Human Capital Development: A Catalyst for Achieving SDGs in Nigeria

There is no gainsaying in the fact that one of the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to attain poverty hitch-free by 2030. However, the continuous increase in poverty level has generated a lot of debates among policymakers, scholars and economists while government have also been continuously formulating different policies to avert this ugly situation. Various studies have documented the contributions of human capital development to poverty alleviation in Nigeria with special reference to MDGs and their results might not be transmitted to achieving the SDGs in Nigeria. This study therefore addresses this issue. The paper examines the impact of human capital development on poverty alleviation in Nigeria over the last two and half decades (1990-2015). The results obtained shall be used to project into the future as to whether investments in human capital expenditure has potential to achieve the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The study adopts a log-linear regression model formulated sequentially from the Solow’s neo-classical growth theory and standard Cobb-Douglas production function. The prevalence of poverty rate as a percentage of total population was regressed on unemployment rate, real government expenditures on education and health. The result of the estimated model reveals that real government expenditure on education has a significant effect on the prevalence of poverty in Nigeria. However, real government expenditure on health and unemployment rate both have negative but insignificant inelastic effects on the prevalence of poverty rate in Nigeria during the period under review. On this basis, the paper therefore suggests that government should invest more in education and facilitate the integration of vocational training programmes and courses as part of academic curriculum in schools at all levels. Also, government should increase investment in the health sector to ensure improvement and access to quality health facilities in the country, if human capital investment should catalyze SDGs achievement

Disaster preparedness level in hazard laden environment: A case study of tertiary institution students in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria

Objective: The aim was to assess disaster preparedness of tertiary institution students in Osogbo, Osun State.Materials and methods: A cross sectional study carried out among 360 tertiary institution students using a semi structured self-administered  questionnaire.Results: Extreme heat, extreme cold and overcrowding are the hazards commonly exposed to by the students. While some respondents reported  availability of safety equipment in their school, majority do not either have access to it or know how to operate these equipment. About two thirds  (62.5%) are aware of disaster impact while only about one third (33.3%) are highly prepared for it. Bivariate analysis shows that religion (p=0.032), marital  status (p=0.027) and family type (P=0.008) were significantly associated with their awareness level while only program of study (P=0.013) was significantly  associated with preparedness level.Conclusion: Tertiary institution students in Osogbo are exposed to various hazards and majority are not well prepared for it

Human Capital Development: A Catalyst for Achieving Sdgs in Nigeria

There is no gainsaying in the fact that one of the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to attain poverty hitch-free by 2030. However, the continuous increase in poverty level has generated a lot of debates among policymakers, scholars and economists while government have also been continuously formulating different policies to avert this ugly situation. Various studies have documented the contributions of human capital development to poverty alleviation in Nigeria with special reference to MDGs and their results might not be transmitted to achieving the SDGs in Nigeria. This study therefore addresses this issue. The paper examines the impact of human capital development on poverty alleviation in Nigeria over the last two and half decades (1990-2017). The results obtained shall be used to project into the future as to whether investments in human capital expenditure has potential to achieve the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The study adopts a log-linear regression model formulated sequentially from the Solow’s neo-classical growth theory and standard Cobb-Douglas production function. The prevalence of poverty rate as a percentage of total population was regressed on unemployment rate, real government expenditures on education and health. The result of the estimated model reveals that real government expenditure on education and unemployment rate both have significant effect on the prevalence of poverty in Nigeria. However, real government expenditure on health has negative but insignificant inelastic effect on the prevalence of poverty rate in Nigeria during the period under review. On this basis, the paper therefore suggests that government should invest more in education and facilitate the integration of vocational training programmes and courses as part of academic curriculum in schools at all levels. Also, government should increase investment in the health sector to ensure improvement and access to quality health facilities in the country, if human capital investment should catalyze SDGs achievement

Solenostemon monostachyus, Ipomoea involucrata and Carica papaya seed oil versus Glutathione, or Vernonia amygdalina: Methanolic extracts of novel plants for the management of sickle cell anemia disease

Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disease caused by an individual inheriting an allele for sickle cell hemoglobin from both parents and is associated with unusually large numbers of immature blood cells, containing many long, thin, crescent-shaped erythrocytes. It is a disease prevalent throughout many populations. The use of medicinal plants and nutrition in managing SCD is gaining increasing attention. Methods The antisickling effects of Solenostemon monostachyus (SolMon), Carica papaya seed oil (Cari-oil) and Ipomoea involucrata (Ipocrata) in male (HbSSM) and female (HbSSF) human sickle cell blood was examined in vitro and compared with controls, or cells treated with glutathione or an antisickling plant (Vernonia amygdalina; VerMyg). Results Levels of sickle blood cells were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in all the plant-extract treated SCD patients’ blood compared with that of untreated SCD patients. RBCs in SolMon, Ipocrata, and Cari-oil treated samples were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared with VerMyg-treated samples. The Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in all plant extract-treated HbSSM samples compared with controls. Hemoglobin concentration was significantly increased (P < 0.05) by SolMon treatment in HbSSF compared with VerMyg. Sickle cell polymerization inhibition exhibited by SolMon was significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared with that of VerMyg in HbSSF blood. Sickle cell polymerization inhibition in SolMon and Ipocrata were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared with VerMyg in HbSSM blood. All plant extracts significantly reduced (P < 0.05) lactate dehydrogenase activity in both HbSSM and HbSSF-treated blood. Catalase activity was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in HbSSF blood treated with Ipocrata compared with glutathione. Cari-oil treated HbSSM and HbSSF blood had significantly increased (P < 0.05) peroxidase activity compared with controls. Conclusions Methanolic extracts from S. monostachyus, C. papaya seed oil and I. involucrata exhibited particular antisickling properties coupled with the potential to reduce stress in sickle cell patients. Each plant individually or in combination may be useful for the management of sickle cell diseas

Effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and gibberellic acid on salt stress tolerance in tomato genotypes

Salinity stress is a limiting factor that affects attainment of optimal yield of many vegetable crops at various growth stages in many arid and semi-arid parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to explore salt tolerance of tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes under the influence of gibberellic acid (GA3) and Bacillus subtilis under screen house conditions. Tomato seeds were pre-soaked with 0, 0.4, 0.5 or 0.6 mM concentrations of GA3 and control in distilled water, respectively; for 12 hr at room temperature. The seeds were germinated in a screen house in 10 kg of soil contained 0, 100, or 200 mM NaCl treatment in polyethene bags. After two weeks of seed germination, the seedlings were inoculated with B. subtilis with the exception of controls. Results revealed that the single or combined treatments of GA3 (at different concentrations) and Bacillus subtilis significantly (P&lt;0.05) increased photosynthetic pigments, and enhanced the concentrations of potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus ions in the salt-stressed tomato. Both tomato genotypes showed low concentrations of sodium ions at all levels of gibberellic acid with Bacillus subtilis. Also, there were significant (P &lt; 0.05) increases in the compatible solutes, antioxidant enzymes activity and antioxidant potential of salt-stressed tomato genotypes, in the combined treatments of GA3 and Bacillus subtilis. Tomato genotypes treated with GA3 and Bacillus subtilis, showed greater salt-tolerance even at high levels of salinity, than single treatment of either GA3 or Bacillus subtilis. Based on these findings, the genotypes are suitable for future breeding programmes to achieve optimal crop yield in saline conditions.Le stress de salinit\ue9 est un facteur limitant qui affecte la r\ue9alisation du rendement optimal de nombreuses cultures potag\ue8res dans de nombreuses r\ue9gions arides et semi-arides de l\u2019Afrique sub-saharienne. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019explorer la tol\ue9rance au sel des g\ue9notypes de tomate ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) sous l\u2019influence de l\u2019acide gibb\ue9rellique (GA3) et de Bacillus subtilis . Les graines de tomate ont \ue9t\ue9 pr\ue9alablement tremp\ue9es avec des concentrations de GA3 de 0, 0,4, 0,5 ou 0,6 mM et du contr\uf4le dans de l\u2019eau distill\ue9e, respectivement; pendant 12 heures \ue0 temp\ue9rature ambiante. Les graines ont germ\ue9 dans un abri grillag\ue9 dans 10 kg de sol contenant 0, 100 ou 200 mM de traitement au NaCl dans des sacs en poly\ue9thyl\ue8ne. Apr\ue8s deux semaines de germination des graines, les plants ont \ue9t\ue9 inocul\ue9s avec B. subtilis. Les r\ue9sultats ont r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 que des traitements uniques ou combin\ue9s de GA3 (\ue0 diff\ue9rentes concentrations) et de Bacillus subtilis (P &lt;0,05) augmentaient consid\ue9rablement les pigments photosynth\ue9tiques et augmentaient les concentrations d\u2019ions potassium, calcium, magn\ue9sium et phosphore dans la tomate stress\ue9e par le sel. Les deux g\ue9notypes de tomates ont montr\ue9 de faibles concentrations d\u2019ions sodium \ue0 tous les niveaux d\u2019acide gibb\ue9rellique avec Bacillus subtilis. En outre, il y a eu des augmentations significatives (P &lt;0,05) des solut\ue9s compatibles, de l\u2019activit\ue9 des enzymes antioxydantes et du potentiel antioxydant des g\ue9notypes de tomates stress\ue9s par le sel, dans les traitements combin\ue9s de GA3 et de Bacillus subtilis. Les g\ue9notypes de tomates trait\ue9s avec GA3 et Bacillus subtilis ont montr\ue9 une plus grande tol\ue9rance au sel m\ueame \ue0 des niveaux \ue9lev\ue9s de salinit\ue9. Sur la base de ces r\ue9sultats, les g\ue9notypes conviennent aux futurs programmes de s\ue9lection pour obtenir un rendement optimal des cultures dans des conditions salines

