DOCSLIB.ORG

Intra-Regional Inequalities in the Level of Development in Ikom Local Government Area Cross River State, Nigeria

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Intra-Regional Inequalities in the Level of Development in Ikom Local Government Area Cross River State, Nigeria International Journal of Scientific Research and Innovative Technology Vol. 1 No. 3; October 2014 INTRA-REGIONAL INEQUALITIES IN THE LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT IN IKOM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA IWUOHA, SAMPSON ERICK & AROKOYU, SAMUEL BANKOLE DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT, PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA. ABSTRACT This research focused on intra-regional inequalities in the level of development in Ikom Local Government Area, using the wards as the basic unit of analysis. The aim was to determine the level of variation in the spatial pattern of development, as well as identify the factors that influence and create the conditions for the existing pattern of development in the study area. Ten indicators of health (2) and educational (8) development were collected and analyzed. The analysis was done using the Gini-index and the cluster analytical techniques. The results of the analysis revealed significant variation in the distribution of the selected development indicators among the wards. Ikom Urban I, the political-urban headquarters emerged among the privileged (developmentally advantaged) wards in all the selected development indicators a1ongside Nde, Abayom and Akparabong. There were still marked variations in the level of development among the wards. The findings revealed a significant relationship between development indicators of the wards and population size. This research also highlighted the influence of political factors on the level of development. While supporting development from below as a viable strategy for reducing rural-urban imbalances within the region, we propose the creation of new centers of development (growth nerves) objectively selected. 38 International Journal of Scientific Research and Innovative Technology Vol. 1 No. 3; October 2014 Introduction The present geographical entity called Ikom Local Government Area dates back to the 16th century pre- colonial era (Local Government Information Unit-LGIU, 1998). It has since undergone several restructuring over the years to what we have today. According to the Cross River State Development Policy (1976) Ikom urban the administrative headquarters is recognized as an urban centre. It is politically among the six urban centres outside Calabar so recognized in the state when 17 Local Government Areas were formed in the State by the 1976 Local Government reforms (Bisong, 1987). Presently Ikom Local Government comprises of eleven (11) wards. The wards include Abayom, Akparabong, Nde, Nta-Nselle, Ofutop I, Ofutop II, Ololumo, Nnam, Ikom urban I, Ikom II, and Yala. There are about 365 villages and a variety of ethnic groupings and traditions. This study primarily seeks to determine the inequalities that exist in the spatial pattern of development in Ikom Local Government Area. The choice of the Local Government is based on the definition of a region as a sub national area unit (Richardson, 1974). Friedman and Alonso (1964) have also asserted that the very definition of a region will vary with purpose, and the nature of the space in any case will depend both on the type of interrelations being considered and the purpose in mind. This research opines that disparities can also exist within a region (intra-regional) as long as there are demarcations between rural and urban areas of that region. Bisong (1987) has emphasized the need to consider the role of the size and territorial extent of the Local Government, in relation to its expectation in spreading development. This study notes that despite the creation of two Local Government areas, Boki in 1991 and Etung in 1996, out of Ikom, the development gap has persisted, especially between the urban headquarters and its surrounding rural hinterland. We propose further decentralization as a strategy for reducing intra-regional inequalities and bringing about the spread of development within the Ikom Local Government Area. Decentralization here does not necessarily imply the creation of more local government areas; rather it entails the objective and strategic selection of productively vibrant rural areas that will act as growth nerves for planning. These growth nerves will constitute an additional category in the existing planning hierarchy (see Fig. 1.1 below). Fig 1.1: The Planning Hierarchy Modified from Arokoyu, (2004). The growth nerves are expected to attract the development of educational and health facilities as well as socio-economic infrastructure to the rural hinterland which in the long run will bring about other 39 International Journal of Scientific Research and Innovative Technology Vol. 1 No. 3; October 2014 investments in these rural areas. Hypothetically, this will bring about the much desired ‘trickle-down’ or ‘spread effects’ to redistribute development so concentrated in the urban headquarters. It is also expected that the kind of investment eventually established in these growth nerves be made in relation to the available natural resources to make it sustainable. The findings from this study, apart from being a tool for planning Policy at the grass roots is also meant to contribute to existing knowledge on regional development planning with particular reference to development inequalities within a region. Among other things this study places emphasis on inequalities in educational and health development within Ikom Local Government Area, under the current system of eleven wards which came into existence in 1997. The thrust of this study is directed at answering the following questions; i. Is there