1116 research outputs found
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PARENTS' DISLIKE FOR VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA: CAUSES, EFFECTS AND REMEDIES
No full textThe purpose of this study is to discuss the origins, impacts, and solutions to parents' dissatisfaction with vocational and technical education in Nigeria. Among the reasons mentioned are the need to find long-term solutions to the artificial walls and gaps that parents have constructed between western education and vocational and technical education in Nigeria. To address the age-long aversion of parents and the attitude of discouraging their children from vocational and technical education in Nigeria, this study identifies the roles performed by parents and the consequences they have had on their children Regarding all governments' efforts to provide vocational and technical education to the population
SCIENCE TEACHERS’ PERCEPTION OF THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA
No full textThis study investigates science teachers' perspectives on the incorporation of social media into teaching and learning practices in senior secondary schools in Osun State, Nigeria. Guided by Vygotsky's theory of social learning and the theory of Uses and Gratification, a descriptive survey methodology was employed. Data was collected through the "Science Teachers' Perception of the Use of Social Media for Teaching and Learning Questionnaire" (STPUSMTLQ) from 200 science teachers across 20 senior secondary schools selected from four Local Government Areas. The questionnaire exhibited strong reliability, with a coefficient of 0.78. Data analysis entailed descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, frequency count, and percentages. Results revealed that most science teachers hold positive perceptions regarding the efficacy of social media in teaching and learning, with an average mean score of 2.51. Furthermore, many teachers acknowledged the beneficial impact of social media on their teaching experiences, averaging a mean score of 2.60. Various factors were identified as influencing the adoption of social media for teaching and learning, with an average mean score of 3.60. Among social media platforms, WhatsApp emerged as the most frequently utilised by science teachers, with a mean score of 2.64, followed by Facebook (mean = 2.45) and Twitter (mean = 2.32). Conversely, platforms such as LinkedIn and WeChat were rarely, if ever, utilised by teachers. In conclusion, the study underscores that most science teachers in secondary schools exhibit positive perceptions of social media's efficacy in teaching and learning, with WhatsApp and Facebook being the most frequently employed platforms. Consequently, recommendations include organizing seminars by the school management to sensitise both teachers and students on the effective integration of social media for educational purpose
Culture Profile-Structure-Strategy Fit for Digital Transformation in Lagos, Nigeria
No full textNumerous shreds of evidence show the advantage of digital transformation at individual, firm, and industry levels across all business sectors. However, the construction industry remains challenged in adopting an optimal model for digital transformation. This study assesses the organisational culture, structure, and strategy of selected construction firms in Lagos, from the perspective of the nature of the change required for digitalisation. With a hypothesis on the relationship between organisational culture and organisational design in the firms, the objectives of this study are to evaluate the organisational culture and designs that are suitable for construction firms in the digital age. An empirical study was conducted among selected construction firms in Lagos State. Construction firms with a minimum of five years of operations were purposively selected. Adopting the Organisational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) and the Miles and Snows' Strategy Typology, 49 structured questionnaires were administered to managers within the firms. The statistical tools used for the analysis include mean score and Spearman's Rho correlation. The results show that the firms adopt a prevalent clan culture, a highly formalised structure and defender strategy in their present transformation bid. The study concludes that the firms' culture is people-rather than process-oriented. An open culture (curious and innovative); a flexible structure (experimentation-friendly) and a strategy that supports gradual but incremental digitalisation are recommended for the firms' leadership as these will make the workplace mobile, and digitally interactive
Challenges of Regularisation of Informal Land Holdings in Lagos Mainland, Nigeria
No full textThis study investigated the regularization of informal land in Lagos Mainland in order to identify the challenges that are militating against formalization of such holdings. The objectives were to identify all areas that can be regularized by the public authority, to examine the factors militating against public efforts on informal land holders within Lagos-Mainland. The study was conducted with a survey of residents of Odogunyan-WAEC acquisition land community. A second survey was carried out for all professionals in the field of Town Planning, Estate Management and Valuation who were staff of the Directorate of Land Department in the Lagos State Lands Bureau. The data were analyzed mainly with descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Findings showed that factors such as high land charges by the government, complexity of modern methods of land holdings, increased rent seeking behavior, high land values, were considered as problems that hindered residents from formalization. Reducing the charges attached to land regularization is expected to have significant positive impact in Lagos State in general
Competitiveness and Informal Economy Practices of Architecture Engineering and Construction Consultants
No full textPurpose –The Nigerian informal economy is expanding significantly particularly in the built environment due to the ever-increasing demand for infrastructure development for Nigeria's developing economy. The increased demand for infrastructure results in active competition between the formal and informal sectors' activities of built environment consultants. The study investigates informality and competitiveness among Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) consultants.