Modulatory effect of fermented Tetracarpidium conophorum (African walnut) supplemented diet on cadmium-induced toxicity in rats

Tetracarpidium conophorum (African Walnut) is a plant with acclaimed multi-therapeutic properties in different parts of the plant. This research investigated the effect of fermented walnut supplemented diet on cadmium-induced toxicity in the liver and brain of rats. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of five animals each weighing between 90-140 g. Group 1 received 5 mg/kg body weight cadmium chloride (CdCl 2) and normal rat feed. Group 2 received a normal rat diet while groups 3 and 4 received 5 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride, and 5% and 10% walnut supplemented feed respectively. Cadmium (Cd) was administered daily for 6 weeks by oral intubation. Rats were sacrificed 24 hrs after the final treatment. Cd exposure elicited increased activities of Acetylcholinesterase, Superoxide dismutase, Catalase as well as elevated Glutathione levels. In addition, Cd exposure caused increases in rat plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentration. The fermented walnut supplemented diet restored some rats' biochemical parameter to near normal comparable to control. Our study shows that walnut supplemented food could substantially moderate Cd-induced toxicity in rat liver and brain while providing health and nutritional benefits. Hence, it could be useful for occupationally exposed individuals as a dietary intervention to reduce adverse health effects

Modeling the growth curve of Japanese Quail under different nutritional environments

Previous studies on Japanese quails have fitted non-linear models to growth data and assessed resultant parameters under a restricted nutritional environment. This study modeled the growth of Japanese quails under different nutritional environments, compared them in order to choose the best fitted model and investigated the statistical interaction between sex and diet using the best fitted model. Weekly body weight (BW) records were collected from 360 quails from hatch to 56 days. Bertalanffy, Gompertz and Logistic models were used for the study. Each model was fitted separately to BW using the NLIN procedure of SAS®. Parameters were estimated for each model and comparison was based on R2, AIC and BIC. Across the diets, asymptotic weight (A) for Gompertz ranged from 147.0-162.7g, Bertalanffy, 152.0-176.7g and Logistic, 135.0-146.3g Growth rate (k) for Gompertz model ranged from 0.35-0.48, Bertalanffy, 0.29-0.37 and Logistic, 0.60-0.81. A for males of 22%-20%, 22%-22% and 26%-20% combinations were significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher than those of other diet combinations. A for females of 26%- 20% were significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher than those of other diet combinations. No significant difference (P&gt;0.05) was observed in the k of both the male and female under all diets combinations. The study concluded that Logistic model (R2=0.99634-0.99939; AIC=4.5392-57.9737; BIC=8.67-62.10) resulted in the best fit model.Keywords: Nutritional environments, Non-linear models, body weight, growth rate and Japanese quail

