Climate variation, its impact on non timber forest products and livelihood of Ohafia People, Abia State Nigeria

Increased vulnerability of Non timber forest products to climate variation has overtime, resulted to serious negative consequences on rural dwellers that depend on rain, sunshine and wind for their fruiting, maturity and harvesting, to enhance livelihood. The scope of this study analyzed the effect of climate variability and NTFPs through peoples’ perception using a field survey. The objective of the research therefore focused on the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents in the study area, activities of the people that increase the risk of climate variability, the effect of climate variability on the quantity and composition NTFPs in the study area, the perception of people on the effect of climate variability on the NTFPs and the contribution of NTFPs to their livelihood. A total of 216 respondents were sampled, the study adopted a simple random technique which was used to select 9 villages out of the 26 villages in Ohafia Local Government Area through a structured questionnaire. Findings show that large proportion (72.2%) of the respondents censured increased temperature and heavy rainfall (64.4%) as the most reason for decreased yield in NTFPs in the last four years. Majority (88.9% and 58.3%) of the respondents opined that climate variability had reduced fruit yield and price instability respectively. Over 35% said climate variability had brought about species scarcity. 54.2% had no access to safe drinking water, 25.5% of the respondents made very low sales from NTFPs, while 3.2% and 29.6% faced starvation and diseases. Climate variability influence on the availability of Non timber forest products will affect the income status and food security of rural dwellers that depend on it. Vulnerabilities could be reduced through campaign on embracing climate variability plans, funding the campaign through the collaboration of government and foreign countries, re-training extension workers, cash donations and training the rural dwellers.Keywords: Climate variability, Food security, NTFPs, Ohafia and Rural dweller

Body mass index of children aged 2 to 15 years in Enugu Nigeria

Background: Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of adiposity and has been used in many countries for assessment of overweight and obesity. The prevalence of obesity in children is increasing and is recognized as risk indicator of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. The study aimed was to document the Body Mass Index of school children aged 2-15 years. The study also determined the prevalence of overweight and obesity.Methods: This is a descriptive study of obesity prevalence in Nigerian Children. The weight and heights of the sampled children were measured and their BMI was calculated as weight/height (m2). Overweight and obese children were identified using charts from pooled internationally accepteddata age and sex specific cut -off points for BMI .Results: The BMI ranged from 10.8kg / m2.to24.7Kg/m2 with a mean BMI of 16.28 + 2.32 kg/m2. The mean BMI for males was 16.09 + 2.07 and the females 16.47 + 2.52. (P > 0.05). The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 6.4% and 1.7% respectively. More females were significantlyoverweight than males (p<0.05). Prevalence of overweight and obesity were highest in the highest socioeconomic class.Conclusion: Most children had BMI within the normal range. The prevalence of overweight and obesity though predominantly low should be taken  seriously especially as it appears to be associated with improving   socioeconomic status. School health education (physical activity andnutritional education) is recommended as preventive measures.Key words: Body mass index, overweight, obesity, Nigerian children

Advanced Practice Nursing in Nigerian Healthcare: Prospects and Challenges

This study explored the prospects and challenges of introducing advanced practice nursing (APN) in the Nigerian health system. It sought to address the following: career pathways for registered nurses and midwives, advanced duties performed by them and the circumstances, their views and willingness for autonomous practice, and doctors’ degree of acceptance. Research population composed of registered nurses, midwives and medical doctors in primary healthcare. The conceptual framework for this study was based on the scope of practice, standards and competencies of the APN established by the International Council of Nurses (2008). A 12-item checklist of typical duties of APN from the framework provided a guide for the design of eight main questions and 19 subquestions. Data was collected from 17 participants through in-depth interviews and group discussions and analyzed using Charmaz’s three simplified methods for qualitative data. Findings were that (a) registered nurses and midwives are constrained to perform advanced duties, (b) doctors delegate advanced roles to nurses and midwives, (c) nurses and midwives lacked pathways for advancement, (d) APN would substitute for doctor shortage, and (e) advocacy and lobbying has to done by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to change the current policy. The social change implication is that it offers insight into the potentials for APN in healthcare delivery. Keywords: advanced practic

Analysis of Entrepreneurship Development in Agriculture among Arable Crop Farmers in Imo State, Nigeria

The study was on entrepreneurship development in agriculture among arable crop farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. Sixty households entrepreneurs were selected using multi-stage random sampling techniques. Well structured questionnaire was the main tool for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools and 3-point likert scale rating of highly, moderately and low. Mean age was 42.11years. Majority (76.33%) were males. Greater proportions (71.67%) were married with an average household size of 5.0 persons. Farmers cultivated on an average farm size of 1.61Ha. Average annual farm income was N118,392.00 ($789.28). Reasonable proportion of the farmers identified personal intension, wanting autonomy and displacement/disruption in life as the key drive to entrepreneurship development in the area. Entrepreneurship enterprises have been invaluable to farmers in the area. However, farmers complained of poor access to entrepreneurship information, inadequate start-up capital and long distance between farms and market in the area. Despite this shortcomings farmers perceived their extent of entrepreneurship drive and participation as been high (X=4.50). It was therefore recommended that effective and adequate entrepreneurship policies and programmes should be developed for farmers while urgently addressing the negative factors that hinder its growth and development in the area. Fostering entrepreneurship education at all levels to ensure capacity building for diverse enterprises in agriculture was also advocated. Ultimately, government at all levels and private’s sector support fund is necessary to enhance entrepreneurship spirit and development among farmers in the area and beyond. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Development, Entrepreneurship drive, Participation, Farming activities, Barrier

