Benue State University Institutional Repository
Benue State University Institutional RepositoryNot a member yet
592 research outputs found
Sort by
INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES AND MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA
Get PDFThis study examined the perceived impact of infrastructural facilities on management of public Colleges of Education in North Central Nigeria. Seven research questions and seven null hypotheses guided the study. The study employed ex-post facto research design. The population of the study comprised 12,850 (5758 academic staff and 7,092Non-Academic staff) from 15 colleges of education. A sample of 374 respondents was selected for the study using multi-stage sampling procedure. The instruments for data collection were Infrastructural Facilities and Management Questionnaire (IFMQ) and Infrastructural Facilities and Management Interview Schedule (IFMIS) with reliability coefficient of 0.80. Mean score and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. Interviews results were presented in tables, graphs and charts. Chi-square was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that lecture halls, hostel accommodation, staff offices, library facilities, steady power supply, recreational facilities and water supply have significant impact on the management of public Colleges of Education in North Central Nigeria. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that government, management and private partners should put more efforts towards building lecture halls in colleges of education. This could be through mobilizing alumni and other fund raising avenues such as convocation and launching ceremonies where money could be donated to build lecture halls. College management, private individuals and government should build more hostels for students. They should also endeavour to repair and renovate dilapidated hostel buildings. School management should ensure that students keep the hostel clean in order to increase the life span of the hostels
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
Get PDFThis research assessed the contributions of civil society organizations (CSOs) to educational
development in Benue State. The objectives of the study were to assess the CSOs that are
involved in educational development, the extent of their involvement, the specific areas they
have contributed to educational development and factors limiting their contributions to
educational development in Benue State. The study had two research assumptions. The first
assumption stated that CSOs have not contributed significantly to educational development while
the second assumption averred that CSOs lack the conducive environment to promote
educational development in Benue State. Marxist theory was used to argue that CSOs have not
been able to contribute significantly to educational development because they are agents of
capitalism masquerading as agents of development. Open-ended questionnaire, key informant
interview and documentary sources were the major instruments of data collection used. The
sample size of the study was 361. Data obtained through the questionnaires were analysed
quantitatively with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The assumptions of
the study and data obtained from Key Informants were analysed descriptively. Findings from the
study revealed that respondents were aware of the CSOs involved in educational development in
their communities. The study also observed that CSOs contributed to educational development in
Benue State through the provisions of educational infrastructure, scholarship, capacity building
and the promotion of mass literacy. However, looking at the education needs of the state vis-avis
the contributions made by CSOs, the study concluded that CSOs did not contribute
significantly to educational development in Benue State. Inadequate funding, corruption, lack of
capacity and lack of cooperation among CSOs were identified as some of the major factors
limiting the contributions of CSOs to educational development in Benue State. The study
recommended that CSOs should be open, transparent and accountable, Government should affect
appropriate review of existing legislations to ensure the full involvement of CSOs as critical
stakeholders in the design, monitoring and implementation of educational policies in the State
and that CSOs should build their own capacities to be able to withstand the complexity of
modern development challenges
PRINCIPALS’ LEADERSHIP EFFECTIVENESS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA
Get PDFThis study examined Principals’ Leadership Effectiveness and Management of Public Secondary
Schools in North Central Nigeria. The purpose of the study was to investigate impact of
principals’ leadership effectiveness in the areas of instructional supervision, communication,
provision of instructional materials, involvement of teachers in decision making, discipline,
evaluation of students’ performance and community relation skills on the management of public
secondary schools. Seven research questions guided the study and seven null hypotheses were
formulated and tested. The review of literature was done under theoretical framework,
conceptual framework and empirical studies. The study adopted survey research design. The
population of the study comprised 34,473 teachers from 1,949 public secondary schools. A
sample of 1,737 teachers was taken for the questionnaire and 100 for the interview schedule all