Design/methodology/approach – The study deployed the quantitative method and adopted a survey design. A structured questionnaire was administered by hand among AEC consultants randomly selected from various AEC consultancy practices in Lagos.
Findings – The study established that some AEC consultants operated informally due to the tedious process and documentation involved in obtaining a business license and not necessarily to avoid tax payments. The study established a positive relationship between the competitiveness of AEC consultants in the informal sector.
Research limitations– This study focused on consultancy firms in the AEC sector as an integral part of the built environment. The research is limited to AEC consultancy firms in Lagos, Nigeria. Some respondents were reluctant and declined to disclose information involving their participation in the informal economy.
Theoretical/Social/Practical implications – The study established a positive formal-informal linkage among AEC consultants in the AEC sector, consultants should take advantage of this linkage to enhance their competitiveness in the AEC sector.
Originality/value – There is a positive relationship between the competitiveness of AEC consultants in the formal and informal sectors. The implications of informality among AEC consultants are social, economic, financial, contractual, and governance-relate
Motivations of Female Entrepreneurs in Housing Business and Implications for Sustainable Development of Affordable Housing in Lagos
No full textDespite growing belief that housing is a potent platform for alleviating poverty (SDG #1), promoting good health (SDG #3) and enhancing decent employment (SDG #8), it is worrisome that the sustainable provision of affordable housing for all remains unattainable in many cities across Nigeria, including Lagos. Consequently, entrepreneurs exploring opportunities in the housing sector are becoming more popular. Emerging evidence also affirms that female entrepreneurs are aggressively penetrating the housing market despite prevailing imbalances in gender representation. Given the humongous challenges faced by the Lagos housing market and the scarcity of studies exploring female entrepreneurship in the housing sector, this study examines motivations behind female entrepreneurial participation in the Lagos housing sector. Adopting a mixed research methodology, the authors sought to answer the research question: What are the factors motivating the participation of female entrepreneurs in the housing sector, especially in Lagos? The adopted eclectic approach involved collecting multiple data through social media and face-to-face interactions. Between October and November 2018, female entrepreneurs in the real estate business and residents of Lagos were asked why they opted for entrepreneurship in the housing sector. The responses gathered were critically reviewed and pulled to develop a survey instrument, which was later administered among 140 female entrepreneurs in housing across the state. Following the extraction of data, the choice of the number of factors to be retained was guided by a critical component of exploratory factor analysis. The findings show that the motivations of female entrepreneurs in the housing business can be categorized into three namely family satisfaction, personal achievements, and financial satisfaction. The study recommends that stakeholders in the housing sector should consider the peculiarities and aspirations of women when formulating housing and land policies
Climate Resilience and Global Polyethylene Bag Pollution: Exploring Synthesis of Biodegradable Plastic Bags from Cassava (Manihot esculenta) as a Solution
No full textPlastic bags are polymers of ethylene and are used in almost every aspect of everyday life across the globe for a variety of functions. After their use and disposal, plastic bags have no end-of-life time because of their non-degradable nature, leading to environmental contamination and pollution. As a way of disposing them, thermal treatment is employed but this leads to emissions that increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, eventually contributing to the climate crisis. Therefore, synthesis of biodegradable plastic bags offers an environment-friendly alternative for conventional plastic bags. A biodegradable plastic bag prototype was synthesized using renewable raw materials with lower carbon footprints. Among such materials was starch obtained from wasted cassava, glycerin and vinegar which served as plasticizers to make the bag flexible and less brittle. The use of renewable raw materials (cassava) with lower carbon footprints in the production of biodegradable plastic bags can therefore be considered as instrumental in reducing plastic bags waste contamination and pollution of the environment thereby contributing towards achieving climate-resilient cities
Addressing the Challenge of Housing Finance in Urban Africa
