Improving Food Security with Cocoyam Production by the Smallholder Female Farmers in Ebonyi State, Southeastern Nigeria

A survey was carried out to ascertain the cocoyam species found, grown and used as one of the underutilized food security resources for solving food supply problems in the developing regions of Ebonyi State, Southeastern Nigeria, which has provided good nutrition to south pacific Islanders for 100s of years. Ebonyi State is an agrarian economy rich in abundant food crops with a vegetation of mixed savanna and semi-tropical forests. Six local government areas out of 13 were randomly selected for the survey from which two female smallholder farmers each were interviewed. Taro (Colocasia esculenta) and Tannia (Xanthosoma sagitifolium) were found grown in all the communities and the index of each species’ popularity and utility was shown by the percentage response of the farmers. The taro/dasheen species; ‘ede bu ji’ (100%), ‘udugu’ (75%), ‘agbakara’ (75%), ‘okoroko’ (41%) and ‘ikponyini’ (54%), whereas tannia species as ‘nkashi ndonyu’ (white fleshed) was 100% but ‘nkashi manu’ (pink fleshed) was only 25%. Basically, ‘ede bu ji’ of taro and ‘nkashi ndonyu’ of tannia were more popular, more widely grown and utilized in the area than other species. Storage is mainly underground pit lined with palm leaves and dusted with ash to prevent fungal growth or sorted and sold out-rightly for which 75% farmers agreed to. Cocoyam is rarely sole cropped but intercropped with maize, yam and cassava in a slash and burn system. Keywords: Cocoyam species, food security resource, underutilized crop species, resource-constrained farmer

Exploring Parental Involvement in Public Secondary Schools in Imo State, Nigeria: The Role of Socioeconomic Status

Recent academic achievement gaps of public secondary students in Imo State, in WAEC, NECO, and JAMB examinations posed a threat to students’ aspiration to college education. The poor academic achievement level was denting previously achieved high academic record in Imo State. This trend was disturbing to parents and educators. However, this trend could be remedied if appropriate educational policy was enacted and implemented in secondary schools. One educational policy initiative that seemed to have worked in some countries is parents’ participation in their children’s education, otherwise, called “parental involvement.” Studies have shown that parental involvement in the education of their children help students to perform better both in their studies and in academic achievement. The aim of this study was, therefore, to explore parents’ involvement in the education of their children in public schools in Imo State, against the backdrop of their socioeconomic status. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 30 parent-participants of varying socioeconomic backgrounds; to examine their perception of parental involvement, their type of involvement, the expectation they held for their children’s education, their motivations to get involved, and the challenges they faced. The results of this study revealed that irrespective of their social and economic status, parents believed that secondary education was necessary for college education. Influenced by sociocultural norms, the parents perceived “parental involvement” not as a planned, structured effort directed solely toward the success of children, instead, they viewed participation in their children’s education as integral to their overall parental obligations. This opinion was true of the low-SES more than the middle and high SES parents. The middle- (n=6) and high-SES parents planned for their children’s education from childhood. All parents were knowledgeable about the importance of education. The ultimate motivation parents had in sending their children to school was to achieve an upward social and economic mobility for their families’ overall well-being. This result challenged the common assumption that low-SES parents lacked understanding of the importance of education. The parents were involved with their children’s education at home than in schools. Lack of consistent scheduling of PTA meetings, and poor communication channel contributed to parents’ poor involvement in schools. Two factors: level of education and occupation, distinguished involvement capabilities of the middle- and high-SES, and low-SES parents, while income factor limited the low-income parents’ ability to provide school-related need for their children. Although, parents were eager to support their children to succeed in secondary school exit exams such as WAEC and NECO, and college entrance exam, JAMB; the inadequate carrying capacity of colleges, poverty, and high college-graduate employment opportunities challenged low-SES parents’ college funding decisions. The results of this study could inform policy articulating the relevance of parents’ involvement in their children’s high school education. It could enlighten parents and school administrators on the need for collaboration and cooperation regarding finding parental involvement strategy that makes for student achievement

