Impact Analysis of Microfinance in Nigeria

This paper applies the financing constraints approach to study whether microfinance institutions improved access to credit for microenterprises in Nigeria or not. According to this approach, microenterprises with improved access to credit rely less on internal funds for their investments. Thus, investment sensitivity to internal funds of micro enterprises in Lagos State (a municipal with significant presence of Microfinance Banks (MFBs) was compared to that of micro enterprises in Ekiti State (a municipal with no (or limited) presence of MFBs) using a cross sectional survey method and Microfinance Institutions (MFI) branch location data. Results indicate that MFBs alleviated micro businesses’ financing constraints. This approach is applicable to evaluating microfinance impact in other countries

Physical Activity Health Communication for Adults with Mood Disorders in the United States

Using national representative data, this study sought to examine receipt of physical activity communication and counseling among adults with mood disorders in comparison to the general population in the United States. The sample consisted of adult primary-care visits in the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care and National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between mental health status and receipt of physical activity communication and counseling. Overall, less than 20% of visits included physical activity communication and counseling. Controlling for covariates, visits for adults with a mood disorder diagnosis were associated with an increased odds of including physical activity communication and counseling, odds ratio = 1.25, 95% confidence interval = [1.08, 1.45]. Although adults with mood disorders were more likely to receive physical activity communication and counseling, most primary-care visits for adults in the United States did not include physical activity communication and counseling

Heavy Metal Analysis of Industrial Discharges in Lagos, Nigeria

Waste water samples from three different industrial areas in Lagos state (Ikeja, Apapa and Victoria Island) spanning the dry and wet seasons, were analyzed for Pb, Cu, Cd, Mn and Fe using the atomic absorption spectroscopic method. The mean values of Fe were within the FMEnV and WHO limits used as standard while the mean values of Cd, Cu, Pb and Mn exceeded these limits indicating that these industries constitute source of pollution to the human lives and ecosystem in the areas involved. Utilization of improved method of treatment and frequent awareness to the compliance of the industries were recommended

Evaluating Motivational Interviewing in the Physician Assistant Curriculum

Purpose Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based technique that enables clinicians to help patients modify health behaviors. Although MI is an essential tool for physician assistants (PAs), the extent to which it is addressed in PA curricula in the United States is unknown. This study is a comprehensive description of MI education in PA programs in the United States. Methods Data are from the 2014 Physician Assistant Education Association Annual Program Survey. Descriptive statistics were conducted on de-identified data from all 186 PA programs in the United States. Results Of the 186 PA programs surveyed, 72.58% (n = 135) reported at least one course providing MI training. Availability of courses providing training in skills essential to the MI process varied. Having a course with verbal communication training was most frequently endorsed, and having a course with training in developing discrepancy was least frequently endorsed. The most popular teaching modality was lecture (84.95%, n = 158), whereas only 41.40% (n = 77) and 58.60% (n = 109) reported role play with evaluation and standardized patient exercises with evaluation, respectively. Conclusions More than 70% of programs included at least one course in their curriculum that provided training in MI, suggesting that PA programs recognize the importance of MI. Instruction in change talk was not provided in nearly half of the programs. Role-play and standardized patient exercises with evaluation were underused methods despite their proven efficacy in MI education. As the first comprehensive benchmark of MI education for PAs, this study shows that although most programs address MI, opportunities exist to improve MI training in PA programs in the United States

Foreign aid, food supply and poverty reduction in Nigeria - Examination of possible nexus

This study examines the relationship among foreign aid, food supply and poverty reduction in Nigeria. It uses secondary data for the period 1975-2005. With the use of econometric analysis we specify a structural model that examines the determinants of poverty-reduction. We test our model specification, using Statistical Analysis of Time Series (STATA 10) software. We find that multilateral aid, food supply, public sector spending on health care and education are the major determinants of poverty reduction in Nigeria. We conclude that given the ongoing food supply crises, the gradual withdrawal of government from provision of health care and education as well as the unreliability of aid, there is the need for some policy re-think if poverty is to be reduced in the country.Foreign Aid, Food supply, Rural development and Poverty.

