Recent Submissions

Item
Sustainable Development Byond Borders: Exploring the global perspectives
(Faculty of Management Sciences, 2024-11-18) Faculty of Managemet and Social Sciences
Item
An Exegetical Study of Genesis 2:18-25 vis-a-vis the Agitation for Same-sex Marriage in Nigeria.
(Department of Religious Studies Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye., 2014) Fawenu Bamidele Olusegun
The quest for acceptance of same-sex marriage as alternative to the traditional heterosexual marriage is a global phenomenon. The popularity of the practice as well as its legal and religious acceptance in the West contrasts the situation in Africa where majority of the countries have officially criminalized it. While most arguments in its favour from the west have centered on the need to respect fundamental human right of people whose sexual orientation prefers same-sex partners, the African’s abhorrence of it hinges on its morality as well as cultural alienation. This Paper, therefore, examines the issues involved in the context of the current agitation for legal recognition of the practice in Nigeria from a Biblical-Cultural perspective. This effort becomes germane given the fact that the practice is thriving in the west probably because of some ecclesiastical accent it enjoys. An exegetical analysis of Genesis 2:18-25 shows that the practice is alien to divine idea of marriage, which affirms gender distinction in marriage as cardinal to social interaction and perpetuation of humanity on earth. This biblical position aligns perfectly with the African cultural standpoint about gender distinction of marriage partners. Therefore, same-sex marriage does not appeal to Christian religious sensibilities and morality.
Item
A Reflection on the Cost of Governance under Solomon's reign in the Context of the Quest for Sustainable Development in Nigeria
(The Nigerian Association for Biblical Studies, 2019-07) Fawenu Bamidele Olusegun and Samuel Oluwasegun Kolade
This paper critically reflects on the cost of governance during the reign of King Solomon as recorded in the biblical narrative, drawing parallels with contemporary governance challenges in Nigeria, particularly in the context of sustainable development. Solomon’s administration, though marked by unprecedented prosperity and monumental achievements, was also characterized by heavy taxation, forced labor, and extravagant state expenditure that ultimately led to public discontent and the division of the kingdom. Using a socio-biblical and contextual hermeneutical approach, this study examines how the burdens of governance in Solomon's era mirror Nigeria’s contemporary struggles with high administrative costs, political patronage, and misallocation of resources. The paper argues that for Nigeria to attain sustainable development, there must be a deliberate effort to reduce the cost of governance, promote fiscal responsibility, and ensure that leadership is focused on equity, justice, and the welfare of the people. The study concludes by offering biblically informed policy suggestions that can guide current governance toward a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Item
Engaging Σωφροσυνη (sōphrosynē) in Titus 2 and Yoruba Ideology of Omoluwabi towards Curbing Insecurity in Nigeria
(Adekunle Ajasin University Press, 2021) Bamidele Olusegun Fawenu and Michael Olusegun Abodunrin
Insecurity is a general malady that virtually all countries in the world are managing. In Nigeria, this problem is currently hydra-headed with the Boko Haram/ISWAP leading the way in the desecration of humanity, particularly in the North Eastern part of the country. Kidnapping and ritual killings are equally prominent in the south-south and south-west. The government and other security agencies have been making attempts to tackle and combat the exhibitors of these evils in the society through different strategic means, such as, revamping of security policies, recruiting more security personnel, establishment of private security agencies/security operatives, purchase of more sophisticated weapons to fight those who cause insecurity. However, can professional processes of ensuring security really secure peaceful co-existence among people where the citizenry are largely weak in morality? How can the minds of youths and children be disabused of the culture of violence against humanity? Therefore, this paper argues that moral soundness of the citizens of a country is fundamental to realizing a secure society. Consequently, the paper examined Pauline method of inculcating right attitude in people in a chaotic world and compares it with the ethical thoughts of Yoruba people on what makes a person truly a responsible human being. Therefore, through comparative analysis and exegetical study, the essences of the Yoruba ideology of “Omoluwabi” and Greek’s “sōphrosynē” (as used Titus 2:1-10) were advanced as panacea to help restore our lost humanity and thus curb insecurity in Nigerian.
Item
“In Search of Good Governance": Domesticating Themes in Psalm 72 for Political Leaders in Nigeria.
(Department of Religious Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife., 2017-05) Fawenu, Bamidele Olusegun and Okunoye, J. O.
The level of development in many countries in Africa is not congruent with the stupendous natural and human resources at their beck and call. This situation has generally been connected to poor governance. Therefore, the quest for good governance is one of the major concerns of most countries in Africa and Nigeria in particular. Righteousness and Justice are indicated in Psalm 72 as germane if good governance will be actualized. Leaning on the classification of the Psalter by Hermann Gunkel, the fact that Psalm 72 is one of the Royal Psalms that describes the commitment of an ancient Israelite King to govern his people aright makes it a relevant choice for this study. Therefore, the themes, righteousness and justice as presented in the Psalm were domesticated for Nigeria political leadership. Both historical and exegetical methods with bias for historical-grammatical analysis of the Psalm were used for this paper. The exegetical engagement of the text brings to fore the symbiotic relationship between (personal) righteousness and administration of justice in governance as sine qua non for the prosperity of the governed. Such prosperity emerges as a moral cause and effect nexus built into reality for the governed.