PROPOSED FUNERAL HOME IN AWOYAYA, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA. AN ACCESSIBLE DESIGN APPROACH FOR PLANNING & DEVELOPING FUNERAL HOMES.

In Nigeria, burying the dead is a very important tradition which includes elaborate activities and requires meticulous planning and coordination before execution. Funerals were initially organized by family of the deceased on family property but as communities expanded, secluded areas for the purpose of interment were developed. In advanced countries, funeral homes were developed to relieve bereaved individuals from logistical issues which arises once a person is announced dead. In Nigeria, there are various funeral service establishments that deal with the sale of caskets, obituary planning, mortuary services, entertainment, officiating services, counselling and other funeral related activities as different outfits with very few organizations offering more extensive funeral services but doing so out of environments not designed purposely for funeral services, hence, reducing their efficiency and increasing the level of stress of individuals grieving. The aim of this study is to design a funeral home in Awoyaya area of Lagos State, Nigeria with a view to unifying major funeral activities practiced in the country in an accessible environment. In order to achieve this, the study has used existing literature and information from case studies to; identify the various funeral activities practiced in Nigeria, investigate how funeral activities are managed in Nigeria and identify the components of an accessible designed environment. Findings from this research showed that the few funeral homes in Nigeria that offer extensive services are not designed to be accessible to all members of the public, this study has developed an architectural design of a funeral home that conforms to the principles and existing standards of accessible design

ASSESSMENT OF THE PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF ATTITUDE TOWARDS ASSESSMENT TEST (ATAT)

This study is on the assessment of the psychometric properties of Attitude Towards Assessment Test (ATAT). Four research questions guided the study. An instrumentation research design was adopted. The population consisted of secondary school students in Delta State, Nigeria. The sample size comprised 1,000 students, selected through simple random and non-probability cluster sampling techniques. The test under assessment was developed by Megbele, et al. (2023). The Rasch Rating Scale Model was used to answer research 1, which assessed person and item reliability, item statistics, and ordering of response categories. Two fit indices including the infit and outfit mean square (MNSQ) statistics were used to answer research question 2. The data that were used to answer research questions 1 and 2 were analysed with the aid of the Jmetrik IRT software. The Categorical Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CCFA) was used to answer research question 3 while Chi-Square Goodness of Fit Statistics was used to answer research question 4 on construct validity, evidence of unidimensionality, and local independence respectively. The findings of this study revealed that the three components of the scale had high values of item separation index and reliability as well as an acceptable range of Person separation index and reliability; the difficulty index of items in the test was within an acceptable range; Each of the components of the Attitude Towards Assessment Test (ATAT) (Cognitive, affective and behavioural) had one construct each, which is evidence of unidimensionality for the different components of the Attitude Towards Assessment Test. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that all items in the different components that made up the test are reliable, have adequate item difficulty infit, and outfit MNSQ estimates, with evidence of unidimensionality and local independence assumptions. The study recommended that the test can be used by examination bodies for the assessment of students in the affective domain.  Article visualizations

INFLUENCE OF DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DELTA STATE SKILLS TRAINING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME (STEP)

This study evaluated the influence of Demographic factors on the implementation of the Delta State Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP). The population of the study comprised 4,559 beneficiaries. A sample size of 1,000 beneficiaries was selected through proportionate stratified and convenience sampling techniques. The questionnaire was used to collect data. Experts’ judgement was used to validate the instrument. The test-retest method of reliability was used to determine the reliability of the instrument, with a coefficient of 0.82. Frequency and percentage were used to analyse the data. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant difference between male and female beneficiaries of the STEP on the establishment of their own enterprises after graduating from the programme; that there is a significant difference between male and female beneficiaries of the STEP on their employment of other youths after graduating from the programme; and that there is no significant difference among beneficiaries of the STEP on the establishment of their own enterprises on the basis of their marital status after graduating from the programme. The study further showed that there is no significant difference among beneficiaries of the STEP on the employment of other youths on the basis of their marital status after graduating from the programme; that there is a significant difference among beneficiaries of the STEP on the establishment of their own enterprises on the basis of their educational qualification after graduating from the programme; and that there is no significant difference among beneficiaries of the STEP on their employment of other youths on the basis of their educational qualification after graduating from the programme. The study recommended amongst others that the program be expanded to accommodate more economically viable skills and vocations, including commerce/trade apprenticeship.  Article visualizations

