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Inaugural speeches are delivered by political office holders to mark their transition to government, and present their vision and goals for whatever office they occupy. This paper carries out a pragmatic investigation of the inaugural speeches of selected governors in southwest, Nigeria. The data for the study were the inaugural speeches of Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State (GBS), Seyi Makinde of Oyo State (GSM), and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State (GDA). The speeches were retrieved from two Nigerian newspapers: Dailypost and Premiumtimes who enjoy a relatively wide coverage in the country. This paper adopts Jacob Mey’s (2001) pragmatic acts theory as its tool for descriptive analysis, and uses statistical details for quantitative analysis. From the analysis of the inaugural speeches, it was discovered that thirty-five pragmatic acts were deployed by the governors to achieve six goals. The pragmatic acts performed in the speeches are predominantly negotiated through five pragmatic tools: relevance, reference, shared situational knowledge, voice and metaphor. The study reveals that the goals of the inaugural speeches are to present their vision for the state, win the favour of the people, appreciate others, present challenges in the state, influence attitude and stimulate citizenry to action. This paper concludes that the overarching goal of gubernatorial inaugural speeches is to aid the comprehension of the vision and mission of the governor during their tenure in office.

BackgroundPerceived risk is an important factor in understanding why and how a population adopts health-prevention interventions. When diseases are perceived as low-risk, motivation to use and adhere to prevention interventions is low, which can aid the spread of highly infectious diseases such as COVID-19. In this study, we assessed risk perception and its associated factors towards COVID-19 infection among the residents of Ondo State, southwest Nigeria. MethodsA community-based, cross-sectional study design using a multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit 593 heads of households in three local government areas (LGA) in Ondo State. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire which captured information on sociodemographic variables, knowledge of COVID-19 prevention, COVID-19 infection prevention and control practices, and risk perception from September 1 to 30, 2021. ResultsThe respondents were mostly males 357 (60.2%). The mean age of respondents was 37.5±14.7 years with 409 (69%) between the age group of 20 to 40 years. Slightly more than one quarter of respondents were civil servants and 78.4% were of Yoruba ethnicity. More than three quarters, 522 (88%), of the respondents had good knowledge of COVID-19 and its preventive measures. The mean risk perception score was 49.0±12.1. Respondents who were civil servants, had good knowledge of COVID-19 and its preventive measures, had lower household income, and were of Yoruba ethnicity had significantly higher risk perception towards COVID-19 infection compared to other groups. Higher risk perception was associated with preventive measures, such as handwashing. ConclusionOur study shows a high-risk perception towards COVID-19 infection among residents in Ondo state, Nigeria. However, there were significant differences between varying knowledge levels, ethnic groups and civil versus non-civil servants. In view of this, we recommend intensified risk communication interventions targeting t

Introduction: Public health safety measures have been advocated for towards the effective containment of COVID-19. This study aimed to assess the effects of public health safety measures (PHSM) implemented during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the COVID-19 control measures implemented across Africa. We extracted and collated data on COVID-19 cases, deaths, and stringency level (SL) from online data repositories between 18 July, 2020 and 18 December, 2020 in Africa. Results: In the South African region, COVID-19 cases increased when there was partial closure of work sectors (SL = 41.67), but decreased with complete closure of work sectors (SL=46.30) in South Africa. In North Africa, COVID-19 cases increased when there was limited contact tracing (SL = 23.15), but decreased with comprehensive contact tracing (SL = 75.00) in Tunisia. In West Africa, COVID-19 cases increased when there was partial school closure (SL = 50.93), but decreased with complete school closure (SL = 65.74) in Nigeria. In East Africa, COVID-19 cases increased when contact tracing was limited (SL = 28.70), but decreased with comprehensive contact tracing (SL = 51.85) in Sudan. In Central Africa, COVID-19 cases increased when there was partial school closure (SL = 43.52), but decreased with complete school closure (SL = 56.48) in Congo. Conclusion: PHSM should be intensified to ensure the effective containment of COVID-19 in Africa. Evidence-based decisions should be made by policy makers and contextualized in each African country as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.

