THE IMPACT OF MARKETING CAPABILITY AND DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGY ON PERFORMANCE.

This paper examines the impact of marketing capability and diversification strategy on the performance of organization. A survey design with a well structured questionnaire was adopted in collecting data from the respondents and thereafter, the data was analyzed using descriptive analyses on statistical package for social science (SPSS). The results above indicate that there exists a significant relationship between marketing capability and organizational performance, while also proving the fact that diversification have a significantly strong impact on the performance of an organization. Keywords: Marketing capability, diversification strategy, Resources based view, performanc

Appraisal of Asphalt Concrete with Coal Bottom Ash as Mineral Filler

This study was conducted to access the performance of asphalt concrete produced with coal bottom ash as partial replacement of cement in the mineral filler. The Marshal Mix design method of hot mix asphalt (HMA) samples preparation and testing was adopted. Fifteen (15) samples of HMA compacted and used for volumetric and stability testing at a varying percentage of bitumen contents (5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0%,) following the Asphalt Institute and Nigeria General Specification for Road and Bridges (NGSRB) approach for determining optimum bitumen content (OBC). An Optimum bitumen content of 5.5 % was obtained and used throughout the study. Another set of 15 samples of the HMA were prepared and compacted at varying percentage replacement of cement with CBA in the order of 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35% by volume of cement to determine the optimum dosage of the coal bottom ash that will satisfy the requirements for the strength and durability of wearing course of flexible pavement. The Marshall Stability, flow, and the volumetric properties test results obtained indicated that the samples prepared with 25% CBA as filler with OBC of 5.5% satisfied the requirements of the NGSRB for wearing course of flexible pavement. Hence, the addition of up to 25% CBA by volume of cement in asphalt concrete can reduce the consumption of cement and provide a proper means of CBA disposal

Effect of Ripe and Unripe Plantain Peel Ash on Concrete Workability and Compressive Strength

Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) peels are by-product of plantain fruits, constituting about 40% of the fruits. Performance effects of Ripe Plantain peel ash (RPPA) and Unripe Plantain peel ash (UPPA) in concrete were investigated in this research. Both RPPA and UPPA were added to the concrete as admixture in the proportion of 1.5% and 2.5%. The percentage composition of Silica (SiO2) and Alumina (Al2O3) contents in RPPA and UPPA were determined using spectrometry method of analysis. Slump test on the fresh concrete and compressive strength test were carried out on the concrete cube for 7, 14, 28, 56 and 90 days. The Silica (SiO2) content for RPPA and UPPA were 46.37% and 54.00% respectively while the Alumina (Al2O3) content for RPPA and UPPA were 2.20% and 3.08% respectively. The compressive strength for the control mix at 28-day is 20.4N/mm2, while that of 1.5 and 2.5% RPPP are 16.3 and 14.0N/mm2 respectively representing decrease of 20.15 and 31.58% respectively, compressive strength results for concrete containing 1.5 and 2.5% UPPA are 14.4 and 12.2N/mm2 respectively representing decrease of 29.32 and 40.01% respectively with the control mix. At later age, the strength development is observed to be on the increase with concrete containing admixtures. At 90-day, control sample has strength of 23.32N/mm2 which is about 12.56% higher than 28-day strength, concrete with 1.5 and 2.5% RRPA have strength of 22.77N/mm2 (28.50% increase), 20.64N/mm2 (32.40% increase) respectively while 1.5 and 2.5% UPPA concrete have strength of 20.86N/mm2 (31.00% increase) and 19.02N/mm2 (35.70% increase). Keywords---- Admixture, Compressive strength, Ripe plantain peel, Unripe plantain peel, Workability

Accelerating Post-Harvest Food Loss Reduction in Nigeria Through the Development of a Pilot-Scale Vacuum Cooling and Storage System

The problem of the loss of food after harvest has drawn worldwide attention in the latest decades. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other national and international organizations had estimated that one-third of all foods produced and half of all fruit and vegetables are lost or wasted between harvest and use. In September 2015, the United Nations (UN) announced its objective of decreasing global food waste and significantly decreasing global food loss by 2030, as part of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The post-harvest loss of food is a major challenge in sub-Saharan African nations for farmers and growers, with spoilt foods leading to up to 50% of harvested food that does not reach the marketplace. This is not only a problem for farmers themselves, who are suffering from decreased incomes and loss of commercial opportunities, but it is also a problem for the environment and resources as far as unnecessary emissions of greenhouse gas are concerned. This paper examines the opportunities that a vacuum storage system presents in reducing food losses after harvest and highlights the challenges in Nigeria to adopt this technology. The equally encapsulated the design, fabrication and testing of vacuum cooling machine Keywords: Postharvest, Food Loss, Nigeria, Storage, Vacuum-Cooling DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-20-03 Publication date:October 31st 202

Strategic Positioning and Performance in the Tourism Sector: Evidence from Nigeria

This research work examined the relationship between the different strategic positioning typologies and tourism performance. The population consists of one hundred and seventy (170) staffs of tourism industry in Nigeria, while the sample size comprises of one hundred and fourteen (114) staffs. The study utilized a descriptive research design. However, the study adopted questionnaire as a reliable source of data collection, whereby primary data was used to elicit respondents’ opinions on the research topic. The findings revealed that analyzer and reactor typologies strategy positioning have a statistical significant relationship with both monetary and non-monetary performance in the tourism industry. Keywords: Strategic positioning, tourism performance, analyzers, reactors

