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ASSESSMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE OF EXTENSION SERVICES OF BENUE STATE AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (BNARDA) IN OKPOKWU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA BENUE STATE
No full textThis study assessed the performance of extension services of Benue State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (BNARDA) in Okpokwu Local Government Area, Benue State Nigeria. The assessment was performed on the achievements of BNARDA as against its mandates, as well as the farmers’ level of satisfaction with the outcome of BNARDA. The methodology includes the use of questionnaires, interview and focus group discussion and a checklist. Using stratified and systematic sampling techniques, 267 farmers were sampled from the 800 contact farmers and administered the questionnaire. Furthermore, questionnaires were administered to ten staff of BNARDA. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and analytical tools such as percentages and frequencies and computation of Relative Satisfaction Index (RSI). The study shows performance deficit in tarred road, offices, yam seedling, rice species, training of farmers, insecticide and herbicides. Furthermore, the study shows that the farmers indicated high level of satisfaction only on untarred roads services (75%), cassava stem provision, (54.8%) maize grain provision (67.1%) and fertilizer provision (64.3%). Low satisfaction was expressed in the other areas of the service delivery. The study found that the poor performance of BNARDA emanated from a number of issues ranging from poor transparency, poor funding in terms of budgetary allocation and release, lack of manpower among others; hence the abysmal performance of BNARDA. The study therefore recommended that there should be public/private synergy, provision of policy instruments and intensified participatory approach. Also attitudinal change that will create a favourable atmosphere for the much desired performance of BNARDA to accomplish its mandates is recommended.SEL
ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF WATER VENDED BY WATER VENDORS (MAI-RUWA) IN MAKURDI METROPOLIS.
No full textThe study assessed the quality of water supplied by water vendors to households in Makurdi Metropolis. Water samples were collected from 20 water vendors at 5 different locations spread across Makurdi Metropolis, marked as SW1,SW2, SW3, SW4 for surface water; HDW1, HDW2, HDW3, HDW4 for hand dug well water; BHW1, BHW2, BHW3, BHW4 for borehole water and TW1, TW2, TW3, TW4 for treated water from the State Water Board and analyzed for physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters. The results obtained were compared with standards recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2006). Colour values were not within acceptable limits for all the sources. Turbidity; Potential Hydrogen (pH); Conductivity; Total Dissolved Solids; Iron; Chloride; and Nitrate values were within acceptable limits for all the sources while Odour and Fluoride were not found at all. Coli-form organism was detected in 14 samples out of the 20 while Escherichia Coli (E-Coli) were detected in 9 out of the 20 samples collected. The percentage of Coli-form in all the sources at Wurukum, High-Level, Wadata and Demekpe areas was 75% each while North Bank was 50% and E.Coli in all the sources at Wurukum is 0%; High-Level and Wadata was 25% each, North Bank 75% and Demekpe having the highest 100% E.Coli. The socio-economic and environmental factors that may affect water quality were also looked into. Vendors main sources of water supply were borehole, hand-dug well, water board and surface water. 77.5% never treat, 20% sometimes treat while 12.5% often treat; some said they do not treat water because of the high cost involved and is not necessary while others said they have no knowledge of treatment option while Proximity of soak-aways and waste dump sites to the source of water, Surface runoff may infiltrate into the sources of water, Littered debris and waste, Stagnant water around the water sources Septic tank close to water sources, Fumes from generator exhaust were associated with environmental factors. Thus it was concluded that almost all the drinking water quality of sampled water was infected of either Coli-form or E-Coli or both. Hand dug well was negative of Coli-form and E-Coli at Wurukum while Treated water from the State Water Board was free from Coli-form and E.Coli at Wadata area. It is recommended that the activities of the water vendors need to be regulated and monitored in order to ensure the protection of the public health in Makurdi MetropolisSEL
POLITICS AND MORALITY IN NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI
No full textThis work examined Machiavelli’s thought on the nexus between politics and morality. This is aimed at bringing out the nature and the relationship between politics and morality. Niccolo Machiavelli describes the place of morality in politics as subjective, moral grounds for a ruler to achieve political power. The recognition of morality as not a necessary tool for politics by Machiavelli has generated concern in this study. The problem this study addresses hinges on the instances where political office holders show disrespect for the rule of law and other constitutional authorities in other to preserve the power they have acquired; specifically, the political system in Nigeria today is rife with power tussle with little regard for morality. Human being has been used as a means to achieve political power instead of an end to politics. The study also aims to expose Machiavelli’s thought on political power. The work employed the qualitative research design. Data were sourced from books, journals, periodical and internet to analyse the politics and morality in Machiavelli. In fulfillment of the above, the study