The Impact of Information Technology (IT) on Human Resource Management (HRM): Empirical evidence from Nigeria Banking Sector. Case Study of Selected Banks from Lagos State and Oyo State in South-West Nigeria

Information technology (IT) has become an indispensable part of contemporary world while human resource management globally has equally being affected in a number of ways through its adoption and application. Despite the considerable growth in the use of information technology in human resource management (HRM), the level of impact is still under-researched. Using the descriptive statistics, this study seeks to harness the overall and generalized impact of IT on HRM in the Nigeria Banking Sector by exploring some aspects of HRM that have been affected by IT and the effect of such adoption on HRM activities through primary data collected with a structured questionnaire administered to selected Banks in South-West Nigeria.It was revealed that IT has significantly increase the efficiency of HR management activities and processes through an effective and efficient employee communication and engagement while the roles and skills of HR managers has expand considerable overtime due to their adoption and continuous upgrade of knowledge in the use of IT in the discharge of their primary functions. Hence, it is duty bound for Banks policy formulators to determine the right size of IT required to derived the best result in an organisation. Keywords: Technology, Information Technology (IT), Human Resource (HR), Human Resource Management (HRM), Nigeria Banking Secto

EVALUATION OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES RELATING TO EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE (EVD) PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

A cross sectional study was carried out from 1st June to 30th June, 2015, to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices related to the prevention and control of Ebola Virus Disease in Ogun State, Nigeria. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather data from 300 respondents selected by multistage sampling technique across four local governments in the state. The data collected included socio-demographics, awareness, knowledge, practices and misconceptions about EVD among the respondents. Knowledge of respondents about EVD was assessed on 20 items with a 3-points rating scale of good >14, fair 10-14 and poor <10. Of the 308 respondents that took part in the study, 111 (36%) were males and 127 (41.2%) rural dwellers and 43 (14%) of the respondents were between the ages of 9-18, 139 (45.1%) were between the ages of 19-25, 83 (26.9%) were between the ages of 26-35 and the remaining 43 (14%) were above 35 years of age. Five (1.6%) of the respondents had no formal education, 9 (2.9%) had primary education, 133 (43.2%) had secondary education and 161 (52.3%) had tertiary education. All the respondents (100%) have heard of Ebola.  Only 2.6% had poor knowledge of Ebola with 12% being able to identify four misconceptions surrounding Ebola transmission and prevention. Respondents in the study reported various changes in practices such as avoidance of physical contact (33.4%), regular hand washing with soap and water (69.2%) and hand cleaning with other disinfectants (61.7%), nevertheless 73.1% of the respondents will not report infected member of the family. Television was the major source of receiving information with the internet being the trusted source of receiving information on Ebola by the respondents. In Ogun State, awareness and comprehensive knowledge on Ebola Virus Disease transmission is high with good knowledge on misconceptions. There is need to emphasize importance of reporting suspected case(s) to the hospital 

Issues, Challenges and Policy Implications of Social Security Provisions for the Aged in Nigeria

The demographic characteristics of the Nigerian population have shown that the population of the country is ageing. Interestingly; while the population of these aged (majority of who are rural dwellers and women) is increasing, the population of the proportion under age I 5 is decreasing. And by rough estimate, it is expected that the size of the elderly in Nigeria will growfi·om 6 million in year 2000 to I 6 million by the year2005. This has grave consequence for the economic, socio-cultural and medical activities, which invariably raise the concern to develop a national action plan on how to manage resources in order to provide social safety-nets for the protection of the aged, particularly when the traditional family support systems are declining and weakened. In the light of the above, this paper focuses on the d(fferent problems of the aged in Nigeria; the provision and availability of social security services; and the examination of the possibility of having a better social security system that will enhance the quality of life of eve1y individual regardless of sex and age. On this basis, the paper therefore, recommends necessary policies/programmes that the Nigerian government (as well as other national governments in Africa) need to initiate in order to ensure better safety nets, not only for the aged butfor other categories oft he poor

A SURVEY OF VETERINARY DRUGS IN USE IN FISH FARMS IN ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE. NIGERIA

A cross-sectional study was conducted to characterize fish farmers in Ogun State with respect to their use of veterinary drugs and awareness of adverse effects these drugs have on human. A semi structured questionnaire was used to gather relevant data from 80 fish farmers in Abeokuta. The findings indicated that fish farmers in the study area were mostly males, married and well educated. Most of them obtain primary source of income from fish farming. Despite the fact that both skilled (41.25%) and unskilled (58.75%) labourers were employed on the farms, family members were also involved in the production. 21.25% used pelmendazole, 10.0% used melbendazole, while 26.0% used ivermectin as their anthelminthics. 78.75% used oxytetracycline, 37.5% used penicillin, while 40% used sulfadimidine as their antibiotics. 67.5% used ovaprim®  while 42.5% used ovatide® as hormones to boost their fish production. 76.25% of the fish farmers do not involve veterinarians in the production, whilst 48.75% of the farmers are not aware of adverse effect of veterinary drug residue in human. The results are discussed in view of the need for more involvement of veterinarians in fish production to ensure the adoption of global standards, thus guaranteeing improved food safety and sustainability in fish production.     &nbsp

