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Federations thrived where levels of government exist and function based on shared rule and self-rule concurrently. Thus, a key defining feature of federalism is the assignment of responsibilities between component units such that each unit is assigned specific responsibilities within its jurisdiction. However, in Nigeria, the disproportionate distribution of responsibilities and resources amongst the component units had resulted in a dysfunctional federation. By virtue of the provision of section 7 of 1999 Constitution, Supreme Court's judgements and extra-judicial pronouncements, local governments are under the "supervisory control" of the State Governments (SGs). However, the extent to which this supervisory control is exercised has been at the front burner of every discourse on Nigerian politics and particular governance challenges. While examining state-local governments relations from both legal and operational viewpoints, this paper illustrates how the SGs wore away the intent of the framers of the Constitution, which is to institute a system of local government that is properly organised, monitored supervised by the SGs. A qualitative research approach was used. Data was collected via official documents, relevant literature, and interviews from officials of the SGs and local governments and experts selected purposively and conveniently. The paper established that local governments are failing simply because the SGs have failed to perform their responsibilities per the spirit of the Constitution and other extant laws. The article finally advocates for an efficient and effective local government system premise on the federal decentralise system. In doing that, it is important to stress that the existing legal aspect does require slight adjustment especially granting the Houses of Assembly of State and state judiciary reasonable autonomy to checkmate the excesses of the SGs. Moreover, accomplishing this will significantly restructure and improve the operational aspect of the relationship for a virile local government system.

The first example of potassium tert-butoxide mediated aerobic hydroxylation of arylboronic acids is described. A variety of arylboronic acids bearing both electron donating and withdrawing substituents successfully participated in the reaction and furnished phenols in good yields. This strategy also provides access to one pot synthesis of (E)-3-phenoxy acrylates from arylboronic acids and propiolates. The solvent plays an important role and a binary solvent system comprising CH3CN/THF is found to be the best.

Secular feminism seeks to liberate women by taking them away from religious values so that women with religious beliefs are often stereotyped. Hausa Muslim women in northern Nigeria are often described as marginalized, oppressed and resistant to change. This may suggest that embracing feminist thinking could get them emancipation and permit them to assert their right to own and dispose property as they think fit. This paper argues, on the basis of Hajiya Zainab Assibi’s life story that Hausa Muslim women need not succumb to feminist persuasions to be able to affirm their proprietary rights despite domineering attempts by male extended family members. On the contrary, exposure to religious experiences, such as gained through the pilgrimage (hajj), could give women a moral endowment from which they get the courage to assert their rights without let or hindrance.

This study investigated Islamic Financial Inclusion for women empowerment through establishing cash waqf to prevent rural-urban girl-child hawking in Kano, Nigeria. The main objective is to identify reasons for engaging in rural-urban hawking by girl-children and how cash waqf could support their parents, especially mothers, to enroll and maintain their daughters in school without exposing them to various kinds of vulnerabilities. The study adopted a simple random sampling, hat and draw, technique. 50 girl-child hawkers were selected from a total of 300 engaged in rural-urban hawking in Madobi Local Government Area in Kano State, Nigeria. A closed-ended questionnaire was used for data collection. Responses were analyzed using tables and percentages. The results showed that most of the girl-children are not enrolled in school (86%); are engaged in hawking daily (86%); are kept out of school because of failure of parents to pay school fees (56%); mothers use hawking proceeds to purchase bridal bits and pieces for their girl-children when getting married (72%) and hunger is the most serious vulnerability (40%) the hawkers face. Recommendations based on the results focus on the imperative to establish cash waqf by philanthropists to provide microfinance and vocational training to rural women and educational support to rural girl-children to enable them remain and complete schooling.

The paper examines, from a historical context, Hausa culture as the foundation of the social and economic life of the Sokoto caliphate that succeeded Hausa states. The general purpose of the paper is to determine the existence of waqf institution from that examination since philanthropy, including donating waqf (Islamic endowment), is rooted in a people’s culture. Documentary analysis of books, thesis and online articles was used for the study. Findings revealed that certain Hausa cultural beliefs and practices contributed to the nonexistence of waqf as an institution in the caliphate and that created an institutional-vacuum in the waqf culture of Muslims in contemporary Northern Nigeria. This vacuum presents a challenge that should be overcome through ways that include introducing philanthropy education, with emphasis on waqf, at all levels of education in the region.