also employed the historical, expository and analytical methods. The historical method was used to situate Machiavelli’s thought in the political history. The expository approach was used to bring out Machiavelli’s ideas on politics and morality. The analytical method was used to critically examine Machiavelli’s concept of the relationship between politics and morality, with the aim of seeing how it has philosophically and scientifically contributed to the practice of politics. This research concluded that in spite of controversies involving the operation of morality in politics, it is important to keep morality as the basic guide of any human endeavour.There is, therefore, an urgent need to bring the concept of morality and other positive human values back to politics. This will no doubt re-energize the interest of men and women of proven integrity back to the game of politics. In this study, the researcher is of the view that any conscious effort to separate politics from morality will increase the vulnerability of politics to sharp practices, like rigging, bribery, political assassination, despotism etc. It is incorrect to assume that the ultimate goal in politics is the acquisition and retention .of power, since politics has a broader implication than just power juggle. There is a need to have a proper understanding of the complexity of human psychology in order not to presuppose that Machiavelli attitude is the best way to organise human conduct through the “fox and the lion approach”.SEL
PERCEPTUAL INFLUENCE OF “NAFDAC AND YOUR HEALTH” ON THE FIGHT AGAINST COUNTERFEIT DRUGS IN MAKURDI METROPOLIS
No full textThe study examined the perceptual influence of “NAFDAC and Your Health” on the fight against counterfeit drugs in Makurdi metropolis. The study was anchored on the agenda setting theory. The study used survey research and in-depth interview with questionnaire and in-depth interview guide as instruments for data collection. Also, 400 respondents were sampled using a multi-stage sampling techniques and procedure. The study found that the format of “National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control [NAFDAC] and Your Health” on Harvest FM to be a discussion programme and other forms of programmes used in disseminating messages on the fight against counterfeit drugs in Makurdi Metropolis include jingles, Voice-pop, Live Healthy-a live programme, News commentaries and news. Also, the study found that contents of the messages on the fight against counterfeit drugs focused on NAFDAC registration number, tampering with expiry date, absence of batch number, absence of manufactured and expiry date. The study also found that “NAFDAC and Your Health” on the fight against counterfeit drugs were influential. It was also found that the ways “NAFDAC and Your Health” on the fight against counterfeit influenced audience in Makurdi metropolis included reduced incidence rate of buying counterfeit drugs; increased awareness of the cost of using counterfeit drugs; strong societal reactions against counterfeit drugs and support to public policy against dealers of counterfeit drugs. The study concluded “NAFDAC and Your Health” has not been able to achieve good success in the fight against counterfeit drug in Nigeria even with their intense efforts to do so. Some of the reasons are poor production facilities and interruption in broadcast as well as poor signal. The study further recommended that interested researchers, groups or government agencies could embark on a similar study on how radio programme has contributed in the campaign against counterfeit drugs in other states to either reinforce or debunk the findings of this study.SEL
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND RURAL ELECTRIFICATION IN BENUE STATE 1999-2015
Get PDFThis study investigated democratic governance and the provision of rural electrification projects in Benue State from 1999 to 2015. The primary objectives which the work was designed to accomplish were to determine the relationship between democratic governance and development; to ascertain the connection between democracy and provision of rural electricity; to establish the social and economic benefits of rural electrification projects at both the households and community levels and to identify the challenges underpinning democratic governance and development in Benue state. Methodologically, survey design with the questionnaire as a major instrument of data collection was the strategy adopted for the work; while the classical Elite Theory of democracy was employed as a framework of analysis for the study. Within the context of the study, democratic governance is regarded as government through elected representatives that is characterized by the principles of free choice, rule of law and public accountability. On the other hand, development is viewed as a process of enhancing the quality of life of the people including provision of social amenities or infrastructure. The findings from field survey revealed that though democracy has the potentials to promote development and indeed the provision of infrastructure such as electricity. Unfortunately, in Benue State democracy has not been able to maximally respond to the development needs and aspirations of the people. The study also found out that many of the rural communities in the state are yet to be connected to electricity; and that the government is usually selective in the sitting of rural electricity projects because some of these projects are usually skewed in favour of communities that have political big wigs in government. It was equally revealed that electricity has both social and economic benefits to the households and communities as it has enhanced economic activities and rural incomes of the few rural dwellers. The study also found out that there are certain factors that are inimical to democracy and development in Benue State and these