Development of Social Studies and Its Challenges in Ghana: A Case Study of Bolgatanga Technical Institute in the Upper East Region of Ghana (Published)
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the development of Social Studies and its challenges at the Bolgatanga Technical Institute in the Upper Eat Region of Ghana. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used in selecting the respondents for the study. In all, 285 students were selected from the Bolgatanga Technical Institute. Quantitative research approach was used in collecting and organizing data. Questionnaire was the main tool used to collect data for the study. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics in which percentages, frequencies and tables were used. The study adopted the theory of attitudinal formation that focused on motivational bases for learning. The findings revealed that favourable development of Social Studies in the Bolgatanga Technical Institute has roots in utilitarian, value-expressive, and knowledge motivational bases while the opposite lies in ego-defensive bases. Research further revealed that students perceived that Social Studies is good to be studied as it broadens their intellect by enabling them acquire a lot of ideas about their society and country as a whole. However, students’ attitude towards the subject is negative. It was found that some students do not attend social studies lessons while others attend classes but do not contribute in the lesson. It was also found that others hate their teachers because of how they teach the subject. As a result of students’ negative attitude towards the subject their level of participation was low. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the major school factors influencing students’ poor performance in Social Studies at the Bolgatanga Technical Institute emanated first, from the students’ negative attitude towards the learning of the subject and second, the low level of participation from the students. Based on the findings, it was recommended that School authorities and Social Studies teachers should sensitize students on the significance of Social Studies in the school curriculum. The findings and recommendations of this study will assist teachers and other stakeholders in Social Studies to know the current perceptions of students towards the teaching and learning of Social Studies at the Bolgatanga Technical Institute.
Keywords: Development, Social Studies, Teachers, negative attitudes, perceive
Impact of Entrepreneurship and International Trade on Economic Growth and Development in Nigeria (Published)
This study empirically investigates the impact of entrepreneurship and international trade on economic growth and development in Nigeria from 1990 to 2022. Domestic credit to private sector (DCPS), Exchange rate (EXR), Self-employment (SEEM), Total exports ((TEX), Total imports (TIM) and inflation rate (INFR)were used as dimensions of the independent variable while Real gross domestic product (RGDP) as the dependent variable. Annual time series data were obtained from secondary sources including the CBN annual statistical bulletin, World Bank development indicators. The Eview9 Statistical Software was employed to analyze the data empirically. The Unit root test shows that real gross domestic product, domestic credit to private sector, exchange rate, self-employment, total exports and total imports are all stationary after first difference I(1) while inflation rate was stationary at level I(0). The data were analyzed using the Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL). The results of the ARDL estimates indicate that in the long run self-employment and total exports coefficients were positively signed and statistically significant which means that increase in self-employment and total exports in Nigeria will increase real gross domestic product (Economic growth) while total imports turned up with a negative sign and also statistically significant. It portends that total import has a negative impact on economic growth and development in Nigeria in the long run. The study recommends amongst others that government should promote entrepreneurship by providing credit and grants to encourage self-employment. Government should also encourage import substitution, promote exportation of locally made goods as this has positive impact on economic growth and development in Nigeria.
Citation: Adeyemo O. O. (2023) Impact of Entrepreneurship and International Trade on Economic Growth and Development in Nigeria, Global Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Vol.11, No.4, pp.52-68
Keywords: Development, Entrepreneurship, International Trade, Nigeria, economic growth
Political Interference and Bureaucratic Performance in Nigeria: A human resource trajectory of the muffling of bureaucratic capacity (Published)
The study focus on political interference and bureaucratic performance in Nigeria: A human resource trajectory of the muffling of bureaucratic capacity. The objectives of the study are to challenge the unbalance thesis of the overdevelopment of government bureaucracy stunting political development and by extension causing underdevelopment in Africa, examine the impact of political interference on the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) human resources performance, and examine the extent to which temporary political executives seek to extend their reach in DESOPADEC by politicizing the bureaucracy and how cooperate governance is undermined in the process. Mixed methods research design was used for the study. The findings revealed that 86% of those recruited into the organization were influenced by political considerations and that political interference in bureaucratic organization’s recruitment and selection processes heavily impede the bureaucracy opportunity to hiring skillful and qualified candidates. The researchers recommended that political executives and the political class should be isolated from bureaucratic recruitment and selection process to allow private sector consultants selected by host communities and civil society organizations to be allow to conduct merit based employment. It also recommended that host communities representatives and civil society organizations monitor the required process while advocating for the use of Information Communication technology tools to conduct transparent interview(s) to allow for transparency and equal opportunities for all participants. `
Keywords: Corporate Governance, Development, bureaucratic performance, political interference and public policy environment.
