Working Paper 81 - Re-Orienting Public Management in Africa: Selected Issues and Some Country Experiences

The objective of this paper is to examine some aspects of the efforts aimed at re-orienting public management in Africa since the early 1990s. The paper begins with a review of the background to the re-orientation exercise: the decline of the public administration systems in a majority of countries that was accompanied, in some cases, with the collapse of the state. In the second chapter, some selected issues in re-orienting public management are examined. One of the selected issues, the politics and administration nexus, which is at the heart of the conduct of government business, is further examined in depth in the third chapter. The fourth chapter is devoted to specific country experiences of good and bad practices, including attention to key lessons from each case. The fifth and final chapter contain first a brief reflection on how countries can achieve better and sustainable public management reform results, and second, some thoughts on the desirability of introducing and implementing an “African administrative space” within the framework of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).

The information superhighway and traditional communication: where we stand

Advances in communication technology, bring with them new characteristics which often expand the horizons for information exchange among people. The evolving information superhighway is promising to break the physical barriers to the free flow of information. This has serious implications for developing countries. As many parts of the world adopt the new technologies of the information superhighway African countries should be cautious and not too readily abandon their traditional communication methods, which are not necessarily anti-thetical to the Internet. As exciting as the new technologies are, they do not always portend positive developments

RELIGIOUS INTERACTION AMONG THE AKOKO OF NIGERIA

This paper discusses Religious Interaction among the Akoko of Nigeria. The work explores Christian-Muslim relationin Akokoland and specifically examines why Christians and muslins have lived in peace since inception till date.The paper defines the Geographical location and the people of Akokoland. It discusses the advent of Islam and Christianity in Akoko. It examines the features of Islam and African Christianity.The paper highlights the facilitating factors, mode, and way of interaction. It gives suggestions and draws a conclusion.In our finding, it is discovered that in Akokoland, Muslims, Christians, and African religion live in absolute peace since the introduction of the religions into the area. The secret of this success is discovered to be hinged on mutual respect, accommodation, tolerance dialogue, and understanding among the religions in the area

Reservoir quality controls and reservoir modelling of continental to transitional shallow marine sedimentary basins of Southern Nigeria

