International Journal of Social Policy Research and Development was established in February, 2009 by the International Center for Social Policy Research and Development, a research arm of Self-help Agriculture and Education Foundation to strengthen the link between research and development by bridging the gap between development practitioners and the academia in the conceptualization of social policy issues, and to serve as a forum for deliberation on ideas by the international community of scholars and development practitioners. The aim is to promote interdisciplinary research and undertake publications on critical developmental challenges confronting developing and transitional countries Therefore, manuscripts that provide multidisciplinary approach to social problems or chart a new course in proffering new ways of tackling contemporary development challenges will be favored. The journal is a collaborative work of the Center for Social Policy Research and Development and the Department of Geography and Regional Planning, University of Uyo in partnership with international scholarship in USA and Asia.
Goals:
· Advance the study of social policy and sustainable development
· Explore the relationship between policy, research and practice
· Contribute to knowledge and understanding about social policy and policymaking.
· Link social policy research with a wide range of research users
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Table of Contents
1. The Oil Economy, Environmental Laws and Human Rights Violations in Niger Delta Region: Implications and Suggested Solutions
2. CSdR Singapore: Applying Creative Governance Concept to Corporate Sustainability through Co-Generative Action Research
3. Resource Exploitation and Corporate Recklessness in Nigeria: Navigating a way for Justice in the Niger Delta
4. Health Effects of Indoor Pollution From Biomass Cooking in the Southern Part of Kaduna State, Nigeria
5. Land Use/Cover Change, Urban Heat Island and Health Implications: An Example of Jimeta-Yola, Nigeria
6. Influence of Land Use Patterns on Otamiri River, Owerri and Urban Quality of Life
7. The Growth of Micro-finance and Small Business Creation in Cameroon
8. Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria Through Capitalism Economic Framework: Problems and Challenges
9. Factors of Food Insecurity in Developing Countries: A Historical Survey of Nigeria
10. Financial Autonomy as a Panacea for Functional Effectiveness of the Nigerian Judiciary
11. Women and Political Education: The Nigerian Experience
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This journal edition compiles multi-disciplinary studies focused on socio-economic development, environmental policy, and governance challenges within the Nigerian and broader African context. The core objective is to analyze how existing systemic frameworks—ranging from oil extraction laws and judicial independence to microfinance and agricultural policies—impact sustainable human development and address prevailing crises like poverty, food insecurity, and environmental degradation.
- Environmental sustainability and human rights in the Niger Delta.
- Governance models for corporate and urban sustainability.
- Socio-economic impact of microfinance on small business growth.
- Policy challenges in poverty alleviation and food security frameworks.
- Institutional autonomy and its role in judicial and political effectiveness.
Excerpt from the Publication
Incidence of Oil Spillages and the Oil Producing Communities
Oil spills are natural consequence of petroleum exploitation (Awosika, 2008). One of the early major oil spill incidents in Nigeria was the Taxaco Funiwa No.5 oil well blowout, located in Funiwa fields, about 5 miles offshore in the Niger Delta resulting in the loss of 200,000 barrels of crude oil into the environment. Forcados terminal spill in July 1979 appears to be second to none in the Nigerian petroleum history. About 570,000 barrels were believed to have been spilled within 21 days of the blow out. Between 1986 and 2000 the Nigerian petroleum industry experienced three thousand eight hundred and fifty four (3,854) oil spill incidents (Tolulope, 2004). The resultant environmental problems arising from oil spillage is well pronounced in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. More far reaching environmental destruction result from oil spillage. Soil, plants, animal and water resources are adversely affected, usually because of the toxicity of oil (Odu, 1996 & Kinako, 1997). Table I is a reflection of the frequency and magnitude of oil spills between 1986 and 2000 respectively.
Summary of Chapters
1. The Oil Economy, Environmental Laws and Human Rights Violations in Niger Delta Region: Implications and Suggested Solutions: This chapter analyzes the nexus between oil exploitation, environmental degradation, and human rights abuses, advocating for stronger enforcement of environmental regulations and inclusive community participation.
