IRON TECHNOLOGY AND POLITICAL POWER: EXAMPLES FROM THE IRON SMELTING BELT OF NSUKKA AREA, ENUGU STATE, SOUTH-EASTERN NIGERIA

Iron smelting and its technology in Nigeria, particularly in South-Eastern Nigeria, had long gone into oblivion. Most people seem not to recollect coherent information about it as people aver that the furnace walls and iron slag dotted across the zone grew out from the ground. What a crass show of ignorance! But pointers to the practice exist in so many areas in form of iron slag, broken pieces of tuyere and furnace walls, etc. One area in South-Eastern Nigeria that is replete with these clues even to an intimidating level is Nsukka area in Enugu State. The area, possibly due to its proximity to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka has been well researched on, archaeologically speaking, especially in the area of iron technology. However, one fascinating feature of this technology lies not only on the magnitude of these pointers but how its tangible aspects grade into the intangible cultural practices of the respective communities where they occur. Apart from the often touted military superiority of those who possessed iron over those who did not, our ethnographic research in Nsukka area shows that iron could be a symbol of power in another way. As we observed, some areas with large concentration of evidence of iron workings tend to produce kings of their communities and where it is otherwise, they anoint kings or title takers. Is this a coincidence? This paper attempts to bring out the state of archaeological research, the ways the past through the furnace walls and iron slag, live in the present and direct the future in Nsukka area. It also tries to explore avenues through which these could be harnessed to attract UNESCO attention so as to use the features for the benefit of mankind. It concludes by calling on the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC)/Culture ministry to redirect attention on those non-renewable national resources. Key Words:  Iron, Technology, Political power, Nsukka, Iron smelting belt, Nigeria

Traditional Medicine and The Promotion Of Inter-Group Relations: The Igbo And Igala (Igara) Experiences In Nigeria

One central objective of history is to preserve knowledge especially where such knowledge is endangered. Even as a historian is not to sound evangelical, his views could and do change views and salvage threatened knowledge systems.  In Igboland, the knowledge of traditional medicine is seriously threatened by the spate of condemnation it attracts from those who want to become more Catholic than the Pope. The spate of condemnation of African traditional medical practices are alarming and at best disturbing. This is because, the same people who would stop at nothing to buy Chinese made herbal drugs would condemn in its totality drugs made by local medical practitioners here in Nigeria. Rather than take the pains to study and understand the art involved in the profession and harness its potentials and more importantly preserve the knowledge therein, many obstacles are placed on the way of the traditional medicine men on account that they are “diabolic”, their products “ unhygienic” and unsafe to drink or a nuisance to human health. The present writers hold a contrary view as traditional medicine is a portent force in inter-group relations and very effective where orthodox medicine has failed.  How true the latter statement is to be demonstrated in how two brands of traditional medicine-Odiette and Akpaballa have helped in cementing relationships between the Igbo and Igala especially as it concerns their health and security. Lessons from the experience of these groups would go a long way in fostering peace in the nation especially now that there are several security threats to its citizens. Key Words: Traditional medicine, inter-group relations, Igbo, Igala, Nigeri

What do we know about pro-poor growth and regional poverty in Nigeria?

This study investigates the pro-poorness of income growth in Nigeria. Using nationally representative data for 1996 and 2004, overall income growth in Nigeria was found not to be pro-poor. The richer segments of the population appropriate greater share of benefits from economic growth. Household size was a critical determinant of poverty levels. Sector of employment also impacts on the probability of a household being poor; with those in agriculture being relatively worse off. The need for smaller family size has to be an integral part of policy aimed at poverty reduction in Nigeria. The support of the government in creating value in critical sectors (like agriculture and industry) that employ a large proportion of Nigerians in order to make growth pro-poor is critical. There is also a need for region-specific policies addressing the peculiarities of poverty in the different parts of the country. One size does not fit all. Deliberate effort of the government in redistributing income is also required to ensure pro-poorness of growth in Nigeria

Effect of Corruption on Corporate Governance in Selected Area Offices of Deposit Money Banks in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study seeks to examine the effect of corruption on corporate governance in selected area offices of deposit money banks in Enugu State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; (i) determine the extent to which bribery affects the board of directors\u27 functions, (ii) ascertain the extent to which fraud affects the managers\u27 accountability, and (iii) identify the nature of the relationship existing between money laundering and shareholders\u27 investment in selected area offices of deposit money banks in Enugu State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study was 1197, which comprised the senior and junior staff members of the five selected banks (United Bank for Africa Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Access Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, and Skye Bank Plc.). The sample size of 316 was obtained from the population using Freud and William\u27s formula at 5% error tolerance and 95% level of confidence. Data collection was done via a questionnaire and an oral interview guide. Simple Linear Regression Analysis and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were used for data analysis

The role of the academic library in providing outreach services to prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies

This study investigated the role of academic library in providing outreach services to prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies in Nsukka prison library. The research adopted qualitative inquiry approach for the processes and procedures of the research. It was guided by five objectives which includes – the outreach services provided by the academic library to the prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies, the mobile tools and technologies used for the provision of outreach services to the prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies, the benefits of outreach services as provided by prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies, problems encountered in the provision of outreach services to prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies and strategies for enhancing the provision of outreach services to prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies. Data obtained from the questionnaire was analysed using mean and percentages while the ones obtained from focus group discussion was analysed in prose narrative. Among other things, the findings revealed that outreach services are provided to the prison inmates by the academic library. Other findings from the research revealed that mobile tools and technologies are being introduced to the delivery of outreach services in the prison library, the prison inmates support the delivery of outreach services to them by means of mobile tools and technologies, the prsion authority/administration permits the academic librarian’s provision of outreach services to the prison inmates. However, inadequate fund, personnel and mobile tools forms the major part of the problems encountered in the delivery of outreach servises to the inmates. Based on the findings, it was recommended among other things that there should be provision of adequate mobile tools and technologies for the delivery of outreach services, there should be integration of outreach services with other educational programmes, there should be training and retraining of both the prison inmates and the academic library on the use of mobile devices among others. More importantly, there should be provision of a functional prison library to accommodate resources – tool, technologies, personnel for the provision of library services to the inmates

Does Multilateralism Crowd Out Intra-Group Trade? Evidence From Some Developing Regions

The literature is ambiguous on the nature of the relationship between multilateral trade negotiations and growth of intra-group trade. However, both the WTO and proponents ofliberalization maintain that the relationship is positive and that the WTO supports regional bodies and intra-group trade. But does evidence support this? It is possible that the WTO supports regional bonding, while its existence discourages growth of actual trade and development of institutions within regions. Our findings seem to support this view, particularly for southern countries as shown by trends in intra-group trade captured in this work

Mergers and Acquisitions: The Nigerian Banking Consolidation Program

This paper examines the determinants of the exit behaviour of banks in the Nigerian consolidation program during July 2004 and December 2005. We conceptualise the exit process in a flexible bivariate competing risks model to examine the importance of macroeconomic and industry-specific factors for both merged banks and failed banks jointly. The preliminary results suggest that bank-specific characteristics mattered more for preventing bank failure than they did for emergence of the M&A banks. Second, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s assistance was highly influential in preventing bank failure, and, for banks that benefited, the assistance increased their probability of being merged or acquired. Also, we found no strong evidence suggesting that the prevailing macroeconomic conditions and industry-specific factors had influenced exit behaviour of banks during the consolidation exercise. We found evidence of structural dependence between failure and merger and acquisition hazards induced by CBN incentive

Hygiene practices in abattoir and slaughter slab, determinants and assessment of abattoir and slaughter slab facilities in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State South-East Nigeria

Background: Workers in slaughterhouses engaging in unhygienic practices create conducive environments for zoonoses and meat contamination. Knowledge of hygiene practices and their determinants provides evidence for the design of targetedinterventions.Objectives: We investigated knowledge and determinants of hygiene practices among workers in slaughterhouses and assessed slaughterhouse facilities in Abakaliki.Methods: Workers in the Central Meat Market abattoir and Slaughter slab Abakaliki were interviewed in a cross-sectional quantitative study to ascertain their knowledge and hygiene practices while abattoir facilities were assessed using a checklist. Associations were analysed with Chi-square while predictors were determined using binary logistic model.Results: We interviewed 188 workers 75.5% and 85.6% of whom had good knowledge and good hygiene practices respectively. However, hand-washing before and after handling meat (44.1%), cleaning work surfaces with soap and water (45.2%) and sanitary disposal of waste (6.9%) were suboptimal. Knowledge of good hygiene practice was a predictor of good hygiene practice (AOR: 4.6, 95% CI: 2.0-11.3, p=0.001). Well water and borehole were present in both slaughterhouses and cold rooms were available in Central Meat market abattoir.Conclusions: The level of good knowledge was high and this was a determinant of good hygienic practices. Training on hygiene practices is recommended to prevent meat contamination and zoonoses. Keywords: Knowledge; Hygiene Practices; Abattoir; Slaughter slab; Determinants; Ebonyi; Nigeria

Novel stem cell technologies are powerful tools to understand the impact of human factors on Plasmodium falciparum malaria

© 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Plasmodium falciparum parasites have a complex life cycle, but the most clinically relevant stage of the disease is the invasion of erythrocytes and the proliferation of the parasite in the blood. The influence of human genetic traits on malaria has been known for a long time, however understanding the role of the proteins involved is hampered by the a nuclear nature of erythrocytes that makes them inaccessible to genetic tools. Here we overcome this limitation using stem cells to generate erythroid cells with an in-vitro differentiation protocol and assess parasite invasion with an adaptation of flow cytometry to detect parasite hemozoin. We combine this strategy with reprogramming of patient cells to Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and genome editing to understand the role of key genes and human traits in malaria infection. We show that deletion of basigin ablates invasion while deletion of ATP2B4 has a minor effect and that erythroid cells from reprogrammed patient-derived HbBart α-thalassemia samples poorly support infection. The possibility to obtain patient-secific and genetically modifed erythoid cells offers an unparalleled opportunity to study the role of human genes and polymorphisms in malaria allowing preservation of the genomic background to demonstrate their function and understand their mechanisms.Peer reviewe