Assessment of Newspaper Advocacy for Rural Development and Environmental Education in Nigeria

This study investigated the extent to which the print media, and particularly the newspapers, faced the challenge of informing, educating and championing the rights of the people in rural development and environmental education in 2006. It analyzed five leading national newspapers for a period of twelve months to ascertain their level of coverage and reportage of environmental and rural development information and specialty events. Rural development news coverage was highest (31.48%) in the fourth quarter, and least in the third quarter (17.79%) of the year. Sixty nine percent of rural development information/news appeared as features, while others were presented as editorials (13.04%), advertorials (9.27%) and pictorials (8.38%). The Sun newspapers (23.65%) could easily pass as the best print medium in reporting environmental and rural development news, followed by The Punch (22.5%) and The Champion (21.3%) newspapers. The Sun newspapers also exhibited consistent leadership in promoting activities in the health and population / family planning sub-sectors, while The Champion disseminated more information on rural infrastructures and environmental matters. Viewed from the perspective of editor’s enhanced academic background, the rising educational profile of members of the public and the synergy between environment, health and rural development, newspapers need to improve on their advocacy role in order to enhance their credibility as promoters of issues of public interest

Assessment of Newspaper Advocacy for Rural Development and Environmental Education in Nigeria

This study investigated the extent to which the print media, and particularly the newspapers, faced the challenge of informing, educating and championing the rights of the people in rural development and environmental education in 2006. It analyzed five leading national newspapers for a period of twelve months to ascertain their level of coverage and reportage of environmental and rural development information and specialty events. Rural development news coverage was highest (31.48%) in the fourth quarter, and least in the third quarter (17.79%) of the year. Sixty nine percent of rural development information/news appeared as features, while others were presented as editorials (13.04%), advertorials (9.27%) and pictorials (8.38%). The Sun newspapers (23.65%) could easily pass as the best print medium in reporting environmental and rural development news, followed by The Punch (22.5%) and The Champion (21.3%) newspapers. The Sun newspapers also exhibited consistent leadership in promoting activities in the health and population / family planning sub-sectors, while The Champion disseminated more information on rural infrastructures and environmental matters. Viewed from the perspective of editor’s enhanced academic background, the rising educational profile of members of the public and the synergy between environment, health and rural development, newspapers need to improve on their advocacy role in order to enhance their credibility as promoters of issues of public interest

Factors Influencing Information and Communication Technology Use by Women Research Scientists in Universities of Agriculture, Nigeria

Information and communication technology (ICT) is a veritable tool for sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria. This paper analyzed the factors that influenced ICT use by women research scientists in the Universities of Agriculture in Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 40 respondents per university from a population of 300 women research scientists across the three universities. This gave a total of 120 women scientists for the study. Data were generated using questionnaire and presented with descriptive statistics and Logit regression. Major findings show that the mean age of the respondents was 40 years 77% were married with mean household size of 4 persons, while a good number (46%) possessed MSc degree. The respondents spent between 1-4 hours in accessing ICT while, Global System of Mobile Communication (x̅=3.49) and use of modem (x̅=3.27) were most preferred channels of ICTs used. Respondents’ educational level (0.190), primary assignment (0.151), year of working experience (0.097) and training on ICT (0.315) were significant and positively related to ICT uptake, at 1% level of probability. Respondents’ major challenges in accessing ICT were time (x̅ =3.27), Network error (x̅= 3.08) and too many family problems (x̅= 3.08) respectively. The study recommends that researchers should restructure their work schedule to accommodate ICT practice and use in order to enhance ICT use

Factors Influencing Information and Communication Technology Use by Women Research Scientists in Universities of Agriculture, Nigeria

Information and communication technology (ICT) is a veritable tool for sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria. This paper analyzed the factors that influenced ICT use by women research scientists in the Universities of Agriculture in Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 40 respondents per university from a population of 300 women research scientists across the three universities. This gave a total of 120 women scientists for the study. Data were generated using questionnaire and presented with descriptive statistics and Logit regression. Major findings show that the mean age of the respondents was 40 years 77% were married with mean household size of 4 persons, while a good number (46%) possessed MSc degree. The respondents spent between 1-4 hours in accessing ICT while, Global System of Mobile Communication (x̅=3.49) and use of modem (x̅=3.27) were most preferred channels of ICTs used. Respondents’ educational level (0.190), primary assignment (0.151), year of working experience (0.097) and training on ICT (0.315) were significant and positively related to ICT uptake, at 1% level of probability. Respondents’ major challenges in accessing ICT were time (x̅ =3.27), Network error (x̅= 3.08) and too many family problems (x̅= 3.08) respectively. The study recommends that researchers should restructure their work schedule to accommodate ICT practice and use in order to enhance ICT use

