Using ICT as a Platform for Effective Information Services Delivery in Information Age: Kenneth Dike Library, University Of Ibadan Experience

Teaching, Learning and Research (TLR) initiatives in the institutions of higher learning, particularly in the University systems in the Information Age, are driven by digital data. Academic Libraries worldwide   are emerging as critical partners in the creation, access, use, and preservation of (TLR) data. Digital stewardship, infrastructural development, economic models, and policies required to administer and protect TLR data, present both new opportunities and challenges for 21st century libraries. Addressed in this write-up are documentations of some of the things that Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria has achieved, using Information and Communications Technology(ICT) as a platform  to enhance an efficient and a robust information services delivery in pursuant of TLR initiative of the University of Ibadan. Keywords: Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Information Services Delivery (ISD), Academic Libraries (ALs), Digital Ag

A Survey of the Use of Electronic Resources in Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

The paper discussed the impact of electronic information resources as an enabler of research activities in Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to survey the opinions of the researchers who are the regular users of the library under study. The study showed various electronic information resources available and the degree of its utilization by the researchers and postgraduate students. There is a significant influence of level of availability of electronic information resources on utilization [F(3,79) = 10,337, P\u3c0.05]. The study also revealed that only 6.0% of respondents use e-resources frequently thus, the usage of e-resources is still very low in the university community. Consequently, it was recommended that the library should organize teaching of information literacy skills through user education programmes

ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF DELAYS ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF CONCRETE PLACEMENT BY CRANES IN NIGERIA

Infrastructural construction investment in Nigeria is currently estimated at US$5bn annually and of the key trades in the industry, concreting makes up about 15% of the total frequency of operations. One of the most dominant concrete-placement methods in Nigeria is by crane and skip and it has been established that fractional delay (delay time expressed as a fraction of pour duration) is the most significant factor affecting its productivity. This study therefore focused on evaluating the extent of delays on craned concrete placement in Nigeria and determining their effects on concreting productivity. The study involved a close observation of 35 daily concrete pours placed by crane and skip on 25 project sites selected through stratified random sampling procedure in Lagos. Productivity data obtained were analysed by multiple regression to obtain a model relating productivity to fractional delay. The results showed an average delay of above 23% of the pour time while the productivity is reduced by more than 2.5 m3/h for every 10% increase in delay. The latter is over 5 times the productivity reduction obtained in Hong Kong study for the same percentage increase in delay and confirms that delay has a far greater impact on the productivity of concrete placement by cranes in Nigeria than in other countries. It was recommended that serious, and concerted, managerial actions be directed at proper planning and scheduling of material deliveries as well as labour and equipment inputs by adopting the developed model to monitor and eliminate most delays and sustain productivity

Agricultural experiences as correlates of secondary school students’ achievement and career decisions in agricultural science

This study examined agricultural experiences as correlates of secondary school students’ achievement and career decisions in agricultural science. The study adopted a survey research design. Simple random sampling technique was employed in selecting six hundred (600) senior secondary schools (SS II) Agricultural Science Students. Instruments used were Career Decision Questionnaire, Agricultural Experience Questionnaire and Students Achievement Test in Agriculture. Four research questions were raised to guide the study. Data was analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple regression. The results revealed that poultry, fishery and cashew farming had significant correlation with students’ achievement (r=-0.093, -0.127 and -0.127) and career decision (r=-0.155, -0.136 and -.132) in Agricultural Science respectively. The findings showed that there were significant joint contributions of agricultural experiences to students’ achievement (F(3,600) = 3.992; P < 0.05) and career decision (F(3,600)= 22.807; P < 0.05) in Agricultural Science. The findings further revealed that fishery (β= -0.79) was the greatest predictor of students’ achievement in agriculture while poultry (β = -0.333) mostly predicted students career decision in Agricultural Science. It was recommended that curriculum planners should systematically introduce agricultural science experiences (poultry, fishery and cashew farming) into the curriculum content of all the Secondary School Students and it should not be streamlined to only science students alone because of its educational value and it relevance to the needs of the learner and society as a whole.Keywords: Agricultural experiences, achievement, career decision in Agricultural Scienc

Comparative study on the effect of Thaumatococcus daniellii (Benn) Benth sweetener on the Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Sorghum based Kunun-zaki Drink

Effect of a natural sweetener (Thaumatococcus danielli) on the physicochemical properties and sensory evaluation of kunun-zaki was determined. Proximate and mineral compositions of the natural sweetener, physicochemical properties and sensory evaluation of kunun-zaki using Thaumatococcus danielli and sucrose were determined. Proximate composition of the aril showed that protein had (33.03%), crude fibre (5.20%), ash content (4.79%), moisture content (12.20%), fat content (0.16%), and carbohydrate (44.17%). The result of mineral obtained for the aril showed the following values potassium (190.00ppm), sodium (167.66ppm), calcium (132.96 ppm), iron (21.59 ppm) and magnesium (14.40 ppm). Physicochemical composition of kunun-zaki varied with concentrations of Thaumatococcus danielli aril and sucrose pH ranged between (3.90-4.90), total solid (4.95-13.49 %) and titatable acidity (0.78-0.39 %) for Thaumatococcus danielli while kunun-zaki sweetened with sucrose had pH (3.51-4.90), total Solids (4.95-7.43%) and titratable acidity (0.74-0.85) respectively. The sensory evaluation showed that the samples sweetened with Thaumatococcus daniel aril compared favorably with sucrose in terms of colour, taste, aroma and overall acceptability. Keywords: Kunun-zaki, Proximate, Mineral, Sensory properties, Thaumatococcus danielli

