Programme: English

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Willy-nilly Future
(African First Publishers, 2009) Eyisi, Joy
Global Education and Language: Proposing a Universal Variety of English as Medium of Instruction
(Global Partners in Education Journal – Special Edition Vol. 5, No. 2, 2015) Chimuanya; Eyisi, Joy; Idaraobong, Joshua; Omunagbe, Dorcas; Ojo, Kanyisola; Demurin, Deborah
Global Education begins with raising an awareness of global challenges, creating an in-depth understanding of what the challenges entail with the goal of changing people’s thoughts and attitudes, encouraging them to live out their lives to the fullest and play their special parts effectively. To this end, in order to enhance these goals, communication is crucial especially being that it entails making use of an acceptable and intelligible language variety. How can Global Education attain its goals if it does not begin to prescribe and describe for itself, a Global variety of the English language developed just for instructional purpose in the delivery of Global Education? This paper therefore proposes a move towards the prescription and description of a mutually intelligible variety of the English language, to be used just for Global Education. This proposal is born out of our experience during our first collaboration with three other Universities in taking the course ‘Global English Varieties’. One of the major challenges that impeded our flow was the variety barrier. This paper will also ascertain the percentage of Covenant University students confronted with this same challenge by the use of questionnaire. A hundred questionnaires was distributed and analyzed.
DANCE OF INTRIGUE: A SEMIOTIC READING OF WOLE SOYINKA’S KONGI’S HARVEST
(International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Reviews Vol.6 No.4, 2016-12) Awogu-Maduagwu Edith Abisola
This paper sets out to examine the importance of quasi verbal elements as dramatic motif in Soyinka’s Kongi’s Harvest. The plot is informed by the post-colonial leadership of African societies in the wake of the departure of imperialist powers, and dramatizes the conflict between the traditional authorities on the one hand, and the western styled new leaders on the other, as they struggle over the newly independent African countries. Through a semiotic analysis of the text, this paper examines the use of the non-verbal motif of dance as a message medium. The aim is to validate the relevance of non-verbal communication in the construction of African drama and to recommend greater allegiance to the application of traditional elements in the writing of contemporary African dramatic literature. Peirce’s Structuralism theory of semiotics is employed in the analysis of the role of dance and gestural forms. Findings reveal the rich colour which traditional elements such as dance and mime can bring to the understanding of a contemporary play. The work is expected to contribute to the search for a concise dramaturgy of African literature.
A Redefinition of Woman, Voice and Development: New Nigerian Novelsand the Burden of Being
(XIX ISA WORLD CONGRESS OF SOCIOLOGY, 2018) Omidiora, Oluwasegun; Onwuka, Edwin; Ovia, Ebikaboere
Globalization and Security in Nigeria
(Agogo: Journal Of Humanities Vol. 4, 2018) Ovia, Ebikaboere
Globalization is the ability by man to crisscross the world irrespective of geographical boundaries. Unhindered movement is an evidence of human development from simple manual efforts at achieving things in ancient times to sophisticated technological means in contemporary times. The free access to other nations is double edged, that is positive as well as negative however. The effect of globalization on the security of Nigeria shall be the focus of the paper. The type of weapons at the disposal of citizens before and after colonialism shall be examined. The sources of such weapons as well as their sophistication shall also be examined.
“Attention Beneficiary…!”: Assessing Types and Features of Scam Emails
(Handbook of Research on Deception, Fake News, and Misinformation Online, 2019) Ovia, Ebikaboere; Uba, Emmanuel
This chapter identifies the various types and features of scam emails as a genre of computer-mediated communication. The types identified include money transfer, investment scam, inheritance claim, next-of-kin claim, charity donation scam, foreign aid scam, foreign lottery scam and email account lottery scam. The study also describes the linguistic and discourse features of these types of scam emails and argues that the more knowledge of online financial crimes that is created and disseminated, the more people are informed and empowered to protect themselves against them. This study hopes to contribute significantly to literature on phishing attacks and online financial crimes.
