Felix Oyejide Omotosho PhD | University of The Gambia (original) (raw)

Papers by Felix Oyejide Omotosho PhD

International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention, 2025

This study evaluated the effectiveness of institutional capacity in managing social protection ca... more This study evaluated the effectiveness of institutional capacity in managing social protection cash transfers in The Gambia, aiming to provide insights into how institutional structures can be strengthened for better service delivery. The research objectives are identifying factors contributing to the strengthening of institutional capacity, assessing the effect of institutional capacity on the effectiveness of social protection programmes, and analysing the challenges hindering capacity-building efforts. A mixed-methods approach was used. Primary data were gathered through questionnaires and interviews. Secondary data from institutional reports and policy documents provided additional context, enriching the study's findings. Regarding the first objective, the study identified key factors for strengthening institutional capacity include financial investments, staff training, and improved data systems. International partnerships with organizations like UNICEF and the World Bank have also bolstered institutional frameworks. For the second objective, the study found that enhanced institutional capacity improved the effectiveness of social protection cash transfers, particularly in beneficiary identification and staff training, although challenges in programmes implementation, monitoring, and accountability remain.. In the third objective, major challenges include inadequate funding, outdated data systems, and logistical inefficiencies, with political factors also impeding progress. The study's hypothesis confirmed a significant relationship between institutional capacity and the effectiveness of social protection programmes. Recommendations include increasing financial investment, upgrading technology and data systems, and enhancing staff training to improve management and efficiency. In conclusion, the study highlights the crucial role of institutional capacity in ensuring the success of social protection cash transfers in The Gambia.

International Journal of Social Sciences and English Literature, 2025

For an all-inclusive party politics in a democracy to be achieved, all members of the society, ir... more For an all-inclusive party politics in a democracy to be achieved, all members of the society, irrespective of sex, religion and class, must be engaged in the spirit of human rights and freedom. This study investigated women participation in party politics in the Gambia with an established all-inclusive and gender-friendly mechanism under the second republic. It explored the extent of conformity with global practices and national policy on gendering in the country. The study extrapolated, through the gender lenses that are descriptive in analysis, on women's participation in party politics with focus on various challenges besetting the process as a result of males' dominance and government inadequate national policies to address the quagmires. For this reason, efforts are stepped up by human rights activists and gender scholars on how best to continue to address discrimination issues against women and how their participation level could be increased. Findings concluded that, if an all-inclusive party politics is to become realistic and effective in the Gambia, a public-private partnership and government re-strategy, through policy frameworks that are dynamic and pragmatic and which will be consultative enough in nature would be ideal.

Asian Business Research Journal, 2024

With the extreme poverty level and its widespread in the Gambia as of 2012 and government's conce... more With the extreme poverty level and its widespread in the Gambia as of 2012 and government's concern to counter it, empowerment became one of the strategies to tackle the problem through social protection program, gazette as a policy for reduction of the shocks on the marginalized and the vulnerable. This study centered on the NAFA project-a quick cash transfers project mechanism and its execution in the Barrow administration to needy households in tackling poverty and hunger in the Gambia and towards empowering the perceived vulnerable women and youths in the Gambian communities. The study examined the execution of the scheme and its effectiveness by the government and the extent to which it had been used to adequately improve the poor conditions of women and the youths under the program. A descriptive research design with analytical approaches was employed to explore the objectives of the scheme in the pandemic era that people found it most difficult to earn living due to COVID-19 outbreak. Findings confirmed that NAFA scheme was relatively successful amidst inadequacies. The research advised on further reforms for a sustainable implemented NAFA scheme.

CCovenant Journal of Business & Social Sciences, 2023

The global landscape has undeniably transitioned into a paradigm of the 'new normal,' catalyzed b... more The global landscape has undeniably transitioned into a paradigm of the 'new normal,' catalyzed by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. In The Gambia, households and communities have grappled with unprecedented crises, compounded by the ever-evolving nature of the virus, resulting in the emergence of various COVID-19 variants. While the efforts of the government have been primarily concentrated on containment and curbing the virus's spread, there has been a conspicuous absence of strategic national shock-responsive gender-focused social safety nets, particularly in the context of post-pandemic recovery within The Gambia. To investigate this critical gap, the study employed a qualitative research approach, utilizing focus group discussions with participants from diverse backgrounds and structured interviews with key institutions for primary data collection. The population encompassed stakeholder consultations and engagements at various levels, including the national, regional, and ward levels. Data were collected over a ten-week period and subsequently subjected to descriptive analysis. The assumption was rigorously examined through content analysis. The findings unveiled the adverse impacts of COVID-19 shocks on post-pandemic recovery in The Gambia. Notably, it illuminated the concerning lack of awareness and inadequate attitudes toward the COVID-19 virus. Furthermore, the research exposed a critical void in the nation's approach, revealing the absence of a strategic national shock-responsive gender-focused safety net for post-pandemic recovery within the country. These findings substantiate the research's initial assumption that the administration of shock-responsive gender-focused social protection safety nets during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia has been ineffective. The study strongly recommends that the government, in collaboration with relevant ministries, establish specialized task forces or committees dedicated to formulating a comprehensive recovery plan with a national scope, specifically tailored to implement shock-responsive gender-focused social safety nets for post-pandemic recovery in The Gambia.

