The Legal Myth of Parental Ownership THE belief that children “belong” to their parents remains deeply ingrained in many societies. However, modern legal systems have firmly rejected this notion. In law, parenthood confers responsibility, not ownership. This distinction explains why courts may lawfully intervene in family affairs involving children. This framework is rooted in the […]
Decolonizing African Minds: Confronting the Invisible Chains THE formal end of colonial rule in Africa—marked by the lowering of foreign flags and the raising of national anthems—did not conclude the continent’s struggle for autonomy. Historians and political analysts increasingly argue that the most enduring conquest was psychological. By reshaping African thought, colonial powers embedded self-doubt, […]
Africa’s Policy Paradox: Why the Continent Still Debates Its Future Abroad ACROSS decades of post-colonial independence, African states have repeatedly affirmed sovereignty as a central pillar of their political identity. Yet, in practice, a persistent contradiction remains: many of the continent’s most consequential discussions on development, security, governance, and economic reform continue to take place […]
By GODWIN KELECHI Major Kaduna Nzeogwu’s Death: War, Memory and an Unresolved Historical Controversy MAJOR Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu remains one of the most polarising figures in Nigeria’s political and military history. A principal actor in the January 1966 coup, his life and death continue to attract scrutiny, not only for their political implications but also for […]
By KIO AMACHREE Port Harcourt and the Politics of Memory: Re-examining a Colonial Name NIGERIA’S oil capital, Port Harcourt, occupies a central place in the country’s economic, political, and cultural life. Yet the origins of its name raise questions that continue to attract scholarly and public scrutiny. Named in 1913 after Lewis Vernon Harcourt, Britain’s Secretary […]
When DNA Says “Not the Father”: Why One Test Is Not the Final Word A DNA test declaring a man “not the biological father” can trigger one of the most emotionally destabilising moments in family life. Shock, anger and a collapse of trust often follow within minutes. For many, the instinctive response is confrontation or […]
By OBASI NZUBECHI When Names Became Shields: Igbo Identity After the Civil War DECADES after the Nigerian Civil War, some Igbo communities quietly altered the way they presented themselves to navigate a hostile post-war landscape. Although the government publicly declared reconciliation, Igbo citizens faced persistent discrimination and limited access to power. Name Changes as Survival Mechanisms […]
Survival Without Sustenance: Inside Nature’s Most Remarkable Fasting Adaptations IN ecosystems shaped by scarcity and seasonal extremes, survival often depends on the ability to endure long periods without food. Across species, evolution has produced remarkable biological solutions that allow animals to slow, suspend, or reconfigure their metabolism to withstand prolonged fasting. Fat Storage and Metabolic […]
Reclaiming Africa’s Economy: A Historical and Structural Diagnosis Africa’s Poverty Paradox AFRICA is widely described as poor, yet it holds some of the world’s largest reserves of arable land, minerals, energy resources, and a youthful labour force. This contradiction—abundance coexisting with deprivation—has prompted renewed scrutiny of the continent’s economic history. Scholars increasingly argue that Africa’s […]
Marriage, Inheritance, and Identity in Pre-Colonial Igboland LONG before colonial rule, Igbo society was structured around lineage, land, and ancestral continuity. Names were central markers of identity, inheritance, and belonging. Within this framework, marriage did not automatically dissolve a woman’s connection to her natal family—a stark contrast to modern assumptions about gendered identity and property […]