Faculty and Staff Publications

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://irepository.aua.ac.ke/handle/123456789/464

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Transformational Leadership and Educational Development in Seventh-Day Adventist Schools of The Central Malagasy Conference, Madagascar
(UKR Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (UKRJAHSS), 2025) ANDRIAMPANIRY RATSIMBA Oliva Colombe; Angela Ewhonne Nwaomah, Ph.D
Despite increased research interest in leadership of educational quality among developing countries, there are few documented studies on the transformational dynamics of religious school leadership in Africa, especially resource-constrained learning environments like Madagascar. This study examines the impact of transformational leadership on school educational development in Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) secondary schools in the Central Malagasy Conference of Madagascar. Using a mixed-methods approach, quantitative surveys (n=28) and qualitative interviews (n=34) assessed leadership style, teacher motivation, student performance, and adherence to Adventist educational philosophy. Quantitative findings showed a strong correlation between transformational leadership and academic achievement, with teacher motivation the strongest predictor (r = .658, β = .412, p = .016). The highest transformational leadership schools experienced 21% to 28% improvement across various indicators. Qualitative findings revealed four main themes: a shared inspiring vision, individualized support, shared governance, and addressing contextual challenges, including limited resources. Findings indicate that transformational leadership rooted in Malagasy values of service and cultural values improves teacher motivation, student achievement, and institutional growth, even if hampered by material constraints. However, the leadership effect is moderated by resource constraints, explaining 47.6% of unexplained variance. The study extends transformational leadership theory by demonstrating that changes are required in faith-based, communal, and resource-poor contexts. Practical recommendations are leadership development programs that embed transformational competencies in Adventist philosophy, institutional support mechanisms that reduce administrative workload, and policy systems that ensure leadership succession. This research contributes to the application of leadership theories from across the globe to African faith-based educational settings and provides evidence-based guidance for SDA educational leadership development.
Exploring Crisis Leadership Among Humanitarian Field Workers: A Case Study of the Private Relief Agency in Rwanda
(UKR Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (UKRJAHSS), 2025) Nzayikorera, Christophe Gapira; Nwaomah, Angela Ewhonne
Crises are unpredictable in human life. At the global level, natural disasters, health issues, famine, wars, disastrous winds, landslides, and heavy rain always make the news. Rwanda as a country of a thousand hills become a prone zone of disasters. The current research focused on the role of crisis leadership management among humanitarian workers with a case study of the Private Relief Agency. As qualitative research, a face-to-face interview was conducted for data collection. Three participants were selected based on their duties and responsibilities, positions, and firsthand experience in managing crises. Research investigated the way workers behave in critical situations and related decision-making, and how team spirit and morale were enhanced and boosted during crisis times. Findings indicated that good leadership in crisis management focused on effective risk management, resource allocation, decision-making, effective communication, past acquired experiences during crisis times, and the emotional intelligence of the workers during crisis times. The findings proved to be essential for equipping leaders and strengthening workers with the required tools to achieve humanitarian goals. The research found that crisis leadership management is paramount to increasing the performance of the humanitarian workers in Rwanda. The research revealed that the leaders should be good at crisis leadership management and have skills on hand to counteract potential crises.
