REPRESENTATION

This study examined gender bias and legislative representation in Nigeria, with particular focus on the Tenth Senate, using the experiences of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as a case study. The study sought to determine how party-level discrimination, media bias, financial discrimination, and political violence influence women's legislative representation and participation in Nigeria. The study adopted a quantitative survey research design supported by qualitative insights and an ex-post facto approach. The population comprised the 109 members of the Tenth Senate, from which a sample size of 52 respondents was determined using Taro Yamane's formula. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and relevant secondary sources, including National Assembly records, scholarly publications, and media reports. Descriptive statistics, multiple regression analysis, and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data with the aid of SPSS/STATA. The findings revealed that gender bias remains a significant barrier to women's legislative representation in Nigeria. Party-level discrimination, financial constraints, media bias, and political violence continue to hinder women's access to elective positions and limit their effectiveness within legislative institutions. The study further found that the experiences of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, including her committee reassignment, suspension, and interactions with Senate leadership, generated widespread debate on institutional fairness, gender equality, and women's representation in the Tenth Senate. The study concluded that increasing the number of women in legislative offices alone is insufficient without addressing the structural and institutional barriers that limit their participation and influence. It therefore recommended reforms in political party nomination processes, improved access to campaign finance, stronger protection against political violence, and the promotion of gender-sensitive policies to enhance women's legislative representation in Nigeria. Keywords: Gender bias, legislative representation, Tenth Senate, women in politics, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Godswill Akpabio, Nigeria.

The study “Exploring Twine in Visual Representation of the New Yam Festival in Ikere, Ekiti State. New Yam Festival is a significant cultural celebration in many West African scommunities, marking the start of the harvest season. It blends religious and social traditions, emphasizing gratitude for the yam harvest and reinforcing community identity. Precisely, the innovative use of twine as a structural and conceptual tool in mixed-media painting, emphasizing its role in achieving depth, and texture. The study investigated how twine can serve as a medium to enhance the thematic and conceptual underpinnings of mixed-media paintings, emphasizing its symbolic significance. It also examined various techniques for incorporating twine into mixed-media works, focusing on how it can create texture, and depth, in visual composition, and demonstrated how twine can be used effectively with other materials to depict the cultural aesthetics New Yam Festival in Ikere-Ekiti. Over the years, artists who work in mixed-media technique have not extensively explored the symbolic and aesthetic roles other materials play like twine in the mixed-media expression associated with culture of Ekiti people. The special project was practically carried out in seven (7) stages which include: The canvas was stretched on the stretcher of 5ft by 7ft, the canvas was primed with white glue top bond to cover some holes in the canvas; making of outlines on the stretched canvas from sketch pad; the researcher gummed twine on the outlines using glue; application of sawdust on the drawing to make it tactile; the researcher created an image by extending paints on the already drawing. The study reveals that twine is a viable and meaningful material in mixed-media painting. Its tactile qualities enhance the visual impact of artworks, while its cultural associations strengthen the symbolic representation of indigenous festivals such as the New Yam Festival. The research demonstrated that indigenous materials can serve as bridges between traditional heritage and contemporary artistic innovation.