E-Banking in Nigeria: Issues and Challenges

The aim of this study was to assess issues and challenges of e-banking in Nigeria. The specific objectives were to ascertain the effect of e-banking on workers, job security in Nigeria banking industry, examine the relationship between e- banking and quality of service delivery of commercial banks in Nigeria, evaluate the relationship between e-banking and security of financial transactions and to find out if e-banking influences customers satisfaction in the Nigerian banking industry. The survey and descriptive research design were adopted in the methodology of the study. The population consists of all the customers and staff of three selected banks branches in the Benin metropolis. A sample of three hundred respondents was selected using the convenience random sampling techniques. The study employs primary data using questionnaires as the research instrument. The data analysis was carried out using summary statistics and ordinary least square regression analysis. The study findings indicate that employees’ job security has a positive relationship with E-banking and significantly influence E-banking in Nigeria; customers’ satisfaction was ascertained to have a positive relationship with e-banking and also influence e-banking penetration in Nigeria; security of financial transactions was found to have a positive relationship with e-banking, it however had inverse significant impact on e-banking; services delivery has a positive relationship with e-banking. It is therefore recommended that for effective ebanking penetration, investors education and marketing of e-banking products should be the key strategy banks should use to attract more customers towards embracing e-banking and increasing security for e-banking products, reduction of charges on e-banking products and increasing more ATM outlets in Nigeria as part of measures towards enhancing quality services delivery and promotion of e-banking as this will further enhance the recent need for financial inclusion as part of the monetary policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria

Formulation of Oil-Based Drilling Fluids (Muds) From Plant Seed Oil (GmelinaArborea Seed Oil)

Due to increase in environmental issues, there is need for drilling companies to come up with a safer, environmental friendly oil-based drilling fluid. For this study, oil extracted from non-food plant seed (Gmelina) was used as the base fluid for drilling mud samples in laboratory. The oil extracted was tested and compared with the standard requirements for oil needed for oil based drilling fluid. Results showed that the oil met the requirements and can be used in formulation of oil based muds. Oil in water emulsion was made using oil/water ratio of 60 to 40. 200ml of oil and 350 ml of water. 50g of bentonite and barite were finally added to build up the density to 10ppg. The mud sample was formulated with Gmelina seed oil as the base fluid and compared to a diesel based mud sample of same quantity. Different mud tests such as toxicity, filtration, pH, viscosity and density were carried out on the samples to ascertain the suitability of their properties for drilling operation and their degree of safety to the environment. The results obtained showed that Gmelina seed oil-based mud has the lowest viscosity which implies less resistance to flow and lower pressure losses. The outcome of the toxicity test confirmed Gmelina to be safer and less harmful while diesel is highly toxic as expected. The overall result obtained from the test indicates that Gmelina seed oil based muds stands a chance of being among the technically and environmentally viable replacement for the conventional diesel oil-based muds. The study serves as one of the solutions to the environmental problem associated with oil-based drilling operations.   Keywords: Formulation, Oil-Based Drilling Mud, Plant Seed Oil, Gmelina Arborea, Diesel Oil

Evaluation of serum Cd, Zn, and Cr in male cement loaders in Benin City, Nigeria

Production of cement is a dusty industrial process and its effect on the health of workers has been studied for many years. The aim of this research is to study the effects of cement dust on serum heavy metal in cement loaders in Benin City. The level of serum heavy metals: Cadmium,, Zinc and Chromium of thirty(30) male cement loaders and apparently thirty(30) healthy non-cement loaders (controls) were measured using standard methods. The results revealed that significant difference was observed in serum cadmium(0.4980mg/L) and chromium(1.220mg/L) concentration of cement factory workers exposed to cement dust when compared with control (0.4030mg/L and 0.03434mg/L respectively) at p<0.05). Proper safety measures such as wearing of face mask and workshop coat is thus advised to minimize the health effects of the cement dust.Keywords: serum, heavy metals, cement, loader

Business Ethics and Corporate Growth

This study was carried out to ascertain the impact of business ethical code of conduct on corporate growth in the wake of several corporate fraud, misstatement and misrepresentation. This study employed the survey research design. Business ethics and corporate growth questionnaire (BECGQ) was developed and 100 of the BECGQ were administered, out of which 80 were completely filled and returned. The Pearson product moment correlation was used to test the analysed data at 50% significance level. The study revealed that adoption of business ethical code of conduct and employee adherence to rules and regulations enhance corporate growth. The study also revealed that there is no significant relationship between corporate growth and corporate adherence to rules and regulations. The study therefore recommended that business ethics should be align with the corporate structure, goals and culture in order to enhance corporate growth. Key words: Business ethics, Corporate growth, rules and regulation

Experiences of primary healthcare workers in Australia towards women and girls living with female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) : a qualitative study

