The influences of e-satisfaction, e-trust and hedonic motivation on the relationship between e-banking adoption and its determinants in Nigeria

The main objective of this study is to investigate factors that can predict adoption of ebanking in Nigeria. Specifically, it aims at investigating mediating influences of esatisfaction, e-trust and hedonic motivation on the relationship between e-banking adoption and its other determinants. The motivation of this study is driven by the inconsistent findings in the literature with respect to the relationships between e-banking adoption and its determinants: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived security and facilitating condition. In line with the inconsistencies, various suggestions have emerged pointing to the need to investigate the possible mediating variables that could explain the inconsistencies. For that purpose, this study employed theories of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Universal Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Social Exchange theory to synchronize the possible relationships among the variables in the conceptual framework. Survey questionnaire was advocated and the questionnaires were distributed randomly to 382 customers of four major banks in Nigeria. Out of 291 returned questionnaires, 266 were useable for analysis. PLS-SEM was used to analyze both direct and indirect relationships among the variables of the study. The results reveal that perceived usefulness, perceived security, perceived ease of use, facilitating condition, and awareness are positive determinants of e-banking adoption, e-satisfaction, hedonic motivation and e-trust accordingly with an exception of perceived usefulness that does not determine e-trust. The study also found that e-satisfaction; e-trust and hedonic motivation mediate the relationship between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived security and facilitating conditions and e-banking adoption. Finally, managerial, policy and theoretical implications as well as directions for future research are discussed in this paper

The Western and Yoruba Concept of Beauty: A Comparative Analysis

Beauty is an important phenomenon in human life that cannot be ignored. Even the sceptics and the agnostics are at breast with this term. Just as one hears of Greek philosophy, Indian philosophy, African philosophy we also hear of Aesthetics, that is the study of beauty. This could either be from Western, Eastern or African perspectives. This tends to suggest that like philosophy, Beauty is culture- relative or relative to culture. The subject of aesthetic appreciation in Western culture for example is preserved in museums, whereas in African culture, the objects of aesthetic appreciation take its roots in what Placide Tempel called vital forces, the ontological structure which permeates everything. This serves as the basis for communal values and practical reality of life. It is from this perspective that this paper attempts a comparison between the Western and African esthetical appreciation of beauty and argues the thesis that the African beauty is best appreciated by means of African standards and paradigms of aesthetics.LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research, 8(1), 286-296, 201

Exchange Rate Volatility and Nigerian Stock Market Development

Purpose: The study aims to evaluate the impact of exchange rate volatility on the indicators of stock market, such as the returns, capitalization, liquidity, transaction volume, based on the Nigerian evidence.   Theoretical framework: The paper considers extant model of exchange rate-stock market interactions. Because the diversity of the market is important the paper follows suggestions by El-Wassal (2013) to examine variety of stock market indicators in order to offer accurate depiction of how the stock market drives exchange rate volatility.   Design/Methodology/Approach: The study employs a simple static regression model of stock market indicators with autoregressive adjustment component which absorb autocorrelation. The models are tested on annual data (1985-2020).   Findings: The study finds that the exchange rate volatility has negative impact on stock market development - returns, capitalization and volume. The paper reveals further that other correlated controls factors impinge different impacts on the stock market indicators.   Research, Practical & Social implications: One implication of the finding is that the volatility may discourage investors, reduce firm performance, and lead to reduction on the returns of firm shares. Policy makers should put in place growth-inducing infrastructural investments to make the business environment more conducive to attract foreign capital, while also positioning the capital market with several initiatives to increase trading activities.   Originality/Value: The connection between the foreign exchange and financial markets is of policy importance. Although the focus is on the Nigerian markets, the evidence could be extended to other African and global markets, to serve as guide to foreign investors