Rural Household Attitude towards Traditional Methods of Malaria Treatment in South-East, Nigeria

This study assessed rural households’ attitude towards traditional methods of malaria treatment and cultural beliefs that affect choice of malaria treatment for enhanced agricultural production in south-east, Nigeria. A sample size of 360 household heads was randomly selected for the study. Data were collected with the use of structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussions (FGD), key informant interview and participant observation. Descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency distribution and percentages were used to achieve the stated objectives. Respondents from the three states studied had positive attitude towards traditional methods of malaria treatment (grand mean= 3.47, 3.77, and 3.05 for Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States respectively), although respondents from Abia (mean= 2.83) and Imo States (mean= 2.41) disagreed that the environment under which traditional medicines for malaria treatment were prepared was hygienic. They indicated that traditional methods of malaria treatments have less chemical residues (mean= 3.50 and 3.48, for Abia, and Ebonyi States, respectively). The study suggests the need for collaborative efforts among all stakeholders, particularly orthodox medical personnel and traditional healers so as to have concerted efforts to ensure sustained malaria treatment

Rural Household Attitude towards Traditional Methods of Malaria Treatment in South-East, Nigeria

This study assessed rural households’ attitude towards traditional methods of malaria treatment and cultural beliefs that affect choice of malaria treatment for enhanced agricultural production in south-east, Nigeria. A sample size of 360 household heads was randomly selected for the study. Data were collected with the use of structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussions (FGD), key informant interview and participant observation. Descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency distribution and percentages were used to achieve the stated objectives. Respondents from the three states studied had positive attitude towards traditional methods of malaria treatment (grand mean= 3.47, 3.77, and 3.05 for Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States respectively), although respondents from Abia (mean= 2.83) and Imo States (mean= 2.41) disagreed that the environment under which traditional medicines for malaria treatment were prepared was hygienic. They indicated that traditional methods of malaria treatments have less chemical residues (mean= 3.50 and 3.48, for Abia, and Ebonyi States, respectively). The study suggests the need for collaborative efforts among all stakeholders, particularly orthodox medical personnel and traditional healers so as to have concerted efforts to ensure sustained malaria treatment

Risk factors associated with women's involvement in waste management practice: Focus on Abia State, Nigeria

Women constitute the bulk of the workface engaged in the collection, conveyance and disposal of waste in Abia State. While performing this important assignment, these workers, some whom are young and economically-active, get in constant touch with materials that, threaten their health As well as the entire family well being. Considering women's domestic and productive roles, their regular contact with filth and other materials containing chemicals in high enough concentration to ham humans, animals and vegetation portends danger for humanity. This should be of great concern to government as well as non-governmental health agencies. This study X-rayed waste and its component; identified specific hazardous effect of women's involvement in waste disposal; and assessed the safety regulations and devices that are in place for the protection of the workers. Findings indicate that the workers were conscious of the dangers inherent in their involvement in waste management. The study recommends several risk reduction and coping strategies including environmental sanitation education, ecological vigilance and recycling of waste. Keywords: Ecological Vigilance, Waste recycling, Industrials effluent Sanitation Education Journal of Environmental Extension Vol. 6 2007: pp. 79-8

Factors Influencing Information and Communication Technology Use by Women Research Scientists in Universities of Agriculture in Nigeria

Information and communication technology (ICT) is a veritable tool for sustainable agricultural development in  Nigeria. This paper analyzed the factors that influenced ICT use by women research scientists in the Universities of  Agriculture in Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 40 respondents per university from a  population of 300 women research scientists across the three universities. This gave a total of 120 women scientists for the study. Data were generated using questionnaire and presented with descriptive statistics and Logit  regression. Major findings show that the mean age of the respondents was 40 years 77% were married with mean  household size of 4 persons, while a good number (46%) possessed MSc degree. The respondents spent between  1-4 hours in accessing ICT while, Global System of Mobile Communication (x̅=3.49) and use of modem (x̅=3.27)  were most preferred channels of ICTs used. Respondents’ educational level (0.190), primary assignment (0.151),  year of working experience (0.097) and training on ICT (0.315) were significant and positively related to ICT  uptake, at 1% level of probability. Respondents’ major challenges in accessing ICT were time (x̅ =3.27), Network  error (x̅= 3.08) and too many family problems (x̅= 3.08) respectively. The study recommends that researchers  should restructure their work schedule to accommodate ICT practice and use in order to enhance ICT use.Keywords: Factors of ICT uptake, Use of ICT infrastructure by research scientists