A Critical Evaluation Of Traditional African Family System And Contemporary Social Welfare

Beyond reasonable doubt, the influence of Western culture and civilizations has enervated traditional African family systems, and their functions as providers of social welfare. Hitherto, traditional African family and clan by extension served as the plausible medium by which Africans proffered solutions to those social, economic and other existential problems found within their communities. However, measuring and evaluating the successes of the various social welfare programs organized by the family and clan was a difficult task to achieve. It seems the services rendered merely controlled the social problems but did not improve the standard of living of the victims. This paper seeks to critically analyse the traditional African family system and its role as a provider of social welfare and argues that it can complement the Western models towards holistic social integration. Thus this work adopts the theory of change as a tool for understanding how Western models of social welfare should be integrated with traditional African approaches to care for the ‘weak’ in the society. Advocating for a paradigm shift from the modern models of providing social welfare to the traditional African family and clan model is consequent upon the claim that the latter is more embracing in approach

Analysis of the Role of Leadership Styles in Managing Change in Organizations. A Case Study of Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA)

The importance of leadership in the process of change management is unveiled through studying the current situation, challenges and coming up with possible solution. The study was based on Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA). The conceptual framework explores the effects of autocratic, democratic, transactional and transformational leadership styles in change management. A descriptive research design was used with a target population of 45 members of the management team who have worked for KTDA for a period of no less than three years. A structured questionnaire was used as a primary data collection instrument. The conclusion of the study was that autocratic leadership style was the most commonly practiced at KTDA. A possible reason why computerization process failed since the management did not lead by example in the change process. The recommendation is for the management to employ appropriate leadership styles in the adoption of change. Keywords: Change management; leadership styles; transformational leadership styl

Does maternal expectations influence health related quality of life during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, expectations develop as women prepare themselves for motherhood. These expectations suggest functioning and performance continue as before pregnancy. Often mothers anticipate they will be able to maintain their health related quality of life (HRQoL) despite increased challenges and hassles pregnancy brings. Few studies have investigated the effect of maternal expectations on HRQoL in pregnancy. The aim of the study was to examine the influence of maternal expectations on HRQoL during pregnancy

Smallholder dairy farmer characteristics and their relationships with type of breeds kept in Uganda

Smallholder dairy farming is increasingly becoming an important source of livelihoods for farmers in Lake Victoria agro-ecological Zones (LVZ) in Uganda. This study was carried out in 3 major milk producing regions in Uganda. The main objective was to establish relationships between household characteristics with type of dairy breeds (technology) and also identify the factors that influence choice of a given dairy breed technology. Data came from 236 dairy producing households obtained from a secondary data set of the Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) for year 2009. The data generated were analyzed using both descriptive statistics (ANOVA tests and chi-square tests) and a multinomial logistic model. The results revealed that out of the 236 studied households 166 had local dairy cows, 58 had improved dairy cows and 12 mixed breeds (both local and improved). The average milk yield was significantly different across households by type of dairy breed. The highest average milk yield was observed among households keeping improved dairy breeds (4.1l/day), 3.5l/day for households keeping mixed breeds and those keeping local had the lowest average milk yield (2.1l/day). The multinomial logistic model further revealed that the choice of improved dairy breeds for milk production over local dairy cows was significantly influenced by access to veterinary services, bicycle ownership and being located in the south western region at 1% level, education and age of the household head at 5% level, ownership of a motorcycle and market access at 10% level. Adoption of mixed breeds over local breeds is strongly influenced by household size, market access and farmer being located in the south western region at 5% level. The study evidently indicated the need to promote improved cows and local cows alongside improved cows (mixed) for sustainable dairy subsector development through extending veterinary services and training of dairy households especially among elderly household heads to adopt better dairy management practices. Keywords: Smallholder farmers; dairy technology; multinomial logistic, choice of breeds

Media Use and Perceived Academic Performance of Students in Public Universities in Osun State

This study investigated media use and perceived academic performance of students in public universities in Osun State. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. The population consists of 38,385 students of public institutions with a sample size of 381 students determined through the Raosoft sample size determinant. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select students in the selected institutions in the state. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A reliability coefficient value for each variable in this study was recorded as follows; Media Use (MU) = 0.73; Perceived Academic Performance (PAP) = 0.81. Findings revealed that MU had a significant influence on the measures of PAP; self efficacy R2 = 0.124, F(1,343)= 39.753, p= 0.000, Learning Behaviour R2 = 0.104, F(1,343)= 39.753, p= 0.000. This study concluded that MU significantly influences PAP. The study recommended that students are to employ the right use of media as it will improve and aid their academic goals at all times

The Influence Of Employee Empowerment, Ethical Climate, Organisational Support And Top Management Commitment On Employee Job Satisfaction. A Case Of Companies In The Gauteng Province Of South Africa

Manpower is a vital possession of any organization and the survival of any organization is dependent on the quality and empowerment of its employees, presence of good ethical climate, organizational support and commitment by top management to the organisation. An enabled manpower results in an efficient and effective organization. There is an urgent need for South Africa's companies to develop cultures that foster positive work environments and increase productivity. Achieving this is not an easy task and one of the ways to developing this culture is in the area of employee empowerment, ethical climate, organizational support and top management commitment which will ultimately lead to employee job satisfaction. Hence this paper is trying to look at the influence of employee empowerment, ethical climate, organisational support and top management commitment on employee job satisfaction, an area that seem to have been neglected by researchers considering companies in the Gauteng province of South Africa. In today’s work environment, employees are needed to make decisions, take initiative, take responsibility and find solutions to problems as well as being motivated and having the best interest of the company at heart. This study used a quantitative research methodology through using Smart PLS software to analyse the data. A sample of 200 registered companies in the Gauteng province was used to collect data from employees in both managerial and non-managerial positions. All the posited 4 hypotheses were supported by the data collected

