Islam in Denmark: The Challenge of Diversity

In public debates contemporary Denmark stands out as an extraordinary nationalist and racist country. This is particularly so on issues concerned with Islam and Muslim immigration. The growth of the nationalist political party Dansk folkeparti, the Muhammad caricatures and harsh laws regulating family reunion are often used as examples by outside observers trying to describe political transformations in the country. These, and some other themes, are discussed in the anthology Islam in Denmark: The Challenge of Diversity (2012), edited by Jørgen S. Nielsen, professor and director of The Centre for European Islamic Thought at the University of Copenhagen. What kind of Islamic diversity is it that challenges Denmark

Dimensions of Organisational Culture in Quantity Surveying Firms in Nigeria

The functionalist paradigm of organisational culture (OC) views culture as a variable subject to conscious manipulation and control in order to solve organisational challenges. Therefore, this paper provides information on how OC is a solution to the challenges in Quantity Surveying firms (QSFs).  This was achieved by eliciting the dimensions of OC in forty two QSFs in Lagos, Nigeria, which are the business, people and external environment dimensions. The paper concludes that OC is a relevant solution to the identity and management related challenges in QSFs. Specifically, the paper informs on the implications of business and people dimensions of OC as a solution to the identity challenges, as well as on the implication of the external environment dimension of OC to the management challenges. Based on the findings, practical implications and recommendations were directed at the management and employees QSs in QSFs and Quantity Surveying researchers

Roles played by Nigerian YouTube micro-celebrities during the COVID-19 pandemic

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigerian social media micro-celebrities were prominent players in the dissemination of information. This study examines the roles that one group of Nigerian micro-celebrities, YouTube video bloggers (vloggers)—also known as “YouTubers”—played during the pandemic. The research analysed the contents of COVID-19-themed videos that 15 popular Nigerian YouTubers posted on their channels between 29 February and 5 August 2020. The study was guided by the two-step flow of communication theory, in terms of which information first flows from mass media to opinion leaders, who then, in the second step, share the information with their audiences. The study found that all 15 YouTubers played positive roles as opinion leaders—by providing health and safety information on COVID-19, challenging myths, and educating audiences through entertainment. Only two of the YouTubers studied were found to have shared some information that misinformed their audiences about the virus and how to fight it. The study therefore concluded that Nigerian YouTubers, as opinion leaders, can be important allies to governments and organisations when health crises arise in the country

An Intervention Study of Pharmacists’ Knowledge and Patient Counseling on Metered Dose Inhalers and Nebulizers

To carry out an intervention study on pharmacists’ knowledge on metered dose inhalers (MDIs) and nebulizers, and patient counseling on MDIs in a tertiary hospital in South-Western Nigeria. A pre-post interventional study conducted among pharmacists in the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Semi-structured questionnaire was administered to the participants to obtain data for background assessment of the pharmacists’ knowledge and patient counseling vis-à-vis metered dose inhalers and nebulizers. A seminar was organized to update the pharmacists’ knowledge and patient counseling on MDIs and nebulizers. Post-intervention assessment was done a month after the intervention. Data was summarized using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics at p<0.05. Response rate was 81% (85/105). Pharmacists knowledge on MDIs and nebulizers improved significantly from 5.19 (SD=1.92) pre-intervention, out of 12 to 7.47 (SD=1.88) post-intervention (p<0.001). Assessment of pharmacists’ patient counseling on MDIs increased significantly from 4.17 (SD=2.83) pre-intervention, out of 11, to 7.19 (SD=3.52) post-intervention (p<0.001). At least 50% of MDI administration steps was correctly stated by 33.1% and 71.7% of the pharmacists pre- and post-intervention, respectively. Only 2.4% and 23.5% of the pharmacists stated all the MDI administration steps correctly, pre-intervention and post-intervention, respectively. Pharmacists’ additional educational qualifications, previous personal use of asthma inhalation medication and years of hospital pharmacy work experience influenced their assessment scores. The intervention carried out among the hospital pharmacists improved their knowledge on MDIs and nebulizers and also increased their patient counseling on MDIs

U.S-RUSSIA RELATIONS: CHALLENGES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL SECURITY

The paper examines the cyclical nature of U.S-Russia relations in the 21st century; with special regards to the administration of U.S President Barrack Obama and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. Specifically, the study examines the challenges and implications of confrontation between the two states. It takes the annexation of Crimea as the origin of headlong disagreement in recent time although the work acknowledges that Russia’s annexation of Crimea does not constitute the genesis of disagreement in post-cold war relations. In a qualitative manner, the study examines the historical antecedents of U.S- Russia relations and adopts the neo-realist tenets as theoretical guide for approximating the complex realities of U.S Russia relations. Structured interview with expert in the field of international relations particularly those specializing in the study of U.S-Russian relations, alongside documents from official websites of states were engaged. The paper discovers that of all the bonds of bilateral relations, it is the bond of U.S-Russia relations that directly have implications on global security especially because of the threat of nuclear misconception and war. Consequently, the study recommends that, U.S. and Russia must recognise the lasting quality of international politics and create a basis of understanding as such by acknowledging the legitimate interests and concerns of the other

The Logic And Illogic Of The “Doctrine Of Change” In Nigeria's Fourth Republic

Abstract The Nigeria's Fourth Republic displays gargantuan contradictions under various administrations of the ruling party that governed the state since the emergence of the Fourth Republic in 1999. The contradictions, stemming from the ills of corruption, greed and a gradual movement of the country towards a failed state made the masses dissatisfied with the status quo and thus sort a change in the political configuration of the country. Making use of library research and content analysis, this paper carefully clarifies the theoretica

Family Processes and Leisure Activity Involvement Across the High School Transition: The Mediating Roles of Adolescent Internalizing Problems and Self-Esteem

Parents are among the most important socializing agents in adolescents' lives. The purpose of the current study was to examine the prospective relations between family processes and leisure activity involvement across the high school transition. Specifically, I explored the meditational role of adolescent psychological well-being (internalizing problems and self-esteem) in these relations. The first aim of the present study included two dimensions: 1) to examine whether there were prospective relations between family processes (maternal and paternal parenting) and adolescent leisure involvement across the high school transition; and 2) to investigate the extent to which psychological well-being mediated the relations between family processes and adolescent leisure activity choices, based on Eccles and Harold's (1991) research linking parenting dimensions to leisure outcomes. The second aim of this study was to explore whether boys and girls differed in the extent to which their psychological well-being mediated the relations between family processes and leisure activity involvement from the 8th to the 9th grade. It was hypothesized that perceptions of maternal and paternal parenting would differentially relate to adolescent leisure activity intensity and enjoyment. Likewise, I hypothesized that internalizing problems and self-esteem would act as mediators in these relations. Finally, I hypothesized that gender would moderate some of the meditational relations. OLS regression and bootstrapping techniques were used to test simple mediation and moderated mediation for all variables. Significant mediation effects emerged for relations between perceptions of paternal involvement and sports intensity and enjoyment through internalizing problems. Additionally, internalizing problems mediated the relation between perceptions of paternal support and sports enjoyment. An indirect effect emerged for the relation between adolescent's perceptions of maternal negativity and arts enjoyment through self-esteem. Subsequent hierarchical regressions revealed significant gender by family process interactions when predicting leisure involvement and one significant gender by internalizing problems interaction effect emerged when predicting social activity enjoyment. These findings suggest that maternal and paternal parenting play significant and differential roles in adolescent leisure activity involvement across the high school transition. These results also suggest that adolescent psychological well-being effects the relations between adolescent perceptions of parenting and their leisure activity involvement