This study is a critique of Aso Ebi in Owambe social uniform and social performance phenomena of the Yoruba culture of Nigeria in West Africa. The Aso Ebi phenomenon is a social uniform that is inextricable from the Owambe spectacle of the Yoruba culture, which, in itself, is a social performance. Aso Ebi is a fabric that is selected, made into garments and worn by groups of people who are related to one another in various ways such as family, friends or comrades. The uniforms are worn for social gatherings, especially celebrations, which are popularly called Owambe. These celebrations are very elaborate and loud, much like a grand spectacle put on to show wealth, unity and flamboyance. The research is the explanation of how the Aso Ebi and Owambe social uniforms manifest themselves and this manifestation is presented through a body of artworks. The artworks seek to expose the unseen actualities involved in participating in these social performances and issues of social survival within these cultural phenomena. The analysis addresses the impacts and influence of conformity in cooperative behaviour by an individual within his/her social identity and relationships. The main question this study addresses is whether the positive factors of unity, social order and expressive visual flamboyance of the social phenomena outweigh the negative impacts particularly on the individuals who participate in these social performances. This is done by acknowledging the experiences of the participating individuals in the conformity and transmission modes of these phenomena in this culture. The visual productions of the concepts in the research are achieved through performance, collages, photography and a sculptural installation. The significance of these emergent visual productions is that they shift the focus from the impression of the group to the conformity by the individual. This highlights the problems faced by the participating individuals in the pursuit and participation of this cultural phenomenon. / Department of Art History, Visual Arts and Musicology / M. A. (Visual Arts)

Im Rahmen der Zusammenarbeit des Missionsärztlichen Instituts in Würzburg mit dem Sacred Heart Hospital (Nigeria) wurden vor Ort im Hinblick auf das Problem der Arzneimittelfälschungen in Nigeria und dem Auftreten von einzelnen Resistenzen gegen Artemisinin-Derivate Untersuchungen bezüglich der aktuellen Situation im Kampf gegen Malaria im Großraum Abeokuta durchgeführt. Der Kenntnisstand über Malaria und das Gesundheitsverhalten einer für die nigerianische Bevölkerung möglichst repräsentativen Probandengruppe (n=100) wurden mithilfe eines Fragebogens erfasst. Ebenfalls mithilfe eines Fragebogens wurden die Therapiestrategien der einheimischen Ärzte (n=34) gegen Malaria untersucht und die Verfügbarkeit und Qualität von Artemisinin- Derivaten im Untersuchungsgebiet durch den Erwerb von Medikamenten-Samples (n=29) und anschließende Labortests überprüft. Die Befragung der Bevölkerung ergab, dass Wissen bezüglich der Ursachen, Symptome und Prävention der Malaria durchaus vorhanden ist, wobei große Unterschiede abhängig vom Bildungsstand bestanden. Vor allem ältere Menschen verfügten über wesentlich geringere Schulbildung und verließen sich deshalb sehr viel mehr auf die traditionelle Medizin. Darüber hinaus war eine oftmalige Bagatellisierung der Malaria auffällig, weshalb viele Probanden (53%) sich im Krankheitsfall gegen das Aufsuchen eines Krankenhauses entschieden. Die Befragung bezüglich der Therapiestrategien der einheimischen Ärzte zeigte, dass die Richtlinien der WHO bezüglich der Verwendung von ACT offensichtlich optimal angenommen und angewandt werden. Als mögliches Problem stellte sich die von 76,7% der Ärzte nur selten angewandte Labordiagnostik dar, eine Tatsache, die Fehldiagnosen begünstigt. Bei der Testung der Medikamente erwiesen sich 14,3% der Proben als minderwertig oder sogar gefälscht, was offiziellen Angaben entspricht. Zudem handelte es sich bei 37,9% der Arzneimittelproben um Monopräparate, was im Hinblick auf Resistenzbildung mehr als bedenklich ist. Diese Resultate weisen darauf hin, dass im Südwesten Nigerias die Malaria-Problematik noch immer nicht adäquat gelöst ist. Immer noch erhalten viel zu wenige Menschen eine optimale Therapie, was zu einem großen Teil an fehlendem Wissen und damit verbundenem falschem Gesundheitsverhalten, an dem großen Einfluss der traditionellen Medizin und an der Präsenz von gefälschten, wirkungslosen Arzneimitteln auf dem Markt liegt. / Considering the problem of counterfeit drugs in Nigeria and the occurrence of resistances against artemisinin-derivates, investigations regarding the current situation in Abeokuta and its surrounding areas had to be carried out. Knowledge about malaria and healthcare-seeking behaviour of the local population (n=100) was investigated by means of a questionnaire, as well as antimalarial treatment strategies of local doctors (n=34). Furthermore availability and quality of artemisinin-derivates were checked by purchasing drug samples (n=29) and subjecting them to laboratory tests. Questioning the local population showed that knowledge about malaria (causes, symptoms, prevention) is definitely existing, although major differences depending on the level of education could be observed. Especially the elderly had a very low level of education and, therefore, relied a lot more on traditional medicine. Moreover it became obvious that malaria is often trivialized, so that many people didn’t choose to go to the hospital in case of an infection. Questioning the local doctors regarding their treatment strategies showed that WHO treatment guidelines were obviously widely accepted and applied. A possible problem could be that 76,7 % of the interviewed doctors stated that they rarely use laboratory test for diagnostics. A fact, which favours misdiagnosis. By testing the drug samples, 14,3% proved to be substandard or even counterfeit. Moreover, 37,9% of the samples were monotherapies, which is more than alarming regarding the development of resistances. These results indicate that the problem of malaria is still not adequately solved in south-west Nigeria. Too few people receive an optimal therapy due to lack of knowledge, wrong healthcare-seeking behaviour, the big influence of traditional medicine and the presence of ineffective counterfeit drugs on the market.

