Assessment of rural households’ objectives for gathering non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in Kogi State, Nigeria

This study assessed rural households’ objectives for gathering non-timber forest products in Kogi State, Nigeria, with specific focus on identifying some species of non-timber forest products present in the area, identifying reasons why they engaged in the gathering of the non-timber forest products (NTFPs) as well as determining the relative importance of the identified reasons to the households. One hundred and sixty-eight (168) questionnaires were randomly administered on respondents from four randomly selected local government areas from Kogi West Senatorial District of the State. The study identified some species of NTFPs that were found in the study area. These included locust bean (Parkia biglobosa), water leaf (Talinium triangulare), bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and a host of others. Also, reasons why these rural households in the study area collected NTFPs were identified. Among the reasons given were food security, self employment, income generation and continuity. The relative importance of the given reasons was also determined and it was discovered that food security was the most important reason the households engaged in NTFPs gathering while continuity objective was ranked least.Key words: Non-timber forest products, household, food security, continuity, Kogi State

The effects of xylazine sedation on some haematological parameters of the West African Dwarf goat

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Are laws the appropriate solution: The need to adopt non-policy measures in aid of the implementation of sex discrimination laws in Nigeria

Gender inequality is a social problem facing women all over the world and is a barrier to human development. The United Nations commits to achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls and have adopted the Sustainable Development Goals to achieve gender equality by 2030. Nigeria, a Member State of the United Nations has ratified international and regional instruments which advocate for the protection and promotion of the rights of women and girls. Though some progress has been made to reduce inequality, discrimination remains a problem to women and is exacerbated by factors such as culture, religion, social practices and discriminatory laws. This study seeks to add to the discourse on gender inequality in Nigeria and examine the effectiveness of available domestic and international provisions against sex discrimination when considered against ingrained cultural attitudes, beliefs and discriminatory laws. The study found that amongst other determinants, culture and religion were constant features in the different forms of discrimination Nigerian women face and they were the primary reasons the proposals to pass gender equality laws were opposed and failed. The study proposes the need to adopt non-policy measures such as education and awareness-raising as additional measures to eliminating discrimination and promoting equalit