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CHANGING ROLES OF WOMEN IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TIV SOCIETY
No full textThe main thrust of this thesis is the changing roles of women in the development of Tiv Society from 1800-2005. The researcher examined the relevant literatures and three theoretical paradigms on women. Among the commonly accepted theoretical explanations are: Radical, Liberal and Marxist and Socialist Feminism respectively. The researcher drew the conclusion that the roles of women in development could best be understood from a Marxist-and Socialist Feminist perspective. The study also explored the historical background of the Tiv people. Within this segment the researcher examined the geographical features and location of Tiv society within Benue State of Nigeria. The economic and political organizations of the people were equally examined. Through the f use of random sampling method, secondary and tertiary sources, the roles of women during the pre-colonial era was revealed. Within this section of the research, the images of Tiv women were examined. Their roles in agriculture, trade, and industries, education, family, religion, and political development were analyzed. The study also discovered that with the emergence of colonialism a lot of changes developed. With the attainment of independence in 1960, women strived hard and changed some of the existing roles in politics, economic, religion, social and health facet of development. The study drew the conclusion that colonialism and post colonialism has brought about a lot of changes in the roles of women, but in all the facets of development women are under represented. Also this research has given its contributions to knowledge.Feminist Developmen
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES DELIVERY AND POST-HARVEST LOSSES OF HORTICULTURAL CROP PRODUCE IN WEST COAST REGION OF THE GAMBIA
Get PDFThe study examined agricultural extension services delivery and post-harvest losses of horticultural crop produce in West Coast Region of The Gambia. There is limited knowledge about post-harvest practices of horticultural crops among smallholder horticultural farmers in The Gambia. In spite of existing extension services, there is huge losses of horticultural crops in the study area. This study therefore, seeks to assess the agricultural extension services delivery and investigate agricultural extension services messages delivered to horticultural farmers in West Coast Region of The Gambia. It also assesses agricultural extension service messages adopted by horticultural farmers as well as examine the effects horticultural farmers derived from the extension services in reducing/minimising post-harvest losses of horticultural crops in the study area. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. The study used structured interview, key informants and focused group discussion to collect data from three hundred and ninety-eight respondents that were selected through simple random sampling procedure. The data were quantitatively analysed using SPSS to run percentages, frequency distribution tables, t-test, and chi-squared correlation test. Qualitative data from the in-depth interviews and Focus group discussions (FGDs) were also analysed and presented appropriately. The findings of the study showed that the agricultural extension services are ineffective due to the system of extension delivery to the horticultural farmers and there is limited access of farmers to extension activities or information due to low frequent interaction with the farmers. It also shows that extension services were not very much effective or proactive to post-harvest loss reduction due to inadequate skills and knowledge acquired by them in this region. It was also found that the variables on the influence of socio-economic factors (gender, age, marital status, experience in farming, education, and income) were significantly associated with the horticultural smallholder farmers post-harvest losses. The study thus recommended that there is need for continued research, development and investment programmes by different service providers in both extension and post-harvest technologies, effective and efficient communication to the farmers, special extension agents training on post-harvest practices among others
BOKO-HARAM INSURGENCY AND THE MANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL AND STATE UNIVERSITIES IN THE NORTH EASTERN STATES OF NIGERIA
