Integrating African Indigenous Knowledge In Nigeria’s Formal Education System: It’s Potential For Sustainable Development

The paper points up to the fact that the success of any education system and hence sustainable development depends not only on the nature of its aims, but also on its content. Most of the early Western scholars at the time of colonization, assumed that because Africans knew no reading and writing, they had no systems, contents and methods of education to pass on to the young. To such scholars, education in Africa meant Western civilization. The failure to integrate indigenous learning and Western education was partly a deliberate effort to eradicate African education. The introduction of Western institutions by some colonial agencies, especially the Christian missionaries was also calculated to undermine many aspects of African social structures and pave the way for their replacement. The Western assault on traditional knowledge also applied to the replacement of local languages with foreign languages. With achievement of independence for most African countries in the 1960s, little effort was devoted to considering whether the knowledge conveyed in the schools was of relevance for the young nations. The more urgent problems had to do with the expansion of education, with the building of new schools, with government take-over of private schools as well as doing away with racially-segregated schools. Consequently, curriculum reform to reflect the relevance of the African setting did not take place. Western curricula values continued to be reinforced after independence. The current forces of globalisation, which have strong elements of cultural imperialism and aim at the harmonization of attitudes, supposedly, with the emergence of a global culture and the domination in the use of foreign languages in primary schools in Africa provide little or no room for acquisition of African indigenous knowledge.  To arrest the current situation, the paper proposes that it is best for Africa to look up to herself for the development of her own curricula and modes of delivery through the examination of methods and techniques of indigenous African knowledge

Analogical mapping of ỌKỤKỌ proverbs in Ideke lect

This study examines how analogical mapping is used to analyse ọkụkọ proverbs in Ideke lect. The objectives of the study are to analyse the attribute and relational mapping of selected ọkụkọ proverbs in Ideke lect. The data of the study are drawn from ọmaba chant of Ụmụdịaka in Nsukka area of Enugu State, through an audio recording of Ụdara Nwa onyishi (Ọmabe) chant and also the study uses introspection since the researchers are indigenous speakers of the Ideke lect. The research desgn used in this study is a qualitative research paradigm. The study was done descriptively and purposive sampling was used to sample the population. The analogical mapping theory is adopted as the framework for this study. The study finds out that ọkụkọ proverbs in Ideke lect has abstract meanings which contradict the physical (source concepts) image. Another finding of the study proves that in Ideke lect, ọkụkọ as used in this study possess different semantic impulse due to the sociolinguistic environment where such proverbs are being used. These different shades of meanings will be gotten by aligning the physical concept to abstract concept(s). During the analysis of ọkụkọ proverbs in Ideke lect, it is evident that source domain is liable to form various new abstract semantic realisations which was not the initial semantic usage of the linguistic expression. From the semantic purview, proverbs are complex cognitive tasks which links source domain to the target domain

IMPACT OF RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY (REBT) ON THE MANAGEMENT OF SUICIDAL IDEATION AND DEPRESSIVE TENDENCY AMONG INMATES IN CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN NSUKKA EDUCATION ZONE, NIGERIA

The problem of ineffective and inefficient rehabilitation of inmates as well as in reducing their high rates of unprecedented unwholesome behaviors informed this study. Two research questions were answered and two hypotheses were tested. The study was a quasi-experimental study that adopts pre-test and posttest control group design. The treatment session lasted for a period of 12 weeks representing 24 sessions. The study was able to identify 35 inmates with depressive tendencies and suicidal ideation. Out of the 35 consent forms distributed to 35 inmates with depressive tendencies and suicidal ideation, 20 consent forms were returned showing interest in the study. Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS) developed in 1991 with a self-report of 21 items was used for data collection with reliability ranging from α = .87 to α = .89 across samples. The Center for Epidemiology Study Depression Scale (CES-D) with 20items developed by Radloff (1977) was used to measure depression of any population of people. The internal consistency reliability coefficient of 0.88 was computed for CES-D through Cronbach Alpha statistics. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. It was found that Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) significantly improved the management of suicidal ideation and depressive tendency among inmates in correctional centers. It was concluded that REBT has been found to be significant in handling behaviuoral problems as well as in improving the management of suicidal ideation and depressive tendency among inmates in correctional centers. It was recommended that inmates should be given close monitoring by their supervisors and warders in order to emancipate them from self defeating perception, thoughts and feeling that could endanger their emotion. Counseling-psychologists and religious leaders should make it a point of duty to be rekindling hope freedom, future and belongingness

