Research Funding Issues in African Universities: Penalties and Pathways

Funding challenges, lack or shortage thereof, impede the institutionalisation and development of research e.g., doctoral studies in higher educational institutions (HEIs). In this paper, an appraisal of the state-of-the-art and fallouts arising from the lack of funding for PhD and institutional research in Africa’s HEIs is undertaken, following which the sustainability of existing research funding mechanisms is questioned. Of the fallouts, three issues are prioritised––brain drain, poor research output and depletion of supervisory capacity. In terms of brain drain, it is clear that Africa continues to suffer the loss of its ‘best and brightest brains’ because the research support structure needed to reintegrate or retain them is either weak or non-existent. With the exception of South Africa, a very low research throughput is generally breeding across the region because of unsustainable research funding mechanisms, mainly championed by international funding agencies. Then with a growing number of PhD intakes, the available supervisory capacity is equally being stretched to its limits with no hope in sight, granted that the rate at which the necessary PhD manpower is being produced is non-commensurate. Based on the highlighted fallouts, the overarching redress may lie in the sustainable enterprising and localisation of the huge funding potentials already coming from willing international donors so that it aligns with research problems prioritised by the continent’s political class

A Simple Excitation Control for an Isolated Synchronous Generator

This paper shows a very simple method of determining the range of field voltages to be applied to an isolated synchronous generator from no-load to full load while maintaining the rated terminal voltage on the stator terminals. The d-q rotor reference frame equations were used for the calculations and it is shown that values of the field voltages determined follow a simple quadratic relationship that offer a very simple control scheme, dependent on only the stator current

Investigating the steady state stability of the Nigerian 48- bus systems using facts devices

With the ongoing expansions and growth of the electric utility industry, including deregulation in Nigeria, numerous changes characterized by additional generating stations, increase in transmission lines and loads are experienced thereby pushing the transmission systems closer to their stability and thermal limits and hence, causing the transfer of reactive power during steady state operating conditions to constitute a major problem of voltage instability. Flexible ac transmission systems (FACTS) controllers have been utilized for finding solutions to various power system stability control issues such as voltage instability. This paper uses Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC) and Thyristor Controlled Series Compensator (TCSC) to investigate the voltage magnitude profile, active and reactive power losses of the Nigerian 48-bus power system network for steady state stability enhancement using power system analysis toolbox (PSAT) in MATLAB environment. Optimal location of the FACTS devices was achieved through the computation of the voltage stability sensitivity factors (VSSF) for all the buses after continuation power flow (CPF) was carried out. Simulation results obtained without and with the FACTS devices revealed that the two FACTS devices especially TCSC has the capability to raise voltage profile of the buses and mitigate against power losses.Keywords: CPF, FACTS, MATLAB, Optimal location, PSAT, SSSC, stability, TCSC, VSS

Organ weights and biochemical indices of broiler chickens fed diets containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A study was conducted to evaluate the organ weights and biochemical indices of broiler chickens fed diets containing varying levels of  Saccharomyces cerevisiae. One hundred and twenty (120) broiler birds were used for the experiment. The birds were weighed and randomly allocated into four treatment groups. Each treatment was replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate. Treatment 1 served as the control and  did not contain any S. cerevisiae supplement, while treatments 2, 3 and 4 contained 0.7, 1.2 and 1.7 g/kg of S. cerevisiae supplement, respectively. The experiment lasted for eight weeks. At the end of the feeding trial (day 56), two birds were randomly picked from each replication for carcass evaluation and another two birds were randomly selected from each pen and 5mlblood was collected f from the wing vein using sterile disposable syringe for biochemical analysis. The result of this study showed that there were no significant (p > 0.05) differences among treatments in kidney, spleen and pancreas weights while significant (p < 0.05) differences among treatments existed in the heart, gizzard and liver weights. The study also revealed that there were no significant (p > 0.05) differences among treatments in total protein, globulin and high density lipoprotein levels while albumin, total cholesterol, glucose and triglyceride were significantly (p < 0.05) affected. In T3 highest heart weight (0.33 % of live weight) and lowest  blood cholesterol concentration (91.77 mg/dl) were recorded and therefore T3 was recommended. Low blood cholesterol enhances broiler production. Key words: albumin, cholesterol, kidney, liver, yeas

Regional Integration and Democracy in Africa

In the absence of sound Democracy, the realisation of Regional Integration in Africa will just be a cosmetic. To meet/address Democratic Governance challenges such as accountability, transparency, respect for human rights, competition, efficient and economical uses of resources and maximum output, constitutionalism must central in all African Countries without which Regional Integration will just be an illusion. No one country can do it all by itself as no one is an island and this makes Regional Integration very crucial for the rapid development of African Countries and Africa as whole in order to achieve the human development of Mama Africa. There is a need to institute and implement sound policies, laws and strong institutions for realising democratic norms and values to facilitate the Regional Integration process of the African Continent. Africa must integrate within itself first before thinking beyond the borders. Without African countries integrating meaningfully among themselves all other integration schemes may not be sustainable in addressing African Problems.