Background: This study aimed to describe community members’ willingness to participate in COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in a Southwestern state in Nigeria.Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Community members aged 15 years and above were studied using a multi-stage sampling technique. One question each was asked on respondents’ willingness for COVID-19 testing, contact disclosure, and willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were conducted on willingness for COVID-19 testing, contact disclosure and taking the COVID-19 vaccine. Multivariate logistic analyses were performed on variables that were significant at the bivariate level. P-values <0 .05 were statistically significant.Results: Among the 691 respondents, 244 (35.3%) were aged 21-29 years, 436 (73.2%) were willing to take the COVID-19 test, 458 (66.3%) were willing to disclose contacts’ names if tested positive, and 434 (74.8%) were willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Persons who earned less than 30,000 naira (U.S.$78.95) monthly had two times the odds to be willing to take the COVID-19 test (OR=2.031, (95%CI=1.117-3.694), p = 0.02). Persons who had completed 10-12 years of education had three times the odds to be willing to disclose contacts if tested positive for COVID-19 (OR=2.628, (95%CI=1.301-5.308), p=0.007). Persons whose financial status worsened, i.e., those whose income had reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, had three times the odds to be willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine (OR=2.686, (95%CI=1.363-6.448), p=0.006).Conclusion: Interventions to improve willingness for COVID-19 testing and taking the COVID-19 vaccine should be targeted towards those wealthy individuals.

The ability to respond to the need for food is threatened by the scarcity of urban farmers (UF) in the elevation of the urban population. This shows that the availability of food is a cultivated land function, indicating that agriculture is only a mirage when sites are unavailable for farming. Irrespective of these conditions, the sustainability of food production within the city spaces is still the complimentary urban infrastructure enhancing the movement of goods and farmers. Therefore, this study aims to determine the patterns of integrating urban farming into city infrastructure development. In this case, a mixed methods approach was used, with a sample of 236 UF obtained across five local government areas (LGA) of Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria, due to the land availability that ranked first in the urban agriculture (UA) location within the city. Based on interviews with selected farmers and literature reviews, many UF preferred to have their farmlands located along the road for ease of mobility and access. The results showed that old age limited farming travel distance, with several cases of farm produce theft, subsequently detected. To solve these issues, land allocation and water infrastructure provision including irrigation kits were needed for the enhancement of UA and UF, respectively. In addition, comprehensive plans integrating UF infrastructure spaces were suggested.

Cryptococcosis is a life-threatening fungal infection that presents diversely with no specific pathognomonic features. Cryptococcal disease is one of the most important opportunistic infections, and a significant contributor to early mortality in HIV infected subjects. Cryptococcal antigenemia occurs in Nigeria, but the magnitude of this disease remains unclear. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of CrAg among HIV infected and HIV seronegative subjects and to assess the relationship between CD4 count and CrAg in HIV-positive subjects attending Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan. In an hospital-based case-control study using simple random sampling, 114 HIV-seropositive individuals (cases) and 228 HIV-seropositive individuals (controls) were recruited. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from subjects and retrospective review of CD4 count records in HIV infected subjects. Five millilitres of venous blood were collected from each participant. Serum Cryptococcal antigen testing was done using CrAg Lateral Flow Assay. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis at 5% level of significance. Mean age of cases was 41.2 ± 10.0 years and 85 (74.6%) were females while mean age of controls was 38.9 ± 13.7 years and 156 (68.4%) were females. The prevalence of CrAg among cases was 11.4% and 7.0% among controls. Cases were about two times more likely to test positive for CrAg. However, the association was not statistically significant (OR: 1.71, 95%CI: 0.79 - 3.68). Individuals with CD4 counts of ≤100 cells/µl were 20 times more likely to have positive serum cryptococcal antigen than individuals with CD4 counts >100 cells/µl (OR: 20.3, 95%CI: 5.23-78.9). This study has demonstrated significant prevalence of Cryptococcal antigenemia among the study population; however, prevalence was higher among cases. Screening for CrAg should therefore be part of routine tests amongst a

Paullinia pinnata is a plant introduced to tropical Africa and has been reported to be useful in folkloric medicine. Different medicinal potentials of the leaves have been investigated some of which have corroborated reports in traditional medicine. Compounds have been isolated from extracts of the leaves which have been shown to have medicinal value. These compounds are from different classes of secondary metabolites including tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids. Fatty acids have also been shown to be present. This report is set to enumerate the traditional use of the leaves of P.pinnata and research findings already documented.