any difference in the level of educational development among the wards? ii. Is there any difference in the level of primary health care development among the wards? iii. Is there any relationship between population size and the level of development among the wards in Ikom Local Government Area? Unequal Development at the Local Level A common pattern in the development trend in Nigeria has been the concentration of infrastructure, socio-economic activities and growth in state capitals and a few urban centres. This pattern has more often than not, been attributed to political influence than anything else. Incidentally, this trend has extended to the Local Government areas, at the grassroots. The provision of a headquarters secretariat with other centralized social services in one location, as part of the local government headquarters establishment, can be said to have marked the beginning of the primacy of the Local Government Headquarters, resulting in development inequalities between the headquarters and its surrounding rural hinterland. Ikom urban the administrative headquarters of Ikom Local Government Area, has been recognized as an urban area (CRSDP, 1976). And, since the initial elevation of Ikom urban as the Local Government Headquarters in 1976, the pattern of development has proceeded in a rather polarized manner, concentrating a lot more in the headquarters thereby maintaining a steady and widening gap in development especially between the urban headquarters and the surrounding rural hinterland. Ironically, these rural areas contribute both agricultural produce and the human resource that contributes to drive development in the headquarters. The researcher has observed that inequalities in development exist in the study area is due to ‘urban bias’ development initiatives which favour the concentration of population and investment in the political and urban headquarters to the disadvantage of the surrounding rural hinterland. This investment is in the form of health and educational infrastructure, potable water, access roads, modern housing, security, industry, etc. These are regarded as pre-requisite, for meaningful development of an area. However, where these facilities are available, they have been concentrated in the political- urban headquarters. The combined effect of policy, commerce (agglomeration economies), population, investment and infrastructure in favour of the headquarters, over time, has resulted in ‘backwash effect’ to the disadvantage of the surrounding rural hinterland. In simple terms, it can be said that the concentration of development infrastructure in the headquarters has attracted more population and the concentration of population has attracted much more development to the headquarters. The consequence of these has been unbalanced overall development of the entire Local Government Area, with its attendant problems, including; rural-urban migration, low-productivity of the rural areas, lower incomes and lower access to needs, among others. Despite the creation of Boki and Etung Local Government Areas with separate headquarters in 1991 and 1996 respectively, Ikom urban has remained a vital urban nerve centre, servicing a tremendously vast 40 International Journal of Scientific Research and Innovative Technology Vol. 1 No. 3; October 2014 rural hinterland that extends well beyond its administrative jurisdiction. This is due partly to the unique location of Ikom as it is well linked by road to the northern and eastern parts of the country and part of the republic of Cameroon (Bisong, 1987). This location makes Ikom a potential and viable marketing centre capable of revolutionizing the rural surrounding. There is no doubt that Ikom-urban has grown tremendously, but the spread of this growth attributes significantly to the surrounding rural hinterland, especially among the eleven wards that make up the Ikom Local Government Area, leaves a lot to be desired. Methodology Ten development indicators have been analyzed
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Accessibility of Hiv/Aids Information to Women In
    International Journal of Ebola, AIDS, HIV and Infectious Diseases and Immunity Vol.4, No.1, pp.1-11, April 2017 __Published by European Centre for Research Training and Development UK (www.eajournals.org) AVAILABILITY OF HIV/AIDS INFORMATION TO WOMEN IN IKOM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA Felicia U. Iwara CLN Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Library, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. ABSTRACT: The study was carried out to determine how HIV/AIDS information was made available to women in Ikom Local Government Area. Survey method was used through the administration of questionnaire. 300 copies of the questionnaire were distributed. The return was 90%. It was revealed that, due to poverty and the low level of education, the women found it very difficult to have access to available HIV/AIDS information whenever it was made available. It is therefore, recommended that adult schools should be established in all Local Government Areas of Cross River State especially Ikom Local Government Area to educate the women and sensitize them about the dangers of this deadly disease and how to prevent it especially from mother-child. By educating the women, it will enable them access available HIV/AIDS information at the appropriate time. Women should be empowered so that, they do not rely entirely on men financially. KEYWORDS: Availability, HIV/AIDS, Information, Women, Ikom Local Government, Cross River State INTRODUCTION All over the world HIV/AIDS is causing devastation by its destructive effects on families and economy of the nation. At the end of 2003, a report was issued by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS and the World Health Organization (WHO) on the status of HIV/AIDS in the world (UNAIDS/WHO, 2004).