Developing AI Literacy as a Core Competency for Future Leaders
(INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS), 2025-08) Prof. Musa Nyakora; Monda, Dickson
In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping how decisions are made, problems are solved, and strategies are executed across sectors. As such, developing AI literacy has become a critical core competency for future leaders. This paper explores the concept of AI literacy beyond technical understanding, emphasizing the strategic, ethical, and human-centric dimensions leaders must grasp to thrive in AI-integrated environments. It argues that AI-literate leadership entails the ability to interpret, evaluate, and responsibly integrate AI tools in ways that enhance decision-making, foster innovation, and promote inclusive growth. Drawing from interdisciplinary literature, real-world case studies, and emerging frameworks, the study proposes a holistic model for embedding AI literacy into leadership development programs. The findings underscore the urgency of equipping leaders not only with digital fluency but with a critical mindset capable of navigating the opportunities and challenges posed by AI. Ultimately, cultivating AI literacy is not optional — it is essential for leaders aiming to remain relevant, responsible, and resilient in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The Moderating Role of servant leadership in the Relationship between occupational Stressors and well being among Humanitarian Workers in Gedo Region, Somalia
(INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI), 2025-11-06) Ndebele, Simanga B; Mthombeni, Martina; Angela Nwaomah, Ph.D
Humanitarian work is typically situated in challenging operational contexts defined by volatility and scarcity. Such a harsh environment generates occupational pressures for humanitarian staff that could negatively impact their well-being. Servant leadership is a valuable way of mitigating employee stress; however, its applicability is limited to stable, less volatile settings, unlike humanitarian contexts. Against this background, this study assessed the moderating effect of servant leadership on the relationship between occupational stressors and well-being among humanitarian workers in Gedo Region, Somalia. The study utilized a quantitative cross-sectional survey design to draw a sample of 75 personnel employed by humanitarian organizations in Gedo through simple random sampling. The data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed through frequencies, percentages, and multiple linear regression analysis. The results revealed that occupational stressors had a statistically significant effect on well-being (B= 0.137, p = 0.013) as well as the interaction between occupational stressors and servant leadership (B = 0.582, p < 0.001). Therefore, it was concluded that servant leadership moderates the effect of occupational stress on employee well-being as the p-value was statistically significant at the threshold of 0.05%. These findings suggest that humanitarian agencies should invest in servant-leadership development as a strategy for sustaining workforce resilience.
Exploring the Awareness, Readiness and Challenges of Utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools for Library Users with Visual and Hearing Impairment in Nigerian Universities
(Ghana Library Journal, 2025-06-05) Nwaomah, Angela Ewhonne , Ph.D.; Omeluzor, Saturday U. , Ph.D.
This study explores the awareness, readiness and challenges of utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) tools among information providers for library users with visual and hearing impairment in Nigerian universities. The research employed a descriptive survey design with a sample population consisting of university librarians known as information providers at the federal, state and private universities across all the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Due to the larger number of universities (170) across Nigeria, a convenience sampling method was used to select ten universities from each of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and one from the Federal Capital Territory, giving a total of 61 universities. The finding showed that a higher percentage above 50% of the respondents was aware of AI tools. The result indicated the readiness of the respondents to adopt AI in delivering library and information services to users with visual and hearing impairment. The significant number of enthusiastic respondents indicated an inspiring future of AI adoption and utilization in academic libraries in Nigeria. Despite their awareness and readiness, there were certain challenges facing the utilization of AI for people with visual and hearing impairment in Nigeria university libraries. However, respondents were optimistic and resilient about AI’s utilization for users with disabilities.
Unified admission policies in private universities: Panacea for quality assurance in the Nigerian educational system
(Babcock University Press, 2012) Nwosu, Jonathan C.; Nwaomah, Angela E.
Managing organizational change in the private sector: lessons from Babcock university management information system
(Babcock journal of management and social sciences, 2012-01) Nwaomah, Angela E.
Change, it is commonly said, is inevitable and so it is constant part of life. But organizational changes are not easily welcome by employees, despite the good intentions that may have caused them. This paper therefore studies on organizational changes, the University management information system (UMIS), introduced in the recent times for more efficient student records management. The paper shows that employees received these changes differently. It concludes by suggesting ways Babcock University leadership can successfully introduce and implement changes.
Combating examination malpractice in Nigerian Higher Institutions: a challengbe to religious educationists
(Insight: journal of religious studies, 2009-06) Nwosa, Jonathan C.; Nwaomah, Angela E; Nwogwugwu, Ngozi A.
Charitable giving
(Steward Ministries, 2022-06) Prof. Sampson M. Nwaomah
Charitable giving may be defined as the willingness and decision to give money and other resources directly or doing so through organizations for worthy causes. Charitable giving is the kind act of making donations for the benefit of the underprivileged or for other worthy causes. Generally, charitable giving be could be secular or religious on nature. Secular charitable giving may include giving for the benefit of persons or causes without religious motivations. In some parts of the world, there are registered foundations/organizations which either give or receive money and other resources for this kind of purposes Religious charitable giving may be considered as the commitment to cheerfully give money or other resources beyond the regular tithes and offerings for a religious or other worthy cause(s). This kind of giving could be considered as part of a Christian’s response of gratitude to the unsurpassed sacrifice of God to save humanity by supporting worthy causes through his/her resources.
