Cooperatives Enterprises: A Panacea to Job Creation and Economic Empowerment

A cooperative society is an association of persons who have voluntarily joined together to achieve a common end through the formation of a democratically controlled organization, making equitable contributions to the capital required and accepting a fair share of the risks and benefits of the undertaking, in which the members actively participate. the definition draws a clear line between cooperatives and capital-based enterprises, community based organizations and NGOs (although cooperatives and NGOs share certain common characteristics).This paper examine how cooperative could helped in creation of job and empowered our economy if it properly established and managed toward its objectives. KEYWORDS: Cooperative Societies, Job Creation, Economic Empowerment, Nigeri

Job Creation and Economic Empowerment through Business Education

Despite the fact that the country has being operating business education system for years; the desires and aspirations of the government and people of Nigeria have remained a mirage. This is with reference to unemployment reduction, job creation, poverty reduction, and self-reliance motive of the government. Further, business education has been included in the curricula of tertiary institutions in Nigeria and yet the situation has not changed. It is in the light of this obvious problem and the imminent danger to the society compounded by the present global economic meltdown that this paper is canvassing for skill oriented and practical based in secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria. This is different from the presently mounted business education in tertiary institutions which lacked practical components, not goal oriented (theory as usual) and therefore impotent. This paper examine the important of fully implementation of business education with recommendation that government must therefore wake up from slumber and implement business education as measures to create jobs, an instrument for change/development and a provider of service oriented skills which play a significant role in economic development or at least opportunities so that younger persons can be economically empowered to become self employed and not allowed to be deceived by reactionary forces or use them as agents of societal destruction. Keywords: Economic Empowerment, Job Creation, Business Education and Nigeria

Effect of alumina nano-particle size and weight content on the corrosion resistance of AA1070 aluminum chloride/sulphate solution

The effect of specific alumina (Al2O3) nano-particle sizes (500 nm and 80 nm) and weight content (5% and 10%) on the electrochemical characteristics and corrosion resistance of AA1070 monolithic aluminum alloy (1070AL) in 0.1 M H2SO4, 1.78% NaCl and 0.1 M H2SO4/1.78% NaCl solutions was evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization test, open circuit potential measurement and optical microscopy analysis. The composite specimens at 80 nm particle size generally had lower corrosion rates than their composite counterparts. Results showed the combined sulphate/chloride solution severely deteriorated the surface properties of 1070AL and the alumina aluminum matrix composites (1070AL/Al2O3) coupled with having the highest corrosion rate values. The extent of surface deterioration was relatively smaller for 1070AL/Al2O3 specimens. Corrosion pits and intergranular cracks were observed on the surface morphology of 1070AL and 1070AL/Al2O3 specimens in NaCl solution despite having the lowest corrosion rate values. Significant passivation behavior was observed the specimens during potential scanning despite their highly electronegative corrosion potentials. SO42− anions in H2SO4 solution did not cause any significant change on morphology of the aluminum specimens with respect to the corrosion rate values being the second highest by comparison. 1070AL/Al2O3 at 80 nm and 10% weight content had the lowest corrosion rate among the composites which was comparable to 1070AL in 0.1 M H2SO4 and 1.78% NaCl solution

Vocational Education and Security Challenges in Nigeria: The Way Forward.

Vocational education in Nigeria has gone through the trials and thrills of a developing concept in a developing society, from its glorious heights when it simply followed the traditional system in training the very few persons enrolled in the early stage, to the present, when lecture auditoriums are bursting with pressure from an ever-increasing enrolment. While it may be difficult to pass an absolute lecture, given facilities, class size and the environment of the modern vocational faculties and school, one indubitable fact is that standards have fallen and are continuing to fall. This paper explores the remote and immediate causes of this crash in standard of vocational training in Nigeria, identifies key factors leading to this condition, and recommends a wide range of measures through which vocational education in Nigeria can be revamped, restructured and restored to achieve its glory. Keywords: Vocational Education, Security Challenges, Way Forwards, Nigeri

Intercultural Communication in English Communication Courses

The drive for globalization of universities in Japan has affected the focus of many programs and courses at these universities. English courses in particular have seen their focus be moved more towards a communicative approach, often to the point where the title of the course itself is changed to reflect this. However, this shift in approach does not always align with what it means to communicate in an international or intercultural setting. This paper will share data collected from an English communication course utilizing participant developed mind maps to analyze student knowledge of intercultural communication. This analysis will show the effectiveness and alignment of one such course in enhancing student knowledge of communication. This data will be shared and suggestions for future research and course development are given

Assessing Student Interest and Prior Knowledge in Global Education

In the period of“ Super Global University Initiative” in Japan, many universities have made global education part of their core mission. The objectives of most of these courses and programs are not student-centered, however, resulting to decrease the possibilities for students’ successful engagement in the course content. For this purpose, this paper examines the prior knowledge and learning interest of undergraduate students participating in a course on a comparative study of education in Japan and education in several countries around the world. The KWL strategy was employed to gather the needed information. The result illustrates the aspects of global education the participants were interested in and the relationship between previous knowledge and what they desired to learn. Furthermore, the result suggested several pedagogical implications with respect to developing programs for global education

A Comparative Study of Energy Demand of Instant- Pounded Yam Flour Production Methods