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Internal displacement is a global social and political issue. Although violence-induced internal displacement in Nigeria is traceable to the civil war, the phenomenon has assumed a worrisome dimension and proportion with the increasing rate of insurgency, armed banditry, and farmer-herdsmen crises. This study aimed at assessing service deprivation in internally displaced person camps in Nigeria, using Abuja as a case study. The objectives were to identify the types of services delivered to internally displaced persons; investigate the internally displaced persons’ level of satisfaction services provided, and evaluate the relationship between gender and wellbeing deprivation among the internally displaced persons. Systematic random sampling technique was used to administer 375 copies structured questionnaire to the internally displaced persons in Abuja out of which 287 were completed and successfully retrieved. Data analysis was carried out with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and it was discovered that more than 63% of the displaced persons are not educated beyond primary school, indicating low literacy level. It was also discovered that internally displaced persons experience severe housing, water, and energy poverty. Chi-Square test revealed that there is no statistically significant relationship between gender of the internally displaced persons and their wellbeing, X2 (2, n = 287) = 4.674, p = .097. The study recommended that quality schools and housing should be provided to the internally displaced persons’ camps. The provision of potable water and clean domestic energy to the internally displaced persons’ camps were also recommended.

The importance of housing to man cannot be overemphasized. It predicts spiritual, psychological and physical sense of achievement of social status, security, privacy, and convenience. However, most housing interventions in Nigeria are carried out without adequate consultation/participation of the beneficiaries, thereby creating housing dissatisfaction. This study aimed at investigating the socio-demographic predictors of residents’ satisfaction with public housing estates in Minna; and the objectives are to examine the socio-economic and demographic conditions of the residents of the housing estates and to investigate the relationship between the socio-demographic attributes of the residents and their level of housing satisfaction. A systematic random sampling technique was adopted to administer 297 questionnaires to residents of public housing estates in Minna, Nigeria. Data analysis was conducted with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The majority of the households have a size of 4-9 persons. The respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the location of their kitchens, the landscape elements, wastewater drainage and condition/adequacy of potable water supply. It also revealed that there is a statistically significant relationship between socio-demographic attributes and housing satisfaction among residents of public housing estates in the study area (R2 = .988; df = 6; Sig. =.000). There is, therefore, the need to provide potable water and wastewater management and enact and enforce regulations to control household size in the public housing estates in Minna. There is also the need to study the impact of homeownership status on housing satisfaction in the study area as this study did not cover that.

Unemployment and poverty are serious problems facing urban areas in developing countries. To combat these problems, urban residents have devised a way of employing themselves in the informal sector. However, these informal sector entrepreneurs have continually experienced harassment and stigmatization in the eyes of the urban management agencies. This study aimed at assessing the livelihood impacts of the implications of informal urban entrepreneurship in Kaduna, Nigeria. The objectives are to estimate the income of the informal urban entrepreneurs in line with the minimum wage of Nigeria and establish the relationship between the socio-demographic characteristics of the informal entrepreneurs and their income. Purposive sampling was adopted to sample 384 informal respondents for the study and questionnaires were distributed accordingly. However, only 300 copies of the questionnaire were duly filled and returned, representing 78.13% of the total questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). It was discovered that men tend to participate more in informal entrepreneurship. More so, the study revealed that the informal urban entrepreneurs in Kaduna are taxpayers. Furthermore, inferential statistical tests revealed that gender and educational attainment are statistically significant determinants of the income of the informal urban entrepreneurs in Kaduna. It was therefore recommended that organized marketing space should be provided to these entrepreneurs and they should also be encouraged to acquire formal education. The need to study the impacts of location on informal entrepreneurship was also suggested.

Housing is an essential tool by which most individuals measure the quality of life. This study assesses the level of residents’ satisfaction in Tunga low-cost estate, Minna, Niger State with a view to suggest strategies to improve residents’ quality of life having examined housing conditions and adequacy of existing infrastructure. Residents’ socio-economic characteristics and satisfaction of housing conditions were obtained from household heads of the 175 sampled housing units using structured questionnaires. Residents’ assessments of their housing conditions and satisfaction of their housing were collected using a 5 point Likert scale ratings: Very Dissatisfied = 1, Dissatisfied =2, Undecided (Neutral) =3, Satisfied =4, Very satisfied =5 respectively The study reveals that the entire residents were fairly satisfied with the provision of facilities, utilities, services and infrastructure in the study. The data used for the study were from both primary and secondary data. A stratified and systematic random sampling was adopted as the technique for the study. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. It was discovered that residents of Tunga Low-Cost Housing Estate are dissatisfied with the existing condition of their housing units; thus, they involve in several kinds of alterations to the housing structures. Finally, the study recommends that both federal and state government should pay more attention to the rehabilitation of roads and drainages in public housing estates in the country and public housing developers should continue to improve the quality of dwelling units they construct in order to make the residents more satisfied with the units they occupy.

