Geochemical studies of groundwater systems of semiarid Yola area, northeast, Nigeria

Geochemical studies of Yola area of Northeast Nigeria were studied during a dry season period (November 2008). This was to determine the process controlling the water chemistry and to assess the quality of water. Theresults show that, based on ionic ratios, precipitation and water-rock interaction (silicate weathering) are the main controlling factors contributing to solute concentration in these areas. The main water types in the area include Mg2+- HCO3 - and Na+-Cl- are the dominant ion types for the shallow groundwater, Mg2+-Cl-, Mg2+-HCO3 - and Na+-HCO3- for the deep groundwater and Na+-Cl- for the surface water bodies.Equilibrium specification calculations revealed that the water samples are largely undersaturated with respect to calcite and dolomite in the water samples. Groundwater samples from the shallow groundwater indicate pH values (6.10 to 7.08) and Eh values (mean 0.72 volt) whereas those of the deep groundwater revealed pH range (6.60 to 7.80) and Eh values (mean 0.75 volt). They are slightly acidic to neutral, largely soft, clean waters with fairly low to moderate concentration of dissolved solids that fall within the international acceptable limits for drinking, domestic and irrigation purposes. However some samples indicate iron and nitrate values that are above the recommended limits and should be treated before use. Employing Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Magnesium Adsorption Ratio (MAR), Permeability Index (PI), Kellys Ratio (KR), and Residual Sodium Bicarbonate (RSBC) as criteria, the waters appear suitable for irrigation purposes

Parental involvement in a new environment: Igbo families in Chicago and the education of their children—a narrative inquiry

Parents, family, school and community have overlapping spheres of influence in the education of children (Epstein, 2001). Schooling isolated from the home will have significant consequences for child behavior and development (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). A fact of life is that a people’s socio-political, cultural and historical life situation, context or environment, or ecological systems (Bronfenbrenner, 1977) affects their way of life. This study seeks to understand the nature of parental engagement of Igbo families, a newer immigrant community in Chicago, in the education of their children. All immigrants are not the same, and knowing about Igbo experiences will enable scholars and educators to recognize both similarities with and differences from other immigrant communities. The study was conducted using a narrative inquiry methodology, which provides a good platform to hear these important stories about education and schooling and to better understand the particular experience of Igbo parents in Chicago relative to their involvement in the education of their children. Epstein’s theory of overlapping spheres of influence and Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory frame the study. Ten parents were interviewed in this study, six women and four men. The following themes emerged: Educating children, the Igbo parents’ perception and practice of parental involvement, Igbo parents’ relationship with the schools, the parents’ environment, the challenges encountered and the support parents have. It is immaterial whether their kind of involvement fits the prescribed or standardized form of parental involvement in the literature or in practice elsewhere. But the crucial question is, given their circumstances, are Igbo parents’ perceptions and practices of parental involvement promoting the education of their children in Chicago

Some Approaches in the Management of Catholic Charismatic Renewal-related Conflicts in Igboland

Conflict is an ubiquitous phenomenon. It is experienced within, among persons and groups. They are equally witnessed in religious sphere. This paper considered some approaches and their usefulness in the management of catholic charismatic related conflicts in Igboland. Arbitration, conciliation, adjudication and intervention of local authority are top among the approaches discussed. These approaches are imperative for the effective and peaceful functioning of the catholic charismatic group and therefore the church and the entire society

PERCEPTION OF INTERN TEACHERS’ USE OF INTERACTIVE STRATEGIES IN TEACHING LARGE CLASSES IN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT

Higher education institutions experience large classes despite the National Universities’ Commission’s (NUC) and other supervisory agencies emphasis on carrying capacity of the institutions in Nigeria. The overpopulation affects effective teaching and learning and quality assurance. This study focused on perception of intern teachers of the use of interactive strategies in teaching Curriculum Studies in an online environment in a College of Education. 200 computer science students (intern teachers) in a Curriculum Studies class formed the study sample. Three research questions guided the study. A structured and validated questionnaire with reliability index of 0.79, made up of 25 items constructed on a four-point Likert-type scale was administered on the students for data collection. The data were analysed using simple mean and the results showed that the intern teachers supported the use of the teaching strategies in an online class as a complement to the face to face method of teaching. They are also recommended as alternative strategies to reduce the problems associated with large classes. However, the research subjects were sceptical about the implementation of online teaching as a result of power supply and access to internet facilities. The findings have a far reaching implication for the 21st Century teaching and learning. Suggestions towards effective online teaching and learning were made especially with theGovernment’s reiteration of the need for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the schools in Nigeria.Key Words: Interactive learning, online environment, Intern teachers, virtual learning and online teaching

Cultural hybridity in selected Igbo Royalty films

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Globalization, Imperialism and Christianity: The Nigerian Perspective

