The effectiveness of student involvement in decisionmaking and university leadership: A comparative analysis of 12 universities in South-west Nigeria

This study examines student involvement in university leadership and decision-makingand its impacts on leadership effectiveness in universities in Nigeria. The study uses adescriptive survey conducted among students and staff in all 12 of the public and privateuniversities in South-West Nigeria.1 The research findings indicate that there is a significantrelationship between student involvement in decision-making and leadership effectiveness.It also reveals that there are significant differences between decision-making with studentinvolvement and decision-making without student involvement. Conversely, no significantdifference was found in leadership effectiveness between decision-making in public andprivate universities. The study finally reveals that there is a significant relationship betweenthe management-student relationship and teaching effectiveness. The results therefore showthat, for leadership and teaching effectiveness to be improved in Nigerian universities,provision should be made for the adequate involvement of students in decision-making onimportant matters relating to university administration

The effectiveness of student involvement in decisionmaking and university leadership: A comparative analysis of 12 universities in South-west Nigeria

This study examines student involvement in university leadership and decision-making and its impacts on leadership effectiveness in universities in Nigeria. The study uses a descriptive survey conducted among students and staff in all 12 of the public and private universities in South-West Nigeria.1 The research findings indicate that there is a significant relationship between student involvement in decision making and leadership effectiveness. It also reveals that there are significant differences between decision-making with student involvement and decision-making without student involvement. Conversely, no significant difference was found in leadership effectiveness between decision-making in public and private universities. The study finally reveals that there is a significant relationship between the management-student relationship and teaching effectiveness. The results therefore show that, for leadership and teaching effectiveness to be improved in Nigerian universities, provision should be made for the adequate involvement of students in decision-making on important matters relating to university administration.Keywords: Student representation; leadership; student politics; public higher education; private higher education; university governance; effectiveness; teaching and learnin

Study of Mechanical Properties of Stabilized Lateritic Soil with Additives.

The overdependence on the USAge of industrially manufactured soil improved or conventional additives have resulted in unaffordable cost of construction of better infrastructure in Third World and poor countries which are mostly agriculturally dependent across Globe. This study is aimed at studying the mechanical properties of lateritic soil stabilized with mixture of conventional and locally available additives. Soil samples collected from the study area were subjected to laboratory tests (i.e. Grain Size and Atterberg Limits tests) after stabilized with cement, ESA and RHA additives at proportion of 2% to 10% by sample weight. It is observed that the LL, PL and PI values varied from 30.1% to 35.5%, 9.9% to 12.5% and 20.1% to 23.2% respectively for sample A. While LL, PL and PI values varied from 35.2% to 41.5%, 10.8% to 14.5% and 24.4% to 27.1% respectively for sample B. It could be generally observed that PI values reduced while PL values increased for the soil samples after increase in addition of cement additive from 6% to 8%. All the LL, PL and PI values also reduced as the percentage of RHA additive added increased. Soil sample A has group classifications of A – 2 – 6 while soil sample B has A – 7 and tend towards A – 2 - 6 and A - 6 after stabilization. The stabilization process using local additives as partial replacement of conventional one generally improved the soils Engineering properties. Though it is more felt in ESA than RHA. Further research work should be carried out

Assessment of Performance Properties of Stabilized Lateritic Soil for Road Construction in Ekiti State.

Soil Stabilization usually enhances performance properties of soil. This can foster waste to wealth policy in country like Nigeria. The aim of this study is to assess performance properties of a stabilized lateritic soil with a view to obtain a cheap and more effective additive. Soil samples were collected from the study area and subjected to Compaction and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) laboratory tests with the addition of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% Rice Husk Ash (RHA) and Egg Shell Ash (ESA). Results showed that MDD, OMC and CBR values varied from 1575Kg/m3 to 1930Kg/m3, 7.55% to 18.50% and 20% to 131% respectively for sample A. And 1566Kg/m3 to 1896Kg/m3, 7.53% to 16.90% and 16% to 98% respectively for sample B. The MDD values decrease with increase in the additives contents due to the replacement of soil by the additives in the mixture, coating of the soil by additives which resulted in large particles with larger voids and density; and addition of the additives which decreased the quality of free silt, clay fraction and coarse materials with large surface areas formed. OMC values also increase as the additives increase, though, that of RHA increases more than that of ESA. This is due to the increase in additives which resulted to increase in the amount of water required in the system to adequately lubricate all the particles in the mixture equally increase. Generally, CBR values also increase with increase in the additives contents. This could be attributed to gradual formation of cementitious compound between the additives and Calcium Hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) present in the soil, thus increase in coarse particles of the soil through cementation

