| 1 |
Author(s):
Hussaini Jibrin (PhD).
Page No : 1-17
|
An Assessment of the British Demobilisation Exercise in the Nigerian Army during the Post-World War II
Abstract
This article examines some salient issues associated with
the British colonial exercise on the demobilization of
Nigerian Army ex-servicemen after World War II in 1944. As
complex an exercise as it is in any post-war society,
demobilization if not carefully conducted, leads to
another security challenge(s) due to difficulties in
reintegrating people who are exposed to firepower and
now abandoned without proper plan among civilians. This
paper adopts qualitative research methodology through
the use of historical sources for data collection - both
primary and secondary sources of data collection. The
article finds out that, the British colonial government
established an efficient program even though it was not
free from any challenge in resettling the ex-servicemen in
different parts of the country for development and
consolidation of the colonial rule. An efficient plan was
undertaken with careful implementations so that the exsoldiers
would not be allowed to escape and become a
nuisance in society, an event that could become a
security threat to the colonial state. It concludes that a
grand strategy was adopted by the British colonial
government in resettling the ex-servicemen, purposely to
avoid rebellion which may be ignited by the soldiers who
became exposed to war.
| 2 |
Author(s):
Oluchukwu Ignatus Onianwa (Ph.D).
Page No : 18-33
|
Wartime Anglo-Nigerian Relations: A Historical Analysis of Yakubu Gowon and Harold Wilson Diplomatic Correspondence during the Nigerian Civil War, 1967–1970.
Abstract
This paper examines the diplomatic correspondence
between British Prime Minister Harold Wilson and Nigerian
Head of State Major-General Yakubu Gowon during the
Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). Using a historical narrative
approach, it analyses primary sources from the British
National Archives and secondary sources from Nigerian
university libraries. The study highlights how diplomatic
communication served as a key tool in efforts toward
peace settlements, military support, and humanitarian aid.
The correspondence centered on preserving Nigeria’s unity
in the face of civil strife, reflecting a shared interest in
maintaining the status quo and avoiding missed
opportunities for peace. It argues that while Wilson
responded cautiously to Gowon's messages, mindful of
domestic and international criticism, the underlying
motivation was Britain’s desire to safeguard its political and
economic interests in a united Nigeria and to maintain
influence over the Federal Military Government amid the
war’s geopolitical complexities.
Keywords: Wartime, Anglo-Nigerian, Relations, Yakubu
Gowon, Harold Wilson Diplomatic, Correspondence,
Nigerian Civil War
| 3 |
Author(s):
Maduagwu, Uchendu and Usman, Muhammed Musa (Ph.D) .
Page No : 35-48
|
Indigenous Technology and Weapons Fabrication during the Nigerian Civil War, 1967–1970
Abstract
This study focuses on Indigenous technology and weapons
fabrication in the southeastern geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
The study centers on documentation of the inventions,
innovations, and improvisations developed by the research
and production unit of Biafra during the Nigerian civil war, it
analyses the impact of the weapons during the Nigerian
civil war. The study uses an interdisciplinary approach in the
collection of data, while chronological and descriptive
methods were used in the analysis and presentation of the
collected data. Primary and secondary sources were used
in the collection of data. This study finds that the
government made an effort to ensure the continued
fabrication of indigenous technology on weapons and the
assimilation of Biafra scientists after the Nigerian Civil War. It
further found out that the primary causes of Nigeria's
overdependence on foreign military technology or
hardware were her negligence in harnessing and exploring
the military technological revolution uncovered during the
Nigerian Civil War; if she had done that, Nigeria would have
been technologically sound and independent. The paper
concludes that Nigeria has what it takes to attain scientific
and technological development if only it can embrace,
harness, and explore indigenous technology uncovered
during the Nigerian Civil War.
Key words: Civil War, Indigenous Technology, RAP, National
Development, Weapons Fabrication
| 4 |
Author(s):
Amos Owem OMONIGHO (PhD).