    [Show full text]
  • Cross River STATE-WIDE RAPID HEALTH FACILITY ASSESSMENT
    Report of the Cross River STATE-WIDE RAPID HEALTH FACILITY ASSESSMENT In Preparation for Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV March 2013 Report of the Cross River STATE-WIDE RAPID HEALTH FACILITY ASSESSMENT In Preparation for Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV May 2013 This publication may be freely reviewed, quoted, reproduced, or translated, in full or in part, provided the source is acknowledged. The mention of specific organizations does not imply endorsement and does not suggest that they are recommended by the Cross River State Ministry of Health over others of a similar nature not mentioned. Copyright © 2013 Cross River State Ministry of Health, Nigeria Citation: Cross River State Ministry of Health and FHI 360. 2013. Cross River State-wide Rapid Health Facility Assessment, Nigeria: Cross River State Ministry of Health and FHI 360. The Cross River State-wide Rapid Health Facility Assessment was supported in part by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). FHI 360 provided assistance to the Cross River State Government to conduct this assessment. Financial assistance was provided by USAID under the terms of the Cooperative Agreement AID-620-A-00002, of the Strengthening Integrated Delivery of HIV/ AIDS Services Project. This report does not necessarily reflect the views of FHI 360, USAID or the United States Government. Table of Contents Foreword ......................................................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Nigeria - Accessibility to Emonc Facilities in the State of Cross River
    Nigeria - Accessibility to EmONC facilities in the State of Cross River Last Update: March 2016 Nigeria - Accessibility to EmONC facilities for the Cross River State Table of Contents Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................... 4 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 5 2. Measured indicators and assumptions .................................................................................... 5 3. Tool used for the different analyses: AccessMod 5.0 ............................................................. 7 4. Data and national norms used in the different analyses .......................................................... 8 4.1 Statistical Data ............................................................................................................... 9 4.1.1 LGA Number of pregnant women for 2010 and 2015 ........................................... 9 4.2 Geospatial Data ........................................................................................................... 12 4.2.1 Administrative boundaries and extent of the study area ...................................... 13 4.2.2 Geographic location of the EmONC facilities and associated information ......... 17 4.2.4 Transportation network ........................................................................................ 26 4.2.5 Hydrographic network ........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Calabar Municipal Recreation Centre Expression Of
    CALABAR MUNICIPAL RECREATION CENTRE EXPRESSION OF INDIGENOUS CONTEXT IN RECREATIONAL FACILITY DESIGN BY EkpaAyahambemNtan DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA NIGERIA MAY 2014 1 CALABAR MUNICIPAL RECREATION CENTRE EXPRESSION OF INDIGENOUS CONTEXT IN RECREATIONAL FACILITY DESIGN BY EkpaAyahambemNtan B.sc Arch (ABU 2007) M.sc/ENV-DESIGN/01787/2006–2007 A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA NIGERIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA NIGERIA MAY 2014. 2 DECLARATION I declare that the work in the dissertation entitled „CALABAR MUNICIPAL RECREATION CENTRE EXPRESSION OF INDIGENOUS CONTEXT, IN RECREATIONAL FACILITY DESIGN‟ has been performed by me in the Department of Architecture under the supervision of Dr. S. N Oluigbo and Dr. A. Ango The information derived from the literature has duly been acknowledged in the text and a list of references provided. No part of this dissertation was previously presented for another degree or diploma at any university. EkpaAyahambemNtan May, 2014 Name of student Signature Date 3 CERTIFICATION This dissertation entitled “CALABAR MUNICIPAL RECREATION CENTRE EXPRESSION OF INDIGENOUS CONTEXT, IN RECREATIONAL FACILITY DESIGN” by Ekpa .A. Ntan, meets the regulations governing the award of the degree of Master of Science of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and is approved for its contribution to knowledge and literary presentation. _____________________________ ________________ Dr S. N. Oluigbo Date Chairman, Supervisory Committee _____________________________ ________________ Dr. A. Ango Date Member, Supervisory Committee __________________________ __________________ Dr. M.L. Sagada Date Member, Supervisory Committee _____________________________ ________________ Arc.
