ÉKWÉ JỌNAL

THE UNKNOWN REFLECTION IN THE MIRROR: THE ANXIETY

Nicholas Chielotam Akas — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 15:55:14 +0000

Anxiety is a prevalent psychological disorder that often begins with a fear of the unknown, leading individuals to panic or seek constant companionship. It reflects an internal narrative that is disconnected from reality; one that does not exist, has never existed, and may never exist in any objective sense. This distorted perception is at the heart of the title of this paper. Pinel and Barnes (2021) observe that clients with anxiety disorders often interpret their fears as absolute truths, even when presented with contradictory evidence. These individuals embrace their anxious thoughts as familiar companions—internal realities they believe they can manage independently, without external intervention. The most troubling aspect of anxiety is its tendency to trigger negative thought patterns. Clients often perceive danger in everyday circumstances, whether these dangers are rooted in thoughts, behaviours, or interactions with others. In Jonah’s case, his anxiety led to intrusive worries about his sister becoming ill, his mother falling,and his partner being involved in a fatal accident. Understanding anxiety through a more nuanced lens, specifically by applying the Biopsychosocial (BPS) and Cultural Responsivity and Social Justice (CRSJ) frameworks, alongside therapeutic counselling strategies, allows for a richer and more effective exploration of its causes and impacts.

IMPACT OF LANGUAGE MISUSE AND VIOLATION OF MEDICAL ETHICS ON PATIENTS

Goodluck Chigbo Nwode, PhD — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 15:56:41 +0000

Every profession has its ethics additional to that of the host community. Professionals ought to act, operate, and carry out their duties within the confine of the permissible ethical principles guiding them in their profession. Regrettably, many professionals do not. This study is aimed at exploring the impact of language misuse and violation of ethics among medical professionals on patients. Relying on secondary data from library and the internet, the study qualitatively and evidently shows that most medical professionals in Nigeria and many other developing nations most often violate the ethics of their profession and misuse language while treating, communicating and interacting with patients. It also shows that the medical profession has a lot of statutory ethical principles, which physicians pledge allegiance to but largely disregard and violatemany of them. The study submits that by using language negatively with patients, medical professionals violate the core principles of medical ethics and aggravate the ill-health of patients. It recommends attitudinal change, mass sensitisation, enacting of operational legislations, and increased inter-agency and interdisciplinary collaboration and efforts as the panacea for proper use of language to enhance medical professionals’ efficiency in the management of their patience.

INDIGENOUS EPISTEMOLOGIES AND RESEARCH PRACTICES OF IGBO (NIGERIAN) ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATORS

Jude Nwakpoke Ogbodo , Gideon Idike Owo , Victor Clement Nweke — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 15:58:41 +0000

There is a growing acceptance of pluralism in knowledge systems, and a desire to integrate non-Western worldviews into the research process, particularly indigenous epistemologies. However, there are tensions surrounding ownership and control of knowledge, and the ethics of knowledge appropriation. These tensions are exacerbated by the often not-acknowledged internal diversity of indigenous communities, which makes thereductive generalization of ‘one’ epistemology problematic. As such, the marginalized indigenous epistemologies may lend to vital understanding and insight into harmonious living with natural ecosystems and thus. Yet, the homogenization of multiple languages, beliefs, and worldviews into ‘indigenous epistemologies’ dismisses these pluralities and invites appropriation by the very hegemonies that have dominated, undermined, or disregarded them. This paper interrogates indigenous epistemologies in the context of research practices of environmental communicators in South East Nigeria, and considers strategies to safeguard, nurture, and empower these epistemologies against outside appropriation. It is based on the qualitative analysis of 15 one-on-one semi-structured interviews from environmental communicators in South Eastern Nigeria. Thus, the participants advocate for a critical deconstruction of dominant governance frameworks in favor of reconstructed systems centered on indigenous epistemologies.

INFLUENCE OF AUGMENTED REALITY ADVERTISING OF MTN ON PATRONAGE AMONG RESIDENTS OF ABAKALIKI METROPOLIS

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:00:11 +0000

This study examined the influence of Augmented Reality (AR) advertising by mobile network providers on the purchasing decisions of consumers in Abakaliki Metropolis. The increasing use of digital technology in marketing, especially through AR tools, has created new ways for mobile networks to interact with their targetaudience. However, there is still limited understanding of how these interactive adverts affects the actual buying behavior of consumers. The aim of this research was to find out the extent to which residents of Abakaliki are exposed to AR adverts, how they react to and interpret them, and whether such adverts influence their decision to subscribe to or use mobile network services. The study adopted the survey method and a structured questionnaire was administered to 400 respondents selected from different streets across Abakaliki Metropolis. The data collected were analyzed using tables, percentages, and simple interpretation. The findings revealed that most residents have seen AR adverts before, and many of them found the adverts entertaining and creative. However, the level of active engagement with the ads was not very high, and only a few people admitted to making a purchase because of the AR experience. The study also showed that visual presentation and 3D animations in the adverts were more influential than the interactive features or the information provided. In conclusion, while AR advertising has succeeded in grabbing attention and creating brand awareness, its ability to fully influence consumer behavior is still growing. The study recommends that mobile network providers improve the frequency, simplicity, and relevance of their AR content to make a stronger impact on consumers’ decision making processes.