This research uses critical qualitative and narrative inquiry methods to discuss intercommunal conflicts in Kaduna, Nigeria. This approach is with a view to examining postcolonial African crises that border on group claims to belonging, and to explore local—people-centred—peacebuilding approaches. Data were analyzed using a set of procedures including inscription, description, transcription, tidying up, coding, and interpretation of transcripts and field notes. Violent conflicts among different communities in Kaduna have been on the rise since the 1980s. Several scholars have attributed many factors to the escalation of these conflicts, including historical, economic, socio-cultural, political, psychological, and environmental conditions of violent conflicts. This research accounts for the complex dynamics, inherent ideologies, complexities, and contradictions of the conflicts by putting the foregoing factors into a coherent framework and argues that they pivot on the crisis of belonging in postcolonial Africa. Thus, drawing on extant works of literature on violent conflicts and fieldwork research the author conducted in southern Kaduna between 2016 and 2019, this research argues that the nature of the conflicts in southern Kaduna has accreted around controversies over Indigenous, nomadic, and autochthonous claims of belonging. The findings of the research revealed that on one side of the conflicts are those who imagine themselves as autochthonous indigenes (legitimate sons and daughters of the land) dealing with an existential threat of a foreign, expansionist, and mobile invader. The autochthonous indigenes imagine their group identity in terms suggestive of a natural, nativist, blood belonging or connection to land. On the other side of the conflicts are those who lay claims to a notion of belonging that is both Indigenous and nomadic—if not cosmopolitan. The latter group is the nomadic indigene who imagines land as a free resource to which no other group can lay

The paper investigated the trade-led growth hypothesis or growth-led trade hypothesis in WAMZ countries (Nigeria, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone). Individual country and cross-sectional analysis were done and for the individual country analysis, FMOLS, DOLS, and CCR were considered with Granger causality. The estimated results confirmed the import-led growth hypothesis for Nigeria, Guinea, and Liberia, a trade-led growth hypothesis for the Gambia and Sierra Loan and export-led growth was supported for Ghana. For cross country analysis, FMOLS, DOLS and Granger causality tests were used and trade-led growth hypothesis (both export-led and import-led growth) was valid in WAMZ countries but imports were the most significant variable that influences economic growth than exports. The paper recommended that export promotion policy in WAMZ should focus on manufacturing exports and import substitution policy in WAMZ should focus on importing raw-material and technology for more products in order to accelerate economic growth in WAMZ.

House burglary is a prevailing issue in Nigeria owing to the inefficiency of formal security institutions in dealing with incidences of urban household burglary. This study examines households and neighbourhoods’ responses to household burglary in Ibadan, Nigeria. In-depth interviews and household questionnaires were the primary data collection tools. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted while a multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 299 respondents. Analysis of Variance confirmed the research hypothesis which suggested that burglary crimes committed differ significantly among residential neighbourhoods (F=3.012). Burglary occurred mostly in houses that were accessed through footpaths. Furthermore, females reported witnessing burglaries more than males. Neighbourhood responses to burglary include the use of gates, private security outfits and local vigilante groups. Individual households relied on burglary proof windows and door; broken bottles and wire fencing for protection. The intensity of crime in suburban areas impacts residential relocation and property values. Neighbourhood planning and good housing design remain other means through which easy accessibility by burglars can be prevented.

