Improving women's and children's nutrition in sub-Saharan Africa : an issues paper

The main sources of malnutrition in Africa, as elsewhere, are inadequate food intake, excessive disease, maternal malnutrition, and deleterious food and health behavior. The authors review several successful innovative approaches to addressing nutrition problems in Africa: the Iringa Nutrition Program in Tanzania, the Zimbabwe Children's Supplementary Feeding Program, the Zaire Weaning Foods Processing Program, and the Senegal Growth Promotion Program. They identify the lessons from these programs, including the need: (a) to involve the community actively in program development; (b) for training in nutrition at all levels, from doctor to village health worker; (c) for strong growth monitoring and nutrition education components; (d) for close supervision, including regular supervisory visits to villages and health huts, discussions with clients, and observations; and (e) for a variety of institutional and financing mechanisms. Africa's nutrition problems require many of the same services as problems elsewhere - growth monitoring, nutrition education, targeted feeding, and food fortification. Africa shares the universal need for good training, management, communications, and information systems. But new and innovative institutional mechanisms are needed to address Africa's nutrition problems. Each country must look for its own institutional strengths and weaknesses in developing nutrition programs.Early Child and Children's Health,Nutrition,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Primary Education,Health Monitoring&Evaluation

Is There a Problem When Transferring Tacit Knowledge by Email Within Distributed Groups in an Organisation?

This article is a work-in-progress report of a study that plans to explore the transfer of tacit knowledge electronically within distributed groups, i.e. groups of geographically dispersed organisational members who carry out the majority of their activities through information technology. With many organisations becoming international and global, there is an increasing need for Distributed Groups (DGs) and individuals to communicate with each other within those groups. Technology allows people and teams to work together at different locations and also allows the transfer of Tacit Knowledge (TK) within DGs in an organisation. The study will specifically investigate (a) possible problems that could be encountered when tacit knowledge is transferred by email or electronically mediated in DGs. (b) identify the problems and (c) make recommendations based on the findings

Multiscale analysis of high frequency exchange rate time series

Imperial Users onl

Opinion and Perception of Treasury Single Account Implementation: Implications for Revenue Generation and Utilisation in Nigeria

This study investigated opinion and perception of Treasury Single Account (TSA) adoption in Nigeria. This was with the view to highlighting TSA implications for revenue generation and utilisation in the country. Data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaire. The study analysed a total sample size of 200 purposively selected among Federal, State, Local Government and Private Sector Employees. The selection was purposive because the subject of investigation required education and awareness of its adoption in Nigeria. The outcome variable was perception dichotomised into positive and negative perception. Data were analysed using frequency and percentages, as well as analytic weighted mean. Result showed variation in acceptability attitude towards TSA implementation in Nigeria; 23.4% of respondents reported negative perception (non acceptability); and 76.6% of respondents reported positive perception (acceptability). The main factor that accounted for positive perception was the need to block all avenues of revenue leakages in the country, while the main factor that accounted for negative perception was the unavailability of funds to meets citizens’ welfare needs. The study concluded that there are needs to improve public awareness of the benefits of TSA implementation in the country. Such awareness may optimize revenue generation and utilisation in Nigeria

Ballast Water Management Convention, 2004: Towards Combating Unintentional Transfer of Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens

The introduction of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens transferred through ships\u27 ballast water and sediments from one coastal region to another has ecological, economic, environmental, and human impacts. The international community, through numerous binding and non-binding instruments, also sought to combat this problem. Ultimately, the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships\u27 Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 was adopted by the International Maritime Organization as the dedicated legal regime intended to prevent, control and ultimately eradicate the introduction and spread of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens through ships\u27 ballast water and sediments. By its Regulations, the Convention sets out coastal/port and flag State obligations along with subsequently adopted technical Guidelines by which to implement it. Despite the importance of this problem, the Convention has not entered into force. This study assesses the potential of the Convention to promote achievement of the goal to prevent and eliminate this source of marine and biodiversity degradation and destruction. The study finds that the Convention constitutes a useful global legal regime within which steps can be taken to establish uniform ground rules, standards and practices to combat the introduction, transfer and spread of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens across the world\u27s coastal and marine areas. Nevertheless, its potential is undermined, among others, by the exemption of some categories of ships from its application, financial costs, especially to developing States, of implementing its requirements, and by the fact that its provisions do not account for other salient sources by which harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens are spread. Suggestions are made to encourage more ratification to bring the Convention into force and on remedying some of the weaknesses in the formulation of its rules

The efficacy of traditional cultural practices in the rehabilitation of victims of torture in Nigeria’s Niger Delta

