The Shortfall of Female Mathematics Lecturers in Nigerian Universities: Strategies for Promotion and Retention of Prospective Female Mathematics Lecturers

Mathematics is the bedrock of national development. It is a subject without which a nation cannot move forward scientifically or technologically. It has been observed that the level of female participation in Mathematics studies in the Universities is very low and over the years there has been a steady decline. The study involved focus group discussions with the lecturers in Mathematics Department from these Universities from 1995-2000. This paper has established the low level of female undergraduates and female lecturers in Mathematics Departments in the Universities in Edo and Delta States. The major strategies identified in this paper for the promotion and retention of female mathematics teachers are as follows: (a) Early professional counseling of school children; (b) Gender education for parents and teachers; (c) Sensitization seminars for girls in particular. The paper discusses the effects of this shortfall and suggests some of the strategies for promoting enrollment and retention of female students in mathematics studies in the Universities

Effective character education for undergraduates students: A case study of the University of Benin

The study assessed undergraduate students’ perception of university approach to students’ character education. Qualitative research method that adopted focus group discussion was the design of the study. The respondents were drawn from the Faculty of Education University of , from year one to four. The instrument was a questionnaire titled; Students’ Opinion on the University Character Education Scheme (SOUCES). It was made of up of six basic questions. Members of each group responded to each of the questions during the interactive session. The different responses were collated by a member of the research team who acted as the secretary to the different focus groups. The findings of the study revealed that students accepted the need to improve on students’ character through functional character education programme at the university level. It was recommended among others that the counsellors through the university counselling unit should embark on sensitization programme and periodic orientation and seminars to create awareness on the importance of cultivating good character. Key words: Character training, Students , University

The influence of fine aggregate combinations on particle size distribution, grading parameters and compressive strength of sandcrete blocks

The current extensive use of low priced fine aggregate (sand) deposits in sandcrete block making in Nigeria is of concern because there appears to be a level of ignorance surrounding their existing properties and implications. To this end, silt contents and some grading parameters of the most commonly used fine aggregate deposits in parts of midwestern Nigeria (Benin City), the coefficient of uniformity (Cu), curvature coefficient (Cc), and the fineness modulus (Fm) were derived by laboratory experiments to ascertain these basic properties. In addition, the strength and durability properties of sandcrete blocks made from these sands were also established. It revealed that the low priced sands exhibited worse properties in comparison to the more expensive sand. As a way of improving the properties of these frequently used low priced sands, a combination approach was adopted that used the weaker and commonly used sands with those that are more expensive and less frequently used. Findings revealed that combining the two created significant improvement in compressive strength, durability, and grading parameters of low priced sands with only marginal impact on cost.Key words: fine aggregates, uniformity coefficient, curvature coefficient, fineness modulus, compressive strength, durability, silt contents, Nigeria

Optimum compressive strength of hardened Sandcrete building blocks with steel chips

The recycling of steel chips into an environmentally friendly, responsive, and profitable commodity in the manufacturing and construction industries is a huge and difficult challenge. Several strategies designed for the management and processing of this waste in developed countries have been largely unsuccessful in developing countries mainly due to its capital-intensive nature. To this end, this investigation attempts to provide an alternative solution to the recycling of this material by maximizing its utility value in the building construction industry. This is to establish their influence on the compressive strength of sandcrete hollow blocks and solid cubes with the aim of specifying the range percent of steel chips for the sandcrete optimum compressive strength value. This is particularly important for developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and even Latin America where most sandcrete blocks exhibit compressive strengths far below standard requirements. Percentages of steel chips relative to the weight of cement were varied and blended with the sand in an attempt to improve the sand grading parameters. The steel chips variations were one, two, three, four, five, ten and fifteen percent respectively. It was confirmed that the grading parameters were improved and there were significant increases in the compressive strength of the blocks and cube samples. The greatest improvement was noticed at four percent steel chips and sand combination. Using the plotted profile, the margin of steel chips additions for the optimum compressive strength was also established. It is recommended that steel chip sandcrete blocks are suitable for both internal load bearing, and non-load bearing walls, in areas where they are not subjected to moisture ingress. However, for external walls, and in areas where they are liable to moisture attack after laying, the surfaces should be well rendered. Below ground level, the surfaces should be coated with a water proofing agent like bitumen and cement containing waterproofing agents be used in the manufacture, laying, and rendering of steel chip sandcrete blocks

