30 research outputs found
Effect of Nomadists‟ Uncontrolled grazing on livelihood activities in Oyo State Nigeria
No full textThe study assessed the effect of Nomadic pastoralists uncontrolled grazing which led to conflicts on the livelihood activities of agro-pastoralists in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State. Fifty percent of the agro pastoralists households (III) in the study area were randomly selected and simple technique was used to sample one male and one female household heads from each of the households, totaling two hundred and twenty two respondents. The agro-pastoralists personal characteristics, livelihood activities and accessibility to resources before and after occurrence of conflicts due to nomadic pastoralists uncontrolled grazing were determined. Findings showed that majority of the agropastoralists had no formal education. The nomadic pastoralists uncontrolled grazing led to conflicts between agropastoralists and crop farmers. Majority of the agro pastoralists assumed that the aggressive attribute of the nomadic pastoralists was the major cause of their uncontrolled grazing, which consequently made agro pastoralists to suffer in numerous ways. Measures to prevent future occurrence of conflict were recommended. Such as enactment of government policy to check the nomadic pastoralists uncontrolled grazing and improvement to nomadic education programme as to provide opportunities for diverse livelihood activities to the pastoralists
The conventional versus a constructionist Scratch programming and first-year students' achievements in higher education classes: experimental data.
No full textGlobally, learning or teaching the first programming (popularly called CS1) remains a significant educational challenge. Indicators such as CS1 students' engagement, failure and attrition rates, and lack of diversity, continue to show the need for innovating the learning or teaching of novice computer science students. To ease initiating novices to programming, Scratch, a visual programming language, has become a staple of K-12 CS1 classes.
As outcomes of a research project aiming to explore a constructionist Scratch pedagogy with novice CS students in higher education, we present these datasets. In the research lasting two successive academic sessions, we conducted two quasi-experimental studies involving four intact CS1 classes in selected public polytechnic in the north central Nigeria. In each study, we randomly assigned the classes to the experimental and control groups, constituting the constructionist Scratch and the conventional CS1 classes, respectively.
Instruments for collecting data include a student profile questionnaire, a pretest, and posttest. Sequel to ethical clearance and permission from the selected schools, we conducted each study during the first semester of each academic session, in the first seven to eight weeks. During the first to second week, we administered students who consented to take part with the questionnaire and the pretest. Learning or teaching in the two classes lasted six weeks. Then both classes took the posttest. An independent CS educator who is not part of this research marked all the achievement tests, following a rubric prepared by the first author. To strengthen the research design and the possibility of arriving at valid causal evidence, we employed a Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM) algorithm to generate matched samples of experimental and control data, which we used in the analysis.
Data presented here includes the raw, unmatched and matched experimental datasets from both studies. A researcher can make use of the data:
To explore if some background variables not addressed in the original research may moderate CS1 students' achievements. For instance, their prior achievements in mathematics, physics, or English.
To uncover some interesting patterns using machine learning algorithms.
To validate the outcome of the original experiment by using the unmatched, matched or newly generated matched samples.
The authors welcome further research collaborations in using the data or the accompanying research instruments.
