Educational Development in Africa: Prospects and Challenges of Teaching/Learning History in Nigeria

The paper discusses the challenges facing history teaching in Nigeria. The scope of the study is limited to private/public schools in Oyo State, Nigeria. The study starts by tracing the problem from the advent of missionaries to Nigeria in which their purpose of establishing mission schools was not to teach African history but to evangelize and to produce middlemen who will act as junior officers. The findings show that history as a subject was in the curriculum of both junior and senior secondary school. However, it was removed from junior secondary school curriculum and remained only in senior secondary school curriculum. Though only few senior secondary schools in Oyo State teach history subject due to lack of adequate knowledge by students in learning African history. Also, due to the reviewed policy, history teachers and textbooks are inadequate. Thus, in this present dispensation in Nigeria, African history education is facing challenges in terms of teaching and learning, apparently on the verge of extinction. The paper concludes by stating the methods of teaching history, prospects and challenges attached to it

Enhanced oil recovery for emergent energy demand: challenges and prospects for a nanotechnology paradigm shift.

Renewable and non-renewable energy sources remain the two fronts for meeting global emergent energy demand. Renewable energy sources such as crude oil, in meeting energy needs, is a function of new hydrocarbon discoveries and improving the recovery of existing oil fields. However, new crude oil discoveries are made at a decreasing rate; likewise, existing fields are at a declining phase with conventional recovery techniques not being able to produce as much as two-thirds of the oil in place. In complementing existing oil recovery techniques, research into the use of nanotechnology has emerged as a potential alternative for tertiary oil recovery scheme. Despite the promising results, there has not been any reported large-scale field application of nanotechnology in the oil and gas industry except for some small-scale field trials. In this paper, a detailed review of developments on nano-enhanced oil recovery (Nano-EOR) and its attendant challenges are presented. Furthermore, key recommendations were given for future research on Nano-EOR. While the adoption of new technologies has its associated risks, the future prospects of Nano-EOR remains very high

NOLLYWOOD AND THE NIGERIA’S NATIONAL IMAGE: A STUDY OF SOME SELECTED NOLLYWOOD MOVIES (2010-2016)

Previous studies have shown that contents of Nollywood films are not geared towards positivity. Previous studies have also shown that Nollywood films can be assumed to be one of the major causes of the fact that Nigerians are facing the encumbrances of a negative perception globally. This research seeks to find out if this trend has changed with the recent Nollywood productions (from 2012-2016). Both Content Analysis and Face-to- Face Interview were adopted as the methodologies used to carry out this study. Five Nollywood films were purposively selected for this study using registration and approval by National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), superb production quality to fit the big screens and premiered both in Nigeria and internationally as the criteria for selection. From the interview, it was indicated that most Filmmakers are focused on contents that will appeal to their audiences and maximize profit, and the interviewee emphasized that Nollywood movies give the exact picture of reality-whether good or bad. From the content analysis, it was verified that there are more negative themes than positive themes in Nollywood movies. Based on findings, the study recommends that, all Nollywood films must be checked by NFVCB, to meet the criteria of positive portrayal, before it can be shown internationally. Secondly, the government should collaborate with filmmakers to produce films that promote Nigerian cultural identity to the global community

Integration of magnetic residuals,derivates and located euler deconvolution for structural and geologic mapping of parts of the precambrian gneisses of Ago-Iwoye, Southwestern Nigeria

Ground based magnetic survey conducted between longitude 06O 55I 51IIN –06O 55I 54IIN and latitude 03O 52I 06IIE –03O 52I 4.8IIE (Olabisi Onabanjo University) remarkably revealed a consistent subsurface NW -SE structural azimuth of localized discontinuities within the shallowly buried heterogeneous basement rocks, which at exposed locations are composed of strongly foliated granite gneiss and migmatite-gneiss with veins and veinlets principally orientated in NNW –SSE direction.Magnetic survey of the area was preceded by site inspection to avoid metallic objects interferences. Field procedure in the area involved Cartesian gridding, base station establishment, data acquisition at gridded points, and repeated bihourly diurnal checksat the base station. At the processing stage, diurnal variation effect was aptly removed before subjection to Kriging (gridding). The gridded data was then prepared as input for Forward Fourier Filter Transform (FFT), which upon definition and implementation enabled Butterworth filtering of isolated ringing effects, reduction to the equator (RTE) for geomagnetic correction, and the use of Gaussian and Upward Continuation filtering for regional magnetic intensity trend determination. Removal of the regional magnetic intensity (RMI) from the total magnetic intensity (TMI) resulted in the derivation of the residual anomaly. Enhancement filters adopted for better resolution of the residual magnetic gradient include analytical signal (AS), tilt-angle derivative (TDR), vertical derivative deconvolution (VDD), and the first vertical derivatives (FVD).TMI and RMI values range between 32925nT –33050nT and 32935nT –333050nT respectively, while the residual gradient ranges between 15nT/m and10nT/m; AS ranges between 0.28nT/m and4.1nT/m; and TDR ranges from-1.4nT/m to 1.4nT/m. Source depth calculation estimated from power spectrum analysis and Euler deconvolution ranges between 1m and15m. Composite overlay of magnetic maps revealed jointed and faulted zones within the area; exhibiting a NW-SE principal azimuth of Liberian orogenic impress, which are in consistence with the foliation direction of the jagged foliated bedrock with an estimated maximum overburden of about 15m.The structural significance of this area as a prospective hydro-geological centre, and as an undesirable spot for high-rise building has been accurately evaluated from research findings. Application of integrated geophysical approach, complemented by detailed geological studies may furnish greater information about the subsurface structural architecture.Keywords:Gneisses; Ground Magnetic Surveying;RTE;Structural discontinuities;TDR.1INTRODUCTIONStructuralmapping is an integral part of geologic surveys. It involves measurements, analyses, interpretation and recognition of geometrical features (structures) generated by rock deformations [1]. These structures often serve as fountains of environmental challenges or unparalleled opportunities depending on their modesof occurrences, which in most cases are imminently controlled by the dynamic interplay of differential stress distributions within the earth interior. In line with the principle of uniformitarianism, a broad understanding about Earth’s paleo processes and internal workingsare deductible from the various deformation types for diverse applications. Deductible inferences from brittle deformationsinclude the kinematics of crustal blocks, orientation of principal axes of regional and local stresses, and geometry. Deeper insights indeep seated stresses, regional movements and block motions are obtainable from ductile deformations

