Modernization and its effect on cultural heritage in south-western Nigeria

The Yoruba of Nigeria have some rich cultural heritages which have been impacted by Western acculturation. Two Yoruba communities, Ado and Igede-Ekiti with such valuable cultural heritage were used for this study. The effects of Western acculturation and modernization which may be through Christianity and formal education were examined. It was discovered that these cultural elements and activities have negatively been impacted on. Some cultural practices are either going or have gone into extinction while others are gradually abandoned. This research highlighted some of the traditional activities of the people of Ado and Igede-Ekiti, and examined the impacts of westernization on them. Findings from the research indicated that modernization has both beneficial and adverse effects on the entire tradition of the people but the negative impacts are more pronounced. This research suggested some solutions to the problems facing cultural activities and recommended that, in this contemporary period, urgent measures should be taken to salvage and rescue these heritages using modern methods and equipment. This will help national integration and development.Keywords: Westernization, indigenous, values, tradition, contemporar

Capacity Building For Entrepreneurship Education: The Challenge For The Developing Nations

Entrepreneurship is one of the key drivers for development in any society. The level of awareness of individual members, of a society, of their capacity to contribute to the economic, social and political development of their society is a key factor in development. A process of creating this self-awareness and the development of individual capacity for creative and innovative thinking, decision making and action/policy implementation should be an integral constituent of what people learn in schools, colleges and universities. The ability of the educational system to provide such training for individuals depends on the availability of the requisite capacity in terms of personnel and other facilities for appropriate transfer of knowledge, skills and building of mindset. Thus, this paper focuses on ways for developing the capacity appropriate for providing entrepreneurship education at all levels of education particularly in Africa. This paper is of the view that a wholesome education integrating entrepreneurship as part of the curriculum will provide the catalytic platform for jumpstarting development in all spheres of life, particularly in the developing world. The paper tries to find out how capacity building for entrepreneurship education has been pursued with particular reference to Nigeria, and opine how best this can be achieved in the light of the perceived lack of entrepreneurial approach to doing things, including in the public service. Also, the low level of entrepreneurship education as exemplified in the number of entrepreneurship courses offered in our Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) and the absence of entrepreneurship as courses of study that award certificates, diplomas and degrees in this part of the world are part of the factors necessitating this paper. Part of the focus of the paper also includes the possibility of inclusion of entrepreneurship in the educational curricula at all levels of education, establishing faculties of entrepreneurship studies in the colleges, polytechnics and the universities. It is obvious that these cannot be achieved without the necessary capacity in terms of personnel and other facilities that facilitate learning. Thus we are canvassing for a holistic approach to developing capacity for this, which should include training and retraining of personnel, including faculty members in the colleges, polytechnics and universities. There should also be a collaborative effort in terms of partnership with universities in the West where entrepreneurship education has taken root and are more developed. Such partnership should also include the private sector and the non-governmental organizations. The increasing economic and social challenges, especially in the developing countries, makes all this imperative

The Influence of Word-of-Mouth Communication on Consumers’ Choice of Selected Products in Nigeria

This study examined the influence of word-of-mouth communication on consumers’ choice of selected products in Nigeria. To this end, the study evaluated also factors that induce word-of-mouth. In all, a total of three objectives were developed and in an attempt to test them, a survey research method was used. Sample was drawn from consumers of selected companies’ products in Lagos, Rivers, and Anambra States; while the tools used for hypotheses testing included Pearson product moment correlation coefficient and the OLS.The results of the study shows that Consumers’ interactions through word-of-mouth (WOM) had a major impact on consumer response to a product and that quality product induces word-of-mouth communications, and largely driven by Consumer-orientation. It was however recommended that organizations’ emphasis should be directed at consumers’ satisfaction that would in turn propel repeat purchase and instigate satisfied consumers to be organizations best sales’ persons, rather than incurring huge expenses on communication and other promo-tools. Keywords: Word-of-mouth communication, Consumer-orientation, Quality-focus, Customer satisfaction and referral

Rework risks triggers in the Nigerian construction industry: a view of built environment professionals