The Theme of Infidelity in Ajo Obi: A Reader Response Approach

Thematic study is an area in any literary study that cannot be easily overlooked. It is an area that cuts across the three major genres of literature. This paper examines the literary text Ajo Obi which is written by I.G. Nwaozuzu in form of drama with the view of studying the theme of infidelity as portrayed in the text. This work aims at showing the ambiguity of the claim of innocence by the accused in the text. It also brings to light how cultural divergence brings about different interpretations of an action. The data for this study are drawn from intensive study of the literary text Ajo Obi. Following a qualitative research paradigm the study adopts reader response approach in its analysis. Findings show that there is a kind of uncertainty in the claim of innocence by the accused in the text. Again cultural divergence is also found to bring about differences in interpretation of an action

Anti-trypanosomal activity of secnidazole in vitro and in vivo

Purpose: To evaluate the anti-trypanosomal effect of secnidazole (SEC) in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The dose-response effect of SEC in Trypanosoma b. brucei infected rats was evaluated in five groups of rats (n = 5). Group A was infected but untreated; B was given diminazene aceturate (DA) (3.5 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, while groups C, D and E received orally 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg of SEC, respectively. The effect of a combination therapy of SEC and DA was studied in 7 groups of rats (n =5). Group 1 was infected but untreated; groups 2 – 7 were treated with DA (3.5 mg/kg), while groups 3 – 7 received in addition to DA, increasing double doses of SEC (50 – 800 mg/kg).Results: The MIC of SEC and DA were 1.4 and 0.0021 mg/ml respectively. SEC dose-dependently and significantly (p < 0.05) lowered parasitemia from day 2 post-treatment (PT) compared with infected untreated rats. Parasitemia was cleared 3 days PT in all combination groups and 5 days PT in DA group. Relapse of infection occurred in Group 2, 13 days PT, and 16 and 27 days PT in Groups 3 and 4 respectively. There was no relapse of infection in Groups 5 – 7 up to 70 days PT.Conclusion: These results suggest that SEC possesses some degree of  anti-trypanosomal effect, and that combination therapy of SEC and DA was superior to DA alone.Keywords: Trypanosoma, Secnidazole, Diminazene aceturate, Anti-trypanosomal, Combination therap

Immunologic and haematologic effects of methanolic stem bark extract of Azadihiracta indica on chickens experimentally infected with velogenic newcastle disease virus (Kudu 113) strain

The study was aimed at evaluating the weight, haematologic and immunologic effects of crude methanolic stem bark extract of Azadihiracta indica stem bark on vaccinated chickens experimentally challenged with the velogenic Newcastle disease virus. One hundred day old cockerels were randomly divided into four equal groups (I, II, III and IV). Birds in all groups were vaccinated with La Sota strain of Newcastle disease vaccine. The birds were challenged with the velogenic strain of Newcastle disease virus (VNDV) at 42 days of age. Following challenge, groups I, II and III were given oral treatment of methanolic stem bark extract of Azadihiracta indica at 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 600mg/kg, respectively until day 56 of age, while group IV was not given the treatment. Thereafter, birds in all the groups were assessed for onset of clinical signs, changes in live body weight, humoral immune responses and haematologic changes. The birds in groups I, II and III showed no sign of Newcastle disease while birds in group IV exhibited mild depression and huddling. The mean body weight of the vaccinated-treated groups were significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of the vaccinated-untreated group on day 56 of age. On days 63 and 70 of age, the mean body weight of group III was significantly higher than groups I and II. The mean haemagglutination inhibition titres of group III was significantly higher (p<0.05) than groups I, II and IV. The mean PCV, Hb and RBC values of the vaccinated-treated group was significantly (p>0.05) higher than the vaccinated-untreated group on day 49 of age. The WBC count of groups I and II were significantly higher (p>0.05) than groups III and IV on days 49 and 56 of age. The mean absolute heterophil counts of vaccinated-treated groups was significantly (p>0.05) higher than the vaccinated-untreated group on days 56 and 63 of age. The mean absolute lymphocyte counts of the vaccinated-treated increased significantly (p>0.05) than that of vaccinated-untreated birds days 49 of age till the end of the experiment.Keywords: Azadihiracta indica, Stem bark extract, Chickens, Newcastle disease, Immune response, Haematological change

Disposition kinetics of ceftriaxone and determination of its therapeutic dose in dogs

