Productivity measurement and growth in Nigeria: challenges and prospects

Productivity (growth) measurements (describing the assessment of an economy’s rate of change in the ratio of a volume measure of output to a volume measure of input use) and related analysis are regular undertakings by staff of economic development of most nations and development institutions such as the OECD. Although they strive to accomplish objectives related to studying efficiency or the achievement of maximum output physically achievable under the use of current technology and given inputs, accounting for the contribution of real costs savings; introduction of benchmarks for production processes and to highlight living standards obtaining at points in time, its emphasis has been at the expense of examination of issues related to society (institutions), history, innovation and productivity change, which are concerned with promoting growth beyond mere productivity accounting. This paper has attempted to address all these issues as they pertain to Nigeria’s rather stagnant or declining economy. This slight modification was prompted by changes from philosophers concerned with the wider area of productivity measurement and change. The literature agrees that productivity measurement (growth accounting) only “identified the significance of different proximate sources of growth” but fails to employ institutional, historical case studies to investigate the underlying causes of the growth, innovation and productivity change. Details of deficiencies related to the foregoing issues are examined and policy recommendations drafted and presented to assist practitioners, policy and decision makers and other stakeholders.productivity, change, improvement, growth, labour, corruption.

Assessing the Influence of Gender Awareness and Attitude to Forest Resource Conservation in Cross River State

Over the years man’s activities has drastically affected the forest ecosystem without any effort in providing alternative to ensuring the sustainability of the natural ecosystem. This paper attempts to examine the influence of gender awareness and attitude to forest resource conservation. Ten communities were used in this study and of which six hundred questionnaires were administered using random sampling technique. Findings indicate thatthe indigenouscommunities’ attitude and awareness to forest conservation was very pooras affirmed in the data collected that indicate that, the male gender attitude and awarenessto forest resource conservation was low compared to female gender in the study area. Therefore, adequate measures must be put in place to ensure effective conservation of the forest ecosystem. Keywords: Awareness attitude, conservation, gender, forest resources

A Comparative Analysis of Fertility Differentials in Cross River State

This paper seek to evaluate fertility differentials in a rural –urban residents in Cross River State. Two settlements were use which include Anantigha as an urban settlement in Calabar and Bendi as a rural settlement in Obanliku. Ninety households were used for this study of which equal number of questionnaires was randomly distributed in each of the settlement. Findings show that there was no variation in age entry to marriage in the two settlements even though there was a significant difference in fertility differentials in the  study area Besides, it was noticed in the study area  that family size and composition in the study area does not have any influence on fertility differences. Keywords: Comparative, Differentials, Fertility,  Marriage , Residents

The Catalytic Role of Hotel Industry in Human Resource Development in Calabar, Nigeria

This paper attempt to examine the role of hotel industry in human resource  development in Calabar. Information on the types of human resource development offered by the hotel industry were obtained in the various categories of hotels. However, information such as  staff training, tax to government, employment, monthly remuneration to staff which were variables  used to model  the role of hotel in human resource development were obtained from the various hotels. The socio-economic characteristics of the staff were obtained using questionnaires. However, findings revealed that the hotel industry has contributed to human resource development in Calabar as evidenced in the number of staff trained, annually tax remittance to government by the hotel industry for human resource development which was confirmed in the tested hypothesis with a high calculated value. Therefore, adequate measures must be put in place if really the hotel industry must play a catalytic role in human resource development in Calabar. Keywords: Catalytic, Development, Hotel Human resources, Industry     

An Assessment of Housing Delivery in Nigeria: Federal Mortgage Bank Scenario

In recent times the federal mortgage bank spite of it role in housing delivery has recorded little or no success which is the major concern of this paper to critically assess the extent to which the federal mortgage bank has recorded success in housing delivery in Nigeria. Information on the extent of housing delivery was obtained from federal ministry of statistic and federal mortgage banks. However, findings indicate that in 2002 to 2005, the mortgage finance bank was able to mobilized N19.175 billion compared to 1992 to 2002 with a value of N11.451 billion showing a growth rate of 82%. It was discovered that the bank granted loan value of N4.531 billion to 4,151 national housing fund to contributors to either build or renovate their houses. Nevertheless, the mortgage finance bank has recorded little or no success but has appreciably improved in terms of fund mobilization which has aided increase in housing delivery in Nigeria.Key words: Housing delivery; Mortgage bank; Finance; Nigeria; Governmen

Global variations in diabetes mellitus based on fasting glucose and haemogloblin A1c

Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are both used to diagnose diabetes, but may identify different people as having diabetes. We used data from 117 population-based studies and quantified, in different world regions, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, and whether those who were previously undiagnosed and detected as having diabetes in survey screening had elevated FPG, HbA1c, or both. We developed prediction equations for estimating the probability that a person without previously diagnosed diabetes, and at a specific level of FPG, had elevated HbA1c, and vice versa. The age-standardised proportion of diabetes that was previously undiagnosed, and detected in survey screening, ranged from 30% in the high-income western region to 66% in south Asia. Among those with screen-detected diabetes with either test, the agestandardised proportion who had elevated levels of both FPG and HbA1c was 29-39% across regions; the remainder had discordant elevation of FPG or HbA1c. In most low- and middle-income regions, isolated elevated HbA1c more common than isolated elevated FPG. In these regions, the use of FPG alone may delay diabetes diagnosis and underestimate diabetes prevalence. Our prediction equations help allocate finite resources for measuring HbA1c to reduce the global gap in diabetes diagnosis and surveillance.peer-reviewe