82 research outputs found
Indigenous technology as a basis for science and technology education in junior secondary schools : a Sierra Leonean case study
No full textThis study investigates two issues: a) the usefulness of indigenous technology as an approach for teaching science and technology to junior pupils of secondary schools in Sierra Leone. b) the factors which influence its implementation. In order to carry out this investigation, the author developed a fifteen lesson module on energy, using the `coalpot', a significant indigenous technology device as centre-piece. The module was tried out in three schools in Sierra Leone, using a total of 224 pupils. Other members of the sample were experimental teachers (who taught the module) and non-experimental (who only evaluated it) and science educators. Using the triangulation method, data were collected by achievement tests, questionnaires, structured and unstructured observations and informal discussions. The results were statistically analyzed using the SPSS/PC and Minitab Computer packages. It emerged from the findings that indigenous technology is a useful approach for teaching science to junior secondary school pupils, irrespective of the problems encountered. The post-achievement test results show that on the whole, the module had a positive effect on pupils' learning. The study also shows that indigenous technology has the potential to generate pupils' interest and improve their attitudes towards science. The factors which can become barriers to the implementation of an innovation like this one, were identified and shown to be teacher- and school-related. It is recommended among other things that science education researchers, teacher trainers, curriculum developers and teachers collaborate to develop and document instructional materials based on indigenous technology. That indigenous technology be incorporated into teacher training methodology courses so that trainee teachers will have a longer period to become familiar with both the content and the teaching strategies that may be used.</p
Wealth, household heterogeneity and livelihood diversification of Fulani pastoralists in the Kachia Grazing Reserve, northern Nigeria, during a period of social transition
No full textBACKGROUND: A mixed methods study was undertaken in the Kachia Grazing Reserve of northern Nigeria. Surveys in March, June and October 2011 included focus group discussions, key informant and in-depth household interviews, concerning livelihood practices, animal health, ownership, and productivity. In May 2011, 249 Fulani families fleeing post-election violence entered the reserve with their livestock, increasing the number of households by one third.RESULTS: Despite being settled within a grazing reserve, over half of households sent all their cattle away on seasonal transhumance and another third sent some away. Cattle accounted for 96% of total tropical livestock units (TLU), of which 26% were cattle kept permanently outside the reserve. While all households cited livestock as their main source of income, 90% grew crops and 55% derived income from off-farm activities. A multiple correspondence analysis showed that for each extra member of a household its TLU value increased by 2.0 [95% CI, 1.4-2.7], while for each additional marriage its TLU increased by 15.7 [95% CI, 7.1-24.3]. A strong association was also observed between small herds, small households with only one wife, alongside marked geographical wealth differences within the reserve. New immigrant families had larger household sizes (33) and livestock holdings (122 TLU) than old settlers (22 people and 67 TLU). Prior to the mass immigration, the distribution of TLU per person was unimodal: 41% of households were classified as 'poor' and 27% as 'medium', whereas post-immigration it was bi-modal, with 26% classified as 'very poor' and 28% as 'medium'.CONCLUSIONS: While cattle remain the principal source of Fulani income and wealth, the inhabitants of Kachia Grazing Reserve have diversified their livelihood strategies to respond to changing circumstances and stress, especially the limited availability of grazing within the reserve and political insecurity outside, resulting in continued transhumance, the maintenance of smaller livestock holdings and pushing households into poverty.</p
Glyphosate, 1,1’- dimethyl-4,4’-bipyridinium dichloride and Atrazine induces changes in Soil organic carbon, bacterial and fungal communities in a tropical alfisol
No full textInfluence of Sense of Coherence and Religiosity on Violence Intention among Youth in North-East Nigeria
No full textThe protracted armed conflict involving Boko Haram, the Nigerian military, and the Multi-National Task Force has given rise to a significant humanitarian crisis in the North-Eastern region of Nigeria. Undoubtedly, the occurrence of violence has led to extensive displacement of individuals, infringements upon international humanitarian and human rights legislation, heightened security risks, and the emergence of a burgeoning humanitarian predicament. It is thus expedient to examine the psychological factors that predispose resident youths to violent intentions and acts. Thus, out of the umpteenth psychological variables that could trigger violent intention, this study examined the influence of sense of coherence, religiosity and gender. It was an ex post facto design where the opinions of eight hundred and sixty-four respondents across the six states of the North-eastern Nigeria were sampled using a battery of standardized tests. The generated three generated hypotheses were tested using independent t-test. Results revealed that sense of coherence, religiosity and gender played significant roles on the violent intention of the youths in the sampled area. Several recommendations that could stem the tides of violence in the North-Eastern Nigeria were made by the researchers.
Keywords: Gender, religiosity, sense of coherence, and violence intention
Opening the ‘black box’ of national digital identity systems: another invisible border for Africans?
No full textBiometric digital identity systems have been promoted as a solution for Africa’s development challenges. By providing accurate and reliable identification of citizens, these systems are expected to enable better planning and resource allocation by states. However, this optimistic view overlooks the border logic embedded in the design and deployment of these systems. In this article, the author critically examines the assumptions and implications of biometric digital identity systems in Africa. By broadening the debate on the intersection of African ‘mobilities’, responsible innovation, and the deployment of biometric technology, the author attempt to pry open the ‘black box’ of national digital identity systems and contends that the diffusion of these systems in Africa is driven more by the Global North’s border interests than by the local populations’ development needs.