The impact of vibration time on compressive strength of hardened Sandcrete building blocks

The majority of the sandcrete blocks used in the Nigerian building industry fall short of the minimum specification standards. There is evidence to suggest a wide variation in compressive strength from one block manufacturer to another and also within block samples from a single source. This problem has been attributed to poor quality control and substandard constituent materials. Also very alarming is the ignorance surrounding the usage and engineering properties of some of the widely used fine aggregate deposits. As a way forward, this paper aims to re-establish the impact of vibration time in sandcrete block production using six fine aggregate deposits found within Benin City (Midwestern Nigeria) and their various pair combinations. Some of the basic properties like silt content, grading parameters—co-efficient of uniformity (Cu), curvature co-efficient (Cc) and the fineness modulus (Fm)—of these fine aggregates were established by laboratory means. In addition, the wet and dry compressive strength of these sandcrete blocks made from these sands were established. A total of 1,080 block samples produced under very controlled conditions were used in this investigation. It was revealed that the utility value of sand can be improved when the weaker and commonly used sands were combined with those that are better, more expensive and less frequently used at different vibration periods and ratios. Findings further revealed that sand types and the sand combination approach adopted were very significant to grading parameters and strength; at a much higher vibration time the compressive strength and durability properties were also considerably improved

A cluster-randomized trial of mass drug administration with a gametocytocidal drug combination to interrupt malaria transmission in a low endemic area in Tanzania

Contains fulltext : 96570.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Effective mass drug administration (MDA) with anti-malarial drugs can clear the human infectious reservoir for malaria and thereby interrupt malaria transmission. The likelihood of success of MDA depends on the intensity and seasonality of malaria transmission, the efficacy of the intervention in rapidly clearing all malaria parasite stages and the degree to which symptomatic and asymptomatic parasite carriers participate in the intervention. The impact of MDA with the gametocytocidal drug combination sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) plus artesunate (AS) plus primaquine (PQ, single dose 0.75 mg/kg) on malaria transmission was determined in an area of very low and seasonal malaria transmission in northern Tanzania. METHODS: In a cluster-randomized trial in four villages in Lower Moshi, Tanzania, eight clusters (1,110 individuals; cluster size 47- 209) were randomized to observed treatment with SP+AS+PQ and eight clusters (2,347 individuals, cluster size 55- 737) to treatment with placebo over three days. Intervention and control clusters were 1 km apart; households that were located between clusters were treated as buffer zones where all individuals received SP+AS+PQ but were not selected for the evaluation. Passive case detection was done for the entire cohort and active case detection in 149 children aged 1-10 year from the intervention arm and 143 from the control arm. Four cross-sectional surveys assessed parasite carriage by microscopy and molecular methods during a five-month follow-up period. RESULTS: The coverage rate in the intervention arm was 93.0% (1,117/1,201). Parasite prevalence by molecular detection methods was 2.2-2.7% prior to the intervention and undetectable during follow-up in both the control and intervention clusters. None of the slides collected during cross-sectional surveys had microscopically detectable parasite densities. Three clinical malaria episodes occurred in the intervention (n = 1) and control clusters (n = 2). CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrates the possibility to achieve high coverage with a three-day intervention but also the difficulty in defining suitable outcome measures to evaluate interventions in areas of very low malaria transmission intensity. The decline in transmission intensity prior to the intervention made it impossible to assess the impact of MDA in the chosen study setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00509015