Page No : 49-64
|
Indigenous Gin Production and Colonial Onslaught: A Study in Coping Strategies in the Niger-Delta Region of Nigeria
Abstract
This paper examined the tenacity of local gin (ogogoro)
production in the Niger Delta region following the British
prohibition of its production and distribution in colonial
Nigeria. The emergence of the home-made gin as a
competitor to imported alcohol generally referred to as
“trade spirits” primarily informed colonial attempts to
outlaw its production and distribution through a series of
liquor laws. The paper employed the historical research
method by using primary and secondary sources. Oral
interviews were conducted with some local gin producers
and inhabitants of the area. Extant archival materials
were obtained at the National Archives, Ibadan. The
secondary sources consisted of relevant literature on
colonialism and local gin production in the Niger Delta,
government publications, and reports of independent
bodies, newspapers and internet materials. All the sources
were critically examined and interpreted. This paper
argued that the opposition of colonial authorities against
the production, sales, and consumption of native gin in
the Niger Delta was primarily informed by colonial
concern about the threat posed by the indigenous gin to
colonial revenue. It further examined various strategies
employed by the local distillers that rendered efforts
ineffectual in dealing with the production and distribution
of local alcohol especially in the rural areas of the region.
The paper concluded that local cultural and economic
nationalism, which had been built around the homemade
gin on account of its age-long religious and sociocultural
uses and attachment to it by the people, made
its production and consumption thrive unabated despite
colonial onslaught against it.
Keywords: Colonialism, Indigenous, Alcohol, Niger Delta,
Coping strategies
| 5 |
Author(s):
Asanebi, Daupamowei Henry (PhD) and Yegba, Franklin Scudder .
Page No : 65-73
|
The Role of Trench Warfare in the Stalemate on the Western Front during World War 1 and Its Impact on the Development of Military Strategies and Technologies
Abstract
The study examined the role of trench warfare in the
stalemate on the Western Front during World War 1 and
its impact on the development of military strategy and
technologies. Trench warfare on the Western Front
during World War I was one of the most defining and
gruelling aspects of the conflict. The study utilised
secondary sources of historical methods in gathering
materials and contends that trench warfare is a combat
in which opposing armies fight from defensive positions
dug into the ground, called trenches. These trenches are
typically long, narrow ditches designed to protect
soldiers from enemy fire while allowing them to launch
attacks. The widespread use of trenches was primarily a
response to military strategy in defensive technologies,
such as machine guns and artillery, which made
traditional open-field attacks devastatingly ineffective.
Some of the most significant military technological
advancements were the development of tanks and
chemical weapons, particularly poison gas. During the
First World War (1914-1919), trench warfare created
unprecedented challenges for both soldiers and military
strategists, leading to the rapid development of new
technologies to break the stalemate on the Western
Front. The study concludes that trench warfare serves as
a stark reminder of the First World War's devastating
scale and the transformative impact of industrialisation
on combat, shaping the course of 20th-century military
history.
Keywords: First World War, Trench Warfare, Military,
Western Front, Stalemate
| 6 |
Author(s):
David Adah Okwori (Ph.D.) and Henry Chwifeh (Ph.D.) .
Page No : 74-91
|
The Impacts and Challenges of the Growth of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) on Samaru Area, 1962-2002
Abstract
Remarkable socio-economic changes have been recorded
in the Samaru Area within the past sixty years. These
developments are inextricably tied to the establishment and
continued growth of the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria.
Thus, this article examines the contributions of ABU to the
socio-economic development of the Samaru Area from
1962 to 2022. Employing primary and secondary sources
such as oral interviews, archival materials, journal articles,
and newspapers, the study finds that the establishment of
the university was largely responsible for the remarkable
growth and development of the area of study. By 1970, nine
streets having 1,066 houses were in existence in the Samaru,
the popular Sokoto Road had about 70 houses, Market
Road had 139 houses, Ali Basawa Road with 166 houses,
Tanko Maikara Road with 135 houses, Iya Road with 62
houses, and the Railway with 120 houses, but by December
1974, it had increased to about 2,434 houses, a
development tied to the university. Also, about thirty
different types of businesses with three hundred and
seventy-two business units existed around 1980-2000, but
from the period of 2000-2020, the business outfits increased
to about one thousand three hundred and fifty-eight outfits.
