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Earthing Hazards on Construction Sites: Health and Safety Programme Framework for Small-Scale Construction Firms
Get PDFA review of most of the studies related to injuries, accidents and work-related diseases on construction sites revealed the causes, effects, and steps to be taken towards ensuring workers’ health and safety and profitable project delivery. These studies reveal that the major means of achieving a healthy and safe workplace is through the identification of workplace hazards and the reduction of safety risks. Consequently, this study examines the type of hazards on construction sites and proposes a framework of health and safety programme (a subset of the health and safety management system) for small scale indigenous firms. These objectives were achieved through focus group discussions and interviews with 17 construction stakeholders, in Lagos. It was revealed that the most frequent hazard was tripping and falling, with the risks of sprains, fractures or sometimes death. Besides, the workers were not aware of the factors that could lead to injuries and accidents, not to mention the minimization of such occurrences. The framework consists of recommended practises for safety culture, and this will be instrumental to the firms’ management in the identification of the various hazards, evaluation of risks inherent and assessment of the control measures that would be required. This will, eventually, improve the firm's bidding technique, enhance quality delivery, aid client satisfaction while earning the firm a good image. On the part of the workers, the use of the framework through its introduction during induction or toolbox talks will equip the workers with what is required and thus be able to improve health and safety in the workplace
The Introduction of Western Education in Sierra Leone and the Emergence of the Educated Elite (1787 – 1850)
No full textIn 1787, the Sierra Leone colony was founded as a “province of freedom” by British philanthropists and abolitionists to settle down former slaves from England, in addition to a number of AfricanAmerican blacks who fought on the British side in the American War for Independence. The first settlers were joined by the 1790’s by new African-American settlers, Nova Scotians and Maroons, as well as freed slaves who had been liberated by the British navy since 1808. The Sierra Leone colony became therefore, a centre for the suppression of the slave trade. British abolitionists under the leadership of Granville Sharp regarded the introduction of western education and Christianity throughout the colony as the best means to help campaign against the business of the trade in men. On January 01, 1808, Sierra Leone was declared a crown colony. The colony which was established as a base to get rid of the unwanted blacks came to represent in the British eyes the best means for the advancement of western civilisation, Christianity, and legitimate commerce to their own benefit. To have their objectives attained, the British provided the Creoles in the Sierra Leone colony with western education and possibilities of trade in addition to other privileges. The introduction of western education in the Sierra Leone colony led to the formation of a new class of people known in the Sierra Leone society as “the educated elite” or “the westernised elite.” The Sierra Leonean educated elite were well aware of the European culture and civilisation. They adopted a European dressing style and possessed European names. Furthermore, the education they had acquired helped them to understand and cope with the changes colonial government brought about in the colony
Le Français et le processus d’intégration en Afrique (French and Africa’s Integration Process)
No full textIt is necessary to emphasize that France and the French language remain in the vanguard of integration efforts in Africa. From colonization era till present day, functional integration organizations, engineered by language and communication contents, had emerged and continue to emerge in francophone Africa for better prospects of their socio – economic development. Communauté Financière Africaine (CFA), Union Economique et Monétaire de L’Ouest Afrique (UEMOA) Communauté Economique et Monétaire de L’Afrique Centrale (CEMAC) and their Central Banks – BCEAO and BCEAC, show how better unified and integrative they are than the Anglophone Africa. In this presentation, we outline some of the facilitating integrative processes of the Francophone Africa, analyse their contents and extrapolate them to Africa’s integration for a better integration process in Africa. Our recommendations are also instructive. Note that West African Monetary Union (WAMU) is experiencing difficult take-off and, its effective take-off needs some lessons from France on Francophone Africa
Autobiography As Biography: A Commentary on Wole Soyinka’s Creation of Characters in Ake
No full textThis brief essay examines Wole Soyinka’s Ake: The Years of Childhood as an autobiography that is equally a biography, which examines the lives of other persons outside the autobiographer’s. The central argument is that Soyinka utilizes the novelistic mode, precisely mythologization as well as impressionistic and suggestive naming of closely observed characters, to underline the status of Ake as creative literature rather than a mere factual or historical narrative
James Baldwin’s Go Tell it on the Mountain and the Psychoanalytic Poetics: Affirming the Subjectivity of the African American
No full textAlthough James Baldwin’s Go Tell it on the Mountain has attracted some critical analysis, most critics seem to see the novel either as Baldwin’s creative confrontation with American racism or as an imaginative exploration of the role of the church or the Christian religion in the lives of African Americans. But how the psychoanalytic poetics features in the novel and the reason for its employment appears to be largely ignored. In this essay, I utilize some psychoanalytic concepts in the reading of the novel, and argue that Baldwin’s characters’ internal (psychological) and external (sociological) conflicts are inseparable since their external problems serve as catalysts for their internal ones and vice-versa. Robert Tomlinson has noted that “when analyzing his (Baldwin’s) artistic development, critics tend to polarize the private and the public” (135). But as it is already evident, in this paper, I demonstrate that such dichotomy or polarization does not figure in Baldwin’s Go Tell it on the Mountain. I then conclude the essay by contending that Baldwin’s appropriation of the psychoanalytic poetics is not just for the fun of it, but to affirm the subjectivity of the African American. In this way, he humanizes the African American who has been dehumanized by white American epistemological thought
