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The Public Sector in Nigeria: An Exploration of the Role of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
Get PDFThe paper explored the role of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), a strategically important public corporation in Nigeria, established on April 1, 1977, with the main aim of optimally managing Nigeria’s naturally endowed oil resources with a view to contributing to its socio-economic development, which is expected to have a positive bearing on the standard of living of Nigerians. The paper utilised the qualitative research framework, where secondary data were obtained through document analysis, and it adopted thematic analysis in analysing the data and discussing the findings. The findings include the state of the public sector in Nigeria, which has been found to be poor and the NNPC, even though it is beset by certain challenges, it performs certain strategic functions, which add value to Nigeria’s socio-economic development. The functions include management of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources, supervision of oil production and operations in the oil and gas industry, supply of oil products, investment in sectors that add value to the oil and gas industry and remittance to the federation account for even national development. The paper recommends that the public sector should be strengthened so that it performs efficiently and effectively. This is achievable through enhancing the regulatory frameworks and encouraging PPP (Public Private Partnership). The paper also recommends that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation should have a better enabling act to enable it to continue to perform its functions and invest more in value-adding sectors and sustain its interventions in the national life of the Nigerian state, hence helping the state to address its socio-economic challenges
Drought Severity and Frequency Analysis Aided by Spectral and Meteorological Indices in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Get PDFIn the past two decades, severe drought has been a recurrent problem in Iraq due in part to climate change. Additionally, the catastrophic drop in the discharge of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and their tributaries has aggravated the drought situation in Iraq, which was formerly one of the most water-rich nations in the Middle East. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) also has catastrophic drought conditions. This study analyzed a Landsat time-series dataset from 1998 to 2021 to determine the drought severity status in the KRI. The Modified Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI2) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) were used as spectral-based drought indices to evaluate the severity of the drought and study the changes in vegetative cover, water bodies, and precipitation. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Spatial Coefficient of Variation (CV) were used as meteorologically based drought indices. According to this study, the study area had precipitation deficits and severe droughts in 2000, 2008, 2012, and 2021. The MSAVI2 results indicated that the vegetative cover decreased by 36.4%, 39.8%, and 46.3% in 2000, 2008, and 2012, respectively. The SPI’s results indicated that the KRI experienced droughts in 1999, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2021, while the southeastern part of the KRI was most affected by drought in 2008. In 2012, the KRI’s western and southern parts were also considerably affected by drought. Furthermore, Lake Dukan (LD), which lost 63.9% of its surface area in 1999, experienced the most remarkable shrinkage among water bodies. Analysis of the geographic distribution of the CV of annual precipitation indicated that the northeastern parts, which get much more precipitation, had less spatial rainfall variability and more uniform distribution throughout the year than other areas. Moreover, the southwest parts exhibited a higher fluctuation in annual spatial variation. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between MSAVI2, SPI, NDWI, and agricultural yield-based vegetation cover. The results also revealed that low precipitation rates are always associated with declining crop yields and LD shrinkage. These findings may be concluded to provide policymakers in the KRI with a scientific foundation for agricultural preservation and drought mitigation
Exploring Iraqi people’s perception about early marriage: a qualitative study
Get PDFBackground and objective
Early marriage is prevalent in Iraq, but the factors related to this behavior, especially people's attitudes about it, have not been well studied. It has been proven that early marriage seriously threatens young girls' lives and health. This study aimed to explore the perception of people about early marriage in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.
Methods
A qualitative method was employed to carry out this study in 2020. Data were collected through 16 focus group discussions in different health centers in Erbil, Iraq. Each focus group included 8–12 participants who had the experience of early marriage. The transcripts of the focus groups were analyzed through the six methodological activities of Van Manen. The trustworthiness of the data was confirmed by using qualitative data evaluation criteria.
Results
Different themes and subthemes regarding the ideal age of marriage, attitudes toward marriage, reasons for early marriage, advantages and disadvantages of early marriage, and practice of early marriage in the community emerged from focus group discussions. Most participants identified early marriage as inappropriate social behavior that should not be practiced. Reasons for early marriage included poor economic status, protection of girls and boys, low educational level, and respect for old traditions of the community. Divorce and violence against women were the main disadvantages of early marriage.
