International Council for Education, Research and Training

Curbing COVID-19 overbearance: Creed, socio-cultural practices and sub-Saharan African nations’ food security nexus

Oladiti, Abiodun A.

Department of Social Studies, School of Secondary Education, Arts and Social Science Programmes, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The issue of COVID-19 ravaging the global community can be likened to one of the works of the famous Nigerian writer, late Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart with the center despite all efforts, defiling holding together on all aspects of human endeavor. Despite the discovery of Covid-19 vaccines and its consequent administration for mitigating the effects of the pandemic, information is replete about the continuous and astronomical increase in the number of victims of the virus. The multiplier effects of the pandemic on occupation, education, economic, religious, socio-cultural practices, agricultural activities, food production and distribution, among others cannot be over-emphasized, hence, this study. Qualitative design was adopted for this study as action research with eighty participants sampled from Oyo Township of Oyo State, Nigeria through purposive sampling technique among various strata of the society. Participant Observation (PO), Key Informants (KI) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) techniques were adopted in data collection analyzed through triangulation of instruments of content analysis and categorization of ideas coupled with tables, frequency counts and simple percentages. Result revealed that: more female than male participated in the study (43/37; 53.75%/46.25%); most participants are above middle age (53.75% and 46.25%); participants cut across the three dominant religious sects (Muslim, 36, 45.00%; Christian, 29, 36.25%; ATR, 15, 18.75%); most of the participants are literate (68, 85.00%). Content analysis and observations indicators revealed that Nigeria is not spared from Covid-19 pandemic; solid relationships exist among religious beliefs, socio-cultural practices, food security and Covid-19 pandemic. Hence, sustainable mitigating measures devoid of further complications need be pursued in the SSA nations; government, stakeholders and the civil society must be enlisted in the efforts to ameliorate the pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; creed; food security; Nigerian SSA nation; socio-cultural practices 

Impact Statement

The ravaging COVID-19 impacted on all sectors of the economy. At least 25 countries are at risk of significant food security deterioration arising from secondary socio-economic impact of COVID-19 with nothing less than 38 to 80 million people in low income countries that rely on food importation due to experience food insecurity as direct result of COVID-19.

Food constitutes prominent psychological need prompting other needs, it behooves on individuals, stakeholders and nations of the world to find recourse to the overbearance of the COVID-19 and future pandemic on human endeavours, food production and security inclusive. This requires right attitudes, values, beliefs as well as socio-cultural practices in the society which are important actors in this regard. It is therefore imperative to explore the extent to which the identified variables could influence the mitigation of the pandemic overbearance on the nation and its food security strategies especially in the sub-Saharan nation.

About The Author

Dr. OLADITI Abiodun A is a Chief Lecturer and Head, Department of Social Studies, School of Secondary Education, Arts and Social Science Programmes, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria. His area of interest is in Emerging issues, Environmental studies, Methodology and Research. A prolific writer, has to his credit well above 60 publications in his area of interest. He has served and still serving in various capacity at department, school and college, rendering community services within his capacity. Dr. Oladiti is an high flyer with quest for expanding frontier of knowledge. Among others, Dr. Oladiti has facilitated online conferences drawing great Academics of reputes across Nigeria during the COVID 19 saga for the promotion of quality education and continuous teaching learning beyond pandemic era such as Virtual socio-academic colloquium and Webinars Teaching Learning where he presented papers as facilitator. Dr. Oladiti has served in the capacity of External Moderator and examiner to the Department of Social Studies, Osun State College of Education, State of Osun for two consecutive terms, Department of Social Studies, Kwara State College of Education KWASU, Ilorin, Department of General Studies, College of Agriculture, Igboora, Department of Social Studies, Part Time NCE Programme, FCE (Sp), Oyo, Department of Social Studies, FCE Osiele, Abeokuta. He has also served as the coordinator of SSE of the PartTime Degree Programmes of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo in affiliation with Ekiti State University, Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. He is currently co- coordinator of Oyo State Chapter of Social Studies Association of Nigeria, SOSAN and Member of proposed Social Studies Curriculum Review Committee among others. His hobbies include researching, writing books, editing, meeting people, visiting educative and Social sites, singing praises and admonishing people. Dr. Abiodun Oladiti is happily married and blessed with promising children to the glory of God.

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