The Perceived Adequacy of Vocational and Technical Education in Nigeria and the Administrative Problems in Staffing the Programs

Problem This study was to examine the perceived adequacy of technical education in Nigeria and the problems that administrators face in staffing the programs. The aims and objectives of technical education were examined as written in the Fourth National Development Plan and National Policy for Education. Method Two instruments were utilized for data collection: (1) a survey questionnaire for the opinions of Nigerian technical educators, and (2) a set of structured questions to interview selected executives in industry. The researcher travelled to Nigeria\u27s technical institutions for distribution of questionnaires and for on-the-scene assessment of technical programs. Collected data and government publications were analyzed. The questionnaire covered goals and objectives, nature and scope, grade placement, laboratory facilities, competencies, funding, staffing, responsiveness of curriculum to intended objectives, and the overall rating of programs. Responses of the interviewed industrialists were also analyzed. Findings and Conclusions National aims and objectives were clearly defined, but the quality of education has declined because of enrollment increases, shortages of qualified teachers, textbooks, funds to run expensive programs, and the unavailability of physical facilities and teaching aids. Ninety-three out of 95 (97.9%) technical educators rated the overall Nigeria technical education programs as inadequate. Coordination and management of technical education programs were also rated inadequate. The curriculum has been too theoretical in nature. Curriculum development has occurred without the input of industry, community, and curriculum specialists. There has been lack of administrative support, proper planning, and management of resources. The remuneration for teachers has been poor; excellent teachers have not been rewarded. The number of available industries has not been enough for students\u27 industrial attachment. The quota system of allocating resources has been inadequate. Many graduates have not been employed and those employed are working in areas other than which they are qualified

Sustainability Strategies in Engineering Infrastructure Maintenance in Developing Countries: Selected South Western Nigeria States Case Study

It is an undeniable fact that production of maintenance- free infrastructure is not feasible. The reality is that all the elements and components that make up an engineering infrastructure unavoidably, deteriorates with time due to inherent defects in design and construction, and the effects of environmental agents and users activities. All engineering infrastructures are subject to aging, wear and tear in the performance of their functions and deterioration by exposure to outside operating environment. Hence, left to themselves, engineering infrastructures will eventually become inefficient, unreliable and fail.  The issue then is how the existing infrastructure can be sustained to the extent that the functions they are designed to perform will not be compromised. To this end, this study researched into sustainability strategies that can be adopted in engineering infrastructure maintenance. Data will be collected for purpose of extracting information on deployable strategies, including the use of Public engineering infrastructure in Southwestern part of Nigeria as case study. The study later recommended strategies than can be adopted to aid this present generation provide solution to their environmental needs without compromise ability of future generation to meet their needs, which concept of sustainability has birthed. Key Words: Sustainability, Strategy, Infrastructure and Maintenance

Causes And Effect Of Delay On Project Construction Delivery Time

Delay is one of the biggest problems often experienced on construction project sites. Delays can instigates negative effects such as increased costs, loss of productivity and revenue many lawsuits between owners and contractors and contract termination. The aim of this project is to investigate the causes and effects of delay on building construction project delivery time. Random sampling technique was used in this study. Population sample of 150 was used in this work. A total sample of ninety three (93) was deployed. A structured questionnaire in Likert scale was used in data collection. There are many factors that induce delay on construction projects, however in some of identified factors includes: lack of funds to finance the project to completion, changes in drawings, lack of effective communication among the parties involved , lack of adequate information from consultants, slow decision making and contractor’s insolvency, variations among others. Also, project management problem, mistake and discrepancies in contract document, equipment availability and failure, mistakes during construction, bad weather, fluctuation in prices of building materials, inappropriate overall organizational structure linking to the project and labour. The factors above could be observed and could be a clue to preventing delay on construction sites

Vocational Skill Mobility and Its Effect on Occupational Engagement Among Tradesmen and Craftsmen in Building Sector

