Sumerianz Journal of Social Science

    
Online ISSN: 2616-8693
Print ISSN: 2617-1716

Quarterly Published (4 Issues Per Year)

Journal Website: https://www.sumerianz.com/?ic=journal-home&journal=28

Archive

Volume 1 Issue 2 (2018)

Peace and Human Security as Desiderata for Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Development

Authors : Fan Akpan Fan
Abstract:
In Nigeria, three things are woven together: religion, politics and ethnicity and the three are clad with corruption, poverty and insecurity. Peace and human security are critical issues for development of any nation. In Nigeria, the issues of peace and security have occupied the centre stage, especially since her return to democratic rule in 1999. From then, till date, Nigeria has witnessed violent conflicts of unimaginable proportions arising mostly from religious intolerance at both intra and inter levels, inter-ethnic rivalries, feeling and claims of injustice, marginalization and inequity, political differences and development – related challenges. The alarming rate of poverty and youth unemployment in the country has some linkage with the recorded cases of armed robbery, kidnapping, thuggery, extortion, advanced fee fraud, oil bunkering, rape, murder and other crimes in the country. Most youth wings of the socio-cultural organizations in Nigeria have resorted to militant activities to press home their demands. Infact, before the granting of unconditional amnesty to the Niger Delta militants, the area was saturated with militant groups perpetuating crimes to press home their demands. The most challenging is the recent insurgency of the Boko Haram Islamic Sect, which has killed, maimed, bombed and destroyed lives and properties. In the face of these challenges, the adaptation of a lingua franca becomes imperative. This will enhance communication and create a common cultural sense of togetherness and collective ownership. Nigeria should fund peace research and provide good governance at all levels towards minimizing the divisive forces and upholding the unity of the polity. Through it, the rule of law will become a culture in the socio-political lives of the citizenry for an enduring polity.

Pages: 67-72

Workgroup Diversity and Group Cohesiveness in Nigeria Police

Authors : Tende Friday Buradum ; Georgewill Tamunotonye Anita
Abstract:
This study seeks to explore the behaviour of workgroups in terms of their diversity and group cohesiveness in Nigeria Police. The study was conducted in Rivers State; where three hundred and eighteen (318) copies of the research instrument were distributed to the respondents of forty-five (45) workgroups. Nevertheless, only two hundred and seventy-nine (279) copies amounting to forty (40) workgroups returned and was analyzed using the Kendall’s_tau statistical technique with the aid of SPSS. It was recommended that: Leadership of the group should ensure that deep level diversity or differences amongst members of a group is communicated to all and sundry to bring about mutual respect thereby aiding the attainment of the goals of the group. Leadership of the group should ensure that deep level diversity or differences is well communicated as it would enhance the co-operation of group members thereby enabling group members to keep to the standard norms the govern group activities. Leadership of the group should ensure that surface level diversity is seen as a resource because the peculiar personal experiences of the individual group members are communicated to shape the activities and behavioural conduct of the group. Leadership of the group should ensure that surface level diversity brings about co-operation in the group in that the gains of the differences should be made known even from the point of indoctrination. Since managing diversity is not merely giving lip service to maximizing the differences of groups; leadership of the group should encourage harmonious relationship(s) amongst all group members for cohesive co-ordination in attaining its predetermined objectives.

Pages: 59-66

Missionaries as Imperialists: Decolonial Subalternity in the Missionary Enterprise on the Coast of Cameroon 1841-1914

Authors : Roland Ndille
Abstract:
The coming of early missionaries to the global south in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and their activities have received a two sided analysis. While a school of thought holds that the missionaries were motivated by a spiritual revival and response to the call to ‘go ye therefore, and teach all nations… unto the ends of the earth…what I have commanded you’, Decolonial and subaltern studies hold the very strong opinion that missionaries, played an ambiguous role in preparing the grounds for European occupation and the entrenchment of coloniality. Within this civilizer-colonizer debate, I argue in this paper that there is a significant amount of historical evidence to justify that missionaries served as forerunners of colonialism and have used missionary correspondences, data on their interaction with the indigenous communities as well as critical secondary literature to present the Cameroon experience.

Pages: 51-58

Co-Operative Education and Training as A Means to Improve Performance in Co-Operative Societies

Authors : Paulo Anania ; Gratian Cronery Rwekaza
Abstract:
Improving operational performance has been among key targets by various organizations globally including co-operatives. Among the major strategies to improve performance of various kinds in organizations is the provision of education and training to enable implementation of daily activities. As member-owned business enterprises, co-operatives including savings and credit co-operative societies (SACCOS) need continuous provision of education and training to the Board, members and management as a means to build capacity needed to attain the desired needs and aspirations. The initiated co-operative education and training system has served as an empowering tool to build capacity of co-operatives to reach desired end, including better provision of services to satisfy members. This paper is written based on the study conducted in 7 SACCOS in Singida and Dodoma regions of Tanzania. The paper focuses on assessing the provision of co-operative education and training as a basis to improve performance in SACCOS’ operations. Specifically it aims to; examine the provision of education and training in relation to SACCOS’ governing instruments, to determine factors influencing provision of education and training in SACCOS, to evaluate the contribution of education and training in SACCOS’ performance, and to determine the challenges facing provision of education and training in SACCOS. The study is descriptive and applied a cross-sectional design in 7 purposively selected SACCOS in the two regions. Total sample size was 70 people comprising of ordinary members, SACCOS staff and leaders. The study found that education and training is not well provided as per guiding instruments as mostly leaders (in Boards and committees) and staff get the priority while members rarely receive education and training. The influencing factors for provision of education and training were found to be; availability of funds, number of trainers and trainee, urgency of the training, cost of trainers, external influence and support, location and legal requirements. Education and training was found to contribute to improved customer care, loan collection, reduced bad debts, better accounting system, improved financial management and time service provision. The study went further indicating constraints to provision of education and training in SACCOS and gave recommendation to deal with them.

Pages: 39-50

A Socio - Analytical Study of Aminata Sow Fall’s The Beggars’ Strike

Authors : Dr. Rabiu  Iyanda
Abstract:
Mour Ndiaye, the Director of the Department of Public Health and Hygiene, has to clean the streets of beggars to give room for economic buoyancy through tourism, in Dakar, the capital on the directive of the President. The presence of these beggars in streets constitutes hindrance to economic growth. But for the progress, peace and long life of members of the society, beggars are indispensable. For Mour Ndiaye to be promoted to the post of Vice-President of the capital, beggars are so indispensable across the streets. Beggars refused to go back to streets from the slum being barred to after suffering humiliations and brutalization from the government agencies. This paper x-rays issues in cultural contact and its effects the on day to day administration by government policies, the African superstition and the hypocrisy in the society. Textual analysis method is used to critically explore reasons for almsgiving, the sincerity and the disingenuousness in this act. The foreign perception of the physically challenged ones in the society should not be imitated entirely in the African context as every situation is culturally catered for. The study concludes that African problems are better solved with African values and traditions.

Pages: 35-38