EFFECT OF PRODUCER INVESTMENT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF VALUE ADDED CASSAVA PRODUCTION IN SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA

This study analyzed the effect of producer investment on performance of value added cassava production inSouth East Nigeria. Data used for the study were obtained from 180 respondents using multi-stage samplingtechnique. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation analysis and simpleregression technique. Findings showed that the initial capital invested in the enterprises averaged ₦107,635.64(gari), ₦99,623.48 (fufu), and ₦71,159.39 (abacha) and sourced mostly from personal savings. The grossmargin was ₦326814.53, ₦353978.00 and ₦267791.69 for gari, fufu and abacha enterprises respectively, whilethe BCR was 2.17:1.00, 1.77:1.00 and 2.44:1.00 respectively for the enterprises. The correlation analysis showedthat there was a strong relationship between capital invested and performance. The regression analysis showedthat the amount of capital invested positively influenced the level of profit. The study therefore recommended theprovision of credit support to investors in cassava processing not only as agricultural loans but as part of small andmedium scale enterprises (SMEs) development grant to expand their capacity, improve scale of operation andincome. The amount of credit used by the processors in most of the cases had significant effects on theirperformance. Therefore the relevance of credit in strengthening the processors is important

The Acculturation Model in Second Language Learning: A Cross-Linguistic Study of a Group of English-Speaking Nigerian Immigrants Learning German as a Second Language in Germany

This study explores the experiences of a group of English-speaking Nigerian immigrants learning German as second language in Germany in a naturalistic and unstructured environment. The main aim of the study is to determine the extent to which the social and psychological distance factors of the Schumann Acculturation Model of SLA feature in the second language learning experiences of the group. By adopting a more social psychological approach, the study illustrates the integration patterns of immigrant minorities through the application of the Schumann model. The use of the model as the framework of the study enabled me to explore how the adult immigrants overcame different barriers in order to settle into a new environment. The study helps to fill the gap in SLA research carried out in the social context and the natural environment. A case study research design was adopted for this investigation to explore the participants’ perceptions about their real-life experiences in learning German in a naturalistic setting. Within the case study design, the questionnaire, focus group and semi-structured interview methods were used to collect data in relation to the following three research questions: 1) which social distance factors if any, feature in the experience of the group Nigerian immigrants learning German in Germany? 2) which psychological distance factors, if any, feature in the experience of this group? 3) to what extent does the experience of this group shed light on the Schumann model and the socio-psychological issues in second language learning? The analysis revealed that the group of immigrants were as strongly motivated to integrate into German society as they were determined to maintain the attachment to their cultural values. However, the group identified the lack of reciprocity from the host community as a factor potentially affecting their integration. The study contributes to the view in literature (for example, Conrick and Donovan, 2010) that the integration of immigrants into the host community involves engagement with a wide range of new cultural practices of which language is a highly significant element. Most importantly, the study helps to develop further knowledge on a less researched area involving the diaspora Nigerian community in Germany

Twin Deficit in Nigeria: A Re-Examination

This study re-examines the long run relationship between the budget and current account deficits in an oil-dependent open economy like Nigeria using a multivariate Granger causality test within the VECM framework. This result confirmed the existence of a long run relationship between the budget and current account deficit in Nigeria, thus supporting the Mudell-Fleming theory and refuting the Ricardian Equivalence Hypothesis (REH). The causality result indicates no causality between budget deficit and current account while the current account deficit causes budget account deficit. This implies that reduction in the current account deficits will help reduce the “twin deficit” dilemma

THE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF CRAYFISH PROCESSING IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Objectives: Crayfish production is a source of both direct and indirect employment. It is a major income generating activity that offers substantial economic benefits to traders and has the potential to address food security problems. Hence, the work analyzed the profitability of crayfish production and the determinants while highlighting the constraints to crayfish production. Methods: The multistage random sampling procedure was used to select 120 crayfish producers. Quantitative analytical techniques were employed in the analysis. Socioeconomic characteristics and constraints were assessed using descriptive statistical tools, while the level of profit and its determinants were evaluated using the farm budgeting technique and ordinary least square multiple regression techniques, respectively. Results: Crayfish production is a profitable venture with a return on investment of ₦45,585.1. Primary occupation, household size, processing experience, and quantity processed positively affected the performance of the enterprise while labor cost, association membership, and processing costs negatively influenced the enterprise. Conclusion: Efficiency of resource use, enhanced profitability, and livelihoods can be achieved through the provision of infrastructures and improved processing equipment at subsidized rates

BIPOLAR DISORDER IN ENUGU, SOUTH EAST NIGERIA: Demographic and diagnostic characteristics of patients