Influence of Soil Fertility Management Practices on the Nodule-forming Ability of Some Soybean Varieties in a Sub-humid Environment, Nigeria

In a two-year field trials, the influence of eight soil fertility management practices in optimizing the  ability  of six selected promiscuous soybean varieties to form nodules was evaluated in Abakaliki, Southeastern Nigeria which has no history of soybean cultivation in the past. Soil test before planting indicated a pH of 5.50 and 5.85 after harvesting with high available phosphorus, which may have been the reason for its low impact in influencing nodule formation among other practices. Poultry manure and wood ash were both affordable and available low-external inputs which had high potentials in improving and optimizing nodule formation in the soybean varieties to 73.14% and 50.92% in 2008 and 68.55% and 30.77% in 2009, and both are highly recommended as veritable tools for improving soil fertility among the smallholder farmers, where high cost of external inputs has always been the major setback to crop production. Keywords: Inorganic fertilizer, nodule formation, poultry manure, promiscuous soybean, soil fertilit

Exploring Parental Involvement in Public Secondary Schools in Imo State, Nigeria: The Role of Socioeconomic Status

Recent academic achievement gaps of public secondary students in Imo State, in WAEC, NECO, and JAMB examinations posed a threat to students’ aspiration to college education. The poor academic achievement level was denting previously achieved high academic record in Imo State. This trend was disturbing to parents and educators. However, this trend could be remedied if appropriate educational policy was enacted and implemented in secondary schools. One educational policy initiative that seemed to have worked in some countries is parents’ participation in their children’s education, otherwise, called “parental involvement.” Studies have shown that parental involvement in the education of their children help students to perform better both in their studies and in academic achievement. The aim of this study was, therefore, to explore parents’ involvement in the education of their children in public schools in Imo State, against the backdrop of their socioeconomic status. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 30 parent-participants of varying socioeconomic backgrounds; to examine their perception of parental involvement, their type of involvement, the expectation they held for their children’s education, their motivations to get involved, and the challenges they faced. The results of this study revealed that irrespective of their social and economic status, parents believed that secondary education was necessary for college education. Influenced by sociocultural norms, the parents perceived “parental involvement” not as a planned, structured effort directed solely toward the success of children, instead, they viewed participation in their children’s education as integral to their overall parental obligations. This opinion was true of the low-SES more than the middle and high SES parents. The middle- (n=6) and high-SES parents planned for their children’s education from childhood. All parents were knowledgeable about the importance of education. The ultimate motivation parents had in sending their children to school was to achieve an upward social and economic mobility for their families’ overall well-being. This result challenged the common assumption that low-SES parents lacked understanding of the importance of education. The parents were involved with their children’s education at home than in schools. Lack of consistent scheduling of PTA meetings, and poor communication channel contributed to parents’ poor involvement in schools. Two factors: level of education and occupation, distinguished involvement capabilities of the middle- and high-SES, and low-SES parents, while income factor limited the low-income parents’ ability to provide school-related need for their children. Although, parents were eager to support their children to succeed in secondary school exit exams such as WAEC and NECO, and college entrance exam, JAMB; the inadequate carrying capacity of colleges, poverty, and high college-graduate employment opportunities challenged low-SES parents’ college funding decisions. The results of this study could inform policy articulating the relevance of parents’ involvement in their children’s high school education. It could enlighten parents and school administrators on the need for collaboration and cooperation regarding finding parental involvement strategy that makes for student achievement

