Inculcating home economics based life skills in rural women in Anambra state Nigeria as a panacea for poverty alleviation

Poverty among rural women in Nigeria hinders the economic and socialwellbeing of families. Alleviating such poverty is therefore a major issue for national survival. This study investigated the strategies for inculcating Home Economics based life (survival) skills among rural women as a panacea for poverty alleviation. The study was a descriptive survey that was based on two research questions. From a population of 1,815 respondents, purposive sampling was used to select a sample of 253 respondents (40 home economics teachers and 213 secretaries of registered women cooperative societies in ten Local government Areas of Anambra State. A questionnaire titled “Inculcating Home Economics-Based Life Skills for Poverty Alleviation (IHELSPA)” was used for data collection. Data was analysed using mean ratings. The findings included that several Home Economics based life skills could be inculcated among the rural women using a range of networking approaches. Among the recommendations was that Government and non-governmental organizations should mobilize communities, youth groups, and other private sector organizations to network and contribute in building the capacities of rural women in Home Economics based life (survival) skill

Longevity and fecundity of Gasteroclisus rhomboidalis

Both the cultivated and the wild spinach (Amaranthus species) have been found to be host to an important beetle pes Gasteroclisus rhomboidalis. The longevity of the beetles was studied under a variety of conditions. It was observed that the e span of the beetles varied widely with the beetles capable of leaving up to 70 days (about 42 days 0n the average). The beetles generally lived longerunder the ambient condition than inside room condition. Studies on the survivorship of the immature stages of the beetles revealed that the larva has the highest mortality rate amongst stages with the egg being the highest surviving stage. Studies on the fecundiy of the female adult beetles showed that about 80% of ther life span is utilised in egg laying. On the average, about 2½ eggs are laid per day (.e. about 5 eggs laid within 2 days).Keywords: Longevity, Fecundity, Gasteroclisus rhomboidalis, Coleoptera, Cruculiondae, Amaranthus specie

THE IMPACT OF TAX REFORMS ON GOVERNMENT REVENUE GENERATION IN NIGERIA

The study examines the impact of Tax Reform Policy on Revenue generation of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The primary objective of this paper is to prepare a case study on tax policy reforms in Nigeria, with the specific objectives of examining the main tax reforms in the country, highlighting tax revenue profile and contributions of the three categories of taxes identified as personal, company and custom duties to the total revenue collection. The techniques of data analysis adopted for the empirical study were the Analysis of Variance Method and the Scheffe’s Multiple Comparison techniques. In addition, the ‘F’ test of the analysis of the variance was used to test the hypothesis of no significant difference in the impact on personal, company and custom duty tax revenues of the Federal Government by each of the following tax reform policy objectives; enhancement of the principles of good tax system, improvement in the tax administrative structure, removal of disincentives to tax compliance and promotion of investment opportunities. From the results, it was concluded that each of the tax reform policy objectives had significant impacts on the personal, company and custom duty tax revenues of the federal government of Nigeria. Scheffe’s comparison test confirmed that tax revenues from both company and custom duty exceeded personal income tax. It was recommended that for improved tax revenue generation from pursuit of tax reform policy objectives, the training and employment of qualified tax personnel who will be adequately equipped with appropriate materials is necessary. Furthermore, the adoption of strategies for an effective and efficient tax reform alongside with harmonization of government industrial and stabilization polices with those of tax reforms

ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR CURBING EXAMINATION MALPRACTICES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA

This study is an assessment of the management strategies for curbing examination malpractices in Secondary Schools in Abia State, Nigeria, considering the persistence of examination malpractices in the educational institutions. Three research questions were raised to guide the study. A researcher constructed questionnaire titled, “Assessment of Management Strategies for Curbing Examination Malpractices Questionnaire’’ (AMSFCEMQ), was used in the data collection. A total of 560 teachers including principals, selected through proportional stratified sampling responded to the questionnaires administered. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach Alpha Coefficient. The reliability value was 0.67. The results showed that all the five pre-examination malpractice curbing strategies identified were effective, such as, “the covering of syllabus by teachers”. Six out of seven strategies identified during the examination were effective, such as, “having adequate number of invigilators in the hall”. The post- examination malpractice curbing strategies found effective were five out of seven, such as “examiners ensuring that the total number of answer scripts tallied with the total number of examinees”. With the persistence of examination malpractices in Nigeria, despite the application of the identified effective strategies, it was recommended that stiffer penalties be pronounced as deterrent. These include increasing the number of years of de–registration of culprit centers and the finding of political will by government to fully implement Examination Malpractice Act 33 of 1999.  Article visualizations

Impact of Human Resource Accounting on Bursary Staff Effectiveness: Implication for Measurement and Evaluation of Human Capital in Federal Universities, Nigeria