from 100 public secondary schools using multi-stage sampling technique of Principals’
Leadership Questionnaire (PLEQ) with reliability coefficient of 0.97 and Interview schedule on
Principals Leadership (IPL) were used for data collection. Mean and standard deviation were
used to answer the research questions. Chi-Squire test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05
level of significance. The result showed that principals’ leadership effectiveness do significantly
impact on management of secondary schools in the areas of instructional supervision,
communication, provision of instructional materials, decision making, discipline, evaluation of
students and community relation skills in the management. Based on the findings of the study, it
was recommended among others that principals should be adequately enlightened with more
robust supervision strategies through seminars and conferences which may include classroom
observation, analysis/strategy, post observation conferences and post conferences analysis and
that Ministries of Education should make it mandatory for all school heads to be involved in
students’ evaluation in order to assess teachers’ job outputs as well as students’ academic
performance
EFFECT OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND PACKAGING MATERIALS ON SHELF-LIFE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF STORAGE PEPPER
No full textA field experiment laid out in 3x3x3 factorial in Completely Randomized Design (CRD), replicated three times was conducted in 2017 and 2018 cropping season at Makurdi to study the effects of calcium chloride and packaging materials on shelf life and physiological quality of storage pepper {Capsicum spp). Pepper fruits were harvested at breaker stage from University of Agriculture Makurdi with stalk based on the visual maturity. Unblemished, same colour and size were sorted, washed, treated with three levels of calcium chloride (0%, 1% and 1.5%) for 5 minutes and stored for 24 days in three different packaging materials (plastic baskets, plastic baskets wrapped with polypropylene and plastic baskets wrapped with polypropylene and polyurethane (evaporative coolant) under ambient condition with temperature of (32.35±2.45°C) and relative humidity of (63.64±7.38% RH). Evaporative coolant conditions were taken twice daily, using wet and dry bulb placed inside the Evaporative coolant with temperature of (28.31±3.85°C) and relative humidity of (83.84±9.33% RH), which were assessed for quality and shelf life over the storage period of 24 days. The outer wall of the packaging materials was been wet with lOcl of water at 6am and 6pm for the storage period under ambient condition. Physiological qualities such as fruit weight loss, decay percentage, dry matter, colour, shelf life and biochemical composition (pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, capsaicin and total phenol) were analyzed. The result revealed that there was gradual increase in physiological qualities and biochemical composition as the storage period increase with exception of titratable acidity which showed decrease as storage period advanced up to 24 days in storage. Samples of pepper species were significantly sustainable for 24 days in evaporative coolant basket treated with CaClz @ 1.5% concentration compared to samples stored in basket without treatment. More than 75% of stored pepper in evaporative coolant remained marketable and consumable at 24 days of storage and were significantly superior to pepper stored in the other treatments investigated.
The results of the period of storage affected the proximate composition of the fresh pepper revealed the optimum period that fresh pepper can be stored without losing their essential properties in the storage system. Moisture, ash, protein, lipid, fiber and carbohydrate contents were assessed. The study revealed that there were slow decreases in the quality parameters as the days increasing until after 18 days where high value of decrease in nutrient was recorded. This findings suggested that all the three peppers contains large amount of nutrients; however was observed that fresh pepper stored beyond 18 days lost all its substantial nutritional properties. Isolation and identification of fungi causing decay in stored fresh pepper fruits was carried out. Samples were collected from the decay stored fresh pepper in polythene envelopes and taken to the laboratory for fungal isolation. The result revealed, five fungi found in decay pepper, namely Aspergillus niger, Fusarium moniliforme, Colletotrichum asianum, Bipolaris zeicola and Fusarium oxysporum with 35.55%, 26.67%, 20%, 11.11% and 5.93% percentage occurrence respectively. Pathogenicity of isolates ranged from 4 — 5 which indicated 61-100% of decay. The presence of these fungi in pepper could lead to severe health hazards through consumption.Physiological Quality of Storage Peppe
CHARACTERIZATION AND COMPARATIVE QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF PACHIRA AQUATICA SEED OIL AND EXTRACTS