The Performing Arts in National Integration and Development of Human Society (Published)
From the primordial to the modern society, the performing arts have always played very essential roles in bringing people together, to develop cultural norms and values that are paramount to human co-existence in society. From the very simple theatrical forms to the most sophisticated development in movies, the performing arts have always united, corrected, educated and entertained members of society, thereby contributing to national development. Like sports, the performing arts’ ability to do this is natural, spontaneous and legendary. This paper examines the traditional roles of the performing arts (Drama, Music, Dance, etc) in uniting and developing society, from the classical to the modern society, in different societies of the world. It examines the current state of these arts worldwide, denouncing their negative uses and extolling their deployment for responsible uses. Operating on the theory of functionality of Arts, it goes on to identify in very concrete terms, how performing art forms could be used to enhance human resources development and make society a better place to live in.
Keywords: Development, Human Society, National integration, Performing Arts
A Historical Analysis of the Introduction, Spread and Impact of Western Education in Southern Taraba Area, 1905 to 2018 (Published)
Education can be construed as a pattern of awareness which determines and influences the behavioural pattern of any given society. It encompasses societal civilization, values, norms and traditions. It is a people’s belief system, system of thought, an instrument through which a society produces and reproduces its kind in the light of what makes one a representation of his/her society. Every society therefore has its own system of education through which cultural transmission and socialization are anchored. Unfortunately, former colonies erroneously consider western education as the only best alternative for all-round development. It is viewed as the basic instrument for civilization, gainful employment, socialization, economic prosperity and development. This conventional assumptions has resulted in the eventual neglect of the traditional education by African societies, Southern Taraba inclusive. This paper therefore examine the process of introduction and spread of western education in Southern Taraba Area. The paper captures issues like the agencies and individuals involved, the impact, challenges encountered and how the challenges can be remedied. Thus, using a multi-disciplinary methodological approach, the study came to the realization that western education has impacted tremendously on the peoples of Southern Taraba Area in the spheres of human, infrastructural, political and socio-economic development.
Keywords: Challenges, Development, Education, Impact, Influence, history, western education
Rural Development Processes and Emerging Challenges in Nigeria (Published)
The central aim of this paper is to highlight the rural development processes in Nigeria and identify the emerging challenges that impede sustainable rural development in the country. In achieving its aim, the paper clarified the concept of development and rural development as postulated by various scholars. It examines the modernization and dependency theoretical underpinning of the concepts. The study analyses secondary and empirical sources of data through qualitative methods. The paper posits that the rural areas have constituted majority of the nation’s population and serve as a base for food production. The paper argues that though various rural development policies have been initiated in Nigeria, the conditions of the rural areas has not changed much since independence. Rather, development policies in Nigeria have been tilted toward the urban areas while the rural areas live in extreme poverty and lack basic health, educational and social infrastructures. It identifies emerging challenges such as corruption and mismanagement of resources, poor policy implementation, famers- herders conflicts and lack of autonomy of the local governments. The study recommends more concerted efforts in implementing rural developments projects, punishment of corrupt public officials, effective budget monitoring, provision of security and conflict resolution mechanisms and participation of the rural populace in development projects.
Keywords: Challenges, Development, Emerging, Processes, Rural
The Influence of Music on the Elizabethan Era (Published)
The main motive of this research is to mainly study and find the features of the Music in the Elizabethan era. The Elizabethan era marked the pinnacle of music in England. The Elizabethan music went through a complete transformation from sacred to secular music and the introduction of musical instruments along with the songs. Elizabeth 1 was not just fond of music, but she could play various instruments such as flute and virginal. The introduction of complex music and the influence of musical instruments along with vocals truly marked the beginning of the English music that people are fond even today. The whole century has been the witness to the constant experiment and development of music which would not have been possible without the constant encouragement of the Queen. This research made us aware of the era where the contemporary music or songs played by the actors in the Elizabethan theatre and how it started to evolve.
