EFFECT OF SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING ON SMALL SCALE BUSINESS PERFORMANCE IN OTA-METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of social media marketing on small scale business performance. In today’s social media driven environment, it is essential that small businesses understand facebook, twitter, and the strategies behind using social media for growing their business. Unfortunately, many small businesses do not have a strategy when they begin using social media. The objectives of this study include the following: to determine how effective employee training about social media of small to medium enterprises has increase brand awareness, to examine how employee participation in SME’s operation has increase sales, to identify how continuous improvement of SME’s strategies has improve customer service, and to examine how managerial commitment of SME’s has increase the implementation of social media campaigns. One hundred and fifty copies of questionnaire were administered to owner-managers and employees of selected SME’s in Ota Metropolis of which one hundred and thirty five of the questionnaires were returned completely filled and fifteen were not returned. Four hypotheses were formulated from the structure of the research questions, ANOVA, Correlation and other statistical tools were used in testing these hypotheses. A descriptive approach is presented, followed by an in-depth structured questionnaire with the small business owners. The study reveals the different strategies the owner uses to build and maintain relationships with consumers and the study concludes with important implications for small businesses. Networking and creating relationships with other businesses, increases brand exposure. By promoting another business or their product, they may promote yours. Engaging others makes your business visible to their audience and has the potential to reach hundreds or thousands of consumers. Focusing more on relationships than sales, increases sales. Social media provides businesses the opportunity to engage their audience on many different levels, including personal. In the beginning, it is important for a business to focus on creating relationships with consumers. An owner can show interest in its audience by commenting on individual’s posts or asking questions. Doing so also exposes the business to friends of fans and followers, increasing the business’s reach

The effect of pre-treatment and storage conditions on the germination potential of Albizia lebbeck (l.) Benth. and A. odoratissima (l.f.) Benth. seeds

The study investigated the influence ofpre-treatment and storage conditions onthe germination potential of Albizialebbeck (l.) Benth. and A. odoratissima(l.f.) Benth. seeds. Mature fruits wereharvested and after extraction, the seedswere divided into two batches, with onebatch dried to a moisture content of 2%while the other batch was left as freshseeds. Each batch was subjected to threestorage conditions- kilner jar (KJ,25+2ºC), paper packet (PP, 25+2ºC) andrefrigeration (4+2ºC) and stored for 30, 60and 90 days. The experiment was a2x3x2x3 factorial in complete randomizeddesign. Germination rate and cumulativegermination percentages (CGP) wererecorded and subjected to descriptivestatistics and analysis of variance(ANOVA) at p<0.05. Storage period andstorage containers had significant effects(p<0.05) on daily seed germination but notmoisture content. Storage period andstorage media had significant effect onCGP of A. lebbeck and A. odoratissima atp<0.05. The highest CGP was 54% andwas significantly lower in A. lebbeck seedsstored for 30 days than 68% in seedsstored for 60 days and 64% in those storedfor 90 days. A. odoratissima seeds storedfor 90 and 60 days had significantly higherCGP of 91% and 90% respectively, thanseeds stored for 30 days with CGP of 74%.A. lebbeck seeds in PP had significantlyhigher CGP (68%), than refrigeration(57%) and KJ (60%). Refrigerated A.odoratissima seeds had significantlyhigher CGP (96%) than KJ and PP, bothwith 80%. A. lebbeck seeds cannot bestored at room temperature for over twomonths and retain viability. RefrigeratedA. odoratissima seeds had highgermination percentage after three months