Kontinentale bis flachmarine Ablagerungssysteme enthalten weltweit bedeutende Kohlenwasserstofflagerstätten. Die Heterogenität der Gesteinsschichten stellt jedoch eine Schwierigkeit bei der genauen Abgrenzung und Erschließung von Lagerstätten, sowie den Förderstrategien dar. Ein besseres Verständnis der Eigenschaften von Lagerstätten und ihrer Verteilung und Kontrolle verspricht einen besseren Explorationserfolg. Das östliche Dahomey- und das Nigerdelta-Becken in Nigeria entstanden während der Trennung der afrikanischen und der südamerikanischen Platte im späten Mesozoikum, nach dem Auseinanderbrechen des Superkontinents Pangäa. Die lokale und regionale Heterogenität der Lithofazies erschwert die genaue Lokalisierung und Vorhersage der Lagerstättenvorkommen im östlichen Dahomey-Becken im Südwesten Nigerias. Im Gegensatz dazu ist das Nigerdelta im Südosten Nigerias ein erdölführendes Sedimentbecken. Das Verständnis der Heterogenität der Lagerstätten, die Kontrolle der Lagerstättenqualität und verbesserte 3-D-Modelle können in dieser Region einen größeren Explorationserfolg ermöglichen. In dieser Studie werden daher die Kontrollfaktoren eines Reservoirs im Rahmen einer statischen 3-D-Modellierung eines Onshore-Feldes im Nigerdelta-Becken anhand seismischer Daten und geophysikalischer Logs untersucht. Es wird gezeigt, wie wichtig die Lagerstättenqualität für das produktive Lagerstättenvolumen ist. Im Folgenden konzentriert sich diese Studie auf die diagenetische Geschichte und die Bewertung der Lagerstättenqualität von Lagerstättengesteinen im östlichen Dahomey-Becken unter Verwendung petrographischer, mineralogischer und petrophysikalischer Methoden an Kernproben, die aus flachen Erkundungsbohrungen und Aufschlüssen gewonnen wurden. Die räumliche Verteilung der Lagerstätteneigenschaften der deltaischen Sedimentgesteine in der Konzession "Atled Creek" im Onshore-Nigerdelta-Becken wurde in einem 3-D-Lagerstättenmodell dargestellt. Bohrlochgeophysikalische Gammastrahlen- und Dichtemessungen wurden zur Charakterisierung der Lithologie verwendet, während bohrlochgeophysikalische Neutronen-Porositäts- und Dichtemessungen zur Bewertung der petrophysikalischen Eigenschaften eingesetzt wurden. Die Verteilung der Ablagerungsräume wird durch einen stochastischen objektbasierten Ansatz modelliert, der die Heterogenität der Reservoireinheiten berücksichtigt. Die entsprechenden Trendkarten (Abstand zum Objekt, maximale Krümmung und Tiefentrends) dienten zur Eingrenzung der Verteilung der petrophysikalischen Eigenschaften innerhalb des Modells. In der Konzession wurden vier Lagerstätteneinheiten identifiziert, die gute bis hervorragende Lagerstätteneigenschaften aufweisen. Die in Mündungsarmen abgelagerten Sedimente weisen die beste Lagerstättenqualität auf. Sie dominieren die Fazies der tiefsten untersuchten Lagerstätteneinheit (EX 2.0), die die beste und einzige ölhaltige Lagerstätte in diesem Gebiet ist. Die übrigen drei Lagerstätteneinheiten (DX 6.0, DX 7.0 und DX 9.0) sind überwiegend gasführend. Die Unsicherheits- und Sensitivitätsanalyse hilft bei der Bewertung des ermittelten Kohlenwasserstoffvolumens und der Ermittlung der Empfindlichkeit der geologischen Modellparameter. Das erstellte Modell reagiert am empfindlichsten auf Unsicherheiten in Bezug auf den Tortuositätsfaktor, die Sortierung und die Ablagerungsräume der geologischen Eingangsparameter. Der diagenetisch gesteuerte Tortuositätsfaktor hat im Rahmen seiner Unsicherheiten den größten Einfluss auf das förderbare Reservoirvolumen. Die untersuchten kreidezeitlichen bis paläogenen, kontinentalen bis marinen Ablagerungen im östlichen Dahomey-Becken weisen eine hohe Heterogenität in ihren lithologischen Zusammensetzung auf. Diese unterschiedliche Verteilung der Lithofazies mit fluvialen, estuarinen und flachmarinen Sand-, Silt- und Tonsteinen sowie marinen Kalksteinen ist für die heterogenen Eigenschaften der Gesteine der Lagerstätte verantwortlich. Die Charakterisierung der klastischen Lithologien zeigt eine detritische Zusammensetzung, die von Quarz dominiert wird, mit untergeordneten Anteilen von Feldspäten und Gesteinsfragmenten. Die authigene Zusammensetzung wird von porenfüllenden Karbonatzementen und Eisenoxid- (FeOx) und Eisenoxidhydroxid- (FeO(OH)) Zementen dominiert, mit untergeordneten Kaolinit- und Glaukonitkörnern. Eisenhaltige Kalzit- und eisenhaltige Dolomit-Zemente sind nur in den Sandsteinproben aus flachen Erkundungsbohrungen im zentralen und westlichen Teil des Beckens vorhanden, während Siderit-Zementierung in einigen Proben einer Formation im östlichen Teil des Beckens auftritt. In den Aufschlussproben gibt es keine intensive Karbonatzementierung. Eisenoxide (FeOx und FeO(OH)) sind jedoch nur in den Aufschlüssen reichlich vorhanden, insbesondere in der Benin-Flanke östlich des Dahomey-Beckens. Detritale Tonmatrix (feiner Silt bis Ton) verschließt die Poren in einigen der Proben aus den flachen Bohrungen und Aufschlüssen. Zudem treten feste Kohlenwasserstoffe in den Porenräumen in Ölsanden einer Formation auf. Die besten Reservoirqualitäten werden für den arenitischen Sandstein mit einer Porosität von bis zu 47 % und einer Permeabilität von >10.000 mD erzielt. Die Durchlässigkeit in den matrixgestützten Sandsteinabschnitten der Bohrungen ist gering. Auch die starke FeOx- und FeO(OH)-Zementierung in der Benin-Flanke führt zu einer geringen Durchlässigkeit, da es keine Verbindungen zwischen der verbleibenden intergranularen Porosität gibt. Die wichtigsten Einflussfaktoren auf die beobachtete Lagerstättenqualität sind die Menge an Karbonatzementen, Eisenoxiden (FeOx und FeO(OH)) und die Tonmineralmatrix. In den Kalksteinen ist die Porosität mäßig, wobei Auflösung und Mikroporosität die wichtigsten Porentypen darstellen, die entsprechende Durchlässigkeit im Kalkstein ist jedoch gering. Cementstones weisen die geringste optische Porosität ≤ 0,7 % auf, während die besten Lagerstättenfazies in den Kalksteinen die Wackestones und Packstones sind