No full textPachira aquatica is cultivated and grown as an ornamental plant but neglected as a fruit tree in Nigeria. In this study the seeds of the plant were analyzed to establish the chemical compositions and nutritional properties in order to investigate their potential use in human, animals and industries. Soxhlet extraction technique using hexane was employed for the extraction of the Pachira aquatica seed oil from Pachira aquatica seed. Proximate analyses showed that it has high amounts of protein and oil. The results of the proximate analysis on wet basis revealed moisture content of (9.74±0.12 %), protein (19.90±0.26 %), ether extract (44.43±0.70%), ash (4.11±0.003 %), fibre (3.70±0.18%), carbohydrate (18.12±0.40%), and energy value (547.14±0.32 Kcal/lOOg), while mineral Constituents of the seeds were potassium (10611.74 ±1.88 mg/L), phosphorus (4007.86±0.48 mg/L), calcium (1387.00±0.17 mg/L) and arsenic (0.01±0.0.00 pg/L). The phytochemical results showed presence of alkaloid, tannins, flavonoid, glycosides and phenol which indicated that the plant possess antifungal, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, thus, presenting a broad potential across numerous therapeutic applications. The major saturated fatty acid was palmitic acid, while the main unsaturated fatty acid was oleic acid and the polyunsaturated fatty acid was linoleic acid for the seed oils, which Confirmed that the oil contains high saturated fatty acid which was in line with result obtain from the 1H-NMR analysis of triglycerol fraction of the oil. GC-MS analysis further confirmed the presence of large amount of saturated fatty acid in the oil. These seed oils had characteristically low acidity and peroxide values. The seeds and seed oils were of a good quality and could be used in domestic and industrial purposes. Also, the seed of the plant has a traditional potential to improve both human and livestock nutrition, boost food security, promote rural development as well as play significant role in poverty alleviation.Pachira Aquatica Seed Oil and Extract
THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHTS OF THE NIGERIAN CHILD: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS
No full textThe child is an integral part of human society; importantly the future existence of the society depends on the health and wellbeing of the child. That is why the childis regarded as a national asset. The need for the protection and enforcement of the rights of the child in order to prepare him for future task is, therefore, imperative. Nigeria is signatory to various international and regional instruments for the protection and enforcement of the rights of the child. At the domestic level, various legal and institutional frameworks have been put in place for the protection, promotion and enforcement of the rights of the child. Despite the overabundance of various international, regional and domestic legal instruments for the enforcement of the rights of the child, the enjoyment of these rights in Nigeria is still bedevilled with lots of challenges. In carrying out the research, both THE doctrinal and empirical research approaches were adopted.the doctrinal research approach utilizes both primary and secondary sources of law from which inferences were drawn as the basis for some of the findings in the work, with the objective of principally finding solutions to the challenges to the enforcement of the rights of the child in Nigeria.The empirical data reflected the various factors that constitute challenges to the enforcement of the rights of the child in Nigeria. It was found that among the factors constituting challenges to the enforcement of the rights of the child,religious factor ranked the most, followed by corruption and cultural factors. Lack of implementation mechanisms formost laws on the rights of the child, non justiciability of some of the rights ofprovided in the Child’s Rights Act, (CRA) 2003 and the conflicting provision of laws on the rights of the child are other challenges to the enforcement of the rights of the child. The child cannot utilize the benefit of the rights articulated for his enjoyment in Nigeria due to insecurity, illiteracy and economic factors. It is recommended that the Child’s Rights Act, (CRA) 2003,the principal legislation relating to the rights of the child should be amended to include some aspects of Child’s Rights protection not included therein such asthe rights of the child with disability; to specifically reflect the rights of the disabled child.Also that the Borstal Institutions and Remand Centres Act and other allied laws, be amended to empower States to establish their own Borstal Institutions and Remand Centres, so as to solve the problems associated with the detention of children in adult facility. Furthermore, monitoring and reporting mechanisms be put in place to track and follow-up child’s right violation and challenges, especially with respect to the child whose rights are susceptible to violation.The contribution of this research to the body of knowledge is principally the discovery of the role and impact of non-governmental organizations, individuals, civil societies and the likes in the enforcement of the rights of the child without which the rights of the child will forever remain a mirage
BOKO HARAM TERRORISM AND MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN THE NORTH-EASTERN NIGERIA
