The difficulties of accessing bank finance and business support by Black African and Caribbean Entrepreneurs in London

This research seeks to identify and evaluate the influences of the ‘personal characteristics’ and ‘attitudinal behaviour’ of Black African and Caribbean Entrepreneurs (BACEs) in London when seeking finance and business support from banks and other external agencies. The reason for this choice of research was to try and understand whether some of the personal characteristics of BACEs had an influence on the barriers they often reported when accessing business finance from formal sources in London, notably High Street banks. In particular, this research examines the influences of different aspects of human and social capital, cultural factors and generational differences on the attitudes of BACEs when seeking external business finance. The empirical research coincided with the onset of the ‘credit crunch’ and the tightening of credit rationing by the banks, so that BACE experiences of accessing finance need to be considered in this context. The use of mixed data sources including both quantitative and qualitative data adds a new and original dimension to this study. Thirty (30) purposely selected BACEs, five (5) main High Street banks, six (6) enterprise agencies and one (1) public sector organisation were interviewed over a two and a half year period. The field work involved in-depth interviews to obtain information from the respondent BACE owner managers. The quantitative dimension involved analysis of the London Annual Business Survey (LABS) dataset to compare the experiences of BACEs in accessing finance with those of other ethnic businesses. This study found that the ‘attitudinal tendencies’ and behaviour of BACEs were closely related to their levels and types of human capital attainment. Results also suggested that the ‘cultural orientation’ of BACEs and their concentration in certain communities described as ‘ethnic enclaves’ were significant factors influencing their behaviour and attitudes when seeking finance and dealing with mainstream business support services. The views of some of the BACEs about discriminatory practices by banks can be largely attributed to their ‘perceptions’ and ‘self-imaging’ as little empirical evidence was found to support such claims. The lack of data on BACEs is a problem which requires attention by policy-makers if the myths around perceptions are to be managed. Many of the challenges of BACEs reported in research are submerged within data relating to SMEs as a whole, thereby making it difficult to focus on the particular needs of BACEs. This research found that a small but significant number of interviewed BACEs considered themselves to be the subject of ‘discrimination’. However, these attitudes could be largely attributed to various ‘human capital’ shortcomings. Some respondents may be also using the alleged discrimination to mask their own business failures. The thesis makes recommendations for improved re-engagement between the three principal agents and areas for future research are highlighted in the concluding chapter. Some of the main recommendations are geared towards fostering a better understanding and relationships between BACEs and finance providers as well as the need to promote good practices. The need for developing a database for Black businesses is long overdue

Development of Advanced 2D Membrane Materials for Shale Flowback Water Treatment

A model of design is provided in order to determine the most effective processes to fabricate and test a 2D Membrane for its effectiveness in water desalination. Water desalination with a 2D Membrane has already shown great theoretical results due to its energy efficiency that results from the thinness of the membrane. The 2D Membrane to be used in the model of design is Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) due to its thickness of 3 atoms and Molybdenum’s hydrophilicity. The need for water desalination is important, especially with the increased salt concentration in saline water. Current desalination plants cannot currently filter saline water. The process to be covered includes first fabricating the MoS2 into 2D membranes (mono layered sheets), transferring the 2D sheets onto a predesigned suspension system, drilling a pore in the membrane in order to allow water to flow through, and setting up a forward osmosis process to evaluate the effectiveness of the membrane in desalinating saline water.No embargoAcademic Major: Mechanical Engineerin

In vitro fermentation characteristics and acceptability by West African dwarf goats of some dry season forages

Total weight gained by small ruminants in the rainy season is lost in the dry season due to feed scarcity. Feed supplementation with dry season browse trees, legumes and grasses for ruminants is prudent. Proximate composition, acceptability using twenty four West African dwarf (WAD) goats and in vitro gas production of dry season forages were determined. Crude protein content ranged from 7.9% in Panicum maximum to 25.7% in Leucaena leucocephala. Crude fibre composition was generally high (range 56.8 - 74.1%) among the forages. Pa. maximum, Gliricidia sepium, L. leucocephala and Terminalia catappa were acceptable as coefficient of preference was above unity. Net gas production (NGP) and potential gas (PG) ranged from 41 - 59.7 ml/24 h and 98.5 - 4,545 ml, respectively. Highest (P 0.05) gas (production were obtained in Gliricidia and Leucaena, respectively. The value for the metabolizable energy (ME) (MJ/kg DM), organic matter digestibility (OMD) (%) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) (ìml) ranged from 8.31 - 1.88, 57.68 - 81.09 and 0.90 - 1.35, respectively. The ME, OMD and SCFA were highest (P < 0.05) in G. sepium. Methane (ml/200 mg DM) production ranged from 18 – 24, the highest being from G. sepium and the least from Pennisetum purpureum