There appears to be very close link between globalization and imperialism. Both seem to have domineering character. Globalization could be likened to a new wave of imperialism as it could be adjudged the process by which the so called superior powers of the West dominate and influence developing countries like Nigeria. They are expansionist in nature. Christianity has the same expansionist features as globalization and imperialism. The imperialistnature of globalization could be assessed from the expansionist activities of Christianity that equally originates from the West. This paper is an attempt todiscuss globalization, imperialism and Christianity as expansionist realities from the Nigerian perspective. Information is gathered from content analysesof the concepts of globalization, imperialism and Christianity and simple observation of what Nigeria experiences with regard to Christianity. It is  observed that much of what Christianity favours are materials from the West.The paper concludes that Christianity more than ever before rides on the crest of globalization to further imperialism. It suggests that Christianity in the twenty-first century should be more inculturated than hanging on the apron strings of the West especially with regard to religious wares

Conflict Theory and the Analysis of Religious Experience

This paper is a theoretical presentation of religious experience as thefundamental element of religion and in the study of religion(s). It states that religion or religiousness is a characteristic of human beings who have an attraction to an objective reality outside of humans but considered Ultimate, Divine, and Sacred in essence and action. Humans generally consider themselves dependent on this Ultimate Reality for their being and sustenance. This Reality is considered to be in communication with humans who nonetheless respond in diverse ritual forms. This communication is a form of experience that, like other experiences, is a source of knowledge not equally given to all. The experience takes many shapes. Whatever shape it takes is subject to interpretation. Both the experience and the way it is interpreted can, and most of the times, lead to conflict and violence. One of the appropriate theoretical approaches to explaining, understanding, and resolving religious related conflicts and violence is the conflict theory with micro (psycho-spiritual) and macro (socio-cultural) features germane to analyzing internal and external conflicts generated by religious humans. It is appropriate in interpreting psychological and sociological conflicts associated with religious experience. It is argued, therefore, that there is a matrix between religious experience and the use of conflict theory in the interpretation of conflicts (intrapersonal and interpersonal) arising from religious experience

Predictors of Overall Personal Achievements of Nigerian American Graduates Living in Four Texas Cities

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationships between some of the variables most cited in literature and the overall achievement level of Nigerian Americans in four Texas cities—Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Specifically, this study investigated the variables that significantly affected and predicted overall achievements. The Nigerian American questionnaire (NAQ) was used to gather the data for this study. The NAQ survey instrument was developed using some questions from previously validated survey instruments. These instruments included COPE, CASE, SWLS and JSS, which were used to extract relevant variable-related questions for the present data. The variables covered by the extracted questions included coping skills, spirituality, job satisfaction, social media, parental influence and English proficiency among others. The NAQ instrument was sent to all Nigerian Americans in the target population using both the traditional paper method and the online method. The research questions were addressed by performing the Pearson correlation, simple and multiple regression, the Kruskal-Wallis, the Mann-Whitney U test, and logistic regressions. The data was analyzed using the statistical software SPSS and R. Results of the study indicated that coping skills, English proficiency, social media were individually, positively and significantly correlated with overall achievement. Spirituality was found to be significantly but negatively correlated with achievement. Additionally, the regression analysis showed that these variables were significant predictors of achievement. Coping levels and the use of social media were also found to significantly differ based on the field of study and gender. The logistic regression results indicated that the probability of obtaining a graduate degree was influenced by parental level of education and spirituality. There is a need for the results of the study to guide future government policies on Nigerian American migration as well as serve as a guide for future Nigerians panning to settle in the United States of America in understanding factors that affect their achievements in America

Advancing electronic voting systems in Nigeria's electoral process: legal challenges and future directions

This article aims to examine the legal and policy challenges associated with adopting an electronic voting (e-voting) system in Nigeria’s electoral process. Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy, has for many years been held down by issues of election fraud, thuggery, violence as seen in past manual elections in the country. The article argues that, if properly implemented and financed, e-election offers great promise and potential as the panacea for voter fraud in Nigeria’s electoral system. First, it examines the theoretical, legal and constitutional basis for e-voting. Second, drawing lessons from other jurisdictions, it analyses practical challenges for the implementation and adoption of an e-voting system in Nigeria. These challenges include the possible compromise of e-voting devices, by viruses or other malicious software; manipulation by people with privileged access to the system, either system developers, system administrators or malicious hackers; denial-of-service attacks (attacks that result in the e-voting facility being disabled or otherwise unavailable for voters to use); lack of adequate supervision mechanisms; and the difficulties of proving electronic attacks in courts of law among other things. Many of these problems are beyond the contemplation of and, therefore, are unaddressed by Nigeria’s Electoral Act, making the law currently incapable and unsuitable to effectively respond to these problems. The article calls for a reform of the Nigerian Electoral Act to better address peculiar legal and constitutional challenges associated with e-voting systems.Keywords: E-elections, Hacking, Democracy, Election Pilotin