Career information processing strategies of secondary school students in Osun State (Nigeria)

This study examined the strategies commonly adopted by Osun state secondary school students in processing career information. It specifically examined the sources of career information available to the students, the uses to which the students put the information collected and how their career decision making skills can be improved, leading to more appropriate career choices. Two hundred students selected by proportionate stratified random sampling from four secondary schools which were randomly selected from the three senatorial district of Osun state participated in the study. Data were collected using a self-constructed questionnaire titled “Questionnaire for exploring career information processing (QEIP)”. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square analysis, Kruskal wallis H test and Analysis of Variance. The results indicated that the largest percentage of the students chose accounting/banking, closely followed by medicine, engineering, law and nursing. The most prevalent means by which the students gather career information is through role models, information they obtain from school and parents. Socio-demographic variables of age and sex did not affect students’ patronage of these sources. The study also shows that only information collected from parents and their school counsellor bore any positive relationship with their choice of career. The study recommends career guidance collaboration between school counsellors and parents. It also recommends that more frequent career development programmes like career days and/or talks, job shadowing, role modeling and the like should be included in secondary school curriculum.Keywords: Career information, information processing, career guidance, secondary school students, Osun State, Nigeri

SITUATION OF RABIES IN A SOUTHWESTERN STATE OF NIGERIA: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY (1997-2007)

Retrospective data from 1997 – 2007 on reported cases of rabies in human and animals as well as antirabies vaccination were collected from medical records and epidemiological sections of the various veterinary and human hospitals in the four socio-cultural zones of Ogun State. Suspected cases of rabies were reported in animals with 8 (88.90%) in dogs and 1(11.10%) in goat.  The study revealed that most cases occurred in the rainy season with August having the highest number of cases (38.3%). Similarly, 12 cases were reported in humans with 8(66.7%) males and 4(33.3%) in females.  Children between the ages 0-12 years accounted for 75% of all reported human rabies cases while 25% occurred in Adults.  Dogs were the only species implicated in these cases resulting into 100% mortality.  Routine antirabies vaccinations were conducted for 4,781 dogs and highest exposure was recorded for Egba Zone (62.85%) and lowest for the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Abeokuta (1.05%).  In conclusion, accurate record keeping on rabies cases in Animals and Humans as well as vaccination exposure are hereby recommend in order to give the true picture of  rabies in Nigeria.  Also mass vaccinations, control of stray dogs, public education on rabies and government subsidies on cost of vaccination are also recommended. &nbsp

Environmental scanning strategy of manufacturing companies in Southwestern Nigeria

In this paper, we examine the environmental scanning strategy of manufacturing companies in Southwestern Nigeria against the background that manufacturing companies in Nigeria exist in a challenging environment characterised by high import dependency, inappropriate policies, lack of transparent governance and weak industrial capabilities. Empirical data was collected with a questionnaire from a sample of 84 manufacturing firms in Southwestern Nigeria. We found that generally, companies in the industry actively engage in systematic gathering, analyses and assimilation of information about the business environment as strategic input into planning. The main objective of search was to obtain information required to initiate or support strategies for competing in the domestic market. Central among the factors determining the companies' level of intrusiveness into the environment are companies' capacity to interpret changes in the environment, available channels of information and quality of information.business environment; environmental scanning; environmental analysability; environmental uncertainty; manufacturing, strategy; technology; capabilities

Effect of Mobile Telecommunication Technologies on Globalization of Nigerian Rural Areas

The globalization of a country is today measured with respect to indices of globalization such as the Maastricht Globalization Index (MGI) and the Konjunkturforschungsstelle (KOF). These indices of national globalization often have an urban bias. This study however explores the extent to which these international measures include rural environments of the globalizing country. Application of the MGI/KOF indices for determination of the Nigerian rural environment inclusion in globalization showed that the country’s rural communities were mainly integrated technologically by virtue of telephony (communication technology) penetration of rural areas. An attempt to modify the MGI/KOF globalization indexes for rural inclusion showed that the Nigerian rural communities were technologically integrated but only partially integrated politically and socio-culturally. Based on this, it was recommended that a globalization index for rural inclusion needs to be developed to establish countrywide globalization in absolute terms

Food safety and health: a survey of rural and urban household consumer practices, knowledge to food safety and food related illnesses in Ogun State

Background: Consumers’ knowledge on food safety and related practices play central role in reducing foodborne diseases, which represents significant concerns to public health. Objectives: To evaluate rural and urban household consumers knowledge of food safety and related practices in Ogun state, Nigeria. Also, awareness of foodborne illnesses, and  association between respondents’ demographic characteristics and food safety knowledge were investigated. Methods: A crossectional study, which involved a questionnaire based interview of a group of 120 volunteers from four different local government areas (LGA) in Ogun State was conducted. Pearson chi-square analysis was used to test the association between consumers’ demographic parameters and knowledge of food safety. Results: Overall,  eighteen (15.8%, 95% Cl, 10.0 – 23.7) male, and ninety-six (82.2%, 95% Cl, 76.3 – 89.9) female within the age range 16 – 60 years took part in the study. Our data showed that there was poor knowledge regarding food safety practices and food borne illnesses among rural and urban consumers surveyed. However, there was a significant difference in the awareness of rural and urban household consumers to foodborne illnesses and associated complications, (p <0.05). Also, Respondents’ marital status were significantly associated with knowledge of food safety (p <0.000). Conclusion: Poor consumer knowledge of food safety, and food related illnesses  were reported, informing the urgent need to improve on  food safety education such as food handling, preparation, storage and general hygiene practices in homes in Nigeria

