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ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS STRATEGIES IN MANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE AND BENUE STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, MAKURDI
No full textThe study “Assessment of Public Relations Strategies in Management of Federal Medical Centre and Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi” assessed the public relations strategies adopted in the management of the hospitals using the holistic rubic assessment rating scales. Excellence theory and Two-Way Symmetric model of public relations as well as five research questions were raised to guide this study. Survey research method was employed to collect and collate data for the study. Simple random sampling as well as purposive sampling techniques were used to draw the sample for this study. Findings show that the public relations strategies adopted in the management of Federal Medical Centre and Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi have contributed in the management of human and material resources as well as programmes designed for the hospital. The study also found that lack of funds; managements’ poor attitude towards public relations and its recognition as part of hospital’s top management team pose as challenges of adopting public relations in the management of FMC and BSUTH, Makurdi. The study therefore, concludes that public relations strategies are essential in the management of Federal Medical Centre and Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi. The study recommended, among others, that management of Federal Medical Centre and Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi should appreciate public relations roles in effective management of the hospitals and that there should be restructuring of the hierarchy of the hospitals’ management team to include public relations in a strategic position.SEL
A STUDY OF DAVID HUME’S EPISTEMOLOGY
No full textMan is by nature inquisitive; he strives endlessly to acquire knowledge. In other words, the search for knowledge that is both absolute and certain has been continuous. The problem of the nature of knowledge has been central to philosophy almost from the earliest times of its history. This is practically the concern of philosophers. In view of this, David Hume lent his thoughts on how this could be done; how knowledge could be gotten through sense-experience. The research study used the qualitative research design. Data were sourced from books, journals, periodicals and internet. The study adopted the historical, expository and analytical methods. The historical method surveyed the historical development and previous arguments on Hume’s epistemology by relevant selected philosophers. The expository method critically examined Hume’s epistemology, while the analytic method advanced the implications of his epistemology. The method also advanced a critique on David Hume’s epistemology. The researcher found out that Hume over emphasized his position by maintaining that knowledge can only come through sense experience. The researcher did a reconstruction of Hume’s epistemology using Kant’s critique and synthesis of two opposing and hitherto conflicting epistemologies, namely reason and sense experience. The researcher concluded that although Hume over emphasized the senses, yet not sufficient to give one the whole of actual knowledge, since the senses never give one anything but instances. Therefore, both a priori and a posteriori elements are essential. Without sensation, no object would be perceptible, without understanding, no object could be conceived. Knowledge arises only from this untied action.SEL
AN ETHICAL EXAMINATION OF JEAN PAUL SARTRE’S NOTION OF FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY
No full textThe problem this study addresses is the challenges that accrue from the actions and inactions of man as a result of freedom. Man’s freedom has led him to perpetrate rather heinous and dastardly acts without recourse to accountability. The work made use of qualitative research design. Data were sourced from books, journals, periodicals and the internet. The work also used the Historical, Expository and Evaluative methods. The Historical method situated the concept of freedom in the history of philosophy from the ancient era to the contemporary time. The Expository method exposed Sartre’s concept of human freedom and responsibility. Sartre opines that human freedom precedes the essence of man and makes it possible. Man makes himself through his choices and therefore, he is nothing else but what he makes of himself. Inescapability of freedom does not mean that each individual can choose whatever he wants because he is responsible for the choice that he makes. The Evaluative method considered the strengths and weaknesses of his idea of freedom and responsibility and its relevance to contemporary Nigerian society. The researcher found out that man’s freedom has led him to perpetrate rather heinous and dastardly acts without recourse to accountability. In other words, people sometimes commit unwholesome acts that affect other human beings negatively because they are free and, they most times go scot-free. This also degenerates to widespread corruption that has affected the negative development of the society which is traced to the abuse of human freedom. The work concluded that in order to have an authentic life, one has to recognize the inescapability of freedom and accept the responsibility associated with it. Since responsibility is associated with freedom, one cannot escape the anguish that may follow the inescapability of freedom.SEL
AN EVALUATION OF ROBERT NOZICK’S TRUTH TRACKING THEORY
No full textThe need for fourth condition as a challenge pose on Plato’s definition of knowledge (Justify Truth Belief) JTB by Edmund Gettier has brought a lot of contemporary theories in the study of epistemology seeking to address the problem of justification. Failure of those theories to account for the fourth condition, Robert Nozick therefore propounded the theory of truth tracking to address the problem of knowledge justification. According to Nozick, knowledge is truth tracking hence any false belief cannot account for true knowledge. He however merged belief and truth such that there will be no need of justifying our knowledge claims. This was a salvage of JTB from Edmund Gettiers cross. In view of this, the research attempts to understand the extent to which Nozick truth tracking theory would account for human knowledge and at the same time, address the problem of justification. The research used the qualitative research design. Data were sourced from books, journals and, periodicals. The research made use of the Historical, evaluative and analytic methods. Historical method situated the notion of truth in the history of philosophy dating from the ancient to the contemporary era. The Expository method exposed Robert Nozick’s idea of Truth Tracking and how tracking truth can solve the problem of justification. Also the Evaluative method examines and highlights the strength and weaknesses of Nozick truth tracking theory of knowledge. Conclusively, the research finds out that truth and belief when merged as Nozick proposed could solve the problem of justification. Although, it is arguable that truth and belief cannot be merged. And without identifiable truth conditions for tracking, Nozick’s truth-tracking theory fails to meet the demands of epistemic justification since we did not have indicators of that which is being tracked.SEL
