Knowledge Management Practice on Construction Project Performance in Nigeria

The study which was exploratory in nature evaluated the benefits of KM practice on construction project performance. A field survey was conducted with the use of structured questionnaires, self-administered to a sample of stakeholders in the built environment. Descriptive statistics was employed for the analysis. Results of the study have identified eight (8) value-adding KM factors as essential for obtaining KM benefits. Likewise, the results further indicated 19 benefits of KM practice for improving construction project performance and include: improve project quality, cost and time; practice and process improvement; encourage effective teamwork and innovation; improve the client satisfaction; boost productivity of employees and processes; enhanced organisational competence; higher levels of expertise and knowledge; enhanced employee capability and organization learning; risk minimisation; and improved decision-making, among others. The survey has systematically reviewed the scientific contributions of knowledge management practice that guide stakeholders on construction project performance. Moreover, the findings will assist government and other agencies in the adoption of KM practice in the Nigerian construction industry. It recommends that government and professional bodies should mandate the use of KM practice on construction project delivery for better performance.Keywords: Benefits, Construction project performance, Knowledge Management, Nigeria

An investigation into the prospects of green building practice in Nigeria

Green Building (GB) is a concept that gains currency as an important mitigating measure against the negative side effects of developmental activities. This is a report on investigation carried out on the prospects of GB practice in Nigeria. This research work entails review of related literature to establish the concept of GB, problems militating against the practice of GB and method of constructing GB. A total of 50 structured questionnaires were distributed, out of which 40 were received. Practice of GB in Nigeria, factors hindering the practice and benefits of GB were investigated. Based on Likert scale ranking, results show that GB is currently not practiced and the need for it exist. Also, lack of awareness is the most prominent factor hindering the construction of GB, followed by 'Lack of enabling environment in the form of policy or legislation that will encourage prospective clients to use GB and 'Economic situation of the country'. Health and productivity gain is identified as the most important benefit of green building, followed by 'preservation of natural resources while taking care of their health' and 'attraction and retention of employee'. It was recommended that public enlightenment should be done by Non Governmental Organizations, government and professional bodies, the practice of Green building should be encouraged by the government, request for construction environmental management plan from contractors as part of tender documents and the government should liaise with the industry's stakeholders to establish a construction bank that will empower the people

Optimal sizing and techno-economic analysis of grid-connected nanogrid for tropical climates of the savannah

Reliability and costs are mainly considered in performance analysis of renewable energy-based distributed grids. Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Renewables was used in techno-economic analysis of renewable energy systems involving photovoltaics, wind, diesel and storage in tropical regions of Amazon, Central Asia and Mediterranean. In a study for a Guinea Savannah region, 70% of renewable energy fraction was achieved. However, levelized cost of energy of 0.689 $/kWh was higher than tariff rate of 0.6$/kWh. This paper considers Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Renewables to achieve lower levelized cost of energy and net present costs of a nanogrid for increased reliability and low per capita energy consumption of 150 kWh in a Sudan Savannah region of Nigeria. The proposed grid connected nanogrid aims to serve daily residential demand of 355 kWh. A range of 0.0110 $/kWh to 0.0095$/kWh and $366,210 to$288,680 as negative values of levelized cost of energy and net present cost respectively were realized, implying potentials for a large grid export. The renewable energy fraction of up to 98% was also achieved in addition to low greenhouse gas emission of 2,328 tons/year. The results may further be consolidated with strategies for power dispatch and load scheduling

Assessment of Information Technology Adoption in Project Information Exchange in Nigerian Construction Industry

Information Technology (IT) has been applied by various industries with significant improvement in the practice and strategic standing of the industries. Its successful application is evident in manufacturing, petroleum, banking, aerospace and military industries. However, despite this evidential benefit as a result of IT adoption, delayed receipt of project information and/or loss of the project data/information are still prevalent in the Nigerian construction industry. To reduce these inefficiencies in the data management of the industry, this study investigates the medium of project information exchange and examine the order of IT adoption in the Nigerian Construction industry. A quantitative approach using questionnaire survey was employed. Structured questionnaires were distributed among quantity surveyors in contracting, consulting and public sector. The resultant data was analyzed using descriptive statistical tool. The results revealed the dominance of the paper-based medium over the use of IT tools in information acquisition and dissemination in the construction industry. About three-quarter of drawings, specifications and schedules were acquired through printed copy (paper based), and only about one-tenth of these information were acquired through email and disk/flash. While about four-fifth of the bills of quantities, claims and final account documents/information were being disseminated through the traditional paper-based printed copy, and less than one-tenth of these information are being disseminated through email and disk/flash. The order of IT adoption and use in information acquisition in the Nigerian Construction industry was found to be paper based medium, then followed by online medium, email and others (mobile) came third and fourth respectively, while disk/flash and came fifth and sixth in ranking. Furthermore, in contrast to the order of IT adoption and use in information acquisition in the Nigerian Construction industry, paper-based and disk/flash medium came first and second in order of information dissemination. Emails and online medium came 3rd and 4th in place, while fax and others (such as mobile phone), came 5th and 6th in adoption and use. Thus, for construction professionals in developing countries to reap the benefit of IT, it must go beyond the use of paper based medium to the use of IT tools for the acquisition and dissemination of information in the industry

