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New National Policy on Language in Nigeria: Implications for Language Planning and Language Acquisition
No full textThis paper examines the evolution and implications of Nigeria’s National Language Policy, with a focus on the 2022 policy approved under the Buhari administration. It traces the definition of language from traditional perspectives to contemporary sociolinguistic frameworks, highlighting its role in communication, identity, and education. The development of Nigeria’s language policy, rooted in the National Policy on Education (NPE) since 1977, is analysed alongside its implementation challenges, including inadequate resources, poor teacher training, and inconsistent enforcement. The 2022 policy, emphasizing mother tongue instruction through primary education, is evaluated for its prospects and challenges, such as linguistic diversity and parental preferences for English. Implications for language planning and acquisition are discussed, emphasizing the need for robust implementation strategies to enhance multilingual education and cultural preservation. Recommendations include increased funding, teacher capacity building, and development of indigenous language resources
Synergistic Ameliorative Capabilities of Quercetin and Ascorbic Acid on Hepatic and Pro-Inflammatory Markers of Arsenic-Induced Toxicity in Obese Wistar Rats
Get PDFObesity and arsenic exposure have been linked to many health issues. However, arsenic poisoning severity and susceptibility may depend on Body Mass Index (BMI), oxidative state, food supplements, and other factors. This study examines how quercetin and ascorbic acid can improve arsenic-induced health dysfunctions in normal and high BMI male Wistar rats. A total of 70 male Wistar rats weighing between 135 - 220 g were divided into 10 groups. A: Control group; B: sodium arsenite group; C: quercetin + sodium arsenite group; D: ascorbic acid + sodium arsenite group; E: sodium arsenite + quercetin + ascorbic acid; F: obese group; G: obese + sodium arsenite group; H: obese + sodium arsenite + quercetin group; I: obese + sodium arsenite + ascorbic acid group; J: obese + sodium arsenite + quercetin + ascorbic acid group, all treatments were administered orally daily for twenty-eight (28) days. The doses administered were 595 mg/kg body weight of ascorbic acid (10 % LD50), 50 mg/kg body weight of quercetin (5 % LD50), and 0.75 mg/kg body weight of sodium arsenite (5 % LD50). Concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL 6), TNF-alpha (TNF-α), COX-2, nitric oxide (NO), total bilirubin (TBL) and activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were determined in plasma. Upon the completion of the experiment, serum IL-1β, IL 6, TNF-α, COX-2, NO, TBL concentrations and ALP, AST, ALT, and GGT activities increased significantly (p<0.05) across the groups and treatment with quercetin and ascorbic acid ameliorated the pathological alteration elicited or caused by sodium arsenite. The findings showed that arsenic exposure altered pro-inflammatory and hepatic function indices in high BMI rats, while treatment with quercetin and ascorbic acid exhibited an ameliorative effect against this obesity and arsenic-induced health dysfunctions.
Keywords: Body Mass Index, Dysfunctions, Sodium arsenite, Inflammatio
Potential Consequences of Water-Soluble Acetaminophen-Chromium Combination in Clarias Gariepinus: Bioaccumulation and Oxidative Perturbations of Antioxidant Enzyme Activities
Get PDFIn this study, emerging-recalcitrant water contaminants were examined to determine their impact on water quality and oxidative disruption of antioxidant markers in Clarias gariepinus (African catfish). Fifty C. gariepinus were randomly exposed to fresh water, 250 mg/L acetaminophen (ACT), 0.525 mg/L chromium (Cr) and a mixture of ACT+Cr – dosed water for 21 days. As compared to the control, dosed water did not significantly (p ˃ 0.05) affect dissolved oxygen (DO), but biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) significantly increased in ACT, ACT+Cr, and Cr-dosed water. Levels of ACT in C. gariepinus exposed to different concentrations followed by kidney ˃ gill ˃ liver ˃ heart. Likewise, higher Cr presence was found in C. gariepinus gills exposed to 0.350 mg/L Cr. Accordingly, kidneys and gills were the worst affected organs by ACT and Cr accumulation. All the targeted organs of C. gariepinus exposed to different concentrations of ACT+Cr showed a concentration-dependent reduction in catalase (CAT) activity, indicating the synergistic effects of ACT and heavy metals. Based on these results, ACT and Cr adversely affect the kidneys and gills of C. gariepinus, compromising their physiological activity. As a result, pharmaceutical wastes and heavy metal effluents released into the aquatic environment indiscriminately need to be monitored.
