Sustainability of Financial Inclusion to Rural Dwellers in Nigeria: Problems and Way Forward

Financial inclusion as the provision of a broad range of high quality financial products such as savings, credit, insurance, payments and pensions, which are relevant, appropriate and affordable for the entire adult population especially the low income segments of the economy. This study critically examines the sustainability of financial inclusion to rural dwellers in Nigeria using descriptive study and content analysis. The study observed that the sustainability of financial inclusion to rural dwellers in Nigeria remains the mainstream for economic growth in any country. The implication of this study is that economy cannot grow fast without proper implementation of financial inclusion to rural areas in Nigeria. The study recommended that the promotion of collaboration between Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Microfinance Banks (MFBs) and Communication services providers for enhanced intermediation of financial services should be encouraged; there is need to educate rural dwellers on the importance of banking as it would facilitate the success of CBN financial inclusion policy and that since some of the rural dwellers preferred to keep money under their pillows at home, there should be proper enlightenment to change their orientation on financial inclusion in Nigeria. Keywords: Financial Services, financial inclusion, DMBs, rural dwellers, poverty reduction.

Corruption, the State and the Challenge of Social Stability in Nigeria

Nigeria, and indeed many African countries, rank high on both the corruption and failed state indices. This means that there is high incidence of corruption and more likelihood of social instability. Beside the feed back loop between corruption and social instability, scholars use different approaches to make sense of the endemic nature of corruption and the volatility of the Nigerian polity. One of such approaches is the underdevelopment theory which focuses mainly on socio-economic factors. Another approach focuses on cultural issues. Without denying the usefulness of these approaches, it is my view that the mode of introduction of the State as the socio-political structure for organizing society and the nature of the relationship that has developed between the State and the Nigerian society contribute to the endemic nature of corruption and the social instability that plagues the country. A healthier Nigerian polity can only emerge if these elements are reviewed and corrected

Studies on cryopreservation of early stage zebrafish (Danio rerio) oocytes using controlled slow cooling

A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in accordance with requirements for the degree of Master of Science by ResearchIn the last three decades, much effort has been made toward the successful cryopreservation of fish gaments. The spermatozoa from many species including salmonid, cyprinids, and acipenseridae has been successfully cryopreserved and well documented. Systematic studies on fish oocytes cryopreservation has not been carried out until recently. In this study, the effect of cryoprotectant toxicity on stage I and II zebrafish oocytes were studied and the controlled slow cooling was used at different cooling rates to identify the optimal cooling rate for these oocytes and the optimal conditions for removing cryoprotectant. Methanol was found to be the least toxic CPA for zebrafish oocytes and 4M methanol in potassium chloride (KCI) buffer was used as the cryoprotective solution. Oocytes were cooled with programmable cooler (Planner KRYO 550) using controlled slow cooling at 0.3, 0.5 and 1°C/min rates, combined with seeding at -12.5°C and plunge into liquid nitrogen at -80°C. 1°C/min was identified to be the optimal condition for cryopreservation of stage I and II oocytes. High survival rate were obtained after cooling to -196°C assessed with TB staining which were 87.8 ± 4.9% and 86.8 ± 6.5% for stage I and II respectively. It was also found in this study that recovery conditions affect oocyte survivals after freezing. Oocytes which had been incubated for 60 or 120min in room temperature showed higher survival rate than those assessed immediately after freezing. This study has shown that stage II (cortical alveoli stage) oocytes were more resistible to freezing than stage I (primary growth stage) oocytes. More oocytes viability studies are needed to validate these results

Investigating electrical response to water saturation of Agbada sandstone in an x-field Niger delta, Nigeria

In an attempt to characterize a reservoir in a field, importance is given to living models as it serves critical function in estimating if the reservoir under study is economically viable. Having a good knowledge of electrical response to reservoir rocks is important in characterizing and modeling the behavior of fluids at the subsurface. In this study, core plugs extracted from core barrels in a Niger Delta oil field were analyzed in the laboratory in order to determine the electrical properties of the samples and their relationship with each other and formation fluid. This was achieved by using a brine of a known concentration for simulation of core plugs. Results obtained show that for the unconsolidated sandstone, Formation resistivity factor increases with increase in confining pressure. This characteristic depends on the porosity of the Formation and type of fluid present. Resistivity values in a reservoir will increase with increase in capillary pressure and decrease with water saturation. Decrease in cementation exponent increases the rate of permeability in reservoir sand. However, resistivity values decrease with clay presence in reservoir sand

Antibacterial Activity of Azadirachita indica and Psidium guajava Extracts against Three Bacterial Strains.

Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of two Nigerian plant species used in folk medicine were investigated for their antibacterial activities against three bacteria strains: staphylococcus aureus, pseudomonas aeruginosa and proteus mirabilis. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of some bioactive components like alkaloids, saponin, tannin, glycoside and flavonoids. The plants exhibited antibacterial activity with significant different between the two plants. The most active plant was psidium guajava. Most of the tested plant extracts were active against staphylococcus aureus. Of all extracts, the hot water extract of psidium guajava was the most active (diameter ranges between 3.09±0.14 – 12.14±0.09 mm) followed by its ethanol extract with diameter ranges between 3.07±0.07 – 9.25±0.03mm. Most of the studied plants are potentially a good source of antibacterial agent and have been demonstrated to be important in medicine and in assisting primary health care in many part of the world. Keywords: Antibacterial activity, bacterial strains, Phytochemical components

Implication of Marketing of Banking Services on the Profitability of Nigerian Banks: a Case Study of First Bank Plc.

Banking industry renders services to customers ranging from collection of deposits, opening various categories of account, deposit, current and savings account. Out of the volume of money-collected part are given out as loan to investors, individual, corporate bodies and the government. The aim of this study is to investigate the implication of marketing of banking services on the profitability of Nigerian banks. The scope of the study spanned from 2000 to 2012. The study made use of quantitative data and econometric techniques in assessing the level of implication. The result of the analysis shows that marketing of banking services have indeed had significant positive implication on profitability of Nigerian banks looking at the indicators of banks product or services such as savings account, current account, loan and advance, e-banking, payments and cash management, treasury services, etc. the study therefore recommend that bank customers, management and shareholders should adopt electronic banking operation so that it will increase the level of bank profitability; bank management should from time to time train their staff and customers with regards to services banks provide especially in the area of modern banking development and that the regulatory authorities (CBN, NDIC and Federal Ministry of Finance) should monitor the activities of commercial banks in terms of bank charges on services rendered to customers. Keywords: Marketing, Banking Services, Deposit, E-Banking, Profitability

An Assessment of Medicinal Cocus Nucifera Plant Extracts as Natural Antibiotic Phytotherapies.

The natural antibiotic phyototherapeutic value of Cocus nucifera were screened against five bacteria isolates (Staphylococcus. aureus, Escherichia. coli, Streptococcus. pneumoniae, Proteus. mirabilis and Pseudomonas. aeruginosa) using the agar-well diffusion method. The root extracts were screened for antibacterial activities at concentrations of 100ml/ml. The antibiotic value of the extract against the bacterial strains was indicated by the appearance of clear zone of inhibition around the wells. The percentage yield for the various solvent was found to range between 17.32 – 32.60 with ethanol having the highest value (35.60). The susceptibility of the organism to the antibiotic effect of the extract vary among the different organism tested. The highest zone of inhibition was recorded in Escherichia coli (13.08±0.14). While the least was observed in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.08±0.00). Comparison of the antibiotic effect of the extract with some commercial antibiotic. Gentamycin, penicillin and Trimethoprin showed that the commercial antibiotic was found to be more effective in inhibiting the growth of the tested bacterial isolates than the Cocus nucifera extract. Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of saponin, tannis, Glycosides, Alkaloids and flavonoids which has been associated with the antimicrobial activities of several herbs. Thus, these preliminary results support the folkloric claims of cocus nucifera preparations are effective against some disease. Keywords: Natural antibiotic the Phytoetherapies, Cocus nucifera, Phytochemical. Corresponding authors: email: [email protected]

Islamic Banking in Nigeria: Perceived Relative Advantage among Religious Groups in Anambra State

We studied Islamic banking customers’ segment using the religious groups in Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria to determine if there are significant  differences in their mean perception of the relative advantage of Islamic banking concept. Crosstab was used to study the relationship between the demographic factors that made up the participants of this study. ANOVA was used in order to show the mean significant difference of the groups that were hypothesized and T-Test was computed to know how the  categories rated the relative advantage of Islamic banking. The religious groups in Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria showed significant difference  among their perceptions of relative advantage of Islamic banking at .00 significant levels. T-Test shows that Islam respondents in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria rated the perceived relative advantage of Islamic bankinghigh, looking at their mean of 3.04, while Christian respondents rated the perceived relative advantage low, looking at their mean of 2.51.Key words: Islamic banking, perceived relative advantage, religious group

Islamic Banking in Nigeria: Perception of its Relative Advantage by Consumer Segments in Anambra State

We studied Islamic banking customers’ segment using antecedents of Rogers andShoemaker’s paradigm in Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria. We equally measure theperceived relative advantage of Islamic banking concept by those consumer groups inAwka, capital city of Anambra state, Nigeria. ANOVA was used in order to show themean significant difference of the groups that were hypothesized and to know howthe categories rated the relative advantage of Islamic banking concept. There aresignificant differences among all the categories that emerged from the Rogers andShoemaker antecedent variables. Some categories equally rated the perceived relativeadvantage of Islamic banking concept low while others rated it high.Key words: Islamic banking, perception, relative advantage, consumer segment