An Evaluation of Machine Learning Techniques for Crop Detection from Garden Images
(IEEE Xplore, 2023) Samson O. Ooko; Grace Kwagalakwe; Lossan Bonde
Agriculture is a major driver for different economies across the globe. With the continued advancement in technology, there is a move towards precision agriculture. A major area of research interest is the detection of crops by use of computer vision. Such can help in controlling pests and diseases and thus increase yields. However, given the wide range of techniques applied, there is a need to evaluate them to recommend the most suitable for the detection of different crops. This study was thus aimed at evaluating both traditional Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) techniques for the detection of banana and cassava crops from a set of garden images. First, a crop classification model was built using the traditional machine learning model with feature extraction algorithms being applied before training using K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Naïve Bayes. Another crop classification model was also built using deep learning (CNN) on an annotated dataset. The performance of both models was evaluated with deep learning giving the best result. Deep learning is thus recommended as the best model for crop detection.
Tiny Machine Learning (TinyML) Based Self Diagnostic Kit for Respiratory Diseases
(IEEE Xplore, 2023) Samson O. Ooko; Jimmy Nsenga
The World Health Organization (WHO) 2022 statistics show that over 3 million deaths globally result from chronic respiratory diseases yearly. Interestingly 90% of these deaths are reported from middle- and low-income countries. This may be attributed to the poor health care systems with few medical experts to enable early diagnosis and treatment of the diseases. There is therefore a need for cheap and accessible solutions to help solve the problems. The use of the latest technologies of Machine Learning (ML) and Internet of Things (IoT) provide capabilities that can enable cheap and convenient detection and monitoring of respiratory diseases. However, existing solutions are cloud-based and thus depend on the availability of internet connectivity to function. This poses privacy, security, and even connectivity challenges, especially in Africa. The concept of using an emerging ML technique for inferencing on resource-constrained devices known as Tiny ML was used as a solution enabling the development of a self diagnostic kit. The system captures breath Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) the collected data will be processed on the device and a Tiny ML algorithm used to detect if the sample is infected or not. The designed prototype was used to collect from healthy and unhealthy volunteers. The collected data was then used to train the prediction model. The ML model predicts respiratory diseases with an accuracy of 95.4% using less than 20% of the device resources. The proposed solution will reduce the dependency on medical experts and healthcare facilities and enable early detection of respiratory diseases.
Use of Machine Learning for Realtime Water Quality Prediction
(IEEE Xplore, 2023) Samson Otieno Ooko; Elaine Kansiime Pamela; Grace Kwagalakwe
Water is an essential resource that is a foundation not only for people’s lives but also for economic development. According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021, over 2 billion people across the globe use water from contaminated sources leading to life-threatening diseases with over 485,000 deaths as a result of waterborne diseases being reported annually. There is therefore a need for tools and techniques that can be used to ensure water quality. Traditional water quality index calculations consume time and are often prone to errors. In the recent past use of Machine Learning (ML) in predicting water quality has generated interest among researchers as a real-time solution. From the reviewed literature, existing models only consider a few chemical properties of water while ignoring others. In addition, there is a need to compare the performance of different models. This study thus presents a supervised learning model for predicting water quality. Our hypotheses were that (i) most of such parameters are all important and none can be ignored and (ii) with supervised learning one can predict water quality based on its physio-chemical properties. Open data sets are explored as inputs with different models being evaluated. The results show that the Random Forest algorithm gives the best results with a 79 percent accuracy. The use of this model will go a long way towards ensuring water quality and thus reducing related diseases and fatalities.