Get PDFThe study investigated Boko Haram Terrorism and management of Public universities in North Eastern Nigeria. The specific purposes of the study is to examine the influence of Boko Haram Terrorism on planning of curriculum activities, attendance, enrollment, plants, records, funding and staff training in the Public Universities in the North Eastern Nigeria also seven research questions and seven hypotheses guided the study. The review of related literatures was done under various sub-headings, namely, the theoretical framework, conceptual framework and empirical studies. The research design adopted in this study was descriptive survey design. The population comprised 7,328 academic and Non-academic senior staff from Eleven (11) Public Universities. A sample of 733 academic and non-academic senior staff was taken for the questionnaire and 80 for the interview schedule all in 11 universities using multiple stage sampling technique. Boko Haram terrorism and management questionnaire (BHTMQ) with a reliability coefficient of 0.72 and interview schedule was also used for data collection. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the seven research questions, Chi-square was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that; Boko Haram terrorism has significant influence on planning of curriculum activities in Public Universities in North-Eastern Nigeria, Boko Haram terrorism has significant influence on attendance in the universities, Boko Haram terrorism has significant influence on enrolment in the universities, Boko Haram terrorism has significant influence on university plant in the universities, Boko Haram terrorism has significant influence on academic records in the universities, Boko Haram terrorism has significant influence on funding in the universities and Boko Haram terrorism has significant influence on staff training in the universities. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that government should provide security (such as army, air force, and mobile police) around universities that are in the North Eastern states of Nigeria to avoid further attacks by terrorist groups. Government should do everything possible within its powers to make peace with the insurgents, through religious leaders, traditional leaders and even Non-governmental agencies (NGOs), in order to bring peace into the region as this would further enhance enrollment into the university education
MEASURES OF STUDENTS' CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND REASONING OF UPPER BASIC SCHOOL GEOMETRY USING TWO-TIER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS IN BENUE STATE NIGERIA
Get PDFThis study investigated the measures of students’ conceptual understanding and reasoning of Junior Secondary School Geometry using Two-Tier Diagnostic tests in Education Zone ‘C’ of Benue State, Nigeria. Seven research questions guided the study while three hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted a case study design incorporating both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The sample size of the study comprised 594 Upper Basic One students selected through simple random sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a researcher’s developed Two-Tier Multiple-Choice Geometry Diagnostic Test (TTMCGDT). The instrument underwent Cycle I and Cycle II revision processes. The instrument was subjected to a reliability analysis using classical approach of Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (K-R 20) which yielded 0.71. Psychometric analysis of the items showed a difficulty index (D.I.) ranging from 0.3 to 0.7 and an index of discriminating (I.D) of between 0.3 and 0.6. Item separation index (reliability) was 0.53. The first research question was answered using item response theory of Rasch Partial Credit Model. The remaining six research questions were answered using frequency count, percentages, mean and standard deviation. The hypotheses were tested using t-test statistic. The Findings revealed that percentage of students with right conceptions of geometry knowledge was between 40.20% and 74.81%. Further findings showed that TTMCGDT diagnosed 38 misconceptions from 30 items of geometry concepts. Finding further revealed that students differed in terms of misconceptions and their conceptual understanding of geometry knowledge (t217 = 9.40; p =.00) in favor of misconceptions. Further finding also showed that there was no significant difference in terms of conceptual understanding of geometry knowledge between male and female students (t217 = -1.67; p = 0.09). However, students differed in terms of misconceptions (t217 = -2.86; p= 0.005) in favor of female students. The findings also revealed that 52.11% of Upper Basic One students only attained visualization (first) level of Van Hiele’s geometric reasoning as their initial level of geometric thinking. Based on the findings, it was recommended amongst others that TTMCGDT should be used as a tool for lesson evaluation and assessment to elicit students’ right conceptions and reasoning to diagnose their misconceptions. The school authorities should also initiate support workshops, seminars and in-service training programmes aimed at giving serving teachers the opportunity to learn how to develop and use two-tier tests as the effective assessment model for diagnosing achievement and learning difficulties.SEL
ETHICAL ISSUES IN CASES OF DIVORCE IN SELECTED NKST(URCC) CONSISTORIES IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
Get PDFDivorce is dissolution of marriage through judicial or non-judicial means. A critical look at the
state of marriage in Universal Reformed Christian Church (URCC) in Benue State reveals that
divorce is increasingly becoming a common trend among URCC couples. This study therefore
has investigated the causes for increasing rate of divorce among couples in URCC. It has also
studied the effects of divorce on the couple, children, the church and the society while
identifying the ethical issues in divorce in the Universal Reformed Christian Church in Benue
State. The work is based on the theoretical framework known as Vulnerability Stress Adaptation
Model which is an integrated theory that describes certain variables that affects marital stability.
