Programme: English

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    CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF MORPHOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN ENGLISH AND HAUSA: A STUDY OF PSALM 91
    (Covenant University, Ota, 2026-08) ACHI, SALOME HOSEA; Covenant University, Dissertation
    Morphology, being the study of word structure and formation, plays a central role in understanding how languages encode grammatical and lexical meaning. To this end, meaning exist at various levels of language stud (Edet, 2021; Korochkina & Rastle, 2025). However, significant typological differences exist between English, a largely analytic language, and Hausa, a synthetic and morphologically rich language. These differences become particularly evident in translated religious texts, where equivalent meanings are expressed through structurally divergent morphological systems. This study therefore investigated the contrastive morphological processes in English and Hausa languages using Psalm 91 as a parallel corpus. The aim of this study was to conduct a contrastive analysis of morphological processes in Psalm 91 using King James English and Littafi Mai Sarki Hausa versions through the theoretical framework of Item-and-Arrangement (henceforth IA) and Word-and-Paradigm (henceforth WP) theories to account for the observed linguistic patterns. The specific objectives were to: identify and analyse morphological processes in the English version of Psalm 91; examine morphological structures in the Hausa translation of Psalm 91; compare the morphological systems of both languages; apply Word and Paradigm Theory in analysing morphological patterns; utilise Item-and-Arrangement Theory for morphemic segmentation. As such, the study employed a qualitative descriptive research design and purposive sampling to select Psalm 91 as a parallel bilingual text. Data were collected through systematic extraction of lexical items and analysed using morphological segmentation and contrastive comparison. Findings revealed that English morphology is predominantly analytic, with limited inflection and productive derivation, while Hausa exhibits a richer, more systematic morphological structure characterised by extensive affixation, possessive marking, and paradigmatic verb systems. The study further showed that Item-and-Arrangement Theory is more suitable for English morphological segmentation, whereas Word-and-Paradigm Theory gave a better explanation of Hausa morphological relationships. The study contributes to the domain of morphology by clarifying English–Hausa morphological distinctions in the Biblical text. It also validates the complementary application of IA and WP theories, and informs linguistic analysis, translation, and language pedagogy.
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    CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF MORPHOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN ENGLISH AND HAUSA: A STUDY OF PSALM 91
    (Covenant University, Ota, 2026-06) ACHI,SALOME HOSEA; covenant university
    Morphology, being the study of word structure and formation, plays a central role in understanding how languages encode grammatical and lexical meaning. To this end, meaning exist at various levels of language stud (Edet, 2021; Korochkina & Rastle, 2025). However, significant typological differences exist between English, a largely analytic language, and Hausa, a synthetic and morphologically rich language. These differences become particularly evident in translated religious texts, where equivalent meanings are expressed through structurally divergent morphological systems. This study therefore investigated the contrastive morphological processes in English and Hausa languages using Psalm 91 as a parallel corpus. The aim of this study was to conduct a contrastive analysis of morphological processes in Psalm 91 using King James English and Littafi Mai Sarki Hausa versions through the theoretical framework of Item-and-Arrangement (henceforth IA) and Word-and-Paradigm (henceforth WP) theories to account for the observed linguistic patterns. The specific objectives were to: identify and analyse morphological processes in the English version of Psalm 91; examine morphological structures in the Hausa translation of Psalm 91; compare the morphological systems of both languages; apply Word and Paradigm Theory in analysing morphological patterns; utilise Item-and-Arrangement Theory for morphemic segmentation. As such, the study employed a qualitative descriptive research design and purposive sampling to select Psalm 91 as a parallel bilingual text. Data were collected through systematic extraction of lexical items and analysed using morphological segmentation and contrastive comparison. Findings revealed that English morphology is predominantly analytic, with limited inflection and productive derivation, while Hausa exhibits a richer, more systematic morphological structure characterised by extensive affixation, possessive marking, and paradigmatic verb systems. The study further showed that Item-and-Arrangement Theory is more suitable for English morphological segmentation, whereas Word-and-Paradigm Theory gave a better explanation of Hausa morphological relationships. The study contributes to the domain of morphology by clarifying English–Hausa morphological distinctions in the Biblical text. It also validates the complementary application of IA and WP theories, and informs linguistic analysis, translation, and language pedagogy.
