Afe Babalola University Based Journals
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Development and Performance Evaluation of an Instrumented Hybrid Onion Storage Facility
Get PDFOnion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the oldest bulb crops, known to mankind and consumed worldwide. It is valued for its distinct pungent flavour and is an essential ingredient for the cuisine of many regions. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the performance of a refrigerated onion storage facility. The designed facility was simple, efficient, and cost-effective, with a focus on user-friendly operation and packaging of onions in zippered bags. The experiment involved slicing and dicing onions of equal size, which were then placed in zip bags and monitored over a week. The mass of the samples was measured daily to observe the changes. Additionally, laboratory analysis was conducted to assess the proximate composition, phytochemical contents, and heavy metal concentration of the onions. The results showed that the storage facility maintained a cooling rate of 0oC and experienced fluctuations in temperature due to external weather conditions. The relative humidity ranged from 18% to 19%, indicating the coldness of the storage facility. The analysis of the onion samples revealed high moisture content, with values ranging from 80% to 90%. Other compositional parameters such as crude protein, CHO, crude fibre, fat content, and ash content were relatively low. In terms of phytochemical analysis, flavonoid content was found to be relatively high compared to saponin, alkaloid, and tannin contents. Flavonoid content was highest in the raw state of the onion. Heavy metal analysis showed significant differences in the concentrations of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn), while copper (Cu) did not exhibit a significant effect. The developed refrigerated onion storage facility demonstrated promising performance. The proximate composition analysis indicated that before and after storage of the onions, the moisture content and nutrients of onions was maintained. The phytochemical analysis revealed a significant presence of flavonoids, while heavy metal analysis showed varying concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu
Review: Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War: A Memoir
No full textThis book is very interesting, insightful, engaging, and hard to put down. It is also spicy, informative, and illuminating in all ramifications about the Liberian war, and her personal life and it unearths the hidden criminalities of war on vulnerable groups. The book is about the evolution of an individual and a nation at war; how a person, that is, the author fought her personal “wars” and translated the enormous strength she developed within the intervening years to confront the warlords bent on annihilating her nation and people. She dared the demons and prevailed but it was indeed not an easy assignment that life’s battles had equipped her for. The structure of the book is logical with a prologue and twenty-one-chapters, filled with gripping personal details and others stories related to the war of attrition that defined that epoch
African Metaphysics and Praxis: Revisiting the Idea of Human Development in Yoruba Metaphysical Notion of Omoluabi
Get PDFThe discourse on African metaphysics as it relates to human development is centered around the notion of personhood predominantly extractable from the layers of oral and written traditions across African cultural worldviews. This research aims to critically evaluate the idea of African metaphysics in the light of inquiries surrounding the meaning and nature of human development, through an interrogation of the concept of person and personhood, expressed within the subsets of African socio-cultural conceptualisations, particularly the Yoruba notion of Omoluabi, which will form a crucial layer of engagement for this research. Basically, while (on the one hand); the tendency to see a generic theory of human personality or personhood as tenable everywhere would create a clash of realities in different climes and cultures, (on the other) the differences from culture to culture are perceived dialogically as handed on through stories and histories of human development from birth until death. To this end, this research will interrogate the concept of human development on the basis of how socialisation processes specifically seen through the agencies of local folklores and folktales, customs and traditions tend to interact with, influence as well as impact upon the individual view of self and the other as it relates to the conception of personality, and its succeeding roles within the community. Keywords: Africa, Metaphysics, Communitarianism, Personhood, Human Development
Operational Competence of the Visual Arts Teacher in Art Practice: Interrogating the Underlying Factors
