...Home JournalsBooksAbout UsMembershipSubscriptionAllies & FriendsContact us Culture And Child Abuse In Nigeria Charity N. Uzuegbu Department of Social Work, University of Nigeria, Nsukka Abstract Cultural practises have been observed to increase the abuse of children in Nigeria. This paper discusses the effects of cultural practices on the abuse of children in Nigeria. Some of the cultural practices discussed are early marriage, female genital mutilation, and desire for large family size. It was suggested that public enlightenment programmes and free social services should be provided to help control the situation. Introduction The problem of child abuse is very prevalent in the Nigerian society. The problem arose as result of various factors which include economic, social, and cultural. It is accompanied by adverse consequences to the child, family and society. This paper discusses the influence of some of the cultural practices prevalent in Nigeria on child abuse. The aim of the study is to bring to limelight how some cultural practices increase the problem of child abuse in Nigeria, and suggest ways of controlling the situation. Data for the study was collected through the use of participant observation and secondary documents such as previous research works. Child abuse has been defined as the “physical or emotional mistreatment and neglect of children or the sexual exploitation in circumstances for which the parents can be held responsible through acts...
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...© Kamla-Raj 2004 J. Soc. Sci., 8(1): 23-27 (2004) Exploring the Forms of Child Abuse in Nigeria: Efforts at Seeking Appropriate Preventive Strategies Ifeyinwa Annastasia Mbakogu CHILD ABUSE IN THE NIGERIAN SOCIETY It may be difficult discussing the issue of child abuse in Nigeria without eliciting the African perspective. This is because first as Africans (and later developing nations), there exists a common heritage that seem to signify that similarities in culture or traditions may indicate a commonality of perceptions toward issues regarded as child abuse and eventually, similarities in strategies for addressing the problem. Moving into the African or Nigerian Perspective It is quite a formidable task formulating an effective strategy for the prevention of child abuse. To tackle this problem Marzouki (2002) made an interesting comparison between prevention strategies for child abuse or handicaps and medical management: What measures should be taken to avoid the so-called ‘street children’ pheno-menon? The preventive measures in handicap are different from medical management in type and level. For instance, when a child has a cerebral palsy due to prematurity, he would need drugs and physiotherapy. But preventing prematurity would need, among other things, health education and pregnancy monitoring. Like cerebral palsy, or seizures, sexually abused street children are merely a symptom, but the causes are derived from elsewhere. Of course it [is] the symptoms that have...
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...GIRL-CHILD EDUCATION IN AFRICA BY PROFESSOR GRACE CHIBIKO OFFORMA DEAN, FACULTY OF EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA KEYNOTE ADDRESS PRESENTED AT THE CONFERENCE OF THE FEDERATION OF THE UNIVERSITY WOMWNE OF AFRICA HELD IN LAGOS-NIGERIA ON 16TH – 19TH JULY, 2009. Introduction In this presentation, we will first of all try to explain the key concepts in the title, namely, girl-child and education. Then we will present and discuss the issues/factors in the girlchild education, citing examples from some African countries. Such issues include: access, equity, enrollment, retention/drop-out, and achievement in school subjects. Solutions of the constraints raised will be proffered. This conference is timely and apt. On Monday July 20, 2009, the President of Nigeria, President Musa Umaru Yar’Adua, GCFR, will flag off the National Campaign on access, while the Federal Minister of Education will launch the Roadmap for the Nigerian Education sector, which includes: Access and Equity Standards and Quality Assurance Technical and Vocational Education and Training, and Funding and Resource Utilization. In the course of this conference, we are going to discuss some of these and proffer recommendations which will be useful to the Federal Ministry of Education for effective implementation of the Minister’s roadmap. The Girl-Child The girl-child is a biological female offspring from birth to eighteen (18) years of age. This is the age before one becomes young adult. This period...
