ADMINISTRATORS’ LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND EMPLOYEES’ JOB ENGAGEMENT IN TERTIARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN OGUN STATE NIGERIA

The study examined administrators’ leadership skills and employees’ job engagement in tertiary educational institutions is Ogun State, Nigeria. The study was guided by three research questions. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. Four Hundred and Fifteen employees (academic and non-teaching staff) selected from six out of the 12 public tertiary institutions in Ogun State, Nigeria were sampled, using multi-stage sampling technique. A researcher–designed 30 item 4 point modified Likert rating scale instrument entitled “Administrators Leadership Skills and Employees’ Job Engagement Questionnaire” (ALSEJEQ) was used for data collection. The instrument was subjected to reliability test using the Crombach Alpha method and a value of 0.89 was obtained. Data analysis was statistically done using Multiple Regression Analysis. Findings revealed that, though low, the overall model of the three administrators’ leadership skills indicators significantly predicted employees’ job engagement in tertiary educational institutions in Ogun State (F(3, 411) = 47.195, p < 0.05) ; that, though low, the overall model of the  administrators’ leadership skills indicators significantly predicted employees’ job engagement in tertiary educational institutions in Ogun State (F(3, 411) = 47.195, p < 0.05); and that although, administrators’ analytical skills significantly contributed to the model, the contribution was negative β = -.284, t (411) = -3.028, p < 0.05. The administrators’ conceptual skills did not significantly contribute to the model β = -.048, t (411) = -.496, p = .620. It was therefore recommended among others that appointment of Administrators of tertiary educational institutions should be hinged on evidence of haven undergone training at the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA, Nigeria), and that serving institutional Administrators should as a matter of policy be required to engage in Mandatory Continuing Professional Education

School Environmental Factors and Mathematics Teaching Effectiveness: Implication for E-Learning

Mathematics occupies a central position in the school curriculum. It is a core subject from the primary through the junior secondary to the senior secondary school levels of the educational system. This important position occupied by the subject in the school curricula is borne out of the role of mathematics in scientific and technological development, a sine-qua-non in national building. However, the teaching of this important subject is beset with problems of societal values for it, there is the problem of inadequate and substandard learning materials and general attitudes among others. Therefore, the study investigated the pre-professional mathematics teachers’ beliefs about factors that could contribute to the mathematics teaching effectiveness in secondary schools. A non-experimental study was carried out on the pre-service postgraduate students in Lagos State. Self constructed questionnaires were administered on sampled 115 postgraduate students. The sample consisted of male = 42.6%, female = 57.4%. Two instruments were used for data collection; mathematics teachers effectiveness scale (a= 0.782) and the likelihood for the occurrence of effectiveness factors happening in schools scale (a = 0.806). The collection of data lasted three weeks. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test and analysis of variance. The pre-professional mathematics teachers were identified with factors contributing to their teaching effectiveness, there was significant difference in their perception of effectiveness. The respondents were not wholeheartedly disposed to effectiveness factors occurring in their place of work but were of the opinions that some might happen in their schools on the long run. There was a significant composite effect of predictor variables to pre-service teachers’ views of mathematics teachers’ effectiveness and the likelihood for the factors occurring in their schools. There was a significant composite effect of predictor variables to pre-service teachers report (F (3, 112) = 3.245, P\u3c0.05). Therefore, there is the need to increase the level of awareness of society on the relevance and importance of mathematics. The teachers should put up the reasons for making the mathematics recognised in the society and across the globe in order to increase the students’ achievement in the subject

Globalization and Collective Bargaining in Nigeria

Globalization has become a worldwide phenomenon affecting all aspects of human endeavour. It has also affected workers’ rights worldwide but the Nigerian situation is among the worst cases. To what extent has globalization aided or hindered collective bargaining in Nigeria and in what ways has Labor managed the situation? These questions serve as motivation for this paper and are addressed through content analysis of relevant documents. In Nigerian, collective bargaining institutions have been constructed and reconstructed in different contexts driven by globalization. Government at all levels in Nigerian subscribed to various provisions of the International Labor Organization but failed to implement them as prescribed. The state and its allies including multinational and transnational companies have manipulated statutory mechanisms that could have guaranteed effective collective bargaining.  Inherent in this situation are various detriments on Labor and aggravated incidence of industrial actions in Nigeria. Therefore this paper argued that though globalization is not completely harmful, however, its operations in Nigeria are such that the setbacks it creates far outweigh its positive influence. In this light, movement for the entrenchment of effective collective bargaining should be intensified and pursued till lasting industrial peace is achieved in the Nigerian industrial relations climate. Keywords: Labor, Globalization, Collective Bargaining, Industrial Actions, Nigeri

Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial Properties of Eucalyptus torelliana Oils

