The Influence of In-Service Training, Seminars and Workshops Attendance by Social Studies Teachers on Academic Performance of Students in Junior Secondary Schools Incross River State, Nigeria

This research examined the influence of in-service training, seminar and workshop attendance by social studies teachers on students academic performance in Cross River State, Nigeria. To achieve the purpose of this study, one hypothesis was formulated to direct the study. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. A sample of five hunded Social Studies teachers (500) and students were selected for the study. The instruments for data collection were a set of questionnaire to measure Social Studies teachers in-service training, seminar and workshop training and Social Studies Performance Test (SOSPT)  to measure students academic performance. The reliability estimate of the instruments were established through the split-half reliability method and it associate Spearman Brown prophesy formula. Pearson product moment correlation analysis was adopted to test the hypothesis at .05 level of significance. The result of the analysis revealed that there exists a positive and small relationship between the frequency of teachers’ attendance at in-service training, seminars and workshops and students’ academic performance in social studies. It was recommended that government should make it mandatory for all teachers in both primary and post primary to undergo professional training. As it is the case with other professions like law and medicine among others

Governance and Economic Development in West Africa: Linking Governance with Economic Misery

In this study, we explored how governance could influence economic misery. Consideration is made of 16 West African countries from 2005 through 2020. The governance indicators used in the study include voice and accountability; political stability and absence of violence/terrorism; government effectiveness; regulatory quality; the rule of law; and control of corruption. Barro's misery index was computed and used in this study. The analysis used the pooled ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed and random effect models, and the Granger causality test. The Granger causality test indicated that unidirectional causality runs from government effectiveness, political stability and absence of violence/terrorism, and regulatory quality to economic misery. For the pooled OLS, only voice and accountability aided in reducing economic pain in a significant manner, while the rule of law aggravated financial distress. In the Fixed effect model, none of the governance indicators could significantly influence economic misery, while in the Random effect model, voice and accountability with regulatory quality significantly reduced financial discomfort. Government effectiveness has not in any way exerted a significant influence on economic misery within the study period. Other variables that substantially influenced economic distress within West Africa were trade liberalisation and credit to the private sector, as they both significantly reduced economic misery. The weak governance indicators show poor institutional quality intensifies economic pain within the West African region

Spatial Memory, Motor Coordination, Cerebellar and Hippocampal Histoarchitectural Changes following Atropine Administration to Adult Mice

Atropine is a non-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist. In overdoses, atropine is poisonous. It is sometimes added to potentially addictive drugs, particularly anti-diarrhoea opioid drugs such as diphenoxylate or difenoxin. The aim of this study was to investigate spatial memory and motor changes associated with varying doses (5 and 10 mg/kg body weight) ingestion of atropine, as well as its impact on the hippocampal and cerebellar histoarchitecture in mice.Fifteen BALB/c mice were divided into three groups of 5 serving as control, low dosage, and high dosage groups. Atropine at 5 and 10 mg/kg body weight was administered into low and high dosage groups, respectively. Administration of atropine in both groups showed significant histological tissue damage in the hippocampus which includes neurodegeneration of neurons and distortion of the granular layer, while no evident histomorphological change to the cerebellum was observed. Low dosage mice showed memory and motor deficit, whereas the high dosage group showed no statistically significant memory function difference with the control group. Further research is necessary to find the cause of these motor deficits

Incentive Structure and Work Attitude among Junior Staff in Cross River State Civil Service

This study investigates whether incentive structure plays a significant role in the work attitude of junior civil servants in Nigeria. Five different incentive items were tested by data collected. These include monetary, job security, promotion, good work environment, and social/official recognition. These five sub-variables were ranked in their order of importance. Frequency distribution, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient and T-test statistical techniques were used to analyze data obtained. It was found that junior civil servants considered monetary incentives highest on their ranking, and that incentive structure as a whole significantly affected work attitude among junior staff in the Civil Service

The Nature and Weighting of Major Determinants of Women Participation in Policy Process in Nigeria: Evidence from Akwa Ibom State

This study investigates the factors responsible for the very low number of women participating in policy process in Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria. Stratified random sampling was used in this study for the purpose of separating the respondents into educated (HND/B.Sc. and above) and less educated. Responses from educated respondents were used in this study. Data were collected by distributing and retrieving 900 questionnaires across the three senatorial districts of the state (300 in each senatorial district). The various factors tested were economic, cultural, physical, mental, psychological, religion and ideology. Frequency distribution statistics is used to analyze data obtained. It was found that 66% of respondents considered economic factor as most responsible for the low number of women participating in policy processes in Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria

THE EFFECT OF NEWBOULDIA LAEVIS ON WISTAR RAT’S TESTIS AND LIVER HISTOMORPHOLOGY IN CADMIUM-INDUCED TESTICULAR TOXICITY AND HEPATOTOXICITY

Newbouldia laevis is a plant known for its great nutritional and medicinal importance with antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial, anti-coagulant, anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties. Cadmium is globally acknowledged as an environmental intoxicant with widespread toxicity on the biological system. Thus this work was carried out to evaluate the protective role of Newbouldia laevis aqueous leaf extract on the wistar rat testis and liver histomorphology in cadmium-induced testicular toxicity and hepatotoxicity. Methodology: This experimental study was carried out on 25 male adult wistar rats. The animals were divided into 5 groups of 5 animals each – Control, Cadmium, Newbouldia laevis, Coadministration and Pre/Post Treatment Groups. The Treatment Groups received 1.2mg/kg body weight of cadmium, 200mg/kg body weight of Newbouldia laevis, 1.2mg/kg body weight of cadmium + 200mg/kg body weight of Newbouldia laevis simultaneously and 1.2mg/kg body weight of cadmium for two weeks and 200mg/kg body weight of Newbouldia laevis for two weeks. Results: The exposure of experimental animals to cadmium showed deleterious effects on the organs of study (testes and liver). Treatment with aqueous extract of Newbouldia laevis revealed varying degrees of restoration after hepatotoxicity by cadmium. However, Newbouldia laevis was unable to ameliorate the testicular damage occasioned by cadmium as cellular disruptions were still evident even with its administration. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the oral administration of aqueous leaf extracts of Newbouldia laevis can be used to manage hepatotoxicity but not testicular toxicit