Prediction of Japanese quail egg weight using egg components as regressors

This study was conducted on one hundred freshly laid eggs from Japanese quails with the purpose of predicting quail egg weight (EW) from some&nbsp; internal and external egg components, and also to have accurate and reliable models, for the prediction of egg weight without the use of sensitive scale. The following external (egg weight, egg width, egg length, shell thickness) and internal (yolk width, yolk length, albumen height and haugh&nbsp; unit) components were measured and the level of relationships between them were determined. Descriptive statistics for egg weight, egg length, egg width, albumen height, yolk height, yolk width, shell thickness and haugh unit were 9.13g, 2.97cm, 2.33cm, 0.57cm, 1.14cm, 2.18cm, 0.13mm and 57.58, respectively. Intercept and slope of regression between variables were determined. Generated values were used in multiple, double and&nbsp; simple linear regression equations, respectively. A total of ten prediction equations comprising three multiple, six double and nine simple linear resulted from the data generated. All the equations developed can be used in egg type quail operations. Each prediction equation with egg weight&nbsp; as the dependent variable will assist poultry breeders and farmers in particular in determining the precise egg weight of eggs laid by birds on the farm. Keywords: prediction, dependent variable, egg components, models, Japanese quai

Prediction of body weight from linear body measurements in Japanese quail

A total of 168 two-weeks-old Japanese quail chicks of mixed sex were used to study the relationship between Body weight and linear measurements in Japanese quail. Data were collected on body weight, body length, body girth, wing length, shank length and drumstick length fortnightly for eight weeks to predict body weight. Data were subjected to SAS for analysis. The mean body weights were 38.31, 81.12, 121.38 and 132.15g, respectively. Body weight gain increased as the birds advance in age and the highest body weight gain was between week 2 and week 4. Female birds were significantly (P&lt; 0.05) heavier than male. Body weight had a positive correlation with all linear body measurements at week 2 except for drumstick length. The best correlation was obtained between body weight and body girth at the 2nd week of age (0.82) (P&lt; 0.05). The estimates of coefficient of determination which ranged from 0.0043 to 0.68 and predictive equations show that body weight in Japanese quail is linearly related to body measurements especially with body girth and body length. The study showed that Body girth and Body length could be used as criteria for assessment and early selection of Japanese quail for body weight

Design and Development of Agricultural Waste Shredding Machine

After the harvest of most agricultural products, the waste generated is in large quantity. In most cases, this waste is either completely abandoned, destroyed or burnt. There is a need to look for alternative ways through which these wastes can be converted and useful for other purposes. This work developed a shredding machine using locally available materials. The machinecan shred these agricultural wastes into smaller pieces that can be used for animal feed. The machine consists of the following parts the machine frame, the feeding unit, and the transmission section; the materials used in constructing these parts include sheet metals, angle irons, shafts, bolts, and pulleys. The machine performance was evaluated using rice straw. The evaluated parameters include the efficiency of the machine and throughput capacity. The operational speed during the testing includes 350rpm, 650rpm and 970rpm,respectively. Maximum shredding efficiency of 90% was achieved when the shredding speed was 970 rpm. The maximum value of throughput capacity of 2.77kg/min was obtained at a shredding speed of 970rmp, while 1.92kg/min was obtained at a shredding speed of 350rmp. The machine demonstrated good performance and was cost-effective and relatively cheap for small and medium farmers