Analysis of the Implementation of Child Rights Law in Nigeria

The aim of the study was to analyse the implementation of Child Rights Lawin Nigeria so far. To accomplish this: three research questions and threehypotheses were formulated to guide the investigation. Descriptive surveyresearch was employed carrying out the study. Stratified random samplingtechnique was used to select 1811 respondents comprising 546 CivilServants, 291 Industrialists and 344 Traders. Data analysed usingdescriptive statistics and analysis of variance were collected through aquestionnaire entitled-implementation of Child Rights Law questionnaire(ICRLQ). The findings indicated that 68.75% of Child Rights Law had beenimplemented. The implications of these findings were discussed

A model for tourists\u27 information search behaviour on Ghanaian cuisine: A grounded theory approach

The aim of this study is to explore the information-seeking behaviour of international tourists in relation to Ghanaian cuisine. The study employed both the origin and destination context to gain an understanding of international tourists’ local food information search process. A grounded theory approach was used for both data collection and analysis. A total of 40 in-depth interviews were conducted in the process. The paper shows that most international tourists do not search or engage in an adequate information search on local food before their journeys. The findings further reveal that contextual conditions such as tourist typology and repeat visit shape tourists’ level of knowledge on local food, which in turn affect the information search strategies adopted at the destination. It is concluded that international tourists visiting Ghana are generally ignorant of the local cuisine; therefore, the Ghana Tourism Authority should find innovative ways of getting information on local cuisine to tourists upon arrival into the country

Cooperative Societies and Managerial Competence among Small-Scale Businesses in Odukpani, Cross River State, Nigeria

In this 21st century, Nigeria still faces the big challenge of improving the socio-economic condition of its rural population. Low income and poverty is a perennial problem in Nigeria’s rural communities. This could be attributed to poor or deficient use of the human, natural, environmental and agricultural resources which are available to the rural sector. Primarily, it is the duty of the rural community dwellers themselves to make the best use of these resources which are available to them. This study investigates how cooperative societies can be a tool or strategy for developing managerial competence among small-scale businesses in rural communities of Cross River State using Odukpani as a case study. One hypothesis is tested for the purpose of the study using Analysis of Variance. Ex-post Facto approach is adopted as research design for this study. Ex-post facto is systematic empirical enquiry in which the scientist does not have direct control of the independent variables because they are inherently not manipulable. Sample size for the purpose of this study was one hundred forty (140). Twenty persons were selected from each of the seven (7) Wards/Villages which had cooperative societies. The sampling technique used for this research was simple random sampling. In this study, the researcher used questionnaire for data collection. The findings of the study showed that membership of cooperative societies does significantly influence development of managerial competence for business among rural communities of Odukpani. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made

Challenges of urban waste management in Uyo Metropolis, Nigeria

Waste generation is an integral aspect of human existence that is unavoidable. It is a product of resource use process that has the capacity to be inconveniencing and harmful leading in extreme cases to pollution with resultant epidemics and catastrophic consequences. Therefore, waste generated through human activities need to be properly managed through concrete efforts, to maintain a healthy and sustainable environment. The purpose of this research is to examine the challenges of waste generation, management, collection and disposal mechanism in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Data collection was carried out through a field survey using personal observations, structured interviews and questionnaire administration. Findings revealed that about 30,350 metric tons of Municipal Solid Waste, (MSW), is generated per day in Uyo urban centre. The study further shows that inadequate equipment coupled with understaffing at the State Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources engender accumulation of waste in several parts of the town. The results of this study will hopefully generate recommendations for sustainable waste management development in Uyo. Keywords: waste generation. waste collection. waste disposal. waste management. biodegradable

NIGERIA BORDER CLOSURE AND THE ECOWAS PROTOCOL ON FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS, RESIDENCE AND ESTABLISHMENT AMONG MEMBER STATES: IMPLICATION FOR ECOWAS SUB-REGIONAL COHESION

This study was on the Nigeria border closure and ECOWAS protocol on the free movement of persons among member states: implications for sub-regional cohesion. Thus, the 2019 policy of Nigeria’s Government to close borders between its neighbours Benin Republic, Cameroon and Niger Republic was followed by the circular issued on 20th August 2019 and disseminated to all border security agents. The people living around border communities largely depend on cross-border trade for their survival, and closing the border has led to difficulty and hardship for those living around the border. On the other part, the government proclaimed that closing its border has numerous benefits and for security reasons which will ensure economic growth and development of Nigeria, whereas member states of the West African sub-region believed this action to be, an affront and counter-productive act to ECOWAS protocol on the free movement of goods and persons in the West African sub-region and for the sub-regional integration at large. Hence, the main objective of this paper was the assessment of the border closure and its implications on sub-regional cohesion. The research study made use of a secondary source of data collection and data from the secondary sources were subjected to qualitative content analysis, with the main purpose of assessing the implication of the border closure on the sub-regional integration as stipulated by the ECOWAS protocol. The Theory of Comparative Advantage as propounded by David Ricardo was adopted for the work. His notion significantly explained the theoretical exploration and analytical discussion of the need for a country to trade and relate with other countries in various ramifications with certain advantages especially when these countries are under a common economic bloc, as the case in ECOWAS. The findings showed among other things that the policy of border closure by the Nigeria government has so far been counter-productive, as other West African member states with particular reference to Ghana, have started rejecting and getting Nigerian goods out of their countries, thereby posing a serious threat to economic cohesion of the sub-region. The study recommended among others that the policy of border closure should always consider the poor people who are about 87 million in Nigeria and became subject to hardship following the closure of cross-border trade. And that such border closure was not necessary when the effort was being made to fully actualize the principles of the ECOWAS protocol as applied to all member states.  Article visualizations