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Book Review: African Philosophy: Reflections on Yoruba Metaphysics and Jurisprudence
No full textBook Title: African Philosophy: Reflections on Yoruba Metaphysics and JurisprudenceBook Author: Oladele Abiodun BalogunPublisher: Xcel Publishers. Pages: 387. Year of Publication: 201
Evaluation of enzyme supplementation of palm kernel meal-based diets on the performance of broilers
No full textAn experiment was conducted to determine the effect of partially replacing maize with palm kernel meal with and without enzyme supplementation on the performance and gut morphology of broilers. One hundred and fifty (150) 7 day-old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 5 dietary treatment groups of 3 replicates each. Each replicate had10 birds. The experimental design was Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The diets were as follows: diet 1- control diet; diet 2- 10% PKM with Hemicell; diet 3- 10% PKM without Hemicell; diet 4- 20% PKM with Hemicell and diet 5- 20% PKM without Hemicell. The active ingredient in Hemicell is ß-mannanase. Palm kernel meal replaced 10% and 20% of maize in the test diet. The control diet had no palm kernel meal and Hemicell was added to diets 2 and 4 at the rate of 500g/tonne of feed. Routine management and vaccination procedures were followed while fresh feed and water were supplied ad libitum. The experiment lasted 42days. Significant differences were observed in the final body weight and weight gain of the birds with birds on diet 5 having the highest values. No significant differences were observed in the gut morphology (villus height) of the birds on the different diets. The feed cost and cost incurred per kilogramme weight gain were lowest for birds on diet 5.The results of this study showed that broilers can tolerate 20% inclusion rate of palm kernel meal in their rations without enzyme supplementation and partially replacing maize with palm kernel meal at that level of inclusion can reduce the cost of production of broilers.Key words: Broilers, enzyme, hemicell, morphology, palm kernel meal, villus
The Nigerian novel and indigenous culture : problems of communication
No full textIt is argued in this thesis that the Nigerian Novel is an attempt to transliterate traditional customs, beliefs and attitudes, the characters of myth and legends, a whole universe of ancestors, into an entirely new context of the twentieth century, employing a language to which the modern reader can respond. The work gives detailed consideration to the salient features of this attempt and assesses, with particular reference to the novels of Tutuola, Achebe, Aluko, Nzekwu, Amadi, Balewa, Egbuna, Adaora Ulasi, Nwankwo and Okara, what in each case is the atti tudeof the novelist to the indigenous culture of his country and how successfully the link between tradition and modern experience has been established. The approach adopted in the thesis is one of close analysis of texts in an attempt to find out how critically an author has presented those aspects of tradition he has selected for treatment and how skilfully he has dramatized the realities and dilemmas of the present. On each author answers are sought to a numer of searching questions. What are the particular values the writer is upholding or opposing, and what is his attitude to them? What particular emotional or intellectual effect does he hope to achieve, and does he succeed? If he does, by what methods of communication? If he fails, from what problems of communication has failure resulted, and what effect does this have on the reader? What sympathies are evoked, and how do we see a particular work in the body of works of a particular author? A writer's language is a mirror held up to his personality and his particular circumstances. It is through his use of language that he reflects his individual awareness of a given situation. The detailed study of language leads, almost inevitably, to a consideration of the more fundamental problems of communication. Even though all save one of the novelists to whom this thesis is devoted use English as their creative medium, they do so in the consciousness of the fact that they are presenting a Nigerian experience, and the best of them reveal in their works a specific mode of the imagination which derives from their Nigerian background. It has therefore been necessary in all cases to examine closely the use of language by each novelist and try to assess how effectively the artist has communicated. Because of the historical and cultural environment of the Nigerian novelist considerable interest is taken in the influence which the mother tongue (LI) has had on the writer's English (L2). The thesis concludes by identifying the essential requirements for the establishment of a successful link between tradition and modern life: an important theme, a consistent imaginative scheme, a language which recognizes the characteristics of LI and skill in the use of language. Only works in which many of these conditions are fulfilled as, for example, in the novels of Achebe, Amadi, Okara and Aluko achieve satisfactory results. The link between tradition and modern life is valuable only if it widens satisfyingly our experience of what it is to be human and thus contributes to the solution of the political and social problems of the present
HIV/AIDS and immigrants: knowledge and perceptions of Eastern African refugees in metropolitan Atlanta., 2008
