Abstract: The major focus of
the research is to empirically investigate the impact of interest rate dynamics
on performance of manufacturing- sub sector in Nigeria. The research covers the period between 1980
and 2012. This period is important since
it includes the pre-structural adjustment programme (SAP) era where interest
rate was not liberalized and the structural adjustment programme period where
interest rate is liberalized. The co-integration
technique with its implied error correction mechanism was used for the
study. The result shows that the high
interest rate in Nigeria has hindered the performance of the manufacturing sub
sector. The GARCH and ARCH results
indicates that interest rate dynamics has influenced the performance of the
manufacturing sub- sector. The result also confirms a long run relationship
among the variables. It was therefore recommended
amongst others, that there should be a drastic reduction in the interest rate
coupled with the adoption of liberalized interest rate regime with some
caution; this will increase the performance of the manufacturing sub- sector in
Nigeria.
E-mail: steve234_1@yahoo.com;
adesina.sunday40@yahoo.comAbstract: In every patriarchal society like Nigeria, the
cultural patterns allocate more authority and power to men in family and in the
society as a whole. The low socio – economic status of women has gone a long
way to increase the domination of men even in sexuality. This has made Nigerian women to be more vulnerable
and prone to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. This paper is an
attempt to explore and expose the ordeal of Nigerian women in an unequal
relationship characterised by male
Abstract:
The study reviewed how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of private sector
firms can be coupled by the government into the achievement of Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Millennium Development
Goals, as a programme, was launched by United Nations in 2000 to last up to
2015. Eight goals were set up ranging from eradication of extreme poverty to
reduction of environmental degradation. The MDGs scheme is winding up in 2015. The
scheme is now conceived to be extended for another fifteen years under a new
caption ‘Sustainable Development Goals’. The goals remain almost the same as
MDGs except that the eight goals of MDGs have been expanded to seventeen goals.
The study adopted theoretical and discursive method to review the issues involved.
Some ways the government can co-opt the private sector CSR have been suggested.
The government is reminded that CRS is voluntary and should not be made to
appear mandatory.
Abstract: This
study investigated emotional intelligence and self-efficacy as predictors of
life satisfaction among Police Officers in Enugu Urban. Four hundred and
twenty-six (426) participants comprising 357 males and 69 females between the
ages of 18 to 60 years (M =40.85, SD = 11.79) were sampled using Multi-stage
sampling. Wong and Law (2002) 14–item Emotional Intelligence Scale, Chen, Gully
and Eden (2001) 8 – item New General Self Efficacy (NGSE) Scale and Diener,
Emmons, Larsen and Griffin (1985) 9 – item Life Satisfaction Scale were
administered for data collection. Cross-sectional survey design was used and
multiple regression statistical tests was used for data analysis. The results
revealed that emotional intelligence and self-efficacy jointly and independently
predicted life satisfaction at p<.05. The findings were discussed in line
with previous related studies. It was concluded that in order to enhance life
satisfaction among police officers, candidates should be assessed and those
high on emotional intelligence and self-efficacy considered at the point of
recruitment and selection.
Abstract: Sociologists consider
family as one of the five very important social institutions in any society
which if affected negatively the whole society suffers. For example, one of the primary
functions of the family is to produce and reproduce persons, biologically and
socially. Secondly, anthropologists have often supposed that the family in a
traditional society forms the primary economic unit. Thus, for the African society to remain healthy and
positively functional the family unit must remain appropriately intact. Unfortunately, this very important
institution in Africa is facing serious challenges that threaten its existence
and therefore the existence of the African societies. It appears that the doom
day is being held back only by the resilience of the African families which
adopts various coping strategies with their various strengths and weaknesses.
For example, one of the serious challenges the African family is facing is
poverty. And in north-eastern Nigeria, child hawking, which is a form of child
labour, is one of the major coping strategies. This paper therefore examines in
an exploratory manner the type, nature, extent and the worthiness or otherwise
of child hawking, which is very common in North-eastern Nigeria. It is very
clear from our findings in this study that child hawking was being used in
north-eastern Nigeria to supplement the incomes of parents and/or guardians of
the child hawkers. Child hawking therefore was a form of coping strategy for
families of child hawkers involved in it in this study. Notwithstanding its
benefits as an income supplementing strategy to families of hawkers, child
hawking is not a worthwhile coping strategy for two major reasons found in this
study. First, it is a form of child labour, which constitutes a child abuse in
itself, and; secondly, it exposes the child hawkers to various child abuses
such as beating by bullies, verbal insults from people, sexual harassment,
attempted rape and rape, attempted abduction and abduction, etc. We also found
that child hawking exposes the child to other dangers such as Traffic accidents
and such other bad behaviours as hooliganism, drug abuse, pick pocketing,
indiscriminate sex/fornication and prostitutions. The paper then concludes with well informed
recommendations on how best to deal with the problem of child hawking generally
and in north-eastern Nigeria in particular. The recommendations revolve around
poverty eradication and the need to rigorously implement the Child Rights Act
and Convention as well as the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act.