    [Show full text]
  • Cameroonian Refugee Situation, Nigeria 1 6 - 31 October 2018
    EMERGENCY UPDATE Cameroonian refugee situation, Nigeria 1 6 - 31 October 2018 135 permanent shelters for 1,636 Cameroonian refugees 90 refugees from Adagom and refugees have been completed and 252 members of the host Anyake settlements completed in Adagom settlement (Cross community received free vocational training on River state). health care services in Anyake vegetable farming and small settlement (Benue state). plots of land were allocated to set up a small vegetable production. K EY INDICATORS 29,078 Cameroonian refugees registered with Level 1 and Level 2 registration [As of 30th October 2018] 2,999 Cameroonian refugees registered in Anyake settlement, Benue State [as of 31st October 2018] 4,997 Cameroonian refugees registered in Adagom settlement, st Eva Caroline (right), and her family arrived at the end of October Cross River State [as of 31 October 2018] 2018 in Amana, Obanliku LGA, Cross River state. They initially fled to another village within Cameroon but the conflict reached them there so they crossed into Nigeria. © UNHCR/C. Cavalcanti Operational Context ■ Cameroonian refugees continued to arrive in Nigeria albeit in limited numbers through unofficial entry points mainly on foot, motorcycles and canoes as official borders remained closed. Some 340 new arrivals were verified by UNHCR in the border localities of Obanliku, Ikom, Etung and Boki Local Government Areas (Cross River state) during the reporting period. Most new arrivals reported an increase in the attacks to villages to drive out combatants, including in villages not reached by the conflict before, where many Cameroonians had moved in search of safety and they are now pushed to cross into Nigeria.
    [Show full text]
  • (Etung and Ikom) in Cross River State, Nigeria Attoe, E
    Attoe, E. E. NJSS 28 (2), 2018 53 - 61 Fertility Status of Soils of the two major cocoa producing Local Government Areas (Etung and Ikom) in Cross River State, Nigeria Attoe, E. E. Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Cross River University of Technology, Obubra Campus, Cross River State, Nigeria. ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article history: Fertility studies were carried out on the status of Basalt soil of Etung and Ikom Local Gov- Received: 28th June, 2018 ernment Areas of Cross River State for Cocoa production. Stratified – random sampling Received in revised form: 30th July, 2018 technique was used in taking soil samples at 0-25cm and 25-50cm depth at different loca- tions in Etung and Ikom Local Government Areas of Cross River State. Analytical results Accepted: 2nd August, 2018 indicated that the soils in these areas are clay loam. The sand content of the soil ranged Available online: 1st December, 2018. from 34.20 % to 84 %. Etung Local Government Area had the highest mean sand fraction of 50.54% compared to Ikom having 49.71%. Sand content of the soil generally decreased Key words: with increased in soil depth while the silt and clay content ranged from 9.80 % to 16.00 % Fertility Status, Basalt Soils and 8.00 % to 48.00 % respectively. The silt and clay content of the soils were higher in the surface soil than the subsurface soil in both Local Government Areas having a textural Cocoa Production class of sandy loam in the surface soil and clay in the subsurface soil. The soil organic matter content of the surface soils in both Local Government Areas was generally higher Corresponding Author’s E-mail Address: than those of the subsurface soils with a mean value of 2.56 % and 3.07 % in the surface [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • Download Download
    American Journal of Health Sciences – June 2015 Volume 6, Number 1 The Status Of Rural Women’s Health And Cassava Output In Nigeria Cynthia W. Angba, University of Calabar, Nigeria Augustine O. Angba, University of Calabar, Nigeria ABSTRACT This study was carried out to analyze the influence of the health status of women farmers on their level of cassava production. The specific objectives are to; identify the socio-economic characteristics of the rural women in the area, ascertain common health problems they encounter and their health management techniques and the influence of the rural women’s health status on level of cassava production in the area. A multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select 200 women farmers in Ikom Local Government Area in Nigeria. Data was collected and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that, majority of the women were in the age range of 40-50 years, 71% were married, 78% traded alongside farming, 66.5% had some form of formal education, their family sizes range between 6-10 people and with a mean family size of 6. Annual income of the farmers range between #10,000 - #14,000. The predominant practice was mixed cropping. Body pains, fever, malaria, headache, were the common ailment. While painful menstruation (20.5%) was the most common reproductive disease. Results from the regression analysis shows that the household size, educational level and income are significantly related to the health status of the rural women while age and marital status are not significantly related. Health centers, patent medicine stores, family planning, leprosy centers were readily available in the villages surveyed clinic.
