Assessment of the Impacts and People’S Perception of Bush Burning on the Grasslands and Montane Ecosystems of the Obanliku Hills/Plateau, Cross River State, Nigeria

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of bush burning on the grassland and montane ecosystems of Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River state. Three hypotheses were formulated for the study. The sample of the study consisted of 200 respondents, the sample distribution in terms of gender, location and occupation was equitable. A 21- item structured and validated questionnaire was used to gather information from the respondents. The hypotheses were tested using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient analysis. Based on the results obtained the following findings were made: significant relationship exists between bush burning and between people level of perception and their attitude toward bush burning on grassland and montane ecosystems conclusions were drawn and recommendations such as employing the service of environmentalists to serve as extension agents  in communities, provision of articles in journal and textbooks in community and / or public libraries treating bush burning  it’s impacts and the various mitigation measures to curb the problem were made. Keywords: bush burning, grasslands, montane ecosystems.

Social Structural Changes as Prerequisite for Social Transformation and Peacebuilding in Nigerian Fragile Democracy

Peace has become the most essential and scarce commodity in Nigeria and the world over. The political and economic development of Nigeria today anchored on peace. This paper therefore, examines social structural changes as prerequisite for social transformation and peacebuilding in Nigerian fragile democracy.  The paper resumed with clarification of the concepts of peacebuilding and democracy where Nigerian democracy was described as defective, nascent and fragile. To change this ugly face ascribed to Nigerian democracy, approaches and needed changes for peace building in Nigerian democracy was the core of the paper. In line with the thought of this paper, peacebuilding through economic dimension and democratic education were captured as ways forward. Keywords: Peacebuilding, democracy, social structural change, developmen

Electronic media learning technologies and environmental education pedagogy in tertiary institutions in Nigeria

Previous research on applying electronic media learning tools to learning has focused on a diversity of other subjects rather than environmental education. One of the first studies to evaluate the use of electronic media learning tools for environmental education pedagogy in Nigerian tertiary institutions is the one that is currently underway. We anchored the study on constructivist learning theory and e-learning methodology. We adopted the descriptive survey research design. We employed a convenience sampling technique to sample all 35 environmental educators from the University of Calabar and the College of Education in Akamkpa, where they run environmental education programs. We raised three research questions to guide the study. We employed a 31-question survey utilizing a 4-point Likert scale with distinct response options for each section. Through this, we observed a high level of internal consistency, as indicated by a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.88. we conducted thorough statistical assessments to confirm its reliability and validity, including face and content validity evaluations. Therefore, we can confidently assert that this questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool for our research investigation. Frequency counts and straightforward percentages were used to examine the data, which was then displayed in bar charts. The significant findings from the study include the following: only some electronic media learning facilities were available to lecturers and owned mainly by them. Considerable utilization is made of available electronic media learning technologies. Several constraints bedevil the availability and utilization status of electronic media learning technologies. Based on the study's findings, we recommended that the federal, state governments and tertiary institution proprietors make adequate budgetary allocations to provide robust electronic media learning technologies in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Compensate lecturers who own and utilize these technologies for classes. In contrast, environmental education lecturers should, as a matter of necessity, update their knowledge of electronic media learning technologies and apply them in their classes for curriculum effectiveness