The Significance of Τοῦτο in Act 2:16 to the Eschatology of Acts
(Pan-African Journal of Theology, 2024-07-12) Odhiambo David Odhiambo
The demonstrative pronoun “τοῦτό” in Acts 2:16 carries pragmatic weight, suggesting markedness and emphasizing the eschaton (v. 17). Despite scholarly oversight, verse 16’s syntactical placement within the main clause underscores its significance. This article seeks to rectify this neglect by examining Acts 2:16’s theological and syntactical importance, particularly the usage of “Τοῦτο” and its implications for understanding Acts’ eschatological framework. Through linguistic analysis, theological exploration, and intertextual connections, this study aims to reveal the profound implications of Acts 2:16 for the eschatological discourse in Luke’s narrative.
Biblical Foundations of Giving Insights Through the Seven WH Questions
(Steward Ministries magazine, 2024) Melak Alemayehu Tsegaw, PhD
Giving is a fundamental aspect of God’s kingdom, rooted deeply in the foundation of love. As the saying goes, “You can give without love, but you cannot love without giving.” This principle is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating how God designed His kingdom to operate on the principle of receiving in order to give. Understanding and embracing the concept of giving is crucial for anyone who desires to be part of His kingdom. This article explores the biblical foundation of giving, structured around seven key questions: What?, Why?, Who?, To Whom?, Which?, When?, and Where? From a biblical perspective, we will uncover the importance of giving in the Christian faith and how it should be practiced according to biblical principles.
Shaped in Iniquity or Knit Together by God? An Inquiry into the Psalmist’s Understanding of Humanity’s Sinful Nature
(Old Testament Essays, 2024) Melak Alemayehu Tsegaw, PhD
Several authors have employed Ps 51:5 as a foundation for teaching the doctrine of original sin, which portrays the complete depravity of human nature (cf. Ps 58:3). Nonetheless, various passages in the book of Psalms offer an alternative portrayal of the moral condition of the same human nature. These passages depict a close relationship between the worshipper and God from infancy (Pss 22:9; 71:6; 139:13). A sound hermeneutical principle necessitates that interpreters analyse both sets of passages rather than emphasising one and undermining the other. This essay endeavours to examine these passages and expound upon a comprehensive understanding of the nature of sinful humanity, as presented in the book of Psalms. Furthermore, it highlights not only the pervasiveness of sin but also the extent of YHWH's hesed, which makes such an intimate bonding with God possible even from the womb.
The Verbal Usage of עבדin the Book of Psalms: ExploringitsContextual Meaning and Theological Implications
(Pan-African Journal of Theology, 2024) Melak A. Tsegaw
The Hebrew word עבד, commonly translated as “serve, "holds significant theological implications in the Book of Psalms, particularly concerning worship of God. This article addresses a notable gap in scholarship by examining the contextual meanings of עבדin its verbal form across the Psalms and exploring its theological implications. Contrary to previous limited interpretations, this research reveals a broader semantic spectrum including total submission, gratitude expression, offering gifts, trust in God, and proclamation of His name. Furthermore, this study explores the theological implications derived from the contextual analysis עבדin Psalms. It highlights the significance of divine kingship in messianic Psalms where עבדappears frequently. The importance of knowledge is emphasized as essential for genuine worship, providing a basis to understand God’s nature and actions. Additionally, the study reveals the interconnectedness of submission, trust, and praise, forming a holistic framework for faithful service to God
Effectiveness of Spiritual and Moral Leadership in the Administration of Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Run Schools in Bulawayo Province, Zimbabwe.