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS AND HIV/AIDS AWARENESS AMONG FEMALE SEX WORKERS IN MAKURDI METROPOLIS
No full textThis study was undertaken to investigate Civil Society Organisations and HIV/AIDS awareness among Female Sex Workers in Makurdi metropolis of Benue State. Specific objectives were is to outline programmes employed by CSOs to increase HIV awareness among female sex workers, assess the impact of CSO programmes on increasing HIV/AIDS awareness among female sex workers, examine the challenges CSOs encounter in executing their programmes and to outline ways CSOs’ programmes can be made more effective and efficient. Theoretically, the study was anchored on health belief model which suitably explains CSOs and HIV/AIDS awareness in Makurdi metropolis. The study utilised a cross sectional survey design and with a multi-stage sampling methodology, a sample size of 238 respondents was arrived at from 13 brothels. Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed for data collection using questionnaires and interview methods. The study raised two research assumptions and the first assumption states that all the programmes executed by CSOs contribute to improved awareness about HIV/AIDS among FSW and the second stating that there are some challenges hampering the realisation of improved HIV/AIDS awareness among FSWs in Makurdi metropolis. The study established that, though FSW remains one of the most at risk population in HIV, CSOs have contributed greatly in reducing HIV infection among this target group through increased awareness by employing various programmes like HIV testing Services, distribution and demonstration of condom use, referral services and linkages, capacity building for FSW as peer educators on HIV among others programmes. The study confirmed that CSOs have increased HIV/AIDS knowledge of FSWs which has contributed to change their behaviour and also reduced HIV prevalence rates. Most FSWs now go for voluntary HIV testing and counselling which hitherto was challenging. Despite these efforts, CSOs still face a lot of challenges working with FSWs. Shortages of funds has remained a key challenge which limits CSOs scope of implementation. Also, continuous migration of these sex workers has challenged CSO’s ability to follow-up reactive members to ensure sustained treatment. The study recommended more political actions and funding for CSOs to sustain awareness creation messages to reduce HIV prevalence among FSWs.SEL
A NEW HISTORICIST READING OF SEMBENE OUSMANE’S GOD’S BITS OF WOOD, XALA AND SHIMMER CHINODYA’S DEW IN THE MORNING AND HARVEST OF THORNS
No full textThis research work investigates the interface between literature and history through the New Historicist approach. Literary artists, in an effort to engage the problems and issues of their societies, have dipped into the historical experiences of their societies in their works. This adoption explains the interrelatedness of Literature and history. The interdependence is an active one: history provides the raw material for literature while literature informs and shapes the course of history. From the standpoint of the New Historicist theory which emphasizes the historicity of the texts and the textuality of history, this study unravels the presentation of history in the works of Sembene Ousmane and Shimmer Chinodya with particular emphasis on the cultural, social- economic and political conflicts which have shaped the histories depicted in the texts. From this backdrop, the study emphasizes the origins of these novels and the experiences from which they spring, the writers’ allusions to or complete modelling of their texts on previous texts within or outside the socio-cultural space, a comparison between the literary and non discursive practices conveyed or implied in the texts, an examination of the writers’ multiple narrative perspectives conveyed through the characters in the texts which affords the readers a chance to see issues from different angles, and the writers’ subversion of history which gives rise to alternative discourse of the issues explored. Findings of the study reveal that the works of Ousmane and Chinodya studied here are a depictions of the colonial experiences and the post-colonial disillusionment of Africans, particularly, Senegal and Zimbabwe. The research uncovers elements of interpretation by Ousmane and Chinodya and in some cases, outright subversion of the histories depicted. Also, the study has established that colonialism left a bitter taste in the African’s mouth which explains his efforts to change the colonial narratives and replace them with indigenous accounts as is seen in the texts studied.SEL
INFORMAL CREDIT AND POVERTY REDUCTION IN USHONGO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE
No full textThis study examined the relationship between informal credit and poverty reduction in Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State. The specific objectives were to: examine the socio-economic characteristics of beneficiaries of the services of informal credit in the study area; ascertain the extent to which informal credit have reduced the likelihood of being poor in Ushongo Local Government Area; The study population comprised 4,164 beneficiaries of informal credit in Ushongo Local Government Area. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling procedure. After determining a sample size of 364 through the Taro Yamane formula, the study area was divided into clusters based on the 11 council wards in the local government area. Three council wards were purposively selected as they contained the highest concentration of informal financial institutions. The respondents in each ward were selected through a simple random sampling technique. Descriptive and logistic regression were employed to analyse the data. The results showed that informal credit had a strong positive influence on the level of income, employment and improved beneficiaries’ feeding pattern and access to better healthcare, housing and water. The Foster-Greer-Thorbecke index showed that informal credit assisted to reduce the incidence, gap and severity of poverty in the study area while the Gini Coefficient showed a substantial reduction in income inequality (falling from 0.24 to 0.08). The study also found that operators of the informal financial institutions in the study area faced a number of challenges. Finally, the results of the estimation of the logistic regression model showed that informal credit significantly reduced the probability of a beneficiary being poor. Based on these findings, the study concluded that informal credit had a significant positive effect on poverty in Ushongo Local Government Area. Accordingly, the study recommended that government should improve the flow of funds to informal financial institutions through special allocations to co-operative societies.SEL
