Nnamdi Azikiwe University Journals
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Influence of residents’ social engagement on forest-based land use strategies for flood mitigation in southwest Nigeria
No full textFlood-prone communities in Southwest Nigeria experience immense hardships due to incessant flooding, disrupting social amenities and comfort. Therefore, this study aims to investigate influence of residents’ engagement on forest-based land use strategies (FLUS) for mitigation of flooding. Data were collected from a sample size of 250 respondents with a structured questionnaires through multistage sampling procedure and were analysed with frequencies, percentages, mean scores, Chi square statistic and Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) at α0.05. The findings showed that residents’ engagement in social activities based on associated welfare (mean = 5) ranked 1st, followed by residents’ social engagement due to benefits of meeting needs as well as coping with flood hazards (mean = 4.7) which ranked 2nd. Secondly, they employed the use of tree planting (TP) as the most popular FLUS for mitigating flooding (mean = 1.8) ranked 1st, followed by tree conservation (TC) and stream bank stabilization (SBS) (mean = 1.6) ranked 2nd. Chi-square statistic showed a significant relationship between residents’ social involvement and FLUS’ indicators such sustenance of natural environment (SNE), desilting (DS) and landscaping of the environment (LE). The CCA revealed a significant relationship and positive correlation between social connections enhancement of resilience to environmental and flood hazards and FLUS; both SNE β= 0.310, p = 0.00, R2 = 0.403) and LE (β= 0.310, p = 0.00, R2 = 0.355) at α0.005. In conclusion, findings revealed that social involvement of residents in flood-prone communities influenced level of utilization of FLUS for mitigation of flooding in Southwest Nigeria. The study recommends partnership for flood resilience through a collaborative framework for ecosystem organizations and residents of flood-prone communities
Fast freezing induced by magnetic field: impact of field intensity and exposure time on the quality characteristics of frozen pineapple
No full textThis study investigated the impact of magnetic field (MF) intensity and time on the quality characteristics of frozen pineapple. Raw pineapple was washed, peeled and sliced. The pineapple slices with thickness of 10×10×10 mm cube were exposed to magnetic field intensities of 9 T, 14 T, and 20 T and exposure times of 5, 10, and 15 minutes before they underwent freezing at -18oC. Fresh and untreated frozen samples were regarded as control 1 and control 2, respectively. The quality characteristics including pH, firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), and microstructure were measured using standard methods. The results indicated that MF intensity and exposure time had non-significant (at P≤5) effect on the pH of the slices. However, significant improvements were noted in firmness and TSS of treated samples when compared to the control groups. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that MF treatment, particularly at higher field intensities of 14 T and 20 T, and shorter treatment time of 5 minutes, produced small ice crystals, and aided preservation of cell structure, resulting in minimal tissue damage. These findings suggest that MF technology could serve as a viable non-thermal technique that enhances the quality of fruits, with potential applications in the food industry
Evaluation of selected Nigerian wood species treated with creosote and Occimum gratissimum Linn. extract against fungal infestation
No full textThe study focuses on the resistance of Pterocarpus soyauxii and Celtis zenkeri treated with creosote and Occimum gratissimum against fungal infestation. Wood samples were obtained from a sawmill and processed into 30mm × 30mm × 70mm in three replicates and dried at a temperature of 103±20°C for 8 hours and soaked in 500 ml of Occimum gratissimum and creosote for 24 hours. Absorption, retention, and visual assessment tests were carried out. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics using a two-sample T-test to test for significant difference. Pterocarpus soyauxii had the highest percentage moisture content of 17.85% among other wood samples that were tested, followed by Celtis zenkeri. Pterocarpus soyauxii had a higher absorption rate, ranging from 52.17% to 54.69% for the two treatment methods. Celtis zenkeri had the least absorption rate when treated with creosote (42.35%). The result proved that there is an interaction effect between the treatment and wood species. Creosote had the highest retention rate of 50.92 kg/m³. There is a significant difference between the wood species and the treatment methods. Celtis zenkeri had the least retention rate of 39.23 kg/m³ (Occimum gratissimum). The extent of protection varied with different treatment methods. Findings show that creosote is more effective in treating wood than Occimum gratissimum. Extension education should be increased towards educating wood users on the importance of organic preservatives as wood preservatives
Effect of cashless policy on agricultural activities of arable crop farmers in Egbeda, Oyo State, Nigeria