THE IMPACT OF MIMOSA PUDICA ON THE HISTOARCHITECTURE OF HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-TESTICULAR AXIS IN CADMIUM TREATED RATS

Background: Cadmium is a known environmental and industrial pollutant with an enormous neuroendocrine disrupting potential. Mimosa pudica Linn is a creeping annual or perennial herb known to possess antiasthmatic, antiepileptic, antitumour, aphrodisiac, analgesic, antidepressant properties and a strong radical scavenging activity. This research was aimed at investigating the impact of Mimosa pudica on the histoarchitectural integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in cadmium-treated rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty five mature wistar rats (Rattus rattus norvegicus) were employed in the study. These animals were divided into five groups - 5 Rats/Group; Control, Cadmium Toxicity, Mimosa pudica Extract, Protection and Therapeutic Groups. The Control Group was orally administrated with distilled water. Result: Toxicity was achieved with 1.2mg/kg body weight for forty days with apparent histological abnormalities and alterations to the axis components. Administration of Mimosa pudica (200mg/kg) body weight with cadmium in both the Protection and Therapeutic Groups showed remarkable histological improvements and markedly reduced tissue damage when compared with Cadmium Toxicity Group. Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrate that Mimosa pudica possesses protective, therapeutic as well as restorative capacity on the histoarchitecture of hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis components in cadmium-treated rats

Harnessing the potential of African youth for transforming health research in Africa

Africa faces a significant burden of infectious diseases, including Malaria and HIV/AIDS, along with an increasing prevalence of non-infectious diseases such as diabetes and cancer. This dual health challenge is amplified by socioeconomic difficulties, restricted access to healthcare, and lifestyle changes, thus present unique scientific needs. Effectively addressing these issues requires a skilled scientific workforce adept in comprehensive healthcare strategies. This analysis explores the critical landscape of health research in Africa, emphasizing the unique opportunity presented by the continent’s youthful population, projected to reach almost 1 billion by 2050. The youth’s innovative potential and fresh perspectives offer a chance to overcome development barriers in health research. Nevertheless, challenges such as under-resourced education, limited research training, inadequate mentorship, and funding difficulties persist. This paper urgently calls upon African leaders, international partners, and stakeholders to prioritize health research, mobilize funding, forge strategic partnerships, and empower the youth as essential steps to capitalize on the continent’s dynamic youth for breakthrough health outcomes. Such investments are vital not just for health but for the overall economic, social, and strategic growth of the continent. Through shared responsibility and a united effort, the potential of African youth can be harnessed, leading to transformative research, improved health outcomes, and a prosperous future. This perspective represents the collective voice of passionate young researchers and advocates across Africa, calling for a new era of health research on the continent

Current status of digital reference services in academic libraries in Nigeria

Reference and information services have always been the main component of library services, providing personalized assistance to library users in accessing suitable information resources to meet their needs. The ever-changing digital environment has had significant impact on the scope and nature of reference work. This paper investigates the extent of the application of digital reference services in academic libraries in Nigeria, highlighting the emerging formats and models of digital reference services, to include email and web forms, Ask A librarian services, online chat reference, video conferencing, digital robots, and collaborative digital reference. The paper adopted the descriptive survey design and document analysis to collect data. Data from the official websites of the 27 Federal Universities in Nigeria were used in this study. These data were analyzed using simple percentages. The study reveals that thirteen (48%) of 27 Federal University libraries in Nigeria are offering some form of digital reference services to their users. Twelve (92%) of these libraries are linked to subscribed databases while none had interactive services. The paper concludes by highlighting the need for more academic libraries to digitize their reference services which will be contingent upon the development of new models to deal with staffing and other relevant issues

Black seed oil reverses chronic antibiotic-mediated depression and social behaviour deficits via modulation of hypothalamic mitochondrial-dependent markers and insulin expression

Chronic antibiotic use has been reported to impair mitochondrial indices, hypothalamus-mediated metabolic function, and amygdala-regulated emotional processes. Natural substances such as black seed (Nigella sativa) oil could be beneficial in mitigating these impairments. This study aimed to assess the impact of black seed oil (NSO) on depression and sociability indices, redox imbalance, mitochondrial-dependent markers, and insulin expression in mice subjected to chronic ampicillin exposure. Forty adult male BALB/c mice (30 ± 2 g) were divided into five groups: the CTRL group received normal saline, the ABT group received ampicillin, the NSO group received black seed oil, the ABT/NSO group concurrently received ampicillin and black seed oil, and the ABT+NSO group experienced pre-exposure to ampicillin followed by subsequent treatment with black seed oil. The ampicillin-exposed group exhibited depressive-like behaviours, impaired social interactive behaviours, and disruptions in mitochondrial-dependent markers in plasma and hypothalamic tissues, accompanied by an imbalance in antioxidant levels. Moreover, chronic antibiotic exposure downregulated insulin expression in the hypothalamus. However, these impairments were significantly ameliorated in the ABT/NSO, and ABT+NSO groups compared to the untreated antibiotic-exposed group. Overall, findings from this study suggest the beneficial role of NSO as an adjuvant therapy in preventing and abrogating mood behavioural and neural-metabolic impairments of chronic antibiotic exposure