include corruption, elite manipulation, weak and fragile economic substructure, politics of deprivation, primordial tendencies and institutional defects. Arising from these findings the study recommends among other things the urgent need to revamp the economic substructure to make it effectively productive to enhance the quality of life of the people; also the rural communities must be actively involved in the planning and execution of programmes and projects that affect their lives while the governing authorities should fashion out well articulated poverty reduction strategies and establish strong democratic institutions to drive the process of development. The study also recommends the need to improve democratic governance in Nigeria through a total reform of the electoral system. This will ensure its predictability such that leaders who emerge from the process know that their mandate is truly derived from the people and therefore owe them a duty to address their development needs and aspirations. The study therefore opines that much is dependent on the character and quality of political leadership that has the will, the zeal and the capacity to transform Benue State and indeed Nigeria from a status of an underdeveloped society to that of a developed polity.TETFUN
EVALUATION OF IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM OF UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME AND IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA
Get PDFThis study evaluated the implementation of Social Studies curriculum of Universal Basic Education Programme in Kogi State, Nigeria. Seven research questions were formulated and seven hypotheses were tested in the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised 6,405 students from 215 schools. The sample consisted of 728 students representing 11.37% selected using random sampling technique. Evaluation of implementation of Social Studies Curriculum Questionnaire (EISSCQ) with reliability coefficient of 0.88 and Social Studies Free Response Questionnaire (SSFRQ) were used for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and bar charts to answer the research questions and chi square to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. It was found that students are aware of the problems of their country and the world with the implementation of Social Studies UBE curriculum in Kogi State. There is a significant influence of implementation of Social Studies UBE curriculum on the level of student' awareness of the problems of their country and the world in general (P = 0.00 < 0.05). The respondents also agreed that they appreciate the interdependence between people with implementation of Social Studies UBE curriculum. There is significant influence of implementation of Social Studies UBE curriculum on students' level of appreciation of interdependence between people (P = 0.00 < 0.05). There is significant influence of implementation of Social Studies UBU curriculum on the level of students' development of positive attitude to citizenship (P = 0.00< 0.05),the level of students' appreciation of their cultural heritage (P = 0.00 < 0.05), the level of students’ inculcation of proper value orientation for their survival and society (P - 0.00 < 0.05) and the level of students' acquisition of both physical and intellectual skills to be useful members of the community (P = 0.00 <0.05). The implementation of Social Studies UBE curriculum has significant implications on educational development (P = 0.00 < 0.05). It was recommended among others that efforts should be made by individuals and government to ensure proper, consistent and sustained implementation of UBE programme for Social Studies since it is found to enhance inculcation of right values, attitudes, cultural heritage, increased awareness level and implications on educational development.SEL
QUALITY ASSURANCE VARIABLES AND MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN NORTH CENTRAL, NIGERIA
Get PDFThis study investigated the influence of quality assurance variables on management of public universities in North Central Zone of Nigeria. Six research questions guided the study and six hypotheses were formulated and tested. Analytical descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised 13,784 staff (6,203 academic and 7,629 senior administrative staff) from six state and seven federal universities. A sample of 389 respondents was drawn from nine universities using multi stage sampling procedure. Quality Assurance and Management Questionnaire (QAMQ) with reliability coefficient of 0.89 and Interview Schedule were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, frequency tables and charts were used to analyze the responses of the interviewees while Chi-Square test of goodness of fit was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings showed that: stable academic calendar, funding, staffing, provision of infrastructural facilities, access to university and students’ assessment significantly influence the management of public universities. It was recommended among others that: managers should put in place measures like effective personnel management to prevent distortion of academic calendar from within the system and that university management should insist on employing academic staff on merit basis by adhering strictly to laid down rules for employment. It was also suggested among others that the study could be replicated in other geo-political zones of Nigeria
IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON MANAGEMENT OF COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA
Get PDFThis study investigated the impact of climate change on management of Colleges of Education in North Central Nigeria. Seven research questions guided the study and seven null hypotheses were formulated and tested. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The total population is 12,551, which comprised 5,624 academic and 6,927 non-academic staff from 14 Colleges of Education. The sample is 1,256 respondents (563 academic and 693 non-academic staff of the institution). Climate Change and College Management Questionnaire (CCCMQ) with a reliability coefficient of 0.90 and Climate Change (SSCC) were used to collect data. Mean and Standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while Chi-Square (X2) was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study included that climate change has significant impact on planned activities, supervision, maintenance of discipline, provision of instructional materials, maintenance of school plant, health and safety practices and school attendance in Colleges of Education in North Central Nigeria to a high extent. It was recommended among others that, government in collaboration with voluntary individuals/organizations should be actively involved in creating awareness on climate change by planting trees and avoidance of indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainages and waterways to avoid flooding of school buildings and materials. Colleges of Education should also liaise with government to access meteorological and ecology funds and other cells of intervention for preparedness for climate change disasters
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRINCIPALS' DISCIPLINARY STYLES AND STUDENTS'DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOURS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NORTH CENTRAL ZONE OF NIGERIA
No full textThe study investigated the relationship between Principals' disciplinary styles and students' disruptive behaviours in secondary schools in North Central Zone of Nigeria. The design adopted for this study was correlational research design. Five research questions were generated for the
study and five hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population of the study was 1,755, which comprises all the 1,755 principals in public secondary schools in North Central Zone of Nigeria, and the sample size was 322. A self-developed questionnaire titled 'Disciplinary Styles and Disruptive Behaviour Questionnaire' (DSDBQ) was used to collect data. The data collected were subjected to statistical analyses; mean scores and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while pearson product moment correlation and multiple regression were used to test the hypotheses. The findings of the study among others revealed that there was significant relationship between principals' disciplinary styles and students' disruptive behaviours in secondary schools in North Central Zone of Nigeria. However, there was no significant relationship between principals' democratic disciplinary style and students' disruptive behaviours in secondary schools. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended among others that: Counsellors should encourage principals of schools to practice democratic disciplinary style and that School counsellors should collaborate with principals to ensure proper guidance for the principals in their choice of disciplinary styles in the day-to-day decision making as regards students' disruptive behaviours
EVALUATION OF THE BASIC SCIENCE COMPONENT IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BASIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
Get PDFThis study was aimed at the evaluation of the implementation status of basic science and technology curriculum in Benue State. Ten research questions guided the study and 7 hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Eighteen secondary schools were randomly selected from a population of 1,133 Junior Secondary Schools in Benue State using multi-stage sampling technique. The 18 schools were stratified into rural and urban schools covering the three education zones in Benue state. All Junior Secondary School (JSS) III students and their basic science teachers in the selected schools formed the total sample of 732 students and 18 teachers. Four major instruments, validated by experts and trial tested for reliability were used for data collection. The instruments are: A structured questionnaire titled Basic Science Curriculum Implementation Questionnaire (BSCIQ) with the reliability coefficient of 0.84 and Basic Science Teaching Observation Schedule (BSTOS) with the reliability coefficient of 0.6 were used to collect data from the teachers while Basic Science Achievement Test (BSAT) with the reliability coefficient of 0.73 and Students’ Attitude to Science Questionnaire (SATSQ) with the reliability coefficient of 0.93 were also used to gather data from the students. The research questions were answered using percentages, means and standard deviations while the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 alpha level using ANOVA and t-test. The findings revealed that there was no significant mean difference in the view of basic science teachers with different qualifications (p=0.99>0.05); there was a significant mean difference in the implementation status of basic science curriculum as viewed by teachers with different years of experience (p=0.000.05). There is no significant mean difference in the view of male and female teachers of basic science teachers (p=0.29>0.05). There is no significant mean difference in the implementation status of basic science curriculum as viewed by basic science teachers in rural and urban school locations of Benue state (p=0.78>0.05). It was recommended among others that government should encourage every educational institution of higher learning to mount basic science education programme; on-the-job training should be organized for basic science teachers to update their knowledge, learn improvisation and effective use of instructional materials. Also, teachers are encouraged to adopt the recommended teaching methods which are activity-based for effective implementation of basic science curriculum in Benue state