Get PDFThe study investigated the impact of Boko-Haram insurgency on the management of federal and state universities in the North Eastern States of Nigeria. Eight research questions were answered in the study while eight hypotheses were tested. The descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study was 10312 respondents which were made up of 7,407 federal university staff and 2,905 state university staff from the six federal and five state universities in the North Eastern States of Nigeria. A sample size of 385 respondents was drawn from the three federal and two states universities. Multi-Stage sampling procedure was adopted for the sampling. Boko-Haram Insurgency and the Management of Universities Questionnaire (BIMUQ) with reliability coefficient of 0.89 and Oral Interview schedule, titled: Boko-Haram Insurgency and the Management of Universities Interview Schedule (BIMUIS) were used to collect data for the study. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while Chi-square (χ2) and t-test were used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Results showed among others that there is negative impact of Boko-Haram insurgency in the areas of students’ enrolment, infrastructural facilities, academic calendar, human lives, staff development, staff job performance and instructional supervision in the federal and state universities in the North Eastern states of Nigeria. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommended among others that Boko-Haram should be tackled with all seriousness by the government mainly through blocking their sources of funds, and weapon supply. Security agencies should be empowered, motivated and adequately mobilized through promotion and prompt payment of salaries to combat criminality. Also, effective legislation that will adequately punish offenders and prevent potential criminals must be put in place. University authorities should employ strong security forces beyond looking and relying on government. They can get apparatus such as Closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) and scanning machines capable of detecting criminals and those who carry sophisticated instruments to minimize Boko-Haram attack on universities. Intelligence gathering by the security agencies should be intensified, as this will nip many of the security problems confronting the nation in the bud. Also, border patrol should be enhanced to check influx of immigrants or aliens that may be used as source of recruitment into the Boko-Haram force
ASSESSMENT OF RADIO MESSAGES ON VESICO VAGINAL FISTULA DISEASE AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON FEMALE AUDIENCE IN NORTH-WEST NIGERIA
Get PDFVesicovaginal fistula (VVF) has continued to occur in developing countries, notwithstanding the efforts of governments and other stakeholders to draw attention to the condition and establish dedicated centres for the repair and rehabilitation of affected women. This study was designed to assess the influence of radio messages on VVF disease among females in Kano State and Katsina State in North-West Nigeria. To achieve the objectives of the study, survey research design was adopted while questionnaire, interview and Focus Group Discussions were used as the research instruments for data collection. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 389 females that participated in the questionnaire aspect of the study while In-depth Interviews were held with 10 health personnel and 7 media practitioners. The study was anchored on the Agenda Setting theory and the Health Belief Model. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used to analyse the questionnaire data, while the textual data generated from interviews and Focus Group Discussions were analysed using content analysis by adopting the six-step model of Bryman. The findings showed that most of the participants were not aware of any VVF campaign organizations and have never attended any communication campaign on the disease. Radio messages do not reach majority of people in the study area with information about the disease, even though the messages contain information about severity of the disease, signs and symptoms, prevention, causes and treatment of the disease. Awareness about the VVF disease was through other radio programmes where friendly health issues are also discussed, but there was no specific programme devoted on the disease. Information on the VVF disease was sourced from different outlets and largely from medical experts. Thus, radio messages are not a major source of disseminating information on VVF disease to the public in the study area, since only 26% of the respondents identified radio as their main source of information about the disease. The messages have enhanced the knowledge base of respondents that VVF is a preventable and treatable disease. Early and proper treatment using the health center or hospital resources is beneficial as it would prevent a woman suffering from the disease from dying. Radio stations in North-West Nigeria used discussion programmes mostly (63.7%) in providing needed information to members of the public on VVF, but radio drama was the most commonly preferred programme among the female audience. Most females gained new information in several ways about VVF as a result of the radio messages which empowered them to understand and make informed decisions about the disease. The study concluded that radio provided the needed information on VVF for women that heard the messages, but the programmes targeted at VVF are not adequate and have not received wide coverage. Adequate time should be allotted for messages on the radio so that people in the study area can be more informed about the disease. The radio should use appropriate channels that are people-oriented and dedicate a programme to create awareness about the disease
THE 1999 GENERAL ELECTIONS AND DEMOCRACY IN BENUE STATE