Potential Health Risk Assessment of Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Freshwater Organisms from Ojo River, Lagos, Nigeria

This study investigated potential health risk associated with heavy metal bioaccumulation in freshwater organisms in Ojo River, Lagos, Nigeria. Liver, gills and muscle from fish samples and muscle and exoskeleton from crab samples were analysed for concentration of Cd, Cr, Zn, Pb, Ni and Cu using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer after digestion of samples. Generally, heavy metal concentration in water samples from different locations in Ojo River did not exceed WHO limits. Concentration of Pb, Cu, Zn and Cr in tissues of M. niger and L. campechanus shows high bioaccumulation of heavy metals. Heavy metals bioaccumulated more in liver > muscle > gills in both fish samples. Ni and Cd were not detected in the two fish species. Similarly, Pb, Cu and Ni were found in muscles and exoskeleton of C. pagurus and S. serrate at quantities higher than WHO limits. Zinc was detected only in muscle and not exoskeleton of both crab samples, while Cr was found only in exoskeleton of C. pagurus and Ni was not detected in all crab species. Estimated daily intake (EDIs) for Pb, Cu, Zn and Cr in M. niger and L. campechanus and for Pb, Cu and Ni in C. pagurus and S. serrate were higher than the oral reference doses. Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) for heavy metals were also extremely high. Significantly high bioaccumulation of heavy metals in freshwater organisms from Ojo River calls for serious actions because it is a major source of freshwater foods for residents of Lagos

Kinetics and mechanistics steps to the electron transfer reaction of peroxo-bridged binuclear cobalt(III) complex of succinimide by glycine in aqueous acidic medium

ABSTRACT. The kinetics and mechanistic steps to the electron transfer reaction of the peroxo-bridged binuclear cobalt(III) complex of succinimide [(suc)(en)2Co(O2)Co(en)2(suc)2+] hereafter called peroxo-bridged dicobalt(III) complex ‘[Co(O2)Co2+]’ by glycine have been carried out spectrophotometrically at λ = 420 nm and T = 26 ± 1 oC, [H+] = 1 x 10-3 M and ᶙ = 0.5 M (NaCl) in aqueous acidic medium. The reaction was found to be first order with respect to [Co(O2)Co2+] and [(Gly] and experimental data indicates a second-order overall. The reactions obeyed the general rate law: (d[Co(O2)Co2+]/dt) = (a +b)[H+])[Co(O2)Co2+][Gly]. Varying hydrogen ion concentration accelerated the reaction rate and shows first-order dependence while the reactions also affected by changes in the ionic strength of the reaction medium by giving a non-negative salt effect in the course of the reaction. Free radicals were not detected in the reactions. Spectroscopic investigation and Michaelis-Menten plots suggest the absence of intermediate complex formation. The experimental result obtained in this system is concluded in favor of the outer-sphere mechanism.                     KEY WORDS: Cobalt(III) complex, Kinetic, Electron transfer, Spectroscopic, Mechanistic steps, Michaelis-Menten, Glycine   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2021, 35(2), 425-434. DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v35i2.1

Evaluation of the Efficacy of African Basil (Ocimum gratissimum) Leaf for Disinfecting Well - water obtained from Ekiti State, Nigeria

