WOMEN AND TRADE IN THE NIGERIA-BIAFRA WAR: FOCUS ON UMU-OWELLE CLAN, 1967-1970

The Nigeria-Biafra war, which commenced on July 6, 1967 and terminated on January 15, 1970 presented tremendous challenge to Umu-owelle women. The challenges ranged from targeted attacks, displacements, rape, starvation to abduction. The women were therefore faced with the challenges of reviving the economy so as to generate more resources to cushion the effects of the war. In response to these challenges, they took to the bush transacting trade under mahogany and Iroko tree to avoid aerial detection by the Nigeria aircraft and also in frontline trade popularly called Ahia Attack. Through their efforts, the economy was revived to ensure food security not only to their immediate family but to the Umu-owelle society at large. However, how the war affected Umu-owelle women and trade transaction during the war, and how they tried to solve and survive the challenging situation has not been documented. The study therefore sought to unravel the activities of Umu-owelle women as it pertains to wars and economic insolvency. To this end, the Marxist feminist theory and the Socialist Feminist theory were employed. The paper relies mainly on primary sources and also secondary sources of data. Available data will be analyzed using qualitative research methodology. The work covers the four communities which make up Umuowelle clan namely, Nimo, Abagana, Abba and Eziowelle and the study starts from 1967 and terminates in 1970. The paper suggests for lessons to be drawn from Umuowelle women`s efforts in reviving the war-time economy, especially for the sake of good gender relations and, ultimately, gender equality

TABLE OF SPECIFICATIONS: AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES’ TEST (CRST)

The present study demonstrates how table of specifications (TOS) serve as a tool for designing effective Christian Religious Studies (CRS) test by the teacher for assessment. It is presented as a foundational tool used by the teacher for educational assessment. This entails an alignment between assessment content and intended learning outcomes. TOS facilitates the creation of teacher-made test that accurately measure student understanding. By delineating the distribution of topics, cognitive levels, and weightage of each of item, TOS enhances assessment quality and fairness. Teachers can use this framework to construct CRS tests that reflect both content mastery and critical thinking skills. In general, teachers hardly make use of table of specification in constructing test items used to assess their students’ knowledge. As a result, they have no idea about the weighting and quality of the test administered to students. Table of specification should help the teacher to plan instruction and construct items before achievement test is taken. This paper, therefore, looks at how to close the gaps between the table of specifications and the construction of CRS test. It is recommended among others that TOS should be adopted by the teacher for classroom test because it gives direction to the teacher about the number of items to be included in the test. It guides the teacher in the development and evaluation of classroom test

EFFECT OF SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE ON PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN MANUFACTURING FIRM IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA

The study examined the effect of Sustainable Architecture on Project Management in a Manufacturing Firm in South East Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; examine the effect of Resource Efficiency on Project Management in a Manufacturing Firm, evaluate the effect of Waste Reduction on Project Management in a Manufacturing Firm South East Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A structure questionnaire design with a five-point Likert scale was using to collect data for the study. The collected data were then coded and imported into SPSS 28.0; the hypothesis results were evaluated through Multiple Regression analysis. The result revealed that Resource Efficiency has a significant positive effect on Project Management in Manufacturing Firm with a P-Value of (0.003<0.05). Waste Reduction has a significant positive effect on Project Management in Manufacturing Firm with a P-Value of (0.003<0.05), South East Nigeria. The study concluded that Sustainable Architecture has significant positive effect on Project Management in a Manufacturing Firm in South East Nigeria. The study recommended among others that Manufacturing firms should prioritize the implementation of resource-efficient practices. This can include investing in advanced technologies and processes that optimize the use of materials and energy. Regular training for employees on resource management can further enhance efficiency

THE EXTENT OF UTILIZATION OF INNOVATIVE TEACHING STRATEGIES IN TEACHING 21ST-CENTURY SKILLS BY BUSINESS EDUCATION LECTURERS IN ENUGU STATE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

This study focused on the extent of utilization of innovative teaching strategies in teaching 21stcentury skills by Business education lecturers in Enugu State tertiary institutions. The primary goal of this study was to determine the extent to which innovative teaching strategies are being utilized by Business education lecturers in teaching 21st-century skills to Business education students in Enugu State. This study employed a descriptive survey research design. All 69 business educators in Enugu State's tertiary schools who are members of the Association of Business Educators (ABEN) Enugu State Chapter made up the study's population. The entire population was the subject of the investigation. One hypothesis and one research question served as the study's compass. The researchers' tool for gathering data for the study was a structured questionnaire titled “Innovative Teaching Strategies Utilized by Business Education Lecturers (ITSUBELQ)”. A dependability index of 0.75 from Cronbach Alpha analysis was attained. The mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research question. The t-test statistic was used to test the one null hypothesis. The study's findings showed that Business education lecturers utilized innovative teaching strategies in teaching their students to a high extent. Such innovative learning includes digital learning techniques, problem-based learning and collaborative learning, project-based learning (PBL), inquiry-based learning, flipped classroom and field trips, It was suggested that these innovative teaching methods should be employed by all Business education lecturers to a very high extent in teaching their students to enable them to properly develop the needed 21st-century skills

REBELLION AND RECLAMATION: A RADICAL FEMINIST COMPARISON OF SYLVIA PLATH’S DADDY AND ASHLEY SINCLAIR’S ODE TO THE PATRIARCHY

