Research Focus Area: National Integration and Cohesion for Sustainable Peace
Proposed Research Topics:
1. Mental Noise/Hate Speech as Impediment to National Integration and Peace
2. Developing Effective Communication Skills in a Multi-cultural Society
3. Strategies for Crisis Management and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria
4. Communicating Youth Values and Curbing youth Restiveness
5. Community Mobilization for National Integration and Sustainable Peace
6. Strengthening Community Based Festivals for Tourism and Cultural integration
7. A holistic Approach to Addressing the Problem of Climate Change
Composition of the Group
1. Dr. Ngozi Udengwu (Theatre and Film Studies)
2. Dr. Chinenye Amonyeze (Theatre and Film Studies)
3. Dr. Chinwe Okpoko (Mass Comm)
4. Dr. Anthony Ekwueme (Mass Comm)
5. Jude Nwankwo (Music)
6. Dr. Greg Ezeah (Mass Comm)
7. Nelson Obasi (Theatre and Film Studies)
8. Chidiebere Nwachukwu (Mass Comm)
9. Omanwa Ekwueme (Mass Comm)
10. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwu ( Theatre and Film Studies)
11. Dr. Ikenna Onwuegbna (Music)
12. Dr. Uche Nwaozuzu (Theatre and Film Studies)
Statement of Intent
Of all the problems besieging Nigeria as a large multicultural, multireligious and multilingual nation, is basically that of national integration and cohesion. This claim is attested to by the ethnocentrism and religious jingoism which has engendered incessant security problems and crippling economic growth and sustainable development. The size and divert of Nigeria should not be a curse but a blessing if it is well harnessed. As a matter of fact, the size and diversity is a potential for greatness if enough effort is made to instil the principles of unity in diversity in the citizens, if they are made well aware of the huge profit they stand to gain simply by recognizing and respecting one another and being able to work as a formidable team, irrespective of religion and ethnicity.
We are aware of prior attempts that have been made in the past, but the efforts seem to be flawed at the point of implementation and sustainability. It is our conviction that Arts and Humanities primarily concerned with human condition have the expertise and resources needed to stimulate attitudinal change in people at grassroots. Consequently in this Research Group different Departments form research teams to address national integration and cohesion through sustained community-based participatory programmes.
Faculty of Arts Research Group 1 is made of academic staff from three departments – Mass Communication, Music and Theatre and Film Studies. Between them they have generated the seven research topics listed above, which are not necessarily final. Research teams, of at least three researchers each from across the departments, will eventually be formed to carry out research on the topics or any other topics that may be generated under the focus area above. Research findings will be presented first at the newly Faculty of Arts Research Forum and at conferences, preferably international conferences, before being published as books or journal articles in reputable Impact Factor journals.
HISTORY, ARCHAEOLOGY AND FINE AND APPLIED ARTS RESEARCH GROUP
Prof. Dr. Egodi Uchendu
Dr. C. N. Ajaebili
Dr. C. C. Opata
Dr. Ngozi Agujiobi
Mr. C.M. Amaechi
Mr. O. U. Muoh
Mr. C. S. Agu
Mr. Trevor Morgan
Mr. Chukwunonso Uzoagba
Mrs. Olive Iweka
Mrs Obiageli Madubunyi
Mr. Ahamefuna Eyisi
Mr. J. K. Ugwuanyi
INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGY IN IGBOLAND AND THE CHALLENGES OF MODERNITY
2. Museums as Resource Centres for preserving Indigenous Technology.
3. History of Indigenous Technology in Igboland.
4. Environmental Issues on Indigenous Technology in Igboland.
5. Smithing, Smelting, Wood-carving, Pottery, Traditional Conservation Techniques, and other Crafts.
6. Introduction of Indigenous technology into School Curricula for Continuity.
Harnessing Museums Resources for National Integration in Nigeria
By Dr. C. N. Ajaebili, Mr. J. K. Ugwuanyi and Mr. Afamefuna Eyisi.
In this age of globalization which is increasingly de-nationalizing national boundaries, the importance of national integration in Third World countries cannot be over-emphasized. Although currently accepted as the conceptual paradigm for world development, globalization has a long ancestry in world history beginning from the European expansion of the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In reality, globalization can appropriately be described as a Western driven market process designed to ensure that the Third World or developing countries have enough infrastructures necessary to facilitate their integration into the global economy and thus make for easy exploitation of their abundant natural, human and non-physical resources by the Western nations. Therefore, the onus is on the developing countries to work assiduously toward developing and enhancing their cultural identity in the international system; one of the strategies for doing this is to appreciate the role of museum resources as tools for national integration and nation building.
One of the problems of national integration in Nigeria since independence in 1960 has been the assumed lack of oneness of our people expressed in several quarters. And so efforts to transform the country from the so-called mere geographical expression of the British creation to a virile and stable nation-state have been stultified by the spurious claims that the ethnic groups are so culturally different that it is impossible to live together. But evidence from cultural artefacts in our museums shows that tremendous similarities exist in the diversity of our multi-ethnic nation, Nigeria. These similarities are manifest in our numerous sculptures, ceramics, paintings, graphics and textiles, to mention just a few. When carefully studied, these artistic materials would certainly led to the conclusion that they are indispensable instruments for promoting intra and inter ethnic cohesion, nation building, national consciousness and integration among the Nigerian peoples. Thus, beyond the apparent differences in our cultural expressions which tended to confuse some myopic individuals, lay deep-rooted unities which can be properly harnessed in our efforts at national integration. This project is therefore justified by poor appreciation of the role of museums as veritable sources for national integration in Nigeria. And this arose from lack of adequate research and dissemination of information in this area of the humanistic sciences.
Faculty of Arts Research Group 3 consists of academic staff from three departments – History and International Studies, Archaeology and Tourism and lastly, Fine and Applied Arts. Some research topics generated by the group are Harnessing Museum Resources for National Integration in Nigeria, Digital Inclusion and Engagement for Culture and Heritage Preservation, Museums as Resource Centres for preserving Indigenous Technology and, History of Indigenous Technology in Nigeria. But these are not necessarily the final. Research teams comprising at least three researchers from across the three departments will be formed to carry out research on the topics or on any other topics that may be proposed under the above focus area. We shall present our research findings at the newly established Faculty of Arts Research Forum and at conferences, preferably international conferences, before publishing them as books or journal articles in impact factor journals.
2. Dr. C. C. Opata.
3. Mr. Trevor Morgan.
4. Mr. Olive Iweka.
5. Mr. C. S. Agu.
6. Mr. J. K. Ugwuanyi.
7. Mr. O. U. Muoh.
8. Mr. Ahamefuna Eyisi.
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