Afe Babalola University Based Journals
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The Imperative of Legal Research for Sustainable Development
Get PDFThe universe is governed by law, and so is nature and the inhabitants therein. Nature has a way of recreation and self-sustainability to a large extent. It could however give way to pressure by certain external and/or internal forces. Man, is one of the major sources of depletion or cause of imbalance in natural resources. While humans rely on available natural resources for survival, growth, and development, the effect of utilizing and pressuring these resources now, could have on the sustainability of future generations, cannot be underrated. Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Without any law regulating human activities, the arbitrary and uncontrolled utilization of natural resources could hinder present and future human sustenance. Legal research is a tool that can determine the appropriate legislation to control human activities concerning natural resources, vis-à-vis sustainable development. Adopting a black letter methodology, this paper aims to discuss the importance of legal research to sustainable development. The paper finds that legal research, if well conducted and articulated helps the policy or law makers to come up with laws and policies that will be acceptable to the members of the society with massive compliance and less need for enforcement
Potency of Judicial Powers and Challenges of Independent Judiciary in Focus
Get PDFLaw exists in a society to create rights and impose duties, the observance of which will make for a good society. However, the verdict of history has been that laws have not been observed to provide for orderliness. Essentially, this calls for an institution charged with responsibility of seeing that society’s laws are obeyed and of adjudicating over disputes resulting from non- observance or breach of these laws and of awarding redress. While we can neither appreciate nor advocate both in theory and in practice the complete independence of judiciary if we do not understand the extremely important role and power of this third arm of government, this paper examined the powers of the judiciary under the1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered). It further discussed the independence of the judiciary in our democratic system. While challenges of independent judiciary in our contemporary time were identified, useful recommendations are made to strengthen judiciary for the development of Nigeria’s economy
Dis-Unity in Diversity: An Assessment of the Roles of Identities in Political Mobilisation in Nigeria
Get PDFThis paper explores the multifaceted roles of identities in political mobilisation in Nigeria. Specifically, it examines how ethnic, religious, and regional identities influence political mobilisation and behaviour, and the militating effect on national coercion. The paper adopted the elite and group theories to provide valuable insights into the complex dynamics of identity in Nigeria’s political mobilisation. Data for the study were generated using the documentary method to interrogate mechanisms by which identities are leveraged by political actors to galvanise support and build coalitions to navigate the complexities of Nigeria’s multi-ethnic landscape. The generated data were analysed using the content method of data analysis. Our Findings showed that identity politics has played a pivotal role in shaping drives towards political mobilisation from different standpoints, like the formation of political parties, socio-cultural organisations amongst various ethnic, regional and religious blocs. This underscores the dual nature of identities as both unifying and divisive forces in political mobilisation. Based on this, the paper recommended that groups (identities) should be adequately represented in decision making process at various institutions of government to reduce the rate at which agitations and grievances are expressed violently. Successive governments must strive to promote national consciousness through the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to avoid all forms of disunity and enable future generations to seek unity amidst Nigeria’s diversity
Promoting Entrepreneurial Orientation for Sustainability: The Roles of Self-Uncertainty and Fear of Failure
Get PDFNigeria is presently ravaged by banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping for ransom. These are crimes predominantly perpetrated by agile young and middle-aged individuals who ought to be actively engaged in entrepreneurship. Recognising the consequences of such societal breakdowns, United Nations member states convened in 2015 and developed an action plan— the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development— aimed at transforming the world through poverty and unemployment reduction, thereby promoting peace, social justice, and prosperity. A key component of this agenda is fostering entrepreneurial activity. However, existing evidence suggests that many individuals remain averse to these growth-oriented initiatives. Therefore, this study seeks to find out whether fear of failure and self-uncertainty are predictors of entrepreneurial orientation, using a total of 231 randomly selected residents of Ado-Ekiti metropolis. The respondents are 129 (55.8%) males and 102 (44.2%) females whose ages range from 18 to 70 years, with a mean age of 33.43 years. Standardised measures of fear of failure, self-uncertainty, and entrepreneurial orientation were used, and findings