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge and perceptions of Eastern African refugees regarding HIV/AIDS and its interventions in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. The study was guided by the following research questions 1) What did Eastern African refugees know about HIV/AIDS and its importance? 2) How did Eastern African refugees and their families learn about HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment? 3) How did Eastern African refugees perceive HIV/AIDS and those suffering from HIV/AIDS in their families and communities? 4) What were the perceptions of Eastern African refugees regarding participation in the interventions offered by public and private organizations? Study participants were refugees from Somalia and southern Sudan who had settled in metropolitan Atlanta The sample of 80 participants was selected based on age, immigration status, and willingness to share information about sex and sexuality. To collect data, the researcher used a structured survey instrument that was administered in a face-to-face interview format with the 80 participants. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of participant responses were conducted Six themes emerged from the qualitative analysis, namely: Knowledge, Openness, Stigma, Attitude, Willingness, and Trust. Participants indicated basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its transmission. They also exhibited openness in discussing HIVIAIDS. However, participant responses manifested strong stigma against HIV/AIDS and its victims. Participants who had lived longer in the United States showed negative attitudes towards HIV/AIDS treatment, the healthcare system, and service providers. There was willingness to contribute towards HIV/AIDS interventions and community services. Participants exhibited mistrust towards health institutions, sources of HIV/AIDS information, and the context of the HIV/AIDS information. Results from the quantitative analysis indicated a strong and positive correlation between knowledge and openness Stigma against HIV/AIDS disease and victims was strongly correlated with knowledge, openness, and attitude. Attitude positively correlated with openness and with knowledge, while trust was moderately correlated to knowledge. The study findings confirm previous research among similar populations that reported limited knowledge of HIV/AIDS, entrenched stigma about the disease and its victims, negative attitudes and mistrust towards health institutions and service providers as well as the potency of the duration factor regarding immigrants resettlement process
The financial burden of sickle cell disease on households in Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria
No full textOladele Simeon Olatunya,1,3 Ezra Olatunde Ogundare,1,3 Joseph Olusesan Fadare,2 Isaac Oludare Oluwayemi,1,3 Oyinkansola Tolulope Agaja,3 Babajide Samson Adeyefa,3 Odunayo Aderiye3 1Department of Paediatrics, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria; 2Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria; 3Department of Paediatrics, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria Background: Studies on economic impact of sickle cell disease (SCD) are scanty despite its being common among children in developing countries who are mostly Africans.Objective: To determine the financial burden of SCD on households in Ado Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria.Methods: A longitudinal and descriptive study of household expenditures on care of 111 children with SCD managed at the pediatric hematology unit of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital was conducted between January and December 2014.Results: There were 64 male and 47 female children involved, aged between 15 and 180 months. They were from 111 households, out of which only eight (7.2%) were enrolled under the National Health Insurance Scheme. The number of admissions and outpatients' consultations ranged from 1 to 5 and 1 to 10 per child, respectively. Malaria, vaso-occlusive crisis, and severe anemia were the leading comorbidities. The monthly household income ranged between ₦12,500 and ₦330,000 (US2,000) with a median of ₦55,000 (US15 and US1,303) with a mean of ₦39,554±35,479 (US240±215). Parents of 63 children lost between 1 and 48 working days due to their children's ill health. Parents of 23 children took loans ranging between ₦6,500 and ₦150,000 (US909) to offset hospital bills. The percentage of family income spent as health expenditure on each child ranged from 0.38 to 34.4. Catastrophic health expenditure (when the health expenditure >10% of family income) occurred in 23 (20.7%) households. Parents who took loan to offset hospital bills, low social class, and patients who took ill during the study period significantly had higher odds for catastrophic health expenditure (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.399–87.176, P=0.000; 95% CI 2.322–47.310, P=0.002; and 95% CI 1.128–29.694, P=0.035, respectively).Conclusion: SCD poses enormous financial burden on parents and households.Keywords: sickle cell disease, family income, health expenditure, financial catastrophe, Nigeri
An investigative and evaluative study of factors affecting quality of agricultural and farm information services in Kerala
