Literature in the Time of Conflict

Panel: Writing in a Culture in Conflic

Writing Sample

Includes The Praegustator Who Spied on the World

Social Media Use and High-Risk Sexual Behaviour among Tertiary Institution Students in Kwara State, Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between social media use and high-risk sexual behaviour among tertiary institution students in Kwara State, Nigeria. A total of 561 students were selected by using stratified sampling technique. Data was collected with an instrument titled: Social Media and High-Risk Sexual Behaviour Questionnaire (SMHRSBQ). The measure of central tendency (mean) and mean average were used to determine levels of social media use and involvement in high-risk sexual behaviour. The Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation and One-Way ANOVA Statistics were used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. The Mean Average of responses on social media use was 3.19 while that of high-risk sexual behaviour was 2.83 indicating high levels on both variables among tertiary institution students respectively. Relationship between social media use and high-risk sexual behaviour was significant (p=0.00); no significant difference in social media use and high-risk sexual behaviour based on institution type (University=0.61; Polytechnic=0.13; College of Education=0.06: University=0.11; Polytechnic=0.16; College of Education=0.21) respectively. It was concluded that high use of social media predisposes students to high-risk sexual behaviour. School guidance counsellors should organise seminars periodically to sensitise students on the association between social media use and high-risk sexual behaviour

Women’s Perceptions and Uses of Information and Communication Technologies in Nigeria and China: A Comparative Analysis

Nigeria and China were probably experiencing roughly similar economic fortunes only about two decades ago. Then, both had large populations and very low per capita incomes. But their socio-economic fortunes and growth rates have diverged dramatically since, with China now being a superpower and the second largest economy in the world, while Nigeria is still tottering along as one of the poorest countries in the world in terms of various global human development indices and rankings. The rapid economic transformations that China has experienced should normally be expected to be accompanied by equally dramatic socio-cultural changes, including the emancipation and greater participation of women in national economic activities. This study sought to investigate the extent to which women in China participate now in the ICT sector of their country compared to women in Nigeria. Data were collected through a questionnaire administered to cross sections of 123 and 151 women surveyed in purposively selected cities in Nigeria and China respectively. Women in both countries recognize the importance of ICT, but those in Nigeria were constrained from full utilization of ICT benefits due to electricity supply problems, financial constraints and inadequate training for ICT. The study found that improved levels of education of women promote the adoption and use of ICT by women in both countries, and that owning personal computers and the availability of time for women helped to increase participation of women in ICT. Some recommendations were made based on the findings

Son of a dog

Son of a Dog is inspired by a real-life figure whose exploits captured the Nigerian public imagination in the 1980s. Famously known as Ovbigbo (“The Law”), Lawrence Anini unleashed a nationwide reign of terror against law and order. Set against the backdrop of the political turmoil following the Nigerian civil war, the novel traces Anini’s formative years in menial jobs to his rise to the leadership of a notorious criminal gang. It fuses the established facts of his short meteoric career with my imagined version of his inner life and the contemporary myths that sprung up around his legend. It finally crosses the boundary between the real and the mythic as Lawrence Anini becomes truly invincible and elusive after a lust-struck encounter with a fantastical character. I draw inspiration from the dark visceral fiction of Michael Cisco and Brian Evenson, AyiKwei Armah’s unflinchingly descriptive prose and E.C. Osondu’s sharp contemporary humour

Higher Education Institutions and Post-Covid In-Demand Employability Skills: Responding Through Curriculum that Works

This study explained that the post-Covid world of work would demand a new set of employability skills. Higher education institutions need to respond by preparing graduates with manifest post-COVID-19 employability skills through innovatively delivered curricula. Through literature review, the study identified post-Covid-19 in-demands employability skills and ways of innovatively fostering them. The study adopted the descriptive survey method and canvassed (104) faculty members’ (from 9 public universities) opinions through an online poll on the skills they considered relevant for post-pandemic graduate employability and integrating them into universities curricula. Data collected were descriptively analyzed using frequency count and percentage. Findings showed that when universities commit to innovative curriculum delivery, students can easily acquire skills and competencies required to effective security and create jobs in the post-Covid job market effectively recommended that universities should innovate their curricula by integrating post-Covid in-demands skills needed for students’ post-Covid job market

