THE SOCIAL RELATIONS OF IMPORTED USED ELECTRONICS MERCHANDISE IN LAGOS, NIGERIA BY ABEL AKINTOYE AKINTUNDE B.Sc. SOCIOLOGY (JOS) M.Sc. SOCIOLOGY (IBADAN) MATRICULATION NUMBER: 146359 A THESIS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY, SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES, IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN, NIGERIA SUPERVISOR: DR. A.O. OMOBOWALE FEBRUARY 2016 CERTIFICATION I certify that this work was carried out by ABEL AKINTOYE AKINTUNDE in the Department of Sociology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. …………………………… SUPERVISOR A.O. OMOBOWALE B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Ibadan) Senior Lecturer Department of Sociology, Faculty of the Social Sciences University of Ibadan, Ibadan ii DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to the Lord God Almighty for his benevolence, inspiration, love and faithfulness towards me from the commencement and completion of this work. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT If my pen is inked enough for thanks then my first gratitude is scripted to God the all wise and creator of the human intellect, who has with love guided my search for truth and knowledge till now. In his bosom I have thrived, by his grace I have survived and through his favor I have come this far. No might of mine nor strength at all could have brought this noble opportunity but God‘s infinite mercy and grace. I remain truly grateful to such true wisdom, inspiration and light. I give God credit for inspiring every single idea in this research from beginning to the end. I appreciate and treasure the blessing of ‗idea rush‘ spared me at the most needy phase of this research; this experience surely empowered the content and present success of this work beyond imagination. I remain thankful for the gift of a job with Bowen University which supplied my tuition and a stable thesis writing experience. For this and many more I remain deeply grateful to God. I bless God for the gift of a great supervisor Dr. Olumuyiwa Ayokunle Omobowale and a brilliant scholar of renown, who tirelessly, painstakingly, consistently and critically but exceptionally gave all to bring the best of this work to being. I appreciate with esteem his creative approach to supervision, his exemplariness, resilient encouragements, and endless words of counsel not only to me but also to co-supervisees alike. His resolve to breed the scholar in me despite me began since 2010 during my days in the Department as a Masters student. Today I look back with gratitude that we met and I rejoice because I am better equipped for knowledge production than I can possibly imagine. I saw him as extremely critical but at last I realize that only the test of fire makes fine steel. Dr Olumuyiwa A. Omobowale‘s desire to see his students at the echelon of research is represented in his common phrase ―Do a research that will take you places‖. I must say that in reality, this phrase has truly taken lots of us to places. As I appreciate his relentless efforts at tinkering me into this noble phase of scholarship, I can only pray that God rewards him with strength to shine evermore. I pray that his excellent and never-say-die spirit will set him before even greater earthly kings than he has already met. I also appreciate most sincerely, my father in Sociology, Professor Lanre Olutayo, my M.Sc dissertation supervisor and the current Dean of the Faculty of the Social Sciences. I remain inspired by those moments of brainstorming exchanges in his office. I must mention that he ignited in me the fire of sociological reasoning and the inclination for theorizing. His critical but iv functional outlook to doing research prompted me to purchase my first research methodology text in 2010 when I became frustrated about what research actually entailed – an experience which had since transformed my academic experience. I look forward to further discourse with him even after this phase however hard. I pray that God enlarges his coast and beautifies his life for good. I wish to extend my gratitude to Dr. Akanle, Dr Busari, Kudus Adebayo, Rev Oyelade, Gbenga Falase, Scholastica Atata and the entire Development Sociology unit. Their constructive criticisms and timely comments were very instrumental in bringing out the best of this work. I truly appreciate them all! My very special gratitude also goes to all the members of staff of the Department of Sociology. For their timeless encouragements, tutelage and generosity and various contributions to the success of my academic and research experiences, I am so grateful! I also appreciate my past and present Vice Chancellors at Bowen University, Professor Timothy Olagbemiro and Professor Ojo Mathews respectively. They were both timely treasures and gifts to the development of my academic career. May the Lord bless them indeed! My appreciation also goes to my colleagues at the same