Information needs and information seeking behaviour of researchers in an Industrial Research Institute in Nigeria

The entire world needs and seeks information to survive and thrive in the 21st century as a result of information acquisition, with doctors, lawyers, teachers, students and even the elderly all desiring information for their everyday activities. Researchers of different disciplines working at the various federal institutes in Nigeria are no exceptions to the craving for requisite information that will enable them successfully carry out their numerous research projects undertaken towards achieving sustainable national development. The aim of the study was to investigate the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of researchers at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, Nigeria. This study applied both quantitative and qualitative research approaches for the purpose of triangulation. The quantitative approach had a strong dominance over the qualitative approach in this study. This study adopted the positivist paradigm. The questionnaire, interview and observation data collection tools were the chosen tools used to collect data from researchers from the six departments of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi and five professional librarians of the institute’s library. Out of 165 questionnaires that were administered to researchers, a total of 121 were returned (resulting in a response rate of 73%). Inaccuracies were identified in seven copies of the questionnaires which were discarded and not analysed. Therefore, usable returns totalled 114 (67%). Wilson’s 1999 model of information behaviour was used as the theoretical framework. This study revealed that both formal and informal sources were consulted by the researchers. It was important to note that the internet was the information source most commonly used by the researchers to obtain information. The institute’s library was poorly used because it contained outdated library materials and was not equipped with an internet facility. The researchers opted for the use of mobile phone/iPad, personally owned or sourced internet access and business centres (supplying internet services outside the institute) to access information sources for information. The study ascertained that there was undoubtedly an instituted library officially established within the institute to provide information to researchers. But due to socio-economic and political problems faced by the country Nigeria, predominantly with respect to the outlook of poor funding of sustainable library development concerns and the government’s lack of interest in research, outdated library collections and poor information provision services have become the given at the institute’s library. This ultimately brought about pessimistic reactions from the researchers. Among its recommendations, the study suggested that funding the institute’s library in order to update and replace outdated library collections is a priority. An information audit should be carried out to ascertain the current state of ICTs within the institute and the institute’s library should be equipped with an internet facility promptly. Adopting these recommendations would enable researchers to have limitless access to items of information they need for research as they seek for information.Information ScienceD. Phil. (Information Science

Scaling up health intervention: is planning in Nigeria becoming evidence based?

With scaling up effective health interventions towards achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals high on the policy agendas of many developing nations, the costs and as well as benefits of these health interventions are extremely vital in resource poor settings such as Nigeria. Despite the body of evidence on the significance of economic analysis, the integration of economic analysis into planning and decision making is limited in developing countries. This paper commented on the use of a cost analysis study for planning in Nigeria and need to institutionalize such practice

Overview of Levels of Organochlorine Pesticides in Surface Water and Food Items in Nigeria

Consumption of contaminated food is one of the main routes of human exposure to pesticides. Also, surface water plays an important role in long range transport of pesticides. Persistent organic pesticides are categories under Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) which are organic compounds that are resistant to environmental degradation and as a result of their persistence, bioaccumulate with potential significant impacts on human health and the environment. The persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been listed by Stockholm Convention for elimination globally. Despite the ban, some OCPs are still used illegally in developing countries. Also, from other sources, OCPs find their way into water bodies. This review therefore investigates the current levels of OCPs in surface water and food items in Nigeria and environmental/human health implications. The methodology was mainly by review of available literatures. The results were discussed in the context of criteria that designate a substance as POP, as well as in the context of allowed limit levels. Levels reported from several studies in Nigeria exceeded the water-quality criteria for surface water and maximum residue limit for food. The illegal use may be the likely sources of these pollutants in the Nigerian environment. Aquatic organisms stand the risk of acute or chronic toxicity while human health is at risk of adverse effect through consumption of contaminated food or use of polluted surface water for domestic activities. There is need for enforcement of appropriate policy to safeguard the environment and human health. Keywords: organochlorine pesticides, persistent organic pollutants, surface water, food item

