Ekhator-Obogie Osaisonor Godfrey

Background to the Study Development has been a fundamental goal that heads of government and international organizations aspire for globally. The coming of the year 2000 carried with it intellectual social initiative known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It was to tackle the most seemingly close intrusions into society by poverty, education, health, and environmental sustainability issues on a global scale. These were the objectives that needed to be achieved so that lives would improve, especially in developing countries. Nigeria is one of the participating countries, that engaged in different policies and programs regarding the realization of some of these targets set out by the MDG.

This study examines the Asaba Massacre as one of the most tragic and controversial events of the Nigerian Civil War, exploring its historical significance, collective memory, and enduring impact on Nigerian society between 1970 and 2020. The massacre occurred in October 1967 when federal troops entered Asaba, a predominantly Igbo community in present-day Delta State, during the Nigeria–Biafra conflict. Hundreds of unarmed civilians, particularly men and boys, were reportedly killed after being accused of supporting the secessionist Biafran cause. Despite its magnitude, the event remained inadequately documented in official national narratives for decades, surviving largely through oral testimonies, community commemorations, and personal memoirs. Using historical and qualitative approaches, this study draws upon archival materials, eyewitness accounts, memoirs, scholarly publications, media reports, and commemorative records to reconstruct the events surrounding the massacre and analyze how memories of the tragedy have been preserved and transmitted across generations. The study investigates the socio-political circumstances that led to the massacre, the experiences of survivors, and the ways in which remembrance practices have shaped identity, reconciliation efforts, and historical consciousness among the people of Asaba and Nigeria at large. The findings reveal that the Asaba Massacre remains a significant symbol of wartime suffering, ethnic tensions, and the challenges of post-war reconciliation in Nigeria. The persistence of survivor narratives and memorialization efforts demonstrates the importance of collective memory in preserving historical truth and seeking justice for victims. The study further argues that acknowledging and documenting such traumatic historical events is essential for national healing, conflict prevention, and the promotion of historical accountability. The research concludes that the memoirs and memories associated with the Asaba Massacre constitute an important aspect of Nigeria’s civil war historiography and provide valuable insights into the broader consequences of armed conflict, state violence, and the struggle for reconciliation in post-war societies

This study examined the contribution of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the development of Ubiaja in Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State from 1999 to 2023. Despite the execution of various international development frameworks aimed at alleviating poverty and improving grassroots infrastructure across Nigeria, many rural and semi-urban communities continue to grapple with developmental deficits. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the localized impact of MDG and SDG projects on critical socioeconomic indicators—specifically healthcare, primary education, water supply, and economic empowerment—within the Ubiaja community over a twenty-four-year timeline. The study adopted a descriptive survey and retrospective evaluation research design. The target population consisted of residents, community leaders, and local government officials in Ubiaja. Primary data were gathered through a structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), while secondary data were sourced from local government development plans, project tracking reports, and relevant academic literature. A total sample size of respondents was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. The quantitative data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean scores, percentages, and frequency tables) and inferential statistics (such as Chi-Square or regression analysis) via the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), while qualitative insights were subjected to thematic analysis. The findings revealed that interventions under the MDGs (2000–2015) and SDGs (2015–2023) made notable contributions to Ubiaja, particularly through the renovation of primary classrooms, the provision of basic medical equipment to the General Hospital and Primary Health Centres, and the installation of solar-powered boreholes. However, the study established that the overall developmental impact was heavily constrained by systemic challenges, including poor maintenance culture, top-down project implementation without community consultation, lack of administrative synergy at the local government level, and project abandonment due to political transitions. Consequently, the transition from MDGs to SDGs showed a gap between global policy formulations and the actual realities of rural infrastructure sustainability in the locality. Based on these findings, the study concludes that while international goal-driven frameworks possess immense potential to accelerate grassroots growth, their success is ultimately dependent on institutional continuity and local accountability. Therefore, it is recommended that the Edo State Sustainable Development Goals office establish a strict monitoring and maintenance framework to protect existing infrastructure in Ubiaja. Furthermore, educational and political authorities should actively involve community stakeholders in the needs-assessment phase of future projects to guarantee cultural relevance, public ownership, and long-term sustainability

Studies have shown that there remain only few landscapes on the Earth that is still in their natural state. Due to environmental changes, the Earth surface is being significantly altered in some manner and man‘s presence on the Earth and his use of land has had a profound effect upon the natural environment thus resulting into an accelerated growth in settlement expansion.1 Settlements are products of human activities. It is on this backdrop, this study examines the trends in the development of Okokhuo town with case study of Ovia North East local government. Ovia North East Local Government Area is in the south senatorial district of Edo. Its headquarters is Okada. It occupies a total land area of 2,301km² and a population of 153,849 (National Population Commission, 2006).2 The area is lowland and rises up to about 100 metres above sea level. It falls within the rainforest zone with tall trees and oil palm trees and also possesses freshwater swamp forest. The vegetation favour the production of cereal crops like maize, tuber crops like cassava, tree crops like oil palm and fish farming.3 The major occupations of the people in the community are farming especially poultry and piggery, hunting, fishing, and trading. The major communities in the LGA are Okada, Uhen, Utese, Okokhuo, Uhiere, Isiuwa, Ekiadolor, Oluku, Iguoshodin, Utoka, Oghede, Egbeta, Ora, and Ogbese.4 Okokhuo Village is located in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. It is among several Villages in Ovia North East Local Government Area that have suffered continuous herders` attack resulting in loss of properties in recent times. Generally, Okokhuo people trace their origin back to Benin, Okokhuo people according to oral tradition is one of the Edo speaking groups involved in the exodus from the Benin about the nineth century, during the rule of Oba Ogiso

Cultural norms and values are ingrained in the beliefs of every cultural group or people. Every culture contains a set of norms and values that are deeply embedded and taught as religious practices that allow certain individuals to try to connect. Like all other people, the Benin people have rich heritage which they have re-enact through festivals that are part of their culture and traditions. One such event that has persisted for a long time is the Igue festival celebrated annually by the Benin people. Overtime, this festival have become a phenomena where traditional beliefs are at work.1 In the Benin, the various ceremonies are traditional religious and cultural practices blended and married in an effort to connect people to the distant ancestral past. The ancestors, despite their distance, are acknowledged as the sustainers of everything. Without a doubt, the religious purposes associated with the Ugie (ceremonies) serve to both inspire and enlighten the people as humanity tries to connect with the divine through its cosmological experiences.2 Many religions, and cultures around the world have various festevals, which serve as reminder of things that are very important to the community

Background to the Study
The 20th century witnessed a significant shift in the nature of global conflicts, from interstate wars to intrastate conflicts, with a rising tide of ethnic and nationalist tensions. Against this backdrop, diplomatic strategies have emerged as a crucial tool in global conflict resolution. This research work provides an in-depth analysis of diplomatic strategies in global conflict resolution in the 20th century, tracing the evolution of diplomatic strategies from traditional state-centric approaches to more inclusive and multi-stakeholder frameworks. Historically, diplomatic strategies have played a vital role in preventing and resolving global conflicts. From the Concert of Europe to the League of Nations, international organizations have been instrumental in promoting diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts. The United Nations, established in 1945, has been at the forefront of global conflict resolution, providing a platform for diplomatic efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts