History and Strategic Studies-Scholarly Publications

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Browsing History and Strategic Studies-Scholarly Publications by Author "Ajiola, F.O."

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    Open Access
    From Agrarian to Consumerism: The African Environment
    (Faculty of Arts University of Lagos., 2017) Ajiola, F.O.; Olusola, A.O.
    One major problem facing contemporary African humanity is closely associated with the careless exploitation of nature. Modernization, industrialization and urbanization of African cities through unwholesome exploitation of nature constitute a huge challenge for sustainable environment, and the quality of life of urban dwellers. The unprecedented transition from agrarian societies in Africa to urban consumerist lifestyle threatens the African Environment and humanity in the 21st century. Modern urbanization and the rise of mega cities and urban sectors in Africa has untold consequences, in terms of increased vulnerabilities not only to climate change, but also to myriad of hazards such as cyclones, change in ecosystem, flooding, rise in sea level, coastal erosion, and dysfunctional temperature. The paper historically examines the changing trends of urbanity in relation to environmental sustainability. It posits that rapid de-agrarianization, frequent drought and other related environmental problems facing people in Africa are negative effects of urbanization. Rapid urbanization in some African cities has generated enormous vulnerabilities for the African environment.
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    Open Access
    Michael M. Ogbeidi, Business History and the Lagos School of History, 1962-2016
    (University of Education, Winneba Ghana, 2018) Ajiola, F.O.
    This paper tries to understand how the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos influenced Professor Michael Monday Ogbeidi’s scholarship, pedagogy and knowledge production in the Lagos School of History. There is indeed a strong nexus between the geographical location of an institution of higher learning, the residential environment of its scholars, their private thinking and their intellectual productivity on the one hand and quality scholarship on the other hand. This article explores the contributions of Professor Michael M. Ogbeidi, a central and indomitable figure not only in the area of business history but also in the shaping of historical scholarship in the Lagos School of History. It critiques some of his ideas, thoughts and puzzles in relation to the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos as both a place of work and residence. Engaging with his works, the article examines his efforts in the advancement of historical scholarship as well as unveiling the circumstances that led to his conception of ‘Business History’ amidst numerous economic historians in the Lagos School of History.
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    Open Access
    Quality of Life, Rural Livelihood Sustainability and Basic Needs: Major Determinants For Nation Building In Nigeria
    (Department of Philosophy, Lagos State University, Ojo Lagos, Nigeria., 2017) Ajiola, F.O.
    Eurocentric political economists and development experts have concluded that it is better to be a cow in the developed polities than being a person in Third World Countries. This simplistic though tenable assertion, is connected to the fact that over 80% of humans in sub Saharan Africa still live below two dollars per day. This paper posits that integrated development and nation building is only achievable through a reconceptualisation of development to embrace physical quality of life of ruralites, improved rural livelihood, and basic social services for rural populations. The paper tries to put to rest the notion of development propounded for developing countries by neoliberal orthodoxy. It is anchored on dialectical materialism, and conceptually kowtow that material conditions, particularly judicious appropriation of state's resources, are decisive formative influences on social life, and constitute essential factor in discovering the laws of motion and building a viable nation. It argues that in order to build an onerous nation, there should be equitable redistribution of the fruit of economic growth and development between the elitist class and the peasants, thereby obliterating all social unevenness in Nigeria. Historians should focus more on labour history and development issues, through the prism of Marxism. The polemical tone of this paper is that what constitutes development is the level of living, quality of life, indicators of health standards and rural livelihood sustainability. Achieving sustainable development in Nigeria is however subject to improving the quality of life, rural livelihood and wellbeing of people living in rural agrarian and urban industrial sectors. It should also bridge rural and urban dichotomy, by ensuring equitable provision of basic social services in the polity.