Motherism, African Women and Ecological Advocacy in Aminata Sow Fall’s L’Ex-père de la nation and Douceurs du bercail

The literary discourse of francophone Africa, has been indicted for ecocritical passivity. Yet many literary texts emanating from francophone Africa are replete with portraits of the environment. Even though Aminata Sow Fall, the Senegalese socio-realist falls within the category of authors who seek equilibrium in their treatment of African postcolonial issues, most of her works are laden with ecocritical concerns. Hidden within the literary portraits of postcolonial and environmental chaos of Africa lies Sow Fall’s projection of African problems and their alternative solution via her characters’ sensitization of ecological consciousness in readers. Through the theoretical framework of Catherine O. Acholonu’s environment-inclined Motherism: The Afrocentric Alternative to Feminism (1995), the present study embarks on an ecocritical focus on women characters’ roles in Sow Fall’s L’ex-père de la nation (1987) and Douceurs du bercail (1998). Against the backdrop of the main characters’ roles that threaten the environmental well-being of Africa, we contend that women characters present a symbiotic relationship with nature; they highlight the advantages Mother Earth bestows on human beings, displaying how women’s leadership roles enhance African environments. It is in this respect that the article argues that women characters’ roles suggest an advocacy for ecological Motherist ideals as a means to counter postcolonial societal ills. In conclusion, the novels showcase African women as environmental Motherists whose roles preserve an Edenic African environment that connotes benefits and hopes for human in the midst of literal and metaphorical postcolonial degradation of the environment

Hydrogeological Characteristics of Groundwater Yield in Shallow Wells of the Regolith Aquifer: a Study from Ilorin, Nigeria

Present paper tries to understand the influence of hydrogeological characteristics on groundwater yield of shallow wells in regolith aquifer, Ilorin, Nigeria. The data on hydrogeological characteristics such as drawdown, water level, depth of borehole, depth of overburden and well yield for 78 borewells were collected from Kwara State Ministry of Water Resources and Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority in Ilorin. While the aquifer transmissivity and well specific capacity was calculated from this data. The data obtained were subjected to Pearson moment correlation, multiple and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The results of the stepwise multiple regression (R2 of .929) indicates that aquifer transmissivity and drawdown contributed 92.9% to the variability in well yield in the study area. It is concluded that while constructing wells, aquifer transmissivity and the rate of drawdown be taking into account for the purpose of having productive well in the study area.Keywords: Aquifer Transmissivity, Well Specific Capacity, Regolith Aquifer, Drawdown, Well Yield, Groundwater, Ilorin, Nigeria

A linha do horizonte: uma metáfora mal-resolvida dos africanos no filme Chocolat de Claire Denis

No filme Chocolat, de Claire Denis (1989), os colonizadores fazem alusão constante a uma linha do horizonte aparentemente banal; um discurso que corrobora as complexidades do poder paralelo e a singularidade cultural entre os africanos e os colonizadores/ocidentais. Este trabalho argumenta que a inter-relação colonial de europeus e africanos se incorpora na alusão do filme à linha do horizonte, uma metáfora, com o seu fim visível mas restritivo, inacessível e inexistente. Por um lado, a linha do horizonte significa um lamento da apreciação interna de autocondenação do colonizador — uma característica raramente percebida no discurso do colonizador. Por outro, a linha do horizonte simboliza a pouca profundidade dos colonizadores, o que sugere suas limitações e sua incompetência na tentativa de sustentar o poder colonial. Pela sua insensibilidade e seu desinteresse em procurar conhecer os africanos como seres com quem se podia contar, os colonizadores/ocidentais acabaram não descobrindo, nem dominando completamente, os africanos. A nossa tese é a de que a linha do horizonte motiva uma inadequação que representa a inadequação e a incapacidade dos ocidentais para compreender a personalidade dos africanos.Palavras-chave: colonizador/ocidental - poder - conhecimento - ilusão - africanos

Determinants of Agricultural Labour Productivity in the West African Sub-Region, 1970-2004

