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Twinhood, Allegory and the Ambivalence of the Postcolonial Nation: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun
No full textChimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ has been widely read as a historical novel interested in retelling a national story. In the novel, Adichie returns to the story of the Nigerian Civil War of 1967-1970. She interrogates Nigeria’s state of postcolonial nationhood through the experiences of twin sisters Olanna and Kainene and their family and friends, whose lives have been drastically transformed by the war. This article discusses the interweaving of these personal lives and the national narrative in the novel, arguing that the author’s use of twins and other forms of pairing allegorizes the complex temporalities of the modern postcolonial nation. To conduct this discussion, the article draws theoretically on Frederic Jameson’s conception of national allegory, a view that places “Third World” narrative fiction as inherently representative of the national, and Homi Bhabha’s idea of the ambivalence of the nation, which proposes a narrative doubleness that combines historicist and everyday temporalities of the nation as a means to understanding modern nationhood. Engaging ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ from this perspective, the article positions the text as a novel that, despite narrating a conflict between two opposing national forces, constructs the postcolonial African nation as a complexity that defies binaristic reading
TERTIARY TEACHERS’ USE OF DIGITAL TOOLS FOR BLENDED LEARNING IN THE 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
No full textThe study investigated the use of digital tools for blended learning among tertiary teachers in the 21st century education in Abia State. Four research questions guided the study and three hypotheses formulated. Data were collected from the federal, state and private institutions. The population of the study was 267 academic staff from the Faculties of Education with a sample size of 110 using convenience sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a 4-section questionnaire developed by the researchers. Data were analyzed using percentages, mean and standard deviation for the research questions, while t-test was used to test the hypotheses. The study revealed that digital tools are rarely used by tertiary teachers, but social media being the most popular with a percentage of 50.9 at the frequency of 56, followed Projector 32(29.1%), PowerPoint 30(27.3%), Google Meet and Zoom 17(15.5%). The attitudes of teachers towards the use of digital tools in blended learning showed a grand mean of 2.44 to the negative statements indicating positive attitudes while the challenges showed a grand mean of 3.70. The major challenge revealed teachers’ lack of technological know-how with a mean score of 4.80, followed by staff poor working condition (4.37), lack of power supply (4.35), poor internet connectivity (4.05), and lack of support from the faculty (3.34). It was recommended that tertiary teachers be exposed to periodic training on digital tools and their utilization for blended learning to keep them abreast of the latest technological advancement
EFFECT OF EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND ON STUDENT SUCCESS DURING WEEDING EXAMINATION AT COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY GOMBE, GOMBE STATE
No full textThe research work was written on the effect of educational background as a key to student success during weeding examination at College of Nursing and Midwifery Gombe, Gombe State. The objective of the study was to explore the place of Formal education, informal education, and learning opportunity on student’s success during weeding examination and the research hypothesis stated there is significant difference between the formal education, informal education and learning opportunities received by student and their success during weeding examination at College of Nursing and Midwifery Gombe. In this study a quantitative research design was chosen, and the method used was a descriptive survey. The target population was first year students, and 60 students were used as sample. 60 Questionnaires were distributed to the subject, 54 were retrieved and one-way analysis of variance was employed for data analysis. The findings indicated that formal education does not have effect on student success during weeding examination with significant values of 0.79. Also, learning opportunity does not have significant effect on student success during weeding examination with significant value of 0.386, but informal education has significant effect on student success during weeding examination with significant value of 0.028 as demonstrated by one-way ANOVA with 95% confidence interval. The researcher recommends that; First year student nurses and midwives should engage in extracurricular activities and lecturer should do their best to identify the weaker students and give them more support for them to succeed during the weeding examination
ASSESSMENT OF PRE-SERVICE MATHEMATICS TEACHERS AND LECTURERS’ NEEDS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MATHEMATICS EDUCATION PROGRAMME IN SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA
No full textMathematics is a major subject at the secondary school level that have implication for daily routine of every human being. It importance to individual and society cannot be over emphasised. However, students’ poor performance in the subject which has been blamed on the teachers suggest that all is not well the teacher training that produces Mathematics teachers. Thus, the study assessed pre-service mathematics teachers and lecturers’ needs in the implementation of Mathematics education programme in Nigeria. The study adopted a qualitative survey research design. Purposive sampling technique was adopted to select twelve (12) pre-service teachers (100 level), twelve (12) Mathematics lecturers and twelve (12) Mathematics education lecturers for interview purposes. Qualitative data for the study were obtained through interviews. Lecturers’ Needs Interview Guide (LNIG) is semi-structured interview guide designed by the researcher to elicit the needs and concerns of facilitators of Mathematics education programmes. The guide contains instrument contains eight (8) open-ended questions. Data was analysed using Thematic Analysis. Result shows that the lecturers’ needs and expectations are good facilities and equipment, quality graduates, good remuneration and curriculum review, but majority revealed that it has not been met due to several challenges. Also, pre-service teachers’ needs are good grades, conducive learning environment and quality learning, which have not been met due to several challenges. Drawing from the findings the expectations of the lecturers and students were not met due to several challenges. It is recommended that Government should release funds to the university system to revitalise the university system which would help in the procurement of instructional material, equipment, construction of more good facilities
EFFECT OF PROJECTED INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA ON STUDENTS ' ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PHYSICS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KATSINA ZONAL EDUCATION QUALITY ASSURANCE
No full textThe study examined the effect of projected instructional media on students’ academic performance in physics among secondary schools in Katsina Zonal Education Quality Assurance. The study developed two objectives, answered two research questions and tested two research hypotheses. The study adopted Quasi-experimental research design. The population of the study comprised of 12,853 students from 25 secondary schools in Katsina Zonal Education Quality Assurance. Two schools were selected purposively, and intact classes were used in each school with a sample size of 156 students. Validated Physics Performance Test (PPT) with a reliability coefficient of 0.80 was used for data collection. The Research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation, while null hypotheses were tested at p<0.05 level of ‘significance using t-test independent sample. The findings revealed significant difference exists in the academic performance of the subjects exposed to projected instructional media and those taught using lecture method. Subject in the experimental group developed and obtained a significantly higher academic performance than subjects than in the control group. It was concluded that the students taught Physics using Projected Instructional Media perform significantly better than those taught using lecture method. It was recommended that Physics concepts should be taught using projected instructional media so as to improve students’ academic performance
ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ONLINE LECTURES AND EXAMINATION MODES IN BUSINESS STUDIES POST-COVID-19 ERA
No full textThis study assessed online lectures and examination modes in business studies during the post-COVID-19 period in selected secondary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. The research employed a multistage sampling technique, selecting 400 junior secondary school students from 15 schools across three educational districts. Data was collected using the Online Lectures and Examination Modes Assessment Questionnaire (OLEMAQ). The findings revealed a low level of parental guidance during virtual learning, with parents mainly providing devices and data subscriptions but minimally engaging in monitoring or assisting with online activities. The study found that paper-and-pencil examinations remained the primary assessment mode, despite the shift to online learning. Students perceived virtual learning platforms as highly user-friendly and beneficial, particularly in terms of self-paced learning, home-based study, and access to recorded lectures. However, challenges such as technical issues, poor learning conditions at home, high data costs, and inconsistent electricity supply were identified as significant barriers to effective online learning. The research concludes that while the transition to virtual learning methods was implemented, examination modes largely remained traditional. Recommendations include encouraging greater parental involvement, implementing diverse online assessment methods, ensuring device accessibility for all students, developing a state-specific virtual learning platform, and improving electricity supply to enhance the effectiveness of online education in Lagos State
Impact of Artificial Lighting in the Auditorium Building Spaces of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Nigeria
No full textPurpose: The study investigated the impact of artificial lighting in Auditorium building spaces in a typical private university. Artificial lighting is a useful architectural design factor of auditorium building spaces; for enhancing the spaces and setting the mood for creating functional environments.