Corporate Image: A Strategy for Enhancing Customer Loyalty and Profitability

Organizations are nowadays concerned with managing their corporate image. There is a strong positive correlation between people’s perceptions of a company and pro-corporate supportive behaviour. In this study, past researchers on corporate image were incorporated to create a platform for framework which identifies the variables of relationship between corporate image and customer loyalty cum profitability. The study utilized descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation and linear regression to investigate the impact of corporate image on customer loyalty and profitability within the Nigerian service industry (banking). The study adopted the research instrument of self-structured questionnaire which was in line with the reviewed literature and focused on the main variables in the study. It was found in the model parameters that physical environment, service offering and customer loyalty have significant impact on the level of profitability. Thus, we can rightly conclude that the level of satisfaction among customers tends to affect the service offerings and customer loyalty which has a direct link with corporate profitability

Assessing Impacts of the School Clinic on Academic Performance in Selected Secondary Schools in Oyo State

Background%253A School Clinic is a health care facility within school intended to provide basic health care for students and refer them to the specialist or primary health center, these appreciate efforts and consideration to protect the health of children and other children with whom they may come in contact. This study was to assessing the impacts of the school clinic on academic performance on selected secondary schools in Oyo state. Methods%253A The target populations of the study comprised only Senior Secondary School one to three (SSS 1-3) students within Ibadan metropolis, Oyo State. The study adopted non-experimental survey using quantitative approach. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the sample. Assessing the Impacts of the School Clinic on Academic Performance on Selected Secondary Schools Questionnaire (AISCAPQ) was used to collect data for the study. Frequency and percentage scores of descriptive statistics were used to analyse research questions. Results%253A The findings showed that school clinic is very supportive to teaching and learning outcome of the students through ability to have access to a good source for health information (59%25), able to identify their health needs (57%25), stayed in good physical health (59%25) and mental health environments (41%25). More also, the students have access to obtain test (23%25), good medical treatment (28%25) and also have access to specialist (23%25). The study further showed that the impact of school clinic practices manifested in student academic performances through quick accessibility to drugs for immediate treatment which keeps them healthy for learning (71%25) and provisions of treated bed nets in the school hostel that prevented malaria parasites and also protected the students learning activities (64%25). The result further showed that there was a great relationship between the use of school clinic and student academic performance in the selected secondary schools which have manifested in reduction of students absenteeism (30%25), drop-outs (31%25) and also improved school performance (38%25). Conclusion%253A The study concluded that school clinic was very supportive to teaching and learning, has good impact and also contributed to the students academic performance. The study recommended that each school should have school clinic and psychological care should part of services deliver by health care personnel in the clinic. Government should ensure establishment of school clinic in all government school both in rural and urban area and government should ensure regulation standard of school clinic

Corporate Image: A Strategy for Enhancing Customer Loyalty and Profitability

Organizations are nowadays concerned with managing their corporate image. There is a strong positive correlation between people’s perceptions of a company and pro-corporate supportive behaviour. In this study, past researchers on corporate image were incorporated to create a platform for framework which identifies the variables of relationship between corporate image and customer loyalty cum profitability. The study utilized descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation and linear regression to investigate the impact of corporate image on customer loyalty and profitability within the Nigerian service industry (banking). The study adopted the research instrument of self-structured questionnaire which was in line with the reviewed literature and focused on the main variables in the study. It was found in the model parameters that physical environment, service offering and customer loyalty have significant impact on the level of profitability. Thus, we can rightly conclude that the level of satisfaction among customers tends to affect the service offerings and customer loyalty which has a direct link with corporate profitabilit

The Role of Information and Communiication Technology Combating Crime in Nigeria in The Post Covid 19 Era: A Study of the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command

The study seeks to examine the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on combating crime by the security forces in the wake of corona virus pandemic with special reference to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Within the framework of cybernetic theory, this study adopts the descriptive survey method to examine the relationship between the two variables under investigation. Multi stage sampling technique was used to draw a sample size of three hundred (300) participants for the study. Data were collected from the sampled population, and formulated hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) statistical tool. The finding of the study reveals that there is a significant relationship between the use of ICT and the effort by the police force to effectively combat crime in Nigeria. The study also discovers that the use of ICT in the fight against crime by the NPF is faced with some challenges, which includes among others; lack of infrastructure, lack of adequate training, uncooperative attitude of ICT service providers and lack of inter-agency cooperation. The paper in conclusion, recommends that the NPF should improve on the usage of ICT especially during this post COVID-19 era by providing a robust training program for her personnel on the usage of ICT in combating crime, the government should provide adequate infrastructure to enhance effective application of ICT in crime fighting and an effective collaboration between ICT service providers and the NPF in fighting crime in Nigeria

Effect of Total Quality Management (TQM) on the Non-Financial Performance of Hospitals in Ekiti State

This study examined the effect of TQM on the non-financial performance of hospitals in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design and the population for this study covered all the 4371 staffs of public Tertiary Institutions in Ekiti State. Using Taro Yamane formula (1967), the sample size for this study was 367 workers. A self-structured questionnaire was used to elicit the needed information from the sampled respondents. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression. It was discovered that customers focus, employee involvement and supplier partnership exert a positive but insignificant effect on the treatment outcome of hospitals in Ekiti State. Also, the result revealed that management commitment and training have a positive and significant effect on the treatment outcome of hospitals in Ekiti State. Also, the study revealed that customer focus, management commitment, employee involvement, supplier partnership and training exert a positive and significant effect on the increased patronage of hospitals in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Thus, the results suggest that the management should initiate total quality management initiatives that network the entire organization regularly to attain and sustain high-quality standards and meet customer needs and expectation. Keywords:Total Quality Management, Total Quality Management Practices, Non-Financial Performance treatment outcome, Increased Patronage, Customers Focus, Employee Involvement, Supplier Partnership DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/12-10-02 Publication date:May 31st 202