Normal oil and Essential oil from fresh leaves of Eucalyptus torelliana (F. Muell) were extracted using solvent (Soxhlet) and steam distillation extraction methods respectively. The leaves were screened for the presence of secondary metabolites and the extracted oils for their antimicrobial potentials. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of Phytates (27.81 mg/g) Phytic acids (7.833mg/g) Oxalates (3.061mg/g) Tannins (2.457mg/g) Phenols (30.00%) Flavonoids (2.948%) Saponins (3.166%) and Alkaloids (2.84%). In addition to this the leaves were found to contain anthraquinone. The two oils extracted from the leaves of Eucalyptus torelliana were studied for their antimicrobial activity against the following isolated microorganisms: Xanthomonas axonopodis, Shigella dysenterine, Pseudomonas solanecearium, Streptococcus faecales, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Erwinia carotovora, Salmonella typhi. The oils were found to inhibit all the microorganism isolates. The zone of inhibition exhibited by the extracts on the tested microorganism was between 22-6mm. The oil extracts compared favourably with Ampiclox used as a standard control. The results obtained from this study reveals that the oils extracted from Eucalyptus torelliana has antibacterial activities against enteric pathogens and the oil may be potential source of new antimicrobials against enteric organisms

Wood Ash from Bread Bakery as Partial Replacement for Cement in Concrete

This paper reports the results of experiments evaluating the use of wood ash from bread bakery as partial replacement for ordinary Portland cement in concrete. The chemical composition of the wood ash as well as the workability and compressive strength of the concrete were determined. Wood ash was used to replace 5% - 25% by weight of the cement in concrete. Concrete with no wood ash serves as the control. The mix ratio used was 1:2:4 with water to binder ratio maintained at 0.5. The Compressive strength was determined at curing ages 3, 7, 28, 56, 90 and 120 days. The results showed that wood ash from bread bakery is a Class F fly ash since the sum of (SiO2 +Al2O3 +Fe2O3) is greater than 70%. The compressive strength of wood ash concrete increases with curing period and decreases with increasing wood ash content. There was a sharp decrease in compressive strength beyond 10% wood ash substitution. It was concluded that a maximum of 10% wood ash substitution is adequate for use in structural concret

Flood Risk Management: Exploring the Impacts of the Community Rating System Program on Poverty and Income Inequality

Flooding remains a major problem for the United States, causing numerous deaths and damaging countless properties. To reduce the impact of flooding on communities, the U.S. government established the Community Rating System (CRS) in 1990 to reduce flood damages by incentivizing communities to engage in flood risk management initiatives that surpass those required by the National Flood Insurance Program. In return, communities enjoy discounted flood insurance premiums. Despite the fact that the CRS raises concerns about the potential for unevenly distributed impacts across different income groups, no study has examined the equity implications of the CRS. This study thus investigates the possibility of unintended consequences of the CRS by answering the question: What is the effect of the CRS on poverty and income inequality? Understanding the impacts of the CRS on poverty and income inequality is useful in fully assessing the unintended consequences of the CRS. The study estimates four fixed-effects regression models using a panel data set of neighborhood-level observations from 1970 to 2010. The results indicate that median incomes are lower in CRS communities, but rise in floodplains. Also, the CRS attracts poor residents, but relocates them away from floodplains. Additionally, the CRS attracts top earners, including in floodplains. Finally, the CRS encourages income inequality, but discourages income inequality in floodplains. A better understanding of these unintended consequences of the CRS on poverty and income inequality can help to improve the design and performance of the CRS and, ultimately, increase community resilience to flood disasters

Strategies Business Managers Use to Engage Employees in the Chemical Industry

Lack of employee engagement in the workplace is one of the leading causes of lost productivity in the United States, estimated to cost organizations between $450 to$550 billion per year. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the strategies that some business managers in the chemical industry use to engage employees and increase productivity. The population for the study consisted of 5 small chemical business managers of a chemical company in the northeastern United States that demonstrated success in engaging employees. The conceptual framework for the study was social exchange theory. Data were collected from small business managers via semistructured interviews detailing participants\u27 strategies in engaging employees in the workplace and from company physical artifacts such as website, posters, bulletins, and signage. The collected data were transcribed, and member checking was completed to validate the credibility and trustworthiness. Yin\u27s 5-step data analysis process for a case study and the main words in context analysis were used to analyze data. Three themes discovered in the study were: leadership support, effective communication, and recognition and reward. The findings from this study revealed that chemical business managers used strategies to influence employee engagement in the workplace. The impact of positive social change includes providing insights for managers on strategy implementation for employee engagement in the workplace to increase organizational productivity and stability, which could lead to a healthy economy in the community and employees contributing positively to communities and supporting their families