University, Professor Imoagene, late Dr Rotimi, Dr John Agun, Dr Solomon Madubuike, Mr Owoeye, Pastor Atoyebi, Mr Anuodo, Dr Okoronkwo, Miss Deborah Mrs Windapo, and to Dr Odoma. I treasure their generous gestures of holding forte during my absence. Thanks indeed! I esteem and also appreciate the great contributions of Professor Bayo Olawuyi to this work. I cherish and adore his large heart towards me as a veteran scholar and as Head of Department, particularly in ensuring that my schedule at the time was bearable. May God bless him indeed! I appreciate the love of godly parents whose relentless tutelage and exemplary lives have remained an inspiration to my path. With joy I thank God for my late Dad, Mr Samson Akinniyi Akintunde - a gem whose godly, exceptional and outstanding life remains unforgettable. I look back with deep joy and refreshment at my moments with him as a child. Those moments teach me to live selflessly, reputably and courageously and to speak for those whose voices and plights cannot be heard. His emphasis on godliness and excellence as routs to greatness in life still remains very audible to me. In his last words ―fear the Lord, acknowledge Him in all your ways, and it shall be well with you‖ are still evergreen to me. Although long gone, his memories shall not fade. I appreciate with esteem, my precious and beloved Mum, Mrs Emily Funmilayo v Akintunde, for remaining a sure and constant source of encouragement and hope to me since childhood till now. She is the very best Mum the world has ever known. I remain very proudly her son and I am grateful for her love. I really thank her for accepting to write this story when she accepted to marry Dad. I believe that God‘s grace which has led us this far, would also lead us home. May the Lord preserve her days that she may reap the blessings of her own fruits and see her children, their children, and grandchildren too. I appreciate my siblings Elijah, Lois, Jeremiah and Caleb for their supportive roles in my life and for those encouraging moments we have shared together growing up into adults today. We have altogether kept hope alive in me and I pray we all head home and towards God‘s own destinies for our lives. They have all been very fantastic and I pray that God blesses them indeed as he shines on them all. As the Lord blesses you, may prosper their handworks set them all before Kings in Jesus name! My very special thanks goes to Elijah – Eliaj for his intervals of help at times whenever I was away in Bowen and needed help on registration at the University of Ibadan, postgraduate school. I am truly grateful! I dedicate this very paragraph to the faithful and uncommon love of Daddy, Professor Steven Akinyemi Akintunde, a man whose timeless love, faithful instruction, amiable gifts and exemplary life to me since birth deserves special mention. In fact, the testimonial of my graduate and postgraduate journeys remains incomplete without him. Through the writing of this thesis, he has remained a tower of strength to me by his endless calls, reminders, encouragements and words of hope, all of which have kept me through this journey. He left me with sleeping and waking thoughts of seeing the end in view and the very positive sides of the whole experience. I really appreciate his forbearance with me even with my frailties. That love speaks to me time and again. I pray that the Lord will bless his life with strength, beauty and refreshment to remain as hale and strong as the Caleb in scriptures, even in age. I pray that God blesses his sweethearts – Mummie, Gbenga, John, Isaiah and Eunice indeed. That constant phrase ―so how is your work‖ continues to linger on my mind even as I write. I deeply thank him for all the endless nudges, they truly kept me going. I use this medium to sincerely appreciate Mummie’s encouragements at every interval of my schooling especially during my undergraduate days. The memories of occasional Sunday dinner remain etched on my mind. May the Lord uphold and bless them all with happiness. vi My deep thanks go to my uncles Dr. Emmanuel Akintunde, Dn Nicholas Akintunde and their beloved families. I also appreciate very specially my Aunties Mrs Oyekanmi (Mummy Kaduna), Mrs Nike Adu, Prof Mrs Otinwa and their warm and encouraging families. I do appreciate and love them all. I really appreciate their encouraging words, timeless love and prominent gestures and inspiration. Their love and wonderful lives remain ineffable. May the Lord reward and smile on them all now and at His appearing! To my inestimable friends at the University of Ibadan: Nneka Umego –my amiable secretary editor and co-researcher, Kudus –co-researcher, Esther Pelemo, Anthonia Fada, Chidimma, Ada, Seyifunmi Akinpelu, Dr Sera Onimisi, Ayomide, Patience, Tolu and Yinka Kolapo, who remain a constant push for me through their calls and words, I do appreciate them all! To my research prayer unit Ada, Grace, Evangelin, Dr.