Impact of foreign interventions on forest development projects in Jigawa state, Nigeria

Since the inception of independent, local interventions have been coming to play in forest development inNigeria. Therefore, there is need to access the impact of foreign interventions on forest development projects in Nigeria. Therefore, the study examined the impact of foreign interventions on the forest development project in Jigawa State with the view to ascertaining the need. Purposive sampling design employed in the study. A total of two hundred and forty (240) copies of questionnaire were administered and the data were subjected to the descriptive statistical analysis. The mean age of the respondents is 32.7 years. Majority (62.1%) were males, married (48.8%). Most respondents were either students (37.1%), farmers (28.3%) or business men (18.8%). Below average have secondary education (43.3%). On awareness only Tree planting (x =1.733), Individual Wood Lot ( x=1.558) and Home Garden practices ( x=1.471) were known. There is a low involvement in home garden ( x=0.992), individual wood lot ( x=1.063) while tree planting (x =1.696) showed high involvement. No positive perception on FDP in the minds of the respondents. FDP has favorable impact on agronomic practices and the environment except pollution (12.9%). Awareness campaign show be instituted to the respondents in the community on the significance of FDP. Proper efforts should be made to involve the respondents more on FDP since the involvement of the respondents in FDP is low. It is recommended that Jigawa State government need foreign invention on forest development project in order to assist the State in arresting the spread of drought and desertification, enhance the productivity of the agricultural land, stimulates and increase the production of fuel wood, poles and other minor forest products in the State through improved perception of the respondents on FDP and bettered to improve the utilization and involvement in FDP as well as addressing, explored and addressed other agronomic practices to help agriculture Keywords: Foreign Interventions, Forest Development, Impact, Jigawa State and Project

Prevalence of diabetes in a semi-urban community in northern Nigeria.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a growing public health problem both in developing and developed nations. The prevalence of diabetes globally is projected to rise from 2.8% in 2000 to 4.4% in 2030.This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of diabetes in Dakace village, near Zaria Method: This study was part of a larger study to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among adults in Dakace village, near Zaria. Out of a total of 492 eligible respondents for the study, a subsample of 199 persons was recruited using a systematic sampling technique had their fasting blood glucose levels determined. Body mass indices of the participants were also determined. Results: A total of 199 subjects (94 males and 105 females) participated in this segment of the study. Three subjects had fasting blood glucose (FBG) of more than 7.0mmol/L; one participant a previously known diabetic on medication had a good glycaemic control. The overall prevalence of diabetes was 2.0%.Five participants (2.5%) had impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Among the diabetics, one was overweight (BMI= 27.43Kg/m2) and one was obese (BMI=31.55Kg/m2), while among those with impaired fasting glucose two were overweight. Fortythree subjects (21.6%) were overweight and 15 (7.5%) were obese. Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in this semi-urban community is keeping with what had been reported earlier from across the country.Nigerian Journal of Medicine Vol. 17 (4) 2008: pp. 414-41

EVALUATING MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES IN THE MOTIVATION OF EMPLOYEE-CONSULTANTS IN THE NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

ABSTRACT:Management is faced with the task of motivating employee-consultants and creating high job satisfaction among them. Creating programs and policies that develop job satisfaction and serve to motivate employee-consultants takes time and money to create. When the management understands the benefits of job satisfaction and motivation in the workplace, then the investment in employee-related policies can be justified. The purpose of any motivation programme is to motivate the organization's employees to enable them work effectively. However, motivating employees is not an easy thing as what motivates employees differs among people. This paper is intended to establish management challenges in the motivation of Employee-Consultant in the Nigerian construction industry with a view to improving the motivation of employee-consultants. A calculated sample size of 108 construction and consultancy firms were randomly selected within Kaduna and Abuja metropolis. The research used the relative importance index (RII) to rank the challenges in order of importance. Amount of Fee paid (workers' wages) was identified to be the most significant factor that challenges the motivation of employee-consultants. Low availability of income generated was also identified as a major challenge. The research therefore suggest that management should seek other forms of motivating employee consultants such as New incentive schemes, such as flexible working hours, subsidies, loans and others, should be developed and implemented. Further research should be conducted to harness these important factors identified for the growth and development in the construction and consultancy firms.Keywords: Employee-Consultant, Motivation, Nigerian, Construction Industry, challenge