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a harmful cultural practice with significant health consequences for affected women and girls. Due to migration and human mobility, an increasing number of women with FGM/C are presenting to healthcare facilities of western countries (including Australia) where the practice is non-prevalent. Despite this increase in presentation, the experiences of primary healthcare providers in Australia engaging and caring for women/girls with FGM/C are yet to be explored. The aim of this research was to report on the Australian primary healthcare providers’ experiences of caring for women living with FGM/C. A qualitative interpretative phenomenological approach was utilised and convenience sampling was used to recruit 19 participants. Australian primary healthcare providers were engaged in face-to-face or telephone interviews, which were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Three major themes emerged, which were: exploring knowledge of FGM/C and training needs, understanding participants’ experience of caring for women living with FGM/C, and mapping the best practice in working with women. The study shows that primary healthcare professionals had basic knowledge of FGM/C with little or no experience with the management, support, and care of affected women in Australia. This impacted their attitude and confidence to promote, protect, and restore the target population’s overall FGM/C-related health and wellbeing issues. Hence, this study highlights the importance of primary healthcare practitioners being skilled and well-equipped with information and knowledge to care for girls and women living with FGM/C in Australia

Chemical Substances and in-Vivo Antiplasmodial Activity of Ageratum Conyzoides in Plasmodium Berghei Infected Mice

Malaria afflicts millions of people globally, particularly in tropical Africa; it is transmitted to humans through a bite of an Anopheles mosquito. Phytochemical, acute toxicity and in-vivo antiplasmodial activity of the leaves of Ageratum conyzoides were examined to study its effects on Mice that have been infected with the malaria parasite. Phytochemical screening of the methanol extract revealed the presence of secondary metabolites such as terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids and chromene. The LD50 was established at ˃ 1000 mg/kg body weight of mice. The methanol extract of A. conyzoides displayed intrinsic prophylactic and curative anti-malaria activity. At 200 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg body weight of mice, the extract revealed the highest percentage inhibition (83 and 61) for the prophylactic and curative study respectively. The acute toxicity study showed that A. conyzoides extract is relatively safe within the study administered doses. The methanol extract of the prophylactic study against Plasmodium berghei revealed an increase in the level of significance at administered portions of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg in comparison with 0.2 ml distilled water and 10 mg/kg chloroquine. The methanol extract of the therapeutic study against Plasmodium berghei revealed a slight increase in the level of significance at administered doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, however, no significant effect was observed for 400 mg/kg compared to the negative control and reference drug. The outcome implies that methanol leave extract of A. conyzoides possesses meaningful antiplasmodial activities and could be a promising source of novel antimalarial.Keywords: Malaria, Ageratum conyzoides, phytochemical screening, acute toxicity, Plasmodium berghe

White and non-White Australian mental health care practitioners’ desirable responding, cultural competence, and racial/ethnic attitudes

Background: Racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity in Australia is rapidly increasing. Although Indigenous Australians account for only approximately 3.5% of the country’s population, over 50% of Australians were born overseas or have at least one migrant parent. Migration accounts for over 60% of Australia’s population growth, with migration from Asia, Sub-Saharan African and the Americas increasing by 500% in the last decade. Little is known about Australian mental health care practitioners’ attitudes toward this diversity and their level of cultural competence. Aim: Given the relationship between practitioner cultural competence and the mental health outcomes of non-White clients, this study aimed to identify factors that influence non-White and White practitioners’ cultural competence. Methods: An online questionnaire was completed by 139 Australian mental health practitioners. The measures included: the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR); the Multicultural Counselling Inventory (MCI); and the Color-blind Racial Attitudes Scale (CoBRAS). Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participants’ demographic characteristics. One-way ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests were conducted to identify between-group differences (non-White compared to White practitioners) in cultural competence and racial and ethnic blindness. Correlation analyses were conducted to determine the association between participants’ gender or age and cultural competence. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to predict cultural competence. Results: The study demonstrates that non-White mental health practitioners are more culturally aware and have better multicultural counselling relationships with non-White people than their White counterparts. Higher MCI total scores (measuring cultural competence) were associated with older age, greater attendance of cultural competence-related trainings and increased awareness of general and pervasive racial and/or ethnic discrimination. Practitioners with higher MCI total scores were also likely to think more highly of themselves (e.g., have higher self-deceptive positive enhancement scores on the BIDR) than those with lower MCI total scores. Conclusion: The findings highlight that the current one-size-fits-all and skills-development approach to cultural competence training ignores the significant role that practitioner diversity and differences play. The recommendations from this study can inform clinical educators and supervisors about the importance of continuing professional development relevant to practitioners’ age, racial/ethnic background and practitioner engagement with prior cultural competence training

From the world to Western : a community-engaged teaching strategy to enhance students’ learning of cultural issues relevant to healthcare

Using the transformational learning theory and action research method, this study captured the experiences of students from health-related disciplines in the cultural immersion program From the World to Western. A total of nine students participated in the pilot program with four host families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, and four cultural facilitators who connected the host families and students. The findings of this research showed that it was beneficial for students in health-related disciplines to engage in the cultural immersion program to further prepare them for culturally competent care in their future roles as healthcare professionals. In addition, the students indicated the need for the cultural immersion program to be part of the curriculum for future students to develop cultural skills, awareness and encounters with diverse populations