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LA MISE EN FICTION DES RÉALITÉS SOCIOPOLITIQUES DE L’AFRIQUE POSTCOLONIALE DANS L’OEUVRE D’AHMADOU KOUROUMA
No full textCe travail de recherche est intitulé «La mise en fiction des réalités sociopolitiques de l’Afrique postcoloniale dans l’œuvre d’Ahmadou Kourouma ». Le noyau de la problématique du travail est centré sur le concept de "l’histoire dans le roman". Ainsi, nous avons proposé que les romans de notre auteur sont une véritable représentation des réalités historiques de l'Afrique postcoloniale. Et Kourouma se sert de certaines techniques pour intégrer les réalités historiques dans ses créations fictives. Nous avons utilisé la méthodologie de recherche documentaire pour entreprendre cette recherche. Alors, nous avons reparti les romans choisis dans le sous-genre littéraire de "roman historique" et "histoire romancée". D'une part, nous avons regroupé, Les soleils des indépendances (1970) et En attendant le vote des bêtes sauvages (1998) sous le sous-genre de "roman historique" parce que dans ces romans l’auteur se sert des techniques littéraires comme la satirisation des faits, l’emploi des topolexèmes, des patronymes, des calembours et des anagrammes pour créer des références corrélationnelles entre le monde réel et l’univers de la fiction romanesque. D'autre part, nous avons regroupé Allah n'est pas obligé (2000) et Quand on refuse on dit (2003) dans le sous-genre de " l'histoire romancée" parce que, dans ces romans l’auteur, comme un journaliste ou un chroniqueur, présente les réalités sociopolitiques factuelles des guerres civiles dans la sous-région ouest africaine. Ici, il ne se cache plus derrière la technique de la caricature comme dans Les soleils des indépendances et En attendant le vote des bêtes sauvages pour saisir l'histoire. Il utilise l'histoire brute. Il présente fidèlement les faits réels qui peuvent être vérifiés en ce qui concerne l'histoire de l'Afrique postcoloniale. Nous sommes convaincus qu'en examinant les œuvres de Kourouma sous l'angle du "roman historique" et "l'histoire romancée", ainsi que des diverses compétences littéraires de Kourouma, nous pourrons faire un grand pas en avant pour augmenter l’ensemble des œuvres critiques qui existent déjà sur l’œuvre d’Ahmadou Kourouma ainsi que la quantité d’œuvres des critiques qui existent dans le domaine de la littérature africaine en généralLA MISE EN FICTION DES RÉALITÉS SOCIOPOLITIQUES DE L’AFRIQUE POSTCOLONIALE DANS L’OEUVRE D’AHMADOU KOUROUM
SERVICE QUALITY AND CUSTOMER LOYALTY IN THE TELECOMMUNICATION INDUSTRY IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA
Full text linkThe study was conducted to examine the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty in the telecommunication industry in Lagos State, Nigeria. The independent variable in the study was service quality and measured using parameters such as: network quality, value-added services, price structure, and Customer service, while customer loyalty was the dependent variable and was measured using two parameters: behaviour, and attitude. The population of the study was 19,118,767 subscribers of Lagos State, Nigeria. The four GSM service providers were purposively selected. Using Taro Yamane’s formula gave a minimum sample size of 400 subscribers. However, this sample size of 400 was adjusted to 480 (20% of the sample size of 400 added to the original sample) to take into account non-response bias. The sample was distributed using the Bowley’s formula. Data was collected mainly through the use of questionnaires. Demographic data was analysed using descriptive statistics like tables, percentages, mean and standard deviation. Data on variables were analysed and hypotheses tested using multiple regression. The main finding of the study is that service quality has significant relationship with customer loyalty. Specific findings of the study are as follows: network quality, price structure, and customer service had significant relationship on both behaviourial and attitudinal loyalty in the telecommunication industry in Lagos State, Nigeria, while value-added services had no significant relationship with behavioural loyalty, but had significant relationship with attitudinal loyalty in the telecommunication industry in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study recommended the following: Management of GSM networks should prioritize network quality through massive investments in equipment as this will ensure expansion of network, call clarity, network coverage, network accessibility, and less call drops; management of GSM networks should develop value-added services to increase subscribers’ convenience, value-added services should be up-to-date, and easy to use, and less expensive to users; the government through its regulatory agency (Nigeria Communications Commission) should as a matter of urgency bring down the call and internet rates charged, and abolish cost of migrating from one tariff plan to another; and management of GSM networks should strive to minimize customers inconvenience by speedily processing customers’ complaints through a variety of systems or channels and also the long wait in connecting to customer service lines should be reduced to the barest minimum.Quality of Telecommunication Services and Customer Loyalt
EFFECT OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF QUOTED CONSTRUCTION FIRMS IN NIGERIA