Rework is systemic and a recurring decimal and It is triggered by several factors, which emergence create scenarios, which degrades project cost, quality and schedule performance, and overall project performance. This study therefore examined the perception of construction professionals on the factors that triggers the emergence of rework in the Nigerian construction industry. This was achieved by determining the predominant rework triggers that affect project performance, identifying rework triggers in which the professionals view varies significantly, and examining the category of rework risks triggers that contribute more to rework incidences. The study adopted a quantitative survey approach in which structured questionnaire was adopted as the research instrument. Mean item score was used in ranking the professionals perception on rework triggers, and Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to identify the variables in which the professionals view varies. The study concluded that: contractor-related and design-related causes are the major categories of rework risks triggers. Unclear instruction to workers, Shortage of skilled supervisors, incomplete and inaccurate information are the predominant triggers of rework. The professionals view varies significantly on nine factors which cut across the four categories of rework triggers. It was recommended that there is need for clarity, effectiveness and timeliness of instruction and information dissemination among project participants, and the use of skilled and experienced professionals, skilled supervisors and proper implementation of quality management practices by both the design consultant and contractor throughout the project’s phase

Analysis of rework risk triggers in the Nigerian construction industry

The construction industry plays a significant role in the infrastructure development of many countries. Construction projects suffer from a lot of setbacks despite sophistication and advancement in technology and professionalism. This study, therefore, assessed the factors that triggered the emergence of rework and the benefits derived from eliminating such triggers in the Nigerian construction industry. The study adopted a quantitative survey approach in which a structured questionnaire was adopted as the research instrument. Factor analysis using principal component analysis was adopted to determine the factors that triggered the rework and the pattern of relationship that existed amongst the factors; relative importance index (RII) was used to assess the benefits of eliminating rework triggers. The study concluded that the factors that triggered the emergence of rework were omission and planning issues, change issues, funding and communication issues, and poor workers and resource control. Repeat patronage, higher productivity, and reduced delivery time reduced the rework and waste and improved the employee job satisfaction and morale; they were the benefits derived from eliminating rework triggers. It was recommended that there is a need for clarity, effectiveness, and timeliness of instruction and information dissemination amongst project participants and the participation of contractors, subcontractors, and other stakeholders at the design stages to avoid omissions and construction changes

Professionalism, Ethics and Morality: A Standardization Challenges for Marketing Educators and Industry Practitioners in Nigeria

Professionalism, ethics and morality: A Standardization challenges for Marketing Educators and Industry Practitioners was the subject of this study as has been widely discussed in marketing literature to be the pivot of marketing performance in the academia and industry. One of the objectives was to determine the adherence to     professional ethics by marketing educators and industry practitioners. Survey design was adopted and five  universities and  five polytechnics and few industries in the eastern states were used; and sample size was 80. Primary and secondary data were used. The results showed unethical practices among the educators and industry practitioners. Recommendations were made including the need to have code of ethics among marketing educators and industry practitioners and to have Association of Marketing Educators for better internalization and enforcement. Key Word: Professionalism, Ethics, Morality, Marketing Educators, Industry Practitioners

Nigeria’s Revenue Profile and the Socio-Economic Development Mesh

The broad purpose of the research work is to empirically ascertain the web of relationship that exists between Nigeria’s revenue profile and development mesh. It goes further to investigate whether aggregate revenue proxied by various revenue sources such as total federally collected revenue, oil revenue, non-oil revenue, federation account and federal government retained revenue have any significant impact on the overall performance of the Nigerian economy. In order to embark on this exercise, annual time series data from Central Bank of Nigeria and Federal Inland Revenue Service spanning the years (1980-2014) were employed. The Johansen Co-integration test confirmed that a long run dynamic equilibrium relationship exists between economic development and various revenue sources and the Granger Causality result shows that the various revenue sources granger caused economic development in Nigeria. On the basis of our findings and conclusion thereof, and in the light of the need to encourage and promote economic development giving our huge public revenue, the government both at the national and sub-national levels sector should modify the economic policy so as to enhance the revenue generation base for increase economic development. The non-oil sectors should be harnessed to reduce the overdependence on oil and avoid the external shock resulting from the ongoing economic crisis. Government should revise its budgetary system to ensure operational and allocative efficiency. Keywords: Revenue Profile, Development Mesh, Error Correction Model, Nigeri

