Aggregate Demand for Micro-insurance among Rural Household Non-farm Enterprises in Nigeria

Although, rural based enterprises are subject to a myriad of risks and economic shocks, insurance uptake has been found to be abysmally low. The aim of this study was to examine the determinants of demand for insurance from the standpoint of the rural based household non-farm enterprises (RHNFE). This study made use of the household non-farm enterprise data from the LSMS- General Household Survey of 2010/2011. Demand for insurance was measured as the monthly expenditure on insurance by the RHNFE. The empirical findings indicate that RHNFE were mainly informal in nature with low level investment, and low labour requirement. Consequently, there is relatively high production/transactions costs relative to revenue. Premium paid for insurance was found to be very low and determined by the value placed on the system, access to market for operation as well as the scope of operation of the businesses. Access to market infrastructure and opportunities for standardizing products area recommended in order for the RNFE to take advantage of insurance targeted towards them. Keywords: Microinsurance, Demand, Rural, Non-farm enterprises, Nigeri

Factors Influencing Meat Consumption in Ijebu-North Local Government Area of Ogun States, Nigeria

This study examines the factors influencing meat consumption in Ijebu North local government area of Ogun state. This area was chosen because it has the best ultra modern abattoirs in Ogun state. Simple random sampling was used to gather data from one hundred (100) respondents with the aid of structured questionnaire. Demographic characteristics of the respondents showed that those whose age ranges between 30-40years consume more meat than the rest age groups; majority of the respondents (52%) has secondary education. The average monthly household income of the respondents is N65,979.80, majority of them (54%) preferred beef to other type of available sources of meat in the study area.  Multiple regression result revealed that the age and income of the consumers were significant at 1% while household size and educational level of the consumers were significant at 5%. Gender and marital status have positive relationship to meat consumption. It was recommended that government should make sure that there is constant electricity for adequate storage which will make meat available at all times, also there is need for promotion of means of employment generation to the youths for income generation that will enable them to purchase enough meat to supply adequate protein. Also, consumer should form cooperative society so that they can purchase cattle and sell at cheaper price for members. Keywords: Household, Consumption, Meat, Preference, Ogun state                                DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/52-0

Changes in levels of serum beta-carotene, vitamin A and cholesterol in breast cancer of pre and post menopausal Nigerian women

Twenty newly diagnosed breast cancer patients were assessed for serum vitamin A, β - carotene and total cholesterol levels with their matched control (n = 20). The mean age and standard deviation of pre-menopausal breast cancer patients was 34.75± 6.57 while the mean age and standard deviation for controls was 32.00 ±8.79 years. There was no statistical difference in age between the two groups (P< 0.05). There was evidence of decrease in the mean serum vitamin A with increasing stage of advanced breast cancer. However, the mean serum b-carotene level showed significant decrease in trend with increasing stage of advanced breast cancer (P< 0.05). Serum total cholesterol was negatively correlated with serum vitamin A but was found to be positively correlated though non-significantly with serum b-carotene in breast cancer patients and control (r = 0.10, p> 0.95 for cases; r = 0.05, p> 0.05 for control).Keywords: β-carotene, vitamin A, breast cancer, menopaus

Screening for the Hypoglycaemic Potentials of the Extract of Vernonia amyggalina

This work evaluates the hypoglycemic effect of Vernonia amygdalina on alloxan induced diabetic rats. Different doses of the aqueous leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina (50mg/kg, 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg) were administered to alloxan induced diabetic rats under experimental conditions. The mean fasting blood sugar levels of the groups of diabetic rats increased significantly as it rose from basal blood sugar levels (mg/dl) of 38.0, 39.2, 35.2 and 35.8 to fasting blood sugar levels (mg/dl) of 277.6, 284.8, 256.4 and 265.6. The findings showed that there is a dose dependent reduction in fasting blood sugar in alloxan induced diabetic rats after treatment to 167.5mg/dl, 140.8mg/dl, 104.2mg/dl and 80.4mg/ dl respectively

Foliar Epidermal Morphology and Anti-diabetic Property of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall ex. Nees

The leaf epidermal features and anti diabetic property of Androgragphis paniculata were investigated. The epidermal cells are polygonal to irregular with curved to undulate anticlinal walls on both surfaces of the leaf. The leaf is hypostomatic with stomata restricted to the abaxial surface. Stomata type is axillocytic. The epidermal cells contain deposits of crystal oxalates while cystoliths are found in a few cells. The leaf extract was evaluated for hypoglycemic effects. There was significant hypoglycemic effect in alloxan induced diabetic rats following administration of the leaf aqueous extract. The result shows that the level of fasting blood sugar was dependent on the previous level of basal blood sugar in the four groups of rats used for this study. Treatment of the rats with A. paniculata showed a dose dependent relationship with the time it took for the blood of the rats to return to the basal blood sugar levels. The study supports the use of the plant in the management and treatment of diabetes

Teacher Quality Factors as Determinant of Students’ Achievement in Mathematics

This paper tries to find out the effect of teacher quality factors on students achievement in Mathematics. The teacher qualities that were considered in the study include teachers’ experience, qualification motivation interest satisfaction and teaching techniques. The data for the study were collected through the questionnaires designed for the teachers and students result collected. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. It was found out that all the teacher qualities considered in the study determine the achievement of student in Mathematics to a large extent. Keywords: Teacher Quality, Achievement, Motivation, Teachers’ Qualification, Experienc

Impact of Agricultural Value Added on Current Account Balances in Nigeria

The aim of this research paper is to explore the relationship between agriculture value added and current account balances in Nigeria. The study therefore examines the agricultural value added on current account balances over 33 years in Nigeria using data from different sources, from 1980 to 2013. The study found that the variables of interest were stationary at first difference. The Engel Granger two step test of co - integration found that the variables have a long run relationship, while the Johansen test found at least one co-integration relationship among the variables. Agriculture value added has a negative relationship with current account balances in the country in both the long run and the short run. Terms of trade and per capita gross domestic product also have negative with the current account position, while net foreign asset, real effective exchange rate and the gross domestic output have positive effects on the current account position. The short run adjustment parameters however showed that agricultural value added as a percentage of the GDP as well as the net foreign assets are the only variables capable of adjusting to their long run equilibrium within the economy. Keywords: Current account, Agriculture, Value added, Time series, Nigeri