Design/methodology/approach–The methodology obtained primary quantitative data from 45 respondents (n=45); from three (s=3) selected auditorium buildings within the University adapting purposive sampling from the initial sample size due to some research limitations and analysed statistically using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23.
Findings–It is noteworthy of the various existing artificial lighting design features; uniform light distribution had the highest mean score of 3.40 in the Auditorium Buildings while natural lighting had the highest mean score of 3.58 as influencing artificial lighting and visual comfort in the selected auditorium buildings while the availability of natural light sources with a mean score of 3.96 was the highest critical success factor.
Research limitations–It is essential to acknowledge the limitations of this research which lies in the selection of the Auditorium Buildings within the academic institution which could act as a bias in the deductions.
Research Implications–This study suggested further investigations on the critical success factors that may influence natural lighting via architectural design methods for the tropics serving as a reference point for implementation by policymakers.
Originality–The results obtained were based on original analysis of the selected auditorium buildings within the study area suggesting similar studies be carried out on other academic institutions
Urban Resilience in Africa: A Study of Land-Use Stresses on the Urban Environment in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana
No full textThe Greater Accra Metropolitan Area of Ghana is experiencing rapid urbanisation at the expense of the environment, with substantial pollution compromising the area's resilience. This article examines the spatial dynamics of pollution from land use in the area and its health-related impacts. Drawing on a desk review of the literature and a transdisciplinary empirical approach, this study employed participatory mapping and qualitative methods of analysis to examine the extent to which the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area is building resilience in the face of increasing environmental pollution induced by land use. The researchers found spatial variations in the phenomenon, i.e. community-specific land-use pollution and general land-use pollution. Community-specific land-use pollution comes from dust and fumes, quarries and sand weaning, historical preservations, and transport corridors. General land-use pollution found across the study area related to dusty areas, noise from markets and churches, contamination of water bodies, solid and liquid waste, as well as excessive spillage of lubricants and carbon monoxide from car engines – all of which poses a threat to human health. Although both local and successive national governments have initiated different actions and platforms to mitigate pollution from land use and its health impacts, Ghana must work harder to build a framework of more sustainable and robust urban resilience
Black Scorpion and the 1970 Apapa Port Congestion
Get PDFThe study examined the Apapa Port congestion of 1970 which became an albatross for the fledgling Gowon junta as Nigeria, heavily import-export dependent, grappled with immediate post-civil-war economic difficulties compounded by a clogged maritime gateway that threatened the peace dividend. The regime desperately turned to a noted disciplinarian, Colonel Benjamin Adekunle, aka Black Scorpion, the no-nonsense former head of the 3rd Marine Command which had routed Biafra’s secessionist forces at Port Harcourt to facilitate Nigeria’s victory, but who was untidily shunted aside in 1969, following the clandestine politics of the country and her vicious military sector. Although alienated, Adekunle became the military port commandant charged with clearing the gateway by all means. Using archival, primary, and secondary data sources, the paper examines Nigeria’s underlying sociopolitical fault lines using relevant theoretical frameworks and Adekunle’s rare oral interview to interrogate his persona, the controversies of the time, the achievements of the military port commandant-in-council, and how the hinterland delivery problems of the era were subjected to management by design strategies in future port and highway developments. The findings include unbalanced national utilization of port facilities in favour of the Lagos port system, with the conclusion that the skew was largely responsible for the frequent congestions whose resolution options must include harmonized nationwide redistribution of gateway functions in line with economic realities
On Collapse Of Order-Preserving and Idempotent of Order-Preserving Full Contraction Transformation Semigroup
No full textLet Tn be the set of full transformation semigroup on Xn = {1, 2, 3, · · · , n}, C +(α) =|OCTn |= q be it’s subsemigroup on collapse of order-preserving full contraction transformation, C +(αE) =| E(OCTn) |= qE be the collapse on idempotent of order-preserving full contraction transformation and C +(α) =| C +(α) |= ∪t∈Imα | {tα−1 ≥ 2} | be the formula for total number of collapsible element.In this paper, we investigate the collapse element on order-preserving and idempotent of order- reserving full contraction transformation semigroup