colonial administration's divide-and- rule policy created ethnic and regional tensions that persist today. Post-independence, Nigeria's national security concerns shifted from internal stability to regional and global issues, including the Nigerian Civil War and the Cold War. The post-Cold War era saw the emergence of non- state actors, terrorism, and insurgency.2

It is the dream of every entrepreneur to have a successful company or organization. No matter what the product or niche is, ever entrepreneur or business owner desires first to create their own unique identity (brand), and to increase to a large extent the people who purchase their products, which will therefore lead to the expansion of the business both nationally and internationally.¹ The big companies today, the ones who have successfully attracted very high number of purchasing and returning customers, and have even been more successful in creating branches within Nigeria and even beyond Nigeria did so by following some principles that are guaranteed to increase the output of the company.² Great companies like Dangote cement factory, Jumia, Global pm, and so on didn't just become great overnight, no they had successfully kept some principles for
business expansion and followed it to the core.

This study examines the effect of Boko Haram terrorism on the Nigerian economy. Boko Haram insurgency, which has persisted primarily in the northeastern region of Nigeria, has resulted in widespread insecurity, loss of lives, destruction of property, and disruption of economic activities. The insurgency has negatively impacted key sectors of the economy, including agriculture, trade, education, and infrastructure, thereby hindering national development and reducing investor confidence. The study adopts a descriptive survey research design and relies on both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to affected communities, business owners, and local government officials, while secondary data were obtained from journals, reports from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and publications on national security. Data were analyzed using statistical methods to determine the economic consequences of the Boko Haram insurgency. The findings reveal that Boko Haram terrorism has significantly disrupted economic activities, reduced agricultural production, increased unemployment, discouraged foreign and local investments, and contributed to the diversion of government funds from development projects to security expenditures. The study concludes that terrorism poses a severe threat to Nigeria’s economic growth and stability. It recommends the implementation of stronger security measures, socio-economic development programs in affected regions, and effective counter-insurgency strategies to mitigate the adverse economic effects of terrorism.

Boko Haram is a radical Islamist movement shaped by its Nigerian context and reflecting Nigeria’s history of poor governance and extreme poverty in the north. The movement is unique in that it combines a sectarian, radical Islamic agenda with violence. Its stated goal is the establishment of a sharia state, but it shows little interest in actually governing or implementing economic development. It is based on the fundamentalist Wahhabi theological system and opposes the Islam of the traditional northern Nigerian establishment, which is broadly tolerant. Boko Haram, as an extension of the Maitatsineuprising in 1970s and 1980s ,it is not in doubt that Boko Haram is part of the unaddressed issues on religion which the Maitatsine had attempted to raise in the northern parts of the country, starting from Kano more than three decades ago. An offshoot of Islam called the
Yan’ tatsine’ violently rebelled against the authorities and non-members.1 These radical Muslims estimated between 3000 and 5000 were inspired by Mohammed Marwa, an Islamic scholar who migrated from the town of Marwa in
Northern Cameroun to the city of Kano in 1945. Boko Haram and its more radical splinter, are steadily expanding their area of operations. Kidnapping has become a major source of revenue and is widespread, while attacks have occurred in Lagos and Kano. The government’s response has been to treat Boko Haram as a part of the international al- 8 Qaeda movement. Security service abuses are likely a driver of some popular support foror acquiescence to Boko Haram. The struggle between the government and Boko Haram has dire humanitarian consequences. Many people have been internally displaced in
northern Nigeria and many refugees have fled to neighboring countries.