Private Sponsorship of Rural Development Broadcasts on Radio in Southwest Nigeria

The study explored the private sponsorship prospects of rural development broadcasts (RDBs) on radio in Southwest Nigeria. Forty private sponsors of programmes were randomly selected for the study. Questionnaire was used to collect data on private sponsorship status of RDBs, reasons for broadcasts’ sponsorship, factors hindering RDBs sponsorship and willingness to sponsor RDBs. Frequency counts and binomial logit were used to analyse the resulting data. There was a low sponsorship status (26.7%) of RDBs among the sponsors. Inadequate knowledge of benefits derivable from sponsorship of RDBs (30%) hindered sponsorship of RDBs while increased sensitisation on these benefits (40%) would enhance their sponsorship status. Increased brand awareness was the most important reason (46.7%) that propelled sponsors to support broadcasts. Most sponsors (66.7%) would be willing to support RDBs on radio. Sponsors’ characteristics were not significantly related to their willingness to sponsor RDBs. Stakeholders in rural development broadcasting should therefore step up their sensitisation campaigns among prospective sponsors to intimate them of the listenership strength of RDBs in the area in order to improve the sponsorship situation

Private Sponsorship of Rural Development Broadcasts on Radio in Southwest Nigeria

The study explored the private sponsorship prospects of rural development broadcasts (RDBs) on radio in Southwest Nigeria. Forty private sponsors of programmes were randomly selected for the study. Questionnaire was used to collect data on private sponsorship status of RDBs, reasons for broadcasts’ sponsorship, factors hindering RDBs sponsorship and willingness to sponsor RDBs. Frequency counts and binomial logit were used to analyse the resulting data. There was a low sponsorship status (26.7%) of RDBs among the sponsors. Inadequate knowledge of benefits derivable from sponsorship of RDBs (30%) hindered sponsorship of RDBs while increased sensitisation on these benefits (40%) would enhance their sponsorship status. Increased brand awareness was the most important reason (46.7%) that propelled sponsors to support broadcasts. Most sponsors (66.7%) would be willing to support RDBs on radio. Sponsors’ characteristics were not significantly related to their willingness to sponsor RDBs. Stakeholders in rural development broadcasting should therefore step up their sensitisation campaigns among prospective sponsors to intimate them of the listenership strength of RDBs in the area in order to improve the sponsorship situation

Suitability of using borrow pit soils collected from Southwestern Nigeria as landfill liners

Effective waste disposal system is essential in preventing the infiltration of leachate into the groundwater and in achieving the sustainable development goal of ensuring clean water. One of the ways to provide an adequate disposal system is through the provision and use of engineered landfills for waste containment instead of open dumps. Consequently, this study evaluates the suitability of using soils from six borrow pits collected from six states in Southwestern, Nigeria. To assess the suitability of the soils, laboratory tests were carried out to determine the index properties, mechanical and hydraulic properties of the collected soil samples. The results showed that the soil samples collected from the selected borrow pits in Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti States could be effectively employed for the containment of inert waste. In contrast, the soil samples collected from the selected borrow pits in Osun, Lagos and Ondo States needs to be improved such that their unconfined compressive strengths satisfy the standard requirement (≥200 kN/m2). This study provides readily accessible soil data for use by engineering professionals involved in selecting suitable soil for use as landfill liners in Southwestern, Nigeria

Perceived effectiveness of the midwives service scheme among beneficiaries in Oyo State, Nigeria

The Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to reverse the country’s unacceptably high maternal and neonatal mortality. It has been in operation for over five years (2009) and it became imperative to review its success. This study therefore assessed the effectiveness of the Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) in Oyo state. The study was carried out in Akinyele, Lagelu and Ibarapa East Local Government Areas (LGAs). Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 135 beneficiaries from the study area. Data on characteristics of the respondents, benefits derived, constraints to effectiveness and perceived effectiveness of the scheme were collected through structured questionnaire administered to (135) beneficiaries of MSS in Oyo state. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including Chi Square, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Results showed that respondents benefited to a large extent from skilled birth attendants (97.0%), Antenatal care (94.1%) and 24 hours qualified managed service (94.1%). Ambulance service was the only activity which majority of the beneficiaries (97.8%) were not satisfied with. Beneficiaries (68.1%) perceived the MSS as highly effective, while poor ambulance services (̅ =1.93) and erratic power supply (̅=1.79) were the most limiting constraints faced by the beneficiaries. MSS was substantially effective in achieving its set objectives in the study area in spite of the constraints being faced. Ambulances should be made available to PHCs so as to enhance referral system