This paper presents a radical feminist comparison of Sylvia Plath’s Daddy and Ashley Sinclair’s Ode to the Patriarchy, focusing on how both poets dismantle patriarchal authority through violent imagery and unapologetic female voice. Drawing on radical feminist theory as developed by Kate Millett, Catharine MacKinnon, and Shulamith Firestone, the study explores how each poem transforms personal trauma into collective rebellion, exposing the mechanisms through which patriarchy silences, disciplines, and controls women. Through a close textual analysis, the research identifies patterns of symbolic patricide, linguistic violence, and the rejection of apology and silence as strategies of resistance. Empirical reviews of feminist criticism and contemporary poetic expressions provide further insight into how both works reflect and contribute to feminist literary insurgency. The findings reveal that both Plath and Sinclair reject conciliatory aesthetics in favor of poetic aggression, reframing poetry as an act of political warfare and self-liberation. Ultimately, the paper argues that their poems are not merely artistic expressions but radical declarations that challenge the linguistic, emotional, and structural foundations of patriarchal culture

INTERNAL CONTROL AND BANK PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM SELECTED COMMERCIAL BANKS IN NIGERIA

Despite the crucial role played by the banking sector in regulating the economy worldwide and the significant failures and crises it has experienced in the past for which t weakness in internal control was responsible, a majority of the studies concerning the connection between internal control and firm performance were carried out employing members from numerous sectors other than the sector. This research examines the effect of the compliance with internal control system on the performance of banks in Nigeria Using the survey research approach, the extent the compliance with internal control system has affected the indicators of performance in banks was examined, Frequency tables and percentages were employed to collate and arrange the views those that responded to the questionnaires distributed. The hypotheses of the study were tested using one sample test technique. The research had a population of 84, while the size of the sample was 69. The results indicate that internal control system has a strong and positive impact on the performance of deposit-money banks in Nigeria. This suggests that bank management should entrench significant internal control components in their banks to achieve optimal performance

Comparative Assessment of Neutrophil Counts and use of Neutropenia to predict Low CD4 Count in Anti-Retroviral Therapy (Art)-Naive HIV positive Children in Enugu, Nigeria

Neutropenia has been noted to be associated with HIV disease progression and reduced survival in children. Neutropenia has been postulated to be associated with low CD4 count in HIV-positive children by some researchers. Hence, this study sought to assess the prevalence of neutropenia in ART-naïve HIV-positive patients and compare them to HIV-negative subjects and also to investigate if reduced absolute neutrophil counts can be used to predict low CD4 count in the HIV-positive patients. This study was a prospective observational study carried out at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, involving a total of 200 children (100 test subjects and 100 test controls). Biodata was collected with a proforma and blood samples were subsequently collected and analysed for neutrophil count and CD4 count. Data generated were analysed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. The result showed that neutropenia with a prevalence of 18% is not significantly associated with HIV infections. It was also shown that there is no significant association between the age of the children and neutropenia. Likewise, CD4 count was not significantly associated with neutropenia. The study showed that neutropenia in the subjects is comparable with that of the controls and cannot be used as a substitute for CD4 count or as one of the criteria for commencement of antiretroviral medications in ART-naive HIV-positive children

Sustainability and Scalability of Igbo Apprenticeship System in South East Nigeria: Prospects and Problems

Igbo Apprenticeship System (IAS) is a traditional institution in Southeastern Nigeria for developing human capital, entrepreneurship, skills transmission, and the creation of employment. Its feasibility and potential for scaling up are controversial. Mixed-method design was used in this research, which incorporated surveys (n = 360) of Abia, Anambra, and Enugu States with observation, focus groups, and interviews. Human Capital Theory was applied as our Theoretical framework. Findings showed that IAS had substantial effects on business ownership (68%, p< .01), survival of businesses (76%, p< .01), self-reliance (80%, p<.01), and unemployment reduction (75%, p< .01) from the formulated hypotheses empirical evidence further verifies that IAS has unmatched scalability potential and can be scaled out everywhere in Nigeria if implemented in national entrepreneurship, vocational training, education, and human capital policy. The research contributes to cultural economics and human capital literature since it proposes IAS as a scalable, indigenously driven system that has the capability to generate a sustainable development agenda, institutionally and economically

Influence of ginger addition on the microbiological shelf life and sensory attributes of soy–cow milk yoghurt blends

This study evaluated the effect of ginger addition on the sensory microbial shelf-life and attributes of soy–cow milk yoghurt during storage. Yoghurt samples were prepared using three milk formulations (100:0, 75:25 and 50:50 of cow milk to soymilk ratio, respectively), fermented with Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus then, varying concentrations of ginger extract (0%, 5%, and 10%) added to each blend and stored at 25°C for 96 h. Microbiological analyses, including total bacterial count, lactic acid bacteria enumeration, and fungal count, were conducted using standard plate count techniques during a 96 h storage period. Sensory evaluation by semi-trained panelists was conducted using a 9-point hedonic scale. Then statistically analyzed using ANOVA. Results showed that bacterial populations in all samples ranged from 1.9 × 108 to 7.9 × 108 CFU/mL initially and increased during storage, indicating continued metabolic activity of lactic acid bacteria. Fungal counts remained within acceptable limits throughout the storage period. The increase in LAB counts suggests ongoing probiotic activity, although the stability of fungal counts indicates no spoilage. Sensory evaluation revealed that sample AQ (100% cow milk with 5% ginger) received the highest overall acceptability score (8.74 ± 0.012), with the highest ratings for sweetness, flavor and thickness. Samples with higher proportions of soy milk received significantly lower overall acceptability scores, with CH (50:50% cow milk with 10% ginger) scoring lowest (1.50 ± 0.002). These findings suggest that moderate ginger addition enhances sensory appeal in dairy dominant yoghurts, but formulation adjustments may be needed to improve the acceptability of soy-rich variants