Ten botanicals used in pregnancy and child delivery by traditional maternity experts in Ibadan were analysed for their nutrient and phytochemical constituents to provide scientific insight into their therapeutic uses. The nutrient and phytochemical analyses of powdered plant samples were done using standard methods. The plants contained phosphorus, calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium and zinc in varied quantity. Eleusine indica (165.0mg/100g) was highest in calcium content and Croton zambesicus (40.0mg/100g) had the least. Iron content was 9.7mg/100g in E. indica and Uraria picta had 2.7mg/100g. The protein content of plant samples varied between 13.95% and 18.30%, the highest (18.30%) being in Phyllantus niruri and Clerodendrum volubile (13.95%) the least. The carbohydrate value ranged between 45.75% (U. picta) and 52.60% (C. volubile). Crude fibre was 17.80% in Xylopia aethiopica and C. volubile contained 13.50%. All plants contained alkaloids, cerotenoids, flavonoids, saponins and steroids. The plants have significant nutritional properties in addition to phytochemical constituents. The nutrients could support the increased energy and nutritional requirements in pregnancy, prevent malnutrition and supplement the phytochemicals in therapeutic activities. Toxicological studies of the plants would confirm their safety in administration.

The increase in population growth rate has prompted urgent need to search for plants with antifertility potentials. The present study is concerned with the evaluation of the effect of Cnidoscolous aconitifolius leaf ethanolic extract (LF) on sperm indices and reproductive hormones in male wistar rats.Eighteen male albino rats were divided into three groups (A,B,C) of six animals each. Group A (control) received distilled water while groups B and C received 250 and 500 mgkg-1 leaf extracts respectively on daily basis for fourteen days. Solvent partitioned fractions (n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and aqueous methanol) of the leaf crude ethanol extract were similarly evaluated using another twenty five male rats divided into groups of five. Cotton seed oil (5ml/kg) was used as reference standardResults showed that administration of the extract produced significant decrease (p < 0.05) in sperm count and weight of testis even though there was no significant difference in hormonal level between the treated animals and the control groupThe reduction in sperm count by C. aconitifolius leaf is an indication of adverse effect on spermatogenesis and provides some justification for further exploitation of this plant as potential male contraceptive.

The maintenance of internal and external security of the state is essentially the primary duty of the government. In Nigeria, this has become imperative in the face of the myriad of threats to her national security from within and outside. Nigeria has been bedeviled by the problem of insecurity caused by armed robbery, political violence, ethno-religious conflicts, Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram insurgents and the Niger Delta insurgency. For a country trying to nurture her evolving democracy, security threat in whatever form is antithetic to sustainable democracy. This paper therefore, examines the elements of national security, which include but not limited to military, political, economic, and environmental security. It concludes that the myriad of security threats facing the country requires more than military force to resolve in order to achieve true national security. The paper recommended several measures to be put in place by the government to deemphasize its absolute reliance on the military for national security; ranging from the use of other elements of national power, such as diplomacy, negotiation and law enforcement, social and economic equity to environmental justice., Обеспечение внутренней и внешней безопасности государства является первоочередной обязанностью власти. В Нигерии это стало насущной необходимостью в условиях огромного количества угроз национальной безопасности страны как внутренних, так и внешних. Нигерия страдает от опасностей, вызванных вооруженными грабежами, политическим насилием, этнорелигиозными конфликтами, террористическими атаками племен скотоводов Фулани, мятежами боевиков из террористической организации «Боко Харам». Для страны, которая изо всех сил стремится идти по пути демократического развития, угроза безопасности в любой форме несовместима с понятием устойчивой демократии.Статья посвящена анализу составляющих национальной безопасности, которые включают в себя, но не ограничиваются сферами военной, политической, экономической и экологической безопасности. Выводом исследования является то, что для достижения настоящей национальной безопасности и устранения многочисленных угроз, с которыми сталкивается страна, необходимо применение не только военной силы.Предлагаются меры, которые должно принять правительство страны для преодоления своей полной зависимости от вооруженного разрешения проблем национальной безопасности, прежде всего с помощью таких властных инструментов, как дипломатия, переговоры, правоохранительные действия, обеспечение социального, экономического равенства и экологической справедливости., Забезпечення внутрішньої і зовнішньої безпеки держави є найпершим обов’язком влади. У Нігерії це стало нагальною потребою в умовах величезної кількості загроз національній безпеці країни зсередини та ззовні. Нігерія потерпає від небезпек, спричинених озброєними пограбуваннями, політичним насиллям, етнорелігійними конфліктами, терористичними атаками племен скотарів Фулані, заколотами бойовиків з терористичної організації «Боко Харам». Для країни, яка щосили прагне йти шляхом демократичного розвитку, загроза безпеки у будь-якій формі несумісна з поняттям стійкої демократії.Статтю присвячено аналізу складових національної безпеки, що включають у себе, але не обмежуються сферами воєнної, політичної, економічної та екологічної безпеки. Висновком дослідження є те, що для досягнення реальної національної безпеки та усунення численних загроз, з якими стикається країна, необхідне застосування не лише воєнної сили. Пропонуються заходи, яких має вжити уряд країни для послаблення своєї повної залежності від збройного вирішення проблем національної безпеки, насамперед за допомогою таких владних інструментів, як дипломатія, перемовини, правоохоронні дії, забезпечення соціальної й економічної рівності та екологічної справедливості.