(International journal of research and innovation in social science (IJRISS), 2024-06) Yamukelani Humprey Ngwenya,PhD; Musa Nyakora ,PhD
The growing occurrence of moral decline in church-sponsored schools highlights the need for research on its impact on school administration. This study aimed to examine school administrators’ views and experiences regarding spiritual and moral leadership and how it influences school management. The research employed a qualitative interpretive approach to investigate school administrators’ views concerning spiritual and moral leadership and its impact within a school setting. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews, transcribed verbatim, translated to English, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The study focused on administrators from Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) schools in Bulawayo Province, with a sample size of twenty (20) selected from four purposively chosen schools. The majority of participants highlighted key qualities of spiritual and moral leadership, including being centered on God, integrity, setting a good example, and serving others. Subsequently, the study identified specific traits associated with effective spiritual and moral leadership practices in schools, such as achieving high-quality outcomes, fostering disciplined learners, ensuring sufficient resources, and maintaining excellent infrastructure. The findings of this study strongly indicate that by adopting the highlighted attributes, educational leaders in SDA-run schools could decrease moral decline. Within the school environment, the impact of spiritual and moral leadership is demonstrated through achieving high-quality outcomes, fostering disciplined learners, ensuring ample resources, and maintaining top-notch infrastructure. These findings were crucial for school administrators and researchers as they heightened awareness about spiritual and moral leadership practices. Additionally, it was expected that these findings would influence the values and practices of future school leaders.
Frontline Leadership in Communicating Organizational Policies and Its Mediating Influence on Employee Commitment in Nonprofit Organizations in Monrovia, Liberia
(Pan-African Journal of Education and Social Sciences (PAJES), 2024-12-24) Frank O. Bannor; Dr. Derrick O. Deya; Josephine Ganu, PhD
This study examined the influence of frontline leadership communication on employee commitment within nonprofit organizations in Monrovia, Liberia. Four key questions guided the research: (1) perceptions of leaders’ communication and transparency, (2) commitment levels, (3) the relationship between communication, transparency, and commitment, and (4) the mediating role of transparency. Data from 388 respondents show that employees perceive communication and transparency positively. A strong positive correlation (r=0.891, p < 0.001) was found between these factors and commitment, which predicted 82.5% of the variance. The Sobel test confirms that transparency mediates this relationship (z = 7.403, p < 0.001). This highlights the importance of strategic communication in enhancing employee commitment. Recommendations include broadening the study’s scope to determine if the findings are applicable across various cultural and organizational contexts.
Corporate Social Responsibility: A Paradigm Shift towards Organizational Care for Employees’ Wellbeing
(East African Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 2024-06) Josephine Ganu, PhD
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained significant attention in recent years, with organizations increasingly focusing on their impact on society and the environment. However, while many organizations prioritize external stakeholders, the well-being of internal stakeholders, particularly employees, is often overlooked. This article contends that an authentic socially responsible organization should care for the well-being of both external and internal stakeholders equally. Through a literature review, this study examined the concept of CSR in the context of employees’ well-being. It developed a conceptual framework to theorize how deliberate organizational initiatives can improve employees' overall well-being, ultimately contributing to their quality of work life and life satisfaction. The study highlights the importance of responsible organizations demonstrating a strong sense of responsibility towards their employees through organizational care and implementing sound workplace practices and policies. This study emphasizes the need for increased attention to the internal dimensions of CSR and greater transparency in reporting structured practices that support employees’ well-being
Does Strategic Leadership Impact Organizational Performance Outcomes Mediated by Crisis Management Practices in Faith-based Health Institutions in Malawi?
(International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 2024-03-27) Martha Kanchiputu Kamwiyo; Prof. Josephine Ganu
The paper aims to identify the links between strategic leadership practices, crisis management and organizational performance. Specifically, the paper will examine the characteristics of the top management team, their decision-making process and skills, and how they influence crisis management practices and organizational performance. All data were gathered by means of a methodical review of the literature. Based on the COVID-19 circumstance, it was observed that crisis management was difficult in many firms. The gap that was discovered during the COVID-19 timeframe served as the basis for the paper. This study is a component of the ongoing main research project. Top management makes decisions and presents them to staff members in strategic leadership. A crisis is an unwelcome event that could occur in an organization and affect the organization negatively or positively. In healthcare crisis management must be effective from the onset to achieve organizational performance outcomes. Therefore, strategic leadership will enhance crisis management to achieve organizational performance outcomes. Strategic leadership has been identified to have been critical in crisis management because it is visionary. The findings of this literature review identified that organizations must train employees to become strategic leaders because strategic leaders are visionary. Crisis management training should be conducted and have crisis management committees in place. Crisis preparation must be done in all organizations to manage any disaster/crisis.

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