Umar G Benna - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Umar G Benna

IGI Global eBooks, 2018

Urban theory has been dominated by the accumulation of social theories and has significant impact... more Urban theory has been dominated by the accumulation of social theories and has significant impact on global urbanization. The urban is becoming more complex and more global due to the contesting technological, political, social, economic and environmental forces. These disciplinary forces may be added to the global shifts in population and political power from rural to urban and from the developed to the developing nations, creating new global challenges. To cope with these challenges, the prevailing urban theories need a shift. By critically revisiting urban theories and testing them against emerging challenges, this chapter is advocating for and pointing to a new direction. The chapter revisits urban sociological theories, those global theories advocating planetary urbanization, the models responding to glocal forces as well as those promoting world systems. This is followed by an outline of the proposal for Activity Theoretical Framework. Possible future research direction for the inclusive and universal urbanization is identified.

Economic destitution-whether measured as the frequency with which people go without basic necessi... more Economic destitution-whether measured as the frequency with which people go without basic necessities or as the proportion of people who live on less than $1.90 a day-declined steadily in Africa between 2005 and 2015. However, the findings of Afrobarometer Round 7 surveys, conducted in 34 African countries between late 2016 and late 2018, demonstrate that improvements in living standards have come to a halt and "lived poverty" is once again on the rise. To prevent squandering hard-won gains in Africans' living standards, the data point to the necessity of a renewed commitment by citizens, governments, and international donors to defending democracy and expanding service-delivery infrastructure.

Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development, 2018

Over the past 50 years, the world has witnessed a very rapid urban growth, and projections have s... more Over the past 50 years, the world has witnessed a very rapid urban growth, and projections have shown that by the year 2050, two-thirds of the world population will be living in urban centers, with Africa's urban population projected to reach 67% from its current 40%. Nigeria, being the most populous country in Africa, is projected to have an urban population of 67%. Several challenges go with urbanization. This chapter examined the effectiveness of Nigeria's budgetary expenditure in managing Nigeria's urbanization threats. The chapter found that Nigeria's urbanization management strategy is more system maintenance based than system development. Therefore, despite the huge government expenditure incurred over the years, Nigeria's urban challenges are still alarming. Accordingly, the chapter concludes by recommending that Nigeria plan its urban expenditure to ensure sustainability.

IGI Global, 2019

In response to the rapid population growth and rapid urbanization, governments and entrepreneurs ... more In response to the rapid population growth and rapid urbanization, governments and entrepreneurs worldwide are spinning off many types of green, blue, and silver policies to generate urban growth or to reduce the effects of grey, brown, and black economies that have negative growth activities. Central to the emergence of these economies is digital technology that is contributing virtual and white economy to the list. This chapter explores the motives underpinning the emergence of these economies; the key policy actors and their main activities, policy tools, and strategies and growth outcomes at various levels. The chapter starts with a short introduction and develops a conceptual framework with which to analyze the trends policy-goals that shape the growth activities and the emerging growth patterns and consequences at the subnational, national, and supranational levels.

Industrial and Urban Growth Policies at the Sub-National, National, and Global Levels, 2019

Population Growth and Rapid Urbanization in the Developing World

Africa is experiencing triple processes of high population growth, rapid urbanization, and digita... more Africa is experiencing triple processes of high population growth, rapid urbanization, and digital transformation. The undercurrents of these processes suggest that the continent is turning from rural majority to urban majority, and this situation raises the question of where will this majority work? Arab Spring and the turbulent situation in the Middle East suggest what could be the result of inaction. This chapter attempts to answer this question by using exploratory research method to highlight the potential role of mainly young entrepreneurs to define, through online questionnaire responses, their preferred terrain of workplace creation in local areas, cities, rural areas and in the diverse regions of Africa as well as on the ubiquitous online work environment extending from home to anywhere in the continent. The chapter ends with a review of the observations and suggestions about future research.

Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development, 2018

Research Anthology on Blockchain Technology in Business, Healthcare, Education, and Government, 2021

The emergence of digital currencies is substantially influencing the growth of global financial m... more The emergence of digital currencies is substantially influencing the growth of global financial markets and cities. Cryptocurrency entrepreneurs (CEs) are reshaping global cities and regions by transforming the way we live, work and interact. This chapter explores how the entrepreneurs use cryptocurrency assets and their underpinning computing technologies to transform the dysfunctional and evolving global cities. The CEs generate funds and create cutting-edge technologies to meet the challenges faced by cities, including unemployment, inadequate and rundown infrastructure and facilities as well as for new development to meet the needs of massive future urbanization. The chapter is organized in five parts. It first introduces the study and presents a background on the concepts of blockchain technologies and cryptocurrency, their emergence and development trend. It then discusses the rise of global cities and how technology impacts them, followed by the potentials and challenges of C...

Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development

The share of urban Africans is projected to increase 50 percent between 2010 and 2030; making Afr... more The share of urban Africans is projected to increase 50 percent between 2010 and 2030; making Africa urbanization rate the world's highest. Either such a rate can trigger economic growth, social transformation, and poverty reduction; or alternatively, it can generate more inequality, urban poverty, and the proliferation of slums. The right choice will be shaped by the effectiveness of urban development actors, the efficacy of their industrial and urban policies, the efficiency of implementation tools designed to achieve integrated urban Africa. The reality has been a decline in the public-sector efforts to tackle the problems of industrialization and urban development deficit. However, hope is rising as some transformational entrepreneurs are creating jobs in urban and rural areas to tackle Africa's urban development deficit. This chapter explores the role of Dangote Group as an example of the rising transformative enterprise that is changing African development landscape.

Abstract: The paper seeks to set out a suitable approach to the analysis of the emerging “virtual... more Abstract: The paper seeks to set out a suitable approach to the analysis of the emerging “virtual cities ” by examining activities in virtual space by three groups of urban activity agents in the Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA). Using current literature, the paper reviews the development of IT in cities and models for the analysis of the relationship of IT to urban spatial structure. Based on the review of models, the Activity Systems Model is chosen to explore how virtual DMA could be analyzed using available information. Keywords:

Africa is the last of the major global regions to urbanize and to economically benefit therefrom ... more Africa is the last of the major global regions to urbanize and to economically benefit therefrom largely due to centuries of the fragmented spatial system by geographic, trading zone, colonial experiences, and logistics barriers. Recently, however, the integration of African urban spatial structure was spearheaded by the private sector under the guidance of the public sector. This chapter analyzes the goals driving integration, the tools used by private and the public sectors in setting the stage for integrative urban growth through industrialization, and then identifies the future opportunities and challenges in sustaining the momentum. The chapter comprises of an introduction, a conceptual framework, the gluing elements, the review of the development guidance system, opportunities and challenges ahead, future research direction, and conclusion.

Optimizing Regional Development Through Transformative Urbanization, 2019

iii iv v 1.1The Vision for the Choice of Abuja Location 1.2 The Vision for Abuja Urban Form 1.3 A... more iii iv v 1.1The Vision for the Choice of Abuja Location 1.2 The Vision for Abuja Urban Form 1.3 Action Taken to Realise the Vision 1.3.1 Justice Aguda's Commission Report 1.3.2 Establishment of the FCDA 1.3.3 Master Planning Project 1.4 Current Problems and the Need for Action 1.4.1 The Flows of People: From Trickle to Flood 1.4.2 Lack of Expansion of Infrastructure 1.4.3 Inadequate Opportunities for Employment 1.4.4 Disparity in Income and Access to Services and Facilities 1.4.5 Challenges of Managing the Growth of Abuja 1.5 The Abuse of Land and Distortion of Abuja Master Plan 1.5.1 Abuse of Land 1.5.2 The Distortion of the Abuja Master Plan 1.5.3 Attempts toward Restoration of the Master Plan 1.5.4Current and Future Challenges 1.

Being Kano state the most populous state in Nigeria became the centre of democratic freedom in th... more Being Kano state the most populous state in Nigeria became the centre of democratic freedom in the northern part of the country as well as southern part, freedom of information became less active until May 28, 2011 that the then president Goodluck Jonathan signed the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) into law. The FOIA is a legislation that guarantees the right to information within the control of public institutions to all Nigerians regardless of age, class or occupation. Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in developing countries like Nigeria is a challenging field of media development today. On a more fundamental level MIL-understood as an ability of individuals is directly linked to the human rights to freedom of information, expression, and education which are violated in many countries, but in Nigeria the FOIA already signed into law for more than seven years. Does the law benefitted Nigerians? or it was just a law, like other laws? And how MIL and FOIA became relevant in term of right rights to freedom of information? After the law was signed the film industry in northern Nigeria (Kannywood) filledmarkets and television stations with new Hausa language movies concerning freedom of speech and democracy in which many producers of such films were imprisoned as result of the films they produced concerning freedom of speech. Again, the radio stations in Kano came out with new political programs that giving total freedom to the politicians to air their difference views. 2 To many people in Kano state the freedom of information is nothing but problem in the society (Bashir, Umar 2018). But to others is a good approach. Even some politicians see FOIA is a threat to their political carrier because as they said the people will deliberately tarnished their image when rivals of other political parties concocted the false against them in the of Freedom of Information. (Allyman media,2018) The overwhelming sum of money are being spending in producing films in Kannywood industry just to propagate the politics of incumbents in the state while in other hand the opposition sees it as a complete propaganda to stay in power. The researched conducted by Allyman Media found that Kannywood film industry in Kano which is second after Nollywood of southern part is in danger due to the lack of funding to produce films that will promote media and information literacy among citizens in the state. And that is the reason some politicians are using the film industry to propagate their selfish interest by funding the producers to produce films that are against the wishes of Nigerians. And are also hampering citizen's right to information as FOIA gives.