Economic implications of constant power outages on SMEs in Nigeria

This paper is concerned with the unabated epileptic power (electric) delivery which is seen to be periodic with a struggling generation capacity and losses-prone inefficient transmission network in Nigeria. Ordinarily, it should mean that only an average Nigerian suffers directly, and only, the burden of this inefficiency, whereby electricity supply to power both household and commercial appliances becomes unpredictable. Yet, further studies have revealed that there is almost no other sector that this ineptitude does not impact indirectly, especially as adverse economic consequences. GDP per Capita versus electrical energy production data for Nigeria and selected countries for the year 2004 served as input parameters which underwent research validation. Small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) were a case study in this paper. In the end, submissions are that apart from the internal devastating effect on SMEs, constant power outages have a major connection with the recent trends of big companies closing or relocating from Nigeria. To sum up, measures were suggested for improvement

Potentials of locally manufactured wound-field flux switching wind generator in South Africa

The China-based monopoly of high-energy permanent magnet materials used in modern wind generators impact the economic viability and local content value of most wind turbines installed in South Africa, especially large installations. It is possible to design with less expensive excitation technologies using locally-sourced wound-field electromagnets, which might promote local content. This study involves the optimum design performance comparison of the wound-field flux switching machine (WF-FSM) technology based on two variants – Design I and II (D-I and D-II) – the difference being in the arrangement of their DC wound-field coils. The machines are evaluated using finite element analyses (FEA) with optimum performance emphasised on design parameters such as torque density, efficiency and power factor. The selected design targets are meant to improve the performance to cost fidelity of the proposed wind generator variants. In 2D FEA, D-II can produce up to 18.8% higher torque density (kNm/m3) and 17.1% lesser loss per active volume (kW/m3) than D-I. In 3D FEA, the torque density of D-II remains higher at 10.6%, but its loss per active volume increases by 15% compared to D-I. The discrepancy observed in 2D and 3D FEA is due to an underestimation of the end-winding effects in D-II. The power factor of D-II is higher than D-I, both in 2D and 3D FEA, which may translate to lower kVA ratings and inverter costs. A higher total active mass ensues for the studied WF-FSMs than a conventional direct-drive PMSG, but avoiding rare earth PMs translate to significantly lower costs

Renewable energy investment in Nigeria: A review of the Renewable Energy Master Plan

Data for investment into renewable energy resources in Nigeria is mainly unavailable due to over reliance on conventional resources for energy generation. However, recent developments in the energy sector have portrayed gradual attention to investments in renewable energy resources. This paper reviews the Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) which identifies this improvement and presents a draft on how an increase in investment in renewable energy resources, which will in the long run balance the national energy equation, ensure energy security and promote sustainable development

Renewable energy investment in Nigeria: A review of the Renewable Energy Master Plan

Data for investment into renewable energy resources in Nigeria is mainly unavailable due to over reliance on conventional resources for energy generation. However, recent developments in the energy sector have portrayed gradual attention to investments in renewable energy resources. This paper reviews the Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) which identifies this improvement and presents a draft on how an increase in investment in renewable energy resources, which will in the long run balance the national energy equation, ensure energy security and promote sustainable development

Effect of dietary inclusion of biochar on growth performance, haematology and serum lipid profile of broiler birds

One hundred and twenty (120) day-old broiler birds were used to ascertain the effect of dietary inclusion of biochar on the growth, hematology and serum lipid profiles of birds in a 56-day feeding trial. The birds were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 30 birds each, replicated twice with 15 birds per replicate. The groups were randomly assigned to four diets in a completely randomized design involving four levels (0, 2, 4 and 6%) of biochar kg-1. Treatments did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in final body weight, average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio at the starter phase. However, at the finisher phase, significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed among treatments in final body weight, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Final body weight, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio of birds fed 6% biochar kg-1 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than other treatment groups. White blood cell counts (WBC) and packed cell volume (PCV) were not affected by treatments at the starter and finisher phases, respectively. Hemoglobin concentration (Hb) and red blood cell count were significantly (P < 0.05) increased by the treatments at both starter and finisher phases. Nonsignificant difference (P>0.05) was observed in the triacylglycerol (TAG) values of birds at the finisher phase, while cholesterol and low density lipoprotein levels were significantly reduced (P < 0.05, 0.01) at both phases. The result of the present study showed that up to 6% dietary biochar kg-1 improved growth, hematology and serum lipid profiles of broiler birds.Keywords: biochar, performance, health-status, fat-accretion, broiler