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    A PRAGMA-SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL MEMES OF THE 2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN NIGERIA
    (Covenant University, Ota, 2026-08) ADEWUMI, Adetola Theresa; Covenant University, Dissertation
    In modern online discourse, memes have emerged as a strategic tool for expressing and conveying opinions and ideologies on political, economic and socio-cultural events. They have been evidently important in shaping perception of the voting public in Nigeria especially during electoral processes. On this premise, this study examines political memes shared on social media platforms in Nigeria during the 2023 presidential election, as well as analyse their linguistic and visual components. The research seeks to identify pragmatic act and semiotic resources to realise varying interpretations embedded in the memes. The problem addressed is the need to understand how political memes are conveyed online through multimodal resources and the significance of the study lies in its contribution to pragma-semiotics and online political discourse. Using a qualitative method, twenty (20) memes sourced from different social media platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and blogspots, were analysed using Mey’s (2001) Pragmatic Act and Kress and van Leuween (2006) Visual Design Grammar theories as framework for the analysis. Findings reveals that meme authors employ contextual variables such as strong criticism, persuasion, comparisons, etc. enhanced by pragmemes like shared situational knowledge, reference and metaphor to create memes aimed at lampooning electoral systems. The study further displays the deployment of semiotic designs categories under representational, interactive and compositional modes to evaluate symbolisms, framing, salience, social distancing, colour, mood as tools for visual interpretations. Results also indicate strong influence of political ideologies, age differences, political and economic instability and previous records of manipulations in the electoral system as motivating factors for the creation of this memes. Overall, ideological views though subjective, are portrayed through the political memes as tools to creating awareness against underlying illegitimate practices in the Nigerian electoral system.
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    DIGITAL INNOVATION ON MARKET EXPANSION IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR: A STUDY OF FINTECH END-USERS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA
    (Covenant University, Ota, 2026-06) OWOLOYE, BRIGHT ODUNAYO; Covenant University, Dissertation
    This study investigated the impact of digital innovation on market expansion in the financial sector, focusing on Fintech end-users in Lagos State, Nigeria. Despite the rapid growth of fintech services in Nigeria, fintech end-users still face challenges relating to financial exclusion, fraud risk, high transaction costs, limited transparency, and transaction inefficiency. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model and Diffusion of Innovation Theory, the study examines how customer digital engagement, regulatory technology use, blockchain technology adoption, AI and automation implementation, and real-time payment infrastructure improve financial inclusion, fraud detection, cost reduction, transparency, and operational efficiency among fintech end-users in Lagos State. Four hundred (400) copies of a structured questionnaire were shared electronically to fintech end-users in Lagos State, including active customers, merchants, and agents of OPay, Moniepoint, Internopay, and related platforms. 384 valid responses were received and analysed with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling using SmartPLS. The major findings of this study revealed that five dimensions of digital innovation (customer digital engagement, RegTech acceptance, blockchain adoption, AI and automation adoption, and real-time payment infrastructure) positively and significantly affect indicators of financial market expansion (fraud detection, cost reduction, transparency, and operational efficiency) in the Fintech sector. The study concluded that investing in user-centred platforms such as automated compliance, blockchain-enabled verification, explainable AI, and resilient instant-payment rails drives financial market expansion and results in operational efficiency of the Fintech firms; hence, the study recommended that Fintech firms should invest more in automated fraud monitoring systems, identity verification tools, and anti-money laundering technologies to enhance fraud detection and improve users’ trust in digital financial platform.