Guidance and counselling services in federal government colleges in Nigeria

This paper seeks to explore the State-of-the-art of guidance and counseling services in Federal Government Colleges in Nigeria by discussing guidance and counselling and the provisions for its services in the National Policy on Education. It also highlights the set up of guidance and counselling at the Federal Ministry level. In addition, it discusses the current status of guidance services in the federal government colleges in Nigeria. The discussion of the above will create more awareness on the existing guidance and counselling services and the efforts made so far by the government to encourage the growth of guidance and counselling in schools. The paper also makes recommendations, which will improve the counselling services in our schools. The effective organization of guidance and counselling services in Nigeria would be a reality, if the federal and state Ministries of Education are able to provide professionally trained guidance counsellors, recognize their services in schools and provide them with necessary incentives and facilities. Since the Federal government colleges took the lead in the implementation of the 6-3-3-4 system of education in Nigeria, the need for effectively organized guidance services in these schools cannot be over-emphasized.The Nigerian Journal of Guidance and Counselling Vol. 8 (1) 2002: pp. 162-18

The influence of vibration time and sand type on the compressive strength of sandcrete hollow blocks

The purpose of this study is to see if varying the vibration time and sand type during moulding of blocks would affect the strength of the blocks. To this end, seven types of sands: Okhuahie and Ovia river sands; Okhuahie, Ovia, Ikpoba flood and Okhoro erosion sands were collected for the study. A total of 315 blocks each in 150mm and 225mm sizes with cement to sand ratios of 1:6 were made using the seven brands of sand. The blocks were vibrated for 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 seconds and tested for compressive strength at 7 days, 14 days and 28 days respectively. The result showed that the relationship between compressive strength of the blocks and the vibration time for various sand types was linear up to vibration time of 30 secs. The sand type also influenced the strength of the blocks as Okhuahie river sand gave the highest compressive strength followed by Ovia river sand and the least was Okhoro erosion sand. At least 52% increase in compressive strength of 150mm and 225mm sandcrete blocks were achieved by raising the vibration time from 15 seconds to 25 seconds in the seven types of sand and 100% increase was achieved by raising the vibration time from 15 to 30 seconds

Effect of Cement Grades on some properties of Sandcrete

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of cement grade on some properties of sandcrete. The cement used for this work was Ordinary Portland cement (Dangote brand) of grade 42.5 and 32.5 meeting the requirement of ASTM C150 type 1 cement. Three types of fine aggregate was also used to produce sandcrete cubes which includes Ovbiogie sharp sand, Okhuahe sharp sand and Iguosa river erosion sand all obtained from Benin city , Edo state, Nigeria. Sieve analyses were carried out on the three fine aggregate samples which fell under zone 3 according to BS 882:1954. Sand/cement ratios of 1:6, 1:8 and 1:10 were used to produce a total of 216 samples of 150mm x 150mm sandcrete cubes. The work studied the compressive strengths of the various sandcrete cubesat curingages of 1, 3, 7 and 28 days respectively.The results obtained using grade 32.5 cement at 7days with sand/cement ratio 1:6 are 3.48N/mm2, 3.30N/mm2 and 3.21N/mm2 for Ovbiogie sand, Iguosa sand and Okhuahe sand samples respectively. For sand/cement ratio 1:8, the compressive strength of the sandcrete cubes are 3.03N/mm2, 2.34N/mm2, and 2.43N/mm2 for Ovbiogie sand, Iguosa sand and Okhuahe sand samples respectively. These met the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS, 1975) for load bearing blocks and non-load bearing blocks. Using grade 42.5 cement, the results also obtained, for 7days with sand/cement ratio 1:6 are 6.52N/mm2, 6.03N/mm2 and 6.22N/mm2 for Ovbiogie sand, Iguosa sand and Okhuahe sand samples respectively. For sand/cement ratio 1:8, the compressive strength of the sandcrete cubes are 5.48N/mm2, 3.69N/mm2, and 2.89N/mm2 for Ovbiogie sand, Iguosa sand and Okhuahe sand samples respectively. These also met the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS, 1975) for load bearing blocks and non-load bearing blocks. This study has shown that cement grade does not translate to sandcrete strength