INFLUENCE OF MARCIA’S MORATORIUM AND FORECLOSURE EGO IDENTITY STATUSES ON READING ATTITUDE OF STUDENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN TANGAZA AND NEIGHBOURING AREAS IN SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA

The paper studied how identity statuses of moratorium and foreclosure influenced the reading attitude of adolescent students in secondary schools in Tangaza and neighbouring areas. Correlational descriptive research design was used for the study. Six research questions and two hypotheses were formulated. A total of six sub-hypotheses were tested on Microsoft Excel software and www.statskingdom.com. The eleven senior secondary schools located in Tangaza, Silame, and Binji local governments formed the population of the survey. A three--stage sampling technique was used, consisting of stratified, purposive, and simple random sampling techniques. The sample for the study was 164 generated from three randomly selected schools; Instruments used in the research were the 16-item Ego Identity Scale (Short) (Greg, 2008) and the Reading Attitude Questionnaire adapted by Akhmetovaa, Imambayevab, and Csapo (2022). Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to test the hypotheses. Results showed there was no significant relationship between moratorium and foreclosure ego identity statuses and reading attitude of the samples. The study recommended among others that parents, guardians and teachers should consistently guide and encourage adolescents to explore various options in different aspects of life and be committed to such according to their goals and aspirations as they develop into adults; students however should be encouraged by their teachers and parents to develop positive reading attitude as that is part of what lead to identity achievement

AGREEABLENESS AND CONSCIENTIOUSNESS (BIG FIVE TRAITS) AS CORRELATES OF NEGLECT OF ADOLESCENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN TANGAZA AND NEIGHBOURING AREAS IN SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA

The survey studied agreeableness and conscientiousness coming from the big-five personality theory by Fiske (1949) and McCrae & Costa (1987). The traits of agreeableness and conscientiousness were studied as correlates of neglect among adolescents in schools in Tangaza and neighbouring areas. Descriptive survey of correlational type was employed. Four research questions and two hypotheses were developed; six sub-hypotheses got tested. The eleven schools sited in Tangaza, Silame, and Binji local governments formed the population of the survey. Stratified, purposive, and simple random sampling techniques were used. The sample for the study was 164 generated from three randomly selected schools; two male schools and one female school. The sample was limited to this number due to high time constraint and other factors. Nonetheless, this number was thought to be enough to represent the entire population owing to the homogeneity of the schools, of the students, and of the localities affected. Instruments adopted in the research were the Neglect Assessment Scale (NAS) by Muhammad (2019) and the Big Five Inventory (Short) (BFI- 10) by Rammstedt & John (2007). Pearson r was the statistics used to test the hypotheses. Results showed there was no significant relationship between agreeableness and conscientiousness traits and neglect experience. Although no significant relationship in all the six sub-hypotheses, it was recommended that parents, guardians, and all other stakeholders responsible for child/adolescent care should be responsible so that the young human beings under their care received good care in order to develop positive personality as they transited into adulthood

Factor Analysis of Housing Affordability among Civil Servants in Nigeria

Purpose - Housing affordability is a major challenge especially to low-income groups because of the need for other basic non-housing goods. This study is aimed at examining the determining factors of housing affordability in the households of low-income civil servants in selected parts of Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach - Using multi-stage sampling technique, Lagos, Oyo, and Ekiti States were selected in Southwestern Nigeria. Questionnaire administration was undertaken among low-income civil servants on grade levels 1 to 6 drawn from the offices of government ministries in the three selected states. Data analysis of information derived from retrieved copies of the questionnaire was undertaken using Mean Rating and Exploratory Factor Analysis. Findings - Findings indicate that available income and housing infrastructure; cultural background; and sources of construction materials constitute the key factors to housing affordability among low-income civil servants in Southwestern Nigeria. Research limitations - This study is primarily centered on low-income civil servants in Southwestern Nigeria. Undertaking the study in other geopolitical zones of Nigeria as well as other developing countries would probably yield other areas for further research and policy implications. Theoretical/Social/Practical implications - The study posits that, encouraging the adoption of indigenous building materials; tax reliefs; and increase in minimum wage will likely improve the present state of housing affordability among the studied low- income civil servants. Originality/value - The study tends to be a significant contribution to housing studies among low-income civil servants. The findings of this study may be adapted for policy decision-making in other emergent economies like Nigeria

DOES TRADE LIBERALIZATION AND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT INDUCEENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN SELECTED WEST AFRICAN SUB-REGIONS?

This study examined the ef ect of trade liberalization and foreign direct investment onenvironmental degradation within the selected West African sub-region. The data employedinanalyzing the result covers the period 1996 to 2022. Fully modified ordinary least squares anddynamic ordinary least squares were employed in estimating the models. The study's findingsindicate a negative and insignificant influence of trade liberalization and foreigndirectinvestment on environmental degradation, indicating that trade liberalization and foreigndirectinvestment reduced environmental degradation. Again, the interaction of trade liberalizationandforeign direct investment reduced environmental degradation. Other results confirmed that fossilfuel energy consumption positively enhanced environmental degradation, although renewableenergy consumption significantly reduced pollution. Based on the empirical findings, sincetradeliberalization and foreign direct investment reduce environmental degradation as fossil fuelenergy consumption increase environmental degradation, implies that ECOWAS governmentsinstitute environmental laws following the race to the top theory to discourage fossil fuel energyusage and push for more renewable energy as it reduces incessant pollution within the region

