EFFECT OF SUCCESSION PLANNING ON BUSINESS PERFORMANCE OF PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Organizations need to keep running despite the potential risk it faces. However, leaders in institutions find it difficult to survive in the face of difficulties. The study aims to determine the effect of succession planning on business performance: Empirical evidence of The Bells University, Covenant University, and Crawford University. The objective of the study was to; evaluate the effect of the transition process on business continuity, examine the impact performance metric has on corporate image and determine the influence successor training and development has on customer satisfaction of the selected firm. A hundred and fifty (150) copies of questionnaires were administered to the top and middle-level management in the selected universities. The study adopted a correlational research design. The findings show that succession planning has a significant impact on business performance. The significant value (.000) indicated that the transition process has a substantial effect on business continuity. Similarly, the performance metric showed a positive association (.000) with corporate image. The significant value for successor training and development and customer satisfaction was (.000), which was less than 0.05, indicating that successor training and development significantly affected customer satisfaction. This study thus concludes that succession planning is an effective strategy to ensure business performanc

Psychoactive substance and road traffic accident among commercial drivers: a study of family supports in Sokoto, Nigeria

Family support influence behaviour such as alcohol use and other psychoactive substances. However, few studies have reported on the relationship between family support and road traffic accidents. The present study was to examine whether perceived family support influence the prevalence of psychoactive substances and road traffic accidents among commercial motor drivers in Sokoto, Nigeria. One hundred and sixty seven commercial passenger drivers in Sokoto metropolis were assessed for family support, psychoactive substance use and road traffic accident in this self report study using family support subscale of multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS). Data obtained was analyzed using SPSS for windows version 16.0. Subjects who reported not receiving family supports were more likely to use psychoactive substance than subjects who received family supports. In addition, subjects who reported receiving family supports were more likely not to report road traffic accidents compared to subjects who did not receive family supports. Family supports influence use of psychoactive substances including alcohol and road traffic accidents. In future investigation of causes of road traffic accidents, attention to family dynamics may be useful

Frequency of depression among hypertensive patients who developed stroke

Background: The relationship between depression and stroke has been described in different studies. However most of these studies were done in stroke condition arising from different risk factors. Since the risk factor for stroke determine the lesion volume which in turn influences the frequency of depression, it is important to determine the frequency of depression in specific risk factor for stroke. The purpose of this study is therefore to determine the frequency of major depression among patients who developed stroke from hypertension. Methods: This is a retrospective study. Thirty four patients who developed stroke from severe hypertension were included. Using Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) IV criteria, the stroke patients who were diagnosed with depression were identified. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS Version 11. Results: The age of the patients ranged from 30 to 80 years (mean= 60.2 ±10.5 years). Compared to the males (57.4 ±11.7years), female patients appeared to be older (mean = 62.2 ±9.4 years). However the difference was not statiscally significant (P=0.46). Half of the stroke patients were married while 30% were gainfully employed. Left hemispheric stroke constituted about 70% of stroke site, five patients (14.7%) had depression. Conclusions: This study suggested that depression is not infrequent among hypertensives with stroke. Further studies with larger sample size are recommended to confirm our findings

Complex partial seizure, disruptive behaviours and the Nigerian Legal System

Background: Complex partial seizure is an epileptic seizure which results in impairment of responsiveness or awareness such as altered level of consciousness. Complex partial seizures are often preceded by an aura such as depersonalization, feelings of de javu, jamais vu and fear. The ictal phase of complex partial seizure is often associated with complex activities where an individual may still be able to perform routine task such as walking, though such movements are not planned and are often purposeless. Witnesses' around may not recognize anything wrong.Method: This is a case of a 43 year old commercial motor cycle driver, who was accused of first degree murder in the year 2000. He was convicted and sentenced to death. Prior to commission of crime, he was diagnosed with complex partial seizure with secondary generalization in 1990 at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.Results: During his 15 years stay on death row at a maximum security prison in Nigeria, he had several episodes of seizure and subsequently developed a depressive disorder. He was placed on medication which includes anticonvulsants and antidepressants by the Forensic Psychiatry team. With regular follow-ups and available medication, he became stable. He was pardoned by the state Governor in 2015 following a recommendation by the Forensic Psychiatry team.Conclusion: Complex partial seizure comes with altered consciousness and  disruptive behaviour, which could result in  commission of a crime. Therefore, the strict adherence to the M'Naghten rule by the Nigerian legal system results in strict reliance by judges and not considering these rules in most cases bothering on  insanity. This is without taking into cognizance the peculiarity of each case.Keywords: complex partial seizure, death row, murder, pardon

Upgrading Bio-Oil Produced from Corn Cobs and Cedrela odorata via Catalytic Olefination and Esterification with 3,7-Dimethyloct-1-ene and Butanol

