Gender Issues in Gaps of Household Labour Supplied to Farms and Labour Market in Rural Abia State, Nigeria

Differentials between sexes in supply of labour to farms and to other employments in rural areas were examined along some key issues in own farm(s) of farm households using data collected over time from a panel of ninety-six (96) farm households in Abia State, Nigeria. Household labour was supplied to farms and to non-farm sectors within the rural labour market cutting across enterprises and sectors of employments with observable gaps in gender activities. Male members of the farm households supplied labour to their farms at a rate higher than they did to their off-farm activities. Across the domains of labour use, the females supplied labour at a relatively higher rate (0.87) to their farms than males (0.86) to their off-farms. The inequalities in labour supplies by the gender to the farms and off-farms were informed by some socioeconomic variables such as love of leisure, age of the farm operators, their experiences on the jobs, number of dependants and size of their own farms. Peculiar determinants of off-farm supplies of labour were off-farm monthly income from jobs, and level of educational attainment of persons in the workforce group. These are critical variables that need to be considered when fashioning policies intended to inspire farm operators and members of their households to devoting their time and energy to farming activities in Abia state Nigeria

TEACHING PRACTICE ANXIETY SOURCES AS CORRELATES OF TEACHING PERFORMANCE AMONG STUDENT TEACHERS IN FEDERAL COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

The purpose of this study was to investigate the teaching practice anxiety sources as correlates of teaching performance among student teachers in federal colleges of education in Southwestern Nigeria. Descriptive research design of ex-post-facto was used in the study. One thousand four hundred and sixteen (1,416) respondents were selected from student teachers in federal colleges of education in Southwestern Nigeria. The respondents were measured with self developed scales and the data obtained was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and Multiple Regression Statistical analysis of (SPSS). Three research Questions were raised and answered in the study. The result showed that teaching performance among student teachers was significantly correlated with teaching confidence (r = .783; p<.05), supervision anxiety (r = .613; p<.05), content mastery (r = .801; p<.05), relating with other student teachers (r = .832; p<.05), relating with students (r = .713; p<.05), classroom control (r = .681; p<.05), lesson preparation (r = .913; p<.05) and lesson presentation (r= .837; p<.05), independent variables when pulled together had significant effect on the teaching productivity among secondary school teachers (R (adjusted) =.617 & R2 (adjusted) =.674) and each of the independent variables made significant contribution to the prediction of teaching performance among student teachers in federal colleges of education. In view of these findings, the study stressed and advocated that the staff and the students prior to the period of teaching practice should be prepared for the task ahead with a good frame of mind and school counselors should intensif

Participatory Savings And Borrowing For Start-Up And Recapitalization Needs: Farmers Experience In Nigerian Agricultural Cooperatives And Rural Development Bank (Nacrdb) Abia State, Nigeria

This study of Farmer cash savers and borrowers was conducted in 5 branches of a formal small farmer-centered credit institution- the Nigerian Agricultural Cooperatives and Rural Development Bank(NACRDB) in Abia State, Nigeria. Thirty-two (32) farmers who had mandatory savings with the bank were involved. The savings rate across the branches averaged 8.33% but the borrowing rate was as high as 75.18% across the bank branches. A relatively higher proportion of the loans served re-capitalization purposes than start-up needs of the participants/beneficiaries .Experienced farmers with on-going projects were more prepared to manage credit facilities and should be considered for more loans whenever they meet up with the conditions for such new contracts. Keywords: Participation, Start-up needs, Re-capitalization needs.Journal of Agriculture and Social Research Vol. 8 (1) 2008: pp. 89-9

Conflict Management and Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in the Health Sector: A Case of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital

Conflict in an organisation is inevitable and arises as people in the organisation carry out their functions by means of adjustments and compromises among competitive elements in its structure and membership. Substantially, industrial conflicts may be whittled by peculiarity of work environment, such as long working hours, chain of command and compensation schemes. In this regards, health care diversity and conflicts are inherent in the health sector, as such, conflict in interdisciplinary groups are inexorable. Since conflicts are part of organizational life, the way it is handled and managed is instructive. Therefore, Conflict management in an organisation entails an approach and practice of being able to identify and handle conflicts rationally, equitably, and competently. Thus, the paper examines the causes of conflicts that exist in hospitals with emphasis on University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and also highlights the role of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms as tools for conflict management in the health sector with specific reference to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital. Keywords: Conflict, Conflict Management, Alternative Dispute Resolution, UATH, Health secto

The Impact of Assets Size and Profitability on Funded Status of Employee Retirement Benefits by Quoted Firms in Nigeria