Relationship Marketing and Customer Satisfaction: a Conceptual Perspective

This article examined the existing body of literature on transaction and relationship marketing. The specific objectives were to develop a conceptual framework to establish the relationship between relationship marketing and customer satisfaction and to examine the components of relationship marketing on the present ever dynamic world of business. The study identified relationship marketing variables and their impact on customer satisfaction. The framework aimed to provide insights into the studies on relationship marketing factors such as trust, commitment, communication, and service quality influence on customer satisfaction. The model provided a basis for empirical studies on the factors of relationship marketing and outcomes of customer satisfaction in developing nations. The study recommends that relationship marketing dimensions such as building customer\u27s trust, commitment to customers, communication, and service quality should be properly managed and maintained by service providers in Nigeria. This helps in building customer satisfaction and in the long-run customer loyalty

SITUATION OF RABIES IN A SOUTHWESTERN STATE OF NIGERIA: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY (1997-2007)

Retrospective data from 1997 – 2007 on reported cases of rabies in human and animals as well as antirabies vaccination were collected from medical records and epidemiological sections of the various veterinary and human hospitals in the four socio-cultural zones of Ogun State. Suspected cases of rabies were reported in animals with 8 (88.90%) in dogs and 1(11.10%) in goat.  The study revealed that most cases occurred in the rainy season with August having the highest number of cases (38.3%). Similarly, 12 cases were reported in humans with 8(66.7%) males and 4(33.3%) in females.  Children between the ages 0-12 years accounted for 75% of all reported human rabies cases while 25% occurred in Adults.  Dogs were the only species implicated in these cases resulting into 100% mortality.  Routine antirabies vaccinations were conducted for 4,781 dogs and highest exposure was recorded for Egba Zone (62.85%) and lowest for the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Abeokuta (1.05%).  In conclusion, accurate record keeping on rabies cases in Animals and Humans as well as vaccination exposure are hereby recommend in order to give the true picture of  rabies in Nigeria.  Also mass vaccinations, control of stray dogs, public education on rabies and government subsidies on cost of vaccination are also recommended. &nbsp

Microfinance Banks and Entrepreneurship Development in Nigeria: A Case of Ogun State

The purpose of this study was to determine how microfinance impacts on entrepreneurship development in Nigeria with a special reference to Ogun State. The survey research design was adopted and data collected through questionnaires. The impact of microfinance on entrepreneurship development in Nigeria was analyzed using the Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression method. The study revealed the existence of positive relationship between microfinance and entrepreneurship development in Nigeria. It further revealed that microfinance contribute to entrepreneurial activities that can lead to sustainable development in Nigeria. The findings of this study show that microfinance institutions go a long way in the determination of the level of entrepreneurial productivity and development in the Nigerian economy. In order to enhance entrepreneurship which is a potent instrument of activating the economic growth in developing countries, job creation, wealth creation, poverty eradication, innovations, and its related welfare effects by microfinance, the study recommended that in order to enable the beneficiaries of micro finance schemes to fully appreciate the utility of the facility, the monetary authority (CBN) must continue to appraise the credit delivery channels and formulate policies that would facilitate the delivery of the facilities to the rural communities. Microfinance institutions need to put in more effort in financing entrepreneurial activities that can promote economic growth accessible to the poor, reform of the legal system to offer more protection to investors and creditors and also establishment of credit information exchange mechanism that would track all borrowings and repayments in the banking system no matter the size. Key words: Entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, microfinance bank, microfinance, loan

Antispermatogenic Activity Of Morinda Morindoides Root Bark Extract In Male Wistar Rats

To investigate the effect of the aqueous extract of the root bark of Morinda morindoides (Rubiaceae) on the reproductive activity of male Wistar rats, three groups (A, B and C) of six rats each were treated with 400,800 and 1600 mg/kg/day of Morinda morindoides root bark extract respectively for 28 days while 5mls/kg of distilled water was given to the control group D. At the end of the experimental period, animals were sacrificed and sperm characteristics, histology of the testes and epididymis were assessed. Morinda morindoides root bark extract caused a significant reduction (p<0.05) in sperm motility, a significant dose dependent reduction in the sperm count and a significant (p<0.05) dose dependent increase in morphological abnormalities of the spermatozoa of the treated rats. Histopathological evaluation of the testis and epididymis revealed varying degrees of degeneration and necrosis of the germinal epithelia cell of the seminiferous tubules and spermiostasis. Morinda morindoides root bark extract has significant anti-spermatogenic effects on adult male Wistar rats which could impair reproductive activities in these male Wistar rats. &nbsp