Survival analysis of bank loans in the presence of longterm survivors

In this paper we model competing risks, default and early settlement events, in the presence of long term survivors and compare survival and logistic methodologies. Cause specific Cox regression models were fitted and adjustments were made to accommodate a proportion of long term survivors. Methodologies were compared using ROC curves and area under the curves. The results show that survival methods perform better than logistic regression methods when modelling lifetime data in the presence of competing risks and in the presence of long term survivors

SME CREDIT RISK MODELLING IN SOUTH AFRICA: A CASE STUDY

This paper examined the funding conundrum by assessing the success rate of applications of small and medium sized enterprises (SME) for commercial bank funding. A quantitative group analysis was done on the overdraft obtained from one of the leading financial institutions in South Africa to determine the drivers of default. The SME scorecard was developed using logistic regression on credit applications over a seven-year observation period to analyse the default experience as part of credit risk management. The robustness, stability and relevance of an application scorecard is enhanced by the reject inference process and inclusion of bureau information. Small businesses operating in the service sector and having a long-standing rapport with the bank can easily access commercial bank funding. SMEs in the construction industry with a high number of credit enquiries are unlikely to survive the stringent conditions of the bank lending criteria. It is the prerogative of the principal business owner to honour their financial obligations across the credit industry if commercial bank funding is desired. Their credit quality, as reflected in the bureau information, forms the fulcrum of the SME application scorecard. The model developed in this study can be used as a tool to reduce defaults and serious delinquencies in boarding new applicants. Furthermore, the model can be applied to determine risk tendency and monitor the performance of SME credit portfolios

Factors contributing to increased use of Herbal Medicine among Pregnant Women aged 18-45 years attending Buwambo Health Centre IV, Wakiso District. A Cross-sectional Study.

Background:  The purpose of the study was to determine the factors contributing to the increased use of herbal medicine among pregnant women aged 18-45 years attending Buwambo Health Centre IV, Wakiso District. The specific objectives were to determine the: Maternal, Socioeconomic, and health facility-related factors contributing to the increased use of herbal medicine among pregnant women aged 18-45 years.  Methodology: The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional and the researcher employed the simple random sampling technique. The study instrument was a questionnaire and a sample of 50 respondents was used. Medicine because they were readily available.  Results: Regarding the health facility-related factors contributing to increased use of herbal medicine, the majority (74%) of the respondents reputed that the health workers took a lot of time to work on them, and most (40%) had their homes more than 10km away from the health facility and more than half (52%) waited over 2hrs to be seen by the doctor. Conclusion: Maternal factors contributing to increased use of herbal medicine included having information about herbal medicine from family members (70%), being in the first trimester (76%), and the pregnancy-related complications such as nausea and vomiting (40%), socio-economic factors were; encouragement by their culture and religion (60%), availability of herbal medicine (56%), health facility-related factors were; long waiting hours (74%), and long-distance from the health facility (40%).  Recommendation:  The researcher recommended the Ministry of Health put up more health facilities to reduce the distance moved by the pregnant women while looking for the antenatal care services and that Buwambo Health Centre IV should intensify health education the pregnant women on the importance of antenatal care visits and the implications of the use of herbal medicine during pregnancy

The Abuse of Legal process in Nigeria: The Remedies

It is trite law that the court has an inherent jurisdiction to protect itself from abuse or to see that its process was not abused. The legal practitioners as an advocate of the court must therefore pay heed to the rule of ethics which requires him never to show marked attention or unusual hospitality for judicial officers, uncalled for by the personal relations of the parties, he must therefore avoid anything calculated act to enable him or her gain or having appearance of gaining special personal consideration or favour from a judicial officer. Legal practitioners should be devoid of carrying out acts or omissions that will derail the due process of the court especially on issues like multiple institutions of actions, frivolity or reckless actions, shop-forum system, instituting different applications on the same subject matter and any form of professional misconduct at the face of the court. The judicial officers should show or adopt an adjudication method or process based on procedural rules of natural justice such like fair hearing, giving opportunity to counsel to present issues without fear and intimidation, making rulings base on substantive laws and maintain accurate case record. Timeous dispensation and conclusion of matters so that there will be an end to litigant. Keywords: Legal process, litigant, justice, judicial process