Design of novel functional periodic mesoporous organosilica with molecular level control finds applications in several fields of energy and environmental research including adsorption, catalysis, nanotechnology, and energy harvesting. Herein we present a melamine (1,3,5-triazine) functionalized periodic mesoporous silica (MPMO) by self-assembly of N2,N4,N6-tris(3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine (TTET) with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) via cocondensation strategy. The TTET silsesquioxane precursor was synthesized by the condensation reaction between cyanuric chloride and 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane. The resultant MPMO material serves as an effective solid chelating agent through amine and triazine functionalities for Pd(II) to provide Pd-MPMO. The Pd-MPMO material was thoroughly characterized by a small-angle XRD, HRTEM, N2 sorption, 13C CP-MAS NMR, 29Si CP-MAS NMR, and ICP analyses. The Pd-MPMO serves as an active catalyst for C C bond formation reactions by Suzuki- and Heck cross-coupling methodologies under ligand- and cocatalyst-free conditions. Notably, the present catalytic protocol demonstrates a wide spectrum of substrate scope towards Suzuki coupling between aryl halides (I−, Br−, Cl−) and aryl boronic acids with high turn-over-number (TON) in aqueous phase under air ambience. Whereas for Heck-coupling reaction, the phenyl iodides furnished high TON than the other aryl halides. Investigation of Pd-leaching by a hot filtration test as well as reusability experiments confirms the true heterogeneous nature of present Pd-MPMO and its robustness in terms of substrate scope, catalyst stability, and durability.

In developing countries the development and study of philanthropy is at a formative stage. Nonetheless, there is growing interest among scholars in waqf based philanthropy and the need to harness its potentials to address social problems and development challenges in Muslim communities in Northwestern Nigeria. This paper examines the need for a clear definition of the waqf based philanthropy concept and its links with waqf system and waqf institution. By examining secondary sources on waqf studies and obstacles to the acquisition of waqf knowledge among Muslims in the study area, the paper argues that unless donors acquire broader knowledge of waqf and its ultimate purpose as entrenched in the wisdom behind waqf, waqf practices will continue to be skewed and the quality of life of the ummah will continue deteriorating due to inadequate social infrastructures. The paper recommends, among others, that measures should be taken to overcome barriers to waqf awareness. Additionally, assertions about the non-existence of waqf institution in Hausaland in the past should be verified if waqf practices are to be put on a sound footing today as a basis for deriving sustainable benefits for the Muslim ummah in the future.

Embracing a broad perception of the philosophy behind waqf institution and learning from the socio economic contribution of waqf history is essential for Muslim Hausas in North West Zone, Nigeria, to imbibe a holistic waqf culture. The preponderance of “religious-oriented” waqf does not assist in addressing social problems such as poverty in the area. As an emerging field of study in the Zone, waqf scholars need to undertake empirical investigations of waqf donor’s endowing behaviour. Such a step could reveal underlying factors that may be used to draw intervention strategies to change donor’s behaviour towards donating waqf which provide comprehensive facilities that meet basic social and community needs capable of lifting the region out of poverty.

This study investigated Correlates of Waqf Based Philanthropy in the North West Zone, Nigeria: Implications for Community Development Theory and Practice. The major purpose of the study is to identify the underlying socio-psychological factors that explain the relationship between individual donor’s socio-economic waqf (SEW) endowing intention and the person’s giving behaviour. The study adopted a survey design. The sample consisted of 307 potential waqf donors in the North West Zone (NWZ). Purposive sampling approach was used. A mixed-method sequential explanatory approach was used in data collection and analysis. Closed-ended questionnaires were used in collecting quantitative data which were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 and the results were presented using means, percentages and correlation coefficients. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was employed for the collection of qualitative data which were content analyzed. Based on an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), four research hypotheses were formulated and tested for relationship at p=0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that attitude (r=0.351, p