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...1997). There was an increasing importance of an integrated economic platform in this new era. Nigeria made significant progress since it was first introduced into the globalisation process with Structural Adjustment Program, marking with a shift from protectionist policies to promoting free trade and economic growth. This essay will illustrate the pros of GDP growth and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) manifested in economic globalisation of Nigeria, but evaluation will be made on the societal impact into the economy, such as income inequalities and labour exploitation. Capital inflows into Nigeria had grown immensely over the last decade in the process of economic liberalisation. It was considered as the 120th freest economy in the 2013 Index (Index of Economic Freedom, 2013). The FDI reached 11billion USD in 2009, ranking Nigeria at 19th to receive the most FDI in the world. Most prominent investors include USA Chevron Texaco and UK Shell penetrating the oil sector. China was becoming an important source of FDI recently, seeking to expand trade relationships, and Chinese investment reported worth 6billion USD. These investments were injections to enhance the capital of Nigeria, bringing about foreign expertise and technology, and also encouraged job creations, raising standard of living. Economic globalisation implied free trade that brought definitive advantages to Nigeria economy, particularly in the aspect of GDP growth. Although Nigeria’s overall...
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...Intersection between Shari' a and Reproductive and/or Sexual Health and Human Rights OLAIDE ABBAS GBADAMOSI* Shari 'a has become an important feature of the legal system of the Muslim world with its attendant implications for reproductive health and human rights. Like other religious doctrines, Islam has been used to legitimize conflicting positions on gender and reproductive choice. In some cases, women were being denied rights by those who claimed to be acting in the name of 'Islamic' laws. some of which are incompatible with internationally recognized human rights. This article identifies selected sexual and reproductive health issues at the intersection ofreproductive rights and Shari 'a e.g. adultery (zina), inheritance, child marriages, polygny, and violence against women and considers how their shared concerns may prompt actions leading to the elimination of religious and cultural barriers imposed by Shari 'a which impede the implementation of international legal frameworks and consensus documents on reproductive rights. Nigeria is selected as a case study on the nature of implementation of Shari 'a law and reproductive rights. The article calls for more progressive interpretations of Islamic law to be codified in legislative reforms and/or seek to interpret Islamic law in harmony with international human rights standards and calls for the implementation of Shari 'a that would promote respect for human rights. J believe that if Islam is interpreted and applied correctly, we can...
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...WHO IS A CITIZEN? A citizen is a person who legally belongs to a country and has the rights and protection of that country. That includes the right to vote, work and live in the country and the right to return to the country, besides other rights. A citizen may also be subject to certain duties, such as a duty to uphold law and to serve in the military. A person may have multiple citizenships and a person who does not have citizenship of any state is said to be stateless. He is endowed with legal rights by, and duties to, the country of which one is a citizen. Citizens are the people who owe allegiance to a government and are entitled to be protected by this government. They are the nationals of a city, state and country. They can be inhabitants or in diaspora. Citizens are entitled to be protected, by the government in which they owe allegiance, in terms of security, safety and against molestation by any individual, group, organisation or country. Nationality is often used as a synonym for citizenship in English – notably in international law – although the term is sometimes understood as denoting a person's membership of a nation. In some countries, e.g. the United States, Israel, Philippines and the United Kingdom, "nationality" and "citizenship" have different meanings. Thus, a Nigeria citizen is someone who is allowed to vote in Nigeria state and federal elections, to serve in the Nigeria armed forces, to pass that citizenship on to their spouse and/or children, is entitled...
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...observation would prove that child labour has increase in Nigeria since the late 1980s.To this end the increase may be related to the changing socio economic structure of the country. It is in this light that this paper seeks to relate the massive increase in the incident of child labour In Nigeria the mid 1980s.Globalisation should be seen as an encompassing process with implications for different sections of socio life (see Anugwom, 2001). Therefore, globalization significantly affected the child labour in Nigeria. Nigeria is reported as having 12million child workers, which is one of the highest in the world (see Siddigi and Patrinos,2001). Moreover the IL0 1996 estimate that 250million children are involved in child labour. This figure shows a problem of major proportion and which is concentrated principally in developing nations of the world. A concern with child labour stem largely out of the stark that realization in spite of the numerous national attention given to the issue, it seems to elude meaningful solution in fact rather than abate, child labour has persisted. Child labour has also attracted international attention and concern. Hence, there have been many declaration on the global arena on how to stem the rising tide of child labour. Among these declarations and conventions are the ILO conventions on the Elimination Of Child Labour, the, ILO Declaration on the Fundamental Principles and Rights of Work, the UNICEF. Declaration on the Right of chidren and of course the...