revealed that Fear of Failure and Self-Uncertainty, and their dimensions, are significant factors which predict entrepreneurial orientation. It is only the personal ability dimension of fear of failure that did not significantly predict entrepreneurial orientation. However, the dimension is negatively related, just as the potential of idea dimension, to entrepreneurial orientation, suggesting that as an individual’s fear of failure in relation to her/his perceived ability to succeed increases, her/his inclination towards entrepreneurial behaviours will decrease. The findings were discussed in light of available literature, and it is recommended that efforts must be geared towards tackling security challenges in Nigeria, in particular, and the developing countries in general, to address the fear-driven factors of funding and security which often over-ride confidence in prospective entrepreneurs’ skills, especially in volatile economies
The Legal and Diplomatic Implications of France’s Security Disengagement from the Sahel: A Case Studies of Niger, Mali, and Burkina-Faso, 2021–2024
Get PDFThis study critically explored the shifting landscape of diplomacy, security cooperation, and foreign policy realignment in Niger, Mali, and Burkina-Faso following France’s military withdrawal from the Sahel region. The study is justified by the need to examine emerging geopolitical realignments amid growing anti-French sentiments and increasing regional security challenges. The core problem addressed lies in understanding the implications of France’s exit on regional stability and the rise of new partnerships, particularly with Russia and regional bodies like ECOWAS. The research was guided by four objectives and corresponding questions, focusing on public perception of France’s withdrawal, the regional security outlook, the realignment of foreign alliances, and the impact on diplomatic relations. Grounded in dependency theory, the study explained how colonial and neo-colonial dynamics have influenced present-day diplomatic orientations and the shift toward sovereign-led partnerships. The scope covered selected urban populations across the three countries. Using a mixed-methods approach, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from a total sample of 750 participants, with 250 respondents from each country. Data analysis revealed growing public discontent with France’s presence, increased support for Russian involvement, and a desire for regionally-driven security solutions. Despite fears of a security vacuum, the study found a strong preference for post-colonial autonomy and diplomatic diversification. Recommendations include strengthening regional security mechanisms, promoting sovereign foreign policy decisions, investing in local capacity, and critically monitoring new alliances. In conclusion, the study highlighted the transformative potential of the Sahel’s diplomatic trajectory, stressing the need for localized solutions and sustainable international relations beyond traditional colonial legacies
Sphenocentrum jollyanum furanoditerpenes activates Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R): a computational evaluation
Get PDFSphenocentrum jollyanum is a major bio-resource used in the folkloric treatment of diabetes, unfortunately without knowledge of how or the mechanism of action. The present study focuses on using molecular docking to identify the component responsible for the anti-diabetic claim of the fruit as well as check the ADMET properties of the phytochemicals. A library of 23 phytochemicals that have been previously characterized from Sphenocentrum jollyanum fruit was generated and docked, using Autodock Vina, into 3D structures of dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinase 1a (DYRK1A), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), pancreatic alpha-amylase, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R), renal sodium-dependent glucose transporter (SGLUT 2). From the docking result, GLP-1R was identified as a major target for two key S. jollyanum furanoditerpenes (columbin and isocolumbin) with docking scores of -10.7 and -10.9 Kcal/mol respectively while the reference ligand (danuglipron) characterized with the GLP-1R had a score of -11.0 Kcal/mol. The protein-ligand interaction between columbin and GLP-1R showed several interactions such as hydrogen bond (H-bond), hydrophobic interactions and salt bridges, all within the extracellular domain (ECD), transmembrane domain (TM) of the receptor which is similar to that of danuglipron. Also, the ADMET profiling result was favourable as both ligands (columbin and isocolumbin) passed the Lipinski rule of 5. The results suggest that columbin identified from the docking result is most likely responsible for the antidiabetic claim of Sphenocentrum jollyanum, further investigation is needed to ascertain this claim
Machine Learning-Based Multimodal Biometric Authentication System (Facial and Fingerprint Recognition) for Online Voting Systems
