Trends and Future Directions in Open and Distance Learning Practice in Africa

Open and Distance Learning (ODL), formerly known as Distance Education (DE) is one of the most rapidly growing fields of education in recent time. Distance education has experienced remarkable growth in national and international scenes since the early 1980s. In spite of recent phenomenal developments in the world of electronic networks, especially the recent global attention to the Internet, which has provided the primary technological thrust, several other emerging technologies have also promised to change the landscape of education in general, and distance education in particular drastically. The field of distance education is therefore, at the centre of dynamic growth and change. This paper focuses on current trends in ODL from African perspective. It examines some of the definitions that have been put forward by experts in the field, as well as some features that characterized ODL. The paper also reflects on some practices in Africa’s ODL programmes. Furthermore, current trends in the practice of ODL in African countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Bostwana and Nigeria are critically discussed. Some of the policy recommendations highlighted in the paper include the need to invest more in ODL through meaningful budgetary allocations and cost sharing at higher levels of education, creation of partnerships and networking among ODL institutional providers within the continent, private telecommunication sector, and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Correlation between faecal indicator bacteria in diarrheagenic stools and hospital wastewaters: Implication on public health

Background: Hospital wastewaters contain blends of inorganic, natural constituents and contaminants that carry significant health risk when released directly into the environment. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between faecal indicator bacteria in diarrheagenic stools and wastewaters generated in University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital complex, Akure, Nigeria.Methodology: Quantification of faecal indicator bacteria was carried out on diarrheagenic faecal samples collected from 55 hospitalized patients and 68 wastewater samples from the medical laboratory science and laundry units of the hospital over of period of 12 weeks. Standard membrane filtration technique was performed using membrane intestinal enterococcus (m-ENT), membrane faecal coliform (m-FC), membrane lauryl sulphate (MLSA), eosin methylene blue (EMB) and Salmonella-Shigella (SS) agar plates, which were incubated at 37ºC for 24 hours (MLSA, EMB and SSA), 44ºC for 24 hours (m-FC); and 37ºC for 48 hours (m-ENT). Bacterial colonies on agar plates were counted and expressed as colony forming units (CFU) per 100ml of diarrheagenic stool and wastewater. Pearson’scorrelation analysis was used to determine the relationship between the level of faecal indicator bacteria in diarrheagenic stools and wastewaters at p<0.05 level of significance (and 95% confidence interval).Results: The faecal coliform counts (log 10 CFU/100ml) ranged from 1.18 to 1.54 in diarrheagenic stools, 1.32 to1.64 in laboratory wastewater and 1.08 to 2.19 in laundry wastewater. Escherichia coli count (log 10 CFU/100ml) ranged from 1.08 to 1.40 in diarrheagenic stools, 1.20 to 1.86 in laboratory wastewater and 0.30 to 1.81 in laundry wastewater. Intestinal enterococci count (log 10 CFU/100ml) ranged from 0 to 0.30 in diarrheagenic stools, 0.78 to 0.90 in laboratory wastewaters and 0.48 to 1.11 in laundry wastewaters. Pearson’s correlation co-efficient showed that all the faecal indicator bacteria count in diarrheagenic faecal samples exhibited positive correlation with those in laboratory wastewaters, but not with those from laundry wastewaters.Conclusion: The findings suggest that diarrheagenic stools should be properly disinfected after the performance of laboratory tests to prevent transmission of potential pathogens, and wastewater generated from hospitals should be treated prior to discharge into the environment, to prevent possible infections in the community. Keywords: Correlation, faecal indicator bacteria, public health, transmission, wastewate

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF GENOTYPING AND CULTURE-BASED TECHNIQUES FOR FUNGAL KERATITIS DETECTION