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...XRAYING SCHOOL READINESS FACTOR AND PRACTICE OF CHILDREN INFAMILIES (A CASE STUDY OF SOUTHEAST NIGERIA) BY AZUKA UGO ozone4k@yahoo.com FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (TECHNICAL) UMUNZE, ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA Abstract The study Xraying School Readiness Factor and Practice of Children in Families (A Case Study of Southeast Nigeria) adopted a survey research design. The population comprises of educated families in southeast Nigeria. Proportionate stratified random sampling was used in determining the sample size. Sample size of 2,500 was determined by sampling educated families from each of the selected State, local government, and villages in Southeast Nigeria. Forty six item questionnaires were used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using frequency, and mean. The findings include: environmental factor, finance, parental practices among others are factors that determine child readiness and practices in southeast Nigeria; Recommendations on appropriate School Readiness Factor and Practice of Children in Families n southeast Nigeria were made based on the research findings. KEYWORDS: xraying, school readiness, practice, children, families Introduction (Background of the study) Readiness is a term used to describe preparation for what is next to take place. School readiness factor and practice of children are the preparation, practice and teaching to the individual child to be ready for school in the family, though according to experts, readiness has no single definition...
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...PUBLIC POLICY AND GENDER POLITICS IN NIGERIA INTRODUCTION Despite the seemingly progressive actions by various regimes to redress women's conditions, the institutional environment dominated by men manifest contradictory gender politics. In Nigeria, as elsewhere, power relations are predicated on gender, which may be exercised in different domains (Pereira 2002:1). This chapter examines public policy and gender politics in governance, the social sector (widowhood practices) and education. PUBLIC POLICIES ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS Since the end of Second World War, there has been a widespread global concern for women's rights. Several international instruments have been adopted to attempt to resolve the problem of women's marginalization. The long list of international instruments include the 1948 Declaration on Human Rights, the 1976 Covenant on Human Rights, the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination, and the 1985 Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies. The Nigerian state has also responded to the international environment through adoption of public policies and programmes to redress the imbalance in gender differences in the social, economic and political spheres. In 2000, the Nigerian government adopted the National Policy on Women. The government considered the policy as its commitment to the development of all sectors of the society and to institutionalize processes which will pilot the Nigerian society towards social equity, justice and a much-improved...
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...came as a replacement for Nigeria’s Universal Primary Education scheme of the 6-3-3-4 system of primary education. The 9-3-4 system of education was designed in conformity with the MDGs and Education For All, EFA (Kayode, 2006). The UBE involves 6 years of Primary School education and 3 years of Junior Secondary School education, culminating in 9 years of uninterrupted schooling, and transition from one class to another is automatic but determined through continuous assessment. This scheme is monitored by the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, and has made it "free", "compulsory" and a right of every child.[1] Therefore, the UBEC law section 15 defines UBE as early childhood care and education. The law stipulates a 9-year formal schooling, adult literacy and non-formal education, skill acquisition programs and the education of special groups such as nomads and migrants, girl child and women, Al-majiri, street children and disabled people (Aderinoye, 2007). [2] Secondary education [edit] Students spend six years in Secondary School, that is 3 years of JSS (Junior Secondary School), and 3 years of SSS (Senior Secondary School). By Senior Secondary School Class 2 (SS2), students are taking the GCE O’Levels exam, which is not mandatory, but most students take it to prepare for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination. The Senior Secondary School Exam is taken in the last year of secondary school (SS3). Private organizations, the State government or the Federal government...
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...This paper examines leadership practice in Nigeria from a feminist perspective. The paper briefly x-rayed Nigeria’s problems from a feminist perspective and come to the conclusion that, majority of these problems are caused by the default androcentric social practices allowed by patriarchy and masculinism, it is important to proffer solution to these problems using the same feminist theoretical frame-work. Hence, this paper attempts long lasting solution to the problem of leadership as it confronts Nigeria. FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE ON SOME NIGERIA NATIONAL ISSUES This section looks at some of the issues that concern Nigeria leadership and development problems and try to look at them from a feminist perspective in order to chart a new paradigm at...
