Browsing by Author "Oke, O. P."

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A christian dimension to poverty discourse in Nigeria
(The Department of Religious Studies, University of Ibadan, 2011-12) Familusi, O. O.; Oke, O. P.
Poverty, which manifests in various forms, has been a major problem for mankind and a source of concern for successive administrations at various levels in Nigeria. Given this, several attempts have been made towards its reduction, eradication and alleviation, but no major success has been recorded, thus majority of the populace continues to wallow in abject poverty while ironically some have more than enough. Several scholars have worked on different perspectives of poverty. In this piece, an attempt is made to discuss the subject matter from a Christian religious view point so as to understand religion as a major factor in the issue of poverty in Nigeria. In other words, the Church is to be understood as an agent of poverty alleviation and possible harbinger of poverty. A pragmatic religious approach to poverty alleviation is provided as recommendations.
An ethical diagnosis of proverbs 6:6-8 about leadership failure in Nigeria
(Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2025) Oke, O. P.
The bane of growth in the nation's political trajectory has been caused by leadership failure and its impact on the populace. Once acknowledged and revered as Africa's developmental power house in all respects, Nigeria has lost its pride due to selfish leaders and avaricious followers who always prioritise their interests over the good of the whole. The process of motivating, directing, and persuading people to realise a common Vision, aim, or objective is known as leadership. A proactive approach, activity, or attitude that motivates and sways others to accomplish a particular objective is more important than a title. It is the capacity to guide and lead a team towards a goal successfully. Sadly, the Situation is the exact opposite in Africa, and Nigeria in particular, where the ruling elite has transformed the nation into a conduit through which our Commonwealth is being greedily siphoned for the benefit of themselves and their progeny. Scholarly works that have already been written about leadership in Nigeria have mostly focused on how Nigerian leaders have shaped the nation 's development since its independence, with little attention paid to the importance of Proverbs Chapter 6:6—8, which offers an ethical diagnosis of the social, political, and economic Problems arising from the nation's political leaders' incompetence, ignorance, carelessness, and irresponsibility. From a methodological standpoint, the research employed qualitative methods to gather data. According to the paper's results, leadership failure has caused the African continent to fall behind other developed nations, and the advice given by Solomon in Proverbs 6:6-8 can help address the region's plethora of issues and take her back to its Position as a giant of Africa indeed.
An examination of the legal and religious dimensions to separation in marriage
(2021-10) Oke, O. P.
Separation in marriage has become a burning issue that has generated a lot of debates in Nigeria today as it affects many homes and the society at large. Scholars in Order to deal with the problem have approached the subject matter from the cultural, psychological, and sociological perspectives. 13ut, an area where little or no attention has been paid over the years which necessitated this study is the religious and legal dimensions to the discourse. That is, a religious and legal look at what constitutes Separation in marriage and how the menace can be brought to the barest minimum. The method adopted in the study is the use of materials that are relevant to Separation and divorce. Recommendation will be made on how to address the issues involved in Separation and how separated couples can live a better life thereby enhancing peace and harmonious relationship in the society.
Church leaders and their quest for social transformation in Nigeria
(Zenith BookHouse Ltd., Ibadan, 2022) Oke, O. P.
Conflict resolution strategies in classical antiquity and Yoruba society
(Global Journals, 2019) Oke, O. P.
As long as man lives and as long as societies relate together, conflict is inevitable. Therefore, for peace to reign in various communities, traditional societies had developed a well-defined structure for resolution of conflicts. In ancient times, particularly in Rome and Yoruba land, conflict resolution was done in conjunction with the council of chiefs and elders. Existing studies on the resolution of conflicts have mainly focused on the modern methods which, over the years, have not yielded any significant result because their modes of Operation are at variant with the custom and culture of the people. This paper examines how the traditional Romans and Yoruba resolved conflicts through the use of traditional rulers, that is, the paterfamilias and Mo ga ji' (family head), Baale (compound head), Baa' le ‘(community head) and the O ba (town head). It explores how such traditional role could be brought to bear in the Contemporary society, where ethno-religious and resource control conflicts which have resulted in wanton destruction of lives and properties in many countries of the world. This study adopts a comparative approach to highlight how conflicts were settled at various levels of administration in ancient Rome and the traditional Yoruba society. The paper concludes by suggesting how the ancient methods can be re- incorporated into the modern methods of conflict resolution in various communities, especially Nigeria.