The mechanical behaviours of polyurethanes hybrid polymer composites embedded with Nickel- Titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloys
No full textAbstract: In this study, polyurethanes embedded with Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) SMAs is investigated by experimental methods to understand the mechanical properties of the embedded SMAs with the aim of using them as active and passive surfaces in various applications. A matrix composite was utilized for the production of the silicone moulds and casting of the specimens. The implanted NiTi SMA wires were cut into required lengths using and aged at 2500C and pre-strained by 3%. to ensure homogeneous behaviour. For each of the SMA/polyurethane composites, the treated NiTi SMA wire was properly located in the groove created in one half of the silicone mould the polyurethane resin was poured and cool to room temperature in vacuum casting machine. The result shows that the mechanical properties embedded SMA increased in of the SMA/polyurethane composite. The improvements in the properties cannot be sustained at high temperature owing to degradation of interfacial strength between the SMA and polyurethane 2 interface due to high recovery stress generated by the SMA upon activation..
Effects of Pension Fund Assets on Capital Market Performance in Nigeria
No full textThis research looked into how pension funds held over a long stretch can provide a lot of capital to the market in the long term rather than giving out speculative capital over a short period. It studied how pension funds impact capital market performance in Nigeria. To do this, data from the quarterly reports of National Pension Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin from 2014 to 2019 (spanning 24 quarters) was used. The sample group was comprised of 50 companies, including 24 Pension Fund Administrators. This study looked into seven Closed Pension Fund Administrators (CPFAs) and nineteen Approved Existing Schemes (AESs). Everyone was included in the research, and it was conducted by looking at what happened in the past. Analysing the data collected from a secondary source, it was found that private equity had a noticeable effect on the financial market in Nigeria. It was recommended that the government should make policies to make sure more people invest in private equity, since it helps the Nigerian financial market. The results also showed that the regulations by the government weren't doing enough to get pension reform and economic reform to link up, and there were other problems with the regulations that didn't help create trust in the reform.Corresponding Author: Oluyemi Ayodele OLONIT
IMPROVING THE TRANSIENT STABILITY OF NIGERIAN 330KV TRANSMISSION NETWORK USING STATIC VAR COMPENSATION PART I: THE BASE STUDY
No full textIn this paper, the base study for improving the transient stability of Nigerian 330kV transmission network using Static Var Compensation (SVC) is conducted with the focus of developing indices that can appropriately size and locate SVC within the network. The study is performed using commercially available software Dig SILENT Power Factory. The overloaded lines which could excite instability in the network are identified. Fixed capacitor thyristor controlled reactor is used to model the SVC and is appropriately sized and located within the network. Transient stability of the network is analysed by determining the critical clearing time of the acute generators when a balanced three phase fault is applied to the middle of the critical lines within the network using step-by step technique. Some of the key results reveal that the lines: Jebba- Osogbo, Shiroro-Kaduna, Benin-Sapele and Benin-Onitsha are the critical lines within the network. The Critical Clearing Times (CCTs) of the acute generators when 3-phase fault is applied at Jebba- Osogbo and Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines are 380ms and 480ms, respectively. However, generators located at Afam and Sapele that are close to Benin-Sapele and Benin-Onitsha transmission line, respectively are always losing synchronism to 3-phasefault of any duration. Appropriately sized SVCs with values 124Mvar, 73Mvar, 62Mvar and 110Mvar located at Osogbo, Kaduna and Benin compensated the network and increase the CCTs to 470ms, 500ms, 220ms and 120ms, respectively. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v35i1.2
A Linguistic-Stylistic Analysis of the Nigerien National Anthem
No full textThis paper analyses the newly adopted Nigerien national anthem entitled “L’honneur de la patrie” (The honour of the Fatherland) from a linguistic-stylistic perspective. Drawing its conceptual insights from Simpson’s (2004) and Meyer’s (2009) models of language, and the descriptive qualitative research method, the study specifically examines how the author of this new anthem uses language to create stylistic effects therein. The findings reveal that the author employs, at the phonological level, for example, such phonological schemes as alliteration and assonance. They also exude that, at the graphological level, he organises his anthem into three stanzas, none of which has rhyming lines. But these stanzas are marked by the presence of some internal rhymes. The findings further unveil that, at the morphological level, the author uses both open-class and closed class words, the dominant type being open-class words. As the analysis indicates too, most of the words in the text are mono-morphemic and polysyllabic words. The author employs, as it also proves, two word-formation processes, inflection and derivation, the most dominant type being inflection. Moreover, the findings show that, at the syntactic level, the three stanzas in the anthem deviate from the usual SVO word order, and are all marked by syntactic variation. Finally, they reveal that, at the semantic level, the author employs antonyms, synonyms, lexical and structural repetitions, etc. in the text. In conclusion, it can be deduced from the linguistic-stylistic analysis that the author deploys all the aforementioned linguistic resources to encode the oneness of Niger or the unity of all Nigeriens
The Role of Indigenous Languages in National Development: A Case Study of Nigerian Linguistic Situation
No full textIndigenous languages are indispensable cultural legacies without which all forms of human interactions can be carried out. National development is the development of individuals in a nation. Individuals can develop educationally, socially, politically, economically, and culturally through interaction with government agencies that disseminate policies through various indigenous languages. Development indices such as internal cohesion, integration, unity, economic wellbeing and citizens’ participation in governance are promoted through indigenous languages. Based on these assertions, the author studied the current linguistic situations in Nigeria and found that native languages play fundamental role on issues such as democracy, technology, metalanguage and linguistic globalization .There are however some challenges in the optimum utilization of these mother tongues. The major problems being orthographic inadequacy,the multiplicity of minority languages, linguistic desertification and deforestation and language endangerment.The author then suggests a way forward.
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