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    Going superstitious and blaming the invisible “other”: a linguistic appraisal of social media posts on “village people”
    (Languages and Cultures, Vol. 58, 2024) Igwebuike, Ebuka Elias; Chimuanya, Lily; Egwu, Anya Ude
    In this study, we explore how superstitions and blame are weaved in the linguistic con structions and representations of “village people”, the infamous mystic villains. Using Cultural Discourse Analysis (CuDA), we examine selected social media tweets and posts in which netizens deployed a mix of linguistic humour, the traditional African belief sys tem, and quasi-religious sensibilities to project the irrational belief in supernatural infl u ences of village people. We show how discursive conceptualisations such as evilifi ca tion, enemifi cation, remote controlling and monitoring are used superstitiously to blame the imaginary “village people” for individual and personal adversities of the unfortunates. This article underscores how peculiar Nigerian socio-religiosity and shared socio-cultural background shape the instantiations of fear and the institution of potency of vicious su pernatural powers.
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    Hashtag activism: Analysing linking discourse markers in #ArewaMeToo conversations on X platform
    (Masyarakat, Kebudayaan dan Politik, 2025) Chimuanya, Lily; Uduak-Abasi, Uyah
    Hashtag activism has emerged as a powerful tool for online advocacy, enabling marginalized individuals to gain visibility and foster collective action. In the absence of physical cues, users rely on linguistic elements to express engagement and support through linking discourse markers. Therefore, the subject of this study focuses on how connecting discourse markers are used in the #ArewaMeToo online conversation to express stance and inclusivity, on sexual violence. The study also explores how discourse markers function as substitutes for physical conversational cues in online activism. The study was conducted in 2024 using a qualitative method. Data were purposively selected from #ArewaMeToo conversations on X platform in Nigeria and grouped through discourse analysis. The database was collected from 300 tweets, with 63 tweets selected for analysis and reproduced in this study as representative examples. The findings of the study revealed that the discourse markers employed in the #ArewaMeToo movement such as cohesive devices, punctuation and capitalization have emerged as crucial tools for conveying engagement, support, emotional intensity and reinforcing advocacy. The study concludes that linking discourse markers substitute for vocal differences and serve as linguistic resources that signal solidarity, emotion, and resistance in the fight against sexual violence
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    Indirect Speech Act Strategies in Nigerian Online Marketing Discourse on Beauty Products
    (Journal of English Scholars’ Association of Nigeria, 2025) Chimuanya, Lily; Oladapo, Toyosi Tosin; Owoeye, Samuel T.; Tagbo, Chika
    Marketing communication is shaped in part by the perception of what consumers need and value as well as by their interests, preferences, and demographic data. Marketers generally attempt to segment their target market when choosing an audience so that they could modify the message's content and the distribution method to reach a specific audience. This study examines the discourse strategies employed by beauty product marketers on social media, with particular emphasis on the Indirect Speech Acts (ISAs). A total of 200 data set comprising 100 from Facebook and 100 from Instagram are analysed drawing on insights from John Searle’s (1979) taxonomy. The findings show the recurrent use of representative, directive, commissive, expressive, inquire, and integrative acts, with declarative, imperative, and interrogative having the highest frequency. However, Integrative speech acts exhibit the highest frequency across all brands, as they frequently engage followers by referring to them as if they were part of a family unit, indirectly urging them to take specific actions. Furthermore, many of the speech acts display similar sentence structures but have different intentions or functions, primarily serving as indirect speech acts. The study concludes that the indirect speech acts are persuasive in nature, aimed to compel potential clients and boost sales.