DETERMINANTS OF RECREATION CENTER CHOICES AMONG RESIDENTS OF MAKURDI, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
No full textThe study assesses the determinants of recreation center choices among residents of Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. The study take inventory of existing government recreation centers, recreation activities that are found within those recreation centers, level of patronage as well as demography status of patronizes. The study also identifies the factors that influence patronage and examine how those factors can be addressed in planning schemes. Basic tools used to collect data needed were questionnaire, observation, informal interview, hand held global position system and tapes. Simple random sampling technique was used to administer questionnaire. Result was presented in tables, percentages, bar chart, pie chart and plates. The findings showed that recreation centers that have quite environment, accessible, located near residential areas, in a safe environment, with needed facilities and have good natural environment with trees that provide shade, fresh air and have no registration fee attached for entering the centers or participation in any of the activities found within the center have high patronage. Therefore it was concluded that recreation center choices in Makurdi Local Government Area depend on nearness, safety, fresh air, facilities, affordability as well as demography factors such as age, sex, income, marital status, education, occupation and religion. Thus, it was recommended that recreation centers should be located near residential areas, offices, schools and required facilities by users should be provided in recreation centers. Trees should also be planted within centers, security should be provided and little or no fees should be attached in entering the centers or participating in any activity within the centers. Awareness should be created for people to know recreation centers that exist in their locality.SEL
ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA
No full textAbstract
This study assessed the contributions of community development associations to the management of secondary schools in North Eastern Nigeria. Severn research questions and seven hypotheses guided the study. The literature was reviewed under theoretical framework, conceptual framework, empirical studies and summary. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consists of 2062 of principals, PTA chairmen and chairmen of community development associations of 1031 public secondary schools in the study area. A sample size of 500 principals, PTA chairmen and some community development associations’ chairmen was selected for the study. A 35-item four point rating scale structured questionnaire titled: Assessment of the Contributions of Community Development Associations to the Management of Secondary Schools Questionnaire (ACCDAMSSQ) an interview schedule and checklist were used for data collection. The instruments were validated by four experts from the university system, two in Educational Management Department of Taraba State University and Benue State University respectively, one in Educational Measurement and Evaluation of Taraba State University and one in Geography Department of Benue State University. The reliability of the instrument was ascertained through trial testing. This yielded a Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.84 which was considered high enough and reliable to be used for the study. Mean and standard deviation were used in testing the responses from the interviewee, while chi-square (X2) test of goodness of-fit was used in testing the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings indicated that Community Development Associations significantly contribute to the provision of funds, instructional materials, infrastructural facilities, maintenance of discipline, maintenance of school sites and participation in decision making process to the management of secondary schools in North Eastern Nigeria. It was recommended among others that communities and its associations should continuously support the development of schools in their areas. Community Development Associations should continue to contribute to the development of schools in their areas through procurement of instructional materials such as computers, pictures, maps radios and science equipment
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEREST OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY STUDENTS AND THEIR LEARNING STYLES IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
No full textIn this study, the relationship between Achievement and Interest of Senior Secondary School Biology students and their learning styles in Benue State was investigated. A correlational survey research design was employed in the study, one research question was answered and 13 hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The sample comprised of 36 purposively selected secondary school students and 1,570 (859 male and 711 female) Senior Secondary Two (SS II) biology students. The Barsch Learning Style Inventory (BLSI) was used to identify Students’ Learning Styles. A Biology Achievement Test (BAT) and Biology Interest Questionnaire (BIQ) were used to collect data on their achievement scores and interest rating respectively. The result of data analysis revealed that the predominant learning style among biology students in the state was Auditory with a significant relationship between its mean interest rating and mean achievement scores (r = 0.44, N = 474, p(0.000) 0.05). It was further revealed that the relationship between mean interest rating and mean achievement scores of both male and female biology students with multimodal learning styles is significant, the same for male and female biology students with unimodal learning styles. Based on the findings, it was recommended, among others, that biology teachers need to take into cognizance the students’ diverse learning styles and design teaching strategies that take care of these diversities. Teachers should concretize the teaching of abstract biological concepts and make them more real for the students