Social Issues in Nnamdi Anumihe’s Chartered Messenger

Social issues in literary creativity revolve around the socio-political, economic, cultural and religious temperament in the society. Indeed, the treatment of burning issues of the day and its effective reflection and mirroring in various degrees and dimensions in literary creativity is what is commonly referred to as social engagement in literature. Thus, a literary writer who chooses to use his creative ability to serve a given social cause or interest in his artistic environment shows a measure of commitment by being honest and faithful in capturing and reflecting the traumatic experiences, struggles and harrowing inhuman conditions in his society. In fact, his literary creativity should be critical of such occurrences in his society. In other words, his creative input should condemn in varying degrees of accuracy, bribery and corruption, social evils and injustices, social discrimination, armed robbery and all forms of racketeering, etc. These are in fact, among the thematic preoccupations of Chartered Messenger. The focus of this paper, therefore is to critically examine how effectively the literary artist under study has employed his creative ability in his work to tackle these harrowing inhuman conditions and problems in the society with a view to calling for social change and reform in the lives of the people

Response of Maize Varieties to Some Soil Fertility Management Options in Abakaliki Southeastern Nigeria

Soybean residual manure (SRM) and inorganic fertilizer were evaluated in 2008 and 2009 for growth and yield responses of three elite maize varieties in Abakaliki (latitude 060 19´ 407´´ N and longitude 080 07´ 831´´ E) in a 4 x 3 factorial arranged in a randomized complete block design in four replications. Soil fertility managements significantly (p<0.05) improved yield parameters better than growth, but under SRM + NPK (15:15:15) at 200 Kgha-1, Ikom white (local) had the largest growth and the largest leaf area (9 930.0 cm2). Fertilizer replacement value of SRM had shelling weight (9.80 gplant-1) more than a half of 18.72g [SRM + NPK (15:15:15)] and 16.79g [NPK (15:15:15)] at 200 Kgha-1 only and more than the control (9.50g). Suwan (composite) had heavier shelling weight (14.59g plant-1) than 13.91g (Oba super II, a hybrid) and 12.09g (local). The hybrid had the highest harvest index (60%) but Suwan had the highest 1000 seed weight (209.38g) per plant. SRM with the local for small-scale and SRM + NPK (15:15:15) with Suwan for large-scale production are recommended. Keywords: Elite maize variety, Soil fertility management, Fertilizer replacement value, Soybean residual manure

Impact of Different Mulching Materials on the Growth and Yield of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in Abakaliki, Southeastern Nigeria

Field trials were carried out in 2009 and 2010 dry season plantings to evaluate the effects of different mulching materials on the growth and yield of watermelon in Abakaliki, South eastern Nigeria, in a 2 x 5 factorial experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications. Factor A consisted of two watermelon cultivars (koalack and sugar baby), while factor B was five different mulching materials (black plastic mulch, transparent plastic mulch, rice hull mulch, grass mulch and a control). The plots were irrigated twice daily (morning and evening) enough to make moisture available for the plants. Sugar baby cultivar performed better than koalack. All the mulching materials were significantly (p<0.05) different from the control on all the growth and yield parameters. However, rice hull mulch was better in enhancing watermelon performance, followed by transparent plastic mulch, then black plastic mulch, while the least came from the control. On the other hand, the treatments generally increased moisture content which also increased the crop yield over the control. Keywords: Watermelon, mulch, moisture, growth and yield parameters

Impacts of Consumption of Meal on Academic Achievement in Basic Science among Junior Secondary Students in Rivers State

This study examined the impact of meal consumption on junior students’ academic achievement in basic science. It is a cross sectional study carried out on 1960 students who enrolled and stayed in their school for at least two years. They were selected from 24 public Junior Secondary Schools in three senatorial districts in Rives State. They responded to a meal time survey scale (MTSS) used to obtain data on the rate of meal intake. Average score of two years Basic Science examination results of the students was taken as the measure for academic achievement. The results were collected from the student’s schools and the average score determined to indicate the achievement level of each of the participants. Percentage, mean and Anova were the statistical tools used in data analysis. Results showed that majority of the students do skip their breakfast and lunch but had their dinner. It also showed that daily eating of breakfast, lunch and dinner significantly (p<.05) promotes academic achievement of students. Thus we recommended that parents should ensure that their children or ward regularly consume breakfast, lunch and dinner on daily basis. Also, government should implement the school free feeding programme. Keywords: Meal consumption, Basic science, Academic achievement, Junior Secondary School