The demand for potable and affordable water led to comparative research of the efficacy of Ocimum gratissimum Leaf (OGL) extract by collecting well water and treated with OGL extract. Both treated and untreated samples were subjected to physiochemical and bacteriological examinations. Data obtained showed that the pH and feacal coliform counts ranged from 6.17 to 6.74 and 0 to 192 CFU/100 mL for well water sample A; 6.56 to 7.24 and 0 to 118 CFU/100 mL for well water samples B; 6.81 to 7.79 and 0 to 75 CFU/100 mL for well water samples C respectively. The OGL extract includes various bioactive components (i.e. steroids, tannins, etc) according to the phytochemical tests. The first feacal coliform count was above the allowed range (i.e. >50 CFU/100 mL) and the pH value tended to be acidic (6.5), with a colour of >15 H.U. and an unclear (brownish) appearance. The Coliform count was lowered with each dosage of OGL extract until it reached zero count after 24 hours’ contact time at an optimum dosage of 5 mL and the total bacteria counts were gone. The beneficial influence (s) from this study confirms the disinfectant potential of OGL extract for well water treatment

Life Cycle Engineering Case Study: Sulphuric Acid Production

Sulphuric acid is an essential basic chemical in the world. This chemical is used in different industries, and is mainly sold as intermediates applied in a range of products. This study investigated the lifecycle assessment of sulphuric acid production in commercial scale in Nigeria by identifying the processes that contribute significantly to the hotspots and the impact the product has on climate change. The data gathered for the study represents operations at a major plant in Nigeria.  System boundaries were established using a cradle to gate approach, based on primary data from the plant.  Secondary data was obtained from the US database. Sulphuric acid plant process simulation was done using Aspen HYSYS 2006-aspen ONE from ASPENTECH. GaBi life cycle assessment (LCA) software, (PE International) was used to evaluate the environmental impact of the process. The work was done in accordance with ISO 14040 series LCA standards. The weak point analysis identified the raw material stages as areas of weakness in the sulphuric acid model. The assessment in this study identified the raw material stage; elemental sulphur at plant as the main contributor to the carbon footprint with emission to air amounting to 4 x107kg. The total CO2 emission the sulphuric acid model is 1.24 x107 kg with approximately 0.66% direct emission from fuel combustion in the plant. The opportunity for improvement in terms of emission reduction is in reduction of energy consumed by replacing fossil based material with bio-based material. An advantage to this study is that the methodology applied can serve as a means for determining the carbon footprint of other sulphuric products. This study has shown that life cycle assessment has a potential to identify hotspots of a product to find strategies to sustain the environment.

AMELIORATION OF ARSENIC-INDUCED TOXICITY BY ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF PHYLLANTUS AMARUS LINN AND VITAMIN C IN MALE ALBINO RATS

The ameliorative effect of ethanol leaf extract of Phyllantus amarus (EEPA) and vitamin C in arsenic-induced toxicity was studied. Thirty-six (36) male albino rats divided into six groups of six (6) rats each were used for the study. Arsenic toxicity was induced in three of the groups by daily intake of 100 ppm of arsenic as Dimethylarsenate (DMA) in their drinking water.  Two of the arsenic-exposed groups were treated with 200 and 500 mg/kg bwt of EEPA and vitamin C respectively. The third group was not treated during arsenic exposure. The fourth and fifth groups were positive control for P. amarus and Vitamin C respectively, while another group served as the normal control. All treatments were done orally for six weeks. The effects of treatments on lipid profile, lipid peroxidation and liver function were thereafter studied. Increased levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed in plasma and lymphocytes of untreated arsenic-exposed rats compared to the control group. Arsenic increased total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations, while triacylglycerol concentration was reduced significantly. Treatments with EEPA and Vitamin C however ameliorated the dyslipidemia observed in arsenic-exposed groups. Exposure to DMA increased plasma activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) of the animals, while plasma activity of ALT in rats treated with Vitamin C was not different compared to the control. Both treatments however, had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on the activity of plasma AST. P. amarus may therefore play a role in ameliorating arsenic-induced dyslipidemia in male albino rats.     &nbsp