IJASOS- International E-journal of Advances in Social Sciences, 2020

In every given nation, particularly in Africa, where tribal affiliations are strong, different gr... more In every given nation, particularly in Africa, where tribal affiliations are strong, different groupings as tribes exist with their peculiar languages and dialects, and also the totality of the culture that singularly unifies and identifies them as a people. However, with the advent of colonialism, some of these tribes were scattered about and could not be found together on one location again but now mixed up there and then with different dialects and histories. The Yoruba tribe of the Western part of Nigeria is no exemption to this experience and historical distortions. The tribe comprises of different subgroups that make it up as a people which are again strategically positioned in their respective locations in the region, up to the Republic of Benin, Togo and Ghana as history had it. Among these subgroups are the Ondo indigenes in Ondo kingdom and the people of Ile-Oluji township , who were believed to have been born by their parents as twins but were escaped out of their abode in Ile-Ife or Oyo, where twins were believed to be forbidden to be borne, by then, and if born, shouldn't be spared but slaughtered unto the gods, lest they caused misfortune to the community. They journeyed far through the forests and settled in their present locations in Ondo State-SouthWest Nigeria, though, not without some nasty experiences and horror. As agriculturalist Ondo indigenes are, so, they are very creative, industrious, hardworking, highly educated and highly influential in the publicsector. They have a rich history and culture that stands amongst the best in Yoruba land as they are believed to be the direct descendants of Oduduwa (the Yoruba Progenitor), whose own father was said to have migrated from Mecca to the present day Ile-Ife in Osun state of western Nigeria. The significance of this research is to examine the origin and etymological root of the people of Ondo Kingdom in Ondo State with a view to knowing more about them and their culture, most especially, how they came to be influential on the political landscape of their state and Nigeria as a nation. The paper employs the descriptive and analyticalmethodological approach in surveying this historical past, with a focus on circumstances surrounding how they came to be established as a kingdom in their present abode and how they formed a political organization akin to modern governmental practice under the paramount ruler ship of the 'Osemawe'. The paper re-appraises the distortions of facts about the people's history and descent by trying to seek the

IJASOS- International E-journal of Advances in Social Sciences, 2020

The task of nation-building today in the world is that which carries along all well-meaning moder... more The task of nation-building today in the world is that which carries along all well-meaning modern nation-states, with Gambia as no exemption. This paper examines the nationhood process and effort in the Gambia between 1994 and 2015. It focuses on national development efforts both in the first and second republics. The paper investigates how human, material and ecological resources are harnessed and deployed towards this noble goal, availing enabling policy-thrusts for effective implementation and goal attainments that attract sustainable socio-economic and political development. The paper beams searchlights on the redoubled efforts under the Yahya Jammeh regime and the pragmatic approaches taken to achieve more meaningfully goal-oriented national development strides that pave ways for practical development giants and strides. An inductive and deductive methods of research that are descriptive and fact-finding are employed for empirical and critical explorations. The paper posits th...

International Journal of Advanced Research, 2020

The world, once a while, in every century witnesses a virus spread of pandemic phenomenon. The ye... more The world, once a while, in every century witnesses a virus spread of pandemic phenomenon. The year 2020 in the 21stcentury is not spared with the outbreak of a new strain of corona virus named (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO). This paper explored with a contextual underpinning the appropriate language to use in communities to curtail the spread of the epidemic. Is it social distancing or physical distancing and how will the word fit in to address how people protect/should protect themselves against infection and/or infecting others? What are (WHO‟s) advice on this and how significant has that been to fighting COVID-19 to submission? These and many more were the contextual explorations from this novel thought. While the paper used pure descriptive method of analysis using data from both primary and secondary sources that are empirically verifying, the findings of the research posited“physical distancing” as best appropriate a language for use in the COVID-19 period.

Researcg Article, 2020

In every given nation, particularly those of Africa, with strong tribal affiliations, different g... more In every given nation, particularly those of Africa, with strong tribal affiliations, different groupings exist as tribes with their peculiar languages and dialects, amidst totality of the culture that unifies as a people. With the advent of colonialism, a change occurred as some of these tribes scattered about and could no longer be grouped together as one indivisible entity/nation. Among the affected tribes affected were the Yoruba in the western part of Nigeria, with its subgroups like the Ondos in present day Ondo state, having migrated from the old Oyo Empire. This research traced the historical links of the Ondos in Ondo Kingdom including their culture, settlement, influences and socio-political organizations which stand them unique. The research deemed searchlights into its organized traditional political structure with a comparative survey of the modern Nigerian political practice of federalism and seeing how the indigenes of Ondo Kingdom have been found to be very efficient and efficient bureaucrats and technocrats, both in the public sector and private industry. A descriptive, analytical-method of exploration was used to accounts for the origins and socio-political influences of the Ondo people. The paper appraises the distortions of facts about the people"s history and descent, while, seeking clarifications for consensus reached by social sciences scholars and historians, using the comparative analysis approach. Findings confirmed that the Ondo indigenes are a group of Yoruba, whose mother, the favorite wife of the Alafin Oluaso called "Olu", was sent away from the palace some six centuries back after birth of a twins to prevent their slaughter, since it was an abomination to have such a mysterious birth at that time in the empire. The research confirmed that the Ondos, emerged as very industrious and assertive subgroup of Yoruba and descendants of Lamurudu the father of Oduduwa, with their industrious nature in industry, agriculture, government and education.