Conclusion
There is a generally negative attitude towards early marriage, and the practice's disadvantages and health and psychological consequences are well recognized in Iraqi Kurdistan Region. However, different social, traditional, economic, educational, and religious factors encourage early marriage in the region. Further research is recommended in other governorates in the area to have a more precise and representative idea about the topic
Ethnopharmacology, Biological evaluation and Chemical composition of Boswellia dalzielii Hutch: A Review
Get PDFThe Burseraceae family consists of 18 genera and 540 species. Boswellia dalzielii is a medicinal plant used in tropical and subtropical areas for the treatment and management of various ailments. Despite the medicinal value of B. dalzielii, there is no comprehensive documentation. The study aimed to review the ethnopharmacology, biological evaluation and chemical composition of B. dalzielii. Scopus, Web of Science, BioMed Central, Science Direct, PubMed, Springer Link, and Google Scholar were searched to find published articles. The results showed that the leaves, stem bark, and root of B. dalzielii have been traditionally used in Nigeria, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Benin, Sudan, and Guinee for the treatment and management of antirheumatic, antispasmodic, analgesic, antiseptic, hypotensive, malarial mental illness, ulcer, pain, and fever. It is also found that leaves, stem bark, and root have antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and antimalarial properties with stembark having the highest activity. Chemically, it was revealed the leaf has high contents of monoterpenes hydrocarbons with alpha-pinene as the major compound. The species were largely studied in vitro, according to the literature survey. A well-designed clinical experiment is required to obtain conclusive evidence on the efficacy of stembark. The standard dose and safety of the stembark should be established
Do all renewable energy stocks react to the war in Ukraine? Russo-Ukrainian conflict perspective
Get PDFThis study investigates how renewable energy markets reacted to the war in Ukraine in 2022 using event study and network connectedness analyses and compares this effect to traditional energy sources. Combining event study with connectedness analysis is of great interest in identifying abnormal returns from the Russia-Ukraine conflict event. The risk-return profiles make clean energy more appealing to investors, and increased investment in clean energy subsectors leads to improved climate change mitigation. Sampled data are wrangled daily from 03 August 2021 to 30 March 2022. The results confirm that renewable energy markets have positive and significant cumulative abnormalities while traditional energy markets are heavily affected during the post-war. Moreover, we find higher pairwise return connectedness after the announcement event than during and before the war in Ukraine. The geothermal and full cell markets are the more robust net information transmitter to other clean energy subsectors. Finally, renewable energy appeared more pertinent during and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, given its properties to serve diversifications and hedging tools
The Impact of Social Media on the Interaction Between Students and Teachers at the University of Halabja
Get PDFThe aim of this article is to investigate the role of web 2.0 tools and social media applications in the relationship between undergraduate students and university lecturers. The researchers used the quantitative approach to design the methodology of the research. The sample of the study was 85 students from the departments of (Social Sciences, Arabic Language, and English Language) in the second year, third year, and fourth year at the college of basic education at the University of Halabja for the academic year 2020-2021. The questionnaire was used to collect the data from the participants. The result of the study demonstrated that there was a significant influence on the relationship between the students and the lecturers in using social media applications. Students showed that they use social media every day and it has a positive impact on their interaction with the lecturers
Comparative analysis of short-term intensive and long-term adaptive language teaching curriculum
Get PDFTeaching and learning a foreign language are challenging and time-consuming endeavors. Being proficient in a foreign language takes hard work for learners.
