Christian missions and evolution of the culture of mass education in western Nigeria

The culture of mass education has become an enduring tradition in Western Nigeria. The root of this culture is traceable to the mid-nineteenth century when the Christian missionary bodies began a process of systematic evangelization, using Western education as a medium and an indispensable tool. Early converts were taught how to read the Bible in vernacular – a measure that helped produce the first widespread literate class in Western Nigeria. Thereafter, mass education was promoted through the opening of primary and secondary schools as well as teacher training colleges and trade schools. The pioneering missionary efforts, complemented in later years by the colonial government, received an accelerated boost, reaching a peak in the mid-1950s during the era of internal self-rule when the Western Nigerian government introduced the Free Education Programme in the region. In spite of the termination of the government that introduced the Free Education Scheme following the military take-over in 1966, the rising trend of popular education continued unabated. Military and civilian governments alike have, ever since, remained committed to mass education such that popular Education remains to this day, the greatest industry in Western Nigeria. The contention in this Paper is that the culture of mass education in Western Nigeria, even to this day, and in spite of occasional modifications, is a logical conclusion to an established culture of mass education, the root of which is traceable to the Christian missionary era. The paper concludes with an analysis of the impact, which the various phases of the evolutionary process have made on the history of education in Western Nigeria in particular, and the country as a whole

The Place of Ogbomoso in Baptist Missionary Enterprise in Nigeria

Ogbomoso occupies a crucial place in the annals of Baptist missionary history I Nigeria. Even though it was not the very first place where Baptist work was first firmly planted in Nigeria, the town today has a richly textured and exciting history, and has played a unique role in the lives of the Nigerian Baptist community. In myriads of ways, the Baptists of Ogbomoso have clearly motivated Nigerian Baptists as catalysts of social and religious change not only in Nigeria but in other parts of Africa. Undoubtedly, “the evangelistic vocation of the town was realized as Ogbomoso converts traveled far and wide, beginning from the late 19th century as they appropriated the new opportunities offered by the colonial dispensation”1. This paper is an inspiring account depicting the growth of Baptist missionary work in Ogbomoso and the vitality of its witness throughout the nooks and crannies of Nigeria and beyond. The account herein contained, is important, not just to Baptists, but to Christians of all traditions and denominations who take their ecumenical calling seriously. It gives us some insight and a deeper awareness of the place and contributions of Ogbomosho as the most potent and versatile of all Baptist communities in Nigeria

The Development Of Free Primary Education Scheme In Western Nigeria, 1952-1966: An Analysis

In 1955, the government of Western Region of Nigeria introduced a free primary education programme. That scheme, which featured prominently up till 1966, suffered a major blow, following the military take-over of government in that year. Despite this, the scheme has left an indelible imprint in the annals of education in Western Nigeria and the whole country. Using both primary and secondary documents, this paper analyses the circumstances surrounding the introduction of this revolutionary scheme, as well as its historical development. The paper concludes with an examination of some of the impacts of the programme

Studies on Influence of Seasonality on Clinical Conditions of Small Ruminants in Ogbomoso Areas of Oyo State

Information on influence of seasonality on clinical conditions of small ruminants in Ogbomoso area of Oyo State has not been extensively documented. 10 years' worth of data on clinical cases in sheep and goats were analysed from records kept at the Veterinary Clinics from 1995- 2005 using simple descriptive, frequency and percentage distribution. The results showed that a total of eight hundred and eighty seven different cases were reported at the clinic between 1995-2005. 758 (85.46%) of Caprine and 129 (14.54%) of Ovine species cases were reported. Helminthosis occurred most (26.99%) in the early wet season while wounds occurred most on early dry season (20.87%). Non-infectious conditions such as dystocia (13.92%) and fractures (9.71%) were reported most on late wet season . Mange (5.83%), mastitis (7.77%), placenta retention (2.91%), sprain (5.34%) as well as prophylactic treatment (7.77%) were reported most in early dry season respectively. PPR were reported most in late dry season (9.59%). Other cases reported with values lower than 2.0% all year round were considered and these include ascitis, amputation, foot rot, milk fever, paralysis, pneumonia, rumen impaction, salmonellosis, skin burn, vulvitis, and tetanus. Information generated can be useful to Government agencies in strategic planning and guidelines for prevention and control of ruminant diseases.Key words: Seasonality, Clinical conditions, Small ruminant, Ogbomos

Economics of Improved and Local Varieties of Cassava among Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria

This study was based on the economics of improved and local cassava varieties and its welfare effect on producing farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. A three-stage sampling procedure was used to collect information from 144 cassava farmers in the study area. However, only 120 pieces of questionnaires were retrieved and analyzed. Descriptive statistics, Gross Margin and Multiple Regression Analysis were the analytical tools employed for the study. The results of the study showed that a typical household comprised of 8 persons and the farmers were on the average 45.3 years of age. The profitability analysis revealed a Gross Farm Income (GFI) per hectare of N167,733 and N114,569 for improved and local varieties of cassava respectively. Multiple regression model was used to determine the factors influencing the output of cassava in the area. The result showed that farm size, age of the farmer and household size are the variables explaining the variation in output of cassava in the study area. Implicitly, this result showed that in other to increase cassava production, policies that ensure that these farmers have access to land should be emphasized. Also, a policy targeted at encouraging reduction in household size should be put in place for cassava farmers in the study area.Keywords: Cassava varieties, small scale farmers and adoption of improved technologie

Cotyledon persistence and seedling growth in fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook. F.)

