EFFECT OF FURTHER MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM ON STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN SCIENCE-BASED SUBJECTS IN SENIOR SECONDARY CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION IN IKERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, EKITI, NIGERIA

This study examined the effect of further mathematics curriculum on students’ performance in science-based subjects in senior secondary certificate examination in Ikere Local Government. The study adopted ex-post-facto research design which involves collection of information from records off our selected secondary school in the study area using stratified random sampling technique. An Inventory was used for data collection and analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation)and inferential statistics (t-test and correlation) at 0.05 level of significance .The result showed that there was significant difference between further mathematics and non-further mathematics students’ achievement in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, there was also a significant difference between further mathematics and non-further mathematics students’ overall achievement in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics and there was positive and significant relationship between each of the subjects (Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics) and other science subjects. The authors recommend that Mathematics teachers should be encouraged to teach further mathematics in the school in order to develop students’ scientific skills right from secondary schools, Further Mathematics, if possible, should be made compulsory for both science and commercial students in secondary schools as majority of them will still take up a related course in further mathematics when they get to tertiary institution, government should provide enable facilities and environment that can assist teachers to teach further mathematics with ease. Facilities such as relevant textbooks, instructional materials and so on and science teachers should incorporate the knowledge of further mathematics in their teaching to compliment students’ knowledge. The School authorities should invite or employ specialist for the teaching of Further Mathematics where they are not available. Key words: Further mathematics, curriculum,  Pearson product-moment correlation, ex-post-facto research desig

Mineral Profile of \u3ci\u3ePanicum maximum\u3c/i\u3e var. Ntchisi as Influenced by Organic Nitrogen Rate and Age at Harvest

The study was aimed at profiling the mineral contents of Panicum maximum var Ntchisi as influenced by organic (poultry) nitrogen rate and age at harvest. The study was carried out at the organic research farm of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria in 2016. The experiment was laid in a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement in a split plot design with four (4) organic nitrogen rate (0, 100, 200 and 300 kgNha-1) as the main plot and three (3) age at harvest (4, 8 and 12 weeks after cutback) as the subplot which amounts to twelve (12) treatment combinations with four replicates. The macro mineral contents were significantly (P\u3c 0.05) influenced by the nitrogen rate. The calcium (Ca) content was up to 4.35 gkg-1DM for the grass at 0 KgNha-1 which was the highest value. The magnesium (5.59 – 8.43 gkg-1DM) content had a linear increment with increased nitrogen rate. The potassium content ranged from 15.58 to 30.80 gkg-1 DM with the grass fertilized at 0 KgNha-1 having the highest K content. The phosphorus was linearly (P\u3c 0.05) influenced with the grass fertilized at 300 KgNha-1 with the highest (1.78 gkg-1DM) content. The micro mineral contents were significantly (P\u3c 0.05) influenced by the nitrogen rate though without a definite pattern. The macro and micro mineral contents were significantly (P\u3c 0.05) influenced by age at harvest except for the copper content. The macro mineral contents decreased with advancement in age at harvest. It was concluded that the grass harvested at younger age will make a good feed resource in terms of mineral requirement of ruminants in the tropics

DRY MATTER AND PROTEIN DEGRADABILITIES OF SOME FEED INGREDIENTS SOLD IN ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

A study was carried out to determine the chemical composition and evaluate the dry matter and crude protein degradabilities of some commercial feed ingredients sold in Abeokuta, Nigeria, viz corn offal, brewers dried grain, soybean meal, wheat offal, groundnut meal and maize meal. The feed samples as obtained from different sources were incubated in triplicates for 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 hours in 3 rumen-fistulated goats. The incubation was used to estimate the in sacco dry matter (DM) and N degradation characteristics. The dry matter contents of the feedstuffs ranged from 799.3 – 956.0 g/kg. All the feedstuffs recorded low crude protein contents and high washing loss at 0 hour. They recorded more than 70% dry matter degradability at 48 hours, which implied that they were all highly degradable in the rumen. Feeding these feedstuffs in large quantities terminants may lead to diarrhea and bloat due to the accumulation of methane and ammonia gases in the rumen. However, their incorporation into high fibre diets may be advantageous in supplying rumen degradable nutrients to complement the undegradable dietary nutrients from fibrous feeds.Â

Poverty and employment impact of trade liberalization in Nigeria: empirical evidence and policy implications