The research is significant in the sense that it contributed to
expanding the scope of research on urbanization and
complements other historical research on the university.
Keywords: Ahmadu Bello University, Institution, Samaru Area,
Socio-Economic, Surrounding Communities
| 7 |
Author(s):
Adaji Akoti Ezra, Gumar Manji Kefas and Longlang Vincent Makwal .
Page No : 92-103
|
The Impact of Crises on the Economy of Jos Plateau, 2001–2010
Abstract
The research investigated the impact of crises on the
economy of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Specifically
examined geographical description of Jos, Jos before the
2001 crisis, trade and commerce, transport and
communication, destruction of lives and properties,
transport, security, settlement pattern, and distrust among
ethno-religious groups. The study adopts both primary and
secondary sources, with more emphasis on oral sources,
within the period under consideration. The findings of the
study revealed that the impact of the crisis on the Jos
Plateau from 2001 – 2010 had an adverse effect on the
economy of the state and Nigeria as a whole.
Recommendations were made, amongst others, that since
the questions of the crisis relate to the issues of indigenous
claims and land contestations, historical facts need to be
used by the government to settle these quarrels by both
state and federal governments.
Key words: Impact, Crises, Economy, Jos, Plateau State
| 8 |
Author(s):
Ado Haruna Danjuma, Bala Muhammad Inuwa and Ismail Abdulhamid Inuwa.
Page No : 104-112
|
The Role of Military Superiority, Weaponry, and Tactics in the British Conquest of the Kano Emirate, 1903
Abstract
The British conquest of the Emirate of Kano in 1903 was
a defining moment in the colonial subjugation of
Northern Nigeria. This article investigates the decisive
role of British military superiority in the 1903 conquest
of the Kano Emirate by the British colonial forces. By
drawing a clear research problem: how did disparities
in weaponry, tactics, and logistics determine the
outcome of the battle? This paper uncovers, firstly, the
extent to which Maxim guns and field artillery
outmatched traditional cavalry and flintlock muskets.
Secondly, the systematic use of disciplined line
formations and coordinated infantry and artillery
assaults and thirdly, the employment of psychological
warfare and surprise maneuvers and attack during
Emir Aliyu Babba’s absence from Kano. The analysis
demonstrates that these factors not only minimized
British casualties but also ruinously emasculated
Kano’s defensive preparations. We conclude that
battlefield innovation and organizational efficiency,
rather than mere manpower, strengthened Britain’s
efficient victory. And that, the understanding these
dynamics casts more light on the mechanics of
imperial expansion in Northern Nigeria.
Key Words: Military Superiority, Weaponry, Tactics,
Conquest
| 9 |
Author(s):
Abubakar Sadiq Nuhu and Bem J. Audu (Ph.D.).
Page No : 113-135
|
National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) and the Commercialisation of Research and Development in Nigeria, 2005–2022
Abstract
This paper examines the impact of Technology Incubation
Centres on the commercialisation of Research and
Development (R&D) in Nigeria. It discusses the role of the
National Board for Technology Incubation’s (NBTI's)
Technology Incubation Centres (TICs) in bridging the gap
between R&D activities and market-ready products/services.