Behavioral Insights into Vaccine Hesitancy Determinants in Sub-Saharan Africa

To ensure a healthy society and minimize outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, high levels of vaccine uptake is expected. Because vaccination provides protection against infection, especially for vulnerable groups (e.g., children and pregnant women). Vaccination has averted 14 million deaths, prevented 250 million disability-adjusted-life years, generated over $150 billion economic benefits and saves two-three million child deaths yearly. However, one-in-five children globally remain un/partially vaccinated, which contributes to about 1.5 million preventable deaths annually, half of which are in Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to having the highest child mortality globally, vaccination in the region has stagnated in recent years for several reasons, e.g., vaccine hesitancy. More so, the knowledge gap associated with vaccine hesitancy are yet to be identified, studied, measured, and addressed. Therefore, this dissertation aims to increase understanding on drivers of vaccination decision-making in Sub-Saharan Africa by examining intention, especially among pregnant women, as well as behaviour among caregivers using the 5C psychological antecedence model and additional variables such as rumour, religious belief and masculinity, among other measures. The outcomes of five peer-reviewed articles and one policy brief published in open access journals made up this dissertation. Two articles are reviews, two articles are quantitative, one article is qualitative research, and the final article is a policy brief. The outcomes were mixed. Vaccination decision-making at prenatal (pregnancy) and postnatal (after childbirth) stages are driven by different factors. The behaviour aligned with the concept of Transtheoretical Model (theory of stages of change). The added variables were significant predictors at prenatal (intention) than postnatal (behavior). This dissertation has helped to unravel some missing gaps on why vaccination demand creation does not have as much success, especially at increasing vaccination uptake in the Sub-Saharan Africa region

Factors influencing choice of oral hygiene products by dental patients in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Background: Several factors, such as cost, branding, packaging and family influence, had been implicated as influencing the choice of toothpastes and toothbrushes by individuals. Media advertisement is also considered a very strong factor influencing consumer’s choice.Aim: To assess the extent to which some factors influenced the choice of toothpastes and toothbrushes among dental patients in a Nigerian teaching hospital.Materials and methods: Two-hundred and two patients were interviewed on factors that influenced their choice of toothbrush and toothpaste. Some of the factors considered include the cost, packaging, brand, media advertisement and their previous experience.Result: Factors that affected choice of toothbrush by respondents included texture (89.6%), brand (62.9%), previous experience (64.4%) and for toothpaste, fluoride content (62.4%), previous experience (69.3%), and advice by a dentist (55.0%). Media advertisement was the least influential in their choice of toothpaste (29.2%) and toothbrush (24.3%). Consideration for fluoride was a stronger factor than herbal contents in the choice of toothpaste (P<0.001)Conclusion: Previous experience seems to be a very strong factor in the choice of both the toothbrush and toothpaste in this study, which suggest that for as long as the respondents are satisfied with a particular product, they will stick to it.Keywords: Choice, Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Dental, Out-patient

An Assessment of the State of Readiness for Library Automation in Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Library Yola and Ramat Library, University of Maiduguri

This is a survey research carried out to assess the state of readiness for library automation in Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Library Yola and Ramat Library, University of Maiduguri. The study sought to ascertain the sources of their funding, available personnel and infrastructure on ground for automation. Questionnaire, interview and observation were used to collect data. The sample of the study was 27 professional librarians. 8 were from Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Library, Yola; 19 were from Ramat Library, University of Maiduguri. The data collected were analyzed using frequency counts and percentages. The study found that: there was poor funding, and lack of/inadequate infrastructure and personnel for the purpose of library automation in both universities. It concluded that the two federal university libraries were not adequately ready for library automation. Hence, it recommended among others that, Vice-Chancellors should release enough funds to their respective university libraries for automation, Internet facilities and connection to the National Virtual Library of Nigeria. Keywords: Assessment, Readiness, Library automation, University

Monetary Policy and Inflation Control in Nigeria

This paper examines the effectiveness monetary policy as an anti-inflationary measure in Nigeria. in order to explore the relationship between inflation and monetary impulses, the cointegration and error correction methods approach were employed on quarterly time series data spanning from 1980Q1 to 2012Q4. The unit roots test shows that all the variables are differenced stationary. The cointegration test indicates a long-run relationship between inflation and the vector of regressors employed. The estimated result reveals that for the period covered, interest rate, exchange rate, money supply and oil-price are the major causes of inflation in Nigeria. It was also observed that although in the short-run increased in income encourages inflation, proper utilization of the growth would reduce inflation. The Money supply variable shows a significant positive impact on inflation both in short and long runs. This means that Nigerian inflationary situation is driven by monetary impulses. As such, anti-inflationary monetary policy measures, backed-up by some necessary fiscal policies are incumbent for structural and economic stabilization. Keywords: Monetary policy, Inflation and Cointegratio