Student Number : 0315885J - PhD thesis - School of Journalism and Media Studies - Faculty of Humanties / This study responds to the generalization by traditional agenda setting or media effects studies, especially media agenda-setting hypothesis that people accept as important whatever the media considers to be so; and being so, have the capability to structure issues for its audience. Also, the thesis is uncomfortable with the media’s blanket use of the term ‘mass’ to refer to its audience particularly when considered against the background of Africa’s rurality. This study therefore is an attempt to stake out a new conceptual approach to the media’s agenda-setting capabilities with an emphasis on the ‘other neglected agents of power’, that is, this study’s proposition as ‘the established structures of community’ in Africa, especially rural Africa, in setting be it the media or ‘territorial’ agenda. Using the multifaceted and predominantly qualitative methodology of histories and the triangular orientation of personal interviews, survey questionnaires and content scanning of relevant media, the thesis amongst other issues of conceptual relevance re-awakens the theoretical issue of ‘whose agenda is the media agenda?” and whether the media and its agenda setting capabilities are not an urban phenomenon? The universality and applicability of the theory especially in Africa’s rural setting where language, illiteracy, poverty and the lack of access to modern media constitute obvious barriers is also a major concern of this study. With the above as a background, the three part (I – conceptual framing of the problem and relevant issues, ii – a proposition and iii – data presentation and research findings) study then agues, proposes and concludes that: [a] Media agenda is ‘source’ oriented as its sources quite often are identifiable and that, the media serves better (as against the overwhelming claim of agenda-setting) as a conduit or arena for contending issues, views, opinions, even sentiments; there is therefore no significant category of intellectual analysis called media agenda, at least, in Nigeria. [b] Media is urban based and centred, urban driven and even urban cultured …it is simply an urban phenomenon. [c] Indeed there are significant indicators that the ‘established structures of community’ functions and play major roles both in setting the media-agenda (where there is one) and in political power dynamics. [d] Media agenda is plausible but an ‘uncertain’ agenda; in Africa, especially rural Africa.

Thesis advisor: Richard Lennan / Thesis advisor: Dominic Doyle / Religion is central and vital for an Igbo person. No Igbo person exists in isolation from his/her community. An indigenous and traditional Igbo society is communal; it does not entertain any sense of individuality. But the coming of the missionaries broke into this communal bond with a new religion that threatened the traditional society when it began to exalt the individual soul. The Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe, in his book Things Fall Apart, portrays a situation in which an African indigenous missionary (Mr. Kiaga) succeeds in separating a son (Nwoye) from his African parent (Okonkwu) so that the son can become a Christian and be saved. But alone? As the son leaves his parents’ house for the mission compound the missionary quotes the Bible, “Blessed is he who forsakes his father and mother for my sake…” Achebe’s story depicts a situation in which the family is utterly divided as a result of the parents’ or their children’s conversion to Christianity. At this point, things fall apart. The pivotal core of the traditional Igbo society cannot hold again. The majority of the missionaries saw African religion from within their Western understanding and concluded that it was heathen, anti-Christian, and repulsive. African societies started to disintegrate when traditional religion was attacked. A rift occurs between the family and the extended family. Instead of bringing reconciliation and understanding, Christianity in this case brings division. This is because converts were instructed to leave everything behind, including families, for the sake of the gospel. But the Igbo Traditional Religion looked at life in a holistic way. There was no contradiction between sacred and profane, hence many people were horrified when the first converts wanted to set themselves apart, away from other members of the community. This is why inculturation is important, as it enables the Igbo Christian to see and experience life in a holistic manner without doing needless violence to cultural values. The failure of the early missionaries to inculturate the cultural values of the people is the conundrum. The result raises some theological problems. In the attempt to ascertain a balance, most times, the Christians in Africa, particularly in Igboland, find themselves oscillating between Christianity and African Traditional Religion (ATR). The need for a reconciliation is long overdue. It is best given a lasting, concrete and a dialogical chance through inculturation. / Thesis (STL) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry. / Discipline: Sacred Theology.

