Information sources and needs of small scale farmers in Katsina State, Nigeria

There is a growing concerted effort in supporting agricultural development worldwide. At present, many governments and donor agencies are intervening by supporting farmers with information in order to scale up farming operations and bridge the low income generation. The purpose of this study is to examine information needs and information sources used by Small Scale Farmers (SSF) in Katsina State. Two research questions and one hypothesis were developed to guide the study. Cross sectional survey design was adopted in which a total of seven hundred (700) registered small scale farmers from three agricultural zones of the state formed the population. A total number of two hundred and eighty (280) respondents were randomly sampled using cluster sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in which the null hypothesis was tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC). The findings of the study revealed that the information needs of the SSF include the prices of farm produce, weather condition, agricultural loan, new seeds, fertilizer, pest control, new technology, information on storage methods as well as other information that could enhance their farming activities. The finding also revealed that the information sources of SSF are friends, relatives, agricultural dealers, extension workers, radio, television, farmers’ cooperative associations and local government agricultural units. Information needs and information sources of small scale farmers in Katsina State are many. At the present, the whole processes are not well coordinated. Government should have a common information hub, relevant agencies and small scale farmers should share information to improve farming activities. Keywords: Information Needs, Information Sources, Small Scale Farmer

Identifying an Analytical Framework to Assess the Determinants of ICT Adoption in Libraries and its Implications for Teaching and Learning during Insecurity

The security situation in Nigeria, particularly in the country\u27s North-West and North-Central Zones, has forced the closure of many educational institutions. Teaching and learning have become more erratic as a result of this. This issue has far-reaching repercussions for librarians and information specialists. Libraries have long been regarded and recognized by educational institutions for their contribution to high-quality teaching and learning. Several studies have found that information and communication technology (ICT) can improve teaching and learning by facilitating access to information. As a result, governments and school administrators have been working to promote the use of ICT in libraries to aid teaching and learning. Despite these efforts, ICT adoption is still very low in most primary and secondary schools in Nigeria. This research conducted a conceptual analysis based on a literature search to identify the major criteria that should be considered when promoting the adoption of ICT in libraries to enhance quality teaching and learning in the face of security problem

A Proposed e-Readiness Assessment Model for University Libraries in Nigeria

Information and communication technology (ICT) deployment has been prompted by the desire to increase effective services and have a favorable impact on organizational development. The development in the creation of e-readiness frameworks in many organizations, including libraries, is as a result of this demand. While the e-readiness study is widely used in libraries developed nations, it has not yet expanded into many libraries in underdeveloped nations. This study’s objective is to close this knowledge gap by outlining a model for e-readiness in Nigeria, with a focus on university libraries. The study has an e-readiness framework with eight (8) variables that is guided by the Network Readiness Framework, the Digital Media Readiness, the Digital Opportunity index, and the e-Readiness Ranking. The suggested model will use the eight variables, internet literacy, human resources, ICT policy, affordability, access, education, and usage, as measures and measurements. The proposed approach is intended to provide as a springboard for empirical investigation into the evaluation of e-readiness in Nigerian University libraries

The Role of Academic Libraries in Restoring Quality Teaching and Learning in Education for Sustainable Development in Nigeria

The quality of teaching and learning is the key to sustainable development. This has inspired innumerable educational stakeholders to search for means of restoring quality teaching and learning in Nigeria’s education system. To accomplish this, significant epistemological efforts have been made over the years on teaching methods/models, student learning styles, and curriculum content reforms. However, the role of academic libraries has not been given any significant consideration. It is, therefore, the conviction of this paper that sustainable development depends profoundly on the availability of information provided and accessed through a well-managed library for effective teaching, learning, and research. So, using desktop literature review and the author\u27s experience, this paper examines the roles of academic libraries in restoring quality teaching and learning for sustainable development in Nigerian institutions of higher learning. The study recommends and concludes that there may be scope for the augmentation of social media and ICT information literacy in academic library service delivery, which may address a plethora of challenges faced by the government in restoring quality teaching and learning for sustainable development

A modified ratio-product estimator of population mean using some known parameters of the auxiliary variable

The estimation of population mean is one of the challenging aspects in sampling theory and population study and much effort has been vigorously employed to improve the precision of estimates. In this research work, a modified ratio-product estimator of population mean Y of the study variable Y using median and coefficient of variation of the auxiliary variabl X , in simple random sampling scheme is proposed. The expression of bias and MSE of the proposed estimator have been obtained under large sample approximation, asymptotically optimum estimator (AOE) is identified with its approximate MSE formula. Estimator based on “estimated optimum values” was also investigated. Theoretical and empirical comparison of proposed estimator with some other ratio and product estimators justified the performance of the proposed estimators. A minimum of 20 percent reduction in the MSE were observed from each of the existing estimators considered. It is found that the proposed estimator were uniformly better than all other modified ratio and product estimators and thus most preferred over the existing estimators for the use in practical application.Keywords: Finite population mean, bias, mean square error, auxiliary variable, optimum estimator, study variabl

Modified ratio-product estimator of population mean in the presence of median and coefficient of variation of the auxiliary variable in stratified random sampling