Get PDFOnline voting systems offer many advantages over traditional voting methods, such as paper ballots, this is because paper ballots face some well-known challenges, ranging from logistics, susceptibility to tampering, and the requirement for voters to be physically present at polling stations. In contrast, online voting systems offer the potential to overcome these challenges by providing a convenient and accessible means for citizens to cast their votes from anywhere. However, online voting systems must address significant security and authentication challenges to ensure that each vote is cast by a legitimate and unique voter, maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. This project proposes the development of a machine learning authentication module that can be integrated into an online voting system using facial recognition and fingerprint recognition to enhance the security of online voting. The system therefore consists of two main components; the machine learning-based authentication component and the web-based voting platform. The authentication component uses machine learning algorithms to accurately and reliably verify the identities of voters based on their biometric data. The web-based platform facilitates voter registration, authentication, and voting processes, ensuring a seamless and secure user experience. These two components were implemented first by obtaining a comprehensive database of user biometric data, training the machine learning module, and implementing a user-friendly web interface using Java Server Pages (JSP) and a MySQL database. The system's performance was evaluated using established metrics, including accuracy, precision, recall, and R2 Score with the following values 98%, 1.0, 0.8 and 0.78 respectively
Water Quality Assessment of Selected Wells in the Farmer-led Irrigation System in Anloga District, Volta Region, Ghana
Get PDFIncreased groundwater extraction for irrigation is leading to the intrusion of saline seawater into many wells in some communities in Anloga District, Volta Region, Ghana, with resultant adverse effects on crop productivity. This study investigated the water quality of selected wells in four communities of the district for their suitability for irrigation. Water samples were collected from 10 representative wells, purposively selected out of 60, to determine the pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved salt by means of a pH/EC/TDS/Temperature portable meter, and the concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphates, chlorides, bicarbonate and nitrate, using standard chemical laboratory procedures. The geochemical characterization of the sampled water sources was carried out using the Piper trilinear diagram, and revealed the dominance of Na-Cl facies of the groundwater in Tegbi, Whuti and Anyanui, suggesting seawater encroachment connected with groundwater abstraction. The water samples from wells in Woe indicated the Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 mixed type and are considered suitable for irrigation. About 50% of the sampled wells could be classified under the high salinity-low sodium hazard (C3-S1), 20% are under very high salinity-medium sodium hazard (C4-S2), another 20% under very high salinity-high sodium hazard (C4-S3) and 10% under medium salinity-low sodium (C2-S1) classes. These wells are prone to salinity, and farmers’ discretion is recommended through the adoption of conditional use of the irrigation water such as growing of salt-tolerant crops
Modelled Energy Cost Minimization Solution for Wireless Rechargeable Sensor Networks
Get PDFIn wireless rechargeable sensor networks (WRSNs), mobile chargers (MCs) are normally scheduled to deliver energy to the rechargeable sensor nodes (SNs). However, due to the energy consumption dynamicity of WRSNs, constructing optimal charging trajectories with minimized number of failed SNs due to energy deficiency ensuring a sustained WRSN operation at minimum MC’s movement cost is one aspect of the subject matter not yet thoroughly investigated. Thus, exploring this knowledge is the focus of this work. We applied shortest path algorithm, on-demand scheduling and multi-node charging methods to construct the energy cost-effective charging path for the MC, a model we coined as Shortest Hamiltonian Cycle Traveling Salesman Problem (SHC-TSP). Comparative analysis proves the optimality of our solution against the notable nearest job next with pre-emption (NJNP) model in terms of minimizing MC’s traveling energy cost with energy savings of 3.9156% and 2.1940% for the two scenarios respectively examined
Dynamic Hospital Resource Scheduling During Pandemics with Stochastic Optimization
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to effectively manage hospital resources: ICU beds and ventilators. These resources are significant for sustaining life, especially in severe cases. Traditional deterministic models often fall short in addressing the uncertainties associated with patient inflows and resource availability. This paper develops a novel two-stage stochastic programming model which aims to dynamically allocate resources to deal with the variability of inpatient admissions. To this end, the scenarios are developed using Monte Carlo simulation based on the probabilities estimated from the historical data. The model is created in Python language and solved using the Gurobi optimizer in 0.05s, a large-scale scenario optimization analysis problem with 42 variables and 35 constraints. The KPIs show the highest utilization of ventilators at 66. 67% and the average reduction of 53.5 in the number of offers an ICU practical shortfall leading to better patient care and shorter wait times. This research presents a data-driven tool to enhance the decision-making process and the healthcare system's overall readiness to maintain its strategic reserves by implementing flexible staffing models to improve preparation for disasters such as the pandemic. Its stochastic optimization framework makes hospital resource allocation more efficient, offering a scalable, resilient solution for tackling future pandemic challenges