“Attention Beneficiary…!”: Assessing Types and Features of Scam Emails
(IGI Global, 2019) Chiluwa, Innocent E.; Ovia, Ebikaboere; Uba, Emmanuel
This chapter identifies the various types and features of scam emails as a genre of computer-mediated communication. The types identified include money transfer, investment scam, inheritance claim, nextof- kin claim, charity donation scam, foreign aid scam, foreign lottery scam and email account lottery scam. The study also describes the linguistic and discourse features of these types of scam emails and argues that the more knowledge of online financial crimes that is created and disseminated, the more people are informed and empowered to protect themselves against them. This study hopes to contribute significantly to literature on phishing attacks and online financial crimes.
Exploring History, Migration and Social Experience in Select Poems of Edward Kamau Brathwaite
(Benin Journal of Literary Studies (BJLS) Vol. 1, No. 1, 2019-12) Onwuka, Edwin; Eyisi, Joy
This study examines Edward Kamau Brathwaite’s exploration of migration and social experience in his poetry as a vehicle of appraising Caribbean realities. Brathwaite’s poems will be interpreted using New Historicism as literary tool with a view to highlighting migration/journey motif as fundamental in exploring social realities as well as the human condition in the Caribbean society. This paper is a qualitative and library-based study of Brathwaite’s poems as literary art, focussing specifically on interpretation of their content which explores migration and social experience in the Caribbean world. Four selected poems are engaged in the study for their distinction in reflecting core concerns of the Caribbean enclave specifically dealing with social conditions and migration. These four poems are also used to highlight Brathwaite’s style to enhance the forcefulness of his message in them.
MOOCs, Artificial Intelligence Systems, and the Dilemma of Tertiary Education in the 21st Century: A Theoretical Appraisal of the Human Factors
(Handbook of Research on the Role of Human Factors in IT Project Management, 2020) Wogu Ikedinachi Ayodele Power; Edogiawere, Morris; Katende, Jesse Oluwafemi; Awogu-Maduagwu Edith Abisola; Chukwuedo, Charles Nathaniel; Misra, Sanjay
Recent research on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the education industry for teaching and learning has stirred up a revolution via the use of platforms like the massive open online courses (MOOC) the likes of which the world have never seen before. Millions through this platform can now enroll online to get one form of education or the other. Many scholars, however, doubt the quality of education transmitted and acquired via these platforms; hence, some scholars describe the education gotten through this medium as artificial education. A situation that has resulted in a kind of revolution in the education industry described as education tsunami. The Marxian theory of alienation offers an appropriate theoretical platform for the analysis conducted in the paper. The ex-post factor method of analysis and Deidra's critical analytic method was adopted for attaining the objectives of the paper. The dilemmas eroding the quality of education were identified. Blended learning approaches, as against present methods, were recommended.
PEDAGOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE USE OF ENGLISH IN NIGERIA
(Proceedings of EDULEARN20 Conference, 2020) Chimuanya, Lily; Awonuga, Christopher
The acquisition and use of the English language have become a key factor in national development and individual intelligibility. Furthermore, English as a second language has long been institutionalised in Nigeria as one of the aftermaths of British colonial administration. Both realities call for reassessing how the language is taught and learned in the classroom. By contact, three varieties of English – British, American and Nigerian Englishes - are operational in Nigeria with their differences most noticeable at the phonological and lexical levels of linguistic description. This linguist situation comes with the pedagogical implications of which variety to teach in our educational system. Or is it a combination of the three? In the past we used to insist on British English but this position is no longer realistic in view of the fact that educated Nigerians make use of varieties freely without knowing which variety they are using. Thus, the situation we have now is that of a pedagogical nightmare, as teachers and examination bodies are confused as to what to accept as correct and acceptable usage. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to review existing English language texts and describe an eclectic task-based second language learning methodology that would incorporate online corpora; online CPD (Continuous Professional Development) and the global staffroom as well as critical thinking skills in learning the three existing varieties of English at the secondary level of education. This involves examining three major English language textbooks, each for Basic 7 and Basic 10; the beginners’ levels for both junior and senior secondary school and show how the vocabulary and phonology sections can integrate the three existing varieties. Our proposed method shows that for a heterogeneous environment like Nigeria where linguists are still grappling with establishing a standard Nigerian English variety, and with the need to have a global perspective in mind while responding to learners’ needs, it is imperative to concurrently expose students to all three varieties. This approach also guides examination bodies on prevalent acceptable usage and allow learners understand the distinctions across varieties.