This study investigated human resource accounting and bursary staff effectiveness   and its implication for measurement and evaluation of human capital in Federal Universities.   The study area was South-Eastern part of Nigeria, and a field survey method which involved the use of a questionnaire and interview was the method employed for data collection. A questionnaire that had a split-half reliability index of 0.75 and titled: Questionnaire for Evaluating Human Resource accounting in Offices (QEHRAO) was the instrument used for data collection. From the results of data analysis at 95% confidence interval, it was revealed that there exist a strong positive correlation between the five areas of human resource accounting and bursary staff effectiveness. 98.43% of the respondents opined that with an effective application of human resource accounting measures; management of public institutions will see its human resource as assets being maximized for greater productivity and excellence in service delivery. Keywords: Evaluating Human Resource Accounting, Bursary   Staff Effectiveness, Human Capital Implication for Measurement of Human Capital 

Appraising the State of Maintenance and Management of Available Secondary School Facilities on Students’ Academic Performance in Cross River State, Nigeria

The study appraised the maintenance and management of available secondary school facilities in Cross River State. The Government of Cross River State has increased the funding of affordable and qualitative education by about 12.96% in 2012 to 16.83% in its annual budget for 2013 in order to guarantee adequate provision, maintenance, and management of school facilities in her secondary schools, and other institutions of learning so as to foster quality learning, and enhanced student’s academic performance. This study sampled 235 stakeholders in Calabar South and North in the state secondary school education, and found that 87.10% of the respondent agreed that there exist a correlation between provision, maintenance and management of school facilities, and students’ academic performance. Thus, the study recommended among other things; a sustained increase in annual budgets to ensure adequate and continuous maintenance as well as management of school facilities. Keywords: Appraising, Maintenance and management, School facilities, Students’ performanc

Histological Studies Of The Pancreas Of Wistar Rats Following Administration Of Nicotiana tabacum (SNUFF)

This study was to find the probable effect of Nicotiana tabacum (snuff) on the histological features of the pancreas of adult wistar rats. Nicotiana tabacum is a product of smokeless tobacco which contains many toxins and high levels of nicotine. Twenty male wistar rats weighing 200-210g were used for this study. The control group received distilled water, while the experimental groups received 0.4mg/ml to 0.8mg/ml of snuff solution respectively for 6 weeks, orally with the aid of orogastric tube. Behavioral changes observed includes; polydipsia, polyuria, rapid discharge of faecal droppings, tremor, restlessness, and hyperpnoea. These observations were more intense the in group of animals that received 0.80mg/ml of snuff solution. Histological changes showed degeneration, vacuolation and necrosis of pancreatic acinar cells, hyperplasia of islet of Langerhans in the group that received 0.8mg/ml of snuff. These changes may be attributed to one or more constituents of snuff such as nicotine which has cytotoxic activity. Keywords: Nicotiana tabacum, histology, pancreas, wistar ratsGlobal Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol. 14 (3) 2008: pp. 339-34

Incidence of Pes planus amongst the people of Cross River State

The incidence of Pes planus was determined among the people of Cross River State. A total of 1000 individuals comprising 500 males and 500 females of Cross River State origin and aged 20-30 years were used to assess the prevalence of Pes planus. All volunteers involved in the study had no deformities or previous fractures of the lower extremities especially of the foot. For each volunteer, bilateral plantar prints were obtained using ink procedure method. All prints were counted, separated into sexes and the incidence of flat foot calculated for both sexes. A total of 111 individuals had flat foot comprising 44 males and 67 females. The overall incidence of Pes planus was 22.20% with a prevalence of 8.80% amongst males and 13.40% amongst females. Bilateral flat foot was more common in females (11.20%) than in males (6.00%). Unilateral flat foot was more common in males (2.80%) than in females (2.20%). Our result shows that the prevalence of flat foot is higher amongst the females than the males in Cross River State with the prevalence being 22.20%

Influence of crude extract of root of Telfairia occidentalis (fluted pumpkin) on the cytoarchitecture of the rat kidney and body weight

The effect of crude extract of root of Telfairia occidentalis (fluted pumpkin) was investigated on the kidney of adult wistar rats. The crude extract of pumpkin root were given both intraperitoneally and orally to rats respectively.The control group received distilled water throughout the duration of experiment. The administration lasted for seven days and on the eight day, the animals were sacrificed. Morphologically, there was decrease in the body weight, loss of appetite, weakness and death of some animals in the experimental groups. Histologically, the architecture of the kidneys in the experimental animals treated with pumpkin root extract orally and intraperitoneally showed enlarged tubules, distorted glomeruli and Bowman’s capsule, shrinking of proximal and distal convoluted tubules compared with the control. These results suggest that the root of Telfairia occidentalis may be nephrotoxic in wistar rats.Keywords: crude extract, root, Telfairia occidentalis, kidne