Research Article, 2020

The task of nation-building today in the world is that which carries along all well-meaning moder... more The task of nation-building today in the world is that which carries along all well-meaning modern nation-states, with Gambia as no exemption. This paper examines the nationhood process and effort in the Gambia between 1994 and 2015. It focuses on national development efforts both in the first and second republics. The paper investigates how human, material and ecological resources are harnessed and deployed towards this noble goal, availing enabling policy-thrusts for effective implementation and goal attainments that attract sustainable socioeconomic and political development. The paper beams searchlights on the redoubled efforts under the Yahya Jammeh regime and the pragmatic approaches taken to achieve more meaningfully goal-oriented national development strides that pave ways for practical development giants and strides. An inductive and deductive methods of research that are descriptive and fact-finding are employed for empirical and critical explorations. The paper posits that the strategies of the second republic government, which surpass the first republic"s conservatively-constructed approaches under Jawara served as impetus for the accomplishments recorded from 1994 to 2015 in making the Gambia an economic super power through industrialization of the agro-economic structures and processes of the small nation in the sub-Saharan Africa.

Original Article, 2015

Nigeria and the world over, everybody and every nation clamor for democracy now. A development in... more Nigeria and the world over, everybody and every nation clamor for democracy now. A development informed by the curiosity for greater freedom and right to liberty which everyone yearns for through inclusions of its clause in the constitution, the Blueprint for Governance that is popularly elected. The word has found favor and flavor even to the household and where even political leadership everywhere wants to be associated with it in their statecraft. No one wants to be called a tyrant or addressed as authoritarian, even though, in action they are. It has been certified by the political scientists
all over and law experts, as the best form of
government that guarantees sustainable national
development in a state and its stability and quality
citizenry. To this end, Nigeria adopted it from her
independence in 1960 but was confronted with some
challenges that impeded her prospects for rapid
growth and development efforts.
This paper examines democracy in Nigeria and its
trends from independence to date and twenty years
after, looking at challenges and prospects and how
events unfold to confirm or dispute the level of
democracy and democratization process in Nigeria.
In conceptualizing democracy therefore, its
contextualization is drawn to the Nigerian experience
and the patterns it takes for its theory and practice. Is
it the one characterized by crises and conflicts or is it
that which is peaceful and violent- free? Is it the one
that offers its dividends or is it democracy of the
stomach? These and other thematic questions are
raised and examined in the text.

Original Article, 2014

One of the most used, if not over-used terms to explain world politics and international affairs ... more One of the most used, if not over-used terms to explain
world politics and international affairs today is
‘globalization’ (James etal. 2008:489). It is a term that
has found favor and flavor in the mouths of many
scholars and foreign relations and diplomacy experts
and practitioners with the use of intellectual tools to
discuss and analyze issues, describe events and
occurrences and perhaps draw assumptuous
conclusions in the field of international relations and
politics.
In this piece, this author examines the concept of
globalization and its process in relation to its effects on
relations among nations and how these effects have
determined the patterns of interactions and divide
especially as these concern political, economic and
socio-cultural affairs that take place on world space
among countries of the world as actors or participants.
The paper uses analyses to examine issues with the
concomitant feasible gaps that exist between the north
and the south poles.

Original Article, 2016

Most studies carried out on race, ethnicity and national question have posited and concluded on t... more Most studies carried out on race, ethnicity and national question have posited and concluded on the phenomenon as germane; if not the only source for main conflicts of wars and crises in Africa. Indeed, arguments cropped have proven that the very underlining factors for the underdevelopment of African nations on the global political space are traceable to this malaise and which presume endless solutions and fatalistic instincts. This paper shows how ethnicity is a national question and how it constitutes a serious obstacle to national development, cohesion and integration, especially in a country like Nigeria, believed to be highly heterogeneous. The paper opines that, should this product be harnessed as a tool for nation-building by political players and statesmen, it could no doubt become 'resources' for national greatness. The paper maintains that, not until this effort is made, Nigeria and by extension Africa will continue to witness monumental surge of ethnic violence and destruction instead of peace, unity and development. A descriptive-historical approach is therefore employed for framework conceptualization that allows for critical analysis of data, through literature review with a view to justifying the data collected for the position taken on 'how ethnicity actually constitutes resources rather than obstacles towards a nation's development efforts'. The research further explores theories of ethnicity and race for empirical justifications of data on how ethnicity is negatively advanced in most instances but how it could be positively converted into resources if used as a tool for nation-building.

Original Article, 2020

The world, once a while, in every century witnesses a virus spread of pandemic phenom... more The world, once a while, in every century witnesses a virus spread of pandemic phenomenon. The year 2020 in the 21stcentury is not spared with the outbreak of a new strain of corona virus named (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO). This paper explored with a contextual underpinning the appropriate language to use in communities to curtail the spread of the epidemic. Is it social distancing or physical distancing and how will the word fit in to address how people protect/should protect themselves against infection and/or infecting others? What are (WHO‟s) advice on this and how significant has that been to fighting COVID-19 to submission? These and many more were the contextual explorations from this novel thought. While the paper used pure descriptive method of analysis using data from both primary and secondary sources that are empirically verifying, the findings of the research posited“physical distancing” as best appropriate a language for use in the COVID-19 period.