No full textThis study is on operational competence of Visual Arts teachers’ art practice, focusing on the factors influencing their competence and its relevance in contemporary contexts of arts education. Drawing upon literature from education, art pedagogy, and teacher training, this study identifies key factors that contribute to the operational competence of Visual Arts practice, including artistic skill, proficiency and reflective practice. Through an analysis of empirical studies and practical insights, the study highlights the visual arts teachers’ own art practice factors. It also underscores the significance of research informed policies and curriculum frameworks that support the holistic development of Visual Arts education and the cultivation of a vibrant artistic community within schools and society at large. It engages qualitative research design. A sample of twelve (12) Visual Arts students and one (1) Visual Arts teacher each from eleven (11) schools within the six Education Districts of Lagos State were purposively selected. Data was obtained using Portfolio Review Rubrics. Thematic Analysis was employed in analysing data gathered. Findings revealed that Visual Arts teachers’ competence in art practice differs in nuances of scope. It also revealed that teachers’ competence in art practice is a determinant of students’ learning outcome in art practice. Based on the findings, recommendations were made that workshops and conferences on art practice and pedagogy be organised for Visual Arts teachers to improve their operational competence in art practice. It further recommended that art teachers’ training curriculum be re-packaged to include more art practice activities than pedagogy so as to adequately build their art practice competence in scope and strength for prospective art teaching career
A Critical Performativity Analysis of Religious Laws on Homosexual Discourse in Nigeria: A Study of “Under The Udala Trees” and “Born On A Tuesday”
No full textThis manuscript delves into the ideological underpinnings embedded in the traditional religious doctrines governing homosexuality. Leveraging insights from a curated selection of Nigerian literary works, it illuminates the thematic intersections of Christianity and Islam, seeking to unravel the symbolic nuances of Biblical and Quranic precepts on homosexuality. This exploration asserts that these ancient laws stand detached from the diverse sexual orientations prevalent in contemporary society. While there exists a rich tapestry of discourse encompassing aspects such as LGBTQ+ rights and identity formation, a significant void remains in the scholarly exploration of the religious dimensions of homosexuality. Addressing this lacuna, essential in shaping informed gay law policies in the African context. Drawing upon the seminal theories of Judith Butler’s “Gender Performativity” (1990) and Fairclough’s “Critical Discourse Analysis” (1995) as analytical lenses, this paper scrutinises two poignant literary narratives – “Under the Udala Trees” and “Born on a Tuesday”- offering a deep dive into the religious discourse on homosexuality they encapsulate. The findings illuminate the overarching universal ethos present in the reversed texts of Bible and Quran, evincing a grand design that accommodates the multifaceted tapestry of human behavior of sexual orientations. It compellingly argues that the homophobic undertones discernible in these texts are emblematic, anchored in historical contexts, rather than prescriptive mandates for the modern era
From The Gongola to The Forcados: Colonial Water Transport and Economic Development In Nigeria
Get PDFIn the course of European imperial expansion, movement was done through rivers to penetrate the interior of Africa and establish colonial rule, thereby promoting commercial and industrial development at the expense of Africans. Following the British imperial penetration of the Nigerian area and the military conquest of its peoples, they utilized navigable rivers from the South to the North in the transportation of goods and services to a number of port-towns for redistribution and consumption in the hinterland. European manufactured goods were brought to the Nigerian coastal areas, including Burutu, one of the major ports through which goods were imported and evacuated by cargo ships. Through Burutu port on the Forcados River in the Niger Delta, large quantities of imported goods were transported by ships to Lokoja on the Niger River, Makurdi and Numan on the Benue River, to Nafada and Dadin Kowa ports on the Gongola River. At the same time, large tons of agricultural and forest products were exported through the same waterway. This paper, which is based largely on the use of archival records, examines the process of the utilization of the Gongola River flood waters in Northern Nigeria in the colonial water transportation of goods and services to the Forcados River in Southern Nigeria, thereby facilitating the process of the economic development of the country
Chinese Companies in The Nigerian Construction Industry Since 1999: Issues and Contentions
Get PDFThere is no gainsaying the fact that China (and her multinational corporations) has penetrated a large portion of the global economy in the last three decades. There is hardly any country in and a sector of the African economy (Nigeria in particular) that does not have a significant presence of Chinese transnational corporations. The economic inter-relationships between Nigeria and China has witnessed a tremendous increase since the birth of the fourth republic in Nigeria. From the backdrop of the country’s infrastructural deficiency and colonial experience, the Nigerian construction industry has been exposed to participation from different foreign multinational corporations from Germany, Egypt, Italy, and China among others. In the last two decades, however, Chinese companies have dominated the Nigerian construction industry. Through the lens of historical scholarship, this study examines the factors that seem to have provided the Chinese an edge over other multinational construction companies in Nigeria. Using the theories of international economic relations such as the liberal theory, the comparative advantage theory, the factors proportion theory, and the strategic trade policy theory the study expatiates on some of the issues and contentions relating to the presence of Chinese companies in the Nigerian construction industry. It adopts a qualitative research methodology using historical approach to data collation and interpretations. Information is derived majorly from secondary sources via extant literature, media reportage, and internet materials from the websites of companies. Few oral interviews are also conducted to verify some of the information from the media and the internet