Abstract: Biscuits are nutritive snack
produced from unpalatable dough that is transformed into appetizing products
through the application of heat in the oven. Cocoyam corms and golden melon
seed were processed into flour blends and biscuit was produced from wheat,
cocoyam and golden melon flour blends. The composite flour was analyzed for
functional properties like bulk density, water absorption, swelling power,
solubility and dispersibility while Proximate properties like protein, fat, crude
fibre, moisture content, carbohydrate; and sensory analysis were carried out on
different blends of the biscuit produced using standard methods. The result of
proximate properties shows that addition of golden melon flour (GF) at 10, 15,
20% had low moisture content. No significance difference (P<0.05) was
observed in the Ash and crude fibre content of all samples. The fat content had
an increase at 5% level of golden melon flour (GF). The highest carbohydrate
content was observed in the biscuit containing the highest proportion of
cocoyam flour (CF). The biscuit sample with 60%(WF):30%(CF):10%(GF) has the
highest protein content. On the basis of sensory score, biscuit produced from
70%WF: 25%CF: 5%GF were ranked highest and more acceptable than others. The successful supplementation of golden melon
flour (GF) at 10% level brought an increase in the protein content which will
help to alleviate the problem of protein energy malnutrition since consumption
of biscuit in Nigeria is high.
Abstract: The Afaka
Mando borrow pit in Kaduna metropolis was investigated for its engineering
properties with respect to its suitability as subgrade and base materials in
road construction. This was achieved by carrying out laboratory tests on the soil
samples for engineering properties such as the natural moisture content,
specific gravity, sieve analysis, Atterberg limits, compaction and California
bearing ratio. Particle size analysis shows that the percentages passing sieve
No 200 range from 0.3 to 0.8%.The liquid limit ranges between 17.31 and 29.2%, plastic limit ranges from 10.56 to 12.43% and
the plastic index ranges between 5.6 and 16.77%.The California bearing ratio (unsoaked)
ranges from 12.72 to 33.23%. The Specific
gravity ranges between 2.37 and 2.4 which is not good, while the maximum dry
density ranges between 1.76 and 1.98g/cm³ with their optimum moisture content ranging
from 9.0 to 17.24% while the natural moisture content was 17.25 to 21.38%. From
the result, and according to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing Specifications for roads, this lateritic
material can be used for subgrade because the C.B.R. is not less than 10% but cannot be used for base course because
the C.B.R. is less than 80%. The result also shows that the lateritic samples
are classified as silty or clayey gravel sand (A-2-4).
Abstract: Yenagoa
local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria has been the recipient of
several community development programmes initiated by the Government. The
perception of residents was assessed to ascertain if these programmes have
improved their lives. Four hundred residents were randomly selected for the
study. Questionnaire was the major instrument for data collection. Data was
analyzed using percentages and chi-square statistics. The study revealed that
people are aware of government programmes/projects but are not involved in the
process of initiating, planning and implementation of these programmes/projects,
that these programmes/projects have not improved the living conditions of the
people thus, peoples’ perception of the
programmes/projects are dissatisfactory. It is recommended that government
should execute programme that are the felt need of the people
Keywords: Perception, Residents, Effectiveness,
Community Development
Abstract: Seeds
of the shemfhen cultivar of okra were
collected from Kwambai village, Takum Local Government area of Taraba State to
determine the effects of levels of nitrogen fertilizer (NPK 27:10:10) on pollen
viability and viscosity (draw quality) of the cultivar. The treatment consisted
of three concentrations of the NPK 27:10:10 fertilizer and the fourth which is
zero to serve as control (0, 5, 10 & 15g per stand). The different
concentrations formed the plots. The cultivation was done in the research farm
of MAUTECH, Yola located within latitude 90 190 N and
longitude 120 300E with an average annual rainfall of
69mm. Cytological analysis of the pollen and viscosity test of the fruits from
each plot were assessed. Pollen viability and viscosity gradually increased
with increase in concentration of the NPK 27:10:10 fertilizer. However, at
concentration 15g per stand many of the okra plants welted and died before
maturity. Therefore, concentration 10g per stand is recommended for optimum
viability and viscosity. It is concluded that pollen viability and viscosity of
the cultivar are both genetically & environmentally determined.
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