An experiment was conducted for 37 days for the purpose of investigating Rumen Fermentation Characteristics of West African Dwarf Sheep Fed supplementary diets containing Water-Washed Neem (Azadirachtaindica a. Juss0 Fruit and garlic (Alliumsativum). The experimental design used was a completely randomized design and the obtained data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). 12 West African dwarf Sheep were randomly allotted into 4 treatments of 3 replicates per treatment, these treatments were supplements containing 0%, 5%, 10% neem and 1.25% garlic. Panicum maximum was fed as the basal diet. The basal and supplementary diets were fed at ratio 50:50 and at 3% body weight on dry matter bases. At the end of 37 days feeding trial, rumen liquor from the experimental animals were collected for rumen fermentation characteristics and in vitro gas production. The pH of the rumen liquor had values ranging from 6.30 - 7.00 and there was a significant difference between the 4 treatments. Treatment IV had the highest acetic acid and butyric acid production while treatment II had the lowest. However, there was no significant difference amongst the 4 treatments. Propionic acid was highest for treatment I while treatment II had the lowest value. For the propionic acid, the treatment that had no inclusion of neem and garlic (the control treatment) had the highest mean value for the study. The in vitro production obtained for a standard feed sample incubated in the rumen liquor obtained from the 4 treatments were significantly affected by the inclusion of neem and garlic. It is then concluded that the inclusion of neem at 10% and garlic at 1.25% in the supplementary feed of WAD sheep will significantly reduce methane production and support ruminant production.

The study investigated the preparedness of the University of Ibadan to benefit from the adoption and use of ICT in carrying out university functions. Six research questions were evaluated and they centered on eliciting the e-readiness objective of the University as well as assessing five e-readiness indicators namely: infrastructural availability, access to infrastructure, manpower availability, institutional ICT policy and regulatory framework, and ICT deployment in the university activities. An empirical case study research method was adopted. The study population comprised two (2) University of Ibadan ICT project stakeholders, internet infrastructures in thirty departments and two institutes in the university, and six thousand, four hundred and thirty one academic staff and students. Questionnaire and coded sheet were the instruments used for data collection. Findings revealed that the university’s overall e-readiness index was 2.57 while the indicators’ indices were 3.3 for infrastructural availability, 2.2 for access to infrastructure, 1.5 for manpower availability, 2.57 for policy and regulatory framework and 3.3 for ICT deployment in the university’s activities. Based on the findings, some recommendations were made.

Twelve cassava (improved and local) genotypes were grown at two locations in Nigeria (Ibadan and Jos). Leaf area development and dry matter partitioning were studied from 1994 to 1996. Destructive samplings for growth analyses were done at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after planting (MAP). Genotype, environment and genotype x environment effects were significant for leaf area index (LAI), total dry matter and total dry tuberous root weight. At Ibadan, LAI was 3.6 and 2.1 at 6 and 12 MAP, respectively, while at Jos LAI values of 0.5 and 2.0 were recorded at 6 and 12 MAP, respectively, in the 1994/1995 planting season. Dry matter production and total dry tuberous root weight were significantly less at Jos than at Ibadan. This was attributed to the lower temperature regime and reduced solar radiation levels recorded at Jos plateau. Patterns of dry matter partitioning to the leaves, shoots and roots were similar in both locations. Dry matter partitioning to the roots was controlled by plant age and solar radiation while dry matter partitioning to the leaves was a function of plant age and temperature. These results indicate that dry matter partitioning of cassava to the roots and leaves are dependent upon solar radiation and temperature in higher altitudes. The data may be useful for validation of models of cassava growth being designed for higher altitudes. Agro-Science Vol.2(1) 2001: 67-75