Purpose: To evaluate the disposition kinetics of ceftriaxone (CFZ) in dogs with a view to determining its therapeutic dose and dosing frequency.Methods: Twelve (12) Basenji dogs (n = 4), divided into 3 groups (A, B and C), were used for the study. Ceftriaxone was administered intramuscularly at doses of 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg once to groups A, B and C respectively. Plasma CFZ concentration was determined by agar well diffusion assay at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 24 h post-treatment, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were determined.Results: Intramuscular injection of CFZ to dogs resulted in rapid absorption, distribution and elimination (p < 0.05). The elimination half-life was short and did not change significantly with increase in dose. Serum concentration of CFZ changed significantly (p < 0.05) with increase in dose of CFZ. The maximum serum concentration (Cmax, 15.00 ± 1.18, 141.37 ± 15.87 and 259 ± 5.21 μg/mL) for groups A, B and C respectively were significantly (p < 0.05) different. The steady state CFZ concentrations; 0.94, 8.81 and 16.19 μg/mL for groups A, B and C, respectively, were significantly (p < 0.05) different. However, there was no significant difference in the time to reach steady state concentrations (Tmax, 00±0.021, 4.00±0.10 and 4.30±0.12 for groups A, B and C respectively). The therapeutic dose of CFZ was therefore determined to be 25 – 50 mg/kg every 4 h.Conclusion: Ceftriaxone undergoes rapid elimination in dogs with a short elimination half-life, thus making it an inconvenient prescription for out-patients in veterinary clinics. Keywords: Ceftriaxone, Pharmacokinetic profile, Dogs, Therapeutic dose, Veterinary clini

Comparative evaluation of the chemotherapeutic efficacies of two salts of diminazene aceturate in Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected dogs

Purpose: To compare the anti-trypanosomal efficacies of 4,4-(diazoaminedibenzamidinetrihydrate) diacetate (4,4-DDBT) and 4,4-(diazoamino) benzamidine (4,4-DB) in experimental canine trypanosomosis. Methods: The efficacies of 4,4-DDBT and 4,4-DB were evaluated in 4 groups of dogs (n = 3) designated A-D. Group A was normal control without infection or drug treatment, group B did not receive any drug treatment but was infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei, while groups C and D were infected with T. b. brucei and treated with 4,4-DDBT(3.5 mg/kg) and 4,4-DB (3.5 mg/kg), respectively. Results: The incubation period of the infection was 6 - 9 days post-infection. Treatment of the dogs with 4,4-DDBT led to zero parasitaemia 48 h post-treatment, while there was only a decrease in parasitemia to log 6 in 4,4-DB-treated dogs. Resurgence of parasite into the blood stream occurred in 4,4-DDBTtreated dogs 6 days after initial parasite clearance. Blood analyses post-treatment revealed elevated leucocytes and lymphocytes in 4,4-DB-treated dogs (p < 0.05). Packed cell volume was also observed to be higher in 4,4-DDBT-treated group when compared to 4,4-DB group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that 4,4-DDBT is more efficacious in the clinical management of canine trypanosomosis caused by T. b. brucei. However, it does not prevent relapse of infection. Based on these findings, therefore, 4,4-DDBT should be the diminazene salt of choice when indicated in the clinical management of T. b. brucei infection in dogs

Clinico-toxicological effects of ceftriaxone after intramuscular administration of graded doses in Basenji dogs

Purpose: The recent ceftriaxone-induced anaemia and mortalities at the dose of 50 mg/kg in Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Nigeria prompted this study which sought to assess the clinicotoxicological effects of ceftriaxone (CFZ) after intramuscular administration of graded doses in Basenji dogs.Methods: The effects of CFZ on the haematological indices, physiological parameters, liver and kidney functions were assessed in 4 group of dogs (n = 4) designated A – D. They were given CFZ intramuscularly for 21 days at doses of 12, 25 and 50 mg/kg for groups A, B, C, respectively, while thecontrol (group D) received the diluent (lignocaine 0.2 mL)Results: The mean pulse and heart rate of dogs in group C were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of group A, B and D. Significant (p < 0.05) decrease in red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) was observed in group C on days 7 and 14, while on day 21, these parameters were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in group D than in the treated groups. On day 14 of CFZ administration, the alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities of dogs in group C was significantly (p < 0.05) elevated than the control group.Conclusion: These findings suggest that CFZ, at the doses of 12.5 - 25 mg/kg, appears safe in dogs as most of the adverse effects observed are reversed following the withdrawal of the drug on day 28. However, CFZ at 50 mg/kg causes anaemia, tachycardia and bilateral paralysis of the hind limbs which did not revert to normal after one week; hence, it is not recommended for use in dogs at this dose