Ethical appraisal of the relationship between christian virtues and entrepreneurial development in Nigeria
(African Society for the Study of Sociology and Ethics of Religions (ASSOSER), 2020-12) Oke, O. P.
This paper underscores the importance of Christian ethical virtues in entrepreneurial development in Nigeria and how it can be of immense benefit to individual and the nation at large. Entrepreneurship which is the process of doing something new and something different for the purpose of creating wealth for the individual and adding value to society has not been having its fair share in the recent time and this was not the case in the past. The country was rated among one of the most developed economies in the world with its triplistic economy as the 12th largest crude oil producer in the world, 9th most populous country of the world and second largest economy in Africa with earnings of an estimated $2.2 million a day in oil revenue. But, in spite of these giant strides, Nigeria is still ranked among the poorest nations in the world in recent time. Its failure as a nation is attributable to many factors which includes corruption, bad governance, ineptitude, lack of managerial skills, government policies and dilapidated infrastructures. Existing studies so far carried out on entrepreneurship in Nigeria have focused mainly on the social, economic, psychological and the influence of politics in business with little attention given to the Christian ethical virtues that are germane to entrepreneurial development in this period of economic meltdown which has negatively affected the growth of the country thereby making her to take a back seat among the developed economies. There is no doubt denying the fact that entrepreneurs in Nigeria have displayed herculean task and great exploits in revamping the economy, but, their failure to imbibe the Christian virtues of prudence, justice, courage, temperament, self-discipline, diligence, resourcefulness and perseverance that are necessary for entrepreneurial development has made such exploit to experience a stunted economic growth and malnourished economic development. Therefore, this paper has examined the state of entrepreneurship in Nigeria, factors responsible for entrepreneurial failure, and how Christian ethical values can be used to address such failure. Recommendation will also be made where necessary.
Ethical evaluation of labour union strikes in Nigeria and the religious value of the dignity of labour
(2021) Oke, O. P.; John, E. O.
Agitations by labour unions in the country have become a recurring decimal and this has led to a series of arrests and death of members in the course of fighting for their legitimate rights of improved welfare packages. In this incessant face- off between government and labour unions in the country, many scholars have written voicing the opinions. While some blamed successive government on their insensitivity to the plight of Nigerian workers, others condemned the actions of workers as falling below expectation as many are inefficient and incompetent. But, an area where attention has not been focused on, has to do with the value of dignity of labour among the Nigerian workforce. It is therefore pertinent to take a critical look at the religious value of the dignity of labour vis - a - vis the attitudes of those in the corridors of power and the plight of workers who are the fulcrum on which the economy upon which any nation stands. It is in light of this that this paper will examine among other things, strike actions in Nigeria, and the meaning of ‘dignity of labour’ from a religious perspective. Lastly, a clarion call will be made on stakeholders in labour matters on the need to address the lingering gridlock between government and labour unions in the country in order for the efforts of the present administration at revamping the economy not to be a mere waste of time
Ethics of self-sacrifice as an antidote to political corruption in the contemporary Nigeria
(Department of Religious Studies University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2018) Oke, O. P.
Sacrifice as a concept is multifaceted in nature and efforts have been made at different quarters to underscore its importance. Many scholars have examined the concept from different dimensions. However, an area which seems to have been largely ignored over the years is the ethical dimension of self-sacrifice as an antidote to political corruption in Nigeria, given the high level of moral laxity and unbridled corrupt practices that have become the bane of political office holders in Nigeria. In Nigeria, corruption, self-centeredness, nepotism and winner-takes-it-all syndromes have taken the centre-stage of the national life. The effects of these practices have made development in every sector of the nation a mirage as a result of the unpatriotic attitudes of political leaders in the country, which calls for concerted efforts of all and sundry. This paper, therefore, is a Clarion call on political leaders and their followers to make self-sacrifice a top priority in order to save the country from the political comatose and developmental kwashiorkor it has been experiencing over the years.