Traditionally, method of producing pounded yam by pounding cooked yam using pestle and mortar is time and labour consuming, thus discouraging consumption of the food among urban elite. Conversion of yam tubers to instant-pounded yam flour requires quantifiable magnitudes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine energy conservation potentials of the established three instant-pounded yam flour methods of production. Data were collected from nine instant-pounded yam flour producing factory using structured questionnaires, oral interview, and direct measurement of processing parameters. The data were fit into standard equations to estimate energy demand. Energy required for processing 1000 kg of yam to instant-pounded yam flour using cooking method, steaming method and wet-milling methods were 6720.15MJ, 6934.48MJ and 4296.56MJ respectively, equivalent to 6.7 MJ/kg, 6.9 MJ/kg and 4.3 MJ/kg respectively. Energy intensity for peeling, washing, slicing and packaging were 0.0055 MJ, 0.003 MJ, 0.0076 MJ and 0.2 MJ respectively, and are the same for all the methods studied.  Drying consumed more than half of the total energy requirements in each method; cooking (66.26%), steaming (79.04%) and wet-milling methods (76.57%). Using energy demand as criterion, wet- milling method is recommended. Keywords: Instant-pounded yam flour, production method, energy demand, energy pattern

Chemical composition, toxicity and antioxidant activities of essential oils of stem bark of Nigerian species of guava (Psidium guajava Linn.)

Essential oil from the stem bark of Nigerian species of Psidium guajava of the family Myrtaceae was obtained by hydro-distillation using an all-glass Clavenger apparatus. GC and GC/MS analysis were carried out on the essential oil and was found to contain 62 compounds constituting 99.98 % of the total oil composition. The principal constituents are hydrocarbons, amines, amides and esters with 3,6-dioxa-2,4,5,7- etraoctane,2,2,4,4,5,5,7,7-octamethyl (11.67 %) and cyclononane (10.66 %) dominating the total essential oil. Brine shrimp lethality test was carried out to determine the toxicity of the oils to living organisms (shrimps). LC50 value (μg/ml) of 1.0009 obtained showed that the essential oil of P. guajava stem bark was toxic. The antioxidant property of essential oil was investigated by measuring the decrease in absorption at 517 nm of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) in a UV/visible spectrophotometer. The oil showed better activity as a radical scavenger than α-tocopherol. The oil activity was 71.83 % at 0.2 mg/ml and the absorption is stoichiometric with respect to the number of electron taken up. Thus, the results of this study showed that the essential oil from P. guajava was not only toxic; it possessed antioxidant activity, which could exert beneficial actions against pathological alterations caused by the presence of highly reactive free radicals. The toxicity of the oil can be taken advantage of in the therapy of diseases involving cell or tumor growth

Assessment of the influence of continuous and intermittent irrigation on greenhouse gas emissions from paddy rice

The impact of two water management practises on Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) emissions from paddy rice fields was investigated. New Rice for Africa (NERICA 2) lowland variety was planted under intermittent irrigation (II) and continuous flooding (CF) water management practises. Two closed gas chambers (GCs) were developed and used for gas sampling from paddy fields and measurement was done conventionally in all the four growing stages of rice. Gas Chromatograph (GH200-9) was used analysing GHGs such as Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) and Oxygen (O2). Soil analyses were carried out to determine the presence of the following parameters viz: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn) and calcium (Ca). Others are Organic Carbon (OC), Moisture Content (MC), Iron (Fe), Chloride (Cl) and Electrical conductivity (EC) using standard laboratory procedures and ascertain effects of their availability on GHGs concentration levels. From the study, no appreciable CH4 emissions was detected during the four growing stages and under the two water management practises but other GHGs emitted were higher in CF compared with II. Soil nutrients such as N, OC, K and P also contributed considerably to emissions recorded on the two rice fields. The detection of H2S was also an indication that other gases apart from the common GHGs were present in rice fields. Although, CH4 was not detected, other GHGs emitted were more in CF when compared with II which suggested that II be encouraged as a mitigation strategy for reducing impacts of its emissions

Evaluation of the Influence of Alumina Nano-Particle Size and Weight Composition on the Corrosion Resistance of Monolithc Aa1070 Aluminium

Corrosion resistance of AA1070 aluminum alloy (AA1070) was compared to AA1070 reinforced with alumina at weight composition (wt. %) of 5% and 10%, and grain size of 150 nm and 600 nm. Potentiodynamic polarization and open circuit potential analysis were employed in 0.0125 M H2SO4, 3.5% NaCl and 0.0125 M H2SO4-3.5% NaCl solutions. Data showed 0.0125 M H2SO4- 3.5% NaCl solution was the most deleterious with peak corrosion rate value of 6.682 mm/y while 3.5% NaCl solution was the weakest with peak value of 0.084 mm/y. AA1070 at 5% wt. % and 150 nm particle size generally displayed the highest corrosion rate. However, visible decrease in corrosion rate occurred with increase in alumina weight fraction and particle size due to growth of the protective oxide on the composite and reduction of discontinuities. Cathodic and anodic reaction mechanisms significantly differs with respect to the electrolyte. Anodic reaction mechanism appeared under activation control in the sulphate-chloride and chloride solution, compared to cathodic reaction mechanism in the sulphate and sulphate-chloride solutions. Significant anodic degradation reaction was prevalent on the anodic polarization plot in the sulphate solution. Plots from open circuit potential analysis shows the composites and monolithic Al were the most thermodynamically stable in H2SO4 solution. In the sulphate-chloride solution, significant potential transients coupled with high corrosion tendency are conspicuous. The plot showed chaotic thermodynamic behaviour active passive transition behaviour of the passive film