This study assesses the impact of quoted companies’ assets size and profitability on employee retirement benefits in Nigeria. In line with the objective, a hypothesis was formulated. The population of the study is 182 firms quoted on the first- tier market of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and ten (10) quoted firms selected as sample size based on judgmental sampling. The study utilized data from secondary source. Data were obtained from the annual accounts and reports of the (10) quoted firms that made up the sample of the study. The time frame for the study is ten years, covering the period of 1998 to 2007. The technique of analysis used in the study was Multiple Regression Analysis. The study established that the ability of quoted firms to fund their pension costs has direct relationship with their assets sizes and respective profitability. The study recommended an effective monitoring/supervision and enforcement of the provisions of the Pension Reform Act, 2004, in addition to effective implementation of the penalties provided by the Act on non-compliers regardless of their status or origin. The study calls the Government to create conducive and enabling environment for smooth implementation, compliance and application of the Pension Reform Act, 2004 by firms and other players in pension administration. While, regulatory authorities must encouraged research and activities geared towards developing not only accounting policies that would ensure full compliance with Statement of Accounting Standards 8 (SAS 8) but strategies that would ensure optimum investments that enhance net worth and earnings of firms

Review of the Adoption of Strategic Management Practices in Abia State Local Government Area

This study reviews the adoption of strategic management practices in Abia state Local Government Area of Nigeria. Beyond the broad objective, the study sought specifically to: Investigate the extent to which strategic management is adopted by the LGAs in Abia State, ascertain factors that impede the smooth adoption of strategic management, and to determine the effect of strategy formulation, and strategy implementation on the success of strategic management of the councils. Three local government areas were purposively chosen as the case study which forms the hub of this research work. Multi-stage sampling procedure was administered and a total of 230 respondents were obtained and studied from the LGAs. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, probit regression and correlation coefficient model. Results revealed that factors such as organizational policy, lack of focus by top management, organizational structure, and lack of trained staff, resource allocation, and leadership style impede the smooth adoption of strategic management in Abia state local government areas. Furthermore, the result reviles that the nature of strategy formulation and strategy implementation can determine the success of the adoption of strategic management principles in local government areas. Keyword: Review, Adoption, Strategic Management Practices

TEACHING PRACTICE ANXIETY SOURCES AS CORRELATES OF TEACHING PERFORMANCE AMONG STUDENT TEACHERS IN FEDERAL COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

The purpose of this study was to investigate the teaching practice anxiety sources as correlates of teaching performance among student teachers in federal colleges of education in Southwestern Nigeria. Descriptive research design of ex-post-facto was used in the study. One thousand four hundred and sixteen (1,416) respondents were selected from student teachers in federal colleges of education in Southwestern Nigeria. The respondents were measured with self developed scales and the data obtained was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and Multiple Regression Statistical analysis of (SPSS). Three research Questions were raised and answered in the study. The result showed that teaching performance among student teachers was significantly correlated with teaching confidence (r = .783; p<.05), supervision anxiety (r = .613; p<.05), content mastery (r = .801; p<.05), relating with other student teachers (r = .832; p<.05), relating with students (r = .713; p<.05), classroom control (r = .681; p<.05), lesson preparation (r = .913; p<.05) and lesson presentation (r= .837; p<.05), independent variables when pulled together had significant effect on the teaching productivity among secondary school teachers (R (adjusted) =.617 & R2 (adjusted) =.674) and each of the independent variables made significant contribution to the prediction of teaching performance among student teachers in federal colleges of education. In view of these findings, the study stressed and advocated that the staff and the students prior to the period of teaching practice should be prepared for the task ahead with a good frame of mind and school counselors should intensif

Evaluation of Network Architecture and Its Implication on Connectivity and Data Security

Networking offers the framework to congregate largely heterogeneous entities so that they can communicate. In this paper we review aspects of Network architectural design that aims to ensure connectivity and data security for network users. Security protocols like the Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) ensures data security for users of a Virtual Private Network which provides encryption, tunneling and authentication services. Virtual Local Area Networks plays a role in network management and security. Access Control lists provides an overview of rights granted to users to access network resources thereby reducing incidence of hacking to the minimum. Combining these techniques in a network would ensure uninterrupted service and data security to network users

Empirical analysis of the problems and prospects of export marketing of non oil agricultural product in Nigeria

This study empirically examined the problems and prospects of export marketing of non oil agricultural product in Nigeria. The data for the study was collected from the publication of the central bank Nigeria and other publications from 1970 to 2011. The work analyzed the performance of the non oil agricultural export of Nigeria, the prospect of the non oil agricultural exports on the economy of Nigeria, the effect of trade variables on non oil agricultural export of Nigeria and the analysis of the relationship between non oil export and economic growth. The tools used to achieve the objectives of this study include descriptive statistics, multiple regression and correlation analysis. The study found that non oil agriculture export has the prospects of contributing to the economic growth of Nigeria and the unfavorable nature of the foreign exchange constituted a major problem. Based on the above, it is advised that non oil agricultural exports should be supported as this was found to have a positive relationship with the economy and the foreign exchange was found to be negatively affecting the non oil agricultural export and should be regulated effectively. Keywords: problem, prospects, export, non-agricultural products