Zoonotic fungal diseases and animal ownership in Nigeria

Background: The growing interest in keeping animals as pets in Nigeria and other resource-poor countries highlights the possibility of transmission of zoonotic infections to humans. These zoonoses which are usually caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi, are naturally transmitted to humans, causing various degrees of morbidity and mortality with attendant economic and or public health consequences.Materials and method: In the present review, a computerized search of existing literature was conducted using the Google search engine and PubMed electronic database to identify and download relevant publications on zoonotic fungal infections in Nigeria. The key words used were zoonotic fungal disease and Nigeria while the Boolean operator ‘AND’ was used to combine and narrow the searches. Additional information was obtained by searching the medical and veterinary libraries for journals not listed in the database. The available publications were thereafter reviewed and findings qualitatively described.Results: Our findings revealed that fungal diseases with zoonotic potential lack sufficient attention in Nigeria. This suggests that fungi are yet to be considered as major causes of morbidity and mortality in animals and humans in Nigeria, and may account for the few reports available on zoonotic fungal diseases in the country.Conclusion: There is a need to raise awareness of the extent of health problems caused by zoonotic fungal diseases in Nigeria in order to better appreciate their burden and public health consequences, and also provide an integrated platform for development of effective prevention and control strategies.Keywords: Zoonoses, Fungal disease, Humans, Animals, Nigeri

A SURVEY OF VETERINARY DRUGS IN USE IN FISH FARMS IN ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE. NIGERIA

A cross-sectional study was conducted to characterize fish farmers in Ogun State with respect to their use of veterinary drugs and awareness of adverse effects these drugs have on human. A semi structured questionnaire was used to gather relevant data from 80 fish farmers in Abeokuta. The findings indicated that fish farmers in the study area were mostly males, married and well educated. Most of them obtain primary source of income from fish farming. Despite the fact that both skilled (41.25%) and unskilled (58.75%) labourers were employed on the farms, family members were also involved in the production. 21.25% used pelmendazole, 10.0% used melbendazole, while 26.0% used ivermectin as their anthelminthics. 78.75% used oxytetracycline, 37.5% used penicillin, while 40% used sulfadimidine as their antibiotics. 67.5% used ovaprim®  while 42.5% used ovatide® as hormones to boost their fish production. 76.25% of the fish farmers do not involve veterinarians in the production, whilst 48.75% of the farmers are not aware of adverse effect of veterinary drug residue in human. The results are discussed in view of the need for more involvement of veterinarians in fish production to ensure the adoption of global standards, thus guaranteeing improved food safety and sustainability in fish production.     &nbsp

Agricultural Extension Agents’ Awareness Of Ict Potentials And Training Needs On Usage For Improved Extension Service Deliv- Ery In Selected Southwest States Of Nigeria

The   study   examined   the   agricultural   extension   workers’ awareness   of   ICT   potentials   and   training needs on ICT usage for improved extension service delivery in selected southwest states of Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select a total of 132 extension workers’ from Lagos and Ogun States Agricultural Development   Programmes   (LADA  and OGADEP).   A  validated  and  reliable questionnaire was used to obtain primary data on socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents, their awareness of ICT potentials and training needs on ICT usage for improved extension services delivery. Data collected were analysed using frequency counts, percentages and chi-square statistics. Result of the analysis showed that most of the respondents were the Village Extension Agents (78.8 %,), and about 34.1% of them were within the age range of 41 and 45years. About 72.7% the exten- sion agents had first degree (HND/BSc) as the least educational qualification and about 57.6% of them have spent between 11 and 20 years in the extension services. The result also showed that all the extension agents were familiar with the Global System Mobile communication (GSM), 58.3% with the computer and 38.6% of them with the internet. About 43.2% of the extension workers were moderately aware of the ICT potentials for improved extension service delivery based on their mean awareness score of 8.5 (53.1%). The chi-square test of the relationship between the extension workers’ socioeco- nomic characteristics (education: χ² = 45.5,  df = 12; professional rank: χ² = 38.7,  df = 9; working ex- perience χ² = 65.2, df = 12) and level of awareness of the ICT potentials showed a significant relation- ship at p < 0.05. Similarly, a significant relationship was observed between the extension agents’ level of awareness of ICT potentials and their needs for training on usage for improved extension service delivery (χ² = 71.3, df = 18) at p < 0.05. In the light of this, it was concluded that the extension workers had moderate level awareness of ICT potentials for improved extension services and were in need of training on usage in their extension activities. It was recommended that education on ICT potentials and   training on  usage for improved  extension service delivery   should   be promoted and intensified among the extension workers.      &nbsp

On the Exponentiated Generalized Inverse Exponential Distribution

This research explored the Exponentiated Generalized Inverse Exponential (EGIE) distribution to include more statistical properties and in particular, applications to real life data as compared with some other generalized models