EVALUATION OF THE DELTA STATE SKILLS TRAINING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME (STEP)

This study evaluated the extent to which the goals of the Delta State Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) have been achieved. Three research questions guided the study. The population of the study comprised 4,559 beneficiaries. A sample size of 1,000 beneficiaries was selected through proportionate stratified and convenience sampling techniques. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Experts’ judgement was used to validate the instrument. The test-retest method of reliability was used to determine the reliability of the instrument, with a coefficient of 0.82. Frequency and percentage were used to analyse the data. The findings of the study revealed that STEP has trained beneficiaries in the following skill options: Fashion design, Catering, Hairdressing, Make-up, Fishery, Decoration and event management, Electrical installation and repairs, Welding and fabrication, ICT and Farming; all the 1000 participants evaluated have established their own enterprises, indicating a 100% goal achievement; and that majority of the beneficiaries have employed other youths after graduating from the programme. The study recommended amongst others that the program be expanded to accommodate more economically viable skills and vocations, including commerce/trade apprenticeship.  Article visualizations

Conductance of graphene nanoribbon junctions and the tight binding model

Planar carbon-based electronic devices, including metal/semiconductor junctions, transistors and interconnects, can now be formed from patterned sheets of graphene. Most simulations of charge transport within graphene-based electronic devices assume an energy band structure based on a nearest-neighbour tight binding analysis. In this paper, the energy band structure and conductance of graphene nanoribbons and metal/semiconductor junctions are obtained using a third nearest-neighbour tight binding analysis in conjunction with an efficient nonequilibrium Green’s function formalism. We find significant differences in both the energy band structure and conductance obtained with the two approximations

The development and validation of a decision aid to facilitate patient choice of surgery versus radiotherapy for high-risk basal cell carcinoma.

Basal Cell Carcinomas (BCCs) are increasingly common. For high risk BCCs, there are several treatment options, with similar efficacies. Current best practice is for a patient centred approach in deciding upon treatment modality. At present, there are few resources for clinicians to give to patients to assist their choice. This reduces patient autonomy and increases the burden on clinicians within clinic. Patient decision aids (PDAs) have been shown to increase patient autonomy and facilitate shared decision making. Currently, there is no published PDA designed to facilitate the decision between surgical management or radiotherapy in high risk BCCs. Here, we propose a novel decision aid designed along the International Patient Decision Aid Standards to fill this clinical need and evaluate its acceptance by both patients and clinicians. We describe the challenges faced at initial alpha and subsequent beta testing and go on to validate our PDA with both the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) and the 9-item Shared Decision Making Questionnaire (SDMQ9). We encourage other units to modify the PDA for their own use and include an example

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF POOR SPECIFICATION ON BUILDING COLLAPSE IN NIGERIA

This paper examines the effects of specification on building collapse in Nigeria. The study became necessary due to the ugly cases of buildings collapsing in the country over the years. In doing so, the study begins with review of relevant literature on the concept of specification, as well as the factors associated with building collapse. The need for specification in building construction projects was enunciated upon. Other factors that culminate in building collapse, such as load types; man-power; technical skills, etc. are discussed herein. The study further examines identifies and documents cases of building collapse in Nigeria to identify the causes and factors responsible for the collapse. Interviews were conducted with practicing professionals in the construction industry. This was done to obtain professional insights and experiences used as part of the data in the research. Findings from this study highlights consequential role of poor specification in causing building collapse, loss of lives and properties. This paper concludes with identifying the relevance of specification in ensuring adherence to appropriate materials and construction methods for structural stability. Recommendations are given to guard against poor specifications that result in the collapse of buildings, properties and ultimately loss of lives

Amplifying local voices to reduce failure in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector

This is a poster briefWASH endeavours regularly fail. Sometimes this means that entire programmes do not achieve their stated aims, sometimes these failures are setbacks which can be rectified with sufficient reflection and action. This research aimed to develop an evidence base of how and why field-based WASH professionals in four sub-Saharan African countries believe failures occur, their experiences when sharing and discussing them within their organisations, and how they believe a culture conducive to publicly sharing and learning from failures could be nurtured