This qualitative research was conducted at Language Preparatory School (LPS) in Tishk International University (TIU), a private university in Erbil in Iraq where teachers currently follow a short-term intensive teaching program for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. To collect data, a survey was created and sent to 15 teachers at Tishk International University Language Preparatory School (TIULPS) through Google form. Three open-ended questions and five Likert-scale items were used in the qualitative research and subsequently the data was analyzed. According to research findings, it is suggested that EFL students in TIULPS should be taught in a long-term adaptive language teaching schedule. Therefore, there is an emergency to set up a new curriculum for language learners at language preparatory schools due to the allocated duration for proficiency level. These research findings can suggest a change in language teaching programs at education institutions at tertiary level in general
Perceptions and Revitalization of Local Ecological Knowledge in Four Schools in Yasin Valley, North Pakistan
Get PDFMountains are often recognized as sites of biocultural diversity, and local ecological knowledge (LEK) is an integral part of community life. Rapid cultural standardization and urbanization have threatened biocultural diversity, posing threats to LEK in mountain areas. The current study aimed to gather data on the status of LEK in the Yasin Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, and discuss options with the local population for revitalizing LEK in future educational programs. We explored the perceptions of local communities on the importance of LEK and its possible revitalization and transmission in the school curriculum. Data were collected from students, teachers, and local knowledge holders in 4 schools located in the valley. In the area, LEK is considered an important part of the local biocultural heritage, playing a potential role in socioenvironmental sustainability, but we observed a lack of intergenerational transmission of LEK, using LEK of wild food plants as a proxy. Participants confirmed that the existing environmental and food education does not cover the local cultural ecologies, and thus the prevailing centralized curriculum system has isolated students from learning LEK. Preliminary interactions with participants did not reveal any opinions on the transmission of LEK through teaching–learning processes. During group discussions, however, we discovered some potential strategies that could help in the revitalization of LEK in schools, such as study trips, traditional food day celebrations, developing herbaria, art competitions, and the introduction of food scouting. More importantly, place-based education, connected to the local biocultural heritage, could provide a useful foundation for the intergenerational transmission of LEK. Therefore, on the basis of our case study, we appeal to local policymakers to pay attention to the erosion of LEK and ask that it be given space in future development programs to achieve sustainable development and help mountain communities
Lifestyle Factors and Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Cross-sectional Study
Get PDFBackground and Objectives: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a condition characterized by heartburn and acid regurgitation without signs of oesophagal mucosal injury on one hand, and erosive oesophagitis and Barrett's oesophagus consequences like oesophagal cancer on the other. The aim of this study was to explore the involvement of different lifestyle-related factors in the aetiology of symptomatic GERD.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 79 patients (28 men and 51 women) aged between 20-68 years old were recruited randomly through a direct interview between January to October 2021, and they were prescribed Proton Pump Inhibitors. Prior to starting this study, the approvals had been granted by the ethics committee and oral consent was gained from the participants. A questionnaire was designed and consisted of demographic and clinical characteristics regarding GERD. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 25 for describing frequencies and percentages, followed by Chi-square and Fisher’s Exact tests as inferential statistical analysis for finding associations between variables.
Results: Among the total of 79 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, the findings indicated that more than half of the study sample (58.2%) were overweight and obese (26.6% and 31.6% respectively), and the heavy smokers made the highest percentage among smokers (19%). There was a statistically significant association between gender and smoking and BMI among GERD patients (P-value = 0.001 and < 0.001 respectively). There was a very highly significant association between BMI and heartburn and nausea and vomiting (P-value = 0.001 for both), while there was a non-significant association between BMI and chest pain, cough, and sleep pattern disturbance (P-value = 0.324, 0.558, and 0.907 respectively).
Conclusion: A higher BMI and smoking are associated with a higher likelihood of GERD symptoms
Chemical Characterization and Detection of Adulteration in Olea Europaea Linn. Oil by ATR-FTIR Method
Get PDFOlea europaea Linn. (Olive; Oleaceae) commonly known as Zaytoon in the Mediterranean region. Olive oil and fruits are an important component of the Mediterranean diet as cooking oil and as a salad. Adulteration in Olive oil is very common with cheap edible oils. Thorough literature shows that there is no study conducted to check adulteration in Olive oil produced in Iraqi Kurdistan. The aim of the present study is to screen genuine Olive oil samples and also develop a method for the detection of adulteration by ATR-FTIR. The detection of adulteration in O. europaea oil was performed by the ATR-FTIR method. The sesame oil (SO), coconut oil (CO), sunflower oil (SFO), and refined olive oil (ROO) were selected as adulterants. For detection of adulteration in O. europaea oil, different binary-mixtures of various concentrations of O. europaea oil with sesame oil (SO), coconut oil (CO), sunflower oil (SFO), and refined olive oil (ROO) (0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 100% v/v) were prepared and FTIR spectra of each concentration were recorded. FTIR results of binary-mixtures were quite difficult to find out adulteration. Hence, on the basis of IR spectra’s only it is very difficult to check adulteration in Olive oil. So, we proposed an alternate way and easily to check adulteration in Olive oil. For that, we searched each binary-mixtures in the library of ATR-FTIR (IRAffinity-1S, Shimadzu, Japan), and results are presented in terms of FTIR search score. This method was found fast, easy, and reliable for the detection of cheap edible oils in pure Olive oils