Keywords Acetaminophen, Bioaccumulation, Clarias gariepinus, Chromium, Enzymatic antioxidan
IMPACT OF CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION ON BIODIVERSITY: A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE ON CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THREATENED SPECIES IN NIGERIA
Get PDFDr. Greg Onaiwu**
Abstract
Chemical pollution emerges as a significant and urgent threat to environmental biodiversity. Its potential impact including habitat degradation, wildlife endangerment, the accumulation of toxins within the food chain, disruptions to ecosystems, genetic mutations, alterations in reproductive patterns etcetera. The study scrutinized the extant international and national legal frameworks regulating biodiversity conservation in Nigeria, offering a dual perspective on the challenges and prospects of environmental preservation. Within the context of this perspective, the study underscores the importance of effectively addressing chemical pollution, and the imperative for coordinated efforts at local, national and international scales. Moreover, an in-depth examination of the international and national Legal frameworks for biodiversity conservation in Nigeria is undertaken. This analysis seeks to shed light on the existing mechanisms, which is put in place to mitigate the adverse impacts of chemical pollution on the biodiversity. It also evaluates the effectiveness of the extant legal frameworks in addressing the intricate challenges posed by environmental degradation. Drawing from the insights gained through this investigation, findings show that though there exists plethora of legislations for biodiversity conservation, there still appears to be a weak implementation of these laws, resource limitations and highlights the need for enhanced cross-sectoral collaboration. The paper concludes by proffering pragmatic and actionable recommendations such as canvassing for total government commitment and ensuring effective enforcement in strengthening and protecting environmental conservation in the face of chemical contamination in Nigeria.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Chemical, Pollution, Ecosystem, Challenge
A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF PRISONERS’ RIGHTS IN NIGERIA
Get PDFPrisoners’ rights in Nigeria are enshrined in the constitution and various legal frameworks, guaranteeing basic rights like freedom from torture and access to legal representation. However, the reality can be harsh. Overcrowding, poor sanitation, and violence are all documented issues. This paper undertakes a thorough investigation into the status of prisoner rights in Nigerian, scrutinising the legal framework, institutional practices, and societal attitudes that shape the experiences of incarcerated individuals. This paper employed a doctrinal approach through a rigorous analysis of statutes, case law, and international legal instruments as well as an historical analysis of the evolution of legal norms governing imprisonment by tracing the development of relevant jurisprudence and the interpretation of constitutional guarantees in relation to prisoner welfare. This paper concluded that there are ongoing efforts at reform, but ensuring these rights are upheld in practice remains a challenge. This paper advocates for sustainable funding, improved monitoring, increased transparency, improved prison conditions, training for prison staff and rehabilitation amongst others, to ensure that these prisoners’ rights are applied in reality.
Keywords: Prison, Prisoners, Rights, Overcrowding and Incarceratio
THE USE OF FEMALE GENDER FOR PROFITEERING ADVENTURE: ISSUES FOR ISLAMIC LAW AND HUMAN RIGHT CONCERNS ON SEX ROBOT
Get PDFTechnology has facilitated the realisation of the prediction of human-like sex with machines. This development has redefined sex, expanding its definition beyond the traditional understanding of carnal knowledge between a man and a woman to a more sophisticated understanding of intercourse between a human and a machine. The technologically engineered robot designed to provide human-like sex has created a sex market where sexual services are traded for money making adventure. This development is central to the commodification of female gender of the human race. Recently, the robot industry had transcended the manufacturing of robot to provide solely sex to creating robots that will additionally undertake some other domestic chores more effectively than a natural human. The development of the robot technology accompanied with the consequent invention of sex market where the female gender is commodified and exploited for profit, undoubtedly have negative implications on the cherished natural human rights of the female folks. Sex with a robot falls outside the permissible means of sexual satisfaction in Islamic Law, therefore it is considered unlawful. The question of interest however is, why is the concentration on the female gender and not the male gender? This centralised attention is not unconnected to the awkward modern view of the female gender as a mere sex and house-chore commodity. This research employed the doctrinal methodology to interrogate and reflect on the implications of the Sex Robot on the female gender from the Islamic law and human right perspectives. The study concluded that the presence of sex robots has significant adverse effects on social, psychological, and medical well-being, particularly impacting females. Additionally, it suggests that this phenomenon contravenes human rights principles and regulations. Consequently, such negative repercussions provide a rationale for its condemnation under Islamic Law.