2. CSdR Singapore: Applying Creative Governance Concept to Corporate Sustainability through Co-Generative Action Research: The study explores a co-generative model of action research to help firms in Singapore integrate sustainability indicators into their corporate governance frameworks.
3. Resource Exploitation and Corporate Recklessness in Nigeria: Navigating a way for Justice in the Niger Delta: This article highlights the need for a multi-dimensional framework of governance to hold multinational corporations accountable for environmental and social harm.
4. Health Effects of Indoor Pollution From Biomass Cooking in the Southern Part of Kaduna State, Nigeria: The research examines the severe health implications of biomass fuel dependency and suggests shifting to cleaner energy sources and improved kitchen ventilation.
5. Land Use/Cover Change, Urban Heat Island and Health Implications: An Example of Jimeta-Yola, Nigeria: This chapter investigates how rapid urban expansion and land cover changes contribute to the urban heat island effect and subsequent public health risks.
6. Influence of Land Use Patterns on Otamiri River, Owerri and Urban Quality of Life: The paper evaluates the impact of various land-use activities on the water quality of the Otamiri River and its direct consequences for the health of city dwellers.
7. The Growth of Micro-finance and Small Business Creation in Cameroon: This study investigates the role of microfinance institutions in fostering small business growth and the necessity for training beneficiaries to ensure sustainable economic impacts.
8. Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria Through Capitalism Economic Framework: Problems and Challenges: The author critically examines the failure of orthodox capitalist policies to alleviate poverty in Nigeria and argues for more radical or regulated economic alternatives.
9. Factors of Food Insecurity in Developing Countries: A Historical Survey of Nigeria: This chapter explores the historical and structural factors contributing to food insecurity in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for agricultural investment and improved storage facilities.
10. Financial Autonomy as a Panacea for Functional Effectiveness of the Nigerian Judiciary: The paper argues that financial independence is essential for the Nigerian judiciary to maintain impartiality and effectively uphold the rule of law.
11. Women and Political Education: The Nigerian Experience: The study discusses the gender gap in political participation and advocates for enhanced political education to empower women in the Nigerian governance process.
Keywords
Sustainability, Environmental degradation, Human rights, Microfinance, Poverty alleviation, Governance, Food security, Judicial autonomy, Political participation, Biomass cooking, Urban heat island, Corporate responsibility, Land use, Nigeria, Cameroon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overarching theme of this journal edition?
The edition focuses on the intersection of socio-economic development, governance, and environmental policy, specifically analyzing how institutional frameworks influence living standards in Nigeria and Cameroon.
What are the primary target areas for the research presented?
Key thematic areas include environmental justice in the Niger Delta, corporate governance and sustainability, the impact of microfinance on small enterprises, public health related to household energy, and political/judicial reform.
What is the central research question regarding the Nigerian judiciary?
The research questions how the lack of financial autonomy impacts the judiciary's ability to maintain impartiality and functional effectiveness against executive influence.
What scientific methods are utilized across these studies?
The contributors employ a variety of methods, including descriptive analysis of primary and secondary data, remote sensing and geographical mapping, and action research models for corporate sustainability.
How does the edition address the topic of food security?
It provides a historical survey of Nigeria’s agricultural challenges, identifying factors like low investment, poor infrastructure, and the failure of past government policies as root causes of food insecurity.
What characterizes the studies on microfinance?
The studies focus on the operational systems of both formal and informal microfinance (such as Ngwa/Tontine) in Cameroon and evaluate their effectiveness in promoting sustainable business creation.
How is the "Urban Heat Island" effect linked to health in Jimeta-Yola?
The research shows that rapid land conversion from forest to urban built-up areas increases local temperatures, which correlates with higher incidence of health ailments in the region.
What specific recommendation is made for biomass cooking in Kaduna State?
The authors recommend an urgent shift to cleaner fuels like kerosene or gas, combined with better home ventilation and public awareness campaigns on respiratory health risks.
- Quote paper
- Jill S. Scheneiderman (Author), 2011, International Journal of Social Policy Research and Development, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/183635