Background and objectives: Bipolar disorder is a severe mental disorder that has been widely studied in developed countries. Very few studies of this disorder exist in developing countries. The objective of this study was to describe the demographic and diagnostic characteristics of bipolar patients in Enugu, South East Nigeria. Subjects and method: The design of the study was cross-sectional. The study was carried out in Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Enugu (FNPHE) and in a Private Psychiatrist’s Office (PPO) in Enugu, South East Nigeria. 94 patients were recruited to take part in the study. 49 patients were included from the FNPHE and 45 patients from the PPO. The two groups of patients differed only in terms of mood at study entry. Patients were included in the study if they had been diagnosed bipolar, if they were attending the FNPHE as outpatients, inpatients or were receiving emergency treatment or if they were attending the PPO for follow-up and if they had given their consent to participate in the study. The patients responded to a structured questionnaire used to elicit demographic and diagnostic characteristics. This questionnaire was administered by one of the authors (EJ). Each patient was also interviewed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) for Bipolar Disorder Studies version 5.0.0. This MINI assessment was done by (MO). All the data were collected in a specially prepared data collection form. The demographic factors reported on included gender, age, marital status, level of education and employment status. The reported diagnostic and illness characteristics included age at onset of illness, mood at study entry and mood at onset of illness. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 11.5. Frequencies were run on demographic characteristics while means and standard deviations were calculated for continuous variables. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the FNPHE. Results: The majority of the sample (68.1%) met the criteria for bipolar I disorder. The mean age of patients was 33.17 (SD = 11.87) years and mean duration of bipolar illness was 9.6 (SD = 8.9) years. Among the 94 patients, 58.8% were males. The mean age at onset of illness for the whole group was 22.9 (SD = 8.3) years. Conclusion: The current report is probably the first on bipolar disorder in this part of Africa. It will serve as an impetus to conduct more research on the topic especially since some important findings are similar to what had been recorded from both developed and developing countrie

BIPOLAR DISORDER IN ENUGU, SOUTH EAST NIGERIA: Demographic and diagnostic characteristics of patients

Background and objectives: Bipolar disorder is a severe mental disorder that has been widely studied in developed countries. Very few studies of this disorder exist in developing countries. The objective of this study was to describe the demographic and diagnostic characteristics of bipolar patients in Enugu, South East Nigeria. Subjects and method: The design of the study was cross-sectional. The study was carried out in Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Enugu (FNPHE) and in a Private Psychiatrist’s Office (PPO) in Enugu, South East Nigeria. 94 patients were recruited to take part in the study. 49 patients were included from the FNPHE and 45 patients from the PPO. The two groups of patients differed only in terms of mood at study entry. Patients were included in the study if they had been diagnosed bipolar, if they were attending the FNPHE as outpatients, inpatients or were receiving emergency treatment or if they were attending the PPO for follow-up and if they had given their consent to participate in the study. The patients responded to a structured questionnaire used to elicit demographic and diagnostic characteristics. This questionnaire was administered by one of the authors (EJ). Each patient was also interviewed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) for Bipolar Disorder Studies version 5.0.0. This MINI assessment was done by (MO). All the data were collected in a specially prepared data collection form. The demographic factors reported on included gender, age, marital status, level of education and employment status. The reported diagnostic and illness characteristics included age at onset of illness, mood at study entry and mood at onset of illness. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 11.5. Frequencies were run on demographic characteristics while means and standard deviations were calculated for continuous variables. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the FNPHE. Results: The majority of the sample (68.1%) met the criteria for bipolar I disorder. The mean age of patients was 33.17 (SD = 11.87) years and mean duration of bipolar illness was 9.6 (SD = 8.9) years. Among the 94 patients, 58.8% were males. The mean age at onset of illness for the whole group was 22.9 (SD = 8.3) years. Conclusion: The current report is probably the first on bipolar disorder in this part of Africa. It will serve as an impetus to conduct more research on the topic especially since some important findings are similar to what had been recorded from both developed and developing countrie

Intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention of graded levels of boiled rubber seed meal fed West African dwarf bucks

Intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention by West African dwarf (WAD) bucks fed various inclusion levels of boiled rubber seed meal were investigated. Four (4) growing WAD buck 0f between 9 months and 1 year with a mean weight of 8.43±0.16kg were used in this study. Four diets containing graded level of boiled rubber seed meal (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%) with brewer dried grain, palm kernel cake, cassava peels, bone meal and salt of equal part except BDG were formulated as A, B, C and D. Each buck received one of the four diets in 4X4 Latin Square designed experiment. The results revealed that chemical composition of the 4 diets were similar (P>0.05) in all the parameters, with a trend of which CP, EE and ash values increases as BRSM level increases but DM, CF, NFE and energy took reverse trend of decreasing in values as BRSM level increases. The DMI (g/d), DMI (g/d/Wkg0.75) and DMI as %BW showed significant differences (P>0.05) among the treatment groups. The value of DMI as %BW range (4.99%-%.41%) showed that goats on the 4 diets had positive DM status. CP intake (g/d), Nintake (g/d), N-faeces (g/d), N-urine (g/d), N-absorbed (g/d), N-balance (g/d) and App. N-digestibility (%) were similar (P>0.05) among the treatment group. The metabolic faecal-N (MFN) value in all the diets were positive and similar (P>0.05) among the treatment. The value of endogenous urinary-N (g/d/Wkg0.75) (EUN) increases as the level of BRSM increases for diet B, C, and D. The biological and digestible CP values did not follow a definite pattern. However, 10% inclusion level of BRSM was better utilised by WAD buck and could be used to formulate alternative concentrate for WAD goat