Examining the status of traditional rulers in the pre-post-colonial Yoruba society
(Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2019) Oke, O. P.
Traditional rulers in Yoruba society have over the years played significant roles in the social, political and economic development of the traditional society. What constitutes the major roles of traditional rulers as they affect the society generally have been discussed by various scholars. However, there was little or no attention on the dwindling in Status of traditional rulers in the modern society due to modernity and civilization which has relegated them. This has over the years rendered them and the institution almost irrelevant and mere figure heads, it has also contributed in no small measure to the security threat, unbridled recklessness and instability in the nation. The paper therefore examines the change in Status and prestige of traditional rulers in the Pre and Post-colonial periods in yoruba land and how their Status could be re- invigorated and re-energized to play a complementary role in addressing various problems facing the nation today.
Exploring the emergence and impact of pentecostal movements in Nigeria
(Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2025) Oke, O. P.
From time immemorial, Christianity has played a pivotal role in the spiritual rejuvenation of its adherents. The spiritual renewal has positively impacted the country in all ramifications, especially the mainline churches that laid the foundation of Christianity on Nigerian soil. Existing studies on the contributions of Christianity to society have focused mainly on the spiritual and psychological effort of the mainline churches, with little attention paid to the emergence and the impact of Pentecostal churches in Nigeria. The advent of Pentecostal movements in Nigeria, which began in the early 20th Century as a reform movement in the prominent churches of Africa, was a significant historical event. This paper adopts a historical method to elicit information on Pentecostal movements in Nigeria, bringing to the fore their historical context and interventions in the growth of African Christianity and their general influence on society. Our findings revealed that Pentecostal movements in Nigeria have, over the years, advanced the course of Christianity with their Creative liturgical ideas. Recommendations were made on how some excesses of Pentecostal churches would be put under check to ensure sanity in the movement.
Immunity clause in the Nigerian constitution and its implication for good governance
(2016-06) Oke, O. P.
The raging controversy surrounding whether to remove or retain the immunity clause in the Nigerian Constitution has been on for quite sometimes now. That is, whether there should or shouldn't be immunity for elected political office holders in the country. Section 308 of the Nigerian Constitution provides for immunity for certain elected officers in the country. Though, this section appears to be express and clearer tough, it has however generated a lot of controversies and debates. The proponents of its abrogation argue that immunity encourages corruption and therefore gives room for bad leadership. On the contrary, those who support its retention have argued that removing it will allow those at the helm of affairs in the country to be distracted from performing their statutory roles with frivolous litigations. This issue has been discussed from various perspectives and it seems no serious decision has been taken on it. But a burning matter that needs to be addressed in this paper is the effect of its inclusion on good governance in Nigeria. Therefore, this paper addresses issues such as the meaning of immunity clause, good governance, the interplay between immunity clause and good governance and recommendation will also be made to address the issue.
Interrogating the doctrine of fair hearing in the Nigerian constitution and the a-gbo-ejo-enikan-da-agba-osika in the Yoruba socio-cultural milieu
(Department of Religious and Cultural Studies, University of Uyo, 2024-05) Oke, O. P.
The right to a fair hearing as contained in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic oi Nigeria, as amended, is as old as mankind. The doctrine of fair hearing which could be said to have existed with the first man in the garden of Eden, featured where God did not condemn either of the parties, but sought to hear from them before making a decision. The doctrine, simply put, means that in any matter for adjudication, each party should be given ample opportunity to present their case. Existing studies on fair hearing which has in it, the twin pillars of natural justice of Audi alteram partem (Hear the other side) and Nemo judex in causa sua (One cannot be a judge in his own case) and its implication on Nigeria's legal System and peacemaking process have focused on the legal, administrative, sociological and political perspectives. While some are of the view that the doctrine is not relevant in the Contemporary time, due to the intricacies involved in it, others believe that the system is as relevant as ever. For them, it is the only way the masses can have a sense of hope in a country where justice is believed to be delayed and denied with impunity. However, the focus of this paper is to explore the doctrine of fair hearing in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vis a vis the Yoruba adjudicatory process of settling disputes (A gbo Ejo Enikan da, agba osika) which has over the years been applied for the sustenance of peace and order in Yoruba society. Methodologically, this paper relied on secondary sources for data collection. Recommendations are made for the incorporation of the two adjudicatory processes where necessary to ensure a just and peaceful society.