Full text linkThis research was undertaken to ascertain the effect of knowledge management on the performance of Quoted Construction Firms in Nigeria. Knowledge creation, storage, sharing, and implementation constituted the indices for knowledge management while profitability, growth and survival were used as indices for performance. The research adopted the cross sectional survey design for the study. 5657 senior and middle level managers of the six Quoted Construction Firms in Nigeria constituted the population for the study and a sample size of 411 was taken using the Taro Yamen’s formula for sample size determination. A five scale Likert like closed-ended questionnaire was used in the collection of data for this study. The Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) via the instrumentality of the SPSS AMOS Version 20was used in the test of hypotheses. The study found that knowledge creation had significant effect on profitability but not on growth and survival; knowledge storage had significant effect on profitability, but not on growth and survival; knowledge sharing had significant effect on profitability, growth and survival and knowledge implementation had significant effect on profitability, growth and survival. It is recommended that the management of Quoted Construction Firms in Nigeria should designextra pay packages, sponsor knowledge creation initiatives, create knowledge repositories, encourage communities of practice, coaching and mentoring, and knowledge implementation. This can go a long way in ensuring improved work processes which translates into improved profits, ensures steady growth and facilitates survival.Knowledge management for performance of Nigerian Construction firm
EFFECTS OF PREDICT-EXPLAIN-OBSERVE-EXPLAIN AND VEE HEURISTIC STRATEGIES ON STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENT, METYACOGNITIVE AWARENESS AND SELF-EFFICACY BELIEF IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY IN EKITI STATE NIGERIA
Full text linkThis research investigated the effects of Predict-Explain-Observe-Explain (PEOE) and Vee Heuristic (VH) strategies on students’ achievement, metacognitive awareness and self-efficacy belief in Organic Chemistry in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The moderating effect of gender was also investigated. The study adopted a pretest, posttest, control group, quasi-experimental research design. The instruments used for data collection were Organic Chemistry Achievement Test (OCAT), Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI) and Organic Chemistry Self-Efficacy Belief Scale (OCSEBS). Kuder-Richardson (KR-21) formula was used to test internal consistency of OCAT which yielded a reliability value of 0.94. Cronbach Alpha was used to ascertain the reliability index of MAI and OCSEBS respectively which gave reliability values of 0.84 and 0.86 respectively. The target population was 14,753 Senor Secondary II students offering chemistry in the study area. A sample of 308 students (Male=174 and female=134) drawn from 9 schools within the 9 Local Government Areas (LGA) out of 16 LGA in the Ekiti State, Nigeria was selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. Twelve research questions and twelve null hypotheses guided the study. The research questions were answered using Mean and Standard Deviation scores while the null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using results from Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The study revealed that there was significant difference in the mean achievement scores of students taught Organic Chemistry using PEOE, VH strategy and discussion method [F2, 307=255.284, P0.05] and VH strategy [F1, 100 =.420, P>0.05]. The study revealed that there was significant difference in the mean metacognitive awareness scores of students taught Organic Chemistry using PEOE strategy, VH strategy and discussion method [F2, 307=3742.616, P0.050] and VH strategy [F1, 100 =.705, P>0.050]. The study revealed that there was significant difference in the mean self-efficacy belief scores of students taught Organic Chemistry using PEOE strategy, VH strategy and discussion method [F2, 307=2953.260, P0.050] and VH strategy [F1, 100 =.101, P>0.050]. It was recommended among others that since PEOE and VH strategies were found to be effective strategies for improving students’ achievement, metacognitive awareness and self-efficacy belief in Organic Chemistry; Chemistry teacher’s trainee should be trained on the use of PEOE and VH strategies and serving teachers should use it. The curriculum developers should use PEOE and VH strategies to develop and refine the Chemistry curriculum in general and Organic Chemistry in particular.SEL
TEACHERS’ PERCEPTION OF MALE AND FEMALE PRINCIPALS’ ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP STYLES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA
No full textThe study investigated teachers’ perception of male and female principals’ administrative leadership styles in secondary schools in North Central Nigeria. The study was guided by seven research questions and seven hypotheses. The study adopted the descriptive survey design. The population of the study comprised 42,235 teachers from 6,601 secondary schools in North Central Nigeria. The sample of the study consisted 1,267 respondents using the proportionate stratified random sampling. The instrument used for data collection was a 35-item structured questionnaire titled “Male and Female Administrative Leadership Styles Questionnaire, (MFALSQ)” and Interview Schedule. Data from the respondents were collated and analyzed using percentages for bio data, mean scores and standard deviation to answer the research questions while t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that there is significant difference between mean scores of male and female principals’ transactional, situational, charismatic, autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire and contingency styles of administrative leadership in secondary schools in North Central Nigeria. The study established that there is significant difference between calculated mean scores of male and female principals’ transactional, situational, charismatic, autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire and contingency style of administrative leadership in secondary schools in North Central Nigeria. Based on the findings of the study it was recommended among others that male principals should like their female counterparts ensure quality control, motivation of teachers and accomplish work in exchange for rewards that would improve the level of co-operation and interaction among teachers in secondary schools. Female principals of secondary schools in North Central Nigeria should not show bias but should be transparent and accountable to all teachers and students serving under them. This will create a good atmospheric condition for effective impartation of knowledge and attitudes. Male principals should be more democratic in carrying out school activities of teaching and learning as it is believed that democratic style of leadership creates the best atmosphere for optimal productivity in the administration of secondary schools.Male and female administrative leadership style