Nigeria, today, has the second largest film industry in the world after the Indian Bollywood. A c... more Nigeria, today, has the second largest film industry in the world after the Indian Bollywood. A contestable statistic describes the industry, tagged Nollywood, as the second major employer after Agriculture. Many critics, however, argue that the name, which is still less than 30 years old, lumps together several distinct, independent and burgeoning film industries within the country"s North and South regions. Kannywood, the Hausa cinema in the North, produces movies in a mostly different language, culture, mode and focus from its southern counterparts. Notwithstanding, Kannywood remains in the footnote in the realm of Nigerian films while its personnel struggle is with a series of controversies surrounding socio-cultural and ethnoreligious issues. This paper, therefore, intends to explore this debate. It shall also proffer recommendations for a possible revaluation and expansion of the embattled, marginalised industry.

IGI Global eBooks, 2018

Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development, 2018

IGI Global, 2019

Industrial and Urban Growth Policies at the Sub-National, National, and Global Levels, 2019

Population Growth and Rapid Urbanization in the Developing World

Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development, 2018

Research Anthology on Blockchain Technology in Business, Healthcare, Education, and Government, 2021

Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development

Optimizing Regional Development Through Transformative Urbanization, 2019

Urbanization influences the growth of cities as containers of human activities largely due to its... more Urbanization influences the growth of cities as containers of human activities largely due to its impacts on social and economic institutions and the behaviors of their development actors. In this rapidly urbanizing world, it is generally accepted nine-tenth of future urban growth will occur in the existing and new cities of the world’s developing regions, especially in Asia and Africa. Some studies project that China, India and Nigeria will account for about four-tenth of the global urban growth in the next decade. Thus, the engine of future socio-economic growth is to be found in these developing regions of the world, if growth is properly nurtured and adequately sustained. This book attempts to explore this apparently neglected area of urbanization induced socio-economic growth in developing regions of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Description As the global populace continues to boom, especially in developing countries, it has ... more Description As the global populace continues to boom, especially in developing countries, it has become essential to find ways to effectively handle this population increase through various urbanization methods. However, these techniques have posed potential issues, as well as opportunities for improvement. Population Growth and Rapid Urbanization in the Developing World emphasizes the trends, challenges, issues, and strategies developing countries evaluate when facing a population upsurge and expeditious development of urban environments. Exploring the use of different governance techniques, trending patterns in urbanization and population growth, as well as tools and the appropriate allocation of resources used to address these issues, this book is a comprehensive reference for academicians,

: Optimizing Regional Development Through Transformative Urbanization, 2019

The share of urban Africans is projected to increase 50 percent between 2010 and 2030; making Afr... more The share of urban Africans is projected to increase 50 percent between 2010 and 2030; making Africa's urbanization rate the world’s highest. Either such a rate can trigger economic growth, social transformation, and poverty reduction; or alternatively, it can generate more inequality, urban poverty, and the proliferation of slums. The right choice will be shaped by the effectiveness of urban development actors, the efficacy of their industrial and urban policies, and the efficiency of implementation tools designed to achieve integrated urban Africa. The reality has been a decline in the public-sector efforts to tackle the problems of industrialization and urban development deficit. However, hope is rising as some transformational entrepreneurs are creating jobs in urban and rural areas to tackle Africa’s urban development deficit. This chapter explores the role of the Dangote Group as an example of the rising transformative enterprise that is changing the African development landscape.

Cities in Saudi Arabia, like their cousins worldwide, are in a stage of inevitable transformation... more Cities in Saudi Arabia, like their cousins worldwide, are in a stage of inevitable transformation that is largely driven by the factors of rapid urbanization, information technology and globalization. This exploratory study is about how the future of Saudi cities could be affected by rapid urbanization and metropolization, the rise in the adoption of Information Technology and the influence of rising globalization. The basic premise is that the problems of rapid urbanization and metropolization are creating conditions in which continued dependence on mono-economy based on the export of crude oil is no longer tenable. In response, the government initiated diversification of the economy; first through industrialization and second by means of a drive towards knowledge base economy that triggered liberalization of telecom sector and heavy investments in networked digital infrastructure. These processes are examined below, with a focus on Dammam Metropolitan Area as a case study, and how it affects and is affected by other cities in the Kingdom and globally, are investigated.