Issues of child rights and sanctity of life in the abduction of Chibok girls in Nigeria and its effect on family stability
(2022-12) Oke, O. P.
The havoc various militant groups are wrecking on the sustainability of Nigeria as a nation for some years now calls for a serious attention. This is because, the mass killing and the destruction of properties by these groups have dented the image of the country among the comity of nations. Existing studies on the menace of Ethno-Religious militancy in Nigeria have focused mainly on the political, economic, psychological and social perspectives with little attention paid to how the activities of Boko Haram have impacted negatively on the religious value of sanctity of life. The lacuna in the previous studies on the subject matter necessitated this work. This paper adopted a qualitative approach to first, review the history of Boko Haram, its philosophy, activities, various ways the militant groups have infringed on the rights of the girl child, most especially their rights to life which is considered to be a religious value of sanctity of life. The paper revealed that poverty, unemployment and misconception of religion were the major factors that facilitated the emergence of Boko Haram. It further revealed that their activities have caused psychological trauma and have sent many to their early graves, leaving the affected family members with emotional instability. This paper recommends that Nigerian government should, as a matter of urgency address the root cause(s) of Boko Haram’s agitations by eradicating poverty and generating employment to counter terrorism.
One nation under God: achieving national integration through interfaith relations on the University of Abuja campus
(2022-01) Oladosu, A. A.; Rafatu, A.; Uthman, O. I.; Oladosu-Uthman, H.; Oke, O. P.
In Contemporary Nigeria, university campuses have become veritable centres not only for religious practices but equally for the recruitment of members by sects, cults, and denominations. Our research project was premised on the assumption that for the country to achieve sustainable integration, undergraduates in the nation's university System should be co-opted as advocates and stakeholders in the onerous task of peacebuilding and interfaith harmony. This paper reports on the initial survey carried out early in the year 2022 among university of Abuja undergraduates (Christian and Muslims) in this regard. The paper used the descriptive research method. A carefully designed questionnaire was administered among five hundred and twenty-four (524) undergraduates from the University. Having deployed the Integrated Phenomenological Approach (IPA) to research, the paper found that respondents were all desirous of a peaceful interfaith space not only on their campus but across Nigeria. They opined that the introduction of a curriculum on interfaith dialogue and the formulation of a policy on religious practices in the Nigerian University System (NUS) would be a long way in entrenching peace among adherents of various religions and ultimately in promoting national integration.
Principle of separation of powers in the old Oyo empire as a template for the contemporary political structure in Nigeria
(2021-12) Oke, O. P.
The well- structured political administrative set-up of the old Oyo Empire allowed relative peace to reign in various communities and traditional rulers were not left out as they were charged with the responsibility of ensuring that there was peaceful co-existence among people in those communities. Therefore, for there to be peace in the old Oyo Empire, the Alaafin and his Council of Chiefs known as the Oyo-Mesi developed a structure built on the principle of separation of powers to address various conflict related matters. This was borne out of the fact that for development to be achieved in any community, people must live in peace no matter what. In order to achieve this, separation of power was put in place to avoid usurpation of duty and overlap of functions. The peaceful co-existence experienced in the old Oyo Empire was made possible due to this deeply rooted principle. Existing studies on the roles played by Alaafin and his chiefs in the old Oyo Empire have mainly focused on the social, economic and religious perspectives with little attention paid to how Alaafin in council made use of the principle of separation of powers to resolve conflicts, and how such strategies can be adopted as a template in the contemporary political structure in Nigeria today.
Proverbs and taboos as tools for women oppression among Yoruba of Southwest Nigeria
(Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria., 2020-01) Oke, O. P.
