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ISSN : 2634-3614 E-ISSN: 2634-3622
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The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has continued to wreak havoc on all people in the world regardless of their gender, creed, race, or class. It has also caused massive disruptions to all social, cultural, political, and economic activities and ruined the livelihoods of many people, especially in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Despite the availability of vaccines, many countries are contending with insufficient supplies and low acceptance rates, leaving many people vulnerable to new waves of the pandemic. Governments across the world have been forced to renew some of the previous restrictions to flatten the curve of infections. Closing learning institutions, businesses, workplaces, recreational centres and activities and confining citizens to their homes has had an unprecedented negative effect on economies, markets, and supply chains, leading to skyrocketing rates of unemployment and poverty. The COVID-19 crisis has also altered the working conditions in most institutions of higher learning forcing many researchers, academics, and students to put their fieldwork and data collection on hold and thus, to delay writing their project reports. In a nutshell, many research projects have either been disrupted or suspended or stalled due to the pandemic.
Despite the effects of COVID-19 on academia, our authors have continued to craft and submit edge cutting articles addressing a wide range of current issues such as COVID-19. The journal greatly appreciates the efforts and valuable contributions of our authors who have worked tirelessly under extremely difficult circumstances to deliver quality research whose findings/results have been published in the current edition of our journal. The aim of the African Journal of Gender, Society and Development (AJGSD) is to provide opportunities for scholars in Africa and elsewhere in the world to disseminate their research findings and share scientific information. We believe that quality research is meaningless without making it accessible to a wider audience of readers. Our high standards are maintained through a thorough double-blind review process by experienced reviewers and editors from different universities in the world. With those few remarks, I am thrilled to present Volume 10 Issue 3 of our journal and to connect the readers with the collection of research papers produced by distinguished African scholars. We received a sizable number of articles which were subjected to an intensive review process by our team of seasoned reviewers, thirteen significant papers were judged suitable for publication and presentation to the readers.
First paper titled “Human Rights Impact of COVID-19 on African Women: Focus on Nigeria and South Africa” authored by Olayinka Oluwakemi Adeniyi provides a comparative analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on selected issues on women’s rights and their intersection with technology. Drawing on data from secondary sources, the author underscores the need to mainstream gender and prioritise women’s rights in technology as a means of mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women in Africa. The paper contributes to the emerging literature and sensitizing policymakers about the impact of COVID-19 and awareness on effect of technology in mitigating the effects on women.
Second paper titled “The Influence of COVID-19 Lockdown on Women in the Academy in one Rural University in South Africa” authored by KL Thaba-Nkadimene, M Lebepe, S Rabodiba, M Malatji, AM Letsoalo, I Kganakga, ME Ramaboka, G Manamelam, and P Mamogobo, examines the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the wellbeing of women in the academy and their roles as university employees and mothers. Drawing on a qualitative study, the author/s highlight that the COVID-19 has negatively affected women in academia in terms of increased workload at home and in the university, anxiety, and restlessness, having a toll on their time, and difficulties maintaining work and life balance. The study also revealed that the effects of COVID-19 were making it difficult for women in academia to access internet network and necessary tools for discharging their academic duties. The authors recommend that there is urgent need for universities not only to provide adequate access to the internet and online resources but also to initiate programmes to address the mental health problems facing women in academia during COVID-19.
Third paper titled “A Hand to Mouth Existence: Hurdles Emanating from the COVID-