Female-Led agrarian households and the question of sustainable land and food security in an emerging economy: Evidence from Tula Baule

Purpose: This study examines the nexus between land tenure security (LTS) and food security (FS) in female-led households of Tula Baule agrarian settlements. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study used a qualitative research design based on the constructivist paradigm. The researchers conducted in-depth interviews with female household heads cutting across the three “yaati” (villages) of Tula Baule. Analysis of data collected from the interviews was done employing transcriptions, creating semantic networks and utilising thematic content analysis. Findings: The study revealed that all but a few respondents believed that they had LTS based on “Feloh's” (ancestral gods') supremacy without recourse to documentary evidence of ownership. Similarly, all but a few participants do not have access to three square meals per day throughout the study period. The study also found a strong relationship between LTS and FS in the study area. Participants indicated a lack of motivation to invest in farms that lack LTS, consequently affecting their agricultural productivity and FS. Practical implication: It provides an empirical base to equip policymakers with valuable information for policies relating to females' access to land and food in agrarian settlements. Originality/value: This study is the first to empirically analyse land and food security in female-led agrarian households of Tula Baule in an eclectic context

Housing construction materials and house rent trends in Ede, Nigeria

The study examines the relationship between housing construction material prices and house rents in Ede town, Nigeria, from 2002 to 2020 to provide information for investment decisions. The research was conducted using a questionnaire survey. The study’ population consists of landlords, estate surveyors and valuers, real estate agents, and building material suppliers/sellers in the study area. Data obtained was analysed employing descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The results showed that house rents and building material prices maintained an upward trend within the study period. Changes in house rents correlated with some percentage changes in the prices of selected building materials (cement, roofing sheet, reinforcement bar, sand and tiles). However, all the correlations are not statistically significant at 0.05 level. The regression model’s coefficient of determination R-squared revealed that building material costs explained about 43.6% of the variation in house rents. This result implies that factors other than building material costs may influence changes in house rents. The study’s finding will be valuable to stakeholders making real estate investment decisions in the study area and similar developing economies in general

Evaluating the attitudes of real estate students toward property valuation

Property valuation is a capstone course for real estate professionals and an essential component of core knowledge in real estate education. The prominence of real estate in the investment market and information asymmetries have created a demand for property valuation all around the world. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that real estate students rarely have positive attitudes toward property valuation. This condition can hinder understanding the contents and acquiring the requisite valuation skills as attitudes are critical for learning. It has been contended that developing positive attitudes should be the desired course goal. This study employs quantitative research designs to evaluate the attitudes of real estate students toward property valuation to determine whether the desired goal has been achieved. A self-administered questionnaire containing a modified SATS-36 attitudes assessment scale was distributed to all 87 Higher National Diploma (HND) I students after the first semester's valuation course. The findings suggested that the sampled students' attitudes toward property valuation were not negative. The students recognise the importance of property valuation for their careers, are ready to put up the effort to understand and acquire valuation skills, and believe they can learn property valuation. This study recommends that the pilot instrument used in this study be expanded to other polytechnics, universities, and nations in order to gather general data that may be used to guide the development of positive attitudes