NJIKO: A Multi-Disciplinary Journal of Humanities, Law, Education and Social Sciences

NEW VOICES WITHIN THE DRAMATIC BORDERS: AN INTERROGATION OF THE THEMATIC TRENDS OF SELECTED PLAYS OF TRACIE UTOH-EZEAJUGH

Afamefuna Chizoba Ezeaku — 2025-07-30

The world of modern dramatic consciousness and practice, has produced tremendous growth and development especially in the area of writing. Such that dramatic enactments have lent their spaces to expressions of human existence, experience; both consciousness and sub-consciousness. Hence, dramatic literature remains the critical medium of artistic expression where all aspects of human experiences are mirrored. Instructively, the playwrights, who emerged in the recent past of Nigerian dramatic writing, are seen as changing the direction being taken in the art of telling the story dramatically. They have, as such, constituted strong and viable voices which are articulating the diverse components and dimension of the society. These constitute the group of playwrights referred to as New Voices and they are bringing the much needed freshness through the re-sounding and articulation of their voices across dramatic realities. One of these emergent playwrights portrayed as 'new voices' is Tracie Utoh – Ezeajugh. It is against this backdrop that this paper takes a holistic and critical approach to initiate a thematic interrogation of her Our Wives Have Gone Mad Again! and Nneora: An African Doll's House. The methodology harnessed for the study recognizes the content analysis approach for analyzing the primary texts qualitatively. It has employed the Reader- Response Theory or Aesthetics of Reception as the theoretical framework, which implies that “a new individual 'text' evolves with every individual reading process”. The paper discovers that Our Wives Have Gone Mad Again!serves adramatic avenue for the portrayal of humanism through interrogation of the essence of women being in position of authority or power as well as unification of men and women in the fight against global decadence. While Nneora: An African Doll's Houseis used as a social crusading platform in tune with the nuances and cadences of the contemporary Nigerian society. In conclusion, the study tried to underscore the place of Tracie Utoh – Ezeajugh, categorized as a 'new voice', within the context of the navigation of her dramatic corpus filled with divergent thematic trends.

THE SPREAD OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE IN NIGERIA：THE ROLE OF THE CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE AT NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY

Ifeyinwa Emejulu — 2025-07-30

One of the concomitants of China's emergence as a world power is the astronomical increase of interest in learning the Chinese language in both developed and developing countries. China has launched different strategies aimed at harnessing the increasing interest in its new status. One such strategy is the launch of its own language-cum-culture institute called the Confucius Institute (CI). CIs have played a leading part in the spread of the language since 2024 when the first CI was launched at Seoul National University. Today, millions are learning the language, including in those countries where the language, hitherto, was barely heard of. The two major reasons for the stunted spread of the language prior to the establishment of the CIs was the Cold War and China's prolonged exclusion from the WTO, the premier regulatory framework of global trade. The leading role played by the Confucius Institute at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (CI-NAU) in the spread of the Chinese in Nigeria since its inception in 2008 is discussed in this paper.

IHA - IDEGBE: A PHILOSOPHICAL EXAMINATION OF “SAME SEX TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE” IN ANIOMA CULTURE, AND THE LEGALITY.

Charles Chukwuedo Nathaniel — 2025-07-30

Marriage among the Anioma people is a complex affair with economic, social, religious as well as legal aspects which often overlap so firmly that they cannot be separated from one another. Iha-idegbe which translates to “same sex marriage” is a type of marriage which permits a woman to marry another woman, not for the purposes of indecent or immoral sexual relationship such as lesbianism but for the sole purpose of procreation and family continuity and progeny, which is the existential purpose of the marriage institution among the Anioma people. Through this marital relationship between two adult women one being the husband and the other the wife, many individuals, families are saved extinction, societal embarrassment and other social vices associated with childlessness, and peace restored to barren mothers and families. Existing studies on same sex marriages have been approached from the moral perspective, paying less attention to the existential problem in marriages (childlessness), which necessitated the traditional and cultural practice of Iha- idegbe. The crux of this paper is therefore an appraisal of Iha-idegbe . Is it actually a marriage? Does the Anioma traditional society approve of it? What becomes the fate of children gotten from such marriage?

ANALYSING RISK IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY: A TRADIO PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE OF OGOJA (BAKOR) COMMUNITY

Inyamgim Austin Ntol — 2025-07-30

This article examines the concept of risk analysis in medicine and surgery through the lens of the traditional Bakor community in Ogoja, Nigeria. It explores how cultural beliefs, practices, and local knowledge influence approaches to health and surgical procedures. The statement of the problem addressed in this study is the gap between traditional and modern medical practices in the Bakor community, which affects health outcomes and risk management. By integrating traditional and philosophical perspectives with contemporary medical practices, this study aims to highlight the significance of cultural context in understanding and managing risks in healthcare. The research employs a qualitative analytic approach, utilizing interaction and focus group discussions with members of the Bakor community and healthcare practitioners, including traditional healers and modern healthcare providers.

ASSESSING CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON GENDER ROLES IN ANGWAN-TONI COMMUNITY THROUGH A THEATRE FOR DEVELOPMENT APPROACH

Dr. Sonia Sewuese Suswam — 2025-07-30

This study explores the impact of climate change on gender roles within Angwan-Toni, a rural community in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. It emphasises the potent role of Theatre for Development (TfD) as a participatory tool for raising awareness and prompting behavioral change in the wake of climate adversities. Generally, climate change and gender discourses are organized concepts whose discussions are more or less undertaken in boardrooms, seminars and other such functions and events. This formality leaves community dwellers in sheer ignorance of climate crisis, even as they suffer the effects, and inadvertently try to manage their livelihood in its wake. Climate change is a global threat, as such require adequate awareness at all levels, both at the rural and urban communities. The study utilizes participatory communication and place-based education theories, and adopted a mixed methods approach, by incorporating Focus Group Discussions, Interviews, Questionnaires, and field observation. Findings reveal that women bear the brunt of climate change through increased responsibilities such as water sourcing and fuel gathering. The study underscores TfD's potential in fostering environmental consciousness and addressing gender-specific climate vulnerabilities.

