The pragmatic import of ‘Orí’ in Yorùbá conversational discourse

Among the Yorùbá of Nigeria, of all the parts of the human body, Orí [English: head] features most frequently in linguistic thought and action, but although numerous researchers have considered its spiritual values, orí’s conversational worth has been greatly overlooked. While acknowledging the spiritual associations of this top part of the body, this paper uses fragments of naturally occurring speech-in-context – surreptitiously collected among several Yorùbá interlocutors – to generate a tentative typology for Orí and concludes that the invocation of the head, whether in reference to one’s own or to that of another, has socio-pragmatic significance, and can serve various discourse functions, e.g., as a strategy for opening, commenting on, marking, and closing talk sequences. The discussion identifies perspectives – other than spiritual – from which this vital detail of the human frame could be ex-amined, given its frequency in much Yorùbá conversational discourse

Communication in the Yoruba court: reflections from Yoruba video films

O foco deste trabalho é que, como qualquer outra sociedade, a corte real ioruba extrai sua força de comunicação tanto de códigos verbais quanto de códigos não-verbais, para assim governar seus cidadãos. O trabalho elucida o uso criterioso e inconsciente dos códigos discursivos associados ao palácio (associados à corte) como exibido no vídeo/filme ioruba, com ênfase especial nos enunciados verbais, comunicação simbólica e códigos telegráficos confrontados com o modo de governo tradicional ioruba.The thrust of this paper is that, just like any other society, the Yoruba royal court draws its communication strength from both the verbal and non-verbal codes to govern the citizenry. The paper sheds light on judicious use and insensible use of discourse codes associated with the palace as exhibited in the Yoruba video films, with special emphasis on verbal utterances, symbol-communication and telegraphic codes vis a vis Yoruba traditional governance

Assessment of Compost on Dryland Wheat Yield and Quality, Soil Fertility and Water Availability in Utah

In 2014-2016 Kareem Adeleke undertook a graduate project under the supervision of Utah State University (USU) Plants, Soils and Climate professors, Drs. Jennifer Reeve, Astrid Jacobson, and Earl Creech. Organic wheat producers face numerous challenges, such as low soil moisture, soil erosion, and low soil fertility. Organic wheat growers generally do not apply fertilizer due to inability to recoup the costs in the short-term. Compost enhances long-term improvement in soil quality, soil fertility and increase yield in low input environments. Understanding of compost carryover effects in dryland wheat systems is necessary for increased yield that will allow adequate supply of nutrients for several years after the initial application. A previous study on a Utah calcareous soil showed evidence of soil benefits twenty-two years after a single application of compost at 50 Mg ha-1 dry weight. A new experiment was started at the Blue Creek farm in 2011 to test the reproducibility of these findings on a less marginal soil type. Compost was applied at 0, 12, 25, and 50 Mg ha-1 plus a conventional fertilizer control. Wheat yield was significantly increased three years after application at the 50 Mg ha-1 compost rate only. Conventional fertilizer increased grain protein. Mineralizable soil carbon, microbial biomass and phosphatase enzyme activity increased significantly at all compost rates, while available soil phosphorus increased at the 25 and 50 Mg ha-1 rates and total soil nitrogen at the 50 Mg ha-1 rate. A lack of yield response to conventional fertilizer suggests improved soil health and or soil moisture was responsible for improved yields at the high compost rate

Hazard Perception and Demand for Insurance Among Selected Motorcyclists in Lagos, Nigeria

This study examines hazard perception effects on the demand for insurance withspecial focus on motorcycle riders in Lagos state. For this purpose, the researchershave been able to examine selected hazard perception determinants and theireffects on the insuring attitude and desire of motorcycle riders. An explanatoryresearch design was employed and a convenience sampling type of the nonprobabilitysampling technique was adopted.  Data was gathered by interviewsconducted at motorcycle parks along the Lagos-Badagry expressway.  The sampleconsisted of 126 respondents made up of commercial motorcycle riders within thesample areas. Data collected was analysed using multiple regression technique.The study was able to establish some level of contributory linkage between hazardperception and demand for motorcycle insurance. The findings show that whiledread and trust both appeared to have significant effect, publicity and controllabilityboth have positive contributory effect; furthermore, choice expressed an inverserelationship with demand for insurance among the motorcycle riders. The studytherefore recommends pre-loss and post-loss measures among the motorcycleriders so that unforeseen motorcycle risks can be managed. Also, insurancecompanies should endeavour to invest more on enlightening the motorcycle riders in order to lessen their dread of loss outcome, and thus, design policy that can instil trust in motorcycle riders in insurance as a loss control measure

Performance of Sokoto red goats (bucks) fed urea treated and untreated rice milling waste in north western Nigeria

The study was carried out at the Livestock Teaching and Research Farm of Federal University Dutsin-Ma to monitor the performance of Sokoto red bucks fed urea treated and untreated rice milling waste. Twenty entire male Sokoto red bucks were used. The experimental animals were allotted (n=5) in a completely randomized design (CRD) to diets A and B with 15% and 30% inclusion levels of untreated rice milling waste, respectively, while C and D contained 15% and 30% inclusion levels of urea treated rice milling waste, respectively, in a completely randomized design (CRD). The feeding trial lasted for 84 days while the digestibility trial lasted for 14 days. Three randomly selected experimental bucks from each experimental treatment were housed in the metabolic cages and their faeces collected for seven days using faecal bag after the seven days adaptation period. The faeces were weighed and bulked 10% collected and oven-dried before they were stored in polythene bags until required for analysis. Urine was also collected for seven days inside the metabolic cages using urinary funnel piped into the bottle containing 2 ml 10% sulphuric acid to trap the nitrogen content. 10% of the urine was sampled and stored in freezer at -2C for chemical analysis. The dry matter intake was significantly higher (P<0.05) in treatments A and B than other treatments. However, this did not result in significantly better (P<0.05) performance (feed efficiency and Cost of feed/ live weight gain) as shown with treatment C and D that had significantly better (P<0.05) weight gain, feed efficiency, nutrients digestibility and nitrogen retention. The cost of feed per kg live weight was shown to be significantly lower (P<0.05) in treatments C and D compared to treatment B which was significantly lower (P<0.05) than treatment A. The study concluded that diet D which contained 30% inclusion level of urea treated rice milling waste was the best among all the diets because of the lowest cost per feed live weight of 1.40 USD/kg and feed efficiency of 0.10