Regulatory and skills requirements for higher education in the Philippines

The provision of public resources to manage the expansion of the higher education system in the Philippines has been inadequate, and this has given rise to many private providers entering the HE domain. The proper regulation of higher education in the country is important if the Philippines is to respond to the challenge of producing the skills it needs for economic development. A Commission on Higher Education document of 2012 reiterated the mandate given to all higher education institutions in the Philippines to build a quality nation and to contribute to its global competitiveness. This mandate includes the need for the higher education system to produce graduates with analytical and problem-solving skills, among others. Perhaps the best one can hope for is that policies of this kind can provide an overarching framework and a general context for the development and strengthening of higher education institutions in order to make them relevant to the needs of the society in which they are situated.http://www.ippublishing.comhb2016Education Management and Policy Studie

Evaluation of CD4+ T Cells in HIV Patients Presenting with Malaria at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Nigeria

CD4 count is an important immunological marker of disease progression in HIV seropositive patients. This study was carried out to determine the effect of malaria or fever of unknown origin on the population of CD4+ T lymphocytes of HIV seropositive patients attending the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) clinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. 36 subjects were selected for this study. Ongoing history of fever was used as a case definition for malaria and malaria was confirmed from microscopic examination of thick and thin film of blood sample obtained from the patients during presentation with fever. The CD4 count was evaluated during presentation of fever and post-fever using flow cytometry. There was significant decrease in CD4 count of the patients. However, upon classifying the patients into 2 groups - those that returned to the clinic after a week and those that returned after a month - a significant increase in CD4 count was noticed in the group that returned after a week, while a significant decrease was noticed in the group that returned after a month (at p value of 95%). Further classification of the patients based on presence of malaria parasite, and body temperature resulted in varying effects on CD4 count post-fever (in the general group, 27 were positive for malaria parasites. Of these 27, there was an increase in CD4 count in 9 (33.3%). However in the group that returned after a week, all 6 (100%) that were positive for malaria parasites showed increase in CD4 count. Five (26.3%) of the 19 patients that had body temperature within the range of 35.5-37.4^o^C showed an increase in CD4 count, while 7 (41.2%) the 17 patients that had body temperature of 37.5^o^C and above showed an increase in CD4 count. The results led to the conclusion that while some components of the immune response to malaria could strengthen the immune system of HIV seropositive patients by increasing their CD4 count, other components will suppress their immunity by decreasing their CD4 count, accelerating the progression to AIDS

Utilisation of Library information resources by Undergraduates of Public University in Ogun State

The library has the singular function of collecting, organising, preserving, conserving and making information accessible to potential users in different formats. This study examined the correlation between utilisation of print and electronic resources by Undergraduates of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye and Tai solarin University, Ijagun, Ogun State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from 380 students from the total population 39,256 of the undergraduates in the institutions, while for the qualitative data the researcher interviewed the Heads of Automation and Readers’ Services Units of the three universities studied. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Results revealed that 59. 6% of the respondents in the three universities were female, 57.2% were between 21-25 years of age. The types of information resources available by the undergraduates were text books ( =2.84) for print information resources and internet material ( =2.65) for non-print information reources. The most often used of the library information resources were text books ( =4.23). Results further revealed that the purpose of use of library and information resources by the undergraduates of state universities in Ogun state, Nigeria. It reported that self-study ranked highest as the major purpose of using information resources with a mean score of ( =3.76), and was followed by preparation for examination ( =3.73) and assignment purpose ( =3.70). In conclusion, the most utilised information resources was text book and e-books of non-print formats. The study recommended that university libraries should invest more in the acquisition of current and updated textbooks and e-books

Preventing occupational ailments and disorders associated with cassava mash dewatering techniques

Open Access JournalMethods in use to reduce the cyanide level in cassava were found to be dangerous to the processors. To reduce occupational hazards, cassava processors sometimes wear protective coverings such as hand gloves, overall, mouth/nose hood, eye goggles which are not comfortable. Each of the steps in cassava processing stages exposes workers to various occupationally related ailments and disorders of ergonomic origin. The operators of dewatering tools are at the risks of suffering from different ailments.The traditional processors still depend on the old technique and resources. Workers are often exposed to cyanide and many are scared of the toxic effect of cassava juice. To prevent the occupational related ailment, mash process handling machine was developed and evaluated. The obtained result by use of the machine confirms the operators’ protection. The obtained mash cake was found to meet the stake holders’ requirement of 47-50% moisture content wet bases without human contact