Patients\' response to waiting time in an out-patient pharmacy in Nigeria

Purpose: To identify the dispensing procedure at a pharmacy, investigate the possible operational problems that may lead to excessive patient waiting times as prescriptions are filled and to examine patient disposition to perceived delays at the pharmacy. Methods: The study was carried out in a 574-bed university teaching hospital in Ile – Ife, Nigeria. The subjects were out-patients who gave their consent to participate in the study. Data were collected using the techniques of workflow analysis and time study in observing the dispensing process. A validated questionnaire was administered on the out-patients to measure their responses to waiting in the pharmacy as well as their level of satisfaction with pharmaceutical services rendered. Results: The workflow analysis revealed considerable delay in the dispensing procedure as a result of extended process components. The total waiting time for a dispensing process averaged 17.09 min, and 89.5% of this was due to delay components. Specifically, the major delay components included patient queues for billing prescription sheets and subsequent payment to the cashier. Operational problems identified included patients' indirect access to dispensing pharmacist and the tortuous procedure for prescription billing and payments. Generally, patients were not satisfied with undue delay caused by the dispensing procedure at the pharmacy. Conclusion: Most of the patient waiting time in the hospital studied can be accounted for by delay components of the dispensing procedure. Attempts should therefore be made to reduce the time on these components of the dispensing process so that more time could be devoted to counseling while reducing the total time spent by the patient in having their prescriptions sheets filled. Key words: Dispensing process; hospital pharmacy; pharmaceutical service; waiting time Trop J Pharm Res, December 2003; 2(2): 207-21

INFLUENCE OF DISTANCE LEARNERS’ DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES ON MOTIVATION AND PERFORMANCE IN FLIPPED CLASSROOM

This study was carried out to investigate the influence of demographic variables of distance learners on their motivation to learn and perform in a flipped classroom. The study employed a survey research method. The sample for the study consisted of three hundred (300) distance learners who were selected from two distance learning centres. The centers were selected using a purposive sampling procedure because the two distance learning centers have deployed flipped learning mode. A questionnaire 4-point Likert scale questionnaire tagged: Flipped Classroom Motivation and Perception Questionnaire (FCMAPQ) was used in data collection. The results showed that only the sex variable (T=2.487, p<0.05) significantly contributed to the motivation of the learners in the flipped classroom. Results further showed that demographic variables of sex, work status, age and marital status (F=.15, p>0.05) have no influence on the performance of distance learners in the flipped classroom. The study concluded that though the demographic variable has no influence on the motivation and performance of distance learners, it is rather a plausible innovation in distance learning.  Article visualizations

Aphrodisiac Plant Pausinystalia yohimbe Induces Myocardiac Histological Normalcy in Wistar Rats

The root of Pausinystalia yohimbe (k. Schum.) Pierre ex Beille, is commonly used by traditional herbal practitioners in Nigeria and around the globe without a safe dose regimen to treat erectile dysfunction and other related reproductive disorders. The present study examines some histological indices in male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) treated orally with P. yohimbe methanol root using twenty five Wistar rats divided into five groups (n=5) of four treatment groups and one control group. The control group was administered 10 mL/kg distilled water only, while treatment groups received 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w of P. yohimbe root extract by oral cannula for 14 days. On day 15, animals in all group were anaesthetized, their heart were isolated and processed histologically. The results showed normal histological indices of the hearts examined, which were resemblance of, and significantly not different from the control. Therefore, the present study provides support for the safety profile of P. yohimbe herbal preparation in a concentration of doses administered to male Wistar rats. However, further studies may attempt to look at higher doses under similar circumstances

M-Commerce Implementation in Nigeria: Trends and Issues

Nigeria was described as the fastest growing telecoms nation in Africa and the third in the World. The country had experienced a phenomenal growth from a teledensity of 0.49 in 2000 to 25.22 in 2007. This trend has brought about a monumental development in the major sectors of the economy, such as banking, telecoms and commerce in general. This paper presents the level of adoption of ICT in the banking sector and investigates the prospects of m-Commerce in Nigeria based on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis. Findings revealed that all banks in Nigeria offer e-Banking services and about 52% of the offer some forms of m-Banking services. The banks and the telecoms operators have enormous potentials and opportunities for m-Commerce but the level of patronage, quality of cell phones, lack of basic infrastructure and security issues pose a major threat to its wide scale implementation