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...GENDER AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN ISOKO SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF DELTA STATE AJOKPAEZI JULIET EBSU/2003/23214 RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES EDUCATION FACULTY OF EDUCATION EBONYI STATE UNIVERSITY, ABAKALIKI OCTOBER, 2008. TITLE PAGE GENDER AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN ISOKO SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF DELTA STATE AJOKPAEZI JULIET EBSU/2003/23214 RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES EDUCATION (ENGLISH) EBONYI STATE UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE AWARD OF BACHELOR OF ARTS (B.E) DEGREE IN ENGLISH EDUCATION OCTOBER, 2008. APPROVAL PAGE This research project has been supervised and approved as meeting all the requirements of the department of Arts and Social Science Education, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. Dr. Ms. C Maduabuchi ----------------- Project supervisor Date Dr. Ms. C Maduabuchi ----------------- Head of Department Date Prof. S.O. Abonyi ----------------- Dean, Faculty of Education Date External Examiner ----------------- Date DEDICATION This project is dedicated to God Almighty in whose love and guidance I have been sailing through my academic years and to my parents, His Royal Highness Emaviwe first Ovie of...
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...INTRODUCTION The term education has got a lot of definitions. Different scholars in the world give different definitions in trying to capture the subject matter. Some scholars like Snelson (1974:1) define education as a condition of human survival. It is the means where by one generation transmits the wisdom, knowledge and experience which prepares the next generation for life’s duties and pleasure. Although this definition may not cater or address all the issues raised in education, it helps us to have a wide knowledge about all aspects of education. This also helps us to act with more insight and more intelligence in molding the youths in an acceptable manner. As human beings, the kind of personality one becomes will depend very much on the home he/she is born into, on his parents, on his village in which they are brought up. It can also be based on his or her school and on the tribe or nation to which they belongs. The kind of personality will not only depend on the things mentioned but also on beliefs and ideas that he will encounter throughout his life. The importance of any form of education lies in the fact that it is at the centre of development of a given society. As such, a well-developed educational system will undoubtedly lead to the production of trained and skilled manpower that are indispensable in bringing about social change. Most societies throughout history provided some kinds of education for the young so that they can live and succeed in a changing society...
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...bestseller list. Dr. Phil was recommending it as well. Just before it became recommended reading for every child-psychology course in the US and Canada. Translated into fifty different languages, many hospitals were already talking of putting it in every new parent’s hands. Wonderful! Amen, somebody! But coming back down to earth, the immediate questions that faced me were, if you indeed want to give your child or ward the best gift ever, how would you go about it? How would you help your child become independent in this world, and have the ability to navigate this world as she pleases? How do you prepare her for a world that does not yet exist? One of the very best analogies I’ve found, for how to bring the best out of your growing child, is the art (yes, art) of growing a plant. Well, you don’t expect your child to remain rooted to one spot his whole life but the similarities are many. Scientists have long talked about “Nature vs Nurture”. Which has the strongest pull on how well a child does physically and mentally? Is the child a successful musician because the genes are there, or because he was exposed to musical trainings right from birth? The conclusion is that where the innate abilities do not exist, hundreds of hours of training by the best coaches will not achieve much. But again, genius, they say, is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. Genius without the right amount of practice and exposure will ultimately become a failure. It will only become a frustrated attempt...
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...and Learning of Yoruba as a Second Language (L2) in Colleges of Education in Nigeria Oyewole Arohunmolase Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo Nigeria Introduction The teaching and learning of Yoruba as a second language in Nigeria and as a foreign language in Britain, United States of America (USA), Germany, and many other countries all over Europe and the world has extended the frontiers of knowledge in the teaching and learning of Yoruba language. Many people in Nigeria and in the above named countries all over the world are interested in knowing the spoken form of Yoruba, its literature, and its culture. The Federal Government in Nigeria’s policy on the teaching and learning of Yoruba L2 in Colleges of Education is to see that people in Nigeria live in unity and harmony as one indivisible, indissoluble, democratic, and sovereign nationals founded on the principles of freedom, equality, and justice with other ethnic groups. Government also, in the National Policy on Education (NPE), Stresses the importance of Language as a means of promoting social interaction and national cohesion; and presenting cultures. Therefore, every child in Nigeria shall learn the language of the immediate environment. Furthermore, in the interest of national unity it is expedient that every child shall be required to learn ONE of the THREE Major Nigerian Languages; Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba (NPE1998: 8). This view of every child being required to learn one of Hausa, Igbo, or Yoruba is a laudable policy...
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