No full textAgriculture is not only a country’s backbone of food, livelihood and ecological security systems, but is also the very soul of its sovereignty. In Kerala population density is high and land is scarce. To achieve sustainable advancement in quality of human life, meeting the domestic food requirement is to be given foremost priority in development plans. As the area of cultivation cannot be increased and growth of population cannot be controlled growth in food production is to be achieved by qualitative improvement in farming. This requires improvements in material inputs, farming techniques, storage technology and research. Effective integration of these factors is tied closely to adequate information flow, which can be ensured only by an efficient information system for agricultural education, research, extension and development. So evaluation and improvement of existing information services is very crucial for sustainable agricultural growth. The study evaluates the existing information resources, facilities, services, possibilities for resource sharing, accessibility of external sources, and the factors that affect the quality and efficiency of information services in agricultural sector. Coverage is limited to the State of Kerala. Sample consist 105 institutions of different levels, and information users consisting of 426 scientists and 220 farmers. Different sets of questionnaires and interview schedule were used to elicit information. The study found that agricultural research conducted at various institutions in the region at huge public expense has generated knowledge for improving production. Along with these huge collections of acquired content is also stored in the sector. But when a farmer, an extension worker, a scientist or an administrator needs information it is not easily accessible. The study found that agricultural sector fails to effectively bank on information resources available due to the lack of an information system and network. Recommends an Agricultural and Farm Information System for Kerala. Suggests a model plan for a computer communication network for resource sharing between the agricultural institutions in the State, which will also ensure, smooth flow of results of research down to the grassroots level to achieve maximum productivity in agriculture
Optimizing organic manure and plastic mulching to improve cucumber performance, soil water and thermal conditions of an Alfisol in a humid and tropical region
No full textA field experiment was conducted during the 2022 dry season to investigate the effect of organic manure and plastic mulch on soil water and thermal regimes and cucumber growth, yield and water use efficiency at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ekiti State University, Ado- Ekiti southwest Nigeria. The experiment was 2- factorial, laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The organic manure factor consisted of poultry, piggery and no manure while the mulching factor comprised black plastic mulch and no mulch. Soil water content and temperature of the 0 - 10 and 10 - 20 cm layers of the field were monitored while cucumber growth parameters, yield components and water use efficiency data were also collected. Soil temperature was significantly (p 0.05) soil temperature although it was highest in no manure treatment. Mulching significantly (p < 0.05) increased soil water content while poultry manure treatment had the highest soil water content during the growing cycle. Mulching significantly (p < 0.05) increased the number of leaves, leaf area and vine length of cucumber. Both organic manure and mulching significantly (p < 0.05) influenced leaf temperature, number of fruits but not fruit length, fruit diameter, yield and water use efficiency. Furthermore, the combined application of plastic mulch and poultry manure gave the highest yield and water use efficiency of cucumber. It showed that combined poultry manure and plastic mulch could be an ideal combination for soil and water management and conservation for sustainable cucumber production in this area. © 2024 The Author(s
Nexus between Personal Factors and Practice of Self-Medication among Primary School Teachers in Oyo State, Nigeria
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine the nexus between personal factors and the practice of self-medication among primary school teachers in Oyo State. Five hundred participants constituted the study’s sample out of which only 476 were used after data administration. Both the independent and dependent variables were measured with validated instruments with 0.85 reliability co-efficient and the data obtained was analyzed using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) Statistical method. Two research hypotheses were formulated and tested at a 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that there was a significant relationship between poverty and the practice of self-medication among primary school teachers (r= .823; p<0.05) as well as between illiteracy and the practice of self-medication among primary school teachers (r= .643; p<0.05). The implication of this showed that poverty and illiteracy level had significant impacts on the practice of self-medication among primary school teachers. In view of these findings, it was recommended that educational stakeholders should frequently organize seminars and workshops for primary school teachers, especially in rural areas on the dangers of self-medication.A tanulmány a személyes tényezők és az öngyógyítás gyakorlata közötti kapcsolatot vizsgálja a nigériai Oyo államban élő általános iskolai tanárok körében. Módszer: a mintát ötszáz résztvevő alkotta, amelyből az adatfelvétel után csak 476-ot használtak fel. Mind a független, mind a függő változókat validált eszközökkel mérték 0,85 megbízhatósági együtthatóval, és a kapott adatokat a Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) statisztikai módszerrel elemezték. Két kutatási hipotézist fogalmaztak meg és tesz-teltek 0,05-ös szignifikanciaszinten. Eredmények: szignifikáns kapcsolat van a szegénység és az öngyógyítás gyakorlata (r= .823; p<0,05), valamint az analfabetizmus és az öngyógyítás gyakorlata (r= .643; p<0,05) között az általános iskolai tanárok körében. Konklúziók: a szegénység és az írástudatlanság jelentős hatással van az öngyógyítás gyakorlatára az általános iskolai tanárok körében. Ajánlásként meg-fogalmazták, hogy az oktatásban érdekelt felek rendszeresen szervezzenek szemináriumokat és workshopokat az öngyógyítás veszélyeiről, különösen a vidéki területeken élő általános iskolai tanárok számára