SOURCE VARIATION IN MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS OF BUCHHOLZIA CORIACEA ENGLER SEEDLINGS

Investigations were conducted on the effects of source variation on the morphological traits of Buchholzia coriacea Engler seedlings, a medicinal plant in southwestern Nigeria. The sources were Erifun, Olukosi, Ore Forest Reserve, Ogbere, Ago-Owu, Omo forest reserve and Eleiyele. Two hundred (200) seeds were randomly selected from the seven sources and sown in germination boxes. The seedlings from each source were arranged in the greenhouse in three replicates with each having thirty seedlings using the completely randomized design. Seedlings were assessed for shoot height, leaf production, collar diameter, leaf area and biomass production for six months. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and significant means separated using least significant difference. The tallest seedlings were from Olukosi seeds with mean value of 33cm. This was followed by seedlings from Eleiyele seeds, 31.7cm and Erifun, 29.1cm. Erifun seeds had the highest mean value (6.6mm) for collar diameter and (14.4 leaves) for leaf production. Seedlings from Olukosi seeds had 13.2 leaves and those from Ago-Owu seeds, 12.9 leaves. The highest mean leaf biomass, 2.2g was recorded in seedlings from both Olukosi and Ogbere seeds. Mean stem biomass of seedlings from Ogbere source, 3.3g was the highest while the highest mean value for root dry weight, 40.8g was recorded for those from Ore forest reserve. Seedlings from Olukosi and Ogbere sources performed best out of the seven sources. Erifun was the poorest followed by Eleiyele. Seeds from Olukosi or Ogbere could be recommended for the establishment of plantations of B. coriacea.Â

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AND DIVERSITY OF Pycnanthus angolensis IN RAINFOREST SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA

Population distributionof Pycnanthus. angolensis was carried out in two locations of three States (Osun, Ekiti and Oyo) due to abundance and availability using direct enumeration. A total of 58 stands of plant viz Osun state 58.93%, Ekiti State 28.57% and Oyo State 12.50% were assessed. Variation occurred  within each State (Osun State: Ila 32.35% >20.59% Olooyo and Mojapa, Gbongan 17.65%, Ile Ogbo 5.88%  and least in Ajaba (2.94%). In Ekiti State, Osan 43.75% > Otun 31.25%.  > 25% Ayetoro Ekiti. In Oyo State, Adewumi, 28.57% > 14.29 %> Idito, Erumu, Sapara (U.I), Mosque (U.I) and Amina (U.I), 39 juvenile and 19 mature trees (flowering and fruiting) varied in ratios 30:6 Osun State, 9:7 Ekiti State and 0:6 Oyo state respectively.  Osun State had the highest number of juvenile trees (30), 9 in Ekiti State and zero juvenile in Oyo state.  Ekiti State had the highest number of mature tree 7> Oyo and Osun (6). Osun State had greater number of juvenile trees than Ekiti and Oyo States. P. angolensis was found growing in fallow or abandoned land, marshy areas, farmland, river side, new site areas and Quarters. P. angolensis could be found on different habitats among the States and within the States.  Given the high rate of forest destruction in the country, there is need to ensure sustainable conservation of the forest area to avoid further destruction by provision of alternative means of livelihood for the local population so as to reduce their dependence on these forest. &nbsp

Occupational Stress among Academic Staff in Private University: Empirical Evidence from Covenant University, Nigeria.

The study examined occupational stress among Academic Staff in Private University in Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to ascertain whether work overload has impact on the quality of graduates produced by private University, to examine the relationship between university policy and the loyalty of academic staff of a private University, to justify the extent to which resource inadequacy affects the quality of research and publications produced by the academic staff of a private University and to highlight the effect of job dissatisfaction on the academic excellence of academic staff in a private University. The simple random sampling technique was used in this study to determine occupational stress among academic staff in a private University. A sample of 150 academic staff of Covenant University, Ota, was drawn for this study with response rate of 92%. The data were analyzed using simple frequency tables; regression and Pearson's product moment correlation were used for the four hypotheses proposed for this study. The results of the hypotheses showed that a negative relationship exists between university policy and the loyalty of academic staff, that resource inadequacy to a large extent affects the quality of research and publications produced by academic staff of a private University, that job dissatisfaction affects the academic excellence of academic staff in a private University and that there is a negative relationship between workload and quality of graduate produced by a private university. Research indicates that academics are experiencing higher level of strain compared to other occupational group and that occupational stress affects employees in several ways and is a major source of employee's turnover in many institutions. With this study, the general agreement is that occupational stress will have a negative effect on the academic staff of a private University. Therefore, an institution that emphasizes quality, performance and accountability must work towards reducing and managing occupational stress among its staff

Properties of Plastic Bounded Agricultural Waste Composites II: Physical Properties of Some Composites

Twenty six (26) plastic bounded composites, one unfilled and five each filled separately with varying contents of cement, limestone, silica-sand, drainage san granite have been formulated and compounded. Their percentage water absorption was determined. Composites % water absorption was determined. Composites % shrinkage range from (0.86-8.00) % and % water absorption from (1.03-15.00) %. These results suggest that the composites under study meet the allowable American Standard for Test Measurement (ASTM) for floor and wall tile tiles maximum 15% shrinkage and maximum 16% water absorption. If these composites are examined for mechanical strength, they may be found useful in the building industry for the manufacture of floor and wall tiles. Using spent pure water (thermoplastic) may result in the control of environmental pollution caused by the non-biodegradable spent plastic. Key word: plastic bonded composite, floor tile, wall tile, % shrinkage, % water absorption allowable ASTM

EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF BITUMINOUS ASPHALTS WASTE AS AGGREGATES IN CONCRETE

The present trend of indiscriminate dumping of waste bituminous asphalts on the highways in Nigeria calls for urgent attention. The trend all over the world now is the conservation of natural resources and reduction of waste being generated as a result of different human activities. This paper has looked at how the used bituminous asphalts material can be effectively utilized for other construction purposes. Different types of test like: slump, flow table,  fire resistance and compressive strength tests were carried out on the bituminous asphalt waste that was mixed with sand and cement to make concrete, and the result was compared with concrete made from granite of size 20mm, gravel of size 15mm and bush gravel of size less than 8mm. The flow table tests conducted showed that both granite and bituminous concrete mixes have low flow rate, while coarse and bush gravels have medium flow rate. The bituminous concrete has the highest cube strength of 25 N/mm2 after 28 days.  In conclusion, bituminous asphalts could be a very good substitute as aggregate in concrete for some marine structures that are not exposed to fire.Â

STRENGTH BEHAVIOUR OF CONCRETE USING FOUNDRY SAND AS AGGREGATE

The indiscriminate dumping of used foundry sand has led to environmental pollution and unwarranted occupation of space by this waste product. Since the trend all over the world now is the preservation of natural environment from pollutant. This paper has looked at the best and effective way of managing the waste foundry sand. Physical and chemical test were carried out on samples of foundry sand, to know its usefulness as alternative aggregate in concrete. Fine aggregate in concrete was partially replaced with foundry sand at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. Compressive tests were carried out on sixty samples of concrete cubes of dimension 150 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm. each twelve samples was used for each aggregate composition. The pure aggregate gave a 28 days concrete strength of 20.79 N/mm2, while 25% foundry gave 19.62 N/mm2, other samples gave results that were very poor due to the presence of large clay particles. Foundry sand can be applied to fine aggregate in concrete up to 25% inclusion

An Assessment of Food Residuals and Development of An On-site Composting Bin for A Community In Ibadan, Nigeria

Food waste among Nigerian communities constitutes a major environmental problem. This study was carried out in Ibadan, a highly populous indigenous city, the capital of Oyo State. As most of the families are traditional, food is prepared in the house at least twice daily. Various foods consumed by the households were assessed for one week for the quantity of waste generated during processing. The foods included grains, vegetables, fruits, meat, and others. Depending on the food item processed, the amount of waste generated ranged between 0 to 61 per cent of the total waste and is still the largest component of the waste stream. Corn, tubers, plantains generated more waste. For household management of these biodegradable wastes, a simple household composting bin was designed and tested using a family of about 7 to 8. The bin is made from a useddrum with a cutting and stirring device for the food residuals. The bin takes waste for about 4 weeks and at the end of 45 days, the finished compost was taken out and used for backyard gardening. This type of onsite composting involving individual families may find useful in sustainable management of household wastes

Odontogenic tumours: a review of 266 cases

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relative frequency of odontogenic tumours at a tertiary hospital in Ibadan, as well as to study the various histologic types based on WHO 2005 classification and to compare results from this study with those of previous studies. Study design: The records of the Oral Pathology Department of University College Hospital were reviewed. Lesions diagnosed as odontogenic tumours were categorized into four groups based on WHO 2005 classification and were analyzed for age, sex and site using SPSS for Window (version 18.0; SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL) and frequency tables were generated. Results: Two hundred and sixty six (41.7%) cases of odontogenic tumours were seen. The mean age of occurrence was 32.6 (±15.815) years (range3-82 years) and peak age was in the third decade of life. Eleven (4.1%) malignant odontogenic tumours were seen. Ameloblastoma with 65.4% of cases was the most common odontogenic tumour followed by fibromyxoma (14.7%), no case of odontoma was seen in this series. Conclusion: The findings were mostly similar to those of African and Asian series and showed variations from reports from the Americas. The reason for the disparity in African and American series needs further investigations