Papers by Uchechukwu K I Z I T O Ogu
Nnadiebube Journal of Philosophy (NJP) , 2024
In an era defined by rapid technological advancement, the transformative potential of Artificial ... more In an era defined by rapid technological advancement, the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands both as a beacon of hope, promise and a challenge. It has become increasingly evident that AI is not just a tool for innovation but, when deployed responsibly and ethically, can be a force for social innovation and change-improving equity and human rights, shaping societies and redefining the global landscape. The potential of AI to impact society has been noted by scholars, while it has been touted as providing solutions to many social problems, it also has the potential to perpetuate existing inequalities and injustices. It has been shown to replicate, amplify and even exacerbate biases related to race, gender and other social factors. It is, therefore, essential to consider the implication of AI development on issues like justice, human dignity and human rights in order to ensure that AI benefits equitably across populations and demographics without amplifying the already existing inequalities. This paper, seeks therefore, to examine the impact of AI on justice, human freedom and human rights especially those rights that are most impacted or most likely to be impacted by AI. The paper posits that AI can impact social justice through biased decision making, job displacement and so on. It therefore, recommends increased transparency and accountability in AI decision-making so that its benefits can be shared fairly and equitably across society.
International Journal of Operational Research in Management, Social Sciences & Education | IJORMSSE, 2023
When Muhammad Buhari assumed ofce as president of Nigeria in W2015 after sixteen years of PDP ru... more When Muhammad Buhari assumed ofce as president of Nigeria in W2015 after sixteen years of PDP rule, many Nigerians hoped the
new administration will steer the country away from the
confusion and hardship that characterized the past administration and bring
the much-needed development, however, how the government performed in
changing the fortunes of the country positively remains a debate. How did
Nigeria fair under his administration? Did he improve adherence to
constitutional provisions in governance? Did the country become better than
it was in 2015? The paper examines the nexus between democracy, good
governance and development in Nigeria in the eight years of Buhari's
government. Data for the study was sourced through content analysis
approach. The paper argues that Nigeria witnessed various dimensions of
political, economic and social crises occasioned largely by the non-adherence
to the provisions of the Constitution. From the persistent violations of the
rights of Nigerians including the restriction of the freedom of the press to the
rising level of poverty and destitution among Nigerians, from the agrant
disobedience to the rule of law to the failure to conduct free, fair and credible
elections in the country it has been a tale of woes for Nigeria. The paper,
therefore, recommends the adherence to constitutional provisions and to rule
of law, strengthening of democratic political institutions and inclusive
policies and programmes for sustainable development in Nigeria.
International Journal of Research in Arts and Social Sciences, 2021
The curiosity for this research was possible due to the importance of politics and policies to th... more The curiosity for this research was possible due to the importance of politics and policies to the development of any developing country like Nigeria especially. The wok considers the fact that there have been somersaulting questions bordering on why societies and countries of the world today (in particular Nigeria) have failed to 'develop' in spite of the various purported developmental policies that governments and successive governments have claimed to put in place. The work observes that both politics and policies play huge role in the development of any nation; whether in the life of her citizens or in the manner such a country governs her citizens and/or more still, regulates her economic, social, and politico-religious life. The paper is aware that policies-whether positive or negative, good or bad-have serious influence to the development of a nation; for they serve as desideratum to development. Regrettably, the work notes that many so-called 'developmental' policies in Nigeria, especially and particularly policies in economy and education, among others, which claim to be good because of their democratic nature and character, have ended up lacking such progressive influences that would have made Nigeria
Journal of African Political Philosophy and Leadership: Philosophia Politica, 2023
Rights are claims of an individual recognized by the society and the state. These rights are ascr... more Rights are claims of an individual recognized by the society and the state. These rights are ascribed to individuals by virtue of their being humans. Among these rights are economic, social and cultural rights which are critical not only to the survival but also to the development of full human potentials. These rights include among others the right to adequate shelter and food, quality healthcare, fair and full employment, right to freedom from harmful practices and even the right to participate and enjoy the benefits from one's own culture. The importance of these rights is underscored by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which grants them universal application. While, however, the rights are enjoyed almost equally by both men and women in the West, in Nigeria, their enjoyment by women is still plagued by structural and religious inhibitions. Given the patriarchal nature of the Nigerian society, women in most parts occupy the base of the socio-cultural ladder which enables men to dominate them. They face discrimination in empowerment and employment opportunities and home/cultural matters. The paper adopts the historical and evaluative methods to situate the gender inequality and discrimination in proper context and argues that democracy permits diversity of opinions and full participation of all citizens in government and decision making. It interrogates and challenges agelong cultural practices that place women at a disadvantage. It submits that constitutional provisions on human rights should be strictly enforced by the government and argues for a new gender relation that recognizes the equality of all humans.
