Knowledge Sharing and Performance in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry

This paper is an attempt to determine the impact of knowledge sharing on organizational performance in the Oil and Gas industry in Nigeria.  The sample size of 100 was based on the population of 300 staff drawn from each of the three Oil and Gas firms (Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, Petroleum Product Marketing Company; and Integrated Data Service Limited) in the Oil and Gas industry in Edo State, Nigeria.  The paper employed a survey design. Questionnaire was the main tool used to gather data. Regression was done using Econometric view-7. The paper revealed that: knowledge sharing was highly positively related with organizational performance in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria; and Organizational performance in the oil and gas industry would manifest in terms of better financial performance, improved marketing of the organizational output, better supplier support, process efficiency and cost reductions if knowledge sharing was managed well.  The paper recommends that: knowledge sharing practices be encouraged, managed and properly documented to improve organizational performance; employees’ efficiency should be enhanced through training; and  Organisations should reward managers for providing the necessary support to employees who share their knowledge. Keywords: Knowledge sharing, performance, oil &gas and industr

An overview of anti-diabetic plants used in Gabon: Pharmacology and Toxicology

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Ethnopharmacological relevance: The management of diabetes mellitus management in African communities, especially in Gabon, is not well established as more than 60% of population rely on traditional treatments as primary healthcare. The aim of this review was to collect and present the scientific evidence for the use of medicinal plants that are in currect by Gabonese traditional healers to manage diabetes or hyperglycaemia based here on the pharmacological and toxicological profiles of plants with anti-diabetic activity. There are presented in order to promote their therapeutic value, ensure a safer use by population and provide some bases for further study on high potential plants reviewed. Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical studies were sourced using databases such as Online Wiley library, Pubmed, Google Scholar, PROTA, books and unpublished data including Ph.D. and Master thesis, African and Asian journals. Keywords including ‘Diabetes’ ‘Gabon’ ‘Toxicity’ ‘Constituents’ ‘hyperglycaemia’ were used. Results: A total of 69 plants currently used in Gabon with potential anti-diabetic activity have been identified in the literature, all of which have been used in in vivo or in vitro studies. Most of the plants have been studied in human or animal models for their ability to reduce blood glucose, stimulate insulin secretion or inhibit carbohydrates enzymes. Active substances have been identified in 12 out of 69 plants outlined in this review, these include Allium cepa and Tabernanthe iboga. Only eight plants have their active substances tested for anti-diabetic activity and are suitables for further investigation. Toxicological data is scarce and is dose-related to the functional parameters of major organs such as kidney and liver. Conclusion: An in-depth understanding on the pharmacology and toxicology of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is lacking yet there is a great scope for new treatments. With further research, the use of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is important to ensure the safety of the diabetic patients in Gabon.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

PIRACY AND PERSONAL INSECURITY IN THE GULF OF GUINEA: A STUDY OF BAYELSA STATE WATERWAYS, NIGERIA

The unrestricted movement of ships carrying people and cargo is impeded by the international crime of piracy, which also has implications for personal security. The criminals are often eqipped with high-tech weapons to seize a ship or ships and direct them to the target destination in exchange for the stated ransom. This study scrutinises the rivers of Bayelsa State while investigating piracy throughout the Gulf of Guinea. In Bayelsa State, the centre of Nigeria's oil and gas development, the majority of pirate operations are concentrated. Some of the region's jobless youths resort to piracy as a way to build a resistance to the Federal Government of Nigeria's unfavorable "governing of its resources" initiatives. The study is anchored on Frustration-Anger-Aggression and Relative Deprivation Theory which brought to limelight, the supposed causes of piracy and its impact on personal security in Bayelsa State waterways. The study adopted the quantitative research method. For this study, primary data is retrieved through questionnaires. Findings of the study reveal that increase in pirate activities within the region will further increase personal insecurities. The result from the findings clearly showed that piracy has become a serious security problem in Bayelsa State waterways. Findings from the fieldwork, identifies deficiencies in the policies established by the government and other stakeholders to reduce incidence of piracy within the state. It is therefore recommended that although piracy has a lengthy history in the GoG, a visionary and competent government is often considered as a cure for all societal ills. As a result, given the occurrences of piracy, which generally bedevils the Gulf of Guinea and particularly Bayelsa State waterways, and the immeasurable damages done in terms of personal security as explored in this study, the preceding policy recommendations suffice in the search for a long-term solution on how piracy incidents can be circumvented. The study draws the conclusion that in the battle against piracy, the Federal Government of Nigeria including its National Assembly must be honest and transparent with the Nigerian public. In the battle against piracy, the government should place the highest focus on social amenities and employment development