A Review of Sustainable Agroforestry Practices as Climate Change Adaption and Mitigation Strategy in Nigeria

Agroforestry is one of the most conspicuous land use systems across landscapes and agroecological zones in Nigeria. With food shortages and increased threats of climate change, interest in agroforestry is gathering for its potential to address various on-farm adaptation needs, and fulfill many roles in mitigation pathways. Agroforestry provides assets and income from carbon, wood energy, improved soil fertility and enhancement of local climate conditions; it provides ecosystem services and reduces human impacts on natural forests. Most of these benefits have direct benefits for local adaptation while contributing to global efforts to control atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. This paper presents recent findings on how agroforestry as a sustainable practice helps to achieve both mitigation and adaptation objectives while remaining relevant to the livelihoods of the poor smallholder farmers in Nigeria. Keywords: Review, sustainable, Mitigation, adaptation, climate change, strategy, Nigeria DOI: 10.7176/JEES/12-12-01 Publication date: December 31st 202

Periapical lesions of the jaws: A review of 104 cases in Ibadan

Background: Periapical lesions (PLs) occur as a result of pulpal inflammation and may rarely be seen in the absence of pulpal diseases. They are the most common pathological lesions affecting the alveolar bone.Objective: This study aims to describe the clinicopathological features of PLs of the jaws with emphasis on the two most common types.Methods: Histopathology records of PLs diagnosed from January 1990 toDecember 2012 at the Department of Oral Pathology, University CollegeHospital Ibadan, were examined and categorized into periapical cysts (PCs); periapical granuloma (PGs) and others. Clinical data and  histopathological features of these PLs were reviewed and analyzed.Results: One hundred and four lesions met the criteria for this study andconsisted of PGs with 71 (68.3%) cases and PCs with 31 (29.8%) cases and one case each of apical scar and pleomorphic adenoma. Age range of cases was 9 to 80 years (mean=35.6 ± 15.8years) with a peak at age group of 20-29 years. Females were more frequently affected with 51.9% of cases. PLs were most frequently diagnosed in the anterior maxillary region with 58 (56.9%) cases, while the most frequently involved tooth was the left maxillary central incisor with 23 (22.1%) cases.Conclusion: Findings in this study are consistent with those of previous studies. It is important for all periapical pathological specimens to be submitted for histological examination to establish an accurate diagnosis and aid in the identification of sinister lesions that may present in the Periradicular region of teeth.Keywords: Periapical, Cyst, Granuloma, Histopathology, Ja

Effects of food practical on students skills acquisition in selected tertiary institutions, Ogun State, Nigeria

The study examined the effects of Food Practical on students’ skill acquisition in selected tertiary institutions in Ogun State. The study focused on Home Economics Students from Tai Solarin University, Ijegun, Ijebu – Ode and Home and Hotel  Management Students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Yewa Campus, Ayetoro respectively. Two null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of  significance. The study was a quasi-experimental at research which employed the pre-test, post-test control group design. The population was made up of three  hundred (300) level Home Economics Students in 2014/2015 session and 138 samples were purposively selected. They are grouped into two experimental and control groups: Students from Tai Solarin University (69) and the Control group students from Olabisi Onabanjo University (69). The two groups were subjected to post – test for two weeks. Questionnaire and Evaluation Instrument for practical were used. The data collected were analyzed using Mean, Standard Deviation and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The F value results of the study revealed that the two null hypotheses were rejected. Findings showed that respondents from  control group had better skill acquisition competencies compared to the  experimental group. It also revealed that there was a significant difference in the performance of respondents from middle, low and high socio-economic backgrounds. In conclusion, it is very important to expose students to food practical for skill acquisition.Keywords: Effect, Food Practical, Skills acquisition & tertiary institutions