Photosynthetic activity of exposed cotyledons of Telfairia occidentalis during seed germination and the growth of seedlings with removed or attached cotyledons were investigated. The experiment  investigated how early cotyledon removal affects seedling growth. Seedlings from seeds germinated in light and those  germinated in the dark were compared four weeks after germination. The effects of removal of cotyledons on seedling growth were also investigated with  cotyledons removed at different times and from different seed sizes in order to assess the effect of time of removal and seed sizes on seedling growth. Biomass accumulation of the different plant parts, number of leaves and root/shoot ratio were used to assess the relative importance of cotyledon photosynthesis and  cotyledon storage reserves to seedling growth. The cotyledons which are predominantly for storage were found to have a minimal photosynthetic function. Telfairia seedling biomass was significantly reduced (P<0.05) by removal of the cotyledon. Seed size and morphotype influenced the effect of cotyledon removal on seedling growth. The time of cotyledon removal affected all growth parameters negatively with greatest effect on removal at the first week of growth. Cotyledon reserves  support seedling growth of Telfairia occidentalis, and ability to cope with loss of cotyledon is affected by factors such as seed size, morphotype and time of  removal.Keywords: Storage reserves, cotyledon removal, hypogeal, morphotype, Telfairia occidentalis

Rootstock growth and development for increased graft success of mango (Mangifera indica) in the nursery

The graft success of seedlings depends on rootstock size and the skills of grafters. A study was carried out to evaluate the effects of rootstock diameter (at root collar), skills and experience of grafters on mango seedling thinning and grafting. Skilled and unskilled grafters were involved in grafting mango plants for at least three consecutive months. Different rootstock sizes based on root collar diameter of mango seedlings were assessed. The results showed significant differences in graft-take among three groups of nurserymen. The skills and experience of grafters had a significant effect on graft success. The late emerging seedlings showed higher increase in height and diameter after thinning. A higher survival (> 75%) and reduced time to graft-take (19 days) were achieved with thicker rootstocks (0.7 cm) than thinner rootstocks (0.3 cm). The early emerging plants produced more leaves than late emerging plants after grafted. It was concluded that a higher graft-take can best be achieved with skilled grafters and thicker rootstocks

Cardiovascular responses to treadmill exercise in Nigerian hypertensives with left ventricular hypertrophy

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for adverse cardiac outcomes in hypertensive patients.Objective: This study is designed to assess the cardiovascular responses to treadmill exercise among Nigerian hypertensives with echocardiographically proven LVH.Materials and Methods: Fifty hypertensive patients with LVH (27 males and 23 females) between 30 and 65 years of age were studied in Nigeria. 50 hypertensive patients without LVH and 50 normal subjects who were age and sex matched served as controls. All patients and control subjects underwent M-mode, 2-D and Doppler ECHO-studies and the Bruce protocol treadmill exercise test.Results: The study showed that the estimated maximal oxygen consumption (MVO2) in MET reduced progressively from 8.39 ± 1.26 (normotensive control) to 7.62 ± 1.33 (hypertensive without LVH), 6.27 ± 0.99 (hypertensive with LVH) (P<0.0001ANOVA). The duration of exercise (s) was also reduced in that order from 455.4 ± 79.1 to 411.6 ±8 2.3, 315.8 ± 75.6 respectively (P<0.0001). The systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pressure rate product (PRP) during maximal exercise were also increased in hypertensives with LVH and hypertensive without LVH when compared to normotensive controls. The hypertensives with LVH and hypertensives without LVH also showed significant limitation to heart rate increase with exercise compared to normotensive controls (P<0.003).Conclusion: This study demonstrated significant impairment of exercise capacity in hypertensives with or without LVH compared to normotensive subjects. Both earlier recognition and improved understanding of LVH may lead to more effective therapeutic strategies for this cardiovascular risk factor

Seed constraint to cultivation and productivity of African indigenous leaf vegetables

Non-availability of improved seeds constitutes a major constraint to the cultivation and productivity of the indigenous leaf vegetables (ILVs) of Africa. Research on African ILVs has focused mainly on the ethnobotany, collection, preservation, and the assessment of food value and chemical composition ofthe ILVs. No serious breeding and seed production research has been done on the ILVs. This paper examines some factors underlying the lack of interest in the production of ILVs seeds, the problem associated with local seed processing and the way to organize a seed production programme for theILVs

Observations on in vitro behaviour of the zygotic axes of fluted pumpkin

Fluted pumpkin, Telfairia occidentalis Hook. f., is an important leaf and seed vegetable and a local medicinal plant across West Africa. Many biological constraints have become potent threats to the existence of the plant necessitating an urgent need to collect and conserve the existing narrow genetic diversity. However, conservation by seed storage is impossible because the seed is recalcitrant, that is desiccation- and chilling-sensitive. Micropropagation is the only immediate alternative option for the conservation of fluted pumpkin germplasm. In order to facilitate this, the behaviour of excised embryonic axes and shoot tips of fluted pumpkin under in vitro conditions were investigated. Systemic infection of seeds from field led to frequent and high microbial contamination in culture. There was interaction between the type of microbial contamination and the storage environment of seeds prior to excision of the axes. Axes greened under low light intensity and root growth was dependent on the orientation of the axes. In general, zygotic axes of the plant are easy to grow in vitro under a range of nutrient media and culture condition