Context: This study seeks to examine the relationship between female genital cutting (FGC) and the sexual behavior of women in Kenya and Nigeria. Although research evidence has shown that female genital cutting is a serious problem in many countries and needs to be eradicated, prevalence in many countries remains high. One of the reasons given for the continuation of this harmful practice, despite widespread global campaigns against it, is that it is deemed an essential aspect of grooming the female child in preparation for marriage. It is supposed to control female sexuality thereby ensuring that a girl remains a virgin until marriage and it enhances her chances of marriage. Little research has been carried out to evaluate how far FGC tempers the sexual behavior of women. Methods: The study uses the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey of 2008/09 as well as the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey of 2008. The population being examined is sexually active women who knew about circumcision and were thus asked if they had been circumcised or not to which the response was either yes or no. The sample size for Kenya is 5 187 women while in Nigeria it is 12 253 women. The study hypothesis is that there is a difference in the sexual behaviour of women who are circumcised and those who are not circumcised. Multiple linear regression, logistic regression as well as Poisson regression were used examine the effect of selected predictor variables on sexual behaviour. The outcome variable is sexual behavior which was measured using age at first intercourse as well total lifetime number of sexual partners. Findings: The study results suggest that there is no association between female genital cutting and the sexual behaviour of women in Kenya and Nigeria. There was no difference in the age at which women first engage in sexual intercourse and in the number of sexual partners for women who were circumcised and those who were not. Thus there is no scientific evidence that the practice of FGC could control the sexual activities of women. Conclusions: Female genital cutting does not have any effect on the sexual behaviour of women in Kenya and Nigeria. There is no difference in the sexual behaviour of women who are circumcised and those who are not circumcised in both countries. This is an indication that FGC does not serve the purpose it is purported to serve and should therefore be eradicated.

One of the realities that developing countries like Nigeria have to face today is that national and international markets have become more and more interconnected through the global platform of telecommunications and the Internet. This global networked economy is creating a paradigm shift in the focus of development goals and strategies particularly for developing countries. Globalisation is driving the nations of the world more into political and economic integration. These integrations are enhanced by a globally interconnected network of economic and communication systems at the apex of which is the Internet. This network of networks thrives on and encourages the expansion of cross-border flows of ideas and information, goods and services, technology and capital. Being an active member of the global network economy is essential to Nigeria’s economic development. It must plug into the network or risk being shut out. The global market network operates by means of rules and standards that are largely set by the dominant players in the network. Data protection is a critical component of the regime of rules and standards that govern the global network economy; it is evolving into an international legal order that transcends geographical boundaries. The EU Directive on data protection is the de facto global standard for data protection; it threatens to exclude non-EU countries without an adequate level of privacy protection from the EU market. More than 50 countries have enacted data protection laws modelled on the EU standard. Access to the huge EU market is a major motivation for the current trend in global harmonisation of domestic data protection laws. This trend provides a compelling reason for examining the issues relating to data protection and trans-border data flows and their implications for Nigeria’s desire to integrate into the global network economy. There are two primary motivations for legislating restrictions on the flow of data across national boundaries. The first is the concern for the privacy of the citizens, and second, securing the economic well-being of a nation. It is important that Nigeria’s privacy protection keeps pace with international norms in the provision of adequate protection for information privacy order to prevent potential impediments to international trading opportunities. / Public, Constitutional, and International / LL. D.