Journal of Resources Development and Management, 2018

This project essay discusses the climate problems of the Gambia, the smiling coast of Africa and ... more This project essay discusses the climate problems of the Gambia, the smiling coast of Africa and the various damages these are causing the ecological environments, especially in the coastal settlement areas. Such damages have resulted in the worsening degradations that have brought untold hardships that have unleashed hunger and starvation on the people, including farm and fishing sites that have been washed ashore, leaving the rural people to be more vulnerable in the future, should steps not be taken to curtail the surge. The essay looks critically into necessary modalities for these steps and what the government can/ought to do to fight the menace and increase food production for food security, since, the greater percentage of the rural population that is more affected are into farming; the mainstay of the nation's economy. The paper sees the need for cooperation between the nation's government and existing governance institutions resident in the country like the European Union for a project development that can be put up as resilience for climate in coastal settlements of the Gambia towards realization of a sustainable socioeconomic , ecological and political growth and development. This compels the authors to put this into project perspective and costing that can become a reality within the range of twenty million euro, through mutual cooperation and synergy between the Gambian government and the European Union office in the Gambia. Through this project, a memorandum of understanding is agreed upon by the parties to undertake interventionist program as corrective measures against the odds and consequences of climate change in the coastal and marine zones of the country for project implementation/execution.Available literature and fact-finding information from both the government institutions concerned, the EU office and other concerned partners (public and private) as well as archives and scholarly journals and texts are consulted for data gathering and analysis, using descriptive and prescriptive methods for interpretational analyses that are value-free. The essay crops suggestive measures for broad project implementation and realization as well as over-arching problem-solving institutional approach project, presumed acceptable to both parties in practical situations.

THE ELECTORAL PROCESS IN THE GAMBIA: A GIANT STRIDE IN THE MAKINGS OF A VIABLE AND STABLE POLITICAL SYSTEM, 2020

Several arguments, discussions and write-ups have been cropped to suggest that the electoral proc... more Several arguments, discussions and write-ups have been cropped to suggest that the electoral process in the Gambia is not an essential factor or element to the makings of a viable political system and democratic governance in the country. This paper examines in the contrary, stressing that the electoral process in the Gambia has been a key player, very unique and significant instrument to the peace the country and its people enjoy. This in effect has contributed to the realization of a viable political system and governance that the Gambia is widely acclaimed for in the ECOWAS Sub-region and the rest of the international community. The paper examines the various processes/mechanisms, dynamics and strategies that the two republics' leaders have employed in their efforts to strengthen, deepen and consolidate on the peace enjoyed and fascinating electoral atmosphere which the political system and ideals seriously embrace and encourage. The paper argues that, in spite of the diverse nature of the tribal groupings that make up the small nation in the sub-region and the political differences within the multi-party politics, the "first-past-the-post" electoral system which is also known as a "single-member plurality and from which a unique voting ideology that is traditional in nature was designed prior to 1960 elections, which involves the use of "drums and marbles" by dropping 'tokens' in the ballot boxes for sounds to be heard and be sure that the vote has been cast, only, but, once, was designed. The paper argues further that, although, the two regimes have played significant roles in this process after independence in 1965, however, efforts of consolidation and sustenance have been more pragmatic, achieving and fulfilling under Yahya Jammeh of the second republic till date. These redoubled efforts have no doubts culminated into preponderance of development strides and electoral growth that have helped the political climate and process to manage its peace and non-violence, known not to be common elsewhere in Africa.

A synopsis of the December, 2016-January, 2017 political impasse in the Gambia is made in this pi... more A synopsis of the December, 2016-January, 2017 political impasse in the Gambia is made in this piece as a prelude to its impact assessment and general overview on the political economy of the country. Given the occurrence and the role played by the sub-regional body called ECOWAS (The Economic Community of West African States) in settling the impasse from outside, the piece pays attention to the reasons underscoring these ECOWAS diplomatic and military moves and the politics behind the action. The piece unveils the arguments generated from quarters, especially the intellectual and expert circles on the international legal justification (s) for ECOWAS military wing' involvement and the manner such action was dispensed to help the new government claim its mandate and make the out gone government abdicate peacefully.A literature review of the relevant texts and available legal instruments from existing international institutions like the United Nations, the African Union among others is undertaken for empirical-verifiable justifications that are value-free. This is complimented by a historical-descriptive analysis narrative that details the accounts of events, using intellectual lenses for investigative conclusions. The research offers useful recommendations that provide both the government of the Gambia and ECOWAS as the sub-regional institution or regime necessary answers to permanent peace and development in the Gambia and the region at large, alluding to the fact that the peace attained in the country and its ECOWAS sub-region is a concomitant reflection of the world peace and relative security that the UN stands for.

Veritas is an English Language publication and the Editorial Board aims to ensure that contributo... more Veritas is an English Language publication and the Editorial Board aims to ensure that contributors use grammatically correct and idiomatically appropriate English language. However, for many of our contributors English is a second and even third language and from time to time a strict language policy is modified to ensure that good articles are not excluded simply because they do not meet the highest English standards. We also hold it to be important that material be not over edited, providing its message is considered to be clear to the majority of our readers. The general objective that Veritas is to create conditions whereby all informed persons are able to contribute to the ongoing debates, regardless of their English language competence and their lack of familiarity with accepted journal protocols.

