Assessment of flexible features in the design of event centres in Minna, Niger state Nigeria

Flexibility overtime has been known to enhance the peculiarity of a space, making spaces adaptable to multipurpose use, without altering the functional requirements. The design features and techniques that allow for changing situations in the use and operation of spaces are the focus of this paper. Components such as walls, floors and roofs are the design features that affect space in any building. Event centres being hubs for cultural and social activities, attract an unpredictable population, hence the need for flexible venues for event centres which are fast becoming stable and developing features of any city. The study assessed available event centres and the design features used to achieve flexibility, examining their adaptation to inadequacy of event spaces in selected event centres in Minna Niger state. Observation schedules was used as instrument to obtain data, the data collected was then analysed using Microsoft excel. It was observed from the study that all event centres had adaptability as their flexible design approach and this is as a result of the use of large open spaces, however 80% of event centres in Minna, Niger state failed to have flexible design features. The 20% that provided few of these features used curtain as flexible design elements. The paper recommended that design features for flexibility such as moveable walls, retractable roofs and sitting should be used in event centre designs to achieve an effective flexible design.Keywords: Adaptation, Design features, Event centre, Flexibilit

Effect of chemical reaction on unsteady MHD free convective two immiscible fluids flow

The effect of chemical reaction on unsteady MHD free convective two immiscible fluids flow has been studied. Approximate analytical solutions to the governing equations are found for the coupled and linear differential equations using regular perturbation method. Graphs depicting the effect of chemical reaction parameter and others flow parameters on velocity, temperature and concentration profiles are obtained anddiscussed accordingly. The effect of flow parameters on the coefficient of skin friction, Nusselt number and Sherwood number are also tabulated and discussed appropriately. It was observed that the increase in chemical reaction coefficient/parameter suppresses both velocity and concentration profiles.Keywords: Chemical Reaction, MHD, Convective, Immiscible, Unstead

Maintenance of the Federal Secretariat Complex Minna, Niger State: A Post Occupancy Evaluation Approach

Government office buildings in Nigeria are generally faced with premature but steady and rapid deterioration, decay and dilapidation due to lack of maintenance. This study evaluates the main factors responsible for the poor maintenance of the Federal Secretariat Office Complex, Minna, Nigeria using a post-occupancy evaluation approach. The study determines the extent of dilapidation of the office building and the feelings of the users about their office environment. The most frequently recurring maintenance problems are ascertained. By using occupants as a benchmark in evaluation, this paper discusses research with the broad aim of developing a general guideline for the POE practice, specifically for government and public buildings in Nigeria. The research method used was a combination of the descriptive and analytical survey methods. A total of 20 structured questionnaires comprising were administered to the users of the office building. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Some of the findings of the study are that the major contributors to the maintenance problems in government office buildings in Nigeria are natural deterioration due to age, environmental effects and misuse by occupants.  Funding for maintenance was found to be grossly inadequate. The most frequently recurring maintenance problems in the office buildings are plumbing and roof leakages. Post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of buildings is vitally needed to ensure that building performance of government and public buildings and facilities is sustained. The study recommends POE as an effective, relevant and beneficial tool to be used by the public sector in evaluating the performance of government and public buildings in Nigeria. Keywords: Government Office Building, Post Occupancy Evaluation, Maintenance

Analysis of User’s Perception on How to Achieve Thermal Comfort in Kano State Luxury Homes

Luxury homes form an important part of development of urban settings in Nigeria, it is predominantly but not always on one building accommodation spaces that contains all necessary components and style of modern residential units. However, the location of these building largely makes them different in relation to the kind view they offer. The congestion and rapid increase of urban activities in Kano State has resulted to thermal comfort challenges, this problem  have remained stagnant in the air for quite a long time, despite the control in design of buildings that have emerged of recent, there still remains the problem of indoor air quality and humid hot interior spaces that affect building occupants. The main aim of this research is to highlight how User’s perception can be used to achieve thermal comforts in the luxury homes in Kano, which can be accessed through examining the effects of thermal discomfort on building users, assessing the actions of users on thermal comfort challenges, evaluating users response on how thermal comfort can be achieved. After extensive review of literature, a research gap was established. Data was collected from the aforementioned study area through administering questionnaire, observation and personal interview. A qualitative and quantitative research approach was employed; SPSS and MSExcel were used for the quantitative data analysis. Findings revealed Users discomfort level, the adaptation techniques they have adopted and suggesting design considerations and ways to which thermal discomforts can be mitigated. Recommendations were made for designing homes with high level of comforts achieved through the idea of the users of buildings. Conclusion was made on the ease of determining the discomfort level of user, and the importance of incorporating their idea and thinking at the starting point in building designs. Keywords: Discomfort, Luxury homes, Thermal comfort, User’s perceptio