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    Between Tradition and Modernity: Patriarchy and Power Dynamics in #ArewaMeToo Discussions on X Platform
    (Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Volume 7, Number 2,, 2025) Chimuanya, Lily; Uduak-Abasi, Uyah
    Background: Language is crucial to the production of discourses that legitimize sexual violence and rape since language is a symbolic system of power. It is through such power of discourse, that sexual violence and rape victims form linguistic narratives that enable them to share their experiences. Objective: This research examines the patriarchal, religious, and cultural practices that legitimise sexual violence in Nigeria on the X platform. Methodology: This study employed a qualitative design using Fairclough’s model of Critical Discourse Analysis. Data were purposively gathered and thematically coded. The sampled tweets comprise 100, manually gathered from #ArewaMeToo on X, produced by Nigerians. These tweets were numbered randomly from T1 to T100 based on how the data was gathered. (‘T’ represents tweets). Results: Results indicate that strong religious and cultural explanations underpin the prevalence of rape and sexual violence practices in Northern Nigeria. It also provides evidence that patriarchal power structures enhance these practices. This accounts for the prevalence of certain ideologies that accompany such events, such as the ideology of silence and fear, shame, and stigma. Unique Contribution: This study has revealed how X serves as a platform for users to express opinions on posts made by survivors and victims’ experiences of rape and sexual violence. Conclusion: This study concludes that the conversations on the Nigerian X platform reflect some ideological perspectives and contentions underlying rape and sexual violence as well as reactions showing disapproval for such ideologies. Recommendation: Further studies may embark on a critical discourse analysis of other hashtags that address rape and sexual violence and a critical discourse analysis of gender inequality using other social media platforms
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    Tracking Mental Health: A Social Semiotic Analysis of Instagram Discourse
    (Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences 22(2), 2024) Anake, Scholastica Andokie; Chimuanya, Lily; Nnorom, Paulinus N.; Ogbulogo, Charles U.
    Mental health issues are increasingly common, affecting millions of people worldwide. This health challenge has both social and economic implications for individuals and society. By examining how language is used in mental health discourse on social media, people can better understand how it shapes perceptions, experiences, and interactions, ultimately informing more effective and supportive communication practices. This study investigates how mental health discourse is represented on two selected Instagram platforms, Sanemind and the NEEM Sanctuary, using a purposive sampling technique to select cases that are intentionally chosen for their relevance to mental health discourse. By combining social semiotics, linguistics, and mental health research, the study bridges the gap between these fields and offers insights into mental health concerns on social media. Using Kress and van Leeuwen's (1996) social semiotics framework, this study examines how language and other semiotic resources facilitate or hinder empathetic understanding, diagnosis, and treatment. Our analysis reveals specific strategies used by users to advocate for mental health awareness and support, such as representation, pigmentation, and framing used to highlight contemporary mental health complexities. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of mental health discourse on social media, informing strategies for promoting awareness, support, and resources. Our findings have implications for mental health promotion, social media platform design, and online support community development.
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    An Investigation of The Dominant Themes In Online Political Leadership Campaigns: A Case Study Of The OBIdient Campaign Discourse on X
    (Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Volume 7, Number 2, 2025) Chimuanya, Lily; Tagbo, Chika; Owoeye, Samuel T.
    Background: The persuasive function of language is perhaps most evident in political campaigns.The Nigerian political context is expected to reflect a robust adaptation of persuasion. Therefore,the OBIdient movement, a new phenomenon in the Nigerian political space, would offer anengaging framework for evaluating the persuasive dynamics of political communication inNigeria. Objective: This study investigates the dominant themes in the OBIdient campaign discourse on X(formerly Twitter). Methodology: This research used a descriptive qualitative research design. The data for this workwere drawn from tweets from members of the OBIdient campaign movement. Dell Hymes' (1964)ethnography of communication (SPEAKING) was used to analyse the tweets from members ofthe OBIdient campaign movement. The ethnographic dimensions of the campaign necessitated thechoice of this model. Results: The findings of this study revealed the following dominant themes: persuasion,admiration, gratitude, religion/focus, transparency/good governance, hate politics, and politicalkilling. Unique Contribution: This work adds to the sparse literature available in this area and the use ofDell Hyme’s Ethnography of Communication - SPEAKING model in doing a case study analysisof political discourse. Conclusion: Social media platforms have changed the dynamics of political discourse globallyand Nigeria is no exception. Recommendation: Further studies may consider a comparison between data obtained from othersocial media platforms using a different theoretical framework. The researchers believe thatsuggested further studies would most likely widen the horizon of the impact of the #Obidientpresidential campaign of 2023