The study aims to compare the direct polymerase chain reaction with microbial culture for the detection and fungal pathogens in infectious keratitis.  A total of 81 corneal ulcers were culture and analyzed prospectively. PCR was performed with all corneal scrapping with fungal and bacteria specific primers. PCR products were analysed and compared with the culture results using standard methods. Of the 81 samples, 80 were positive by PCR, 51 for fungi and 29 for bacteria. Out of 51 PCR positive samples, 22 samples were culture positive and 29 were culture negative. The majority of PCR genotyped samples matched the positive culture results. The positive detection rate of 80/81 (98.8%) with high suspicion of fungal keratitis and positive detection rate of direct PCR 50/51(98.0%) were observed. The sensitivities for the diagnosis of fungal keratitis with direct PCR and culture were 98.0% (50/51) and 43.1% (22/51) (p< 0.001) whereas the specificities were 100.0% (2/2) and 100.0% (1/1) respectively. The time required to complete the direct PCR was only 3 hours. The direct PCR assay is a rapid diagnostic technique with high sensitivity and specificity for infectious keratitis and it is expected to have impact on the diagnosis and treatment of infectious keratitis. &nbsp

Multiple pituitary hormone deficiency caused by Pit-I mutation and the challenges of management in a developing country

Background: In most developing countries, childhood endocrine disorders are not as common as infections but they do occur. Multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD) is a known cause of familial short stature. This is very rarely diagnosed in Nigerian children. We describe the challenges of diagnosis and management of childhood endocrine conditions in a developing economy using a ten year old Nigerian girl with MPHD as an illustration.Methods: Patient had auxological data suggestive of short stature. In order to make a definitive diagnosis, pituitary function tests were carried out in the United Kingdom.Results: Biochemical tests revealed growth hormone (GH) deficiency, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) deficiency, decreased prolactin (PRL) level, normal cortisol and gonadotrophins. Her DNA analysis identified PIT-1 mutation in exon-6. She was placed on recombinant GH and thyroxine with evidence of catch up in height.Conclusions: There were challenges to management such as, inadequate facility for diagnosis, huge cost of treatment and little awareness about childhood endocrine conditions amongst health workers in a developing economy.Keywords: Multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD), PIT-1 mutation, short stature, management, developing country

Intelligent Citizenship Identity through Family Pedigree Using Graph-Signature Based Random-Forest Model

There has been a global upsurge of interest in the topic of citizenship identity over the past decades, specifically in the world dominated by profound insecurity, inequalities, proliferation of identities, and rise of identity politics,engendered by capitalism. However finding effective solution to these problems has been rendered difficult. To alleviate these problems, this paper presents an analytical Machine learning model that suitably combined the graph signature with random forest techniques. This study presents the design and realization of a novel Intelligent Citizenship Identity through family pedigree using Graph Signature based random forest (GSB-RF) model. The study also showcases the development of a novel graph signature technique referred to as Canonical Code Signature(CCS) method. The CCS method is used at the pre-processing stage of the identification process to build signature for any given tuple. Performance comparisim between the present system and the baseline techniques which includes: the K-Nearest Neighbour and the traditional Random Forest shows that the present system outperformed the baseline method studied. The proposed system shows capability to perform continuous re-identification of Citizens based on their family pedigree with ability to select best sample with low computational complexity, high identification accuracy and speed. Our experimental result shows that the precision rate and identification quality of our system in most cases are equal to or greater than 70%. Therefore, the proposed Citizenship Identification machine is capable of providing usable, consistent, efficient, faster and accurate identification, to the users, security agents, government agents and institutions on-line, real-time and at any-time

Impact Analysis of Violent Conflict and Enabling Business Environment on Entrepreneurial Performance in North East Zone of Nigeria

The issues of countless loss of lives, properties and closing down of business operations as a result of violent conflict in Nigeria despite enabling business environment and efforts of the Nigerian Government towards entrepreneurship development necessitates this study. The study investigates the impact of violent conflict and enabling business environment on the entrepreneurship performance in Nigeria with a particular reference to North East Zone of Nigeria.  The paper adopts a survey research method in order to enhance empirical investigation. Random sampling was used to select 705 entrepreneurs in six (6) states across the North-East Zone. The structural questionnaire was used to obtain primary data while pair test was used to analyze the data. The calculated t-test value for annual sales volume and annual profit volume during violent conflict period and during violent conflict-free period with enabling business environment indicates high significant impact of enabling business environment without violence on good entrepreneurial performance. Thus, it was found that violent conflict leads to low business performance, unnecessary closing down of businesses, and reduction in number of employees, unemployment and high level of poverty among entrepreneurs in the zone. In order to maintain peace and improve entrepreneurship performance, the study recommends, among others, that political thugs in the society should be identified, call to order, given proper orientation and reformation towards gaining employment opportunities. Also, people should learn to forgive and forget past injustices in order to avoid reprisals while maintaining adequate enabling business environment

DOES WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AFFECT THE PROFITABILITY OF CONSUMER GOODS MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN NIGERIA?