The Impact of Reducing Mathematics Component in Biology “O” Level Examinations on Student’s Performance in Mathematical Related Biology Courses at Diploma Level in Zambia

Mathematics has played important roles in many fields of biology, and can be a powerful tool for understanding biological observed phenomena which cannot be understood by verbal reasoning alone. Quantitative questions in Zambian Biology O level examinations has kept on reducing irrespective of its importance in higher level biology courses. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the effect of reducing mathematics component in biology “O” Level examinations on students’ performance in mathematical related biology courses at diploma level. Primary data was collected using five point Likert scale questionnaire and assessment test for mathematical biology. Secondary data was collected from Zambian, Cambridge and Edexcel biology “O” Level examination question papers from 1999-2017, Syllabi for Biology and examination results for mathematical biology related courses at diploma Level.The sample size for the study was 200 education and pharmacology students from Mansa School of Nursing and Zambia College of Open and Distance Learning and 50 teachers and examiners from the surrounding schools of Mansa District.  The analysis of biology papers for the three examining bodies have revealed that International examinations had more mathematics component and it was consistent from 1999 to 2017 whilst in Zambian had less and kept on reducing from 2008 to 2017. Further, the syllabi for these examining bodies revealed that key aims and objectives are the same except that Zambian (Curriculum Development Centre) had no assessment objective weightings. The assessment test results analyzed using independent sample t-test at 0.05 level of significance revealed that students who did biology with more mathematics component performed better in mathematical related biology courses compared to the one with less mathematics component at diploma level. Further, the comparison of means of the results of pharmacology and biology education at diploma level also agreed with the outcome of the sample test.From the analysis of questionnaires for biology teachers and examiners revealed that pupil’s attitude and performance in mathematics related biology questions and the general failure rate in biology had led to the reducing of mathematics component in Zambian biology. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-30-09 Publication date:October 31st 202

Investigation of copper recovery rate from copper oxide ore occurring as coarse grains locked in a porphyritic fine grain alumina and silica

Abstract: An investigation was carried out on a high grade copper oxide ore to determine the optimum recovery rate of copper from the pregnant leached solution obtained from leaching the ore in a sulfuric acid lixiviant. The copper oxide ore occur in coarse grains locked in a porphyritic fine grain alumina and silica. 800 g of copper oxide ore was obtained at the deposit; the samples were chemically and mineralogically analyzed. The analysis shows that the copper oxide ore contain 19.52 % copper extraction. The ore samples were crushed to sizes within 5 cm and 12 cm. The crushed samples were then grinded to a mesh size of -150 µm. This size was used to conduct the leaching process and sulfuric acid was used as the lixiviant. Parameters varied in this study include: the concentration of acid, temperature and time. The pregnant leach solution obtained was analyzed and the results showed an increase in the % recovery of copper as the molar concentration of H2SO4 increases from 0.25M to 1M and the % copper extraction decreases as the acid concentration increases from 1 M to 3 M. Higher copper recovery of 32.13 % was observed at elevated temperature of up to 80oC. These findings suggest the possibility of effectively producing copper from the Pingel-Bauchi Deposit through hydrometallurgical extraction process; optimum recovery can be obtained at an elevated temperature using acid concentration of 1 M

‘Native’ Objects and Collaborators: Infants' Object Choices and Acts of Giving Reflect Favor for Native Over Foreign Speakers

Infants learn from adults readily and cooperate with them spontaneously, but how do they select culturally appropriate teachers and collaborators? Building on evidence that children demonstrate social preferences for speakers of their native language, Experiment 1 presented 10-month-old infants with videotaped events in which a native and a foreign speaker introduced two different toys. When given a chance to choose between real exemplars of the objects, infants preferentially chose the toy modeled by the native speaker. In Experiment 2, 2.5-year-old children were presented with the same videotaped native and foreign speakers and played a game in which they could offer an object to one of two individuals. Children reliably gave to the native speaker. Together, the results suggest that infants and young children are selective social learners and cooperators and that language provides one basis for this selectivity.Psycholog

Women Education and Sustainable Economic Development in Nigeria

The paper focuses on the role of women education in ensuring sustainable economic development in Nigeria. The paper relied on the use of secondary source of data collection for data analysis. As such, qualitative method of data analysis was employed. The concept of womanhood was defined as well as the meaning of women education. The meaning of sustainable development was also highlighted. The factors that inhibit the education of women such as cultural beliefs, low self esteem among women and inadequate infrastructures were also highlighted. The role of women in ensuring sustainable economic development such as quality leadership, increase in GDP and reduction in dependency rate in the country were also identified. Ways of improving the education of women in the country such as provision of infrastructures, proper legislation and provision of education grant to female students were similarly suggested. It was therefore recommended that for women education to contribute to sustainable economic development in the country the government must make proper legislation to support women education and the various educational stakeholders must contribute immensely to the success of women education in the country. Key words: Women Education, Sustainable Development, Quality Leadership, Insecurity and Gender Equalit