The Civilian Vascular Trauma in a Low‑Income Country: The Determinant Factors of Morbidity and Mortality

Background: Civilian vascular injury is relatively common in the West African subregion, but it is highly underreported. Aim/Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the patients managed for civilian vascular surgeries and to determine the factors causing morbidity and mortality in low‑income countries. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study spanning a period of 13 years (2007–2019) of civilian vascular injuries managed in a tertiary hospital in a low‑income country. We obtained data from our hospital record department. Data obtained and analyzed were demography, etiology, vessels affected, pattern of presentation, stratification, and treatment. Results: Within the envisaged period, 58 patients were affected in civilian vascular trauma with a mean of 4.5 cases per year. The male‑to‑female ratio was 0.9:0.1. The age range of patients affected was from 0–10 to 71–80, with the age group of 21–30 years being the most affected. Male was more affected (87.9%). Motor vehicle crashes were the most common etiology agent (42.0%). The femoral artery was the most commonly injured vessel (31.3%). In the pattern of presentation, bleeding with shock was dominant (49.8%). Lateral tarsorrhaphy accounted for the major vascular treatment interventions (30.2%). Conclusion: The outcome was very variable and depended on warm ischemic time, type and/or mechanism of injury, collateral blood supply at the site of injury, and comorbidity. Keywords: Amputation, civilian, injury, vascular, warm ischemic tim

Socio-Economic Implications of Essential Commodities’ Price Differentials in Riverine and Hinterland Areas of Nigeria

The study was a critical evaluation of the handicaps in transporting and distributing manufactured food products in riverine areas of Nigeria. It is occasioned by the incessant media reports of high costs of manufactured items and services or even outright shortages of same in riverine communities in Nigeria, which often fuel the Niger-Delta social crisis. The objectives included to: determine the state of transportation in the riverine areas of Nigeria; ascertain the effect of the transportation modes used for effectively distributing manufactured goods in the riverine areas and determine the factors inhibiting the transportation system from effective distribution in the area. Data were analyzed with Likert’s 5-points scale and measure of central tendency (Mean). Results obtained show that water transportation in the riverine areas of Nigeria is still largely undeveloped, not effective, not easily accessible and affordable, not attractive to private investors, making costs of food items high. It was then recommended that incentives be provided by government to develop and boost water transportation in riverine areas of the country. Keywords: Water Transportation, Distribution, Manufactured Products, Riverine Areas, Nigeria

Marketing Communications Strategy for Curbing Youths’Unemployment through Farming in Nigeria

The rate of youths’ unemployment and poverty in Nigeria has been adjudged by the World Bank and the United Nations development index over the years to be so high. This has invariably stunted the country annual gross domestic product and economic development over the past twenty years. All efforts of various governments of the country to reverse this ugly trend through some laudable projects like skills acquisition programmes, small and medium-scale enterprises micro-credits, poverty alleviation and other programmes have not met with the requisite results, due to the get-rich-quick and consequent culture of unproductivity exhibited by the youths, who were the target beneficiaries. The newly sworn-in President, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has vowed to address this problem through youths’ massive participation in farming. To what extent could marketing communications tools of  African traditional media, word-of-mouth communications (WOM), electronic-word of mouth communications (eWOM) and social-media communications be of help? This study tried to find out. Survey design was employed in gathering data which were statistically analyzed. Results indicate that the applications of African traditional media, word-of-mouth communications (WOM), electronic-word of mouth communications (E-WOM) and social-media communications, which are popular amongst the Nigerian youths will be effective marketing communications tools for motivating the youths into adopting the farming culture for poverty alleviations. That will also help in significantly changing the get-rich-quick mentality of the average Nigerian youth. Thus, it was recommended amongst other things that a nationwide marketing communications campaign based on WOM, E-WOM and social-media as major tools should be used to effectively promote youths’ participation in farming, so as to solve youths’ unemployment, poverty and crime in the land. Keywords: Marketing Communications, Farming, Youths’ Unemployment, Poverty Eradication