While existing literature explores technology incubation in
general, there is a lack of specific studies on the effects of
NBTI's initiatives in commercialising Nigerian R&D outputs. This
study fills that gap by conducting an analysis of NBTI's
contributions to innovation, start-up support, and indigenous
technology commercialisation within the Nigerian context. The
study employs a historical research methodology, making use
of descriptive and narrative analysis involving oral interviews
with key participants and an extensive review of secondary
sources such as books, journals, and official reports related to
NBTI's activities and the Nigerian technological setting. The
findings highlight the role of NBTI's Technology Incubation
Centres (TICs) in promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, and
economic transformation in Nigeria. It was found that these
centres provide essential support services, including
infrastructure, access to funding, and mentorship, enabling
Nigerian entrepreneurs to convert their innovative ideas into
marketable products and services. The study reveals that the
impact of TICs covers job creation, wealth creation, revenue
generation, promotion of economic diversification, attracting
investment, and reducing over-reliance on imported
technologies. The study concludes that maintaining a strong
innovation ecosystem and promoting economic growth in
Nigeria requires ongoing adaptation and enhancement of
NBTI's programmes.
Key words: National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI),
Technology Incubation Centres (TICs), Research and
Development (R&D) and Commercialisation
| 10 |
Author(s):
Sunday Moses Adebayo Aloko and Ibrahim Danmaraya (PhD).
Page No : 136-145
|
Toward an Internationally-Informed Social Contract: The Strategic Necessity of Valuing Teachers’ Voice in Nigeria’s Education Reform
Abstract
The Nigerian education system faces numerous challenges,
some of which include poor funding, low enrolment rates,
inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to quality
education. These challenges are compounded by the
marginalisation of teachers' voices in policy-making and
decision-making processes. This paper assesses the significance
of teachers' voices in educational reform in Nigeria and
proposes a new social contract that prioritises teacher
empowerment and participation. It employs a qualitative
research methodology, which draws on existing literature, case
studies, and expert views to explore the importance of
teachers’ voices and the challenges inhibiting its application
towards a new social contract. The study finds that valuing
teachers' voices is critical for improving educational outcomes
and creating a more inclusive and equitable education system
in Nigeria. The research outcome is predicated on the fact that
teachers possess unique insights and experiences that can
inform effective policy-making, and enrich classroom
experiences and learning outcomes. It however argues that
factors such as bureaucratic structures and longstanding
cultural attitudes that belittle and relegate teachers to the
background within the Nigerian educational system have
impeded their participation and denied Nigeria the benefits
that accrued from their voice. Thus, the paper concludes that
Nigeria is in dire need of a paradigm shift that prioritises teacher
involvement in policy development, professional development,
and decision-making processes. This is necessary given the
experiences of other countries, where the recognition of
teachers as essential partners and their empowerment enabled
policymakers to create a more responsive and effective
education system.
Key Words, Social Contract, Valuing Teachers’ Voice,
Education Reform, Nigeria, International System
| 11 |
Author(s):
Sulaiman Shehu (PhD) and Mahmoud Dantsoho (Ph.D).
Page No : 146-156
|
Insurgency, Banditry and other Forms of Terrorism in Northern Nigeria: An Assessment
Abstract
Nigeria has faced myriads of security challenges ranging from the
Boko Haram insurgency to farmer-herder conflict, kidnappings and
banditry, resuscitation of the secessionist movement, militia
activities, ritual killings, piracy, and attacks on security personnel
and installations, among others. The paper examines the dynamics
of insurgency, banditry, and other forms of terrorism activities in
some of the northern states of Nigeria that share boundaries with
neighbouring West African countries. Despite government efforts to
resolve some of these security challenges, they persist. This is due to
so many dynamics and elements that are working against the
government's war on terrorism and banditry. Using both qualitative
and descriptive methods, generated from primary and secondary
sources, the article reveals that the factors that fuel insecurity
challenges in the area of study include; high level of corruption
among security agencies, Nigeria’s porous borders,
accommodation and appeasement of terrorists, and bandits, and
above all Nigeria geographical features. The study concludes that
to resolve the security challenges confronting the region the
government needs to effectively deploy both kinetic and nonkinetic
methods of warfare.
Keywords: - Banditry, Corruption, Insurgency, Terrorism, Porous
borders