An Investigation of Emotional Intelligence and Entrepreneurs’ Innovativeness on Business Performance: A Study of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Lagos State, Nigeria

Emotional intelligence and entrepreneurs’ innovativeness is an intricate necessity for any business entity to grow and survive. Nevertheless, the interrelationship among emotional intelligence, entrepreneurs’ innovativeness and business performance in the context of small and medium scale enterprises have been scarcely studied in Nigeria. This study examined the effect of emotional intelligence and entrepreneurs’ innovativeness on business performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Lagos state, Nigeria.  To achieve the objective, cross sectional survey research design was used. Multistage sampling consisting of participative and convenience sampling techniques was used in drawing sample for the study. Information was collected from the respondents with the aid of a structured questionnaire. The finding of the study indicates positive and significant relationship among emotional intelligence, entrepreneurs’ innovativeness, and business performance. Similarly, both emotional intelligence and entrepreneurs’ innovativeness individually and collectively influence business performance of small and medium scale enterprises. In addition, emotional intelligence was found to be insignificantly different among male and female entrepreneurs. The study concludes that for small and medium scale entrepreneurs’ to thrive and develop emotional intelligence and innovativeness are critical. The study therefore, recommended that business entrepreneurs’ should develop the necessary emotional intelligence and innovativeness competence to prosper.  Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Emotional Intelligence, entrepreneurs’ innovativeness, business performance, and small and medium scale industry

Adsorptive reactor technology for VOC abatement.

Imperial Users onl

CONTRIBUTORY ROLE OF INSTITUTIONAL, LEGAL AND ETHICAL FACTORS AS PRECURSORS OF CONSORTIUM BUILDING READINESS AMONG UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Consortium Building Readiness (CBR) is inevitable for university libraries that intend to provide adequate information resources and services to users. Preliminary investigations showed that efforts at CBR have not been successful in Nigeria. This may be as a result of the unpreparedness among university libraries to provide Institutional Factors–IF (Organisational Culture–OC, Organisational Policy–OP, finance, Power Supply–PS, Internet Connection–IC, ICT Literacy skills–ILS and digitisation), Legal Factors–LF (Governing Law–GL, Log-in-Option–LO, Non-disclosure of Log-in-Option–NDO, Dispute Resolution–DR, Cash Contribution–CC and dissolution) and Ethical Factors–EF (professional and business) to drive Consortium Building (CB). Little attention, however, has been paid to factors that could predict readiness for a successful CB among university libraries. This study therefore was carried out to investigate institutional, legal and ethical factors as precursors of CBR among university libraries in Southwestern Nigeria. Exchange and Resources Dependence, Social Exchange, Socio-Technical theories and Teamwork Model were used as the framework, while the survey design of the correlational type was adopted. All the 643 university library personnel in 45 university libraries in southwestern Nigeria were enumerated. The instruments used were Institutional Factors (α=0.75), Legal Factors (α=0.79), Ethical Factors (α=0.89), CBR (α=0.81) scales. Key informant interviews were conducted with nine selected university librarians. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson product moment correlation and Multiple regression at 0.05 level of significance, while the qualitative data was thematically analysed. The IF, LF and EF jointly influenced CBR (R = 0.47; F(3; 545) =51.17; Adj. R2=0.22), contributing 22.0% of its variance. The business ethics (β=0.34), OC (β=0.33), GL (β=0.24), LO (β=0.24), finance (β=0.17), PS (β=0.10) and digitisation (β=0.07) relatively contributed to CBR. The university librarians complained that CBR was impossible due to lack of acceptable platform for all university libraries to disseminate and share resources. There were yearnings to come together as a team of consortium but finance and organisational commitment of their various institutions limited the move. Business ethics, organisational culture, governing law, log-in-option, finance, power supply and digitization and accessible platform level enhanced consortium building readiness among university libraries in southwestern Nigeria. These factors should be addressed to drive consortium building among them

Multiscale analysis of high frequency exchange rate time series

Imperial Users onl

Exploring Effective Knowledge Management Strategies for Achieving Organizational Success

Successful knowledge management methods are the focus of this research. This research analyzes the efficacy of various knowledge management strategies and the variables that affect their success. The results show that knowledge management practices succeed when they have strong leadership backing, employee buy-in, an attitude of sharing information, a solid technological foundation, and an open and collaborative organizational culture. The research shows that better employee engagement, productivity, innovation, customer satisfaction, and financial outcomes can be achieved by fostering a culture of knowledge sharing, ensuring the backing of leadership, promoting employee participation, and capitalizing on technological infrastructure. Organizations that want to succeed in the long run should look to this research for guidance on how to enhance their knowledge management practices