    [Show full text]
  • A Case Study of Cross Rivers State, Nigeria
    Business and Economic Research ISSN 2162-4860 2020, Vol. 10, No. 2 The Role of Non-State Actors in Strengthening the Developmental Capacity of the State: A Case Study of Cross Rivers State, Nigeria Felix Chukwudi Oparah Department Of Economics, University Of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria Enya Ndem Bassey (Phd) Department Of Economics, University Of Calabar, Pmb 1115, Calabar, Nigeria Ohatu Ekoh Ohatu Department Of Economics, University Of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria Email: [email protected] Received: February 13, 2020 Accepted: March 3, 2020 Published: April 23, 2020 doi:10.5296/ber.v10i2.16447 URL: https://doi.org/10.5296/ber.v10i2.16447 Abstract This study examined the role of Non State Actors (NSAs) in strengthening the developmental capacity of the state, using a case study of Cross River State, Nigeria. Primary and secondary data on selected constituents of NSAs including Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Privately Owned Companies, Banks, Private Hospitals and Private Schools were analyzed using tables and charts. The results revealed that activities of NSAs significantly enhance the developmental capacity of Cross River State especially in the areas of provision of public services, knowledge and skill acquisition, infrastructural development and employment generation. Besides other recommendations, it was recommended that NSAs and the government should perform complementary roles in enhancing developmental capacity and that the establishment of more NSAs in the rural areas should be encouraged through the provision of special funding and other incentives for NSAs that have their offices in the rural areas. Keywords: Non State Actors, Developmental capacity, NGOs, Cross River State 153 http://ber.macrothink.org Business and Economic Research ISSN 2162-4860 2020, Vol.
    [Show full text]
  • African Culture and Tradition at the Crossroad: the Institution of Chieftaincy and the Paradox of Modernity in Bekwarra
    ISSN 1712-8056[Print] Canadian Social Science ISSN 1923-6697[Online] Vol. 9, No. 6, 2013, pp. 1-14 www.cscanada.net DOI:10.3968/j.css.1923669720130906.2987 www.cscanada.org African Culture and Tradition at the Crossroad: The Institution of Chieftaincy and the Paradox of Modernity in Bekwarra Donald O. Omagu[a],* [a]PhD. Department of History, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, USA. INTRODUCTION *Corresponding author. The notion of “chieftaincy” evokes a political system always understood and legitimized as being founded Received 15 September 2013; accepted 6 December 2013 on the principle of “traditional” customs, and values. Remarkably, this institution has flourished among Abstract Bekwarra people and is presided over by a traditional The institution of chieftaincy is one of the most enduring ruler who by virtue of his ancestry occupies the throne or traditional institutions of Africa in spite of the many stool of the community in accordance with the customs vicissitudes it displayed remarkable resilience from and tradition of the people. Three categories of traditional colonial through post-colonial times. Historically, title holders are identified among the Bekwarra people. chiefs constituted the axis for the exercise of executive, The first category is those who hold titles conferred on legislative, judicial, military, economic and religious them by superior traditional rulers in appreciation for roles. Although chieftaincy institution has experienced their contributions in community development. Those so ebbs and flows depending on regime preferences and conferred have neither political enclave nor authority to dynamic changes since independence, Chiefs and enforce laws on any group of people.
    [Show full text]
  • Monolith Destruction in Nigeria
    1 Cross River Monoliths: in critical danger of total destruction Text and photographs (2015) by Dr. Ivor Miller and Dr. Abu Edet, Department of History and International Studies, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria Nlul monolith site, January 2015 Problem: Cross River State, Nigeria is home to some 450 ancient carved monoliths, widely known as Akwanshi, which are exclusive to this region. Although adequate carbon dating has not been conducted, current estimates of their age range from 1,500-500 years before present. In spite of several important studies — Partridge (1905), Allison (1968), Nicklin (1975), Eyo (1986), Edet (2000, 2003) — the monoliths are yet to be systematically documented. In Éjághám, Ákúâøshì means ‘ancestors in the ground’; ákú ‘ancestors’; kâ ‘in’; øshì ‘ground’ (cf. Allison 1968a: 22).1 Because the monoliths may be sitting on burial sites that have not been archeologically excavated, they must not been removed; instead they should be preserved in situ until the overall goal of conducting archeology is possible. Some communities, like Nkarasi (Ikom L.G.A.), have removed monoliths from their original sites and placed them near the highway as tourist attractions, thus destroying their archeological context. In addition, several monoliths have been reported in western collections; these also appear to have been illegally removed from their sites. Our recent two-day expedition discovered that the remaining stones are in critical danger of total destruction, either by fire damage caused by local communities or theft. If this process continues, we risk losing a unique part of our World Heritage before we can understand it.