The Intersection between Artificial Intelligence, Interdisciplinary Collaboration and African History
Get PDFThis paper basically considered the effects of AI on African history, vis-à-vis interdisciplinary collaboration, either overtly or covertly. It posited that recent historical works embrace interdisciplinary perspective, thus, it was examined in light of the emergence of AI. Being a historical piece of work, historical methodology was adopted as secondary sources in this case, which consist of published and unpublished works. These formed the gamut of data collection used to prosecute and enrich this research. The paper sought to answer the following questions: what is the connection between artificial intelligence, interdisciplinary collaboration and African history? What are the effects of AI on African history as a specialization? The core of the paper is necessitated by the emergence of AI. As such, it was juxtaposed vis-a-vis African history and other related disciplines. On the whole, the study established or found out that artificial intelligence (AI), though with its negative impact, has enhanced and strengthened new trends and perspectives in African historical research vis-à-vis the relationships between History, Social and Natural Sciences; History, Sociology and Anthropology; History and Psychology; History, Economics and Demographic Studies; History and Literature; which was exhaustively explained in the paper. While the paper noted that AI, when used properly, could provide relevant information critical to historical studies. It also highlighted the challenges which stem from the use of artificial intelligence, which include: data bias and representation, contextual understanding, source reliability and verification, ethical considerations, complexity of interpretation, technical limitations, preservation of historical integrity, among others. The study concluded that historians generally, and African historians in particular exercised caution in the use of AI for comprehensive historical research.  
Yoruba Oral Traditions and Communal Aesthetics in Olu Obafemi’s Selected Drama
Get PDFThe history of African oral literature is located in oral tradition which is tied to communal living. African oral literature is a conglomerate of communal traditions that reflect African culture, experiences, and societies. Studies affirmed that Olu Obafemi’s ideological stance and investigation of the society is revolutionary and is geared towards seminal social change. This paper examines the aesthetics of oral literature, and explores the society through the prism of Olu Obafemi’s Naira Has No Gender and Scapegoats and Sacredcows by highlighting the different explication of oral forms portrayed by the dramatist. The paper reveals the writer's ideological disposition and vision as informed by his discursive engagement of larger issues through various oratory means. The placement of Nigerian songs and dance, proverbs, role-play technique, and audience participation are identified as signposts of Nigerian oral literature. The paper adopts Cultural Studies theory as its theoretical paradigm for its capacity to analyse and provides an assessment of the contributions that cultural practices and artifacts make to the society. This study reveals how African oral literature combines traditional and modern theatrical techniques to sustain communal living and cultural practices such as veneration, education, and moral instruction
Thermodynamic Analysis of Modelled and Simulated Heat Pump Drying System Using Azeotropic Mixture of Organic Working Fluids
Get PDFIt is well-known that the choice of working fluid significantly impacts the performance, cost estimation, and environmental effect of a heat pump. In this study, the performance of pure working fluids (dimethyl ether and ethanol) was compared with that of azeotropic mixture working fluids used in vapor compression heat pumps. The study also examined the effect of compression ratio and different compressor models on the performance of a vapor compression heat pump for heating processes and drying tomato slices at an air temperature of 40 °C and an air flow rate of 200 kg/hr. Using ethanol as the working fluid at evaporating and condensing temperatures of 10 °C and 15 °C, respectively, the specific moisture extraction rate was 0.2112 kg/kWh, and the Carnot coefficient of performance was 57.60. The study demonstrated a COP improvement of more than 15% for azeotropic mixtures compared to a pure working fluid. The maximum overall energy efficiency and exergy efficiency, achieved with Mixture II, were 5.68% and 27.32%, respectively. As suction pressure increased while maintaining constant discharge pressure, the compression ratio and work done by the compressor decreased, while the system's overall energy efficiency, and overall exergy efficiency improved under the given conditions