FOREIGN AID, TAX REVENUE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN AFRICA
No full textThis study examined the relationships among foreign aid, tax revenue and economic, growth using heterogeneous (panel) time-series techniques to deal with problems that create dissensions in cross-country 'aid-tax-growth studies by its measurement of study variables in a way that captures behavioral effects, heterogeneity, endogeneity, cross-country correlation and causality among foreign aid, tax revenue and economic growth. Using data for 52 African countries over the period 2001 to 2017, the study employed Panel Granger Causality (Pgranger) test, Panel Correlation test, Structural Vector Autoregressive (SVAR) model and System Generalized Method of Moments (system GMM) estimator to analysed data. The study found a bi-directional causation between foreign aid and tax revenue and that foreign aid substitutes tax revenue in African countries. The results showed that in the short term period, innovations to foreign aid and tax revenue had positive and negative influences, respectively, on the economic growth variation of African countries. However, in the long term, variations in economic growth caused by foreign aid and tax revenue tend to be positive. The study also found that both foreign aid and tax revenue do impact economic growth but the magnitude of the impact is small and weak. Based on these findings, it recommends, among other things, that foreign aid dependency in African countries can be reduced by using foreign aid inflows to build the technical capacity of tax officials in African countries in the short-to-medium-term and through linking foreign aid -financed projects to improving tax revenue mobilization capacity as this would go a long way in ensuring that the largest percentage of the taxable population is effectively brought into the tax net using voluntary compliance that would reduce the political cost of collecting tax revenue in African countries.foreign Aid, Tax Revenue and Economic Growt
INTERPRETING THE GOOD SHEPHERD DISCOURSE IN JOHN 10:1-18 WITH A FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA
Full text linkThe biblical concept of ‘shepherd’ connotes the imagery for leadership. The Good Shepherd Discourse in John 10:1-18 along with its Old Testament background in Ezekiel 34:1-31 occured in the context of the polemics against bad leadership structures in Israel in that the powers that be wanted to maintain the status quo. The text has enjoyed wide readership and appreciation but has also suffered severe mis-interpretation that forms the basis of the problem of this research. Scholars were seldom unanimous about its meaning especially the meaning of paroimia “proverb” or more generally a mãsãl in Hebrew, which can mean “proverb” or “riddle,” or using the familiar synoptic term, a parable. The problem was further aggravated in the pictorial usage of three different imagery: Sheepfold, Door and Good shepherd. What could be the best form of interpretation of the different imagery. The study aimed at providing the correct interpretation to the text in spite of the different images and symbols used. It was also discussed as a model of leadership and leaders were urged to see what the “Good Shepherd” does and bring it to bear on their exercise of power and authority. The researcher had used the historico-critical and synchronic methods of biblical exegesis in order to unravel the text. The biblical methods were adopted because they give a broader exploration of the text in its historical and cultural milieu and a more in-depth interpretation of the text in view. In order to contextualize the interpretation, the study looked at the challenges of leadership in Nigeria. The study found out that lack of Content, Character and Competence, absence of the spirit of sacrifice, corruption, ethnicity have negatively shaped leadership in Nigeria. This work therefore recommended: that leaders must imbibe the attributes and qualities of the Good Shepherd such as the disposition to sacrifice and lay down one’s life as they take up political leadership. Their engagement in leadership should not be for self-aggrandizement but as sacrifice for the common good and the evolution of a new political culture to checkmate corruption, emphasize propriety, recognize the place of morality in politics, transparency and accountability. The study had therefore, recommended the biblical image of the “Good Shepherd” in John 10:1-18 as a universal leadership model to supplant the current concept and practice of political leadership characterized by selfishness, greed and insensitivity to the problems of the people and the looting of the commonwealth with impunity. A thorough leadership recruitment process through free and fair elections would lead to the emergence of the best leadership materials that will provide the desired leadership as exemplified by the Good Shepherd.Comparing Nigerian Leadership to the Biblical Good Shepherd Discourse in John 10:1-1
