ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS’ SMART PHONE USE PATTERN AT THE FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, ABIA STATE UNIVERSITY, UTURU, NIGERIA

The study is on the assessment of students’ smart phone use pattern at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Abia State University. The study is set on five objectives and research questions. The survey research design was adopted in carrying out the study with the questionnaire as the sole instrument for data collection. The questionnaire was administered on the accessible population of 634 respondents, out of which 616 copies were duly filled and returned. This is a return rate of 97 which was used for data collection. The researcher adopted the frequency-percentage counts and tables in data presentation, analysis and discussion. Findings of the study revealed that though the use of smart phones appeal to all students, it appeals more to female students; smart phones have a good number of features that attract students patronage and utilization; students do not use smart phones for academic activities, but mainly for social activities and leisure; they are not satisfied with their use of smart phones because of some defects; and their use of smart phones do have some adverse effects on students life on campus. Predicated on the above findings recommendations were proffered. As the study observed that students do not majorly apply their use of smart phones to academic activities, but on private communication, social activities and leisure, as well as having some adverse effects on them, it concludes that once the students are able to re-adjust and adopt holistically to the recommendations proffered the side effects of their pattern of use of smart phones would be curbed

Poverty and its Alleviating Strategies among Rural Farming Households in Benue State, Nigeria

The study analysed rural farming households’ poverty status and alleviating strategies in Benue State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to: describes the rural household heads’ socio-economic characteristics; determine the poverty status of the respondents and its determinants; and identify poverty alleviating strategies of the respondents. Data for the study was collected from 420 respondents selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke poverty measurement index, and the Binary Logistic regression model. The findings of the study revealed a very high incidence of poverty (70%), having a gap of 0.34, and severity of 0.17. Poverty in the area is positively associated with the age of the household head and household size, while gender, educational level, off-farm activity, membership of a group, farm size, and land ownership are negatively associated with poverty. The common poverty alleviation strategies identified were agricultural wage labour (48.6%), rental services (45.0%), and transportation business (36.7%). Therefore, it was recommended that the government and other stakeholders should initiate sustainable social protection schemes that can assist rural residents in alleviating poverty until their condition improves

Application of Cloud Computing Technology in Public Library Services in Nigeria: Strategic Framework for Operational Success

The discourse is all about the application of cloud computing technology in public libraries services in Nigeria. It gives the conceptual overview of cloud computing, features and the service models, which include SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS. The paper also discusses cloud deployment storage models in private, community, public, hybrid and personal cloud. The advocates of cloud computing in libraries are highlighted, alongside cloud computing vendors for libraries. Services areas amendable to cloud computing technology, benefit and challenges are featured in the paper. The hallmark of the paper is the presentation of strategic framework for operational success of the application of cloud computing in public libraries. Concluding, the discourse opines that cloud computing has permeated into libraries in advanced countries and is fast moving to libraries in Asia. Predicated on the framework on operational success and its gained popularity, the discourse advocates that it should be applied in public libraries services in Nigeria

Poverty and its Alleviating Strategies among Rural Farming Households in Benue State, Nigeria

The study analysed rural farming households’ poverty status and alleviating strategies in Benue State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to: describes the rural household heads’ socio-economic characteristics, determine the poverty status of the respondents and its determinants, and lastly, identify poverty alleviating strategies of the respondents. Data for the study was collected from 420 respondents selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke poverty measurement index, and the Binary Logistic regression model. The findings of the study revealed a very high incidence of poverty (70%), having a gap of 0.34, and severity of 0.17. Poverty in the area is positively associated with the age of the household head and household size, while gender, educational level, off-farm activity, membership of a group, farm size, and land ownership are negatively associated with poverty. The common poverty alleviation strategies identified were agricultural wage labour (48.6%), rental services (45.0%), and transportation business (36.7%). Therefore, it was recommended that the government and other stakeholders should initiate sustainable social protection schemes that can assist rural residents in alleviating poverty pending when their condition improves