Building sector in Nigeria has suffered skill erosion overtime. Foreigners with special skill has mobilized their skill into the sector and there had been mass exodus of imported skills into the sector thereby forcing citizens to jettison idea of engaging indigenous artisans in the face of superior skills and knowledge. The aim of the study is to appraise the vocational skills and competence of the indigenous and foreign artisans, vocational mobility in building sector, job mobility pattern among artisans, sectors involved, attendant effects, both favorable and unfavorable, and possible ways of addressing identified threat. The study engaged 120 questionnaire using random sampling technique. The questionnaire was designed in Likert scale, structured on sematic rating scale 1 to 5. The study identified the following reasons among others reasons behind the disparity in occupational engagement among artisans in Nigeria building sector, the reasons include: inadequate skill and knowledge by indigenous artisans, no vocational focus, half -baked knowledge of the work, poor workmanship and poor finishing and poor education background or lack of former education among others. The study recommended the following factors as panacea to the problem; reinvigoration of artisans competence, continuous training of the artisans, value reorientation of artisans, promoting technology transfer among indigenous artisans and foreign artisans

Legislative oversight and structural violence in the Lagos State Health Scheme: A study of Alimosho Local Government Area

Structural violence imposes constraints on achieving equitable, affordable, accessible, and high-quality public services, encompassing healthcare. Despite establishing the LSHS, aimed at providing healthcare irrespective of economic status, residents continue to experience deprivation, restricted access, and substandard healthcare services. Doubts arise regarding the efficacy of legislative oversight in mitigating structural violence. This study explores this issue by employing a comprehensive methodology involving primary and secondary data collection through literature reviews, questionnaires, and interviews. The analysis reveals that the prevalence of structural violence within the LSHS cannot be exclusively attributed to deficiencies in the oversight responsibilities of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Lingering disparities, limited accessibility, unaffordability, and inadequate healthcare quality persist. Contributing factors encompass inadequate funding mechanisms, and deficiencies in communication, among others. Challenges such as executive interference, corruption, and the absence of a robust legislative framework impede the effectiveness of oversight

Assessment of Physiochemical and Bacteriological Quality of Water Supply for Domestic Use in Student Hostels in Nigerian University

Abstract The study examined the consistency in quality of water supply within the student halls of residence in a Nigerian University. The water samples were collected at four different points along the supply chain for three months and both physicochemical and bacteriological tests were conducted on the samples based on World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigeria Standard for Drinking Water (NSDW) standards concurrently. The results of the physicochemical test showed that all the samples were within the WHO and NSDW specified permissible range except their pH (4.57-6.00). However, the bacteriological results revealed that the Escherichia Coli (E. coli) of all samples (2, 2, 4 and 28cfu/100ml) were not acceptable. In addition, the fecal coliform results of two samples (0cfu/100ml) were within WHO and NSDW permissible limit values while other samples (1,2 cfu/100ml) were contaminated by some measure of fecal element. Nevertheless, the results of Total Coliform samples of two points were 0&3cfu/100ml therefore within the acceptable limit range but, the remaining two samples points (TNTC) were not acceptable. One of the influences on the result of the bacteriological is the closeness of the water supply pipes to the sewage pipes. In conclusion, the bacteriological standard required by both WHO and NSDW was not satisfied in the water supply to the halls of residents. Therefore there is an urgent need for the treatment of water supply against the presence of fecal elements to forestall liable diseases for sustainable health. Keywords: bacteriological test, physicochemical test, water, Nigerian university, WHO, NSD

Building Practice in the New Millennium: is Building Education Ready to Meet the Challenges

The study aimed at assessing the building prncticc in the new millennium and cvahwtcd the readiness of building education in meeting these challenges. The objectives of this research are to evaluate building education and practices in the ne·w millemlium .. identify the challenges building practices face in the ne·w nlillemlitml and evaluate the readiness of building education in meeting these challenges. Secondary and primary data were obtained. Data ·was obtained by the adnlinistration of questionnaires. and interviews of students studying Building Technology in Covenant University and construction practitioners. A sample size of 150 students comprising of students from the 5 levels of the progrmmne partook of the survey. Purposeful sampling technique was used and the data obtained was analyzed using a 5-point Likert scale. The factors affecting the readiness of building education in meeting the challenges of Building Prncticc in the New Millennium in varying degrees include Poor Educational Background, Poor curriculum. Poor Relationship Between Educational System and The Constmction Industry. Lack of Prospect To Take Risk. Insufficient Building Practice. Cormption., Financial Inadequacy and Economic Recession. It was also observed that that the education sector and public lack awareness of what building millennium entails and do not have the pre requites building education that can meet up with the rapidly evolving standards of the nilllennium. The study therefore concluded that the building education is not ready to f.1cc the challenges of the new millennium; it recommended that the curriculum should be assessed and restmctured to be able to meet up the requirements of the new nlillennium building constructio