Communicating Religious Extremism in West Africa
(2020) Chiluwa, Innocent; Chimuanya, Lily; Ajiboye, Esther
Whereas modern communication strategies have been celebrated for promoting ease of interaction, this chapter highlights that they have been deployed by some terrorist groups in Africa to threaten human security. It defines religious extremism in terms of the expression of extreme or violent actions or jihad on the basis of particular interpretations or understanding of religious teaching or scripture, especially the Quran. The chapter examines the (online) communication behaviours of extremists/terrorist groups in West Africa and Somalia that are often associated with Islam. It also examines religious extremism and its relation to violent conflict and describes the extremist violent activities of some identified African terrorist groups, and how contemporary media and the Internet have provided dynamic platforms for disseminating their message and ideology. Liebman views religious extremism as the desire to expand the scope, details and strictness of religious law, social isolation and the rejection of the surrounding culture.
Human Rights’ Issues and Media/Communication Theories in the Wake of Artificial Intelligence Technologies: The Fate of Electorates in Twenty-First-Century American Politics
(Advances in Electrical and Computer Technologies, 2020-09-08) Wogu Ikedinachi Ayodele Power; Misra, Sanjay; Roland-Otaru, C. O.; Udoh, O. D.; Awogu-Maduagwu Edith Abisola; Damasevicius, Robertas
The ability for individuals to effectively communicate their thoughts, ideas and feelings amongst fellow beings is perceived as one of the greatest features distinguishing man from other living creatures on earth. The freedom to communicate such thoughts—in certain nations of the world—are perceived as one of man’s inalienable rights as a free individual in the society. Consequently, scholars have propounded theories to aid in explaining the trends of thought which modes of communication should follow. The proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the twenty-first century into the media industry seems to question the very foundations on which most renowned media and communications theory were founded on. Some scholars argue that political campaign experts have taken advantage of the adoption of innovations in AI technologies in the media to manipulate man’s freedom to communicate and exercise his wishes in the political arena. Consequently, the paper adopts Creswell’s qualitative method for research in the social science since it promotes drawing logical deductions from the analysis of propositions and theorems. The paper observes that the adoption of twenty-first-century AI technologies in the media industries has distorted existing theories of media/communication. Furthermore, the proliferation of AI technologies for politicking tends to adversely violate the inalienable rights individuals have to freely communicate their political opinions during elections. Media/communications scholars are admonished to extend research directed at understanding the degree of influence which AI technology exerts on media/communication theories with a view to addressing rising concerns for mankind and the media industry.
Psychological Response to Negative Paradoxical Metaphors of Terminal Illness in Promise Ogochukwu’s Sorrow’s Joy
(International Journal of Literature and Arts 9(6), 2021) Eyisi, Joy; Omobowale, Emmanuel Babatunde
Creative writers wield literary tropes in exemplifying thoughts in the minds of characters. As literature is given impetus by the thoughts and actions of humans, the utilization of literary tropes in depicting preoccupations in the minds of characters is a reflection of the human mind, which harbours thoughts laden with these tropes, especially metaphors. Hence, textual representations of characters experiencing pain from terminal illnesses often feature paradoxical metaphors (parametaphors). Existing studies on illnesses/diseases privileged trauma, depraved mental and physical conditions, however, inadequate attention has been given to the effect, which the literary representations of illnesses, through debasing paradoxes and metaphors, have on affected characters. This study, therefore, investigates the impact of para-metaphors on the character, Sefi, who suffers from cancer in Promise Ogochukwu’s Sorrow’s Joy. The primacy of the unconscious and repression, facets of Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, are used to account for the psychological state of affected characters. The theory bears relevance to the text, which is purposively selected and critically analysed to highlight the destructive influence of parametaphors related to the underlying disease in the text. As the major character, Sefi, holds on to the paradoxically metaphoric ideas, her cognitive psychological state continues to diminish. She becomes paranoiac, schizophrenic; depressed, which are additional derailing weights to the underlying disease she suffers from. As a literary endeavour, meanings are implicit in the para-metaphorical expressions distilled from the selected illness-text; this has implications, both on patients’ understanding of their ailments and on the critical reception of the text.