No full textThe study "The 1999 General Elections and Democracy in Benue State" was to ascertain whether the 1999 General Elections were carefully planned and executed in line with international best practices or not, and to be able to see how if at all, that has been able to produce credible political leadership and as well as strengthened democratic institutions and structures to thrive. The study is descriptive in nature and generated data from both primary and secondary sources. The population used is the number of registered voters in Benue State for the 1999 General Elections which stood at two million, nineteen thousand, eight hundred and fifty one (2,019,851), from which a sample size of four hundred (400) was chosen based on Taro Yemene's formula. Survey instruments including questionnaire and oral interviews were the primary data deployed to gather the needed data from the study population. Extant literature on the subject matter were reviewed to be able to identify gaps which hopefully have been filled by the study. The underlying theoretical framework for the study was the Elite theory. Based on the above, the study arrived at the findings that, the 1999 General Elections were fairly well conducted by the military particularly with regards to logistic arrangement, security of electoral materials and personnel, collaboration between Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and civil society groups, among others. There were however, cases of irregularities such as snatching of ballot boxes, late arrival of results, aiding and abetting of rigging by security personnel, though, at a minimal level. The irregularities notwithstanding, the 1999 General Elections in Benue State had some implication on political development as it laid the foundation for an enduring constitutional order, political stability and a reliable procedure for succession to leadership in the state and indeed Nigeria. It also offered opportunity for mass mobilization of the electorate, political participation and unity. This was in addition to building democracy, increasing the capabilities of power holders or political and institutional structures as indices of political development in the state. The study indicated that though the 1999 General Elections laid the foundation for democracy and constitutional order in Nigeria after many years of military rule, that election alone could not enhance political development, but was a basis upon which the subsequent elections of 2003, 2007 and 2011 were executed. Thus, the study concludes that even though democracy has been considered in the state, there are yet some fhallenges with our elections and the electoral process in Benue State, and these have affected the process of political development. The study therefore recommends among other things that for democracy to be fully achieved in the state, the electoral process must be strengthened. Both the 1999 Constitution and the 2010 Electoral Act should be amended to provide stiffer penalties for the violation of electoral process. By these, elections in Benue State will always reflect the true wishes of the people and hence guarantee mature political structures and institutions which are the bedrock for political development
INFLUENCE OF SELF-ESTEEM, STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING OF PRISON INMATES IN THE THREE PRISONS IN BENUE STATE
Get PDFIncarceration of prison inmates seems to come with emotional, physical, moral and psychological issues, which further impacts negatively on their psychological wellbeing. Factors that tend to affect their wellbeing amongst others include their Self-esteem which has to do with how they see themselves, the stress that they go through and the coping strategies they adopt while in prison.The objective of the present study therefore, is toexamine the influence of self-esteem, stress and coping strategies on the psychological wellbeing of prison inmates in Benue State, Nigeria. The participants comprised 320 inmates which included 278 (86.9%) males and 42 (13.1%) females. Their ages ranged between 15 and 60 years. The Mean age =9.7666, SD=6.86459. Data were collected from three prisons (Gboko, Makurdi and Otukpo). The cross sectional survey design was used. The Prisons had a population of 1611 as at 2018 when the data were collected. To achieve the objectives, four standardized instrumentswere used.They include the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI) by Amirkan, the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being (44- item) by Carol Ryff, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale by Rosenberg.Three hypotheses were formulated and tested at a significant level of 0.05. The first Hypothesis showed results on the different dimensions thus:on Self-esteem and Environmental mastery [F (1,306) = -5.802, P.05], self-esteem and positive relation with others, [F (1,306) =.000, P>.05], self-esteem and Purpose in Life, [F (1,306) = .005, P>.05]. Self-esteem and Self-acceptance [F (1,306) = .796, P>.05], their results were not confirmed. The second hypothesis result showed thus: On stress and environmental mastery [F (1,315) = 7.292, P.05], Stress and positive relations with others [F(1, 313) = 1.514, P>.05], Stress and purpose in life F (1, 319) = .039, P>.05, Stress and self-acceptance [F (1,318) = 1.212, P>.05], the hypotheses were not confirmed. The result of the third hypothesis also showed thus: on Coping Strategies and Environmental Mastery of prison inmates [F(3,312) = 3.716, P.05], and on Coping Strategies and Self-acceptance, [F(3,315) = .331, P.05]. It was concluded that Self-esteem, Stress and Coping Strategies had significant influence on psychological wellbeing of prison inmates. Based on the findings, among other recommendations is the fact that Prison staffs who directly work with inmates should treat them with some level of dignity, respect value as though they are related to them, this will go a long way in improving their self-esteem and self-worth. The implication of the study is on the post-prison adjustment of prison inmates to their families and society at large.SEL