This paper examined the patterns and determinants of agricultural labour productivity among countries in West African sub-region over the period 1970 – 2004. The study was based on panel data extracted from FAOSTAT, the online statistical database of the Food and Agriculture Organisation as well as the database of United Nations Statistics Division and the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopaedia CD-ROM. The data were analyzed by a combination of descriptive and regression methods. The study revealed that eight (8) of the sixteen (16) West African countries (Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Niger, Senegal and Togo) had average labour productivities that were lower during the 2000-2004 period than the average they stated with during the 1970s. The West-African average labour productivity ranged between 484.72 and 536.52 from 1970 to 2004. Regression analyses revealed that agricultural labour productivity among countries in the sub-region would rise with increase in literacy rates, increase in capital formation (savings), increase in rates of fertilizer and tractor use as well as increase in proportion of agricultural land put under irrigation (p<0.01). However, periods of military rule and civilian dictatorship (one party state) were identified as being associated with significantly lower agricultural labour productivity in the sub-region. It is recommended that Governments in West Africa should intensify their efforts in providing basic education to their people as well as providing support for increased private sector participation in the procurement and distribution of critical inputs like fertilizer, tractors services, etc. &nbsp

AN ANALYSIS OF YIELDS OF KOLA-NUT PRODUCTION, PROCESSING AND MARKETING IN SAGAMU LGA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study on Kola nut production in Ogun State was aimed at describing the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, net farm income, marketing channels and factors influencing output of kola nut for its impact on food security. Multistage sampling technique was used in the study; the first stage involves the purposive selection of Sagamu Local Government as largest Kola nut farming with 4 communities; namely; Agbowa; Sagamu; Igodo, and Odelemo. The second stage involves simple random selection of 100 kola nut farmers, 25 per community. A structured questionnaire was administered subject to descriptive analysis, multiple regressions, and budgetary analysis. The results revealed that male 82% and female 18% were involved in kola nut production, processing and marketing. Average household size of 6 members with a minimum of 25 years farming experiences. The study revealed that 51% of the farmers sold directly to wholesalers, 37% sold to processors, and 12% sold to retailers. Also, 83%, of the producers and marketers were married 16% were widowed and only 1% divorced. Average age was 58years and average farm size of 2.71 hectares. Average farm net income was ₦208,680.40 per annum with the total revenue of ₦291,149 and a gross margin of ₦237,789.50 per annum. The average total cost incurred was calculated as ₦82,468.40 being cost of labour, transportation and items such as cutlass, hoes and files. Regression analysis used to determine the factors affecting the output of kola nut showed that farm size, age of kola nut plantation and the age of farmers were significant at 10%, 5% and 1% respectively using double log equation and the model was significant at 1%. The age of farmers (x1) was negatively significant which implies that as farmers reach old age, this may serve as hindrance due to physical inability to undertake vigorous farm activities hence reduction in output occurs by 13.3%. Farming experience (x2) was negatively correlated with output of kolanut indicating that a unit increase in experience of kolanut farmers will decrease output by 12.3%. Farm size was found to positively significant which implies that a unit increase in farm size will increase output by 83.1%.The result revealed that kola nut business is a profitable venture and male dominated. The women could be encouraged to invest in the business to increase their income and livelihood.

An Experimental Approach towards PV-Based Solar System Sizing for an Engineering Laboratory

This study aims at providing an experimental sizing procedure for a rooftop PV-based solar power system for an engineering laboratory. This was achieved by monitoring the peak power and energy delivered by an installed 20W solar panel into an 18 Ah battery. Knowledge of the average daily peak power and energy was used to determine the percentage rated capacity available for use and the sun hour. A load consumption comparison was also carried out with and without the connection of a load to inverter. In addition to this, the monitoring of the no-load consumption of the inverter was carried out. This was carried-out to ascertain the contribution of the inverter to the system. With the knowledge of the average daily energy deliverable, sun hour and the no-load power of the inverter, a sample sizing for basic electronic laboratory loads was done. The findings of the study reveals that the average available power is 89.35% of the solar panel rated capacity while the average sun hour is 4.38 h. It has also been shown that an approximate difference of 20 W exists between the power consumption of the load with and without its connection to the inverter. This value (i.e., 20W) has been recorded as the approximate no-load power for the inverter. The sample sizing done has shown that, the solar panel energy requirement of the system with inverter may be considerably higher than that without inverter