Digitization capacity and skills of academic librarians in Nigeria

In order to increase their global visibility and better performance in the web ranking of world universities, more Nigerian universities have been devising creative means of increasing their digital contents in the public domain resulting in more sharability of institutional resources. Digitization builds capacity for the university library system to realize its mandate of supporting learning, teaching and research activities of its parent institutions through the instrumentality of the emerging and evolving information and communications technologies (ICTs). However, certain skill sets and competencies are required by librarians in Nigerian universities to establish and maintain digital collections in their respective institutions. A questionnaire survey is conducted on this category of information professionals in ten selected private and public universities that have minimum ICT infrastructure required for digitization. The collected data are analyzed and results presented in simple descriptive statistics

One rule for the goose, one for the gander? The use of plea bargaining for high profile corruption cases in Nigeria

Controversies have continued to trail the adoption and use of plea bargaining in the criminal justice administration in Nigeria, particularly in prosecuting high profile corruption cases. This paper interrogated the pros and cons of its application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to recover looted funds from high profile corrupt public officials. Leaning heavily on sociological school, which emphasizes the relationship between law and the needs and institutions of the society, the article explored various schools of thought in law as regards the conceptualisation of plea bargaining, theoretical underpinnings of the emergence, adoption and the implication of its use on Nigeria’s drive towards ensuring equality before the law. The selective use of plea bargaining in the country is adjudged to be counterproductive and inimical to the country’s quest for social justice.Keywords: Corruption; high profile; law; plea bargaining; social justic

Effect of Some Plant Extracts on the Nematode Population and Yield Parameters of Waterleaf (Talinum triangulare L.) (Jacq.) Willd

Studies were conducted on the nematicidal properties of Jatropha curcas, Cymbopogon citratus and Chromolaena odorata and Carbofuran 5G. Consequently, hot water extracts of the plants and the nematicide at 20, 35 and 50 % concentrations were applied to 5-week old stem cuttings of T. triangulare in 5 kg of sterilized soil and inoculated with 5,000 eggs and second stage juveniles of M. javanica. The control had no nematode, plant extracts and cabofuran, thereafter uninoculated-untreated (Uit) and another had nematode suspension, but no extracts and nematicide [inoculated-untreated (Ut)]. The experiment was a factorial in a completely randomized design, with four replications. Data on the number of leaves, seeds and flowers, nematode population in the soil and root of T. triangulare including root galling index were obtained and subjected to Analysis of Variance. Results show that number of leaves was significantly (P≤0.05) higher in Uit (25.75) and carbofuran at 20% concentration (21.0) than in the Ut (11.25). There were no significant differences in the number of flowers and seeds, although visual observations show that number of seeds was higher in Uit (13.5). Nematode populations in the root and soil were significantly lower in J. curcas at 50% concentration (30.0 and 9.0) respectively, compared to others at the same concentration except in carbofuran for nematode in the soil. Also, gall index was lowest in J. curcas extract at 50% concentration. Thus, J. curcas extract was more effective in managing root-knot nematode in waterleaf than cabofuran. Key words: Carbofuran, Biopesticide, Talinum triangulare, Root-knot nematode

Nature of Arbitral Awards in Nigeria: an Overview

The need to explore other means of dispute resolution has resulted in the development of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, prominent among which is arbitration. Arbitration is the most regulated mechanism and is best suited for commercial relationships because, while it seeks to preserve existing relationships, it also ends in an award which is binding on the parties to the proceedings. The study examined the nature of arbitral awards through the lens of decided cases and the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 2004. The study adopted the doctrinal method of research and relied on primary sources of information such as statutes, cases and conventions; as well as secondary sources of information such as books, journal articles and materials gotten from the internet, all subject to content analysis. The study found that the award, which is final and binding on the parties, has the same status as a judgment of the court in Nigeria when recognised and enforced, but may be set aside where any of the essential requirements are lacking. The study concluded by stating the need for everyone involved to take conscious steps from the beginning of the arbitration in order to end up with a valid and an enforceable award

Mandatory or Flexible: Whither Retirement Age Policy?

The debate over whether to end mandatory retirement age policy in favor of flexible retirement policy has heightened. It is argued that it is wasteful to compel productive workers to retire at an arbitrary chronological age and that productivity should be the correct criterion for continued employment. This paper examines the preference between mandatory and flexible retirement age policies based on a survey conducted among workers in Lagos State, the former federal capital of Nigeria. It evaluates the impact of eliminating mandatory retirement age policy on the productivity of Nigerian workers. Particularly, the study investigates the influence of age, gender, income, and duration to retirement on workers’ preference for the type of retirement age policy. The study found that all the factors of interest influence employees’ preference for type of retirement plan and employees are indeed more disposed to flexible retirement. It also found that flexible policy will have a positive welfare effect as many employees can then take care of their extended span of dependants for a longer period and employee productivity will also be improved. Key words: Retirement, Mandatory, Flexible, Pension Plan, Extended Family System