The Concept of Chromaticism in African Art Music: An Analysis of Selected Works of Lazarus Ekwueme
No full textChromaticism can be defined in different ways. The definition of chromatics provides a standard characterization: “In melodic and harmonic analysis the term ‘chromatic’ is generally applied to notes marked with accidentals foreign to the scale of the key in which the passage is written” (Dyson & Drabkin, 2006). Most music theorists would use this as a point of departure for an extended discussion of the importance of chromaticism in relation to musical organization – including both vertical (harmonic) and horizontal (melodic) processes. It is possible that a passage modulates to a different key without a commensurate change of key signature. Consequently, an accidental may render a note consistent with this prevailing (modulated) key yet be construed as “chromatic” in light of the key signature. One difficulty with this operational definition is that it fails to distinguish “degrees” of chromaticism. For example, a chromatic passing tone might be viewed as less indicative of “chromaticism” than a structural chromatic tone. Although our operational definition of “chromatic” fails to capture all of the nuances of chromatic theory, it may nevertheless provide a practical index that characterizes the broad trends (D.Perttu,2007). The main focus of this study is to delineate the conceptual view of chromatic application in the works of Lazarus Ekweme in African Arts context. Moreover , this study sieves out the symbolic meanings of chromatics as applied in Ekweme’s Missa-Africana.  
Painting as an Object of Philosophy
No full textThis paper surveys the similarity between painting and philosophy; comparing the textual and the visual evidence of both sides as they bring meaning and understanding to humanity. It argues that both subjects are largely similar, seemingly differing only in character. A reflection on expressions and creations of scholars provides bases upon which the conclusion is drawn in this research that visual art is creativity and creativity is philosophy. Contrary to the popular insinuation in contemporary African society, there is no significant difference between art and philosophy. Objective wise, one bears evidence of textual truth while another locates a hermeneutic truth within the elements and principles of design. The common goal is locating the truth, the essence, the abode of lasting peace
Phases of Learning in Music: A Panacea for the Development of Musical Aptitude
No full textThe ordinary procedure in teaching and learning music appears to be wasteful, considering that known laws as applied in other subjects in the social sciences and sciences are not applied to the subject of music. The teaching of musical notation, ear training and sight reading as well as singing could be vastly improved by the simple application of a few principles as obtained in other disciplines. To this end, the psychology of music presents a challenge and a service to teachers and students of music. This study emphasises the phases that lead to the acquisition of musical skills in children using principles proposed by Gordon and Gardner. Ten secondary schools were selected through a stratified random sampling procedure from five education districts. The study used a sample of selected male and female participants for each of the selected schools as proposed. The musical aptitude test was used in investigating the level of musical aptitude in both male and female respondents. The Chi-square statistical tool was used for this purpose. The implication of the findings is that knowledge of students’ musical aptitude would assist in the selection of musical materials, their content as well as the teaching strategies appropriate for each student
The Nigerian Visual Art Critics: Watchdogs or Pets?
No full textArt critics and criticism are crucial to the growth of art practice. They serve as chaperons to art through the feedback they give on the practice, trend and quality of artworks. The art critic has been described in many ways, with his role being seen as complementary to the development of art. Unfortunately, professional criticism, the type that moulds and goads art practice to attaining the loftiest height possible, is not widespread in Nigeria. Praise singing and vilification are in many cases bandied as art criticism. This paper examines the art critic and criticism in Nigeria, identifies the causes of the low number and quality of art critics and their unprofessional practices. It proffers recommendations on how art critics and criticism can be improved
Euphemisms as Substitutes for Verbal Taboos in Igbo Language Dynamics
Get PDFSome Igbo words and expressions are hardly used openly, especially in mixed company. Such lexemes refer to in this study as verbal taboos play crucial roles in the understanding of certain aspects of the world view in Igbo society This paper examines and describes the various categories of some of such words, the reason(s) behind their avoidance, and the strategies involved when the concepts referenced in such words or expressions must be employed. Data comprising one hundred and fifty of the taboo words/expressions were elicited through oral interviews from two hundred Igbo native speakers representing various individuals without recourse to age, sex, educational background, occupation, and location. The respondents were randomly selected and interviewed based on convenience random sampling. The researcher equally relied on her intuitive knowledge of the language. The theoretical framework adopted for the analysis is Politeness and Face approach as proposed in Brown and Levinson (1978, 1987). Findings show that the open usage avoidance of the words/expressions in question is conditioned by cultural and religious norms of the society; and that euphemisms are mostly used as replacements for the avoided lexemes in certain contexts. The adoption of new lexemes, however, also brings about changes in the context of use of the items in the language