International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention, 2025

This study evaluated the effectiveness of institutional capacity in managing social protection ca... more This study evaluated the effectiveness of institutional capacity in managing social protection cash transfers in The Gambia, aiming to provide insights into how institutional structures can be strengthened for better service delivery. The research objectives are identifying factors contributing to the strengthening of institutional capacity, assessing the effect of institutional capacity on the effectiveness of social protection programmes, and analysing the challenges hindering capacity-building efforts. A mixed-methods approach was used. Primary data were gathered through questionnaires and interviews. Secondary data from institutional reports and policy documents provided additional context, enriching the study's findings. Regarding the first objective, the study identified key factors for strengthening institutional capacity include financial investments, staff training, and improved data systems. International partnerships with organizations like UNICEF and the World Bank have also bolstered institutional frameworks. For the second objective, the study found that enhanced institutional capacity improved the effectiveness of social protection cash transfers, particularly in beneficiary identification and staff training, although challenges in programmes implementation, monitoring, and accountability remain.. In the third objective, major challenges include inadequate funding, outdated data systems, and logistical inefficiencies, with political factors also impeding progress. The study's hypothesis confirmed a significant relationship between institutional capacity and the effectiveness of social protection programmes. Recommendations include increasing financial investment, upgrading technology and data systems, and enhancing staff training to improve management and efficiency. In conclusion, the study highlights the crucial role of institutional capacity in ensuring the success of social protection cash transfers in The Gambia.

International Journal of Social Sciences and English Literature, 2025

For an all-inclusive party politics in a democracy to be achieved, all members of the society, ir... more For an all-inclusive party politics in a democracy to be achieved, all members of the society, irrespective of sex, religion and class, must be engaged in the spirit of human rights and freedom. This study investigated women participation in party politics in the Gambia with an established all-inclusive and gender-friendly mechanism under the second republic. It explored the extent of conformity with global practices and national policy on gendering in the country. The study extrapolated, through the gender lenses that are descriptive in analysis, on women's participation in party politics with focus on various challenges besetting the process as a result of males' dominance and government inadequate national policies to address the quagmires. For this reason, efforts are stepped up by human rights activists and gender scholars on how best to continue to address discrimination issues against women and how their participation level could be increased. Findings concluded that, if an all-inclusive party politics is to become realistic and effective in the Gambia, a public-private partnership and government re-strategy, through policy frameworks that are dynamic and pragmatic and which will be consultative enough in nature would be ideal.

Asian Business Research Journal, 2024

With the extreme poverty level and its widespread in the Gambia as of 2012 and government's conce... more With the extreme poverty level and its widespread in the Gambia as of 2012 and government's concern to counter it, empowerment became one of the strategies to tackle the problem through social protection program, gazette as a policy for reduction of the shocks on the marginalized and the vulnerable. This study centered on the NAFA project-a quick cash transfers project mechanism and its execution in the Barrow administration to needy households in tackling poverty and hunger in the Gambia and towards empowering the perceived vulnerable women and youths in the Gambian communities. The study examined the execution of the scheme and its effectiveness by the government and the extent to which it had been used to adequately improve the poor conditions of women and the youths under the program. A descriptive research design with analytical approaches was employed to explore the objectives of the scheme in the pandemic era that people found it most difficult to earn living due to COVID-19 outbreak. Findings confirmed that NAFA scheme was relatively successful amidst inadequacies. The research advised on further reforms for a sustainable implemented NAFA scheme.

CCovenant Journal of Business & Social Sciences, 2023

The global landscape has undeniably transitioned into a paradigm of the 'new normal,' catalyzed b... more The global landscape has undeniably transitioned into a paradigm of the 'new normal,' catalyzed by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. In The Gambia, households and communities have grappled with unprecedented crises, compounded by the ever-evolving nature of the virus, resulting in the emergence of various COVID-19 variants. While the efforts of the government have been primarily concentrated on containment and curbing the virus's spread, there has been a conspicuous absence of strategic national shock-responsive gender-focused social safety nets, particularly in the context of post-pandemic recovery within The Gambia. To investigate this critical gap, the study employed a qualitative research approach, utilizing focus group discussions with participants from diverse backgrounds and structured interviews with key institutions for primary data collection. The population encompassed stakeholder consultations and engagements at various levels, including the national, regional, and ward levels. Data were collected over a ten-week period and subsequently subjected to descriptive analysis. The assumption was rigorously examined through content analysis. The findings unveiled the adverse impacts of COVID-19 shocks on post-pandemic recovery in The Gambia. Notably, it illuminated the concerning lack of awareness and inadequate attitudes toward the COVID-19 virus. Furthermore, the research exposed a critical void in the nation's approach, revealing the absence of a strategic national shock-responsive gender-focused safety net for post-pandemic recovery within the country. These findings substantiate the research's initial assumption that the administration of shock-responsive gender-focused social protection safety nets during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia has been ineffective. The study strongly recommends that the government, in collaboration with relevant ministries, establish specialized task forces or committees dedicated to formulating a comprehensive recovery plan with a national scope, specifically tailored to implement shock-responsive gender-focused social safety nets for post-pandemic recovery in The Gambia.