A Study of Listing of Buildings and Monuments in Nigeria (1956-2009)

This paper presents an analysis of listed buildings, objects and structures in Nigeria. A study of listed buildings, objects and structures was undertaken to examine their number and condition. The paper discussed the importance of listed buildings to the environment in terms of architectural, historic and cultural significance. It examined the location, criteria and level of preservation and maintenance of such buildings, objects and structures in Nigeria. The study further looked at the origin of listing, listing in Britain and other parts of the world. Listing across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria was also undertaken through direct observation and review of collated data from relevant agencies in charge of listing of buildings in Nigeria. The research made some recommendations that will assist in the preservation of Nigeria`s cultural heritage and sense of identity. The study concludes that the regulatory body which is the National Commission for Museum and Monuments should take the opportunity of securing and preserving these buildings, objects and structures for the benefits of the wider generation to experience the buildings, objects and structures that have been declared as National figures in Nigeria. Keywords: cultural heritage, environment, historic building, listed building, museum and monument

Effectiveness of the Administration of Justice in Nigeria Under the Development of Digital Technologies

Objective: the traditional Nigerian judicial system has long been associated with a conservative approach and traditional methodologies of justice administration. As a developing country, Nigeria has benefited immensely from the advancement of digital technology, especially in the legal field. This is due to the fact that modern digital technologies are being rapidly adopted in Nigeria's judicial processes for effective justice administration. However, despite the promise of digital technology, there are legal and socioeconomic challenges in Nigeria that may affect its successful utilization in legal proceedings. This justifies the focus of the study - to identify the legal and socio-economic challenges of digitalization of court proceedings in Nigeria.Methods: the study combines doctrinal and non-doctrinal approaches. The former ensures theoretical understanding of the conceptual issues and prospects of court proceedings virtualization. It also allows exploring, based on primary and secondary sources (laws, monographs, research articles and internet resources), the legal and socio-economic challenges of the use of digital technologies in court proceedings. The non-doctrinal approach consists in polling, describing and analyzing the results of a sociological survey. The survey was conducted among Nigeria residents to reveal their attitudes towards innovations in digitalization and virtualization of court proceedings as well as the challenges posed by these processes.Results: the study revealed that the use of digital technologies in court proceedings in Nigeria has several prospects of ensuring effective justice administration and accurate recording and storage of information. Along with the benefits, challenges are shown that may reduce the effectiveness of court proceedings digitalization.Scientific novelty: consists in investigating the use of digital technology in Nigerian court proceedings and identifying the prospects of improving the efficiency of justice administration in Nigeria under digitalization, as well as the challenges arising from this trend.Practical significance: the study will enable stakeholders in the Nigerian legal sector to identify legal and socio-economic challenges that may adversely affect and render ineffective the use of digital technologies in legal proceedings. In addition, the article offers practical recommendations to address these challenges

Seed Needs Assessment in Northeastern Nigeria

Harnessing the genetic potential inherent in crops for higher yields requires the supporting role of all inputs (Manjunatha et al., 2015), of which, quality seed is the most important. In many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a recurrent conflict has become a major factor distorting the availability of quality seeds and the seed system; this has since been the case in northeastern Nigeria. Farmers need quality seeds and planting materials of preferred crops to enable them resume agricultural activities after conflicts. Similarly, seed security is an important component of overall resilience in risk prone environments (FAO, 2016). This study was set-out to analyze existing seed systems in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States of Northern Nigeria in order to identify practical ways of improving farmer’s access to quality seed

HIV subtype and drug resistance patterns among drug naïve persons in Jos, Nigeria