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the role of Islamic endowments (awqaf) as viable mechanisms for financing poverty alleviation programmes and the value of the third sector in promoting public welfare.Design/methodology/approachSecondary sources provided the main data for the study. These were supplemented with personal discussions and observations. Narrative approach was used for analysis.FindingsThe lack of awareness about endowments (awqaf) is a barrier to harnessing their potentials in redressing socio‐economic inequities and enhancing the quality of life of the poor in Kano.Social implicationsScholars, merchants and civil society organizations will be awakened to the need to cooperate in employing the institution of awqaf reducing poverty through the provision of quality education, better health care and employment opportunities. Government will be made aware of the need to explore non‐conventional methods in tackling poverty, recognize Islamic endowments (awqaf) as viable alternatives in financing community welfare programmes and provide all necessary policy support –legal/institutional/financial – for their smooth operation.Originality/valueThe worth of this paper lies in drawing the attention of stakeholders, like policy makers, and the general public to the contemporary relevance of, and demand for, Islamic endowments (awqaf) in solving many of the socio‐economic problems excluding the poor from leading a decent life.

A holistic view of waqf as a philanthropic institution in Islam for improving all aspects of social life is necessary for any Muslim community to derive the most from the benefits provided by the institution over the centuries. But communities that have a narrow perception of the purpose and role of waqf are bound to face developmental problems for neglecting a vital function of the institution in providing socio-economic services that are crucial in addressing social problems and improving the overall quality of life of the ummah. The objective of this paper is to draw attention to the need for a balanced view of waqf as an all-inclusive philanthropic mechanism for promoting public welfare. By re-examining the evidence of a previous study, the paper concludes that Muslims in Kano, Nigeria, have a lopsided opinion about the role of waqf. The paper recommends that it is necessary to investigate waqf donor motivations empirically so that reasons could be systematically identified in order to plan effective strategies likely to re-align public perception with the holistic view of waqf.

It has been observed that the key feature of the Islamic ideal is the blending of the spiritual and the secular, the economic and the social, by engaging Islamic philanthropy through the waqf institution. However, the utilization of waqf as a charitable institution for the provision of community welfare for Muslims in northern Nigeria, for long facing serious socio-economic, in addition to the current insecurity, problems has basically remained untapped. Employing narratives, and analysis of available literature, this exploratory study is limited in scope by the few accounts considered. Highlighting the role of waqf (Islamic endowment) in enhancing public wellbeing, the paper reveals that harnessing effectively waqf requires the involvement of the ulama as change agents. Nevertheless, the study concludes that for the ulama in northern Nigeria to successfully mobilize philanthropy for community building, it is an imperative for them to undertake a self reassessment.*This paper is part of an ongoing study. It was originally a section in the author’s Inaugural Lecture Paper titled: “The River that changed its course: Traversing Academic Disciplines-from Accounting to Community Development-while remaining in situ,” (2012).

Financial control is important in government not only in periods of prosperity when revenue inflows are substantial, but also in times of austerity when the public purse is experiencing a cash crunch. Given the recent global economic meltdown that brought about reduced incomes to the government of the federation, and consequently to state and local governments, the Kano State Government expressed concern over its dependence on federation account revenues and was geared towards exploiting internally generated revenues as means for achieving self-reliance and fiscal sustainability. This exploratory study set out to survey factors that affect the work of Kano State Ministry of Finance (KSMOF) with respect to ensuring financial control without which no amount of internally generated revenue could make the state independent in fiscal matters. The scope of the study was limited to the staff of the headquarters of the KSMOF and descriptive research design, ex post factor, was used. Questionnaires were used in data collection and simple percentages were used in data analysis. Among the major findings of the study, it was revealed that control procedures carried out by the KSMOF were generally appropriate. The conclusion of the research was that the KSMOF is a very important stakeholder in any revenue diversification derive and reform to be ignored. The study’s recommendation, among others, is that to safeguard public funds from misuse, personal lifestyles of employees of the KSMOF need to be monitored.