The study examined the effect of working capital management on profitability of consumer goods manufacturing firms in Nigeria between the periods 2009 to 2018. The study adopted ex-post-facto design to generate data from the audited financial statements of the selected companies. The population of the study comprised 24 listed consumer goods manufacturing companies, out of which 10 were purposively selected based on the availability of data. The surrogates for independent variables were Account Payable Period (APP), Account Receivable Period (ARP), Inventory Turnover Period (INVTP), Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) and Sales Growth (SG) as a control variable while the proxy for profitability was Return on Asset (ROA). Descriptive and inferential statistics coupled with multiple regressions were adopted to analyze the data.  The Random Effects Generalized Least Square showed that ARP, INVTP, CCC had a negative and significant relationship with ROA while APP, SG had a positive and insignificant relationship with ROA. The study concluded that timely collection of debts and shorter inventory turnover period with cash conversion cycle enhance profitability of consumer goods manufacturing companies. Hence, the study suggested that the management of the companies should implement efficient working capital management for improved profitability.   &nbsp

Effects of Gmelina arborea Powdered Parts on Mortality of Dinoderus porcellus in Yam Chips

The study aims at evaluating the efficacy of different doses of powdered stem and leaf parts of Gmelina arborea on Dinoderus porcellus infesting yam chips in Jos metropolis. The experiment was conducted at the Entomology Laboratory of the Federal College of Forestry, Jos. Samples of infested yam chips and Gmelina arborea were collected in Jos metropolis. Newly emerged adult Dinoderus porcellus were exposed to the yam chips which were mixed with different levels of Gmelina arborea parts powder (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 g). The setup was monitored for 120 hours and mortality recorded. The study was carried out in a randomized complete design with treatments replicated thrice. Data was analysed using analysis of variance at 1 and 5 percent confidence level and Duncan test was used to separate the means. The results obtained reveal significant differences at p value=0.05 and 0.01. The results reveal that in all the doses, an increase in the amount of the powder resulted in increased incidence of D. porcellus mortality. After 120 hours of exposure, 100 % mortality was recorded from either 15 or 20 g stem bark + leaf powder treatment. From the results obtained, the use of 15 g stem bark+leaf powder of Gmelina arborea could be effective in yam chips preservation which could in turn strengthen food security. Keywords: Yam chips; Dioscorea spp; Stem bark; Botanical; Leaf powde

Distribution and Speciation of Heavy Metals in Soils around Some Selected Auto Repair Workshops in Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria

Soil contamination by heavy metals is a worldwide environmental problem. Hence determining the chemical forms of a metal in soils is important to evaluate its mobility and bioavailability. This study determined the distribution and speciation of some heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd) in soils around some selected auto repair workshops in Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected with the aid of soil Augar within a depth of 0 – 15 cm from the vicinity of the four selected auto repair workshops in Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria. The control samples were taken from a site free from auto repair and commercial activities. The soil samples were assessed for some physico-chemical properties, total heavy metal concentration, chemical speciation, mobility and some metal assessment indices of the heavy metals as a function of soil properties. The mean concentration of Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in all the sites analyzed were 550.54, 31.08, 36.15, 4.21 and 1.11 mg/kg respectively. Site B and the control had the highest and lowest total concentration of the five metals analyzed respectively. The levels of Cu were above the DPR target value in sites A and B, while the levels of Cd were above the target value in all the sites except in the control site. All the metals were found to be mostly concentrated in the residual fraction except Zn which was found mostly in the carbonate fraction. The mobility factors revealed that Zn is the most mobile element with an average mobility factor of 41.54% while Cd is the least mobile element with an average mobility factor of 16.51%. Contamination factors, index of geoaccumulation and pollution load index were also calculated. This study showed that mechanic workshop is one of the major sources of anthropogenic heavy metals concentration in the environment