The Influence of Personality Characteristics on Teachers and Students in Architectural Design Studio Projects in Some Selected Nigerian Universities

This study reviewed and analyzed the extroversion-introversion characteristics of teachers and students as well as the implications of interface issues on architectural design studio outcomes. The study engaged a structured questionnaire to collect information from a sample of 546 respondents (both students and staff-teachers/mentors). The study found a difference in design approach of students who preferred acting first before thinking and reflection across selected schools of architecture. It also found a difference in the design outcomes of students who are usually open and motivated by outside world in the selected schools. Moreover, the study discovered a difference in design approach of students who enjoy wide variety and changing relationship in the selected schools. It recommended that the synergy of polar characteristic differences of the students be better engaged by the design 32 studio teachers during training in school to prepare for professional competency in practice. Keywords: Architecture, characteristics, extraversion-introversion, influence, teachers, student

Exploring entrepreneurial theories in the study of Igbo business mentoring (NWA Boy), south-east Nigeria

Over the years, studies have explored the expediency of entrepreneurship in addressing social problems relating to unemployment, poverty, economic stagnation and societal inability to attain national development in developing societies. To this end, government of these nations seek to promote entrepreneurship as a means of economic revitalization and sustainability mostly in rural areas. However, the success of entrepreneurship in any country may depend on several factors that could be explained theoretically. In social and behvioural sciences, theories have been constantly employed to provide explanations to social life issues bothering mankind. This article employed such theories to explain Igbo business mentoring (nwa boy) which most entrepreneurs in South-East GeoPolitical Zone of Nigeria seem to have engaged in establishing their businesses. These include: (i) Sociological Theory of Entrepreneurship; (ii) Anthropological Entrepreneurship Theory; (iii) Opportunity-Based Entrepreneurship Theory (iii) Resource-Based Entrepreneurship Theories; and (iv)The Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition, among others. Historical data was used to examine these theories in connection with the Igbo business mentoring (nwa boy) in order to enrich the body of knowledge on the social life reality of its contributions to entrepreneurial development in Nigeria. The importance of this effort is hinged on the fact that none of these theories has hitherto been applied to the Igbo business mentoring (nwa boy) in business and academic literature. The study concludes that the understanding the 'nwa boy' mentoring concept in the light of these theories could provide leverage for a successful entrepreneurial activities, mostly among youth. © 2019 International Business Information Management Association (IBIMA)

Characterizing Nigeria’s cassava seed system and the use of planting material in three farming communities

To archive a larger impact of seed interventions, we need to understand root, tuber and banana seed systems better. In the context of the intervention “Building an Economically Sustainable, Integrated Seed System for Cassava in Nigeria” (BASICS), there was a need to better understand the seed-sourcing behavior of cassava farmers and identify entry points for decentralized stem multipliers (DSMs). To this end a multi-stakeholder workshop provided insights into the wider landscape of Nigeria’s cassava seed system. In an explorative study we collected qualitative data via focus group discussions and complemented them with quantitative data from a survey of 90 cassava farmers in three study sites with different agro-ecological conditions. Our findings show that the cassava seed system is largely informal with vibrant stem trade within and between communities. Farmers in all study sites maintain a mix of varieties with multiple traits that is adapted to agro-ecological conditions and farmers’ preferences for use of roots. They value short maturity for early harvest, long storage of roots in the soil, bitterness as a protection against rodents, and high starch content for preparation of fufu. Although farmers in Nigeria’s South South region used only local landraces, farmers in other study sites dynamically combine those with new germplasm from the formal system. Because of a longer dry season, not all farmers are able to cover their need of planting material from their own fields alone. Despite using technologies for storage of cassava stems, there is still a demand for stems from relatives, friends, and neighbors; local traders and seed markets; and agricultural development programs. Differentiation of farmer categories by the size of their cassava fields showed no explainable pattern of different seed-sourcing behavior. Across the study population, the shortage of planting material and farmers’ interest in trying out new varieties were identified as entry points for the DSMs of the BASICS project. Further research on seed-sourcing dynamics, however, is needed to create a clear profile of stem buyers. We emphasize the importance of understanding the dynamics and the involvement of various actors in informal seed exchange to harmonize the work of DSMs in a seed system

Examining the Social Problem of Kidnapping as a Reaction Against Injustice in Nigeria

Although, studies have shown several cases of kidnapping in both developed and developing countries but the case of a developing country like Nigeria is seems to be pathetic and worrisome, largely because of its contributions to the ancient slave trade that greatly affected several Nigerians for many centuries in the past. With such awful experiences in the past and its contribution to backwardness of the human race, one would have thought that cases of kidnapping would never occur in Nigeria, but the reverse has been the case in the contemporary. Hence, several studies have emerged on the subject of kidnapping in recent times. However, it could be observed that these studies are strongly connected with rituals power, wealth and traditional purposes. While the nature of the Nigerian society which is characterised by injustice and its contributions to the menace of kidnapping has been hitherto neglected in academic literature. The present study intends to address this flaw in knowledge by addressing the three research questions raised. Being a review paper, the study engaged secondary data in collecting relevant information to analyse and illustrate questions raised. The study argues that if the current high level of injustice in Nigeria could be reduced, there may be a corresponding reduction in the cases of kidnapping

The Impact of Intermittent Umbilical Cord Occlusions on the Inflammatory Response in Pre-Term Fetal Sheep

Fetal hypoxic episodes may occur antepartum with the potential to induce systemic and cerebral inflammatory responses thereby contributing to brain injury. We hypothesized that intermittent umbilical cord occlusions (UCOs) of sufficient severity but without cumulative acidosis will lead to a fetal inflammatory response. Thirty-one chronically instrumented fetal sheep at ∼0.85 of gestation underwent four consecutive days of hourly UCOs from one to three minutes duration for six hours each day. Maternal and fetal blood samples were taken for blood gases/pH and plasma interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 levels. Animals were euthanized at the end of experimental study with brain tissue processed for subsequent counting of microglia and mast cells. Intermittent UCOs resulted in transitory fetal hypoxemia with associated acidemia which progressively worsened the longer umbilical blood flow was occluded, but with no cumulative blood gas or pH changes over the four days of study. Fetal arterial IL-1β and IL-6 values showed no significant change regardless of the severity of the UCOs, nor was there any evident impact on the microglia and mast cell counts for any of the brain regions studied. Accordingly, intermittent UCOs of up to three minutes duration with severe, but limited fetal hypoxemia and no cumulative acidemia, do not result in either a systemic or brain inflammatory response in the pre-term ovine fetus. However, fetal IL-1B and IL-6 values were found to be well correlated with corresponding maternal values supporting the placenta as a primary source for these cytokines with related secretion into both circulations. Female fetuses were also found to have higher IL-1β levels than males, indicating that gender may impact on the fetal inflammatory response to various stimuli