IJASOS- International E-journal of Advances in Social Sciences, 2020

In every given nation, particularly in Africa, where tribal affiliations are strong, different gr... more In every given nation, particularly in Africa, where tribal affiliations are strong, different groupings as tribes exist with their peculiar languages and dialects, and also the totality of the culture that singularly unifies and identifies them as a people. However, with the advent of colonialism, some of these tribes were scattered about and could not be found together on one location again but now mixed up there and then with different dialects and histories. The Yoruba tribe of the Western part of Nigeria is no exemption to this experience and historical distortions. The tribe comprises of different subgroups that make it up as a people which are again strategically positioned in their respective locations in the region, up to the Republic of Benin, Togo and Ghana as history had it. Among these subgroups are the Ondo indigenes in Ondo kingdom and the people of Ile-Oluji township , who were believed to have been born by their parents as twins but were escaped out of their abode in Ile-Ife or Oyo, where twins were believed to be forbidden to be borne, by then, and if born, shouldn't be spared but slaughtered unto the gods, lest they caused misfortune to the community. They journeyed far through the forests and settled in their present locations in Ondo State-SouthWest Nigeria, though, not without some nasty experiences and horror. As agriculturalist Ondo indigenes are, so, they are very creative, industrious, hardworking, highly educated and highly influential in the publicsector. They have a rich history and culture that stands amongst the best in Yoruba land as they are believed to be the direct descendants of Oduduwa (the Yoruba Progenitor), whose own father was said to have migrated from Mecca to the present day Ile-Ife in Osun state of western Nigeria. The significance of this research is to examine the origin and etymological root of the people of Ondo Kingdom in Ondo State with a view to knowing more about them and their culture, most especially, how they came to be influential on the political landscape of their state and Nigeria as a nation. The paper employs the descriptive and analyticalmethodological approach in surveying this historical past, with a focus on circumstances surrounding how they came to be established as a kingdom in their present abode and how they formed a political organization akin to modern governmental practice under the paramount ruler ship of the 'Osemawe'. The paper re-appraises the distortions of facts about the people's history and descent by trying to seek the

IJASOS- International E-journal of Advances in Social Sciences, 2020

The task of nation-building today in the world is that which carries along all well-meaning moder... more The task of nation-building today in the world is that which carries along all well-meaning modern nation-states, with Gambia as no exemption. This paper examines the nationhood process and effort in the Gambia between 1994 and 2015. It focuses on national development efforts both in the first and second republics. The paper investigates how human, material and ecological resources are harnessed and deployed towards this noble goal, availing enabling policy-thrusts for effective implementation and goal attainments that attract sustainable socio-economic and political development. The paper beams searchlights on the redoubled efforts under the Yahya Jammeh regime and the pragmatic approaches taken to achieve more meaningfully goal-oriented national development strides that pave ways for practical development giants and strides. An inductive and deductive methods of research that are descriptive and fact-finding are employed for empirical and critical explorations. The paper posits th...

International Journal of Advanced Research, 2020

The world, once a while, in every century witnesses a virus spread of pandemic phenomenon. The ye... more The world, once a while, in every century witnesses a virus spread of pandemic phenomenon. The year 2020 in the 21stcentury is not spared with the outbreak of a new strain of corona virus named (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO). This paper explored with a contextual underpinning the appropriate language to use in communities to curtail the spread of the epidemic. Is it social distancing or physical distancing and how will the word fit in to address how people protect/should protect themselves against infection and/or infecting others? What are (WHO‟s) advice on this and how significant has that been to fighting COVID-19 to submission? These and many more were the contextual explorations from this novel thought. While the paper used pure descriptive method of analysis using data from both primary and secondary sources that are empirically verifying, the findings of the research posited“physical distancing” as best appropriate a language for use in the COVID-19 period.

Researcg Article, 2020

In every given nation, particularly those of Africa, with strong tribal affiliations, different g... more In every given nation, particularly those of Africa, with strong tribal affiliations, different groupings exist as tribes with their peculiar languages and dialects, amidst totality of the culture that unifies as a people. With the advent of colonialism, a change occurred as some of these tribes scattered about and could no longer be grouped together as one indivisible entity/nation. Among the affected tribes affected were the Yoruba in the western part of Nigeria, with its subgroups like the Ondos in present day Ondo state, having migrated from the old Oyo Empire. This research traced the historical links of the Ondos in Ondo Kingdom including their culture, settlement, influences and socio-political organizations which stand them unique. The research deemed searchlights into its organized traditional political structure with a comparative survey of the modern Nigerian political practice of federalism and seeing how the indigenes of Ondo Kingdom have been found to be very efficient and efficient bureaucrats and technocrats, both in the public sector and private industry. A descriptive, analytical-method of exploration was used to accounts for the origins and socio-political influences of the Ondo people. The paper appraises the distortions of facts about the people"s history and descent, while, seeking clarifications for consensus reached by social sciences scholars and historians, using the comparative analysis approach. Findings confirmed that the Ondo indigenes are a group of Yoruba, whose mother, the favorite wife of the Alafin Oluaso called "Olu", was sent away from the palace some six centuries back after birth of a twins to prevent their slaughter, since it was an abomination to have such a mysterious birth at that time in the empire. The research confirmed that the Ondos, emerged as very industrious and assertive subgroup of Yoruba and descendants of Lamurudu the father of Oduduwa, with their industrious nature in industry, agriculture, government and education.