Keywords: Sex Robot, Sexual-Gratification, Commodification, Islamic Law, Human Right
CONTEMPORARY TRENDS IN CYBER WARFARE AND THE USE OF FORCE IN INTERNATIONAL LAW: DEMYSTIFYING ARTICLE 2 (4) OF THE UN CHARTER
Get PDFAbstract
The proscription of the use of force under article 2 (4) of the United Nations (UN) Charter is generally accepted as having the effect of a treaty provision as well as customary principle in international law. Interestingly, the scope and effect of article 2 (4) is still being debated. Emerging trends on the use of cyber space creates a new dimension to the argument on the scope of article 2 (4). In 2017, North Korea allegedly hacked South Korean Defence systems stealing terabytes of sensitive defence data, and was also suspected of masterminding the hacking of a US filmmakers’ data base resulting in losses of millions of dollars. In response, the US allegedly engineered a devastating attack on the North Korean cyber space, and sanctioned North Korea for the hacking of Sony Pictures. Again, the US accused Russia of meddling in its electoral process largely using the cyber space, thus, imposed several sanctions on Russia. Russia also retaliated by expelling some US diplomatic staff from Moscow. Using doctrinal research methodology, this paper examines how these activities relates to the international legal regime on the use of force. It aims to establish how the occurrences of cyber warfare have influenced an emerging reinterpretation of article 2 (4). The paper relied on wide literature relating to the use of force and cyber warfare to achieve the objective of interpreting article 2 (4) in line with contemporary happenings. It argues that cyber warfare could amount to an armed attack capable of activating the right of other states to self-defence. The paper finds that states and publicists have equally treated cyber warfare as an armed attack, though determining the proportionality or necessary retaliatory actions may be a complex issue.
Keywords: Use of Force, Cyberspace, Cyber-warfare, UN Charter, International Law
Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in Malumfashi Local Government Area, Northwestern Nigeria
Get PDFPeople in Malumfashi Local Government Area Katsina State, Nigeria have been using medicinal plants to cure various ailments since time immemorial. However, the medicinal uses of such plants were never documented. Herein, we conducted an ethnobotanical survey to document medicinal plants as well as the ethnobotanical knowledge of Malumfashi Local Government, Katsina State, Nigeria. We employed a semi-structured questionnaire to interview 50 respondents comprising of herbalists, traditional midwives, housewives and farmers. Medicinal plants belonging to 37 genera distributed among 29 families were documented. The majority of the mentioned medicinal plants belong to the family Fabaceae (9), Asteraceae Combretaceae and Moraceae (4), Malvaceae (3), Myrtaceae and Anacardiaceae (2) families. Securidaca longipedunculata, Azadirachta indica, and Mangifera indica were the medicinal plants with the highest relative frequency of citation with 0.44. 0.38, and 0.34, respectively. For fidelity level (FL), Spinacia oleracea and Diospyros mespiliformis were the species with the highest, 100% each. Among the 10 categories of ailments, Urogenital, Fever, and Antinode had the highest Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) of 0.78,0.76 and 0.75, respectively. Most of the reported plants (84%) were trees and shrubs and about 70% of the surveyed plants were wild. The most frequent plant parts used were leaves and bark. The majority of the medications (70%) were prepared as decoctions and were mostly administered orally (86%). We recommend screening of bioactive compounds present in the reported plant species as well as their biological activities on the pathogens that cause the diseases. Additionally, the cultivation of medicinal plants to minimize the pressure on wild species is also recommended.