For the past decades, the estimation of population mean is one of the challenging aspects in sampling survey techniques and much effort has been employed to improve the precision of estimates. In this research work, we proposed a modified ratio-product estimator of population mean of the variable of interest using median and coefficient of variation of the auxiliary variable in stratified random sampling scheme. The expression of bias and MSE of the proposed estimator have been obtained under large sample approximation, asymptotically optimum estimator (AOE) is identified with its approximate MSE formula. Estimator based on “estimated optimum values” was also investigated. Theoretical and empirical comparison of proposed estimator with some other ratio and product estimator justified the performance of the proposed estimator. There is a minimum of 15 percent reduction in the MSE from each of the existing ratio and product estimators considered. Thus most preferred over the existing estimators for the use in practical application.Keywords: bias, mean square error, auxiliary variable, optimum estimator, stratified random sampling, study variabl

Breaking the Barriers: A Phenomenological Study of Women’s Non-Governmental Organisations’ Adoption of Social Media

Organizations now frequently use social media as a tool for communication and information sharing. Although many studies have examined the various context-specific barriers to technology adoption in organizations, few of them have a direct bearing on the particular barriers to social media adoption. Organizations can use social media for their activities with the help of understanding the adoption barriers. Investigating the most important impediments to social media adoption in women’s non-governmental organisations (WNGOs) in North-West Nigeria is the goal of this study. The study used a phenomenological approach-based qualitative research design. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from ten Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the WNGOs. The study’s findings show that perceived risk, a lack of trust in the system, a lack of human and financial resources, and a lack of social media expertise are the main barriers that WNOGs faced when adopting social media to share information. The study makes several recommendations for actions that designers, practitioners, and the government should take solve the numerous hurdles found

An Empirical Study on the Use Intention of Electronic Cash Collection System in Nigerian Federal Hospitals

It is a well-known fact that the use of electronic systems around the globe has facilitated and enhanced the efficiency in organizations. In light of this, federal hospitals in Nigeria have started using electronic collection system for cash collection purposes. Electronic cash collection system (e-collection) is a computerized system designed to handle cash collections with a view to block revenue leakages that are widespread within the Nigerian public sector organizations. However, the continuous use of the system is being faced with great resistance by those employees that were purposely meant to use it. In view of that, the aim of this paper is to investigate factors that could influence employee’s intention to use e-collection system in the performance of their duties. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was adapted with an extension of computer self-efficacy variable with a view to providing additional explanation to the model. Partial Least Square (PLS) was used to analyse 116 responses from e-collection users in investigating the relationship between three independent variables (perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, computer self-efficacy) and the dependent variable (intention). The results of the analysis revealed that positive and significant relationships exist between the independent variables and the dependent variable except between perceived usefulness and intention. Recommendations were made to the hospital authorities to educate and enlighten the concern employees on the usefulness and benefits of the new system

Optimization of power quality monitors in transmission system network

Power quality disturbances cause a great financial loss in the order of billions worldwide due to population growth, more sensitive devices and the significant usage of electricity. The power quality monitoring system aimed at determining the causes and the classification of power quality disturbances so that proper action can be taken. Among all power disturbances, voltage sags are considered as the most frequent and severe type of disturbances that lead to loss of operation of equipment’s. The power quality monitoring system is the first to consider in power quality assessment and mitigation so as to get a reliable and efficient power supply. Installing power quality monitors (PQM) in every component of the power system network is not feasible due to economic reasons and its need to be minimized. And then how to get the optimal number and locations of power quality monitors while maintaining system observability becomes an important problem. The aim of this research is to find the optimal number and the best location of power quality monitors in the system network. The IEEE 14 bus test system was modelled and analyzed using POWERWORLD software so as to obtain fault voltage and monitor reach area matrixes considering balanced and unbalanced faults in the system. The optimization formulation problem is also formed and solved using a MATLAB toolbox of an integer programming algorithm and sag occurrence value is used to find the best placement position. Finally, this research end with the comparison with the MATLAB toolbox of genetic algorithm. Thus, both the IP and GA techniques give the same optimal number for a different set threshold value. However, for a threshold value of 0.9 p.u ,the optimal number of PQM is 1 for each of the simulated fault type in the system and different number of PQM for a threshold value of 0.55p.u and o.2p.u depending on the sensitivity of voltage sag occurrences of each of the simulated fault type in the system

Effect of Chinese Product Price, Quality, Innovativeness and Brand Awareness on Customers’ Loyalty: An Empirical Analysis of Local Industries in Northern Nigeria

The global economy is witnessing the massive influx of Chinese products across the global market. Nigeria in particular, is one of the countries that have a strong trade relationship with Chinese industries. Chinese products dominate most of the Nigerian market with very affordable price and compromised quality. Their pricing strategy, product design and ability to create brand awareness give their products an edge over the competitors. The study is the survey research that used regression analysis and examined the effect of Chinese product price, quality, innovativeness and brand awareness on customers’ loyalty. A sample of 1000 respondents was selected from three states of Northern Nigeria. The study discovered a significant negative effect of Chinese product price, innovativeness and Chinese brand awareness on customer loyalty; however, the effect of Chinese product quality on customers’ loyalty is positive and statistically insignificant. Therefore, the study concluded that Chinese product price, innovativeness and brand awareness negatively affect customers’ loyalty on the local products. The study recommended that the local entrepreneur needs to undergo training in areas of cost cutting, efficient use of resources while being encouraged to form clusters in order to benefit from economies of scale thereby driving down cost and by extension price of products. Local entrepreneurs must embrace new technology; pursue more creativity by perusing through imported brochures for inspiration and adapting designs to suit our own peculiarities. They should also create awareness using social media, publicity, advertisement, exhibition among other methods of creating awareness