Malaria remains a serious public health challenge in the tropical world, with 584,000 deaths globally in 2013, of which 90% occurred in Africa, and mostly in pregnant women and children under the age of five. Anopheles gambiae (An. gambiae) is the principal malaria vector in Africa, where vector control measures involve the use of insecticides in the forms of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS). The development of insecticides resistance mitigates these approaches. Glutathione (GSH) is widely distributed among all living organisms, and is associated with detoxification pathways, especially the Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). Its direct involvement and relevance in insecticide resistance in An. gambiae has not been determined. Thus, this work examines the contribution of GSH, its biosynthetic genes (GCLM, GCLC) and their possible transcriptional regulator Nrf2 in insecticide resistance in An. gambiae sampled from agricultural setting (areas of intensive agriculture) and residential setting (domestic area). Bioinformatics analysis, W.H.O. adult susceptibility bioassays and molecular techniques were employed to investigate. Total RNA was first isolated from the adults An. gambiae mosquitoes raised from agricultural and residential field-caught larvae which had been either challenged or unchallenged with insecticides. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR using gel image densitometry was used to determine the expression levels of GCLM, GCLC genes and Nrf2. Bioinformatics’ results established the presence of putative AGAP010259 (AhR) and AGAP005300 (Nf2e1) transcription factor binding sites in An. gambiae GCLC and GCLM promoters in silico. An. gambiae s.l. studied here were highly resistant to DDT and permethrin but less resistant to bendiocarb. Both knockdown resistance (kdr) mutation variants L1014S and L1014F that confers resistance to pyrethroid insecticides were identified in both An. coluzzii and An. arabiensis sampled from northern Nigeria. The L1014F was much associated with An. coluzzii. A significant positive correlation (P=0.04) between the frequency of the L1014F point mutation and resistance to DDT and permethrin was observed. However, a weak or non-significant correlation (P=0.772) between the frequency of the L1014S point mutation and resistance was also found. L1014S and L1014F mutations co-occurred in both agricultural and residential settings with high frequencies. However, the frequencies of the two mutations were greater in the agricultural settings than in the residential settings. The levels of total, reduced and oxidized GSH were significantly higher in mosquitoes from agricultural sites than those from residential sites. Increased oxidized GSH levels appears to correlate with higher DDT resistance. The expression levels of GCLM, GCLC and Nrf2 were also significantly up-regulated in adults An. gambiae raised from agricultural and residential field-caught larvae when challenged with insecticide. However, there was higher constitutive expression of GCLM, GCLC and Nrf2 in mosquitoes from agricultural setting. The increased expression levels of these genes and also GSH levels in this population suggest their roles in the response and adaptation of An. gambiae to insecticide challenges. There exists the feasibility of using GSH status in An. gambiae to monitor adaptation and resistance to insecticides.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Library and Information Studies) / The study investigated the information behaviour of Nigerian undergraduates with a focus on online media, especially Web 2.0. Nigeria has a laudable vision tagged Nigeria Vision 20:2020 (NV 20:2020), which is to be one of the top 20 knowledge economies by the year 2020. To achieve this grand feat, the nation requires a skilled population with 21st century graduate attributes who are information literate. That is, graduates who possess the competencies and high capabilities to effectively use and disseminate information for optimum service delivery in this epoch of information proliferation and technologies that are yet evolving. To ascertain the preparedness of Nigeria for the laudable Vision 20:2020, the research work investigated the information behaviour of Nigerian undergraduates using a specialized university, the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, as the case study site. The university was established in 2007 to meet the demands of the petroleum industry which is the largest in Nigerian in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This thesis examines banking regulation in Nigeria. The thesis has three main objectives; First, to elucidate the role and powers of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) as the apex regulator for the financial system and within the context of banking failures and crises. Second, to engage in a discourse vis-à-vis the law on banking regulation in Nigeria, with a particular focus on the revocation of banking licenses. Finally, to explore the role of other regulatory bodies which work with the CBN. This thesis provides a historical analysis of banking exchanges from the pre-colonial era to modern times, in order to provide an understanding of how political, local and economic settings as well as theories of regulation have impacted and influenced the development of banking regulation in Nigeria. The thesis concludes that the development of banking regulation has been a consequence of the aforementioned factors. The research examines Nigeria's historical experiences with banking failures, including the banking crisis of 2008. The thesis finds that the Nigerian regulator has adopted a reactionary strategy instead of a proactive and pragmatic approach to the various crises, which is imperative for an effective banking regulatory regime. Given the outcome of this examination, the thesis makes a case for reform. In addition, the study examines the banking consolidation, a recapitalization exercise implemented by the CBN in 2004. This mandated all banks to achieve a set minimum capital base. It examines the legal issues which surfaced, including the revocation of banking licenses by the CBN, arguably in 'bad faith', in order to cogitate the overall potential impact on banking regulation. The research embraces the UK and the US as comparator jurisdictions, so as to distill and critique their responses to the global financial crisis of 2007, against the backdrop of the approach adopted in the Nigerian banking crisis of 2008. It finds that the Nigerian response was the least effective of these jurisdictions and that cogent lessons may be drawn from the comparator jurisdictions. Furthermore, the thesis discusses possible reforms to move forward banking regulation in Nigeria.