Effect of Petroleum Illegal Refining Activities on Cassava Plant in the Niger Delta

The evolution of illegal refining was briefly discussed leading to an experimental research of its effects on cassava plant which is a major staple food in the region. Two deactivated illegal refinery sites were selected for the studies; cassava plant (tubers, stem and leaves) samples were taken from these sites with a control and then analyzed for the concentrations of Heavy Metals, BTEX, PAHs and THC. The results show that the mean concentration of heavy metals in cassava tuber were Pb (5.31±0.17 mg/kg), Cd (6.44±0.23mg/kg), Cr (5.25±0.02 mg/kg), As (9.27±0.04 mg/kg), Zn (5.30±0.17 mg/kg), Cu (4.17±0.06 mg/kg), Ni (13.52±0.01 mg/kg) and Co (40.66±0.00) (mg/kg) for site A; while site B has Pb (0.15±0.03 mg/kg), Cd (0.107±0.06 mg/kg), Cr (0.167±0.03 mg/kg), As (1.83±0.02 mg/kg), Zn (0.063±0.02 mg/kg), Cu (0.079±0.04 mg/kg), Ni (0.113±0.01 mg/kg) and Co (0.082±0.05 mg/kg). The mean concentration values of heavy metals in cassava tuber were higher than the control mean values. Plant Concentration Factor was also calculated from the studies. Result also showed higher mean concentration values of BTEX and PAHs for cassava plant (tuber, stem and leaves) when compared with control values and WHO permissible limits for plants. The overall result indicates the contamination and pollution of cassava plant from both studied sites due to illegal petroleum crude oil refining activities.&nbsp

Application of photosynthetic microalgae as efficient pH bio-stabilizers and bio-purifiers in sustainable aquaculture of Clarias gariepinus (African catfish) fry

Chlorella lewinii LC172265 and Scenedesmus dimorphus NIES-93 were grown with BG-11 medium and then transferred to fish seedlings' farm and the effects on changes in the pH, nitrite, total ammonia nitrogen and toxic ammonia were studied. Inoculation of the ponds with C. lewinii, S. dimorphus and the combined culture of C. lewinii and S. dimorphus significantly reduced the rise in the pH of the ponds (p<0.05). With these three cultures, the pond pH increased from 6.3±0.03 to only 6.5±0.2, 6.7±0.6 and 6.4±0.1 respectively within a period of 240 hours, as against control pond's pH which increased from 6.3±0.03 to 9.0±0.1 within the same period. Furthermore, inoculation with S. dimorphus reduced the nitrite concentration in the ponds to zero on the 144th hour and the concentration remained zero throughout the experiment. This was closely followed by the combined culture of C. lewinii and S. dimorphus which reduced the nitrite concentration to zero at 240th hour while C. lewinii was the least in nitrite removal. Toxic ammonia was also zeroed by the combined culture of C. lewinii and S. dimorphus at 144th hour of experiment which was followed by C. lewinii (at 192nd hour). Aquaculture ponds co-cultured with microalgae witnessed a maximum fry death rate of 40% which was much lower than 80% death rate observed in the control ponds. These results show that C. lewinii and S. dimorphus are very efficient in sustaining the quality of aquaculture water, and thus prolonging the length of time water can be used before changing.Keywords: nitrogen removal, ammonia, nitrite, fishery, fish pon

Roles of Coaching Styles, Motivation and Sports Behaviour on Youth Athletes Sport Performance

The study investigated the roles of coaching style, motivation and sports behaviour on youth athletes sport performance. A total of 100 participants comprising of 50 males and 50 females athletes who were ramdomly selected from Ebonyi State sport stadium and Ebonyi state university, Abakaliki; their mean age was 28.9 with SD age of 11.25. 3 instruments were used: The autonomy supportive & coaching style scale (ASCCSS: Williams, Cox, Kouides & Deci; Grolnick, Ryan & Deci 1991), prosocial and antisocial sport behaviour scale (PASBS; Kavuddan & Boardley, 2009) and validated by Olanrewaju 2014 for Nigerian sample and Athlete sport performance scale (APS; John & Heidi, 2013). The study is a cross sectional design and 3 way analysis of variance statistics were used for data analysis. The result of the study showed that there were statistically significant difference between autonomy-supportive coaching style and controlling climate coaching style on youth athlete performance, F(1,93) = 25.01 P<0.001. The result also showed that there were statistically significant difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivated athlete on youth athlete sports performance F(1,93) = 32.61, P<0.01. The result also indicates that there was statistically significant difference between prosocial and antisocial sports behaviour on youth athlete performance, F(1,93) = 29.07, P<0.001.  The implications of these findings for progressive coaching, reduction of performance stumps, sports performance and sports morality were discussed. Keywords:Autonomy coaching style, controlling climate coaching style, prosocial sport behaviour, antisocial sport behaviour, Athletes