Antibiotic sensitvity and plasmid profiles of bacteria isolated from water sources in Oproama community in the Niger Delta

The antibiotic sensitivity pattern and plasmid profile of Escherichia coli, Vibrio and Salmonella species isolated from well and river water sources in Oproama Community were investigated. Antibiotic sensitivity profiles of the bacteria (Escherichia coli, Vibrio sp. and Salmonella sp.) isolated from the water showed high sensitivity to oflaxicin, nalidixic acid and nitrofurantoin and high resistance to amoxicillin, augumentin, cotrimazole and tetracycline. Multi antibiotic resistant index (MARI) as high as 0.375 (Escherichia coli: E9; Vibrio spp.: V3, V4, V10; Salmonella spp.: S1, S9), 0.5 (Vibrio spp.: V2; Salmonella spp.: S2, S4) and 0.75 (Salmonella spp.: S7) were recorded after curing the plasmids with sodium deodecyl sulphate (SDS). The plasmid profiles revealed that 60% of the isolates harboured detectable plasmids with sizes up to 23.130 kb.Keywords: Antibiotics, Escherichia coli, Plasmid, Salmonella, Vibri

The Impact of Financial Deepening on Economic Growth: Evidence from Nigeria

This paper examined the impact of financial deepening on economic growth in Nigeria. Adopting the supply-leading hypothesis using variables such as broad money velocity, money stock diversification, economic volatility, market capitalization and market liquidity as proxies for financial deepening and gross domestic product growth rate for economic growth, we found that broad money velocity and market liquidity promote economic growth in Nigeria while money stock diversification, economic volatility and market capitalization did not within the period studied (1992-2008). Government policy should therefore be geared towards strategically increasing money supply and promoting efficient capital market that will enhance overall economic efficiency, create and expand liquidity, mobilize savings, enhance capital accumulation, transfer resources from traditional sectors to growth inducing sectors (such as manufacturing and industry, agriculture and the services sectors) and also promote competent entrepreneurial response in various sectors of the economy. Keywords: Financial Deepening, Economic Growth, Supply-leading Hypothesi

Analyses of Use of Improved Beekeeping Equipment among Agricultural Development Programme Registered Bee Farmers in Imo State, Nigeria

The study examined improved beekeeping in Imo State, Nigeria. A sample of 30 registered bee farmers participated in the study. Data were elicited from the farmers using structured questionnaire and analysed using percentages and means. Results showed that the major sources of information on modern bee keeping equipment were farmers’ association (96%), extension agents (76%) and friends/relatives (70%). Available bee products in the area were honey (97%), bee wax (83%), bee venom (70%) and propolis (63%). Improved beekeeping equipment used in the area were foot wears (100%), gloves (100%), smokers (93%), bee veil (96%) and bee suits (87%). Constraints to improved beekeeping in the area include; lack of favourable agricultural policies (87%), lack of standard market for the products (77%), inadequate training and information on beekeeping (67%) and high cost of equipment (70%). The study therefore recommends the need for efforts aimed at promoting modern bee farming in the area, especially targeted at younger and educated farmers

The effects of singeing on the histological appearance of some visceral organs in the red Sokoto goat (Capra hirrcus)

The histology of visceral organs from singed Red Sokoto goats were assessed for reliability for use as histopathological samples from singed abattoir specimen. This becomes important as samples for histopathology and histology of goats in Nigeria have been sourced from singed carcasses, with no available literature reporting on the effect of singeing on the histological appearance of tissues from such sample. Hence, this study will fill this knowledge gap. The unfixed samples post-singeing were grouped into time periods of an hour interval up to 3 hours. They were subsequently fixed after allocated tie framed and processed for histological observation. The slides were graded on a scale of 1 to 3, where 1 referred to highly distorted, 2 referred to moderately distorted and 3 referred to mildly distorted. The samples from unsigned viscera that were fixed immediately served as control. Most of the visceral organs showed moderate distortions, except the intestines which degenerated to highly distorted architecture after 3 hours. The stomach compartments displayed normal organ structure similar to the control samples. Blood extravasations were observed in most of the organs. This project shows that samples from singed carcasses that are fixed within 2 hours post-singeing are stable for histology or histopathological studies. It also implied that abattoir samples for histopathogy should be sent to the nearest laboratory about 2 hours radius for fixation and processing to generate reliable data.Key words: Singeing, organ architecture, fixation, histology, histopathology, Nigeri