Analysis of Agricultural Extension Methods Used by Extension Workers for Conflict Resolution among Agro – Pastoralists in Adamawa State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to analyze the agricultural extension methods used in conflict resolution among agro – pastoralists in Adamawa State, Nigeria. A multi – stage random sampling technique was used to select 160 respondents who were administered interview schedules. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) statistics and inferential (multiple regression) statistics. The study indicated that livestock destruction of farmlands was the major (50.63%) source of conflict among the respondents. The results revealed that the major (55.0%) source of conflict resolution among the respondents was community leaders in conflict resolutions. The study showed that truce was the most important type of conflict resolution used by respondents (59.38%). Majority (82.5%) of the respondents preferred face to face extension contact methods used for learning conflict resolution. All the positive significant relationship at 5% levels indicated that, an increase in each of these extension methods is likely to increase in conflict resolutions among agro – pastoralists. The study recommended that extension working environment should be strengthened with motivational mechanism to achieve the desired impact on conflict resolution among agro – pastoralists in the study area. Key words: Sources of conflict, Conflict Resolution and Agro – Pastoralists, Adamawa State, Nigeri

Mortality and cause of death in Abuth, Zaria: 1999-2005

Background: Accurate mortality statistics are needed for policy formulation,implementation and monitoring of health intervention that are aimed at improving the health status of the people. Mortality level is one of the indicators of the quality of life and status of health of a population. However, accurate collection, collation, analysis and interpretation of such data is poorly organised in developing nations, including Nigeria leading to a gap in health policy formulation, implementation and monitoring. Therefore, policies and strategies for disease prevention are based on empirical evidence rather than on data primarily collected to formulate disease specific interventions.Though, hospital data have inherent deficiency in its use to design prevention. However, when accurately generated and adequately managed would provide both qualitative and quantitative information on morbidity and mortality if not for the entire society at least for a segment of the population utilizing it. We implemented a system of death certification to determine causes and pattern of mortality in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria Methods: From May 1999 to November 2005, all case folders of deceased patients were retrieved from the central library of health information management department of the hospital; case folders of deceased patients are required to have in them a completed IFMCCD(International Form of Medical Certification of Cause of Death). All case folders of deceased patients after relevant information were extracted by the staff of health management information department, were passed on to the staff of department of Community Medicine directly involved in this study. The completed cause of death certificates received in the department of Community Medicine (between May 1999 and November 2005), were examined. Coding rules were employed to select the appropriate code for those certificates that were incorrectly completed. The underlying cause of death as identified from the correctly completed IFMCCDS is coded according to ICD-10.Results: For the period under study, there were 4019 deaths: 2212 males and 1807 females. Total of 2914 (72.5%) deaths were certified, using the IFMCCD of which 1641 of them were males and 1273 females and formed the basis of this analysis. Coverage rates ranges from 56.2% in 2001 to 85% in 1999. The proportion of garbage codes ranges from 0% to 2.4% while the three leading causes of death are HIV infection, road traffic accident (RTA), and cardiovascular diseases among the ten. The time-trend of the leading causes of death show RTA maintaining steady upward climb while malaria, septicemia, PEM, sepsis in the neonatal period shows unsteady fluctuation. Conclusion: This study assessed the pattern of mortality and causes of death in ABU Teaching Hospital, Zaria; it also provided information on leading causes of death

On the use of drains in orthopedic and trauma

Introduction: The use of drains in trauma and Orthopaedic practice has been affected by the concept of evidence based medicine that has become accepted as standard of care for all surgical or medical practice, which questions all care processes that cannot be backed by evidence to be beneficial to the patient. There have been a large number of multi centre meta-analytical studies that found drains to be of little or no benefit in trauma and Orthopaedic operations. Because of these studies, there are few situations where drains are routinely used e.g. Calcaneal fractures in developed countries. Even major procedures like total knee and arthroplasties are being performed without drains. We set to findout whether such evidence can be found in our practice.Materials and Methods: Between 2004 and 2012, eighty six patients  matched for sex and type of injury and operative procedures to be done were prospectively selected and assigned to use or no use of drains in their operations. Complications like haematoma, drain migration, infection, inadvertent drain stitching were observed in the two groups.Results: Eighty six major orthopaedic operations were studied. There was no evidence of occurrence of complication arising from non use of drains in the undrained group. Those patients whose wounds were drained had no   need for drain change thus making the wound care less eventfulConclusion: Postoperative wound drains make for neat postoperative period with less tissue swelling. There was no statistically significant  differences between the drained and undrained wounds in terms of  infection rates, haematoma or seroma formation.Key words: Drains, drained surgical wounds, undrained surgical wound