A Pragmatic Study of Selected Humorous Discourse by Nigerian Stand-up Comedians

One primary communicative goal in humour is entertainment. Nevertheless, other pragmatic implications result when humourists subconsciously deploy various linguistic strategies, as they entertain their audience through the use of witty sayings crafted in contextualised, real or imaginary scenarios. Following Grice’s Cooperative Principle, this study investigates deeper communicative effects achieved by Nigerian stand-up comedians. It pays attention to cases of the flouting of Gricean maxims, and examines the speakers’ discursive motives. Five texts sourced from three distinguished Nigerian stand-up humourists are presented for analysis, given their thematic focus on trending national socio-political discourses. Findings show that maxim flouting is fundamental to creating humour, as all four maxims are flouted, with some utterances flouting more than one. The maxim of quality is flouted the most, thus emphasising its pivotal role in creating humour. Evidence for this is provided in the comedians’ heavy dependence on hypothetical illustrations, exaggerations and understated realities. In addition, instances of incongruous expressions, narrations and manipulation of news reports serve to contextualise humour. Humourists deploy their art to satirise and challenge the national socio-political status quo, thereby subtly revealing their personal ideologies. The work proves further that irrespective of time, audience or context, comedians use the same linguistic tools to amuse their audience while also advancing claims that humour is an expressive use of language, as a vehicle to canvass for social change. Keywords: Pragmatics, Humour, Socio-Political Discourse, Maxim, Communicatio

Evaluation of multifaceted holistic measures and strategies for combating cash-in-transit heists in South Africa

In recent years, South Africa has witnessed a rise in diverse criminal activities, including violent crime, armed robbery, domestic violence, rape, heists, murder, drug abuse, theft, organised crime, cybercrime, social media offences, gangsterism, ritual killings, cultism, smuggling, the import and sale of contraband, and human and drug trafficking. Enhancing the abilities and competencies of criminal justice officials responsible for preventing, reducing, investigating, and prosecuting crime is crucial for achieving success in the fight against crime. This study seeks to discover comprehensive tools and techniques to reduce cash-in-transit robbery thefts in South Africa. A mixed-method approach was employed for data collecting, integrating qualitative and quantitative methodologies, such as interviews and questionnaires. Findings indicated alarming escalations in violent crime and cash-in-transit heists in South Africa. Technological improvements and inventions have led to an increase in sophisticated criminal activities both in South Africa and elsewhere. Cash-in-transit crime adversely impacts the nation's economy, leading to significant financial losses for institutions and resulting in numerous fatalities. It is essential to analyse the root causes of cash-in-transit crimes to implement preventive measures; hence, enhancing the capacity of police, law enforcement, and private security personnel to collect and utilise intelligence is necessary for the prevention and reduction of cash-in-transit robberies. Intelligence-led policing techniques should be implemented to target criminals and mitigate cash-in-transit crime in South African communities, as well as to prosecute offenders. Moreover, the implementation of multifaceted and holistic strategies, including spatial and crime mapping, focused deterrence, the prediction of prolific offenders, the identification and targeting of repeat offenders, crime intelligence, community intelligence, and inter-agency collaboration, is essential for an expedited response to crime incidents, as well as for the prevention and reduction of crime, investigation, prosecution, and sentencing of cash-in-transit heist offenders. It is essential for the criminal justice system, law enforcement, and security agencies to adopt intelligence-driven community policing, a holistic approach that prioritises the identification and prevention of habitual offenders, focussing on groups that pose a threat to the community. It utilises community intelligence in conjunction with other intelligence-driven policing techniques and approaches to combat crime and criminal activities