Short-term COVID-19 vaccine adverse effects among adults in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Background: The safety of the COVID-19 vaccines has been a topic of concern globally. This issue of safety is associated with vaccine hesitancy due to concerns about the adverse effects of the vaccines. Consequently, this study determined the short-term safety profile of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between May and July 2021 among individuals who had received the first dose of the first batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. A Google form was used to collect data on the adverse effects of the vaccine. Results: Out of over 1,000 individuals who were approached, 758 respondents completed the study. A large percentage (57.4%) of those who received the vaccines were healthcare workers. Adverse effects were reported in 70.8% of the participants with most manifesting on the first day of the vaccination. The predominant adverse effects were injection site soreness (28.5%), followed by fatigue (18.7%) and muscle pain (8.6%). There was no report of severe adverse effects such as anaphylactic reactions, thrombosis, myocarditis, transient myelitis, or Guillen-Barre syndrome. Conclusion: This study found that self-reported adverse effects of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine were mild and short in duration. This outcome has promising implications for improving COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the immediate environment and Nigeria

Factors Affecting the Competencies and Project Delivery of Small-Sized Indigenous Construction Firms in Lagos State

Every industry is prone to problems Performance is a general challenge affecting construction and most especially small-sized indigenous construction companies. The study focused on determining the likely factors affecting the competencies and project delivery of small-sized construction firms in Lagos. 60 questionnaires were designed and administered to professionals (15-Architects, 15-Builders, 15-Engineers, and 15-Quantity Surveyors) working in the construction companies in Lagos State and 48 questionnaires were retrieved. These questionnaires were analysed with SPSS and several findings were derived from this analysis. The various factors affecting the performance and project delivery at varying degrees are: high cost of plants, equipment, materials and labour, lack of skilled craftsmen, unavailability of funds, poor managerial skills, lack of government patronage, and poor communication among stakeholders. The study found out that the most prominent factors are poor managerial skills, lack of project planning and unavailability of funds. The main factors affecting the performance of small sized indigenous construction firms are based on three key elements namely time, quality and cost. These three elements when properly harnessed will increase the performance of small sized indigenous firms. The study recommended that the use of ICT would help improve performance by making work flow more easily. Access to bank loans and more machinery on site and sufficient government patronage would improve performance. It concluded that better management and project planning would go a long way in improving competencies and project delivery of small sized construction firms

Hepatitis B vaccination status among health workers in Nigeria: a nationwide survey between January to June 2021

Abstract Background Hepatitis B vaccination is the most important preventive measure against Hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection. Vaccination against HBV infection among healthcare workers is important because of their daily exposure to patients’ body fluids and the possible risk of transmission to other patients. Hence, this study assessed the risk of hepatitis B infection, vaccination status and associated factors among healthcare workers in six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Methods A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2021 using electronic data capture techniques to enroll 857 healthcare workers (HCWs) in regular contact with patients and their samples through a multi-stage sampling method. Results The participants’ mean (SD) age was 38.7 (8.0) years, and 453 (52.9%) were female. Each of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria had a fair representation, with a range of 15.3 to 17.7% of the study population. The majority (83.8%) of healthcare workers in Nigeria knew that they were at an increased risk of being infected by their work. Also, 72.2% knew that if infected, there was a high risk of liver cancer in later life. Many participants (642 [74.9%]) responded that they consistently applied standard precautions, such as hand washing, gloves, and face masks while attending to patients. Three hundred and sixty (42.0%) participants were fully vaccinated. Of the 857 respondents, 248 (28.9%) did not receive any dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. Factors that were associated with not being vaccinated included age less than 25 [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.796, 95% CI 1.119 to 20.547, p = 0.035], being a nurse (AOR 2.346, 95% CI 1.446 to 3.808, p = 0.010), being a health attendant (AOR 9.225, 95% CI 4.532 to 18.778, p = 0.010), and being a healthcare worker from the Southeast (AOR 2.152, 95% CI 1.186 to 3.904, p = 0.012) in Nigeria. Conclusion This study showed a high level of awareness of the risks associated with hepatitis B infection and suboptimal uptake of the hepatitis B vaccine among healthcare workers in Nigeria