EFFICACY OF ACIDIMETRY AS A CORROSION MONITORING TECHNIQUE IN DETERMINING THE KINETICS AND THERMODYNAMICS OF CORROSION INHIBITION BY L-LEUCINE, ASPARTIC ACID AND Sareocephalus Latifolius
No full textMany corrosion monitoring techniques are available to corrosion and material scientists. However, the choice of a particular technique that will be least expensive and readily available with minimal error has been a challenge. In this work, the efficacy of acidimetry as a corrosion monitoring technique was evaluated with two other established methods; weight loss measurement and electrochemical impedance spectrophotometry (EIS). The study was conducted at a temperature range of 301 K to 313 K, using L-leucine, aspartic acid and Sarcocephalus latifolius as inhibitors after screening a number of several potential compounds and plant extracts for their efficiency. The inhibition efficiency and surface coverage of the selected inhibitors followed a similar trend; increasing with increase in concentration and temperature, which is a feature of chemical adsorption. At each studied temperature, Sarcocephalus latifolius had the highest inhibition efficiency with its highest value of 83.67 % at 313 K. The scanning electron micrographs of the metals inhibited by Sarcocephalus latifolius showed a better adsorption of the inhibitor on the iron surface incorporating into the passive film. Values of free energy of adsorption, ∆Gads were all negative for all the inhibitors, which means the adsorption processes were spontaneous, and below -20 kJmol-1, suggesting physical adsorption. Conversely, the increase in parameter b value of the AEI model for the inhibitors with rise in temperature upheld the processes to be chemical adsorption. The heats of adsorption, Qads values were all positive, implying that the processes required absorption of heat from the surrounding. Activation energies for all the concentrations and temperatures were within the range of 10.49 kJmol-1 and 49.97 kJmol-1. The fairly constant value of activation energy is also a confirmation of chemical adsorption mechanism. The negative sign in the values of entropy of adsorption, ∆Sads confirmed that the activated complex in the rate-determining step was associative. The data obtained was tested with several isotherms and they best fitted the El-Awady, Freundlich and Tempkin adsorption isotherm models. The efficiency of the inhibition process for the three techniques are in the order EIS>acidimetry>weight loss. Based on the fact that acidimetry has been observed to be close to EIS, the technique can be recommended for use in corrosion monitoring.TETFUN
HIGHER EDUCATION AND WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS MAKURDI, BENUE STATE NIGERIA
No full textThis study examined higher education and women participation in politics Makurdi, Benue State. 400 respondents were sampled for the study using Taro Yamane method. Cluster and simple random sampling techniques were used for the quantitative data while purposive sampling was employed for the qualitative study. Data was collected using questionnaires and Key Informant Interview. Data collected for the study was presented and analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative data was presented in normal distribution tables, simple percentages, frequencies, mean deviation and charts. The findings of the study revealed that there is an increase in the level of women access to HE in Makurdi, the level of women participation in politics in Makurdi, is low. The findings of the study revealed insignificant relationship between HE and women political participation, the major challenges faced by women in participation in politics were monetary politics, poor political education, god fatherism and political violence. The study recommended that efforts should be made by the federal government to bridge the gap between educational and political participation of men and women. For example, by extra budgetary allocations for women’s education and scholarship awards. This is likely to be most effective in areas where scarce resources of poor families affect parents’ abilities to send girls to higher institutions. To promote advocacy concerning the access of women to HE and their participation in politics, government and NGOs should pursue advocacy for gender inclusion and mainstreaming in the politics in decision making positions; Therefore, increasing women’s opportunities in these fields seems to be a rational way of improving women’s access to HE and political participation. Political parties should promote women’s participation more effectively, and should develop accountability mechanisms and seek technical assistance, including from civil society, to meet this objective.SEL