Preliminaries and Contents

Editorial I announce the publication of Lagos Notes and Records, Volume 28, 2022, a special edition devoted to the COVID-19 pandemic experience. Coronavirus took the world by storm at a time when humanity was least prepared for it, and has since redefined every facet of our life and living: work, relaxation, education, health, food security and religiosity. While many suffered huge losses, of lives and incomes, some made fantastic gains and broke new grounds during the pandemic. This volume is a codification of the cerebral responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, containing eight well-researched articles analyzing various humanistic interventions in the COVID-19 phenomenon. I heartily recommend these articles to the academic community with the assurance that they will be worthy additions to humanty's store of knowledge. Lastly, I congratulate the Editorial Team for another job well done. Professor Olufunke Adeboye Editor-in-Chie

Nigeria’s Dividend Policy and Stock Price Volatility

This paper explores the impact of dividend policy on stock price in the Nigerian stock market. Descriptive survey research strategy was utilised for this study and four research questions and four hypotheses generated to guide the investigation. All 199 shares trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange's major exchange at the start of 2010 made up the research's demography which was later limited to include only businesses that had regularly paid dividends for a period of twelve years. 29 enterprises in all qualified for the selection for the period from 2010 to 2021. The study found out that the payout ratio positively affects the stock price, the findings also indicated that earnings per share has a substantial beneficial effect on the stock price and significant link between the size rate of a company and its stock price. It is thus recommended that businesses should maintain a continuous dividend pay-out to raise internal money available to undertake more profitable projects that will aid increased earnings

Effect of Dividend Policy on Share Price Movement of Selected Quoted Companies in Nigeria

Dividend Policy remains a contentious area of corporate finance with a school of thoughtindifferent and another in support. The two contending views under which other hypotheseswere premised are; on the popular dividend relevance and irrelevance theories. Dividendpolicy scholars argued that it expresses information content about future prospects andcashflow of the firm. Irrelevance proponents hinged their argument on the point that all that isnecessary is the investment policies and risk of an enterprise in maximizing shareholderswealth. The latter proponents advanced their theories in favour on capital and future gainsinpreference to immediate payment of cash in form of dividend. This study centered oneffectsof dividend policy on share price of selected quoted companies in Nigeria with dividendper-share, earnings per-share and profitability taken as endogenous variables. Thirteenquotedcompanies on the floor of the Nigeria Exchange (NGX Group) using randomsamplingwereused. Pooled OLS regression with fixed and random effects models were employedforestimation. The fixed effects model was preferred as the efficient estimator for the studyandthe results revealed that dividend per share has inverse and statistically insignificant effectswith share price, likewise; earnings per share. Profitability has positive but insignificanteffect on share price

Working Capital Management and Firm Value: Evidence from Listed Non-Financial Firms in Nigeria

This study examined the effect of working capital management on the firm value of non financial firms in Nigeria using the enterprise value multiple which was measured as enterprise value scaled by EBITDA as the indicator of firm value and extracted panel data from audited financial statements of sampled thirty-three non-financial firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) Plc from 2012 to 2021. The results of the static panel least square and the panel fixed effect model estimation techniques revealed that all the WCM components have a significant effect on the firm value of non-financial firms in Nigeria which implies that WCM is highly essential for improved firm value. We, therefore, recommend that non-financial firms in Nigeria should adopt conservative account payable management strategies that will enable quick settlement of short-term obligations when they fall due. They should also adopt liberal account receivable management strategies that will not endanger their liquidity and cash flow

WILL INDIGENOUS SCIENCE-BASED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES IMPROVE BIOLOGY STUDENTS’ INTEREST AND ACHIEVEMENT

The study investigated the efficacy of indigenous science –based instructional strategy on Biology students’ interest and achievement. The purpose was to find a solution to poor achievement of students in the subject in external examinations which has been linked to poor instructional methods used by teachers. Two coeducational schools were selected by Multistage sampling technique from Isoko South local government area of Delta state and randomly assigned to treatment groups. The experimental group was taught ecological concepts using the indigenous science –based strategy while the control group was taught using lecture approach. A 50-item Biology Achievement Test with reliability coefficient of .72 and 15-item Biology Interest Scale (.82) were used to collect data after 15 periods of 45minutes teaching in each class. The Mann Whitney U test (U = 898.00; P = 0.007) showed a significant difference in the interest in biology of both groups while the t-test revealed a significant difference in the achievement of students at the 0.05 alpha level. The study concluded that indigenous science –based strategy improves students’ interest and achievement in ecology concepts and recommended the introduction of culturally relevant pedagogy to draw cultural relevance for indigenous people studying sciences in non-western cultural settings

GRADUAL DECAY OF OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND BOARDINGHOUSE IN NIGERIA: LIABILITY TO THE ALUMNI AND THE ENTIRE NATION, CAUSES, EFFECTS, AND REMEDIES

The gradual decay of old grammar school and boardinghouse in our educational system in Nigeria is a great liability to the entire alumni and the whole nation. The characteristic conceptualization and institutionalization of "secondary education" in Nigeria and attempt made in this paper is to bring into focus those causes, effects and remedies to the problems, through a systematic plan of procedure. The paper discusses the epoch and historical trajectory of secondary education in Nigeria; issues and challenges faced by the school administrators in carrying out their duties in the face of harsh and unfavorable management situations of the daily growing population of students and need to cater for wastage in education. The paper then concludes by emphasising the need for federal government, state and local governments, stakeholders, philanthropists and volunteers, individuals and interested persons to rise to the aid of the once successful pyramid of grammar school/boardinghouse in Nigeria