Research Article, 2020

The task of nation-building today in the world is that which carries along all well-meaning moder... more The task of nation-building today in the world is that which carries along all well-meaning modern nation-states, with Gambia as no exemption. This paper examines the nationhood process and effort in the Gambia between 1994 and 2015. It focuses on national development efforts both in the first and second republics. The paper investigates how human, material and ecological resources are harnessed and deployed towards this noble goal, availing enabling policy-thrusts for effective implementation and goal attainments that attract sustainable socioeconomic and political development. The paper beams searchlights on the redoubled efforts under the Yahya Jammeh regime and the pragmatic approaches taken to achieve more meaningfully goal-oriented national development strides that pave ways for practical development giants and strides. An inductive and deductive methods of research that are descriptive and fact-finding are employed for empirical and critical explorations. The paper posits that the strategies of the second republic government, which surpass the first republic"s conservatively-constructed approaches under Jawara served as impetus for the accomplishments recorded from 1994 to 2015 in making the Gambia an economic super power through industrialization of the agro-economic structures and processes of the small nation in the sub-Saharan Africa.

Original Article, 2015

Nigeria and the world over, everybody and every nation clamor for democracy now. A development in... more Nigeria and the world over, everybody and every nation clamor for democracy now. A development informed by the curiosity for greater freedom and right to liberty which everyone yearns for through inclusions of its clause in the constitution, the Blueprint for Governance that is popularly elected. The word has found favor and flavor even to the household and where even political leadership everywhere wants to be associated with it in their statecraft. No one wants to be called a tyrant or addressed as authoritarian, even though, in action they are. It has been certified by the political scientists
all over and law experts, as the best form of
government that guarantees sustainable national
development in a state and its stability and quality
citizenry. To this end, Nigeria adopted it from her
independence in 1960 but was confronted with some
challenges that impeded her prospects for rapid
growth and development efforts.
This paper examines democracy in Nigeria and its
trends from independence to date and twenty years
after, looking at challenges and prospects and how
events unfold to confirm or dispute the level of
democracy and democratization process in Nigeria.
In conceptualizing democracy therefore, its
contextualization is drawn to the Nigerian experience
and the patterns it takes for its theory and practice. Is
it the one characterized by crises and conflicts or is it
that which is peaceful and violent- free? Is it the one
that offers its dividends or is it democracy of the
stomach? These and other thematic questions are
raised and examined in the text.

Original Article, 2014

One of the most used, if not over-used terms to explain world politics and international affairs ... more One of the most used, if not over-used terms to explain
world politics and international affairs today is
‘globalization’ (James etal. 2008:489). It is a term that
has found favor and flavor in the mouths of many
scholars and foreign relations and diplomacy experts
and practitioners with the use of intellectual tools to
discuss and analyze issues, describe events and
occurrences and perhaps draw assumptuous
conclusions in the field of international relations and
politics.
In this piece, this author examines the concept of
globalization and its process in relation to its effects on
relations among nations and how these effects have
determined the patterns of interactions and divide
especially as these concern political, economic and
socio-cultural affairs that take place on world space
among countries of the world as actors or participants.
The paper uses analyses to examine issues with the
concomitant feasible gaps that exist between the north
and the south poles.

Original Article, 2016

Most studies carried out on race, ethnicity and national question have posited and concluded on t... more Most studies carried out on race, ethnicity and national question have posited and concluded on the phenomenon as germane; if not the only source for main conflicts of wars and crises in Africa. Indeed, arguments cropped have proven that the very underlining factors for the underdevelopment of African nations on the global political space are traceable to this malaise and which presume endless solutions and fatalistic instincts. This paper shows how ethnicity is a national question and how it constitutes a serious obstacle to national development, cohesion and integration, especially in a country like Nigeria, believed to be highly heterogeneous. The paper opines that, should this product be harnessed as a tool for nation-building by political players and statesmen, it could no doubt become 'resources' for national greatness. The paper maintains that, not until this effort is made, Nigeria and by extension Africa will continue to witness monumental surge of ethnic violence and destruction instead of peace, unity and development. A descriptive-historical approach is therefore employed for framework conceptualization that allows for critical analysis of data, through literature review with a view to justifying the data collected for the position taken on 'how ethnicity actually constitutes resources rather than obstacles towards a nation's development efforts'. The research further explores theories of ethnicity and race for empirical justifications of data on how ethnicity is negatively advanced in most instances but how it could be positively converted into resources if used as a tool for nation-building.

Original Article, 2020

The world, once a while, in every century witnesses a virus spread of pandemic phenom... more The world, once a while, in every century witnesses a virus spread of pandemic phenomenon. The year 2020 in the 21stcentury is not spared with the outbreak of a new strain of corona virus named (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO). This paper explored with a contextual underpinning the appropriate language to use in communities to curtail the spread of the epidemic. Is it social distancing or physical distancing and how will the word fit in to address how people protect/should protect themselves against infection and/or infecting others? What are (WHO‟s) advice on this and how significant has that been to fighting COVID-19 to submission? These and many more were the contextual explorations from this novel thought. While the paper used pure descriptive method of analysis using data from both primary and secondary sources that are empirically verifying, the findings of the research posited“physical distancing” as best appropriate a language for use in the COVID-19 period.