This paper analyzes quarterly data which spans the period 1985 to 2010 to investigate the interrelationship between trade liberalisation, employment dynamics and the implications for poverty alleviation in Nigeria. An overview of macroeconomic trends and patterns during the period show that although the Nigerian economy experienced growth, it was accompanied by rapid rise in unemployment and poverty. The econometric analysis, estimated by systems equation model, related terms of trade, implicit producer price incentives, openness and macroeconomic policy outcomes on agricultural and industrial sector incomes per capita and total trade. The findings tended to show that the fortunes of these sectors deteriorated contrary to the assertion that a positive relationship exists between liberalization and poverty reduction via improved productivity of labor intensive smallholder farm and firms enterprises. While the apparent growth in total trade seemed to be buoyed by positive export supply shocks, deteriorating terms of trade and biased producer incentives structure penalized domestic manufactures and farming, thereby accentuating poverty. This adverse consequence is attributable to the adoption of import substitution industrialization strategy which encouraged the influx of foreign firms that are appendages of multinationals. In concluding, the paper calls for a shift in policy approach to economic development from the pervasive import substitution trade strategies which tended to displace labor to an export led strategy guided by the doctrine of factor endowments

SEASONAL VARIATIONS IN THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GRASSES HARVESTED FROM THE NATURAL PASTURE IN OGUN STATE SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

The research was carried was carried out to evaluate the chemical composition of the dominant grasses harvested from the natural pasture in selected villages in Ogun State, South-western Nigeria at different seasons. The study was carried out using a 4 × 6 factorial arrangement comprising four seasons (early rain, late rain, early dry and late dry) at six locations (Afami, Atokun, Ibooro, Ileniku, Ipaaya, and Okerori). Results showed that the crude protein (CP) content significantly (p<0.05) varied from 5.56 % for Okerori to 7.34 % for Ibooro and the grasses harvested at Afami had the highest (72.75 %) neutral detergent fibre (NDF) values with the least (68.75 %) value recorded for Okerori, while the acid detergent fibre (ADF) values ranged from 41.00 % for Atokun to 48.25 % for Okerori. Also, CP value as affected by the season ranged from 4.23 % for late rainy to 9.44 % for the early rainy season and NDF values from 67.33% for late dry to 72.33 % for late rainy season while the early dry season had the highest value (48.00 %) for ADF with the least value (40.33 %) was recorded for the early rainy season. The phosphorus (P) value was highest at Ipaaya (2.99 g/kg) with the least value observed at Okerori (1.62 g/kg). The value for calcium ranged from 2.55 g/kg at Afami to 6.59 g/kg at Okerori. The P value of grasses as affected by seasons ranged from 1.46 g/kg for early dry to 2.66 g/kg for early rainy seasons.   &nbsp

Poverty and employment impact of trade liberalization in Nigeria: empirical evidence and policy implications

This paper analyzes quarterly data which spans the period 1985 to 2010 to investigate the interrelationship between trade liberalisation, employment dynamics and the implications for poverty alleviation in Nigeria. An overview of macroeconomic trends and patterns during the period show that although the Nigerian economy experienced growth, it was accompanied by rapid rise in unemployment and poverty. The econometric analysis, estimated by systems equation model, related terms of trade, implicit producer price incentives, openness and macroeconomic policy outcomes on agricultural and industrial sector incomes per capita and total trade. The findings tended to show that the fortunes of these sectors deteriorated contrary to the assertion that a positive relationship exists between liberalization and poverty reduction via improved productivity of labor intensive smallholder farm and firms enterprises. While the apparent growth in total trade seemed to be buoyed by positive export supply shocks, deteriorating terms of trade and biased producer incentives structure penalized domestic manufactures and farming, thereby accentuating poverty. This adverse consequence is attributable to the adoption of import substitution industrialization strategy which encouraged the influx of foreign firms that are appendages of multinationals. In concluding, the paper calls for a shift in policy approach to economic development from the pervasive import substitution trade strategies which tended to displace labor to an export led strategy guided by the doctrine of factor endowments

Influence of manure application during cultivation on in vitro gas and post incubation parameters of nine Pennisetum purpureum varieties

Forages are generally available in the tropics yet the issue related with their utilization is low efficiency and nutritional contents whereby seasonal variations in pasture productivity were the significant constraint to their availability for use throughout the year. This research was carried out to evaluate the Influence of manure application during cultivation on in vitro gas production and post-incubation parameters of nine (9) different Pennisetum purpureum varieties. The experiment was a 9 x 3 factorial arrangement in split plot design which comprises of nine (9) P. purpureum varieties (Abeokuta 1, Abeokuta 2, F1 Hybrid, Green Local, Purple Local, Sugarcane, South Africa, S13 and S15) and three (3) manure types (control, swine and cattle). Results showed that the in vitro gas production of different P. purpureum varieties as affected by manure type were significant (p < 0.05). Unfertilized varieties had the highest volume of gas produced (17.14ml/200mgDM) at the end of the 48 hours incubation periods and the green local variety recorded the gas volume of 18.33ml/200mgDM at the end of the 48hours incubation. The post incubation parameters showed that manure type (p>0.05) had no effect on the short chain fatty acid (SCFA) and Metabolizable energy (ME) in the varieties of P. purpureum while the values for organic matter digestibility (OMD) was significantly (p < 0.05) ranged from 33.68% in unfertilized varieties to 35.72% when swine manure was applied. It is concluded that green variety of P. purpureum will be the best for ruminant feeding in this study

FORAGE YIELD AND NUTRITIVE QUALITY OF TWO GROUNDNUT (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L) VARIETIES AS INFLUENCED BY FERTILIZER TYPES

This study was carried out to investigate the forage yield and nutritive quality of two groundnut (SAMNUT 22 and local) varieties as influenced by fertilizer type in the humid ecological zone of Nigeria. The study was a 3 x 2 factorial experiment in a split-plot design with the fertilizer type (poultry droppings, NPK and the control) as the main plot and variety (SAMNUT 22 and Local) as the sub-plot which amounts to six treatments with three replicates. The inorganic-fertilized SAMNUT 22 had the highest forage dry matter (DM) yield (10.23 t/ha). The inorganic-fertilized local variety had the highest DM (94.60 %) and the least DM value (93.68 %) recorded for inorganic-fertilized SAMNUT 22. The highest and least crude protein (21.71 % vs 18.28%) contents were recorded for inorganic-fertilized local and unfertilized SAMNUT 22 variety, respectively. The neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) that were recorded for the unfertilized SAMNUT 22 were the highest with values 58.13 %, 25.86 % and 3.35 %, respectively. The highest gas (57.75 ml/200mgDM) production, methane (13.50 ml/200mgDM) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (70.22 %) were recorded for unfertilized local variety, unfertilized SAMNUT 22 and organic-fertilized local variety, respectively. The unfertilized SAMNUT 22 had the highest tannin content of 6.43 mg/100g and saponin content of 9.29 mg/100g whereas the organically fertilized Local variety had the highest oxalate (140.65 mg/100g) content. In conclusion, the two varieties and especially SAMNUT 22 when inorganic fertilizer was applied have proved to be good feed resource with regards to high yield, CP and low anti-nutrient quality and are recommended as forage of high nutritive values for ruminant animal production. &nbsp

Microstructural and shear strength properties of RHA-reinforced Sn–0.7Cu composite solder joints on bare Cu and ENIAg surface finish

In this study, the joint effect of rice husk ash (RHA) reinforcement as an alternative silica source and electroless nickel immersion silver (ENIAg) surface finish on the intermetallic compound (IMC) formation and shear strength of the Sn– 0.7Cu solder system was investigated. A series of plain and composite lead-free solder systems (Sn–0.7Cu−xRHA; x = 0, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 wt%) was successfully developed and subjected to reflow soldering on bare Cu and ENIAg surface finish. After conducting a comprehensive microstructural study using the scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques, the Cu6Sn5 and Cu3Sn intermetallic compound (IMC) phases were observed at the interface of the Sn–0.7Cu−xRHA/Cu composite solder joints. On the other hand, the (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 and Ni3Sn4 IMC phases dominated the interface of the Sn–0.7Cu−xRHA/ENIAg counterparts. Given the promising potential of the ENIAg surface finish, the Sn–0.7Cu−xRHA/ENIAg exhibited IMC thickness values within a range of 3.81–4.74 μm as compared to the 6.13–9.3 μm range exhibited by the Sn–0.7Cu−xRHA/Cu counterpart. More so, the ENIAg surface finish was effective in improving the shear strength of the plain solder joint, with the Sn–0.7Cu/ENIAg exhibiting 13.44 MPa relative to the 11.5 MPa exhibited by the Sn–0.7Cu/Cu counterpart. Overall, the strengthening effect of the RHA reinforcement was well marked in the Sn–0.7Cu−xRHA/Cu composite solder joints with the composite having 0.1 wt% RHA exhibiting the highest shear strength (14.6 MPa) across the board

Nutritive Quality of Hay and Silage from Natural Grazing Land in South Western Nigeria

In the tropics, inadequate nutrition caused by scarcity of forages and its low quality constitutes a major constraint to good performance of ruminant animals (Lukuyu et al. 2011). Herbage availability during the wet season often exceeds animal requirements (Chakoma et al. 1999). As the dry season sets in, the protein level of the accumulated forages drops and the fibre level increases, with an increase in lignin content while voluntary intake decreases. Due to lack of quality forage especially in the dry season, animals feeding on them tend to lose weight and their productivity will be negatively affected. In order to reduce the limitations of feeds for ruminant animals especially during dry season, there is need to develop feed conservation strategies. The use of high quality forages appears to be the most feasible option to serve this purpose. Therefore, conservation of excess forages produced in the rainy season can be utilized as supplements during the dry season to be able to alleviate poor performance of ruminant animals and will also enhance incomes of small-scale farmers. The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of conserved forages (hay and silage) from the natural grazing land as dry season supplementary feed for ruminant animals grazing in natural pastureland