THIRTY THREE (33) YEARS ON: AN ASSESSMENT OF ECOWAS TRADE LIBERALIZATION SCHEME AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION IN THE WEST AFRICAN SUB-REGION

The ECOWAS Trade Liberation Scheme (ETLS) is the main ECOWAS Operational tool in bringing a free trade area and economic interaction for the West African Sub-region. Although there are few minimal achievements of the scheme, there are a lot more obstacles bedevilled the full implementation of the scheme after 44 years it had been drawn up, and 33 years after it became fully operational. Therefore, the crux of this study was an assessment of whether the scheme has succeeded in the creation of a free trade area, customs union and economic integration in the West African sub-region. The study adopted the custom Union theory as the theoretical framework of analysis. The major finding of the work was that there cannot be a free trade area without any products to trade as the lack of export diversification has been one of the major obstacles to attaining a free trade area and economic integration in West Africa. Other findings included but were not limited to, the inadequacies of laid-down policies coupled with the constant circumvention of such policies, the absence of harmonization of policies and standards and much more. In the final analysis, the study recommended among others, the improvement in levels of production in individual member states through policies and programmes, eliminating of all forms of trade barriers as well as the private sector involvement in the decision-making and the implementation process of ECOWAS protocols and schemes for a fair representation of their interest.  Article visualizations

GROWTH STIMULATING EFFECTS OF ASPILIA AFRICANA FED TO FEMALE PSEUDO-RUMINANT HERBIVORES (RABBITS) AT DIFFERENT PHYSIOLOGICAL STATES

Background: In recent times, there has been a significant short fall between the production and supply of animal protein to meet the ever increasing population. To meet the increasing demand for animal protein, there is need to focus attention on the production of livestock whose nutritional requirement does not put much strain on the limited sources of feed ingredients to which men subscribe. An example of such livestock is rabbit. Rabbit is a pseudo-ruminant herbivore which utilizes much undigested and unabsorbed feed materials as sources of nutrient for maintenance and production. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding Aspilia africana as forage on the growth rates of female pseudo-ruminant herbivores (rabbits) at different physiological states. Method: Thirty (30) dutch breed rabbit does of 5 – 6 months of age were used for the experiment which was conducted in a completely randomized design for a period of four (4) months. The rabbits were divided into three treatment groups, ten (10) does per treatment group; which consisted of mixed forages (Centrosema pubescens (200g), Panicum maximum (200g) and Ipomea batatas leaves (100g) without Aspilia africana (T1; control), fresh Aspilia africana (500g/doe/day) (T2) and wilted Aspilia africana (500g/doe/day) (T3). Rabbits in all treatment groups received the same concentrate (300g/animal/day) throughout the period of the study and mixed forages from the commencement of the experiment till the does kindled. After parturition, fresh and wilted Aspilia africana were introduced in treatments 2 and 3 respectively, whereas the control group continued on mixed forages throughout the study. Conclusion: The result of the study revealed that the initial average body weight of the rabbit does was 1.74kg. At mating and gestation periods, the body weights of the does in T2 was significantly higher (P<0.05) than the rest. There were no significant differences (P<0.05) in the body weights of does at kindling between the various treatment groups. During the physiological states of lactation, weaning and re-mating, the control group (T1) had significantly lower body weight than those of the treated groups (T2 and T3). Furthermore, T2 had significantly higher body weight than T3. The study revealed that Aspiliaafricana; particularly the fresh leaves have greater growth stimulating effects when fed to pseudoruminants (rabbits), thereby enhancing body weights of does during lactation and weaning

EFFECTS OF NUTRITION ON HAEMATOLOGY OF RABBITS: A REVIEW

This review examined the effects of nutrition on haematology of rabbits. The physiology of farm animals is influenced by several factors, one of which is nutrition. The nutritional status of an animal is dependent on dietary intake and effectiveness of metabolic processes. Dietary contents affect blood profile of farm animals. Haematological studies represent a useful process in the investigation of the extent of damage to the blood. Examination of blood provides the opportunity to clinically investigate the physiological, nutritional and pathological status of an animal. And changes in haematological parameters are often used to determine stresses due to nutrition. Reports by different researchers indicated that different diets fed to rabbits had different effects on haematological parameters, some of which were detrimental while others improved their haematological indices as they remained within the normal range of values for rabbits

International Partnership for Socio-Economic Development: An Appraisal of the European Union-Nigeria Micro Project Programme in Bayelsa State

This study examines the developmental impact of the European Union (EU) -Nigeria Micro Project programme, implemented in Bayelsa state over the period 2003 to 2006. A survey was conducted in the state. Data were collected and analyzed using descriptive method. On the basis of empirical evidence, it is discovered that the programme has impacted on the lives of the people in the state with the provision of socio-economic infrastructures, employment and income generation, and has reduced poverty through the provision of amenities e.g. the construction of six classroom blocks with furniture at Agudama-Epie, health centre at Odoni, renovation of community hall at Swali, provision of pipe borne water at Angiama etc. Based on the above findings, we proffered a seven point recommendation which if followed-up should improve socio-economic development in Bayelsa state and in Nigeria. Keywords: Partnership, Europe, Nigeria, Socio-Economic, Development, Appraisal, Project, Bayelsa State