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A MODIFIED BAMBARA NUT CRACKER
No full textThe reduction or elimination of post-harvest losses in shelling of Bambara pods to obtain good quality seed is one of the most tedious operations in Bambara nut processing. As a result, it has constituted a bottle- neck to the large scale production. This study therefore was conducted to design, construct and evaluate modified Bambara nut cracker. Experimental design was used in the conduct of the study which followed a three-treatment effect (speed level, moisture content and sorting efficiency) in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) involving three observations per experimental unit. The performance test was done using experimental design for the statistical analyses after the machine was fabricated and all data recorded were subjected to analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) with the use of Analysis of Variance to determine the extent to which speed level, moisture content and sorting efficiency affects the machine performance indicators at 95% confidence level. Results on speed shows a significant effect (p<.05) with multiple comparison showing that 275 RPM (Mean = 2.46; SD = 3.14) is the best speed that gives ultimate performance for the machine. On moisture content, results also indicated a significant effect (p<.05) indicating that 7% moisture content (Mean = 2.85; SD = 3.81) is the best moisture content that produces the desired result. On the basis of shelling efficiency, the result also indicated a significant effect (p<.001) showing from the result that the machine has a very high shelling efficiency particularly in terms of completely shelled which carried the highest mean score of
6.33 (SD = 1.61). In respect to the multiple comparison to determine the best speed as well as moisture content with the highest shelling efficiency, the result shows that the best speed was 275 RPM with the 7% moisture content that has the highest level of shelling efficiency with the mean of 8.40 (SD = 6.85). The machine also showed a very high sorting efficiency (p<.001) with small pods having an average of 3.57 (SD = .220), medium pods having average sorting efficiency of 3.11 (SD = .225) while large pods having an average sorting efficiency of 2.57 (SD = .437). In conclusion, the machine has sorting efficiency percentage of 93.6%, shelling efficiency of 97.8%, cleaning efficiency of 98.01%, percentage broken was 1.60%, percentage partially shelled 2.80% and the percentage unshelled pods was .9%. Also, the overall performance of the machine when calculated was 99%. It was therefore recommended among others that Benue State Government should be encourage to produce Bambara nut shelling machines to curb postharvest losses of the said product. This can bust the production of Bambara nut in the state.WORLD BAN
A CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF MARTIN HEIDEGGER’S CONCEPT OF AUTHENTIC DA-SEIN
No full textHeidegger’s philosophy exerts a seminal influence on the development of contemporary philosophy. He argued that the question of the meaning of Being, and Being as such, had been forgotten by philosophers. He meant that the history of western thought had failed to heed the ontological difference, and so had articulated Being precisely as a kind of ultimate being, as evidenced by a series of namings of Being. He therefore set the task of recovering the question of the meaning of Being. In order to investigate the meaning of Being, Heidegger uses the expression Da-sein to refer to the experience of Being that is peculiar to human beings. Thus it is a form of Being that is aware of and must confront such issues as personhood, mortality, and the dilemma or paradox of living in relationship with other humans while being ultimately alone with oneself. Heidegger’s “authentic being” or “authentic Da-sein” using his terminology is understood as acting in accordance with one’s authentic self. It means living your life as natural or normal as it pleases you and not to please others. When somebody is not living a normal life or according to his nature but simply living in order to please others, then they are living an inauthentic life as far as Heidegger seems to intend. The study employed Heidegger’s concept of Authentic Da-sein as an implication for the decayed notion of personhood in the contemporary society where man has ‘forgotten’ his authentic self-worth and value in exchange for pleasure, ignoring true happiness and inner tranquillity which are the hallmark of authentic Da-sein which Heidegger describes. This study employed historical and evaluative methods. Data were sourced from books, Encyclopaedias, journals, periodicals and internet to relay facts. The historical method traced the long traditional history into the investigation of Being which Heidegger flawed during his time of philosophising. The evaluative method on the other hand is a critical, analytical and rational judgement upon those ideas outlined by Heidegger in his notion of authentic Da-sein.SEL