Women’s perception on rights during pregnancy and childbirth

Background: The Nigerian health system as a whole has been plagued by problems associated with the quality of service, including but not limited to unfriendly staff attitudes to patients, inadequate skills, decaying infrastructures, and chronic shortages of essential drugs. Approximately two-thirds of all Nigerian women deliver outside of health facilities and without the presence of medically skilled attendants.  The study was carried out to assess the awareness and knowledge of women regarding their rights during pregnancy and childbirth, and to explore the extent to which women’s rights were respected during pregnancy and childbirth.Methods: This descriptive study was conducted among randomly selected 140 women at Mother and Child Hospital, Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria. Data was collected with a pretested questionnaire and was analysed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.Results: Findings revealed that majority (76.9%) of the women had a fair knowledge of their rights in pregnancy and childbirth, with the source of knowledge majorly from their friends. Right to information, informed consent and refusal, even distribution of healthcare services, maintenance of attainable level of health regarding proper monitoring were fairly observed by the health care providers. Right of women against verbal and physical abuse, privacy, treatment with dignity and respect were least accorded to women.Conclusions: Respective Maternity Care remains a challenge that demands policy interventions in most public health facilities to enhance positive endorsement and utilisation of maternal and health care services

Microbiological Assessment of Poultry Droppings, Water and Soil Under Deep Litter (Dl) And Battery Cage (Bl) Systems Within Lagos, Nigeria

This study focuses on the evaluation of the microbiological profile of microbes found in water, soil, droppings, in selected poultry farms under intensive and semi-intensive management system within Lagos, Nigeria. Bacteria and fungi were isolated from poultry droppings, water and soil samples and identified by standard microbiological protocol. The data on the assessment of poultry production system were obtained with structured questionnaire. The bacterial and fungal counts ranged from 29 X 109 CFU/mL - 106 X 109 CFU/mL and 72 X 109 CFU/mL - 115 X 109 CFU/mL respectively. The microorganisms isolated were Streptococcus pluranimalium, Micrococcus sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus arlettae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Bacilllus subtilis, Aeromonas hydrophila, Candida tropicalis, Saccharomyces spp, Sporendonema spp., Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium oxysporum, Kloeckera spp., Zygosaccharomyces spp and Aspergillus niger. Aspergillus niger (30.5%), Micrococcus sp. (17.6%) and Staphylococcus saprophyticus, (17.6%), occur most frequently while Candida tropicalis (4.6%) and Escherichia coli (5.8%) has the lowest percentage occurrence in poultry droppings. Aspergillus sp. (48.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (28.6%) occur most frequently while Penicillium sp. (15.2%), Staphylococcus spp. (7.1%), has the lowest percentage occurrence in poultry soil samples. Fusarium sp. (38.8%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (28.6%), occur most frequently while Aspergillus sp. (7.7%), Staphylococcus spp. (7.1%) has the lowest percentage occurrence in water samples. Most of the isolated bacteria showed resistance to at least two different classes of antibiotics. There is strong evidence that poultry farms in Lagos have utilized many antibiotics and this may have contributed to antibiotic resistant pattern of some bacterial isolates to antibiotics

The People's Republic of China and FAPRA: Catalysts for theory building in Africa's public relations

Africa is experiencing an unusually high economic interest from the People's Republic of China, whose government has invested billions of dollars in schools, clinics, roads, railways, factories, and oil wells on the continent; has canceled more than $1.36 billion in debts owed to it by 33 African nations; and has pledged to provide Africa with$5 billion in preferential loans and credits through 2009. Its top party officials traverse the continent, seeking to develop business relationships and to reinforce others. While such efforts help place Africa on the cusp of significant economic growth, they also boost the programs and activities of the Nairobi, Kenya-based Federation of African Public Relations Associations (FAPRA), and an umbrella body of all national public relations associations in Africa and a consultant to African governments and to the African Union. FAPRA has launched a 5-year action plan to improve the stature and social relevance of the public relations practice, largely through enhancing its efforts to professionalize it. Both China and FAPRA are, in essence, collaborating to create environments conducive to enhancing the practice in Africa, and to laying a foundation for an expansive view of public relations research—one that questions grand narratives, defines concepts, challenges orthodoxies, measures variables, and determines program outcomes or effects. And researchers and practitioners work together in creative ways to improve the practice. This article argues that questions and concepts are, in themselves, opportunities for a much-needed theory building in Africa's public relations. It, therefore, outlines 4 propositions as a template for such theory building, based on a 4-concept research agenda: culture, good governance and rule of law, economic freedom, and FAPRA's integrated programs and activities outlined in its 5-year action plan. The return of China … to global economic prominence in the twenty-first century is likely to reshape global politics and society. The overwhelming dominance of the West, which lasted half a millennium, is probably passé. We should view these developments not only with awe, but with anticipation. (Sachs, 2005Sachs, J. D. 2005. The end of poverty: Economic possibilities of our time, New York: Penguin. [Google Scholar], p. 187) We want to work in partnership with the international community, but we believe that it must be a partnership based on mutual respect and mutual accountability. (Former Namibian Prime Minister Geingob, 2006Geingob, H. 2006. “Democracy in Africa”. In Democracy rising: Assessing the global challenges, Edited by: Muñoz, H.55–60. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner. [Google Scholar], p. 56