Library Use for Agricultural Research by Undergraduate Students of the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University Of Calabar, Nigeria

The study investigated the use of the University of Calabar library for agricultural research by students of the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management. The general objective of the study was to determine the use of the University of Calabar library for agricultural research by students of the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management. The specific objectives include to identify the number of students of the Faculty of Agriculture who registered with the University of Calabar library for the 2020/2021 academic session, identify the purpose of library use by students, assess the material and electronic resources available in the University of Calabar library for use by students and determine the constraints to library use by students in the Faculty. The study was conducted in the University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria. A stratified random sampling procedure was used to select respondents according to the Departments and level of studies from years one-five (1-5) with a total of 250 students as sample size. Data obtained were analyzed using simple frequency and percentage. The findings show that majority of the respondents are male 60%, non registered members recording 74% and 88% of respondents never renewed their registration with the library while their major reasons for non registration/renewal was lack of awareness/ orientation 56%. The major purpose for using the library was during preparation for examination 60%, print and book materials 64% are more in the library; and the greatest constraints was on the difficulty of getting information on specific contents 48%. There is poor usage of the library by undergraduate students of the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar except during preparation for examination and their greatest constraints was the difficulty of getting information on specific contents. Thus, the need for awareness campaign and orientation on library usage and provision of a well catalogued library for easy access to research material

Evaluation of Physicochemical and Antibacterial Properties of Ethanolic and Gel Extracts of Common Wireweed (Sida acuta Burm.f.)

Man has used medicinal plants as remedies for several human diseases for centuries. This paper therefore evaluates the physicochemical and antibacterial properties of ethanolic and gel extracts of common wireweed (Sida acuta Burm.f.) using appropriate standard techninques. The filtrate was concentrated to a semi-solid mass (extract) and the antibacterial activity of the extract against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli were assessed using the agar well diffusion technique. The gels have good homogeneity, and spreadability, and are easily washable. The pH ranges between 5.8 and 6.3 and is within the normal skin pH range (4.0-6.8). The extrudability ranges from 45 to 70%. The viscosity of the gels is between 6178.6 mPas and 59,343 mPas and they are shear thinning systems. The gels prepared using Sida acuta ethanolic extract have antibacterial activity that is comparable to that of the extract alone. Gells formulated using carbopol were comparable to those prepared using HPMC

Reconstructing Deposition Environment Using Energy Regime Assessment of Stacked Sequences from Gamma Ray Log and 3D Seismic Data

Depositional sequence unbundling was done to understand the depositional environment from six wells through the analysis of gamma-ray logs using shale volume, and a 3D post-stack seismic. Identified hydrocarbon reservoir formations were laterally tracked to assess horizon continuity and spatial draping of the units. Horizon surfaces were built post-correlation to examine the bounded zones and reconcile sequences. Gamma-ray log motifs for the deposits indicate the presence of progradational, retrogradational, and aggradational sequence patterns that typifies prevalent energies at the time deposition, characteristic of deltaic environment. On the seismic sections, aggradational reflectors dominate over the other two. Although current well placements do not conform to structural attitude, petrophysical analysis done over the horizons indicate a significant increase in porosity and hydrocarbon saturation basin-ward (South-west), in the direction of the frontier prospect to site more wells

Analysis of Factors that can Lifespan in Japan, Switzerland and the Central African Republic

Can humans live forever? Will humans achieve immortality by 2050? These are the questions humans have wanted to hear for centuries. This analytical research will analyze and assess the factors that allow us, humans, to increase our lifespan. Three countries were chosen:  the greatest quality of life (Switzerland), the country with the most extended lifespan (Japan) and the country with the lowest quality of life (Central African Republic). All these countries were on different continents to remove any bias . The theories were tested by comparing charts and using ANOVA tests.</jats:p

The use of ethnobotanicals in the management of inflammation in Nigeria: a review

Inflammation, one of the leading health issues in recent times call for concern. Many plants used in the management and treatment of inflammation in various parts of Nigeria have not been properly harnessed hence this review. The result of this review revealed that plants commonly used for the treatment of inflammation include: Zingiber officinale, Alstonia boonei, Plumbago zeylanica, Ocimum basilicum, Parquetina nigrescens, Peperomia pellucida, Abrus precatorius, Tetrapleura tetraptera, Alchornea cordifolia, Terminalia ivorensis, Aspilia africana, Ageratum conyzoides and Hymenocardia acida. Altogether 74 plant species are ethnobotanicals used in the management and treatment of inflammation. The plants were enumerated with their family names, common and local names, possible chemical constituents, part(s) used, route of administration and subsequent references where available.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v4i2.12620 International Journal of Environment Vol.4(2) 2015: 1-18</p