Variability of the morphology of gastrocnemius muscle in an African population

Gastrocnemius morphological status is often designated as being bipennate. Its robustness in humans is a feature that accompanies the human mode of locomotion. The three-headed variant has often been reported, but paucity of information exists within the Nigerian population as regards gastrocnemius morphological variability. We therefore currently aim to determine the pattern of occurrence of variations of the muscle in both legs of thirty cadavers in four Anatomy laboratories of Universities in Southwestern part of Nigeria. Our current study shows that the multi-headed variants (three and four-headed) are more dominant. A minority (35%) of the legs had two-headed gastrocnemius muscle, 13.3% had three-headed gastrocnemius while 51.7% had four-headed gastrocnemius muscle. This study provides a careful description of the gastrocnemius muscle in the studied population and also sheds light on the embryological and clinical implications of the findings. The knowledge of variant gastrocnemius anatomy will aid understanding of popliteal surface anatomy, palpation of popliteal arterial pulse, popliteal nerve block and the assessment of gastrocnemius muscle for autografting. The additional variant heads also bear evolutionary importance.Keywords: Gastrocnemius; Multi-Pinnate; Popliteal Entrapment Syndrome; Variations; Four-Headed, Third Head Of Gastrocnemiu

Analysis of resource-use efficiency in Beniseed production in obi and doma local government areas of nassarawa state, Nigeria

Beniseed has been recognized as a crop with high economic potential in Nigeria, both as source of raw materials for industries and reliable foreign exchange earner. The study assessed resource-use efficiency in beniseed production in Obi and Doma Local Government Areas of Nassarawa state during 2004/2005 farming season. Data were collected through multi-stage sampling procedure from 200 respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stochastic production frontier analysis. The technical efficiency index estimated for beniseed farmers was 0.59 which indicated inefficiency in current production practices. The efficiency indices for allocative and overall economic efficiencies were estimated to be 0.41 and 0.24 respectively. The findings showed that farm size, tractor service and hired labour significantly influenced technical efficiency (p< 0.01). The socio-economic factors associated with higher technical efficiency of the farmers included age, access to credit and fertilizer use (p< 0.10); frequency of extension visit (p< 0.10) significantly influenced allocative efficiency while overall economic efficiency was significantly (p< 0.01) influenced by use of fertilizer, selling price and access to credit (p< 0.10). The study concluded that high level of inefficiency exists under the present production practices and therefore recommends that resources such as fertilizer, tractor services and that credit should be made available to farmers for improved beniseed production.   &nbsp

DETERMINANTS OF HERBAL SOAP SMALL ENTERPRISES AND MARKET-LED DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH WEST, NIGERIA

Research into alternative natural products with health potential such as herbal soap has become very important to curb the disastrous effects of mercury-based soap on healthy living and so enhance women’s productive activities of the rural peasantry. The study examines the factors affecting herbal soap small enterprises development and marketing. In identifying the factors affecting the small enterprises, five hundred and two (502) herbal soap processors and marketers were surveyed from South West, Nigeria comprising 65 villages in the sampled 16 Local Government Areas. A close-ended questionnaire was used to gather data for the study. The data collected from herbal soap entrepreneurs was fitted into three regression functional forms. The functional forms were linear, semi-log and double log functions. The double log function was selected as the lead equation based on the significance of the individual coefficients and their signs, the magnitude of the coefficient of the multiple determinations (R2) and the magnitude of the standard error (SE) which was 0.80 and F- statistics of 2.35. The R2 of 0.829 indicated that 82.9% of the variation in the gross profit of herbal soap production (Y) was accounted for by the regressors/explanatory variables. Regression analysis result revealed that, household size and labour were significant at 10% while extension contact was significant at 5%. It is therefore recommended that, extension contact should be encouraged among the herbal soap processors in other to generate more income, also, awareness should be created for existing and prospective entrepreneurs about business opportunities in Natural resources utilising agricultural-wastes. 

PRICE TREND ANALYSIS OF SELECTED FOOD GRAINS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA (1988-2012)

The study examined the price trend of some selected food grains in Ogun State, Nigeria, using descriptive statistics, graphical representation and growth model to analyze its dynamic behaviour over the period of 1988-2012. The study was based on secondary data obtained from Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme for the period (1988-2012) and it covered the rural and urban monthly retail prices of three (3) food grains viz: maize (white and yellow), rice and cowpea (white and brown). Results of analysis revealed a consistent long-term movement or change in the prices of the food grains for both markets.  While price fluctuation was observed more with maize and cowpea, minimal adjustments were observed in rice. Exponential regression analysis showed a positive significant coefficient i.e. an upward trend in prices of both rural and urban markets with a significant F-statistics (p<0.01). The highest growth rate was seen in white cowpea in the urban market (i.e. 4.78%) while the least growth rate was in white maize in the rural market (i.e. 3.50%).Â