Adherence to cooperative principles among agricultural cooperatives in Oyo State, Nigeria

This study assessed agricultural cooperatives’ level of adherence to cooperative guiding principles in Oyo State, Nigeria. Multi stage sampling procedure was used to select 126 respondents for the study. Data on group characteristics, level of awareness, adherence and constraints to adherence to cooperative principles were collected using structured questionnaire and analysed using chi square at 5% level of significance. The mean year of existence of the cooperatives was 10years while the mean membership size was 44. In addition, many of the cooperatives (44.4%) were fairly strong financially. More than half (53.2%) of the respondents had high level of awareness of the cooperative principles while 57.1% had high level of adherence to the principles. Meanwhile, inadequate financing and loan recovery difficulty ( ̅=1.4 each) were the main constraints to adherence to the principles. There was a significant relationship between respondents’ level of awareness and adherence to the cooperative principles (2= 0.013, p ≤ 0.05). Agricultural cooperatives in the area largely adhered to the cooperatives principles. However, capacity building on innovative financial sourcing and loan recovery mechanisms should be embarked upon by management to enhance the adherence.Keywords: Cooperatives principles, loan recovery, agricultural cooperatives, group adherenc

Appraisal of the first phase of the school farm progamme in Oyo State

Youth’s interest in agriculture is crucial to the sustainability of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). The attempt to renew this crucial but dying interest through the School Farm Programme in Oyo state is currently moving towards its second phase. Therefore, an enquiry into the operations of the programme in its first phase becomes imperative for better programme delivery. In-depth Interview (IDI) with key informants was used to elicit information from principals, agricultural science teachers and participating students from three out of the eleven schools that participated in the programme based on enterprise being managed. Data on programme characteristics, achievements of the programme, inhibiting factors and areas of further improvement were collected and analysed qualitatively. Schools benefitting from the programme participated in one of the enterprise (arable, poultry or fishery) promoted under the programme while participating students felt that agriculture was worth being pursued as a future career. Inadequate manpower was a major inhibiting factor in the programme while capacity building of supervising officers and provision of incentives to participating students were advocated for enhanced project delivery. The programme was successful at enhancing the interests of the students in pursuing career in agriculture. The next phase of the project should be supported by a detailed implementation manual while incentives are provided for the implementers for more effective delivery

Readers' perception of the development inclination of Oriwu Sun community newspaper in Ikorodu area of Lagos State

Location and message content make Nigeria’s media urban-centred, thus creating information deficit on development issues particularly in the rural areas. Since community newspapers are designed to fill this development information gap at the local level, their efforts in carrying out this role deserve scrutiny. This study therefore assessed readers’ perception of the development inclination of Oriwu Sun community newspaper in Ikorodu area of Lagos State. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 104 respondents from the study area. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on demographic characteristics, content preference, development roles, credibility and perception of the development inclination of the community newspaper from the sampled respondents. Data were described using frequencies and percentages. Hypotheses were tested using Spearman rho and Chi-square at 0.05 level of significance. Results show that most readers were adults (77.9%), male (63.0%) with 17 years as mean year of living in the community. The most preferred section of the newspaper content was the local/community news. The major roles performed by the newspaper were giving voice to the community and mobilisation (̅ =1.51) while, the watchdog role ranked lowly 4th. Although the newspaper enjoys high credibility rating among the readers, they perceived it as having indifferent inclination to development issues. The local news segment should feature more development content in order to make it serve the community better