Rights are claims of an individual recognized by the society and the state. These rights are ascr... more Rights are claims of an individual recognized by the society and the state. These rights are ascribed to individuals by virtue of their being humans. Among these rights are economic, social and cultural rights which are critical not only to the survival but also to the development of full human potentials. These rights include among others the right to adequate shelter and food, quality healthcare, fair and full employment, right to freedom from harmful practices and even the right to participate and enjoy the benefits from one's own culture. The importance of these rights is underscored by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which grants them universal application. While, however, the rights are enjoyed almost equally by both men and women in the West, in Nigeria, their enjoyment by women is still plagued by structural and religious inhibitions. Given the patriarchal nature of the Nigerian society, women in most parts occupy the base of the socio-cultural ladder which enables men to dominate them. They face discrimination in empowerment and employment opportunities and home/cultural matters. The paper adopts the historical and evaluative methods to situate the gender inequality and discrimination in proper context and argues that democracy permits diversity of opinions and full participation of all citizens in government and decision making. It interrogates and challenges agelong cultural practices that place women at a disadvantage. It submits that constitutional provisions on human rights should be strictly enforced by the government and argues for a new gender relation that recognizes the equality of all humans.
Sapientia Journal of Philosophy, 2022
This paper challenges society/government restriction of peoples' right to practice a religion of ... more This paper challenges society/government restriction of peoples' right to practice a religion of their choice. It argues that though the individual is not entirely self-reliant and that to some extent certain factors sustain and influence the individual, there are nonetheless certain spheres of his life in which others whether represented by the society or the government are not permitted to interfere with. The individual is a person distinct from the society and possesses moral worth to lead his life in a way he has freely chosen insofar as it does not conflict with the law. This argument is against the backdrop of the constant and rising state interference with peoples' choice of religion particularly but not limited to certain states of northern Nigeria. In agreement with Isaiah Berlin, the paper submits that an interference with the negative liberty of an individual is a violation of the individual's inalienable right and thus not justified. The paper therefore recommends that the government in Nigeria at all levels must respect the right to freedom of religion of Nigerians even when such rights are found in the minority. It also recommends the preservation of the secularity of the Nigerian state as enshrined in the constitution.
Sapientia Journal of Philosophy, 2022
This paper explores the nexus between ethnic nationalism and ethnoreligious conflicts and sustain... more This paper explores the nexus between ethnic nationalism and ethnoreligious conflicts and sustainable national stability and development in Nigeria. Although, traditionally, nationalism is expressed in national pride and solidarity, sense of identity and a shared desire to repulse foreign rule, in Nigeria, however, it is typified in loyalty to one's ethnicity and religion, deep distrust among the various peoples of Nigeria. destructive contestation for state power, resource control and so on. This shift has given rise to ethnic militias and militant groups warring against state powers and often times against themselves resulting in the eruption of violent conflicts and loss of lives and property. This hinders efforts at democratization, economic and social transformation, national unity, stability and cohesion. This paper, interrogates the growth and development of ethnic nationalism, why ethno-religious conflicts have become a recurring decimal in the political landscape of Nigeria and posits that the problem is deeply rooted in the lack of social justice and inclusion and a perceived sense of marginalization which are products of bad politics and bad governance. Using the structural functionalism theory of social development, the paper, concludes that the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference is imperative and key to the elimination of ethnic nationalism and hence promotion of national stability and development.
Canadian Social Science Vol. 12, No. 7, 2016, pp. 8-12, 2016
Conflicts have devastating impact on children's education. Formal and non-formal education struct... more Conflicts have devastating impact on children's education. Formal and non-formal education structures are corroded, communities displaced and fragmented and educational inputs threatened. Maintaining a sufficient educational corps, recruiting educators, properly training and remunerating them become a challenge. During conflicts, the state may not have the capacity and political will to provide education. Communities in troubled or remote areas may become isolated and beyond the reach of government services and this may create gap which needs to be filled by non-state actors to ensure learning continues. Education is important both for its intrinsic human worth and for possibilities for societal improvement which may contribute towards an end to the conflict, the provision of schooling becomes a priority and focus of community engagement. In the absence or inability of an education authority to manage the education system, the community needs to step in to re-establish schools and keep the system functioning. The research sets out to explore the types of roles communities play in the provision of education and the conditions that may hinder or encourage positive engagement in both emergency and reconstruction settings. The research recommends that social and affective aspects of learning and active participation of all should be emphasized towards improving the educational quality in situations of post-conflict. Cultural and social dimension should be at the centre of community participation in education.
