ASSESSMENT OF GENDER ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL LOANS FROM COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN DEKINA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed gender access to agricultural loans from cooperative societies in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. Primary data used were collected from 160 registered cooperative members in the study area. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, binary Logit regression analysis, and mean score. Results of the findings showed that 62.9% and 54.3% of the male and female cooperative members were married with household size of 1 – 5 members. Most of the respondents were within the age bracket of 31 – 50 years. Finding on gender difference indicated that male cooperative members had more access (3.52) to loan than the female (2.88). Estimates of the binary logit model showed that the slope coefficients of household size, educational status, years of membership, and income were positive and statistically significant at 10% and 5% for the male and female cooperative members respectively. Furthermore, the major problems faced by cooperative members in accessing loans are reluctance from financial institutions (M=2.8) and fear of repayment by borrowers (M=2.7). Amongst others, comprehensive development of gender specific policy interventions by government to enhance access to loan by female cooperative members was recommended

Investigating the dynamics of bank credit in Nigeria: The role of bank consolidation

This paper examines the dynamics of deposit money banks (DMB) credit and the role of consolidation in credit growth in Nigeria using vector error correction model and Granger causality test. The empirical investigation involved DMBs that have maintained a unique name and some market characteristics before and after the 2004 banking sector consolidation. Using quarterly data from 1999Q1 - 2013Q2 of the selected DMBs, the results show a positive relationship between post-consolidation credit supply growth and the real gross domestic product. The results also show that despite the onesided positive causality from credit supply to economic growth, the total contribution of the consolidated credit growth to real activity was not significant. The paper, therefore, recommends that in order to improve the credit channel of monetary policy transmission, policy makers should take into account how the banks react to such policies

Women Participation in Post-Harvest Processing of Maize Using Indigenous Technologies: A Perspective of Kogi State of Nigeria

This research was carried out in Kogi State, Nigeria. This study investigated the level of women participation in post-harvest management practices of maize in Kogi State. Women participation in post-harvest handling of crops in Nigeria and particularly in Kogi State is a focal area for researches in the post-harvest subsector of agriculture. Women are found to be actively engaged in making sure that harvested crops are properly stored and processed into forms that are consumable and marketable. Data collected for this study were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square analysis. Results indicated greater percentages (42.26 and 41.67%) of women farmers highly participated in the storage and marketing of maize, but low participation in transportation, grading/sorting/packaging and processing of maize was recorded. it is recommended that women should have access to productive resources (land, labour and credits, technical and economic information) in order to boost their participation in post-harvest management and value addition of maize. This chapter deals with women activities in indigenous post-harvest management of harvested maize which covers storage, processing, sorting, grading, packaging, transportation and marketing. It analyses the peculiarity of women engagement in post-harvest activities in Nigeria, and particularly in Kogi State

From OAU to AU: New Wine in Old Bottles?

No Abstract

Comparative analysis of the affine scaling and Karmarkar’s polynomial – time for linear programming

The simplex method is the well-known, non-polynomial solution technique for linear programming problems. However, some computational testing has shown that the Karmarkar’s polynomial projective interior point method may perform better than the simplex method on many classes of problems, especially, on problems with large sizes. The affine scaling algorithm is a variant of the Karmarkar’s algorithms. In this paper, we compare the affine scaling and the Karmarkar algorithms using the same test LP problem. Keywords: Polynomial-time, Complexity bound, Primal LP, Dual LP, Basic Solution, Degenerate Solution, Affine Space, Simplex and Polytop

Analysis of adoption of cashew management techniques by cashew farmers in Zone B Agro-ecological zone of Kogi state

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is a crop of commerce of which both domestic and international demand has risen lately. It thrives well in the guinea savanna region of Nigeria particularly Kogi State that is known for producing quality cashew nuts. Hence, this study investigated the adoption of cashew farm management techniques by cashew farmers in Zone B agro-ecological zone of Kogi State. A total of 120 respondents were selected and administered questionnaire using a combination of both purposive and random sampling techniques. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Result showed that Majority (74.2%) of the respondent were married with average household size of 7 persons per household. The mean age of respondents was 49 years. The result also showed that pruning (98.3%) and fire tracing (97.5%) were the most adopted cashew farm management techniques by cashew farmers in the study area. The study recommended that farmers should be trained on good agricultural practices on cashew production to improve its management

Learning Analytics in Higher Education Development: A Roadmap

The increase in education data and advance in technology are bringing about enhanced teaching and learning methodology. The emerging field of Learning Analytics (LA) continues to seek ways to improve the different methods of gathering, analysing, managing and presenting learners’ data with the sole aim of using it to improve the student learning experience and the study environment. In this paper, we try to explore the concept and salient features of LA potential in higher education and suggest strategies on how this emerging field can make use of data mining techniques alongside learners’ data to produce useful and informed decision making. Using the Technology-Organisation–Human frameworks, the paper investigates the roadmap for successful implementation of LA in higher Educational Institutions. Keywords: Learning Analytics, Learning Management System, Higher education, Roadma

African Traditional Government: A Case Study of Shaka the Zulu

Bantu is a general name given to a vast group of peoples who speak several hundred different languages that can be shown to be related to one another. The Bantu who settled in South Africa belonged to a branch of Bantu peoples known as the Southern Bantu. They can be divided into a number of groups by reference to their languages. The east-coast strip was the home of numerous tribes belonging to the Nguni-speaking group. By the 18th century they occupied the coastal area as far as the Great Fish River and were beginning to settle to the Southwest of that river in a land known as Zuurveld. The Bantu were organized in tribes, each of which consisted of one central clan, though it may contain members of other clans as well. The advent of Europeans on African soil did not meet a vacuum. Africans had systems of government that served them well. This paper investigated the rise of Shaka, the Zulu and his contribution to African traditional government that became a formidable obstacle to British imperialism in Southern Africa in the 19th century. Keywords: administration, military, despot, and loyalt

An Analysis of the Nigerian Power Sector:The Journey Thus Far and the Way Forward

This article presents an analysis of the Electricity Act (EA) 2023 in Nigeria, a pivotal legislation that repeals the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) 2005 and establishes a new framework for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). The study delves into the historical context of Nigeria's power sector, the challenges it has faced, and the reforms undertaken to address these challenges. The EA 2023 is examined in detail, highlighting its key innovations such as the decentralisation and de-monopolisation of the power sector, the establishment of State electricity markets, and the incorporation of renewable energy sources. The research underscores the importance of these reforms in addressing the energy trilemma—balancing energy security, equity, and environmental sustainability. It also evaluates the potential risks and offers recommendations for effective implementation. This paper aims to provide a better understanding of the EA's impact on Nigeria's power sector and its alignment with global climate change objectives.The conclusion of the research emphasises that while the EA 2023 is a progressive step towards addressing Nigeria's energy challenges, its success is contingent upon effective implementation, continuous policy adaptation, and strong public-private partnerships. The study concludes that the EA has the potential to significantly transform Nigeria's energy landscape, making it more efficient, sustainable, and aligned with global climate change goals, provided that the associated risks are effectively managed and mitigated