Adeyinka Abideen Aderinto

Social correlates and coping measures of street-children: a comparative study of street and non-street children in south-western Nigeria

OBJECTIVE This paper sought to achieve two objectives: First, to identify the social correlates attributable to street-children in south-western Nigeria as well as predisposing factors to this behavior; second, it also tried to uncover the survival mechanisms of street children. METHOD The study was carried out in Ibadan and Lagos metropoles in south-western Nigeria. A pilot study was first conducted to clarify issues like location of the children on the streets, time of the day suitable for interview, and adequacy of the instruments. The main study involving a comparative 202 and 201 street-children and non-street children, respectively, was carried out using the questionnaire and case study approach in the two cities. Data analytical procedures involved both quantitative and qualitative methods. RESULTS Street-children are mostly males, have low-levels of education, are predominantly Yoruba, and come from families with five or more siblings. Parents of street-children commonly had low education and were mainly found in unskilled occupations: were in contract polygynous marriages which are also often characterized by marital disruption. Street children also left home because of parental/familial reasons, chiefly among which was the inability of their parents to meet with their expectations. They survive on the streets engaging in some income-yielding activities, and are also faced with many hazards. CONCLUSIONS The findings revealed that polygyny, large family, family disruption, and child labor were all central issues and predisposing factors to living on the streets by children. The poverty factor clearly came out as a very important factor.

Challenges of Outsourcing Security Services in Selected Educational Institutions in Ogun State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT The study examined the challenges of outsourcing human security services by the federal tertiary educational institutions (FTEIs) in Ogun State, Nigeria, namely: Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro; and Federal College of Education, Abeokuta. It employed the conflict perspective as theoretical framework and the multistage sampling method, which consisted of the purposive, stratified, and random sampling techniques. Data were generated through questionnaire administered to 783 respondents selected through the stratified and random sampling methods. In addition, 24 key informant and 24 in-depth interviews were conducted in the institutions. The data were analyzed using frequencies, percentage, and content analysis. The findings covered preoutsourcing and postoutsourcing, security outfits and personnel challenges. Cross-examination revealed 65.3% cases of cult violence in Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; 56.4% in Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro; and 67.9% in Federal College of Education, Abeokuta. Some of the security challenges experienced by the FTEIs were land encroachment, smugglers threat, and invasion by herdsmen. The study recommended that the outsourcing policy be comprehensively reviewed using individualized strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis for each institution so as to provide a uniform regulatory framework and funding by the government.

Highway informal policing in Kajola Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria

Informal policing continues to play a crucial role in the Nigerian security sector in spite of the fact that certain government agencies have been formally charged with the responsibility for crime prevention, detection and control. In view of this, this paper examines the origin, mode of operation and challenges of highway informal policing in Kajola Local Government. The study was anchored on routine activity theory. Data were principally generated through key informant interview and focus group discussion methods. Purposive sampling technique was adopted for the selection of 11 members of the local government’s highway informal police, while 28 participants involved in the focus group discussions were chosen through quota sampling. Findings showed that the highway informal policing outfit was mainly established to contain the incessant criminal victimisations of commuters travelling on the major highways in the area by armed robbers. Also, members of the outfit viewed their relationship with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force as cordial. This paper calls for a design of necessary mechanisms through which a successful integration of highway informal policing into the operation of the Nigeria Police Force can be facilitated as a way of securing crime-prone highways in Nigeria.

Factors underlying sex preference of domestic servants in Nigeria

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine factors underlying gender preference of domestic servants (DS). Children in domestic service constitute the most common form of urban child labour. Literature has shown that domestic service employment has a gender face with the girl-child more susceptible. This is the gap this research fills. Design/methodology/approach – The study employed both quantitative and qualitative strategies selecting respondents and analysing the study. The respondents were employers of DS and were mainly women. Qualitative data were generated from 15 employers reached through the snowball method. The stratified purposive sampling technique was used to identify private and public organisations in the selected localities where copies of a questionnaire were administered. Findings – The results showed that factors considered for employing DS are linked to traditional conception of household tasks. Consequently, girls (86.4 per cent) were preferred for performing domestic chores, ...

The Status of the Girl-Child in Soweto, South Africa

Abstract Several reports and Charters have all emphasized the overwhelming importance of the wellbeing of every child and their rights to a rewarding life. However, recent decades have brought growing recognition that throughout the world, women’s status is lower than men’s. More reports have also described the disadvantages or problems that the girl child faces vis-à-vis her brother. This discrimination is further entrenched by the system of institutionalised patriarchy which undermines basic human rights and also engenders a variety of harmful traditional practices. Inspite of this observation, none or very few studies have been conducted on the situation of the Girl-Child in South Africa. Even then such studies have only treated the Girl-Child within the larger spectrum of women studies. Against this backdrop, this study was conducted to investigate the special situation of the girl child in Soweto, South Africa. With a sample of six hundred respondents (boys and girls) not beyond age 19, selected through multi-stage sampling procedure, data was collected using the interview method. Findings reveal that contrary to what obtains in many other parts of Africa, the girl-child and the boy-child in Soweto enjoy comparable status, and no significant difference in care and treatment was reported.

Life After Displacement: A Study of Refugees in a Nigerian Refugee Camp

Abstract Very few studies have been conducted on refugees. Still very few or none have focused on their life pattern and coping strategies in their new environment. This study was therefore conceived to address these issues. Specifically, the paper addressed the socio-demographic characteristics of refugees, and life in their new environment. With a sample of two hundred and sixty five refugees, eight indigenes and two officials of the refugee camp, data were collected through the use of questionnaire and in-depth interview method. Some of the major findings of the study include the fact that most of the refugees are males, posses primary and secondary level education, and are engaged in various economic activities to augment the relief materials supplied by the United Nations High commission for Refugees (UNHCR). Furthermore, relationship with indigenes is nothing beyond economic relationships. Refugees also suffer from all kinds of illnesses but mostly malaria and some are also afflicted by sexually transmitted diseases. When ill however, they patronize the camp clinic for treatment.

Patriarchy and Culture: The Position of Women in a Rural Yoruba Community, Nigeria

Abstract Women worldwide face discriminations and subordination in the society. The subordination of women is even more pronounced in the developing countries of Asia and Africa. Several scholars (Kenig 1996; Adeyeye 1988; Howard 1985; Kazi 1995; Kumar 1993) have asserted that rural women are discriminated a gainst in terms of employment opportunities, access to social and productive resources, education, health status and family decisions, among others. However, rural women in developing countries have been found to play an important role in agriculture and agricultural development (Kumak 1993 ). Indeed, Williams (1988), Mahawonku (1988) and Olawoye (1994) have all emphasized the paradox that the woman is the nutritional bedrock of human society who feeds and nurtures mankind and at the same time manages the home. Despite these realizations, the Nigerian rural women continue to suffer subordination and the ability to fully realize their potential is greatly hampered. This paper therefore examined the constraints facing rural women in a rural Yoruba Community. Data collection was essentially through the focus-group discussions, in – depth interview and observational methods. Specifically, fourteen focus-group discussions with different groups of women and men, and ten in-depth interviews were held. Findings reveal that despite the increasing awareness of women’s education, there is still the tacit preference for the education of the male-child. Again, perhaps the greatest pattern of subordination is in the area of ‘who decides what’. Findings generally revealed that males enjoy a domineering position in this area. Other problems faced by Nigerian rural women are reflected in their small volume of economic activities. Female circumcision, health and rights. The paper concluded by suggesting some intervention programmes among which is the mobilization of resources to prepare women for leadership roles and awareness creation about the problem facing women and indeed rural women in South-Western Nigeria.