MANAGEMENT OF ENTERPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION AND GRADUATES VENTURE CREATION IN UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA
No full textThis study examined influence of management of university entrepreneurship education on graduates venture creation in South-South Geo-political Zone of Nigeria. Seven research questions and seven null hypotheses guided the study. The study employed descriptive survey design. The population of the study comprised 7,218 staff from 12 public universities. A sample of 385 respondents was selected through multi-stage sampling technique. The instruments for data collection were a self-developed questionnaire titled: Management of Entrepreneurship Education and Venture Creation Questionnaire (MEEVCQ) with reliability coefficient of 0.85 and Interview Schedule (IS). Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. Frequency distribution, percentages and charts were used to present responses. Chi-square was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that planning, funding, staffing, provision of facilities, supervision, staff motivation and evaluation have significant influences on graduates venture creation in universities in South-South Nigeria. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that universities should effectively plan for graduates entrepreneurship education in the universities for this will make them become self-reliant after graduation from universities. Nigerian government and non-governmental as well as private organizations should provide funds for universities to enable universities management to provide the needed services such as teaching, training of entrepreneurship personnel and administrative services.Management of Entrepreneurship Educatio
STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF GBILE AKANNI’S SELECTED WRITINGS
No full textNo two individuals are exactly the same, even identical twins. This may be in speaking, writing, teaching, dressing and acting. Therefore, no two authors can write in exactly the same way or style even if they write on the same subject matter. This is because every writer chooses the linguistic guise in which he wishes to appear. It is such guise that marks their stylistic uniqueness. This study examines the basic linguistic features in Akanni’s writings that make his work peculiar. The study has adopted the semiotic approach for its theoretical framework. The major method of data collection used is the documentary study method and the analytical strategy used is the textual analysis of data. The findings of the study show that this author uses more proper nouns than common nouns, more adverbs of manner than other adverbs and more attributive adjectives than predicative ones. Most verbs used are dynamic and there is a deliberate use of simple sentences as well as figures of speech and foregrounding to heighten aesthetic effect. After applying these tools in texts that appear religious as well as literary it is concluded that language is an integral part of any work of art and that the success of a work depends largely on how the writer has been able to successfully manipulate language. Akanni is a good example of an author who is adept at the manipulation of language. It is recommended that similar studies be made of texts that are not literature texts so that the horizons of stylistics will be widened.Gbile Akanni's selected writing
PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE NORTH CENTRAL, NIGEREIA
No full textThe study investigated the influence of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) on management of public secondary schools in the North Central, Nigeria. The study was guided by eight research questions and eight hypotheses were tested. The review of related literature was done under the following subheadings: theoretical framework, conceptual framework and review of empirical studies. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The population of the study was 34, 473 teachers in the 1,949 public secondary schools using 1000 respondents as sample for the study. The instrument used for data collection was a 40 –item structured questionnaire titled “Parent Teacher Association and Management of public Secondary Schools Questionnaire (PTAMPSSQ)” with an Interview Schedule. Titled “Parent-Teacher Association and Management of public Secondary Schools Interview Schedule (PTAMPSSIS)”. The reliability test of the instrument yielded an alpha co-efficient of 0.94. Data from the respondents were collected and analyzed using mean and Standard Deviation to answer the research questions while Chi-square was used to test hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that: PTA’s provision of funds, staff, maintenance of discipline, provision of instructional materials, participation in decision making, staff welfare and school-community relationship have significant influence on management of secondary schools in the North Central States of Nigeria. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that all the variables have significant influence on the management of secondary schools in the North Central States of Nigeria. Based on findings, it was recommended among others that PTAs should increase funding of secondary schools to enhance effective and efficient management. PTA should not relent in their effort in the provision of staff to secondary schools in order to ensure that quality of education is maintained in North Central zone of Nigeria. They should collaborate with school management to discipline students or any staff found guilty of breaking school rules and regulations. PTA should increase regular visit and interactions with school management. This would help them to identify and resolve conflicting issues affecting teaching/learning or management process of the school.Parent-Teacher Association and Management of Public Secondary School