Tourism and integrated development: a geographic perspective

This article discusses the influence of tourism on integrated development from spatial and temporal points of view. The growth of tourism as an activity has been acknowledged from all parts of the world and it appears the tourism sector is making a lot of contribution to economic development of countries that have developed their tourism potentials. Many empirical studies have come up with evidence that suggests that there exists a relationship between tourism demand and other variables such as transportation and spatial behaviour of tourists. Due to the infancy of tourism as a development strategy in the developing countries only little work has been done to address theoretical underpinnings of tourism and integrated development within the geographic framework. The importance of spatial integration makes geography an integral aspect of development that may be of invaluable relevance to the understanding of tourism growth. Arguments in this paper are marshalled on three levels: the geographers’ view of integrated development; tourism and economic development; and geographic question in tourism and integrated development. It is believed that with the integrated development of tourism at all geographic scales, spatial inequity would be drastically reduced

Characterization and Evaluation of Chicken Eggshell for use as a Bio-Resource

Chemical compositions of chicken eggshell were determined with the aim of finding economic uses for it; instead of becoming a nuisance to the environment. The concentrations obtained were (mg/L): calcium 2300.33 ± 3.80, magnesium 850.00 ± 1.24, sodium 33.83 ± 0.72, potassium 17.06 ± 1.04, iron 1.4 ± 0.03, zinc 0.99 ± 0.04 and copper 0.063 ± 0.01. The proximate showed that the eggshell contained, 0.95 ± 0.89, moisture; 45.29 ± 0.06, ash; 1.40 ± 0.25, crude protein; 0.37 ± 0.06, lipid; 4.38 ± 0.32, crude fibre; 47.63 ± 0.32 (%), carbohydrate and 811 ± 12.71 (cal/g), calorific value. Further analysis revealed the presence of carbon and oxygen in the eggshell in right proportion as a good alternative adsorbent for removal of heavy metals and dyes from aqueous solutions. Findings from the study shows that the chicken eggshell potentially represents a natural source of food nutrients

Book review: 'eat the heart of the Infidel': the harrowing of Nigeria and the rise of Boko Haram by Andrew Walker

In ‘Eat the Heart of the Infidel’: The Harrowing of Nigeria and the Rise of Boko Haram, journalist Andrew Walker examines the emergence of Boko Haram, teasing out the societal and state structures that contributed to its rise and sustained its position. With the book drawing on a comprehensive range of resources, Fisayo Ajala recommends this well-researched and dutifully analysed work

Book review: The Syrian Jihad: Al-Qaeda, the Islamic state andthe evolution of an insurgency by Charles Lister

In The Syrian Jihad: Al-Qaeda, The Islamic State and the Evolution of an Insurgency , Charles Lister offers a comprehensive, detailed analysis that traces the ebb and flow of the conflict in Syria from March 2011 to September 2015 and its complex dynamics. Fisayo Ajala recommends this book as an indispensable guide to the different jihadist groups, their governance structures and modes of operations for those researching terrorism in the contemporary moment

Accessing Finance with Movable Collateral: The Flipside for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria

It is now a common view that lack of access to adequate finance is the bane of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in developing economies. It is also widely noted that MSMEs difficulty in accessing finance is mostly due to their lack of fixed assets such as land or buildings which institutional lenders demand as collateral. Influenced by the International Finance Corporation, Nigeria in 2017 enacted secured transactions laws which establish financial infrastructures for securing credit with movable assets. Until after some years, an empirical study of the impact of the laws on MSMEs’ access to finance would be premature and inconclusive. This paper is a theoretical analysis that engages the question; how can a legal and institutional framework for accessing credit with movable collateral solve the problem of access to adequate finance for MSMEs in developing economies like Nigeria? Keywords: MSMEs finance, access to finance, movable collateral, macro-economic variables, secured transactions law

Study on Drying Kinetics of Fermented Corn Grains

Corn grains were fermented for three days and later drained and dried at 600C, 650C and 700C in a convective hot air dryer. Kinetics of drying was investigated using Fick’s second law. Drying pattern was observed to be in the falling rate period. Non linear regression analysis software (SPSS), was used to fit in the experimental data and the coefficient of determination was found to be greater than 0.90 for all the models except Midilli. The values of R2, RMSE, MBE and reduced chi square showed that Logarithm model best described the drying behaviour of the samples. Keyword: fermented corn, hot air drying, mathematical modeling, laboratory tunnel drye

Domestic Violence and the Workplace: Improving Workers’ Productivity

The productivity of victims experiencing domestic violence is reduced due to sapping of their energy, undermining their confidence and compromising their health. It is against this background that this study examined the impact of domestic violence in the workplace and workers’ welfare and productivity in Nigeria industries. The descriptive research design of the ex-post-facto type with a sample size of one hundred and sixty-four (164) participants selected from three industrial sectors withinOsogbo in Osun State were used for the study. The age range of participants was between 25 and 45 with a mean of 28.5. The main instrument used to generate data for the study was a set of questionnaire tagged ‘Domestic Violence and Workers’ productivity Questionnaire’ (DVAWPQ) with 0.85 reliability coefficient. Multiple regression analysis was used as tools of analysis. The results indicated that there was significant impact of domestic violence variables (physical, psychological and sexualabuse) on the welfare and productivity of workers in industries. The independent variables taken together predicted the dependent variable by yielding a coefficient of multiple regression of 0.833 and a multiple regression square of 0.694. Findings showed that domestic violence leads to low productivity which is manifested in form of absenteeism, loss of work time, and high labour turnover. It is recommended that employer should take steps to prevent domestic violence and assist identified victims, thereby making employees become safer, healthier and happier  individuals with resultant improvements in employees’ productivity, health, trust and retention, and worksite safety. Keywords: Domestic Violence, Workplace, Workers, Productivity

Human security in the Niger Delta: exploring the interplay of resource governance, community structure and conflicts

Prior to August 2009, the Niger Delta region of Nigeria witnessed widespread violent conflicts between the government, multinational oil corporations (MNCs) and militant groups. This conflict was widely attributed to deplorable human security, which deprived the indigenes of the region access to their sources of livelihoods due to pollution, by MNCs. In 2009, the government granted amnesty to thousands of ‘repentant militants’ and this programme has achieved mixed results. This article will explore the impact of human security on the outbreak of violence in the Niger Delta and the impact of the Amnesty Programme in addressing issues relating to human security. The article concludes that bottom-up community-driven initiatives offer the best approach to address human security issues in the Niger Delta. The article is based on an ethnographic research carried out in 2013 in three states in the region (Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states).Keywords: Human security, justice, environment, Niger Delta, MNC

Employment and Income Potentiality of Tourism Development in Amhara Region Ethiopia.

A few members of less developed countries of sub-Sahara Africa have realized the potential of tourism development for rapid socio-economic development, capable of generating foreign exchange; reduce unemployment and improving the standard of the people. Amhara region of Ethiopia is an example of regions blessed with abundance and diversified tourism sites with potentials of contributing to the socio-economic development not only of the region but also to the country at large. This paper examines four Tourism Enterprises which include Hotel, Souvenir, Tour guide and Water transport businesses to pin point the potentiality of tourism as catalyst of development. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources, using inventory field survey and questionnaire administration. Data generated were analysed using simple statistical methods as frequencies and percentages. It concludes that developments of Tourism Businesses are generators of employment and income not only for the entrepreneurs but to the entire region with a high multiplier effect on the national economy. Keywords: Tourism Enterprises, Employment, Income, Amhara Region and Ethiopia.Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies of Management Vol. 1 (2) 2008: pp. 74-8