The relevance of women in every culture cannot be over-emphasized, this is because human society positioned them in an enviable place. They are described as home builders and house keepers. In any society, they wield enormous influence and, in some spheres, and cases, they have contributed strongly and positively to societal growth and transformation. However, as much as their influence is, many societies have consigned them to the background. Such societies have negative views and opinions about women through the use of proverbs and taboos that are largely inherent and culture based. Existing studies on women in Africa and Nigeria in particular have focused mainly on the contributions of women in every area of human endeavour with little attention paid to how proverbs and taboos that are satirical in nature have been used to reduce women to subordinate and second class citizens. Therefore, this study examined some selected proverbs and taboos among the Yoruba of Southwest, Nigeria and how they have negatively affected the rights of women and the way such rights can be enhanced in the Contemporary society. Recommendations were offered on how women can rise to the challenge of being relegated to the background so as to be able to contribute more meaningfully to the society without being culturally caged.
Revival of religious moral values as a panacea for insecurity in Nigeria
(Department of Religious Studies, Babcock University, 2013-12) Familusi, O. O.; Oke, O. P.
Right to live and right to die: a religious and legal look at euthanasia
(College of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences, Mountain Top University, MFM-Prayer City, Ogun State, 2018-12) Oke, O. P.
Over the years, the debates on the right to live and right to die (euthanasia) have evoked avalanche of human sentiments from scholars. Previous studies so far carried out have focused mainly on the medical, moral and psychological perspectives with little attention paid to the religio-legal dimension in the entire discourse. This is the gap in scholarship that this work intends to fill. That is, a consideration of the camps of irreconcilable proponents and opponents of euthanasia in the Contemporary society from the religious and legal angles. The study employs qualitative method in carrying out this research. The paper finds out, among other things, that the rate of euthanasia can be brought to the barest minimum if both religious leaders and the judiciary take the bull by the horns in addressing the various issues that make euthanasia to become rampant in the society. This paper therefore examines the meaning of euthanasia, the argument for and against and the Position of the three major religions in Nigeria and the law in the discourse. Recommendations are also offered on how to treat terminally sick person in the society.
Satire in Yorubaland as a panacea for corrupt practices in the contemporary Nigeria
(Yoruba Studies Association of Nigeria (Egbe Onimo-Ede Yoruba, Naijiria), 2017-06) Oke, O. P.
Corruption has become an enigma in Nigeria, the different strategies and programmes that have been proffered and implemented by governmental organisations to curb it over the years are all to no avail. Scholars have also considered the issue from various angles at different forums. However, an area which seems to have been largely ignored in the entire discourse is the cultural value of satire in Yorubaland. That is, how satire can serve as a panacea to political corruption in Nigeria. There is no denying the fact that corruption has contributed in no small measure to the present level of poverty in Nigeria due to the unequal distribution of resources meant for the generality of the people. This dastardly act has accounted for the untold hardship on the masses that constitute the majority. This study therefore, makes effort to consider the importance of satire in Yorubaland and how it can be used to address political corruption among the stakeholders in Nigerian politics.
Social implications of human killings for money ritual among the Yoruba people of Southwestern Nigeria
(2024) Oke, O. P.
Human killing for money ritual in Nigeria, particularly in the southwest region, has become a source of general concern. The highly valued virtues of hard work, honesty and dignity of labour have been sacrificed on the altar of materialism and the Get-Rich-Quick syndrome by the money ritualists. Their belief that wealth accumulation is more important regardless of the repercussions of such activities have negatively impacted the country's already fragile security situation. Over time, this menace has sparked a flurry of discussions among stakeholders on security issues related to development. Previous studies on the subject of money ritual induced human killing and its effects in southwest Nigeria has mostly been examined from a number of perspectives. Some scholars studied the problem from a security viewpoint, while others viewed it from the perspectives of poverty, greed, unemployment and loss of morals without paying adequate attention to its social implications. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the social implications of money ritual induced human killing. Youths and middle-aged men and women from Yoruba communities were interviewed using qualitative and unstructured questions. The findings showed that the causes of human killing for money ritual include greed, inordinate ambition, peer pressure, social media influence, poor parenting, loss of societal value systems, government insensitivity to the plight of the people, unemployment, corruption, and similar issues. The study recommends that both parents and government should make good efforts to reorient the youths as they also improve on security architectire.