    [Show full text]
  • Cameroonian Refugee Situation, Nigeria
    EMERGENCY UPDATE Cameroonian refugee situation, Nigeria 1 - 15 July 2018 Cameroonian refugees Cameroonian refugees refugee households 1,115 231 51 received their ID Cards. were enrolled in professional successfully completed the training in Calabar and Ikom, construction of their Cross River state. permanent shelter in Anyake settlement, Benue state. KEY INDICATORS 21,291 Cameroonian refugees registered with Level 1 registration [October 2017 – March 2018] 4,393 Cameroonian refugees registered with biometrics [as of 15 July 2018] 1,701 Cameroonian refugees receiving their ID Cards in Ikom, Cross River State © UNHCR / A. Dipanda Cameroonian refugees living in Anyake settlement, Benue State [as of 15 July 2018] Update On Achievements ■ Livelihoods – UNHCR signed a new partnership with local NGO MEDIATRIX Development Foundation, to provide livelihood opportunities for refugees in urban areas (Calabar and Ikom). This is a small-scale intervention (as it is the first in the sector) and targets a restricted number of beneficiaries (231 refugees - 122 women and 109 men), for the period from July to December 2018. Vulnerable refugees (women head of household, refugees fostering unaccompanied children) were prioritized. The project includes following phases: two days of entrepreneurship training for all beneficiaries; four weeks of specialized training (fashion design/tailoring, petty trading, pastry-making with catering, hair dressing/barber shop and poultry); provision of start-up business capital over a six-month period through a microfinance institution and integration of trained refugees into existing market systems and community structures. The training program started on 10th July. ■ Protection – UNHCR, in collaboration with Nigerian Government, started distribution of Individual Identification (ID) cards to verified Cameroonian refugees aged from 14 years and above.
    [Show full text]
  • NIGERIA INDEPENDENCE in the UPPER CROSS RIVER REGION: PEOPLES’ EXPECTATIONS and FEELINGS Dr
    International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Modern Education (IJMRME) ISSN (Online): 2454 - 6119 (www.rdmodernresearch.org) Volume II, Issue I, 2016 NIGERIA INDEPENDENCE IN THE UPPER CROSS RIVER REGION: PEOPLES’ EXPECTATIONS AND FEELINGS Dr. Chinyere S. Ecoma Department of History and International Relations, Veritas University, Abuja, Abuja- Nigeria Abstract: Situated within the present Cross River State of Nigeria, in this study, the Upper Cross River covers the entire northern half of the State comprising Biase, Ugep, Obubra, Ikom, Ogoja and Obudu administrative divisions. This unique setting experienced colonial rule with its attendant socio-cultural, educational and other legacies under the former Eastern Region, until independence was granted to Nigeria on October 1, 1960. The general impression is that independence was widely embraced with a lot of euphoria throughout the country. Recent research reveals that the picture was variegated and that numerous factors conditioned peoples’ response to the event. These factors include the existing communication profile, remoteness of the area from the centres where the main celebrations took place, the age and occupation of respondents in a locality, and the peculiarities of different areas. However, with the emancipation story, some respondents dreamt dreams of high expectations for Nigeria. The thrust of this paper is to examine the response of people in this region to the attainment of independence by Nigeria on October 1, 1960 and to explain why they reacted the way they did. Keywords: Nigeria, Independence, Upper Cross River Region & Expectations. 1. Introducing the Upper Cross River Region of Nigeria: Situated within the present Cross River State of Nigeria, the Upper Cross River Region (UCRR) (see Figure 1) occupies the entire Northern half of Cross River State lying between latitudes 4° 30 7°, and, longitudes 7° 30 and 9° east of the equator (Erim: 1990: 40).
    [Show full text]