An Integrated Approach to Rural Development in Nigeria

Rural development practice in Nigeria has spanned over 10 decades from pre-independence to the current decade. This paper attempts a time-series review on rural development practice in Nigeria to see what has changed over a fairly long period of time. Various development plan periods have been examined in relation to rural development practice. The review shows that the greater part of public efforts on rural development was subsumed under agricultural development which was more exploitative to the rural resources and residents than improve their quality of life. Although relatively improved understanding of rural development manifested among policy makers beginning in the late 1980s, the paper argues that such understanding surprisingly did not translate into corresponding improvement in rural development practice because of several factors including weak institutional arrangements, corruption and absence of coordinated practice among competing agencies. It is the view of this paper that in order to facilitate agricultural development, government should adopt an integrated rural development approach which is a multi-dimensional strategy for improving the quality of the life of the rural people. It concludes that rural development is imperative for improved of agricultural growth and development in Africa. Keywords: Development, Rural area, Nigeria, Developing Economy, Agriculture

Bacterial Assessment and Quality Analysis of Raw Milk Sold in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nigeria

Analysis of raw milk from four different local farmers within Gwagwalada Area Council (FCT) Abuja, were assessed to determine the bacterial load of the milk. The experiment was assigned to four treatment based on farm location, namely: Adams Farm (T1) (Control); Dagiri herd (T2); Kutunku herd (T3); and Dukpa herd (T4). The treatments had three replicates (R1-R3) in a randomized block design (CDR). The result revealed that raw milk sampled contained various bacteria species which include species of Bacillus subtillis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp, Lactobacillus spp,Streptococcus spp. The total viable bacteria counts ranged from 1.0 x106 -5.6x107 cfu/ml, while Bacillus subtillis has the highest frequency of occurrence (26.84%) followed by Escherichia coli (24.39%), Staphylococcus aureus (24.39%), Salmonella spp. (17.06%), Lactobacillus spp. (4.88%) and Streptococcus spp (2.44%). Bacteria count in treatment T3 had the lowest count followed by T4 and T2 and highest for T1. Treatment T3 is therefore better in terms of bacteria load than others (T1, T2 and T4). Key Words: Raw milk, Gwagwalada Area Council, Microbial load

Risk and Trust in Online Shopping: Experience from Nigeria

This paper attempts to examine and investigate online shopping in Nigeria considering perceived risk and trust among online shoppers and online vendors. Trust in the Internet world can be influenced by perceptions of the vendors. This study will place more emphasis on consumers trust in online vendors rather than trust in the infrastructure. This study argues that since online vendors are the consumer’s main focus when transacting online, trust is built based on perceptions of the vendors. Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of online shopping is also examined in this study know whether the Nigeria populace see a need for online shopping or even e-commerce. Some of the perceived risk identified includes risk are financial, product performance, social, psychological and time/ convenience loss. Primary source of data collection was employed in getting data for this study through administering of questionnaires. Respondents were selected from Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja, which are the major cities in Nigeria; there were 100 respondents in this research study. Correlation analysis was carried out to test for relationship between variables. Findings reveals that the presence of perceived risk negatively affects trust in online shopping and that perceived usefulness of online shopping has a positive effect on actual usage of online shopping. Keywords: E-Commerce, Economy, Consumer, Internet, Trust, Ris

Assessment of Public-Private-Participation of Solid Waste Management: A Case Study Warri, Nigeria

The menace of indiscriminately disposed heaps of refuse in most urban centers in Nigeria is a confirmation of the inability of the government to cope with the ills associated with rapid population growth rate and urbanization. This study assessed the participation of the private sector in the management and recycling of solid wastes as they together with the public sector strive to attain healthy and neat cities. The Actor Network Theory (ANT) was used as a framework to illustrate the interrelationship, interdependence and co-existence of the different participants in the management of solid waste. This co-existence was revealed to generate several challenges especially for the major Actors such as that of the preference of informal private waste collectors to the registered contractors assigned by the government to their residential areas and the hindrances posed by community youth on Private Sector Participant (PSP). However, from the study it was revealed that the introduction of Private Sector Participant was not enough to check the problems associated with solid waste management. Rather, a holistic approach where all actors, whether householders, formal or informal waste collector, scrap collectors, NGOs or CBOs should be considered by the Government in the policy formulation and implementation in sustainable solid waste management practices

Hunting practices and heavy metals concentrations in fresh and smoked wildmeats in Kumasi, Ghana

The consumption of bush meat is currently a common practice in sub-urban and urban communities of Africa. The study investigates hunting practices and heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Fe, Pb, Cd and Mn) concentrations in fresh and smoked bush meats in Kumasi, Ghana. The animal samples were obtained from Sekyere Dumase, Atwemunom and Central Markets. A total of 32 samples from various game animals were used for the study. The samples were wet digested and analyzed using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. The use of guns (68%) was the most applied method of capture followed by cutlasses (10%), dogs (4%), traps (2%) and baits (2%). In the fresh meat, the concentration of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb was 12.72±2.56mg⁻kg 5.16±2.65mg⁻kg, 0.96±0.29mg⁻kg, 7.40±0.68 mg ⁻kg, 0.10±0.00 mg ⁻kg and 4.31±3.46 mg ⁻kg respectively while in smoked meats, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were 15.28±2.29 mg ⁻kg, 5.33±0.98 mg ⁻kg, 0.94±0.98 mg⁻kg, 7.39±0.57 mg ⁻kg, 0.1±0.00 mg ⁻kg, 0.07±0.00 mg ⁻kg respectively. Higher amount of Lead (Pb) was found in the fresh wild meat than in the processed. The levels of Zinc in both the fresh and smoked bush meat were high while Mn, Cu, Fe and Cd in both fresh and smoked meats were in the acceptable range recommended for human consumption. However, there is need to monitor the levels of heavy metals in bush meat in relation to the hunting practices so as to avoid any possibility of poisoning to human health.Keywords: Heavy metals, Bush meat, Hunting, Ghana, Healt