THE EFFECT OF CONTRACEPTIVES ON VITAMIN C METABOLISM: SPECIAL REFERENCE ON 19 -NORTESTERONE GROUP (COMBINED ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE TABLETS) ON ASCORBATE METABOLISM

Millions of women throughout the world take oral contraceptives as a convenient method for extending intra-conceptual period, preventing unwanted pregnancies or delaying the starting of family. These contraceptive tablets, if taken regularly, offer nearly 100% protection against pregnancies and hence substantially contribute to the health and social well-being of the individual. Reports has shown that there is an interaction between the steroidal contraceptives and vitamins and thus an increased demand for healthy vitamin metabolism (1,2,2,4). It is also believed that oral contraceptives act by interfering with the normal menstrual cycle, hence normal menstrual cycles are reviewed with particular reference to ascorbate metabolism. Morese, since the ascorbate nutriture of Nigerian adults has been shown to be poo

Scintillation light produced by low-energy beams of highly-charged ions

Measurements have been performed of scintillation light intensities emitted from various inorganic scintillators irradiated with low-energy beams of highly-charged ions from an electron beam ion source (EBIS) and an electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS). Beams of xenon ions Xe$^{q+}$ with various charge states between $q$=2 and $q$=18 have been used at energies between 5 keV and 17.5 keV per charge generated by the ECRIS. The intensity of the beam was typically varied between 1 and 100 nA. Beams of highly charged residual gas ions have been produced by the EBIS at 4.5 keV per charge and with low intensities down to 100 pA. The scintillator materials used are flat screens of P46 YAG and P43 phosphor. In all cases, scintillation light emitted from the screen surface was detected by a CCD camera. The scintillation light intensity has been found to depend linearly on the kinetic ion energy per time deposited into the scintillator, while up to $q$=18 no significant contribution from the ions' potential energy was found. We discuss the results on the background of a possible use as beam diagnostics e.g. for the new HITRAP facility at GSI, Germany.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figure

Rethinking Workers' Education in Africa

The employment patterns and trends as well as technological changes have been the most important factors in broadening the need to rethink workers' education in Africa. Workers' education more than before, now has a particularly critical role to play in the various Africa rapidly changing societies by providing knowledge and information that the working class people need in order to cope with the changing conditions. Obviously, the role of workers' education in Africa assumes greater and greater importance. Wide ranges of capabilities are required nowadays to deal with emerging technological challenges. This shift of emphasis involved in looking at 'wider education' or 'development education' for increased sociooolitical and economic roles rather than 'education for industry' or 'technical utilitarian education', immediately makes it clear that the task is vast and challenging, requiring a new perspective. It is on this basis, that this paper therefore attempts the possibility of rethinking workers' education as constituting the most important form of human capital formation in African countries. Thus a rejuvenated, complicated, comprehensive and highly integrated facet of workers' education is seen as a key factor in creating an African labour force that will be able to play an effective role in the development of the various African nations

An Evaluation of Job Creation and Vocational Skills Development Programme of the National Directorate of Employment, In Lagos State of Nigeria

The purpose of the study is to critically analyse the Job Creation and Vocational Skills Development of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in L~os State with particular reference to the National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (NOAS). The descriptive survey approach was adopted for the study. The sample used for the study was drawn from the trainees, trainers and the Operational and Support Services staff of the NDE. The number was made up of seven hundred trainees, forty-two trainers and twenty officials of the National Directorate of Employment, in Lagos State. Three sets of questionnaires were the major research instruments used for gathering data. Records from the NDE National Headquarters and the Lagos State office at Yaba, coupled with oral interview, conducted on the beneficiaries of the NDE programme, complemented those data collec.ted through the questionnaires. The data collected were statically determined through the use of measure of central tendencies and chi-square (X' ) text. The study reveals that the objectives of the National Open Apprenticeship Scheme upon which the evaluation was carried out were achieved. The recruitment of trainees was carried out to adequately reflect the twenty local government areas of Lagos State. Thus, there was wide coverage of the whole state under the scheme. The study also found out that the training programme of NDE recognizes the training needs of the individual trainees. The study also revealed that there is a significant difference between the graduate and the NDE training programme and their counterparts in other vocational institutions. The study identifies some problems of NDE in the execution of its programmes and made recommendations that could solve them

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

Effects of Distance Education on the Businesses of Entrepreneurial Students of the Distance Learning Institute, University of Lagos

Entrepreneurship is the engine room of most successful economies in the world.  It plays a major role in economic growth and prosperity through its vital role in job creation, savings and investment promotion, skill development and innovation stimulation.  University education has been noted as a key determinant in fostering entrepreneurship among young people.  Since Open and Distance Learning (ODL) renders greater access to higher education than formal education it can be regarded as a veritable tool in propagating entrepreneurship.  A survey was conducted by randomly distributing questionnaires to 250 registered students of the Distance Learning Institute (DLI) of the University of Lagos who were entrepreneurs. 165 copies were returned rightly filled.  Majority of respondents were into trading, manufacturing, travels, restaurants and running of schools, largely in single ownership ventures.  A higher number recorded great impact of DLI programme on their businesses and stressed marketing/sales, personnel management and finance management as aspects of business mostly affected.  Their businesses have been positively affected by their studies at DLI while business knowledge has also helped them in their studies.  A greater number chose distance education (DE) over full-time as first choice and would freely recommend DE to other entrepreneurs. Key Words: Entrepreneurship, Open and Distance Learning, Distance Education Capacity Building, Entrepreneurs, Higher Education, Distance Learning Institute