Influence of ICT competencies on job performance among library personnel in tertiary institutions in Lokoja, Kogi state, Nigeria

The study sought to find out the influence of ICT competencies on the job performances of library personnel in three higher institutions in Lokoja Kogi State, which include Federal University Lokoja Library, Kogi State Polytechnic Library and Salem University Library. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, four research questions were raised and answered. These questions were on the types of ICT skills possessed by library staff, level of ICT competency of library staff, level of influence of ICT competency on job performance of library staff and factors that contributes to ineffective ICT competency for effective job performance of library staff. Survey method was adopted for the study and copies of a structured questionnaire were used for data collection from 100 respondents. Seventy two (72) responses were received giving a response rate of 72%. Data collected were analysed using frequencies and percentages. The findings of the study showed that the library staff in the institution studied possessed computer skills, use of e-resources/multimedia, research skills, and automation and digitization. Also, majority of them acquire their skills in computer/ICT training centers and through on-the-job- training. Hence, ICT competency enabled them to meet up with the demands of their job, thereby, providing library services such as e-library/multimedia services, circulation services, research and bibliographic services and other library services. Therefore the findings of this study revealed that the level of ICT competence of library staff significantly enhanced their job efficacy and performance. Premised on these findings, it was recommended that library personnel in higher institutions in Lokoja, Kogi State, need possess advanced ICT skills so to be able provide advanced technological information services to their various communities. Furthermore, to enhance the level of influence of ICT competency on job performances, every library personnel should be engaged in ICT related jobs which will in turn, boost work efficiency and effective library service delivery

Optimal Allocation and Sizing of Distributed Generation for Power Loss Reduction using Modified PSO for Radial Distribution Systems

For the purpose of improving the voltage profile and power losses reduction, this paper proposes allocation and sizing of Distributed Generation (DG) in radial distribution system (69 IEEE bus test system.). A simple and effective approach for power loss reduction (PLR) value is employed for the allocation while the sizing was by using the results from the allocation as local optimum in a modified PSO called Ranked Evolutionary particle swarm optimization (REPSO) in order to obtain the global optimum. Load simulations in power flow yielded improvement not only in power loss reduction but also in voltage profile. The proposed algorithm was found to be faster and gives more accurate results than the EP and PSO algorithms. Keywords: Distributed Generation, Evolutionary programming,, Particle Swarm Optimization, Allocation and sizing, Power loss reduction

Online Stochastic Principal Component Analysis

This paper studied Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in an online. The problem is posed as a subspace optimization problem and solved using gradient based algorithms. One such algorithm is the Variance-Reduced PCA (VR-PCA). The VR-PCA was designed as an improvement to the classical online PCA algorithm known as the Oja’s method where it only handled one sample at a time. The paper developed Block VR-PCA as an improved version of VR-PCA. Unlike prominent VR-PCA, the Block VR-PCA was designed to handle more than one dimension in subspace optimization at a time and it showed good performance. The Block VR-PCA and Block Oja method were compared experimentally in MATLAB using synthetic and real data sets, their convergence results showed Block VR-PCA method appeared to achieve a minimum steady state error than Block Oja method. Keywords:   Online Stochastic; Principal Component Analysis; Block Variance-Reduced; Block Oj

Genetic variability, heritability and correlation among soybean [Glycine max. (L.) Merrill] varieties

The study was conducted at Teaching and Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano (Lat 11059`N, Long 8025`E and 466m above sea level), during 2016 rainy season, to determine the variability, heritability and correlation among the soybean varieties. The treatments consist of eight soybean varieties, laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated four times; varieties were evaluated for fifteen characters to determine variability, estimate heritability and correlation. Analysis of variance revealed significant difference (P>0.01<0.05) with respect to four characters and highly significant (P≤0.01) four seven characters. The results indicated the presence of substantial variability among the varieties. GCV, PCV, ECV and heritability estimates ranges from 0.000039-169.18, 0.000066-187.55, 0.000053-122.28 and 0-100% respectively, the high Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV), Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV) and Environmental Coefficient of Variation (ECV) observed in this study indicated the existence of variability and selection can be done. Whereas high estimate of broad Sense heritability for the tested parameters indicated that these characters were highly heritable and selection can be imposed. Significant phenotypic correlation for GWha and FWha with FWP respectively revealed that, these characters were primarily influenced by their direct contribution to higher yield. It is therefore recommended for an effective selection of those characters could be adopted for cultivar improvement and hybridization program and more research is needed to validate the findings.Keywords: Genetic, Heritability , Soybean, Variabilit