An experimental work was done on waters contaminated with arsenic using filtration and phytoremediation methods to determine the most appropriate remediation method. Filtration method; Measurements of arsenic solution (0.00g (de-ionized water), 0.010g, 0.020g, 0.050g, and 0.0100g) was made by a 10litre pipette into an hundred milliliter bottle (100ml) containing warm de-ionized water and each was made to pass through four different geo-materials (marble, activated charcoal, filtration carbon and clay) placed on layers of sand in glass filtration tanks ; while Phytoremediation method was done by cultivation of various ages of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crasspipes Mart. Solms) in arsenic acid solution of equal concentration (100.0 mg/L); an experiment based on duration and maturity which was to ascertain the exact hour, (0hour, 2hours, 12hours, 24hours, 48hours, 120hours) water hyacinth will absorb a metal, and at what matured level (sprouting, flowering, matured) the plant can absorb best. Plants were harvested, dried, pulverized and analysed for metal content using inductively coupled-ion chromatography and filtrates analysed using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Arsenic concentration in filtrates showed no arsenic loss, indicating poor absorption capacity of the geo-materials. Highest arsenic bio-accumulation was found at 100 mg/l in matured water hyacinth. Remediation of arsenic using water hyacinth proved to be a better method for arsenic removal compared to filtration.

After a successful transition to democratic rule in 1999, Nigeria launched a high-profile campaign aimed at securing the repatriation of looted public funds being held in foreign banks. This campaign was championed by President Olusegun Obasanjo, a long-standing critic of corrupt military regimes and co-founder of the global anti-corruption NGO Transparency International, throughout his eight-year tenure. By the time Obasanjo left office in May 2007, he had secured the recovery of approximately 2 billion USD in assets and triggered some vital international initiatives against money laundering. However, his efforts were hampered by a combination of local and external obstacles. Externally, the campaign was marked by the absence of sufficient international political will. While at the domestic level, it was undermined by a lack of transparency, the excessive fixation with the Abacha loot, inadequate legal and accounting skills, the uncooperative attitude of accused persons and limited domestic political will. This paper illustrates how these issues have combined to frustrate moves to recover Nigeria’s stolen billions sitting in the West., Nach dem erfolgreichen Übergang zur Demokratie im Jahr 1999 wurde in Nigeria eine hochkarätige Kampagne zur Repatriierung geraubten und bei ausländischen Banken angelegten öffentlichen Vermögens ins Leben gerufen. Präsident Olusegun Obasanjo selbst – langjähriger Kritiker korrupter Militärregime und Mitgründer von Transparency International – setzte sich während seiner achtjährigen Amtszeit dafür ein. Als Obasanjo im Mai 2007 sein Amt aufgab, war die Rückgabe von Anlagevermögen in Höhe von etwa 2 Milliarden USD gesichert und es waren einige wichtige internationale Initiativen gegen Geldwäsche auf den Weg gebracht worden. Doch der Erfolg seiner Bemühungen war durch ein Zusammenwirken interner und externer Hindernisse erheblich eingeschränkt: Im Ausland erfuhr seine Kampagne keine ausreichende politische Unterstützung. Und innerhalb Nigerias scheiterte sie an mangelnder Transparenz, der Konzentration auf das von Abacha geraubte Vermögen, ungenügenden juristischen und finanztechnischen Kenntnissen, mangelnder Kooperation beschuldigter Personen und unzureichendem politischem Willen. Der Autor dieses Beitrags zeigt auf, wie die Bemühungen um Rückgabe nigerianischen Vermögens in Milliardenhöhe, das bei westlichen Banken angelegt worden war, durch die Kombination all dieser Faktoren ins Leere liefen.

Language is generally regarded as a mechanism for human communication. It is, in this sense, a linguistic system of communication. It can, therefore, be either written or spoken and conveys meanings that are shared within a speech community. The article exposes the relevance of language as engaged in conflict management by the Yoruba. It also examines the connection between language and conflict management, how language as a communicative tool can and has been employed in the management of conflict among the Yoruba, within the wider context of the African experience. Keywords: language, conflict management, discourse. Indilinga Vol. 5 (1) 2006: pp. 62-75