Oil revenue and the 'Dutch disease' in Nigeria

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.This study discusses the performance and prospects of the Nigerian economy in the wake of the oil euphoria. It produces some empirical evidence for the rapid destruction of Nigerian agriculture in the past ten years or more and it demonstrates that the plight of the Nigerian economy in general and the rural sector in particular was in part a direct consequence of the increase in oil revenue which pushed up the exchange rate and made it unprofitable to grow crops for export. It concludes that unless a radical change in government policy is effected to revive the agricultural sector, Nigeria will experience a depletion of both her oil and her agricultural resources to the extent that the economy could eventually face a food crisis like those recently experienced in Ethiopia, Sudan, Mali or Chad, and without an industrial base. The study argues that contrary to the view commonly held in Nigeria, the benefits in the medium and long term of devaluing the Nigerian currency(naira) will greatly outweigh the costs which are likely to be only temporary. We use the term "Dutch disease", as it was in the Netherlands, that the phenomenon of the adverse effects on the rest of the economy of a rise in the exchange rate, brought about by the discovery of natural gas, was first observed

Effects of Capacitor Bank Installation in a Medium Voltage (MV) Substation

Several medium voltage  substations, often called 33/11kV injection substations in Nigeria, are being run in electric utility companies without installing capacitor banks. Research has shown that the inclusion of capacitor bank improves system power factor and efficient running of the power system.This paper presents a brief description of the theory of power factor and its importance in achieving power system control and stability. Possible implications of substations without capacitor bank installations were also itemised. A schematic diagram of Ajangbadi 2X15MVA 33/11kV injection substation in Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Nigeria, is presented as a case study. A flowchart of the algorithm used to determine substation and network load parameters was developed and implemented. All results obtained and the necessary conclusions are presented. Keywords: Medium voltage, Injection Substation, Capacitor Bank, Power factor, Load parameters

Identification of novel protein targets of metronidazole in drug sensitive and resistant strains of Trichomonas vaginalis and examination of the role of Mycoplasma hominis in secretion of cytokines released from primary human monocytes

Trichomonas vaginalis, an extracellular, flagellated protozoan parasite, is the etiologic agent for trichomoniasis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection, trichomoniasis. While asymptomatic presentation is commonplace, symptomatic infections typically present as vaginitis and cervicitis in women, and urethritis in men. Only 5-nitroimidazole class of drugs, metronidazole (Mz) and tinidazole, is FDA-approved for treatment of infections. To overcome the knowledge gap in Mz targets in T. vaginalis, we used metronidazole-alkyne analog and we employed copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) “click” reaction to enrich these protein targets. Using tandem mass tag quantitative proteomics, we identified novel protein targets in Mz-sensitive and -resistant parasites. We also determined through activity-based protein profiling that metronidazole binds to cysteine residues and subsequently identified cysteine residues that are bound by metronidazole. As the nature of immune response to T. vaginalis infection appears to vary, we also explored whether T. vaginalis parasites harboring M. hominis, an endosymbiont, induce the production of different cytokines from primary human monocytes compared to parasites that do not harbor the endosymbiont. Indeed, we observe that more cytokines are elaborated in response to M. hominis infected parasites. Together, these studies illuminate our knowledge of this important human pathogen, pharmacologically and immunologically

A REVIEW ON SELF-HEALING CONCRETE USING BACTERIA

Recent interests in the field of Bio-technology and Civil Engineering have raised the topics on the precipitation of Calcium Carbonate by certain bacteria strains. The relationship between cracks and possible self-healing techniques; artificial and natural are considered. Importance has been laid on the bio-mineralization process and the mechanism of bacterial concrete. The methods of application of these artificial substances that aid the self-healing process in concrete and the effects of engineered self-healing in concrete are discussed in this review