This work employed the qualitative research design where data was sourced from books,
Journals, and periodicals. The work also used interviews and questionnaires to source primary
data from select communicant and divorced members of URCC in Benue State. The findings
revealed that insensitivity of couples to each other’s needs is remotely responsible for divorce.
Some of the immediate causes are infertility, infidelity, poverty, poor communication,
unrealistic expectations and forced or compulsive marriages among other factors with
attendance negative effects on the family, church and the society. The ethical problems of
divorce were identified to include; sexual promiscuity, drugs and alcohol abuse, step families,
violent behaviour, lack of proper moral upbringing of children, lack of pastoral care for the
divorced and excommunication from Church. In the light of these findings, the work
recommends that married members of URCC must reflect seriously on the ethical implications
of divorce, avoid those things that cause divorce and work harder on their marriages to remain
together. The URCC leadership should also make pastoral provision for their members who are
divorced through post-divorce education, family support, and the assistance of professional
support services which can be valuable tools in helping parents and children in their adjustment
process after divorce. The work concludes that married couples and the leaders in URCC should
be more proactive in promoting marital stability to reduce the occurrences of divorce which is a
negation of the will of God for marriage. However, those who must divorce should also be
encouraged to stay back in the Church and given necessary support in order to minimise the
negative socio-ethical implications of divorce
ETHICAL ISSUES IN THE BOKO HARAM’S RELIGIOUS TERRORISM IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
Get PDFBoko Haram is a religious terrorist organisation. It has identified itself as an Islamic
organisation, but Muslims have argued against that identification. Boko Haram became
publicly violent in 2003 in Kanama, Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe state, Nigeria
where they are believed to have originated in 2002. They see themselves as the only true
representatives of Allah, while attacking Western civilisation. They carried out their initial
public attacks between 21 December 2003 and January 2004 and caused much destruction in
Yunusari, Borsari, Tarnuwa, Geidam, and Damaturu Local Government Areas of Yobe State.
The problem of Boko Haram evidently entered Plateau state on 24 December 2010 with the
bombing of Kabong and Angwan Rukuba areas of Jos. Following those two attacks, the
activities of the Boko Haram religious terrorists had spread to other parts of Plateau state.
They carry out their attacks through guerrilla warfare, suicide bombing, placing explosives in
crowded places, shootings, assassinations and kidnapping. The study used phenomenological
method which deals with what is seen, heard, felt and experienced, also the characteristics of
Boko Haram. Unstructured interview method was used in collecting data from victims,
parents, relatives, security agents, religious leaders, traditional leaders and government
officials. Focus group discussions were held with selected groups of victims and security
agents. While other methods were being used in the study, observation method was keenly
used in collecting data from relevant areas in Plateau state. The study dwelt on
consequentialist ethical theory, which states that the consequences of a person’s action are the
basis of judging the rightness or wrongness of that action. Boko Haram’s religious terrorism
has caused a widespread destruction of life and property in Plateau state. Many people were
killed in different places, and property was destroyed on a larger scale, such as churches,
mosques, police stations, military bases, markets and houses. As a result, the people of
Plateau state have experienced emotional problems such as trauma, depression, frustration,
stress, distress, worry, hopelessness and desperation in different degrees. In the context of
this situation, there have been tension, threat and fear among the people of Plateau state. The
study has then made some recommendations. Religious terrorism should be included in the
educational curriculum in Nigeria. Sound theological education should be inculcated by
Christians and Muslims. Adequate and sustainable welfare programmes should be provided
for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Comprehensive reconciliation, rehabilitation and
reconstruction should be carried out in Plateau state. Finally, for efficient, creative,
innovative, effective, productive and prompt service delivery by the security agents,
maximum funding and effective equipment should be provided promptly in order to maintain
and sustain high morale among them