The Need for Technology in Promoting Teacher Education in Nigeria through Open and Distance Learning
(West African Journal of Open & Flexible Learning Volume 10, Number 1, 2021) Eyisi, Joy (NOUN); Onuh, Frank; Oparaduru, John 0.; Eyisi, Joy; Okolo, Chinonso; Mac-Ozigbo, Adaobi; Elom, Philomena
This paper considers Open and Distance Learning (ODL) as the mode of education delivery where learners and teachers need not be in physical contact. ODL possesses a high range of flexible learning environments, enhancing access to tertiary education. The paper goes further to explore how ODL is made effective in Nigeria through the use of a variety of media and technologies in providing quality education for a large number of learners in the country. Nigeria is a highly populated black nation. This paper further portrays how ODL could be used to enhance teacher education through technologies. As a result, the government alone cannot provide the basic educational needs ofthe teeming population 1Vithin aformal classroom setting. Therefore, there is the recourse that with the help of technology, Open and Distance Learning becomes very essential. Distance education provides programmes for various levels. The paper discusses and concludes by sholVing how ODL promotes cost-effective pre-service and in-service teacher education in society, thus supporting school-based pre-service and continuing professional development programmes for teachers to upgrade unqualified teachers and enable qualified ones to acquire higher teaching qualifications, especially those in remote areas. This paper also sees the role technologies play in enhancing teacher education, therefore recommends that ODL or ODE institutions should pay more attention to the use of technologies in their mode of delivery than otherlVise.
CHINUA ACHEBE’S IKEMEFUNA: A POETICS OF THE NIGERIAN SOCIO-CULTURAL NARRATIVE
(2021) Ayinuola, Fortress Isaiah; Onwuka, Edwin; Uba, Immanuel
This paper attempted a reconstruction of the Achebe’s prosaic rendition of Ikemefuna’s experience in Things Fall Apart into another form – the poetic form. Thus, we present a spaciotemporal exploration of Ikemefuna of the Igbo cultural setting transformed metaphorically into the Nigerian youth setting. The poetics of Nigerian Ikemefuna is that of mutual suspicion, fear of regional, religious and ethnic domination, aggravated by the hopelessness of a battered national psyche with prodigals in power. The narrative of Ikemefuna is a metaphor for the battered Nigerian youths, scape-goaticism and the Nigerian socio-cultural contradictions. Through the use of literary devices like imagery, metaphor, symbols and juxtaposition we poetized the narrative of Umuofia/Ikemefuna and Nigeria/youths. We adopted Vladimir Propp’s concept of fabula and syuzhet, where the manipulation of the fabula by the author/poet creates syuzhet, variations of fabula. We examined the role of de-familiarization, Barthes view on variations which resulted in the death of the author/poet and Oscar Wilde’s opinion that the critic is he who can translate into another manner or a new material his impression of beautiful things. The syuzhetal defamiliarization technique enabled us to reconstruct Achebe’s prosaic Ikemefuna into a poetic variant – the poem: Ikemefuna. This mode of generating a new meaning in another literary form has not only enhanced poetic innovation, criticism and craft; it has enhanced readers/writers ability to critically and creatively articulate Nigerian diverse socio-cultural experiences.
TRADITION AND LEADERSHIP IN ELECHI AMADI’S THE GREAT PONDS
(International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Reviews Vol.11 No.1, 2021-01) Onwuka, Edwin; Awogu-Maduagwu Edith Abisola
Explorations of indigenous African traditions in pre-colonial and colonial African societies in imaginative literatures have historical and aesthetic values. Historical for the great insights they offer on the human condition and social experience in pre-literate communities; and aesthetic for the refreshing and exciting images of the African world recreated through the human imagination and the genius of gifted writers. Elechi Amadi’s The Great Ponds is a quintessential novel that imaginatively recreates an authentic African community totally regulated by its tradition to the exclusion of any Western or foreign influence. This paper explores tradition as a central motif in the novel with an aim to highlight its centrality in regulating social existence and communal harmony in the society depicted in the text. It also interrogates leadership and the models reflected in the novel on political and military planes. The study is a qualitative and library based one limited to content analysis of the novel in focus. It therefore contributes to criticism on the nexus of history and literature. It highlights supernatural and mythical social experiences through analyses of traditional world-views about gods, ancestors, the dibia, and leadership in traditional Igbo societies. New historicism is the theoretical perspective deployed in the paper.