Educational Qualification and Family Planning Practices Among Married Persons in Southwest, Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between educational qualification and family planning practices among married persons in Southwest Nigeria. Descriptive research design of the survey type was adopted for this study and the sample consisted of one thousand and two hundred (1,200) married persons. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select the sample. Information was collected for the study through the administration of questionnaire to the respondents. Data obtained were analysed using mean, standard deviation, ANOVA and regression analysis. The result revealed that educational qualification of married persons will significantly influence the family planning practices. It was concluded that married person with high educational qualification will definitely plan their family by giving birth to few children, It was therefore recommended that married persons need to improve on their educational status in order to increase the level of family planning practices. Also they should see the need to plan and space child birth. Keywords: Marriage, Family, Educational Qualification, Family Planning Practices, Child Spacing. DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-6-05 Publication date:March 31st 202

Vermicomposting of soybean and maize straw residues as an agro waste management initiative

Abstract: In this study, maize waste and soy bean residue were vermicomposted as a way of harnessing bio products from agro waste in a bid to promote sustainability and proper waste management to bio fertilizers. Maize and soy bean residues were vermicomposted in a 9m by 1m vermicomposting bed over a period of 30 days using Eisenia Fetida earthworms at standard conditions. The physicochemical parameters of the organic waste including the organic loading (OC), nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK) content as well as trace elements such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) were determined using standard methods. The behavior of the earthworms in terms of mass and length was also quantified. Upon increase in the vermicomposting period, the OC increased by 38%, NPK composition by 50%, 50% and 35% respectively. The Ca, Mg and Na composition by 10%, 23% and 30% respectively. The earthworms mass and length increased by 60% and 20% respectively. From the results obtained, vermicomposting offers a sustainable opportunity for crop waste management to bio fertilizers

Design considerations for an engineered landfill

Abstract: An engineered landfill presents an opportunity for proper waste management that allows resource recovery from waste. However, for this to be achieved several technical parameters must be considered when designing a sanitary landfill. These technical parameters include proper site selection with minimal environmental and hydrological negative impacts, selection of a liner network that will not allow the leachate to infiltrate into the ground. Furthermore, there is need to have an integrated network for monitoring the movement of the waste as well as quality of the leachate. The surface drainage at a landfill site must also be well understood as well as daily covering measures to avoid pests and pathogens coming outside the designated landfill site. Although, landfills present a potential for proper municipal waste management, the human capital aspect is also critical and must be considered

Potential to use sorghum brewers spent grains as a boiler fuel

Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstrac

Digitized Legal Information Resources: Author’s Safeguard, Users Dilemma and the Library Option in Nigeria

This paper sought to examine the merits and demerits of the technological advancement of the 21st Century which has enabled the quick and instant access to digitized legal information resources. It also highlights the strategies authors/producers of these resources adopt to control unauthorized reproduction of their work. These anti-piracy measures impinge on the accessibility and availability of these electronic resources. The paper also explored the various steps Nigerian law libraries can take to enhance the usage of these materials. Challenges before Nigerian law libraries as well as strategies they can adopt to overcome these challenges were also discussed Keywords: Law library, Legal information Resources, Digitizatio

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE PROFILES OF ZIMBABWEAN STEM UNDERGRADUATE FRESHMEN AS INPUT TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION FOR STEM STUDENTS

Entrepreneurship is the new buzzword in universities across the globe and this has been attributed to fundamental socio-economic forces such as the persistence of unemployment, precarious employment, the emergence of knowledge-driven economies, and the imperative of bringing innovations to market (Karimi, et al., 2011, Valerio, et al., 2014).The shift towards entrepreneurship education is also from the realization that students can and should derive benefit from learning how to create value from their knowledge and skills (Duval-Couetil, 2016). The educational systems have not, until recently, been geared towards the development of entrepreneurship and self-employment in the STEM (Science Technical Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines (Hynes, 1996). Entrepreneurship has been confined to management and economics disciplines. The general consensus of late is that the provision of entrepreneurship education should not be restricted to certain courses or faculties, as entrepreneurial qualities and skills are needed in every sector of human activity (EC Brussels, 2006, Duval- Couetil, et al., 2011). It has been realised that entrepreneurship education, especially education that provides technological training, is crucial to the enhancement of entrepreneurs’ innovation skills in an increasingly challenging environment (Menzies and Paradi, 1999).  In fact Hynes (1996) argues that technical and engineering graduates are the originators of product ideas but are usually left out because of their lack of business appreciation to develop the idea further.  It is therefore not surprising that entrepreneurship courses are among the fastest growing curricular areas within engineering schools (Duval- Couetil, et al. 2011).Key words: entrepreneurship, education, STEM, Zimbabw