Prevalence of ticks on indigenous breed of hunting dogs in Ogun State, Nigeria

Ticks are haematophagous arthropods that are important vectors of diseases of animals and humans, many of which are zoonotic, thus predisposing humans, including hunters to risk. The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of tick infestation among hunting dogs with the aim of determining the danger which the presence of ticks portends, bearing in mind that hunting dogs are kept by the duo of rural and urban dwellers. A total of one hundred and nine (109) hunting dogs were sampled from nineteen (19) different locations in the State. The age, weight and sex of the dogs were noted and recorded as variables. The dogs were thoroughly examined for ticks and other ectoparasites which were collected into properly labelled plastic containers and were transported to the laboratory for identification. Chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of tick infestation between recorded variables. Significance level was set at p = 0.05 or less. The overall prevalence of tick infestation in the 109 hunting dogs was 56%. The tick prevalence in the male dogs (66.7%) and that in the female dogs (51.9%) was not significantly (p> 0.05) different. Also, tick prevalence in young dogs (53.8%) and adult dogs (62.1%) was not significantly (p>0.05) different. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of tick infestation from urban and rural locations (p<0.05). Of the 352 ticks harvested from the hunting dogs, Rhipicepalus sanguineus constituted 68.2%, Haemaphysalis leachi leachi, 30.6%; and Ambylomma variegatum, 1.21%. The education of the hunters and other persons in close contact with dogs is required for the control of ectoparasites.Keywords: Hunting dogs, Indigenous, Nigeria, Prevalence, Tick

Should we put locals in charge? Managing relationships within prospective us – South African joint ventures

Using a data set derived from South African managers in our empirical analysis of potential U.S.‐South Africa agreements. The picture that emerges from the analysis, posits that the need for highest work performance, knowledge management and strict control is high and the South African government's administrative barriers seem to be the most crucial problems for the prospective joint ventures. Furthermore, South African managers endorse issues such as plan for knowledge acquisition, distribution, interpretation and organizational memory/performance. US companies invest in South Africa to gain access to its market and South African companies get into joint ventures with US companies to tap into the appropriate knowledge know‐how and financial resources. Key directions for future research in international business stemming from the conceptual framework are also highlighted. Santrauka Galimu JAV ir Pietu Afrikos sutarčiu empirinei analizei buvo naudoti duomenys, surinkti iš Pietu Afrikos imoniu vadovu. Gauti analizes rezultatai parode, kad didesnio darbo našumo, žiniu valdymo ir griežtos kontroles poreikis yra didelis ir kad administraciniai Pietu Afrikos vyriausybes barjerai yra viena iš didžiausiu kliūčiu bendroms imonems kurtis. Pietu Afrikos imoniu vadovai pritaria tokiems klausimams, kaip žiniu igijimo planai, platinimas, interpretavimas ir organizacine atmintis. JAV imones investuoja i Pietu Afrika noredamos ieiti i jos rinka. Pietu Afrikos imones susijungia su JAV imonemis, noredamos gauti reikalingu žiniu (know‐how) ir finansiniu ištekliu. Straipsnyje išryškinama pagrindine tarptautinio verslo ateities tyrimu kryptis. First Published Online: 10 Feb 2011 Reikšminiai žodžiai: valdymas, pasitikejimas, tarptautines imones, JAV ir Pietu Afrikos aljansa

Comparing Social Behaviour Across Culture and Nations: The ‘What’ and ‘Why’ Questions

Self-esteem, Self-concept, Cross-cultural research, Dimensionality, Measurement equivalence, Individualism-collectivism,

The Role of Market-Driven Initiatives and Support for Rural Poverty Alleviation - a Case Study of AgResults Program in Nigeria