SUPPLEMENTARY VALUE OF TEPHROSIA BRACTEOLATA, TEPHROSIA CANDIDA, LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA AND GLIRICIDIA SEPIUM HAY FOR WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS KEPT ON RANGE

Supplementary values of unconventional browse Tephrosia bracteolata (TB) and Tephrosia candida (TC) and commonly utilized browse plants Gliricidia sepium (GS) and Leucaena leucocephala (LL)) were studied in goats grazed on a rangeland in the dry season. Crude protein (g/Kg DM) content of TC (19.25) compared favourably to those of GS (19.78) and that of LL (19.91) while that of TB was low (14.25). Total cell wall content, neutral detergent fi bre (NDF, g/Kg DM) was lower in both TB (56.03) and TC (59.11) than in GS (61.20) and LL (37.50). Dry matter intake (g/d) of TB (87.39) was signifi cantly higher than that of TC (76.49) while similar values were recorded in GS (63.81) and LL (63.31). Improved daily weight gain (g/d) of 14.88, 17.86, 14.88 and 17.86 were obtained when goats were fed TB, TC, GS and LL browse supplements responsively compared to the daily gain of 11.90 from the unsuplemented goats. The digestibility of CP, NDF and ADF in both TB and TC compared favourably to those of GS and LL. The fi ndings from this study have shown that Tephrosia bracteolata and Tephrosia candida can be used as alternative browse supplement for goats grazing on natural grassland in the dry season to achieve improved weight gain. This will translate to a reduction in the pressure on the commonly use browse like Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala

Potential values of some non-leguminous browse plants as dry season feed for ruminants in Nigeria

A study was conducted to assess the nutritive potential of some tropical non-leguminous multipurpose trees: Bombax glabra, Adansonia digitata, Ceiba pentandra, Kigelia africana, Newbouldia leavis, Treculia africana, Milicia exselsa, Mangifera indica, Spondia mombin, Terminalia superba, Terminalia catappa, Tabebuia rosea and Ficus thonningii. A wide variation was observed in the chemical composition, secondary compounds and gas production characteristics. Crude protein (CP) concentration ranged from 6.35 &#8211; 16.41 g/100g DM. The ash content varied between 5.27 and 12.46g/100g DM. The content of neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and lignin ranged from 40.49 - 69.31, 28.39 - 52.62 and 6.14 - 16.83 g/100g DM, respectively. At least each possessed steroid as anti-nutrient as revealed from the study. It was observed that five browse species had tannins while eight showed traces of saponin. The degradability of the browse spp can be grouped into 3: High fermentation (&gt; 20.00 ml) for S. mombin, B. glabra, A. digitata, C. pentandra, K. africana and M. exselsa; moderate fermentation (17.00 - 19.00 ml) for T. superba, T. catappa, T. rosea, F. thonningii, T. Africana and M. indica; low fermentation (&lt; 16) was observed in N. leavis. The highest potential gasproduction, rate of gas production, metabolizable energy and short chain fatty acid were observed in S. mombin. From the result obtained, it is suggested that some of the browse species could be utilized by ruminants as feed supplement during both wet and dry seasons. S. mombin being high in gas production could be supplemented with energy rich feed like guinea grass in order to sustain livestock production

Modelling the association between in vitro gas production and chemical composition of some lesser known tropical browse forages using artificial neural network

In vitro gas production of four different browse plants (Azadirachta indica, Terminalia catappa, Mangifera indica and Vernonia amygdalina) was investigated under different extractions. The relationship between the forage composition parameters (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent lignin), process parameters (extraction mode and incubation time), and volume of gas production were modelled with artificial neural network (ANN). The ANN model consisted of simple, multi-layered, back-propagation networks with eight input neurons consisting of the composition and process parameters and one output neuron for the gas volume. The networks were trained with different algorithms and varying number of layer and neuron in the hidden layer to determine the optimum network architecture. The network with single hidden layer having 45 ‘tangent sigmoid’ neurons trained with Livenberg-Marquard algorithm combined with ‘early stopping’ technique was found to be the optimum network for the model with R-value: mean = 0.9504; max. =0.9618; min. = 0.9343; and std. = 0.0059. The influence of each chemical composition and processing parameters on gas production was simulated. The developed ANN model offers a more cost and timeefficient strategy in feed evaluation for ruminant animals