Keywords: Ailments, Ethnobotanical survey, Malumfashi Local Government, Medicinal plant
A Green Synthesis of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles for Improved Performance in Monolithic Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
No full textThis research investigated the impact of incorporating green synthesised copper oxide nanoparticles into nanoporous carbon counter electrodes to enhance photovoltaic performance in Monolithic Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (MDSSCs). Copper oxide nanoparticles were successfully synthesised using an extract from Ocimum gratissimum leaves. Optical absorption between 250 nm and 400 nm confirmed the formation of copper oxide nanoparticles. XRD patterns indicated the crystalline nature of the copper oxide nanoparticles, with an average crystallite size of 47.9 nm. FTIR analyses identified chemical bonds potentially responsible for nanoparticle formation. MDSSC performance evaluation demonstrated a significant 3.5% increase in efficiency over the cells without nanoparticles; this translates to a 105.9% increase in efficiency observed for cells with the nanoparticles. The incorporation of green-synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles into the counter electrode of MDSSCs exhibited an eco-benign and even dispersion, suggesting its potential as a promising nanomaterial for DSSC applications.
Keywords: Green Synthesis; Nanoparticles; Copper Oxide; Counter Electrode; Monolithic Dye -Sensitised Solar Cel
Screening for Biosurfactant-Producing Bacteria Isolated from Abattoir Soil
Get PDFBiosurfactants possess essential properties that make them highly indispensable in many industries, such as waste management, food, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, due to their surface-active and wetting abilities. The search for microorganisms capable of producing this extensively utilized biomolecule is increasing daily. In this study, abattoir soil collected from Awka metropolis, Anambra State, was screened for biosurfactant-producing bacteria using mineral salt medium (MSM) supplemented with engine oil. Three bacterial isolates (NJ1, NJ2, and NJ3) were obtained from MSM agar. These isolates were subjected to four biosurfactant screening assays: haemolysis test, drop collapse test, oil spreading test, and emulsification index (E24). The results indicated that all three isolates showed alpha-haemolytic activity, and drop collapse positive reactions. Notably, NJ3 exhibited complete collapse reaction (+++) in the drop collapse test. Additionally, in the oil spreading test, NJ3 demonstrated the highest displacement of engine oil (10 mm), followed by NJ2 (7 mm) and NJ1 (5 mm). The determination of E24 using kerosene for all isolates revealed that NJ1 exhibited the highest E24 at 13%, while NJ2 and NJ3 had E24 of 2.56% and 2.50%, respectively. Morphological characterization, Gram’s staining, and biochemical analyses performed on the isolates, identified NJ1 and NJ3 as members of Streptomyces spp., while NJ2 was identified as Bacillus sp. These findings suggest that abattoir soil could be a potential source of biosurfactant-producing bacteria.
Biosurfactants possess essential properties that make them highly indispensable in many industries, such as waste management, food, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, due to their surface-active and wetting abilities. The search for microorganisms capable of producing this extensively utilised biomolecule is increasing daily. In this study, abattoir soil collected from Awka metropolis, Anambra State, was screened for biosurfactant-producing bacteria using mineral salt medium (MSM) supplemented with engine oil. Three bacterial isolates (NJ1, NJ2, and NJ3) were obtained from MSM agar. These isolates were subjected to four biosurfactant screening assays: haemolysis test, drop collapse test, oil spreading test, and emulsification index (E24). The results indicated that all three isolates showed alpha-haemolytic activity and drop collapse positive reactions. Notably, NJ3 exhibited a complete collapse reaction (+++) in the drop collapse test. Additionally, in the oil spreading test, NJ3 demonstrated the highest displacement of engine oil (10 mm), followed by NJ2 (7 mm) and NJ1 (5 mm). The determination of E24 using kerosene for all isolates revealed that NJ1 exhibited the highest E24 at 13%, while NJ2 and NJ3 had E24 of 2.56% and 2.50%, respectively. Morphological characterisation, Gram staining, and biochemical analyses performed on the isolates identified NJ1 and NJ3 as members of Streptomyces spp., while NJ2 was identified as Bacillus sp. These findings suggest that abattoir soil could be a potential source of biosurfactant-producing bacteria.
Keywords: Biosurfactant, Abattoir, Oil Spreading, Screening, Streptomyces sp