In this study, corn cobs (CC) and Cedrela odorata (CO) sawdust which are common waste materials in Nigeria were used as raw materials in the production of bio-oil through pyrolysis at 500°C, for 2 h. The biochar produced in the process was sulfonated with concentrated sulfuric acid under reflux at 150°C for 6 h and used as a solid acid catalyst for bio-oil upgrading. The bio-oil was upgraded by simultaneous olefination and esterification using 3,7-dimethyloct-1-ene and butanol which served as a reagent and cosolvent. FT-IR spectra of the activated biochar from CC and CO raw materials showed an absorbance in the range of 1032–1180 cm−1, which is indicative of asymmetric S=O bonds, and the spectra also revealed a band between 3400 and 3700 cm−1, which indicated presence of hydrogen-bonded hydroxyl groups and thus successful activation of the biochar. This observed IR absorbance was absent in the nonactivated biochar. Proximate analysis of upgraded bio-oils revealed a significant reduction in percentage water and oxygen contents, an increase in the high heating value (HHV) and flammability. The chemical composition of the bio-oils was determined using GC-MS, and it showed significant reduction in oxygenated compounds in the upgraded bio-oil as against their high composition in raw bio-oils

Sociodemographic and Clinical Variables of Depression among Patients with Epilepsy in a Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Nigeria

Background. Depression is a major contributor to the global burden of disease. Its occurrence in patients living with epilepsy is not just common but also a serious comorbidity. Patients tend to suffer if the depressive disorder is undetected and thus untreated. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of depressive disorder in patients with epilepsy. Also, the sociodemographic and clinical factors that are associated with the development of depression in people living with epilepsy were examined. Materials and Method. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of participants living with epilepsy and receiving care at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. Participants were recruited consecutively as they come for follow-up care. A sociodemographic/clinical questionnaire and General Health Questionnaire version 28 (GHQ-28) were first administered to participants followed by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). The descriptive statistics were generated and analyzed. Logistic regression was also done to determine the predictors of depression in the study participants. All test of probability was set at p<0.05. Results. A total of 400 participants with epilepsy were examined with GHQ-28 and CIDI. Out of the GHQ-28 examined individuals, 71 people (17.8%) met criteria for caseness while 35 participants (8.8%) were depressed when assessed with CIDI. The predictors of depressive illness in participants living with epilepsy were GHQ caseness (p≤0.001), minority ethnic group (p=0.006), and a positive family history of mental illness (p=0.021). Conclusion. Depression is common in people with epilepsy. Physicians should actively assess individuals with epilepsy for symptoms of depression. Special attention should be paid to patients with a family history of epilepsy and those from minority ethnic groups

Impact and Management of Diseases of <em>Solanum tuberosum</em>

Solanum tuberosum (Potato) is one of the essential economic crops with the potential to reduce hunger due to its high yield per unit area of land compared with many economic crops. However, its yield losses due to pest and disease attacks could be as high as 100%, depending on its tolerance level and pest and disease. Over the years, several disease management strategies have been researched, ranging from synthetic pesticides to the formulation of biopesticides as disease control measures. Moreso, recent breakthroughs in genetic engineering have simplified plant disease management strategies by developing techniques for conferring resistance on plants. Potato is a vital food crop worldwide, and with the struggle to suppress world food insecurity, effective disease management strategies must be employed for high production of quality and quantity potato, enough to feed the ever-increasing world population. Therefore, attention must be given to how disease-free potatoes can be produced to meet the unending demand for food by the continually increasing world population

Spatial distribution and ecological niche modeling of geographical spread of Anopheles gambiae complex in Nigeria using real time data

Abstract The need for evidence-based data, to inform policy decisions on malaria vector control interventions in Nigeria, necessitated the establishment of mosquito surveillance sites in a few States in Nigeria. In order to make evidence-based-decisions, predictive studies using available data becomes imperative. We therefore predict the distribution of the major members of the Anopheles gambiae s.l. in Nigeria. Immature stages of Anopheles were collected from 72 study locations which span throughout the year 2020 resulted in the identification of over 60,000 Anopheline mosquitoes. Of these, 716 breeding sites were identified with the presence of one or more vector species from the An. gambiae complex and were subsequently used for modelling the potential geographical distribution of these important malaria vectors. Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) distribution modeling was used to predict their potentially suitable vector habitats across Nigeria. A total of 23 environmental variables (19 bioclimatic and four topographic) were used in the model resulting in maps of the potential geographical distribution of three dominant vector species under current climatic conditions. Members of the An. gambiae complex dominated the collections (98%) with Anopheles stephensi, Anopheles coustani, Anopheles funestus, Anopheles moucheti, Anopheles nilli also present. An almost equal distribution of the two efficient vectors of malaria, An. gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii, were observed across the 12 states included in the survey. Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii had almost equal, well distributed habitat suitability patterns with the latter having a slight range expansion. However, the central part of Nigeria (Abuja) and some highly elevated areas (Jos) in the savannah appear not suitable for the proliferation of these species. The most suitable habitat for Anopheles arabiensis was mainly in the South-west and North-east. The results of this study provide a baseline allowing decision makers to monitor the distribution of these species and establish a management plan for future national mosquito surveillance and control programs in Nigeria