To determine HIV-1 subtypes and antiretroviral drug resistance mutations for 16 infected, pregnant women in Jos, Nigeria, part of pol (1040 bp) was amplified from patient PBMC DNA, sequenced andanalyzed. Eight of the samples were subtype G, three were CRF02_AG and 2 were unique recombinant forms (URF) between G and CRF02_AG. The remaining consisted of 3 different strains: one was subtypeC, and the other 2 were unrelated URF. Nearly full-length genome sequences were completed for 6 of the strains: 4 subtype G and 2 CRF02_AG. In the 14 drug-naïve subjects, no primary resistance-associated mutations were found, but secondary mutations were identified in 7 different codons of the gene coding for protease: PR K20I, M36I, L63A/P/V, V82I, L10M/I and I93L. In addition, the K238R mutation was identified in the reverse transcriptase gene of 3 viruses. The PR K20I and M36I mutations occurred in all of the strains, and the L10M and V82I mutations occurred only in subtype G. The mutation, I93L, was carried by subtype C viruses. Two of the women that had prior niverapine treatment, had primary resistance-associated mutations, RT M184V and K103N, archived in their proviral DNA several months after treatment cessation. The study reports a predominance of clade G and CRF02_AG, and provides many more examples of nearly full-length genome sequences for subtype G viruses from Nigeria. The ubiquitous presence of PI secondary resistance-associated mutations, as well as primary resistanceassociatedmutations in 2 previously treated women, underscores the need to ensure adherence compliance to treatment

Binge drinking and sexual assault among women in Jos Metropolis, Nigeria

Background: Alcohol related sexual assault is a growing epidemic world wide that affects mainly women. There is urgent need to empower women to identify behaviors and situations that may predispose them to sexual victimization.Objectives: The study was carried out to determine the relationship between binge drinking and sociodemographic factors. It also assessed the relationship between binge drinking and sexual assault.Methods: The cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in Jos North Local Government Area from March to July, 2017. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select 272 participants aged 18 years and above who consented after obtaining ethical approval.Results: The total numbers of participants were 272 females with an age range of 18-60 years. The mean age was 28.8 ± 8.6 years. The socio-demographic variables significantly associated with binge drinking were marital status (X2 = 9.847, DF = 2, p = 0.007), educational status (X2 = 10.684, DF = 3, p = 0.014) and employment status (X2= 5.122, DF = 1, p = 0.024). Binge drinking was significantly associated with sexual assault (X2 = 10.732, DF = 1, p = 0.001). Previously married were significantly more likely to binge drink compared with never married and married. Those with no formal education were more likely to binge drink compared to those with tertiary education while the unemployed were less likely to binge drink compared with the employed. The sexually assaulted (P = 0.01, OR = 2.429, CI = 1.419-4.157) were 2 times more likely to binge drink.Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between binge drinking with marital status, employment, lower level of education and sexual assault. Women should be provided with information about the safe level of alcohol consumption and the many consequences of heavy drinking including sexual assault.Keywords: Binge drinking, women, sexual assault, socio-demographic, Jo

Perceptions of working conditions amongst health workers in state-owned facilities in northeastern Nigeria

Background: The health care sector depends to a large extent on human labor. Poor worker motivation can greatly affect health outcomes and patient safety. There is little information on the health workers\u2032 perceptions of working conditions in resource-poor settings. Method: Three state-owned facilities in each state were selected by simple random sampling technique. The selected facilities were visited on weekdays between 9 and 10 a.m. A self-administered structured questionnaire was given to all health care workers on duty in the facility at the time of visit. Results: A total of 299 questionnaires were returned. The response rate was 85.43%. Two hundred four (68.2%) workers experienced general satisfaction with their current jobs. The relationships between general job satisfaction and presence of conflict at work ( P = 0.001), freedom of expression ( P > 0.001), managerial support for staff welfare ( P > 0.001), managerial support for staff career development ( P > 0.001), availability of tools and consumables in the workplace ( P > 0.001) and progress towards personal professional goals ( P = 0.001) were statistically significant. Conclusion: The level of general job satisfaction was high. Though salaries were important, presence of conflict at work, freedom of expression, managerial support for staff welfare, managerial support for staff career development, availability of tools and consumables in the workplace and progress towards personal professional goals appear to play a role in worker motivation