No full textA cashless policy decreases the bulk of physical cash that individuals/corporate bodies carry for business transactions on a daily basis. This study analysed the effects of the cashless policy on the agricultural activities of arable crop farmers in Egbeda Local Government, Oyo State. A descriptive research design was used for this study. The data source was primary, and valid responses were used through the interview schedule. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 120 respondents. Data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, and Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation (PPMC) at p=0.05. The results revealed that respondents had an average age of 52 years, 6 persons per household, 21.9 years of farming experience, and 2.8 hectares of farm size. The cashless policy positively impacted areas of transparency of financial transactions (x̄=3.78), convenience of financial transactions (x̄=3.77), and effective management of financial records (x̄=3.74). However, on a negative note, it aided difficulties in accessing funds promptly due to technical issues (x̄=3.68). Respondents were able to cope with cashless policy difficulties by opening mobile banking accounts to make transactions (91.7%) and maintaining detailed records of financial transactions (85.0%). There was no significant relationship between engagement in the utilisation of the cashless policy and arable crop farmers’ production in the study area. The study concluded that the cashless policy had brought about positive and negative effects on the finances of arable farmers. The study recommends more awareness, increased mobile/internet network coverage, and availability of more cash points to support arable crop farmers to adapt effectively to the cashless policy
A Critical Overview of the Right to Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion in Nigeria
No full textThe right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is an inalienable and justiciable right guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution. In the same breadth, the same Constitution provides that there shall be no State Religion. This notwithstanding, Government provision for the enjoyment of the right to religious worship has led to formation of Faith Based Government Agencies like the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission thereby throwing up the question whether the rights of non-religious or irreligious persons do not enjoy constitutional protection in Nigeria. Deploying the doctrinal research method, relevant international, regional and domestic laws on the right to religious belief were critically examined alongside judicial interpretations placed on them. The paper found that the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is interpreted broadly by the Courts to include the unfettered right of the non-religious or irreligious to practice their beliefs although they do not enjoy any support from government in this regard. It was suggested among other things that since religion is a private matter, government should discontinue sponsoring religious pilgrimages and channel the resources for that purpose to uplift the living standards of the generality of the citizens.
INFLUENCE OF PRINCIPALS’ LEADERSHIP STYLES ON TEACHERS\u27 PRODUCTIVITY IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS AWKA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF ANAMBRA STATE
No full textThe study adopted survey research design. The population of the study was made up of 635 teachersin the 19 public secondary schools in Awka South LGA. The sample of the study consisted of 254secondary school teachers drawn from 8 selected secondary schools in Awka South LGA, through asimple randomly sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection was a structuredquestionnaire on a four alternative response columns indicating the levels of agreement; StronglyAgreed (SA), Agreed (A), Disagree (D) and Strongly Disagree (SD). The instrument was subjected toface validation by three experts. The reliability was established using test retest method, tested usingthe Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. A high value of 0.85 was obtained showingthat the instrument was reliable. The questionnaire was administered to the 254 sampled secondaryschool teachers in the 8 selected schools in Awka South LGA by the researcher and two researchassistants. The research questions were answered and the data collected were analyzed usingArithmetic mean score based on a four (4) point scale of Strongly Agreed (SA)=4, Agree (A)=3,Disagree (D)=2 and Strongly Disagree (SD)=1. Thus, in answering the research questions, any itemwith a mean score of 2.5 and above is regarded as positive which is accepted, while any item with amean score below 2.5 is regarded as negative and is not accepted. The findings among others showedthat both principals\u27 instructional and transformational leadership styles significantly influenceproductivity of teaching staff in public secondary schools in Awka South LGA, Anambra State.Recommendations made were to; implement comprehensive professional development programs forprincipals in Awka South, focusing on the principles and practices of transformational leadership,including vision articulation, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualizedconsideration
PERCEIVED BENEFITS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) ON THE PROVISION OF HEALTH INFORMATION AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN ANAMBRA STATE.