THE EXAMINATION OF THE ROLE OF ACHINA WOMEN AFTER THE NIGERIA-BIAFRA CIVIL WAR 1970-2000

Nwizugbo, Oluchi Blessing — 2025-07-30

This work examines how the lives of these women evolved in the face of globalization and democratization. Research findings from this study show that Achina Women progressed from the traditional mise en scene to the advanced world of modernization. The maleness syndrome which is the obvious norm of a typical Igbo culture did not hinder their active participation in the development of Achina and Anambra as a whole, as they were fully integrated in the happenings around their families and the state through various government programmes that gave them liberty to exercise their intelligence and capacity in various ways. The use of primary sources derived from oral information, focus group discussion, archival periodicals and newspapers, and archival materials from the National Archives, Enugu. Oral information was obtained through various people in Achina, group discussions and the use of questionnaires. To understand the necessity of this study, this paper grappled with the question: How did women's role in Achina evolve from the 1970s to the 2000s in response to local socio-political changes? This inquiry highlights the need to delve into the complex interplay of external forces, such as globalization and democratization, and their interaction with local dynamics bringing to light the broader implications of gender dynamics. Women's participation in politics, decision-making, and community development is central to understanding the evolving power structures within Achina

THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ENHANCING TEACHER JOB PERFORMANCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN IMO STATE

Dr Regina Nwamaka Chukwu — 2025-07-30

This study explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used to enhance teacher job performance in secondary schools within Imo State, Nigeria. It examines the practical applications of AI in lesson delivery, administrative duties, and student evaluation, as well as the challenges faced by educators in integrating these technologies. Two research questions were posed. The survey research design was adopted. A population of 11,175 was used while sample of 138 was drawn. Rating scales were used for data collection. The mean and standard deviation were used for data analyses. Findings revealed among others that AI tools are not highly used by teachers in the secondary schools to impact on teacher job performance.

HUMANISM AND ITS VARIANTS: EXAMINING THE PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR DEMOCRATIC EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Lucy Happiness Ohanuma — 2025-07-30

This study examines humanism and its various strands classical, secular, religious, and integral as philosophical foundations for democratic education in Nigeria. It assess how each variant contributes to a vision of education that respects human dignity, promotes critical thinking, and fosters participatory citizenship. Drawing on philosophical analysis and documentary review, the study evaluates the extent to which humanist ideals such as freedom, reason, responsibility, and the common good can inform educational practices in a diverse and pluralistic society. The paper highlights Jacques Maritain's notion of integral humanism as particularly relevant to Nigeria's socio-political context, given its emphasis on the full development of the human person within a community and in relation to transcendent values. The research finds that while secular and liberal models of humanism support democratic engagement through autonomy and civic education, religious and integral approaches offer a more holistic approach that unites moral, spiritual, and intellectual development. The paper argues that integrating these variants within Nigerian educational policy could strengthen democratic culture, reduce ethnoreligious tensions, and empower learners to become agents of social transformation. Ultimately, the study underscores the need for a philosophically grounded, context-sensitive model of democratic education that balances individual rights with communal responsibilities.

ONEBUNNE: QUESTIONING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IDENTITY BELONGINGNESS IN IGBO WELTANSCHAUUNG

Jude I. Onebunne, PhD — 2025-07-30

The Igbo worldview is very peculiar because of the way the Igbo people and nation comprehend the world and its surroundings, life, and life beyond, that is, existence and essence in general. The tapestry of Igbo worldview is seen more in the cobwebbed Igbo idea of their belonging in consonance with their concept of indenticalness. Identity, therefore, spells and necessitates belongingness. Onebunne, as a concept, verifies and tries to question this nexus of identity and belongingness. Through critical analysis and appreciation, the researcher finds out that the idea of Onebunne is deeply rooted and swallowed up in the union of identity that compels belongingness. Against the physical law that like charges repel and unlike charges; however, in human interaction, to be identified as such, or to have a likely identity, gives one the opportunity to belong. One's identity, therefore, leads to one's belongingness

ABUSE OF VALUE AND SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE IN CONTEMPORARY IGBO LAND

NWANKWO, Samuel Chibuzo — 2025-07-30

Human life is sacred and highly priced in all known cultures of man. Life is precious and a gift from God; as such, life is treated with utmost care to avoid its violation. However, what obtains in recent times in respect to life is the stack opposite of God's injunction concerning life; especially in Igbo land. The value and sanctity of human life is fast eroding in Igbo land today. It is a situation where innocent human blood is being shed without recourse to its worth, essence and God's injunction forbidding man to kill. Man has become an enemy to himself; meting out an unprecedented violence against his fellow man. This research adopted descriptive phenomenological method and the use of secondary sources of data collection to address the problems identified. It was discovered that there has been an alarming increase at the rate of murder in Igbo land as a result of the activities of Fulani herdsmen, ritual killing and the crackdown of pro-Biafran groups by the security operatives in Igbo land. The quest for wealth, power, fame and domination of others has beclouded the sense of many to the point that they can stop at nothing to get what they want, including shedding of human blood. It advised that government agencies entrusted with the security of human life and property be up and doing. The religious leaders should teach the tenets of their religions to the followers and re-orientate them on the importance of respect for and sanctity of human life.