Time series modeling of Nigeria external reserves

This paper discusses the levels and trend of external reserves in Nigeria. The relevance of this lies in the fact that it could help to monitor the reserves and throw early warning signal about any economic crisis. Monthly data on Nigeria external reserves for the period January 1999 to December, 2008 derived from the 2008 CBN Statistical Bulletin was analyzed using ARIMA model. Results of the analyses show that (i) the data requires logarithmic transformation to stabilize the variance and make the distribution normal (ii) the appropriate model that best describes the pattern in the transformed data is the Autoregressive- Integrated Moving Average process of order (2,1,0). This model is recommended for use until further analysis proves otherwise

Moderating Effect of Self-Efficacy in the Mediating Effect of Self-Regulation on Students’ Academic Performance

In this study, the mediating effect of self regulation on self-efficacy – academic performance relationship was proposed to be further moderated by self-efficacy. Four hundred and sixty seven secondary school students drawn from schools in an education zone of Ogun State, Nigeria took part in the study. Data were collected using three validated scales and academic records of students. Analysis was carried out on SPSS version 21 using the moderated mediation macro (model 1) developed by Hayes (2013). Results indicated that there were significant and positive relationships between self-efficacy, self-regulation and academic performance. Results indicated that the indirect effect of self-efficacy on academic performance through self-regulation is conditioned on self-efficacy. Implications for theory, research and intervention programmes were stressed. Key Words: Self regulation; Self-efficacy; Academic performance; Students; Moderated mediation effect

Effect of the Cooperative Learning Strategy on Study Habit of Senior Secondary School Students in Ogun State, Nigeria

This study sought to investigate the effect of cooperative learning strategy on SSS students using experimental research design. The study involved the experimental and control groups of learners who were taught through the cooperative and conventional learning approaches respectively. Study Habits Inventory (SHI) was used to elicit responses from the participants. Data was treated through the independent sample t-test which helped to test two hypotheses. The analysis started by comparing the mean score of the experimental and the control groups prior to treatment. After the treatment, the mean scores of the two groups were tested again to determine whether the cooperative approach had any effect on the students’ learning habit. The study concluded that cooperative teaching and learning approach is an effective means in improving learners’ study habit as compared to the conventional teaching and learning approach. Based on the conclusions, the study recommends that teachers should use the cooperative teaching and learning approach in order to enhance the learning achievement of the students and in particular in order to improve the learner’s study habits. Moreover, teachers should be trained on the use of various forms of cooperative learning strategy. This will further make it easier for the adoption and use of the strategies

Model of demand and supply factors affecting green commercial properties

In many countries including Malaysia and Nigeria, green building investment is still beset with uncertainties about the anticipated profits and benefits. Existing studies on green building seem much segmented and somewhat narrow focused, as such miss the inherent complexities in demand and supply. The existing studies seem to ignore the fact that green commercial building lie within the marketplace that is subjected to inter-dependent forces of demand and supply factors. The aim of this study is to establish a model of demand and supply factors affecting green commercial properties with focus on Malaysia and Nigeria. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) methods were used to model the factors that have causal relationships with demand and supply of green commercial properties. Discriminant analysis method was used to determine if there are significant differences in perception between Malaysia and Nigeria real estate market participants on factors that influence the demand and supply, and if differences are observed, the highest discriminant value will be identified. The analysis was based on 496 valid questionnaires administered to real estate developers. The research findings revealed that factors affecting green commercial property demand and supply is an eight-causal factor structure model. The study revealed that green building supply is significantly dependent on green building demand. Economic and financial factors including personal and altruistic environmental factors had most influential effect on green building demand while available green skills and monetary green tax incentives exhibited the most causal effect on the supply side. The model was confirmed for convergent validity, discriminant validity, item reliability and construct reliability. On discriminant analysis, study revealed that overall, there were significant discriminant function that differentiated the two countries on their perception of factors that drive green building demand and supply. The variables with most discriminant power in accounting for the differences in perception were measures of economic and financial motivations for the demand side and life cycle cost saving motivation measures for the supply side. It is hoped the findings will have practical utility for green commercial property consumers, suppliers and investors who are seeking clearer explanations for commitment in green building, and green building policy makers in both Malaysia and Nigeria who are seeking workable strategies to incentivize green building demand and supply