Keywords: Development, Elizabethan Era, Instruments, Music
Restructuring, Social Order and Development in Nigeria (Published)
Nigeria from colonial period through post colonial period has settled for federal system of government which allows for division of powers and jurisdictions among the levels of government that made up the federation. Overtime, there have been observable imperfections in the Nigerian federalism which have triggered protests, agitations and patriotic calls for restructuring of the system. On the basis of the foregoing, we commended as follows: that there should be devolution of more powers to the federating units in Nigeria; that fiscal federalism should be practiced to give room for resource control by the federating units and that the principles of federal character as enshrined in our national constitution should be observed in appointment and location of critical infrastructure across all sections of the country. This paper is a departure from this trend, orthodoxy is challenged by showing the nexus and interface between restructuring, social order, and development in Nigeria. Development is said to be a predictor that determines whether a country is progressing or not. A critical assessment of Nigeria’s development despite her abundance in human, natural and material resources reveals that the country is yet to achieve the desired expectations as clamored by her citizens. The objective of this study was to identify the challenges to development in Nigeria. In other to obtain data for the research, the work adopted qualitative research method through textual analysis. The findings of this study revealed that despite the country’s attempt to advance development, several challenges has posed a great threat to her progress. These setbacks range from imposition of politices on the citizens, lack of adequate human resources or capital to implement development plans/policies, corruption and lack of credible leadership among others. It recommended that accountability and transparency should be the country’s guiding philosophy in all her operations. Also once the identified limitations are tackled then development will be realized in the country.
Keywords: Development, Federalism, Government, Restructuring, Revolution, Social order
Understanding Rural-Urban Migration from the Perspectives of Migrants in Agbogbloshie, Ghana (Published)
About half of the urban growth in Africa is accounted for by migrants from rural areas yet we fail to understand migration from the perspectives of the migrants. This paper seeks to understand rural urban migration from the perspective of migrants and how this can inform rural development planning. A mixed research design was adopted to explore the decision making process around migration. In-depth interviews were held with migrants in Agbogbloshie and their families in Yendi where they have come from. The paper found that while rural-urban migration will persist for a long time because of the deprivation in rural areas, migrants have plans to return home. Planning would need to shift from the conventional approaches of general rural development towards a good understanding of rural development problems unique to certain areas.
Keywords: Africa, Development, Ghana, Migration, Planning, Urbanisation
Rural-Urban Issues and Human Capacity Building in an Era of Globalization: The Third World Perspective (Published)
This study examined the nexus between rural-urban issues and Human Capacity Building. In today’s globalizing world, the issue of human capacity building is very imperative more than ever before. Any country desirous of being relevant in the contemporary world cannot afford to toy with the issue of human capacity building. The high level of competition in the world makes it very inevitable for countries particularly those of the third world to take the issue of Human capacity building seriously because they would lag behind in the scheme of things and would not have anything to offer both at the local and international arena. This situation has brought about a situation whereby countries have been in search of various ways of boosting the human capacity in their various countries. In this endeavour much emphasis is placed on rural –urban issues. It is against this backdrop that this study is embarked upon to interrogate the role of rural-urban issues in human capacity building. Rural-urban migration simply means the movement of people particularly those within the labour force from the rural areas to the urban areas in search of greener pastures. Most times these set of people move to the urban areas to discover there is little or nothing for them to do and in most cases rendered redundant. As they depart the rural areas, they get the rural areas depleted of human resource that could have exploited and tapped the natural resources that abound there. This scenario to a very large extent would negatively affect the country’s development. It is against this backdrop that this study is designed to look for ways of ensuring the building of the human capacity through policies that could bring about the reduction or halting of rural-urban migration. This study is qualitative in nature hence data for the study were sourced through secondary means. Conflict theory was used as a theoretical framework.
Keywords: Conflict, Development, Globalization, Human Capacity Building, Rural-Urban Migration, Third World countries