No full textThe aim of the study was to explore the Perceived benefits of artificial intelligence on the provisionof health information among university student in Anambra state . Three research questions guidedthe study and a descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of thestudy consisted of 4200 tertiary students in Faculty of Education at Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu University . A simple random sampling technique was used to get a sample of 420respondents from 7 department in the faculty . The instrument for data collection was a structuredquestionnaire which was validated by three experts from the Faculty of Education. The researcheremployed Cronbach alpha for the reliability and the result yielded a 0.77. Data was analyzed usingdescriptive statistics, mean and standard deviation. The findings of the study revealed that thestudents accepted AI as beneficial on the provision of sexual health information. They all acceptedthat AI is of great importance on the provision of healthy lifestyle and wellness information, on theother hand, they disagreed that AI could be beneficial on the provision of stress management. Fromthe results of the study, it was recommended amongst others that Institutions should Integrate AILiteracy into the curriculum or health-related courses to equip students with the skills to effectivelyuse AI for health information and self-care
TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL BUSINESS EDUCATION AMIDST INFRASTRUCTURAL INADEQUACY, NEGATIVE PERCEPTION AND SECURITY CHALLENGE IN NIGERIA
No full textThis paper discussed technical and vocational business education amidst infrastructural inadequacy, negative perception and security challenge in Nigeria. The position of the paper is that effective technical and vocational business education cannot be given without adequate infrastructural facilities and staff required to implement the programme. The programme can only meet the needs of employers if it is given in an appropriate environment. This paper also discussed the problem of misconceptions in technical and vocational business education and expresses the need to provide broad-based, multi-disciplinary, technology and business education that correspond to what is done and what the students are being prepared for. The need to close the enrolment gap and to identify programmes of action for promoting interest in technical and vocational business education so as to reduce the impact of infrastructural inadequacy, negative perception and security challenge on the survival of technical and vocational business education cannot be over emphasized
LEVEL OF DIGITAL RESOURCES UTILIZATION IN OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND MANEGEMENT PROGRAMME IN PUBIC POLYTHENICS IN ANAMBRA AND IMO STATE
No full textThe need to improve the teaching of OTM courses for students’ skill acquisition necessitated this study. The study examines the level of digital resource utilization for effective instructional delivery of OTM courses towards students’ acquisition of employability skills for self-reliance. One research question and two null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted survey research design with a population 65 OTM lecturers in public polytechnics in Anambra and Imo Sates studied without sampling. Structured questionnaire containing 21 items were used for data collection. Face and content validity of the instrument was ascertained using three experts in the field of OTM and Measurement and Evaluation. The reliability of the instrument was established using pilot-test and data calculated with Cronbach Alpha yielded correlation coefficient of .91. The researcher with the help of two research assistants adequately briefed administered the instrument to the respondents. Mean, standard deviation and t-test were used for data analysis. Findings revealed that OTM lecturers lowly utilize digital resources for instructional delivery of OTM courses towards enhancing students’ acquisition of employability skills. It was also found that age and years of teaching experience were not significant factors on the extent OTM lecturers utilize digital resources for instructional delivery of OTM courses. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher concluded that OTM lecturers in polytechnics in Anambra and Imo States are not utilizing digital resources to the fullest extent possible to give their students the employability skills they need for self-reliance. It was recommended among others that; management of polytechnics should encourage all OTM lecturers in the study area who lack digital literacy to pursue training in order to improve their ability to deliver high-quality instruction
CUSTOMER CREATION, EMPLOYEE PROACTIVENESS AND BUSINESS SURVIVAL IN COMPETITIVE MARKET ENVIRONMENT OF LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA
No full textThe study examined customer creation, employee proactiveness and business survival in competitive market environment of Lagos State, Nigeria. Three hypotheses were tested in this study. The descriptive research design of survey was used. The population of the study comprised 11,463 Businesses (SMEs) who have employees of 5-55 and registered with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). The sample size is 386 businesses using Taro Yamene formula. The study used researchers self-developed instrument title: Customer’s Creation, Employee Proactiveness and Businesses Survival Questionnaire (CCEPNSQ) with reliability coefficient (r = .93) for data collection. Inferential statistics of Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used for testing hypotheses 1 and 2 while hypothesis 3 was tested using multiple regression analysis. The findings of the study showed that there was positive significant relationship between customer’s creation (r = 0.317, p <. 05), employee proactiveness (r = 0.210, p < .05) and businesses survival in competitive market environment of Lagos State. There was a significant composite contribution of customers creation and employee proactiveness on businesses survival in competitive market environment of Lagos State (R = 0.84, p < .05) and that about 78% variation in businesses survival in competitive market environment was accounted for by explanatory variables (customers creation and employee proactiveness). It was recommended that businesses in Lagos State and country at large should intensify efforts towards creating customers for their brand through advertisement, high quality of goods and services produces to the market. Organization should adopt participative decision-making systems, whereby employees’ demands are satisfied and promotion of work-balance should be provided