PROMOTING READING CULTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE LANGUAGE EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Okafor Stela Amaka, PhD , Nmadumelu Obi — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:04:15 +0000

The purpose of this paper is to sensitize the Nigerian populace on the importance of reading for both self and national development. The paper highlights the different strategies for revamping the dying reading culture in Nigerian education system. In order to bring in a quality control measure and ensure that Nigerian children benefit maximally from reading in general and develop correct attitude and interest for effective readability. Other ways of motivating the learners to read and keep reading until he becomes a voluntary reader and a lifelong learner habits of reading formed were equally discussed

BEYOND DISABILITIES, THERE IS COMMUNICATIVE POTENCY IN THE PERFORMER'S BODY: A STUDY OF ONE-LEGGED SOLO PERFORMERS IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA.

Nicholas Chielotam Akas — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:06:03 +0000

The non-disabled dancers have appreciated the essence and value of dance more because of their body flexibility, displays, and the chronological patterned movements created by a choreographer. However, dancers with disabilities, especially in Nigeria, have been dehumanized as non-performers rather than mere side attractions for comic relief and pity based on their disabilities. This narrow assumption has led notable dance troupes in Nigeria to use these disabled dancers only for fundraising, excluding them from performances. This narrow perception has demoralized many talented disabled performers, causing them to shy away from dance as a profession and communicative tool. This research analyzes a notable disabled one-legged dance performer in Enugu state, Nigeria, who has used his disability in dance performance as social propaganda to mirror the negative ills happening in the country.

FOLKTALES: INDISPENSABLE INSTRUMENTS OF TEACHING AFRICAN CHILDREN MORAL EDUCATION IN THEIR “FIRST SCHOOL” (HOME)

Okafor Stella Amaka, PhD — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:07:30 +0000

Home is regarded as the first school of a child. It is evident that a child needs to undergo some home training before he/she is later handed over to the classroom teachers for the continuity of both moral and formal education. This paper tries to discuss the vital roles that Yoruba folktales play in the course of imparting moral education into the children at home. In conclusion the paper calls for full embrace of folktales especially in our primary schools and post primary school levels. The paper observes that if this is done, there is going to be a great improvement in morals and attitude of our children in the society. The paper employs some textual analysis to buttress the significance of folktale in child upbringing.

AWUJALE PRACTICE AND FORE PEOPLE’S PRACTICE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RITUALISTIC CANNIBALISM AND MORTUARY PRACTICES

Onukwube Alex Alfred Anedo, PhD , Ngozi Edith Anedo — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:08:59 +0000

This comparative study explores the cultural significance and historical context of ritualistic cannibalism and mortuary practices among the Fore people of Papua New Guinea and the alleged practice of consuming a dead king's heart among the Yoruba people of Nigeria. Through a critical analysis of existing literature, this study highlights the complexities and diversity of human practices surrounding death and the treatment of the deceased. The findings of this study demonstrate the importance of understanding cultural practices within their historical and cultural contexts.

THE CROSS-CULTURAL CHALLENGES IN THE GERMAN TRANSLATIONS OF ACHEBE’S THINGS FALL APART

Otu Godswill Eze — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:10:27 +0000

This research investigates the cross-cultural challenges in the German translations of Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. This study carried out a critical of purposively selected cultural elements from words, proverbs and phrases used in the three German translations of TFA as represented in Igbo cultural knowledge and identity. From the analyses, the cross-cultural challenges identified were categorized into two categories (cultural deficiency and ideological differences). Among the seven samples used in this study, the FGT had cross cultural challenges in translating three proverbs and other words, the SGT had cross-cultural challenges in translating four proverbs and three other cultural words used in the text, while the TGT tried to stick to the original pattern in the source text by foreignizing most of the cultural elements used in proverbs.

THE JAPA SYNDROME IN NIGERIA: EXAMINING THE SOCIO-POLITICALAND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS

Allens Umunna Iheonu, PhD — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:12:15 +0000

The work is a study of a disturbing phenomenon in Nigeria which sees the Nigerian youths fleeing the country for better opportunities abroad as a result of the economic malaise that has led to lack of employment opportunity, incessant industrial actions, insurgency and insecurity. The economic malaise is occasioned by bad governance - misappropriation, mismanagement, prebendalism, nepotism, ineptitude, and squandermania etc. Many Nigerians of the productive age bracket are massively leaving the shores of the country in what in Nigerian usage is known as ‘Japa’. Japa is aYoruba slang which means ‘to run away’, ‘to flee’ or ‘to escape’. This word has gained increased usage especially among the Nigerian youths to describe the trend of leaving the shores of Nigeria in search of better opportunities and better living standard abroad. Even though, the Japa syndrome is not a new thing in Nigeria, it however, came to the national consciousness with the advent of the Second Republic.

CORRUPTION AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN AFRICAN LITERATURE: A REVIEW OF MEJA MWANGI’S KILL ME QUICK AND GOING DOWN RIVER ROAD.

Emmanuel Inedu, PhD — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:14:13 +0000

Corruption has always begot underdevelopment in Africa and elsewhere but Africa’s case is worse. The writings of Ngugi Wa Thiongo, Meja Mwangi and other East African writers have always illustrated the relationship between literature and society as well as the social functions of literature. It is the contention of this article that corruption is the bane of Africa’s backwardness and underdevelopment and that corruption is one of the long standing effects of colonialism, neocolonialism and imperialism. Although other factors outside these engender corruption, it is perhaps one of the greatest tragedies to have befallen Africa as a continent. Highlighting the social function of African literature, Ngugi contends that African literature gives vent and credence to the society that produces it.