Introduction: Traditional methods of purification and healing carried out by healers and priests are of utmost importance for the mental and spiritual rehabilitation of victims of torture and perpetrators. The efficacy of traditional practices in the rehabilitation of victims of torture in Nigeria is examined. Methods: Data is derived from 60 interviews with key informants and eight Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) conducted with victims of torture, youth militias, priests, secret cults, community leaders, women leaders, youth leaders, security agencies, and others, in local communities in the Niger Delta states of Bayelsa and Ilaje, Ondo. Results: By means of reconciliation rituals, both the perpetrators and the victims are re-integrated into the community. The mental healing of victims, who were deeply traumatized by the experiences of torture during violent conflict, is an aspect of community peacebuilding that is at least as important as material reconstruction. Traditional forms of justice and reconciliation that can address the psychosocial trauma of victims of torture may be helpful in the rehabilitation process. Conclusions: This paper suggests that healing and reconciliation rituals have been an essential component of rehabilitation processes in many local communities in the Niger Delta region. International, regional and national actors and institutions must recognize the cultural importance of such rituals and their potential relevance and significance for victims of torture, but their complex dynamics need to be better understood in order to safely and effectively apply them programmatically to achieve reconciliation and rehabilitation outcome

Ethical Misconduct among Nigerian Church Leaders in the Context of 1timothy 3: 1 - 7

The character of uncorrupted virtue, especially in relation to truth and fair dealing is expected from ministers of God. The Pastoral Epistles attached unequivocal importance to ministerial integrity in terms of godly character, holiness, blamelessness, and skillful hands that are consistent. The life of integrity enhances the credibility and effectiveness of a minister. The number of ministers of God in Nigeria today who meet this expectation is very few. Many Church leaders thrive on corruption, some take advantage of the psychology of an average Nigerian who is always in search of miracles and wonders, they exploit their followers financially and materially. Preaching the Gospel has become a business venture to a large extent. The paper attempts a re-appraisal of the relevance of the apostolic precepts in the Pastorals, with regards to the obligations of bishop and deacons, to the Nigerian context through a re – reading of 1Timothy 3:1-7. The state of ministerial integrity in Nigeria was examined and the paper concluded that adopting and enforcing the qualities required of Church leaders and Overseers in the Pastorals in the selection and appointment of ministers today will help the Nigerian Church redeem her battered image and raise persons of good moral characters and virtues as Church leaders. Keywords: Ethical Misconduct, Church leaders, 1Timothy 3:1-7, Nigeri

Code-switching and its Literacy Effects on the Acquisition of English Language by Yoruba / English Language Bilinguals

This study identified the reasons why people codes-switch, studied the influence parents, teachers and peers had on the code choice of students and recommendations were given to solving the problems of codes-switching. Questionnaires were administered on two hundred (200) students, fifty from each school who are predominantly speakers of Yoruba language and they were randomly drawn from SSS1to SSS3 of the following schools: Saint Magarets School, Ilesa, Ilesa Grammar School, Ilesa, African Church Grammar School, Ilesa, and Saint Lawrences Grammar School, Ilesa. The result on the test of educational background revealed that students with sub-standard educational background use code-switching more than those with standard educational background. Another fact revealed was that nearly all the teachers that were involved in the research do code-switch. And lastly it revealed that the language individuals speak at home has tremendous influence on them. The study concluded that students should be warned about the danger inherent in switching if made to become a habit and that students should be discouraged in the use of switching in informal settings so as to facilitate the free flow of communication between or among the speakers.Keywords: Code-switching, Literacy-Effects, Language Acquisition, Bilinguals Global Communicatio

Influence of Induced Soil Compaction on the Growth, the Yield and the Soil Loss Resulting from the Groundnut Harvesting

The research was conducted to study  the growth and the yield of the groundnut plant and to  quantify the soil loss after groundnut harvesting as influenced by induced soil compaction. A ten kilogram of soil was packed in the pots with an initial bulk density of 1.05 Mg m-3, then it were compressed to1.57, 1.72, 1.88, 2.04, and 2.42 Mg m-3. The research was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications. Groundnut seeds were sown in pots and the plant growth data were collected in a 2-week interval while force and energy of harvesting and soil loss due to groundnut harvesting were determined at 12 weeks after sowing. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Fishers LSD at P= 0.05. Soil compacted to1.88 Mgm-3 produced more taller plant, more higher number of leaves and branches than control. Soil compaction significantly reduced the number of pods, roots, and fresh root weight compared to control. Bulk density (2.04 Mgm-3) required a significantly higher force (42.47 N) and energy (45.73 J) in harvesting than control and other compaction levels. Soil loss due to the  groundnut harvesting increased (13- 42%) in all compaction levels although statistically not different. Soil compaction beyond 1.88 Mg m-3 could affect the growth and the yield of groundnut and could increase the soil loss at harvesting

Occupational Stress and the Job Effectiveness of Federal University Lecturers in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, Nigeria

This study focused on Occupational stress and its effect on the job effectiveness of lecturers in federal universities in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states of Nigeria. The Cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. The stratified random sample size was 584 lecturers. The study utilized a questionnaire titled Workload Stress Scale (WSS) and Job Effectiveness Questionnaires (JEQ). The hypothesis was tested using the multiple regression analysis. The analysis results indicated that stress from factors – workload, facilities, career development requirements and organizational climate significantly joint predict job effectiveness of lecturers while inter-personal relationships and funding were not significant predictors. Recommendations made included that universities should ensure that bench mark standards of National University Commission for facilities are adhered to. Also, infrastructural facilities maintenance culture should be consciously inculcated into the members of the university community by management. (137 words) Keywords: Occupational stress, federal university lecturers, job effectiveness, Akwa Ibom state, Cross River