No full textHousing remains a basic human necessity that people, governments and societies have sought to meet using different methods and approaches over the years. The cost of housing provision has always been quite significant, often representing a person's largest single expenditure throughout life. Across the continent, many initiatives have been pursued to help ensure ample housing supply, with varying degrees of success. This paper therefore explores some of the various housing finance initiatives that have been introduced across many African countries since the colonial era. The study also examines possible solutions to the constraints militating against the funding of mass home ownership in Africa, especially in view of the implications of the continent's fast-rising population and its significant youth bulge. The study further identifies the key drivers of housing finance provision, the thorough understanding of which is central to adequately addressing the continent's considerable housing deficit, which the study also seeks to reasonably estimate. Successfully addressing the challenge of housing finance in urban Africa will firmly and directly contribute towards achieving the following specific Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 1 – No Poverty; SDG 8 – Decent Work & Economic Growth; SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure; SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities and SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities & Communities
Perceptions of Public and Private Sector Stakeholders on the Benefits and Challenges of Public-Private-Partnerships in Nigeria
No full textNigeria’s infrastructure deficit has become acute because of the country’s burgeoning population. The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, under labels such as Private-Finance Initiative (PFI) and Build Operate-Transfer (BOT), has been touted as the solution to the funding and other challenges confronting the country with regard to infrastructure development. This research sought to examine stakeholder experiences and perceptions on the benefits, abuse and challenges of deploying PPP for infrastructure procurement. The stakeholders investigated were in Lagos and Ogun States of Nigeria, although some of the experiences transcended the two states. Copies of the questionnaire were purposively administered to 115 professionals drawn from the built environment as well as from the legal and financial sectors of the Nigerian economy; the professionals were from the private and public sectors. Eighty-six (86) copies of the questionnaire were returned, with the data subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Ranking highest among the list of thirteen identified challenges investigated was ‘political interference outside the agreed rules of running the PPP framework’, while ‘inability to initiate or package PPP projects’ ranked least. The most significant form of abuse or disadvantage was ‘embezzling of public funds and reinvesting in PPP as private sector investor’, while the least significant form of abuse was determination of the concession period. The inferential statistical analyses found no significant difference between both sectors in the assessment factors except in the matter of ‘more careful approach in investing funds in infrastructure’. It is therefore recommended that there should be a continuous audit of stakeholder perceptions on various PPP issues that can form the baseline for impactful improvement and intervention in PPP projects
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS IN SELECTED PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LAGOS STATE
No full textThis study examined knowledge management practices and institutional effectiveness in selected public secondary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. The paper was guided by three research questions and three null hypotheses. This study employed survey research design. 3,057 respondents, comprising 2,806 teachers and 251 principals who were randomly selected across secondary schools in Lagos State served as sample for this study. Questionnaire was used for collection of data. The data collected were analysed using Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient at 0.05 level of significance. The paper revealed that: there is a significant influence of knowledge acquisition on institutional effectiveness in Lagos State public secondary schools; there is a significant influence of knowledge documentation on institutional effectiveness in Lagos State public Secondary Schools; and significant relationship exists between knowledge sharing and institutional effectiveness in Lagos State public secondary schools. The study concluded based on the findings of the study that knowledge management practices and institutional effectiveness in public secondary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria are significantly related. The paper recommended among others that: Government should promote teachers and principals’ acquisition of new information and ideas that can enhance their services delivery in secondary schools; and secondary schools principals should ensure that knowledge acquired through training, workshops and seminars are properly documented or preserved for effective school management