Agricultural extension students' perception of career prospects in rural development broadcasting

Rural development broadcasting is crucial in the dissemination of improved technology and sustained livelihood among rural dwellers. Agricultural extension students are positioned to become future rural development broadcasters. Hence, the study examined agricultural extension students’ perception on career prospects in rural development broadcasting. The study was carried out in the University of Ibadan, Oyo state. Simple random sampling technique was used to select a total of 170 respondents. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using chi-square and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation. The results showed that most of the respondents were male (51.8%), single (60.0%) with an average age of 32 years. Poor funding of agriculture by government (x =1.64), inadequate sponsorship in agricultural broadcasting (x = 1.58), uncertainty of job availability in rural broadcasting (x =1.56) and poor awareness on career prospects in rural development broadcasting (x = 1.54) were major constraints to students taking up career prospects in rural development broadcasting. Most (55.0%) of the respondents had favourable disposition towards career prospects in rural development broadcasting. Respondents’ age (r=-0.342, p ≤ 0.05), membership of campus press organisations (χ2=0.650, p≤ 0.05) and constraints to career prospects in rural development broadcasting (r=-0.238, p≤ 0.05) were significantly related to students’ perception of career prospects in rural development broadcasting. Efforts should be made by various stakeholders in increasing the awareness of students on the career prospects of rural development broadcasting

Students’ Perception of West African Agricultural Productivity Programme Adopted Schools Programme in Oyo State, Nigeria

This study examined students’ perception of the effectiveness of adopted school programme in Oyo State. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires from 90 respondents using multi-stage procedure. Data were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistics at p=0.05. The results show that 72.2% of the respondents were between 15-16 years, 51.1% were in SS2 and mostly females (58.1%). Also, 48.9% owned farm at home and 61.1% had farming background. The students were exposed to maize (77.8%), cassava (77.8%), poultry (66.7%), fishery (44.4%) and rabbitry (44.4%) production. Major constraints were lack of interest (χ=2.00), inadequate equipment in agricultural laboratory ( χ=1.93) and lack of home garden (χ=1.82). More than half (55.6%) of them were favourably disposed to the programme while respondents’ farming background (r=3.740, p ≤ 0.05) was significantly related to their perception of the programme. It was recommended that West African Agricultural Productivity Programme officials should focus more attention on educating students in areas that are more technologically inclined such as in animal breeding, vaccination and crop processing instead of only in areas involving manual labour such as in planting, weeding and sanitation of pen.Keywords: West African Agricultural Productivity Programme, Adopted schools project, student farmers

Agricultural students' perception of organic farming in selected universities South-western Nigeria?

Environmental, economic and health problems associated with conventional farming were the main factors behind organic farming initiative in Nigeria. The sustainability of the initiative is hinged on the favourable disposition towards it among other issues. This study investigated agricultural students’ perception of organic farming in selected universities, south western Nigeria. Simple random technique was used to select 258 respondents for the study. Data on sources of information, awareness, knowledge and perception of organic farming as well as constraints to organic farming were collected through the use of structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using frequency counts, mean, Chi-square, PPMC and ANOVA. The study revealed that Farm year programme (58.9%) was the most preferred source of information on organic farming and majority of the respondents (77.5%) were highly aware of organic farming. Most of the respondents (62%) had high knowledge of organic farming. However, the use of organic farming was low among many (55%) of the respondents while inadequate storage facilities (48.1%) was the most severe constraint against organic farming in the study area. Many of the respondents (51.6%) had fairly favourable perception of organic farming. Universities (x2=0.021, p= 0.018), department of respondents (x2=0.01, p=0.020), Knowledge (r=0.216, p=0.000) and constraints (r=0.189, p=0.002) were significantly related to perception of organic farming. Respondents were fairly favourably disposed to organic farming. However, the use of organic farming practices was being hindered by inadequate storage facilities. Efforts should be concentrated on providing storage facilities and other support services to further enhance the sustainability of the organic farming initiative among the respondents. Key words: Perception, Students, Organic farming, Universities and Environmen