Open and Distance Learning (ODL): A Veritable Tool for Reaching the U nreached in Nigeria
(West African Journal of Open & Flexible learning Volume 9, Number 2,, 2021-01) Eyisi, Joy (NOUN); Elom, Philomena; Eyisi, Joy; Onuh, Frank; Okolo, Chinonso; Oparaduru, John 0.; Mac-Ozigbo, Adaobi
Open and Distance Learning (ODL) ha<; become a critical part of modern education. This development is a result of technological advancement and increasing demand for skills retraining and upgrade. As compared to the traditional face-tojace classroom, open and distance education offers more flexible, free and easy access to students. Moreover, it has been proven over time that the conventional mode of education cannot cater for the entire student community, making open and distance education very essential. ODL brings knowledge to those learners who are ordinarily neglected by the conventional learning setting such as traders, entrepreneurs, prison inmates, people living in isolated areas like island<;, women whose culture or religion deprives of educational socialization, school dropouts, full time workers who want to further their education but are constrained by their jobs, and others. Hence, ODL offers a second chance and lifelong education for individuals while playing a crucial role in sustainable development. This paper examines the roles ODL plays in reaching the unreached in society with a view to encouraging its optimal deployment, in order to serve the educational need<; oft he masses.
Portraits of the Nigerian Soldier in Isidore Okpewho’s The Last Duty and Festus Iyayi’s Heroes
(SAGE, 2021-09) Onwuka, Edwin
An essential feature of Nigerian literatures is their capacity to exploit history and social experience to bring to light the human condition in society without compromising literary aesthetics. Thus, Nigerian novels often appear to be more educative than entertaining by their ability to illuminate social realities far more effectively than historical or sociological texts. This is evident in the representations of soldiers in Nigerian novels which are highly influenced by historical and social circumstances. This paper carries out a comparative and descriptive analysis of portrayals of Nigerian soldiers in Isidore Okpewho’s The Last Duty and Festus Iyayi’s Heroes from a new historical perspective. Most studies on the military in Nigerian novels often focus on their actions in war situations and their disruptive and undemocratic activities in politics. However, these studies frequently explore the military as a group with little attention to the texts as expositions on character types in the Nigerian military. This study therefore contributes to criticism on the nexus between literary representation, history, and society. It further highlights historical and social contexts of military explorations in Nigerian novels and their impacts on the perception of the Nigerian soldier in society. These are aimed at showing that depictions of the military in Nigerian novels go beyond their capacities for disruptions an
Religiosity and Family Dysfunction in Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus
(Benin Journal of Literary Studies (BJLS) Vol.2, No.2,, 2021-12) Onwuka, Edwin; Kehinde, Kemi
This discourse explores the disruptive character of religiosity in the family in Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus. The study appraises conflicts arising from religiously informed decisions of major characters in the novel and their consequences on their families. It also critiques characters’ contempt for indigenous mores that have sustained family cohesion in African cultures, in this instance, the Igbo culture of Nigeria. Analysis in this discourse is from literary and sociological perspectives.
Identity, History and Caribbean Experience in Select Poems of Derek Walcott
(Covenant Journal of Language Studies (CJLS) Vol. 10, No. 2,, 2022-12) Onwuka, Edwin; Eyisi, Joy
This study examines how history has shaped social identity and the impacts of both on Caribbean experience in Derek Walcott’s poetry. Using New Historicism as theoretical framework, it critiques some Caribbean historical realities highlighted in the selected poems and their impacts on society at individual and societal levels with particular emphasis on identity. Four poems from different collections of Walcott are analyzed in this paper, which are “Codicil”, “The River”, “Love after Love” and “The Sea is History”. The conclusions of this critical engagement show clearly that identity in Caribbean reality is inescapably tied to the traumatic history of displacement, enslavement, migration and alienation of the Caribbean peoples.