This inaugural paper seeks to respond to the claim by some tertiary education managers that academic career specialization should be rigidly adhered to. While it is undeniable that specialization has it merits, it seems myopic to lose sight of the merits of career switching in the academia for the possible contributions it can make towards expanding the frontiers of knowledge. In this regard, this paper argues that the merits of traversing academic boundaries are obvious that tertiary education officials should not, for bureaucratic reasons, attempt to scuttle genuine efforts at career switching. Even for the larger society, outside the academia, this paper believes that career switching by scholars may open up new vistas that could lead to the enhancement of the quality of life of individuals and communities. While it has been observed that the key feature of the Islamic ideal is the blending of the spiritual and the secular, the economic and the social, through engaging Islamic philanthropy, the vehicle for that engagement seems to be no other than the waqf. But the utilization of waqf as a charitable institution for the provision of community welfare for Muslims in northern Nigeria, for long facing serious socio-economic, in addition to the current insecurity, problems has basically remained untapped. Employing a narrative and analysis of available literature, this exploratory study is limited in scope by the few narratives considered. Highlighting the role of waqf (Islamic endowment) in enhancing public wellbeing, the paper reveals that to harness the institution of waqf effectively requires the involvement of the ulama as change agents. However, the study concludes that for the ulama in northern Nigeria to successfully mobilize philanthropy for community building, it is an imperative for them to undertake a self re-evaluation.

Third sector Muslim associations in Kano State, Nigeria, should employ the institution of awqaf in the provision of socio-economic welfare in general and promoting women’s micro entrepreneurship in particular. This move is necessary given the dearth of microfinance institutions in the state and the gender-based barriers excluding women from formal finance services. This paper attempts to present an overview of women’s entrepreneurial and philanthropic activities using secondary sources and personal interviews. The main objective of the paper is to highlight women’s experiences in home-based microenterprises and propose a framework for assisting them to access financial services through non-bank Islamic financial institution of awqaf. There is ample evidence to suggest that if awqaf are harnessed, in the direction of the framework, the benefits to be derived will not be limited to just promoting women’s participation in economic activities, but are likely to extend to improving their social wellbeing, that of their households, other deprived women and the Muslim ummah in general.

Statistics indicate that women suffer the most from the bane of poverty. Despite women’s involvement in economic activities, often unaccounted for in developing countries, women continue to suffer from limited resources and inadequate access to educational and financial opportunities. This paper uses descriptive qualitative research design to examine the general condition of women under poverty and determine how adult education and entrepreneurship might assist housewives to overcome poverty. Using secondary data, and limited observations and discussions, the researchers identified lack of information and appropriate finance among the barriers preventing the success of enterprising homemakers in Kano. Sensitivity to socio-cultural and religious values and provision of functional and financial literacy and financial inclusion form the major recommendations of the paper.

Conventional sources for financing community development programmes appear to be inadequate in meeting people’s welfare needs. This inadequacy seems more pronounced given cuts in government spending. Even with reforms in community development finance, in the form of socially responsible investing, Muslim communities still face financial exclusion due to the interest-element in conventional finance instruments. This research examined the utilization of Islamic endowments (awqaf) in financing community development activities in Kano metropolis. Five research questions guided the study. The scope of the research was limited, in part, to exploring the nature, management and availability of awqaf in enhancing community well-being. An ex-post facto design was employed. Primary data were collected using structured interview and complemented with secondary data through documentary analysis. Data analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics and cluster analysis technique. The findings of the study include the disclosure that Islamic philanthropic endowments, especially for the provision of socio-economic facilities, are scarce in Kano metropolis. This contradicts the centuries-old tradition of the participation of Islamic charities in economic and social developmental services. From its findings, the study’s main conclusion was that awareness-creation campaigns and education, through collaborative endeavours, are essential in promoting the setting up of awqaf. Among its recommendations, the study suggested that a dynamic enlightenment drive is necessary to sensitize Muslims to appreciate the contemporary significance of endowments and utilize them as mechanisms for financing community welfare projects in Kano metropolis.