The connection between persistence rural poverty in the developing nations, agricultural-related structural problems have been debated extensively in the literature. Surmounting both challenges of the extensive rural poverty in the developing countries and particularly in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) and how agriculture system can be supported to the reduce rural poverty has been a daunting task for governments (Ajulor, 2013; Tersoo, 2013). Discourse on the role of market-driven agricultural approach through Agribusiness enterprises as a means to reduce the structural problems in agricultural that are linked to rural poverty alleviation is also emerging (Dorward et al. 2009; Suttie 2019). Recently, several Agri-business models have sought to fill the structural agricultural vacuum by developing new systems of support through private enterprises for the smallholder rural poor. One of this new initiative is the AgResults Global initiative aimed at attracting involvement of the agribusiness private enterprises to address key structural agricultural problems, aimed at increasing smallholder farmers income (AgResults Initiative 2018). This research is based on the case study of the AgResults Global initiative in developing agribusiness in Nigeria; a country with high indicators of high rural poverty and major structural agricultural problems. The objective of the research is to understand the theoretical and empirical effectiveness of the AgResults model in enhancing structural support for rural development and poverty alleviation. It aims to examine the effectiveness of an AgResults market-based development program of agribusiness and to understand the extent to which private sector-managed initiatives in market-driven agriculture alleviate the structural agriculture problems and rural poverty. It assesses the extent to which the new, private-sector mechanism of support for rural poor farmers could support an increase in agricultural productivity, income, and diversification in food consumption in Nigeria as part of the rural poverty alleviation. The study uses a combination of survey and semi-structured interviews to generate primary data. The research sample consisted of 170 smallholder farmers, one hundred and four smallholder farmers for the treated group who were supported by the implementers of the AgResults project and 66 smallholder farmers as control groups who were not supported on the project but had similar characteristics to the treated groups that were working on the project. The research shows that smallholder farmers can increase their output and income where timely and consistent support for the crucial structural problems of agriculture is available. The research further showed that smallholding farming in a business managed environment contrast to the fragmented smallholder farmers system that are not operating under such condition could experience an increase in their output and substantial profitability in their agribusiness. Overall the results showed that Agresults Agribusiness model created an ecosystem that brings together most of the critical structural solution to strengthen the smallholder farmers participation in a market-oriented agricultural system. Through the fundamental agribusiness skills support gained by the smallholder farmers they were able to access quality-sensitive premium markets, increased their revenue and grow their businesses from subsistence to one with a market-driven objective. The smallholder farmers have further attributed the increase in the income to the diversification in their consumption pattern towards a healthier diet

Fears of aids in Nigerian students: Dimensions of the Fear of Aids Scale (FAIDSS) in West Africa

A study based on a sample of 2500 individuals aged 18 years and over in six west African cities was undertaken for the purpose of determining the cross-cultural consistency and replicability of fears about AIDS. A factor analysis of the data obtained confirmed a similar factor structure to that reported in Australia. Implications for the prevention of HIV transmission in Nigeria and other west African countries is discussed. Our findings showed that the fear of AIDS Scale (FAIDSS) is a reliable index of fear of aids and is readily scaleable. Other implications for health education are considered.AIDS health education health beliefs fear of AIDS Scale

HIV/AIDS-related social anxieties in adolescents in three African countries

This study examines the social anxieties associated with HIV prevention in adolescents in three African countries (Nigeria, Kenya, and Zimbabwe). The subjects used in this study were black Africans in form 2 or grade 10 in public high schools (Nigeria, n = 387; Kenya, n = 274; Zimbabwe n = 313). Subjects responded to the 33 item AIDS Social Assertiveness Scale (ASAS). Data indicated similar factor structures for each of the three countries and included five factors. The combined sample factor intercorrelations were modestly but significantly correlated. The mean scores for each factor were compared, and ANOVA of the factors by country, by gender, and by interaction between country and gender were performed. The factor structures were very similar between countries, each including five factors that had similar themes: condom interactions, refusal of risk, confiding in significant others, contact with people with HIV/AIDS, and general assertiveness. These factor structures were also very similar to one found in previous studies of Australian adolescents on the ASAS. The Kenyan means for four of the five factors were significantly lower than those for Nigeria, and were also significantly lower than the Zimbabwean means for two of the five factors, suggesting that Kenyan students are less anxious about social situations related to HIV/AIDS than others. Significant variance was found for several factors due to gender, country, and the interaction between gender and country. These results have important implications for designing education programs. The similarities of anxieties regarding HIV/AIDS social situations suggest that these clusters of social barriers to reduction of HIV infection risk might form the basis of educational interventions, and that dimensions of HIV social anxieties are similar across countries.HIV prevention social anxieties adolescents Africa

An introduction to food systems thinking : How members of multi-stakeholder platforms in Nigeria can apply food systems thinking in practice

This report presents the findings from a two day online Food Systems Training with member of Multi-stakeholder Platforms active in Nigeria held December 15th and 16th 2021. The workshop was organized by Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation and IIAT. The workshop was based on tools from the Food Systems Decision Support Tool Developed by KIT, the Netherlands Food Partnership and Wageningen University. The first part of the report presents finds from the workshop, the second reflects on the Food Systems Decision Support Tool and its utility for partners

An investigation of ethnic differences in the motivation and strategies for learning of students in desegregated South African schools

No significant ethnic group differences were found in the academic motivation or learning strategies of more than 200 White and 200 Black South African students from two recently integrated secondary schools. Both groups considered working hard and having interest in school tasks to be more important than competition or affiliation. The former items tended to be the best predictors in both groups of the use of deep learning strategies, which are known to be prerequisites for high-quality learning outcomes. The motivation scales tended to be better predictors of learning strategies for the Black students

Motivation & learning strategies : a cross-cultural perspective

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