The Learners' Den

Established in 1975, the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aimed to promote “economic integration,” improve security, and foster regional cooperation to counter common threats to peace and political stability in the region. The bloc included 15 signatory countries. For many years, the region was afflicted by the uprising of extremist groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State, and other minor non-state actors. Moreover, the vast majority of the population is living in abject poverty (less than one dollar per day) due to corruption and economic downturn. This prompted the military officers to topple the civilian governments in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea through coups and counter-coups.  After a diplomatic impasse with the junta officers and ECOWAS delegation, the bloc, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, threatened to take economic and military action. While military action was just rhetoric, the countries faced sign...

Group photo after the inaugural session of the Students Intellectual Forum As the 2023 general elections draw closer, the fate of Arewa continues to remain a matter of utmost concern to many citizens and experts. During its inaugural dialogue on the possibilities and challenges of Arewa after the 2023 general elections, the Students Intellectual Forum (SIF) affirmed that Arewa will get better under certain circumstances. On 5th February 2023, a diverse group of students gathered for the first session of the Students Intellectual Forum (SIF) at the Iya Abubakar Institute of Computing, ABU Zaria to deliberate on the elections and post-election in Arewa. The participants shared their thoughts and perspectives on the current situation and the opportunities and hurdles ahead. The discussion centered around several key topics, including the state of Arewa's security, economic stagnation, population, leadership, mindset, corruption/greed, education, and illiteracy. It was also...

Supreme Court of Corruption, Nigeria The corruption in the Nigerian judicial system has left it unable to fulfill its role as a defender of justice and human rights, resulting in widespread injustice and the victimization of those who ought to be protected by the law. The rampant corruption in the Nigerian judicial system has allowed rich and influential politicians to escape accountability for their actions, either through bribery or manipulation of the system. This leaves the marginalized and vulnerable to bear the brunt of an unjust system, while the wealthy continue to flaunt their unlawful immunity. As you may recall, a few months ago, Nigeria held its primary elections in preparation for the upcoming February general elections. Before the primaries, each prospective candidate was allowed to purchase their nomination and expression of interest forms. It is widely known that in Yobe North, the incumbent senator, Ahmed Lawan, did not run in the primary election for the Y...