Outsourcing as an Alternative for Higher Education Financing (HEF) in Nigeria: The Case of Adamawa State University Mubi, Gombe State University and Taraba State University, Nigeria

Socio-political and economic issues relating to financing higher education is broadly deliberated and debated subject in many public mediums and academic gatherings in Nigeria, for over a decade to date. Altogether those deliberations and debates are grounded virtually on two basic principles of, financing adequacy and equitability. Inadequacy of education financing is blamed for the deterioration in the quality of education. Furthermore, inequitable resource allocation between federal and State universities in Nigeria forms part of the key issue in accomplishing efficiency of resource utilization which is missing in academic literatures addressing higher education financing in Nigeria. In the context of Nigeria, considering the practical experiences, especially in the operational mechanism of financing of Higher education, transparency and corruptions became a syndrome that ravishes the educational system. This study focuses on sources of higher education finance and the relative contribution of each source to educational development of the nation. At the same time, implications of the present financing mechanism on parity and efficiency of higher education if Outsourcing is introduced as an alternative source of funding in the subsector. This study examines the matters relating to Higher Education Financing at three levels; financial allocation, resources allocation and education output distribution. This study is exploratory cross sectional survey and collects both primary and secondary data from relevant literatures available. The study revealed that outsourcing is a means of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in higher institution and therefore serve as alternative means of financing higher education in broad and university education in particular. Therefore, this study recommends formal incorporation of outsourcing in financing of university education in Nigeria

Kawasaki disease associated with streptococcal infection and facial nerve palsy: a case report

Kawasaki disease (mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome), an acute febrile vasculitis of childhood that affects medium and small-sized arteries, is uncommonly reported in the West African sub[1]region. Its diagnosis relies on the presence of a constellation of clinical signs which could mimic or coexist with infectious viral or bacterial agents, thereby requiring a high index of suspicion. Case presentation: We report a two-year, ten months-old boy who presented with prolonged high-grade fever for over 3 three weeks; non-purulent conjunctivitis, unilateral cervical lymphadenopathy, cracked lips, reddish tongue, diffuse oedema, erythema of his palms and soles; skin desquamation over the tips of his digits and left-sided facial nerve palsy. He had leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, and elevated inflammatory markers. Throat swab yielded Streptococcus pyogenes species; however, serial echocardiography was unrevealing. He was managed with aspirin, steroids, bed rest, and antibiotics (based on culture sensitivity), but intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was not readily available and therefore was not administered. His inpatient clinical course showed fever persisting into the second week of inpatient management that gradually became undulating by the third week before lysing. Conclusion: The rare complication of facial nerve palsy is highlighted, while the evidence for acute bacterial infection posed further diagnostic challenges in this child with clinical features of Kawasaki disease. The unavailability of IVIG also portends a prolonged course for the acute stages, which are largely unresponsive to antipyretics and antibiotics. The importance of long-term follow-up for potential coronary artery aneurysms in the face of risk factors is further emphasized

Effect of Entrepreneurship Education on Entrepreneurial Intention among University Students

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of entrepreneurship education (EE) through attitude toward behaviour (ATB), subjective norm (SN) and perceived behavioural control (PBC) on Entrepreneurial intention (EI) among University students in Nigeria. The study unit of analysis comprises of students from the three public universities in Kano State, Nigeria, namely, Yusuf Maitama Sule University Kano (YUMSUK), Bayero University Kano (BUK), and Kano University of Science and Technology (KUST) Wudil that participated in entrepreneurship education programme (EEP) in 2017/2018 academic session. A questionnaire was used to collect data from the 345 target respondents while correlation and regression analysis was used as the data analysis method to test the study hypotheses. The findings revealed that attitude toward behaviour (ATB) and subjective norm (SN) have a significant effect on EI while perceived behavioural control (PBC) has no significant effect on EI. The study suggests that university management should capitalize on EEP as a vehicle to improve student’s attitudes towards EI. The study contributes to the literature by investigating the effect of EE on EI among University students in Nigeria. The study is one of the few studies that was conducted in Northern Nigeria, particularly in the three public universities in Kano State. Thus, the findings of this study act as a strategic tool for university management to design their institutional policies in a way that captures an early phase of offering EEP to create knowledge of entrepreneurship for students in order to sharpen their attitude toward behaviour and subjective norm toward EI