Journal of Resources Development and Management, 2018

This project essay discusses the climate problems of the Gambia, the smiling coast of Africa and ... more This project essay discusses the climate problems of the Gambia, the smiling coast of Africa and the various damages these are causing the ecological environments, especially in the coastal settlement areas. Such damages have resulted in the worsening degradations that have brought untold hardships that have unleashed hunger and starvation on the people, including farm and fishing sites that have been washed ashore, leaving the rural people to be more vulnerable in the future, should steps not be taken to curtail the surge. The essay looks critically into necessary modalities for these steps and what the government can/ought to do to fight the menace and increase food production for food security, since, the greater percentage of the rural population that is more affected are into farming; the mainstay of the nation's economy. The paper sees the need for cooperation between the nation's government and existing governance institutions resident in the country like the European Union for a project development that can be put up as resilience for climate in coastal settlements of the Gambia towards realization of a sustainable socioeconomic , ecological and political growth and development. This compels the authors to put this into project perspective and costing that can become a reality within the range of twenty million euro, through mutual cooperation and synergy between the Gambian government and the European Union office in the Gambia. Through this project, a memorandum of understanding is agreed upon by the parties to undertake interventionist program as corrective measures against the odds and consequences of climate change in the coastal and marine zones of the country for project implementation/execution.Available literature and fact-finding information from both the government institutions concerned, the EU office and other concerned partners (public and private) as well as archives and scholarly journals and texts are consulted for data gathering and analysis, using descriptive and prescriptive methods for interpretational analyses that are value-free. The essay crops suggestive measures for broad project implementation and realization as well as over-arching problem-solving institutional approach project, presumed acceptable to both parties in practical situations.

THE ELECTORAL PROCESS IN THE GAMBIA: A GIANT STRIDE IN THE MAKINGS OF A VIABLE AND STABLE POLITICAL SYSTEM, 2020

Several arguments, discussions and write-ups have been cropped to suggest that the electoral proc... more Several arguments, discussions and write-ups have been cropped to suggest that the electoral process in the Gambia is not an essential factor or element to the makings of a viable political system and democratic governance in the country. This paper examines in the contrary, stressing that the electoral process in the Gambia has been a key player, very unique and significant instrument to the peace the country and its people enjoy. This in effect has contributed to the realization of a viable political system and governance that the Gambia is widely acclaimed for in the ECOWAS Sub-region and the rest of the international community. The paper examines the various processes/mechanisms, dynamics and strategies that the two republics' leaders have employed in their efforts to strengthen, deepen and consolidate on the peace enjoyed and fascinating electoral atmosphere which the political system and ideals seriously embrace and encourage. The paper argues that, in spite of the diverse nature of the tribal groupings that make up the small nation in the sub-region and the political differences within the multi-party politics, the "first-past-the-post" electoral system which is also known as a "single-member plurality and from which a unique voting ideology that is traditional in nature was designed prior to 1960 elections, which involves the use of "drums and marbles" by dropping 'tokens' in the ballot boxes for sounds to be heard and be sure that the vote has been cast, only, but, once, was designed. The paper argues further that, although, the two regimes have played significant roles in this process after independence in 1965, however, efforts of consolidation and sustenance have been more pragmatic, achieving and fulfilling under Yahya Jammeh of the second republic till date. These redoubled efforts have no doubts culminated into preponderance of development strides and electoral growth that have helped the political climate and process to manage its peace and non-violence, known not to be common elsewhere in Africa.

A synopsis of the December, 2016-January, 2017 political impasse in the Gambia is made in this pi... more A synopsis of the December, 2016-January, 2017 political impasse in the Gambia is made in this piece as a prelude to its impact assessment and general overview on the political economy of the country. Given the occurrence and the role played by the sub-regional body called ECOWAS (The Economic Community of West African States) in settling the impasse from outside, the piece pays attention to the reasons underscoring these ECOWAS diplomatic and military moves and the politics behind the action. The piece unveils the arguments generated from quarters, especially the intellectual and expert circles on the international legal justification (s) for ECOWAS military wing' involvement and the manner such action was dispensed to help the new government claim its mandate and make the out gone government abdicate peacefully.A literature review of the relevant texts and available legal instruments from existing international institutions like the United Nations, the African Union among others is undertaken for empirical-verifiable justifications that are value-free. This is complimented by a historical-descriptive analysis narrative that details the accounts of events, using intellectual lenses for investigative conclusions. The research offers useful recommendations that provide both the government of the Gambia and ECOWAS as the sub-regional institution or regime necessary answers to permanent peace and development in the Gambia and the region at large, alluding to the fact that the peace attained in the country and its ECOWAS sub-region is a concomitant reflection of the world peace and relative security that the UN stands for.

Veritas is an English Language publication and the Editorial Board aims to ensure that contributo... more Veritas is an English Language publication and the Editorial Board aims to ensure that contributors use grammatically correct and idiomatically appropriate English language. However, for many of our contributors English is a second and even third language and from time to time a strict language policy is modified to ensure that good articles are not excluded simply because they do not meet the highest English standards. We also hold it to be important that material be not over edited, providing its message is considered to be clear to the majority of our readers. The general objective that Veritas is to create conditions whereby all informed persons are able to contribute to the ongoing debates, regardless of their English language competence and their lack of familiarity with accepted journal protocols.