Occurrence and Environmental Implications of Calcareous Nannofossils in Surface Sediments of the Western Gulf of Guinea: off Lagos Coast, South-western Nigeria

The application of calcareous nannofossils in oil exploration, and environmental studies is playing an increasingly important role all over the world. Most recent researches on this subject area in Nigeria are confined/restricted to the oil producing Niger Delta leaving most other areas untouched. This however limits nannofossils’ application in biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental interpretation of non oil producing areas within the country. Before now, nannofossils occurrence and application have not been documented in the surface sediments of Nigeria. Consequently, calcareous nannofossils have been investigated in thirteen (13) surface sediments samples of the littoral area from the continental shelf of western Gulf of Guinea, off Lagos coast. Primarily, this research was aimed at determining the occurrence (and or non occurrence), and relative abundance of nannofossils in surface sediments of the area with which the age of the sediments, paleoenvironment and paleoecological condition(s) could be determined.The samples were collected with the aid of grab sampler, allowed to dry and subjected to detailed lithologic description. Furthermore, the samples were subjected to nannofossils analysis by standard method of preparation. Both qualitative and quantitative analysis was done using the high power Olympus Transmitted Light Microscope (TLM). The occurrence of nannofossils has been established in the study area (littoral area of the western Gulf of Guinea). Most of the sediments are poorly consolidated, fine to coarse grained sand with little amount of clay ant silt fractions that yielded Pliocene to Recent nannofossils (mainly Pleistocene). A total population of 1132 belonging to five different genera (Calcidiscus, Ceratolithus, Gephyrocapsa, Helicosphera and Reticulofenestra) and seven species were found in the studied samples with Gephyrocapsa caribbeanica being the most abundant (followed by Gephyrocapsa oceanica of a little lower abundance). The species indicate a truly shallow marine environment within recent sediment accumulation. Keywords: Surface sediments, littoral, calcareous nannofossils, Gulf of Guinea, Lagos, Nigeria, biostratigraphy, paleoenvironment, paleoecology, lithologic

Cash holdings : motivation, perception and valuation

The thesis empirically investigates the motivation, perception and value of cash holdings in the UK setting over the period 1980 to 2017. The study is motivated by the marked increase in cash holdings among UK firms, the trend in cash holdings has been subject to media and academic coverage. The research provides an empirical explanation for the upward trend in cash holdings by UK listed companies. In addition, I evaluate how the cash holdings of firms are perceived by the market during corporate investment announcements. The study addresses how cash is valued and in particular, if cash-rich firms outperform cash-poor firms in the stock market and if this effect heightens during periods of high economic uncertainty. The empirical analyses in this study are conducted using a combination of difference in differences (DiD) regression, Two-stage least squares (2SLS) regression, Fama-Macbeth regression and ordinary least squares (OLS) as the estimation techniques. The results indicate that firms increase cash holdings in response to increased competition, the increase in cash holdings is more pronounced among firms exposed to high predatory threat and financing frictions. Furthermore, cash rich firms make gains in the product market at the expense of their rivals. The gains in market share as a result of increased cash holdings is amplified among firms with low exposure to predatory threat and financing frictions. Also, since cash may convey important price sensitive information about the future strategic direction of a firm, I use a sample of 3,251 corporate investment announcements by firms listed on the London Stock Exchange over the period 2005-2016 and demonstrate that higher cash holdings at announcement results in increased market valuation of corporate investments. The relationship between cash holdings and market valuation of corporate investment becomes negative at higher levels of cash holdings. The results also reveal that the positive impact of cash holdings is more noticeable for organic investment announcements, particularly R&D. Lastly, I examine the market performance of a portfolio of abnormally high cash holding firms compared to a portfolio of abnormally low cash holding firms. The results suggest that the portfolio of abnormally high cash holdings outperforms their counterpart. The outperformance increases during periods of increased economic uncertainty. The results of this thesis have important implications for the cash holdings literature, market participants and policymakers. Firstly, the increase in cash holdings indicates limitations in the ease of accessing finance in the capital market. This points to the need to reform the existing opaque capital market to accommodate the needs of disadvantaged companies. Similarly, the increase in cash holdings during periods of increased competition intensity further reinforces the argument of an opaque capital market. It appears that the problem of financial constraint is amplified during periods of increased competition. To mitigate this anomaly, regulators could enact laws that lessen the financing deficit during such periods. Since high cash holdings have an important bearing on a firm’s market performance, shareholders and other stakeholders can pursue activist policies that actively monitor firm cash holdings policies which maximises firm value.Edinburgh Business Schoo