Canadian Social Science Vol. 12, No. 11, 2016, pp. 59-66, 2016
The twin challenges of building pathways to sustainable development and reducing poverty have nev... more The twin challenges of building pathways to sustainable development and reducing poverty have never been more pressing and cannot be effectively tackled without gender equality. It is the realization of this that prompted the United Nations to include poverty elimination and fight against inequality and injustice in its post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Equality among men and women is more than a matter of social justiceit is a fundamental human right. It also makes good economic sense. When women have equal access to education and go on to participate fully in business and decision-making, they are a key force against poverty. Women with equal rights are better educated, healthier, and have greater access to land, jobs and financial resources. Their increased earning power in turn raises household incomes. By enhancing women's control over decision-making in the household, gender equality also translates into better prospects and greater well-being of children, reducing poverty of future generations. It is against this backdrop that this paper examines the critical nexus between gender equality, poverty reduction and sustainable development. The paper makes the case that achieving gender equality and realizing the human rights, dignity and capabilities of a diverse group of women is a central requirement in the fight against poverty and a just and sustainable world. The paper also submits that essential public services like health and education, benefit women, men, girls and boys equitably.
EVAIA: International Journal of Ethics and Values, Vol. 2 No. 1, December 2021 (ISSN: 2787-0448), 2021
This work discusses Isaiah Berlin’s insight on value pluralism and its implication for ethno-reli... more This work discusses Isaiah Berlin’s insight on value pluralism and its implication for ethno-religious tolerance and respect in Nigeria. Nigeria’s ethno-religious diversity and plural nature has posed one of the greatest challenges to her development. The history of Nigeria has thus been a history of strife, crises and conflicts largely borne out of ethnic and religious differences. The crises facing Nigeria as visible in Jos Plateau crises therefore largely predicate on indigene-settler dialectic, minority question, ethnic hegemony, religious differences, religious fundamentalism and, ethnic and religious politics. These have become signs that Nigerians have failed to appreciate the multiplicity of human values, ends and incommensurable and incompatible nature people according to Berlin share with one another. It is against these backdrops, that this paper attempts to employ Berlin’s insight on value pluralism to promote a culture of ethno-religious tolerance. With expository method the paper espouses the meaning of relevant concepts such as tolerance, ethno-religious tolerance and multiculturalism. With the analytic method, this paper examines Berlin’s value pluralism and how it can be used to boost ethno-religious tolerance in Nigeria. This paper submits that the lack of a single metric with which to judge human values, and the fact that human cannot dependably evaluate the truth claims of competing moral standpoints, means that Nigerians must accept everyone as he is, tolerate and respect the beliefs and choices of others both at the social and private levels. This paper therefore concludes that no religion or tribe can dependably claim to be superior to others and so enforcing a single religion would backfire as belief cannot be compelled by force. As such, Nigerian institutions charged with the responsibility of promoting peace and tolerance in Nigeria should be strengthened and stiffer penalties imposed on perpetrators of religious and ethnic crises in order to curb the rise of religious crises in Nigeria.
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Papers by Uchechukwu K I Z I T O Ogu
new administration will steer the country away from the
confusion and hardship that characterized the past administration and bring
the much-needed development, however, how the government performed in
changing the fortunes of the country positively remains a debate. How did
Nigeria fair under his administration? Did he improve adherence to
constitutional provisions in governance? Did the country become better than
it was in 2015? The paper examines the nexus between democracy, good
governance and development in Nigeria in the eight years of Buhari's
government. Data for the study was sourced through content analysis
approach. The paper argues that Nigeria witnessed various dimensions of
political, economic and social crises occasioned largely by the non-adherence
to the provisions of the Constitution. From the persistent violations of the
rights of Nigerians including the restriction of the freedom of the press to the
rising level of poverty and destitution among Nigerians, from the agrant
disobedience to the rule of law to the failure to conduct free, fair and credible
elections in the country it has been a tale of woes for Nigeria. The paper,
therefore, recommends the adherence to constitutional provisions and to rule
of law, strengthening of democratic political institutions and inclusive
policies and programmes for sustainable development in Nigeria.