Explaining inter-ethnic harmony in Enugu city, South-eastern Nigeria, 1970–2003

Ethnicity is a prominent feature in Nigeria’s socio-economic environment and is fervently exhibited within the context of the ‘indigene-settler dichotomy’. As this encourages exclusivism, it has been a major factor responsible for violent conflicts across the country. While many urban spaces in the country have witnessed such conflicts, a few have not. This study examines the indigene-settler inter-relations in Enugu to determine why and how the city sustained ethnic coexistence, cooperation and harmony since the end of the civil war (1967– 1970). It demonstrates how, while ethnic attachment appeared to be strong, and while conflicts and occasional tensions did occur in the city, inter-ethnic relationships were cordial and symbiotic. It further identifies and interrogates cogent factors responsible for this trend. The paper argues that the constructive management of ethnic conflicts, as demonstrated in the city, could be efficient and productive. Despite optimism in Enugu’s peaceful condition, however, it concludes that potential complications could emanate, as the factors responsible for Enugu’s condition are amenable to change. Both primary and secondary sources (eighty-six in-person interviews, twelve focus group discussions, archival and secondary materials) were used within a multi-disciplinary framework.

Dataset from: Visual evidence accumulation guides decision-making in unrestrained mice.

The ability to manipulate neural activity with precision is an asset in uncovering neural circuits for decision-making. Diverse tools for manipulating neurons are available for mice, but their feasibility remains unclear, especially when decisions require accumulating visual evidence. For example, whether mice' decisions reflect leaky accumulation is unknown, as are the relevant/irrelevant factors that influence decisions. Further, causal circuits for visual evidence accumulation are poorly understood. To address this, we measured decisions in mice judging the fluctuating rate of a flash sequence. An initial analysis (>500,000 trials, 29 male and female mice) demonstrated that information throughout the 1000 ms trial influenced choice, with early information most influential. This suggests that information persists in neural circuits for ∼1000 ms with minimal accumulation leak. Next, in a subset of animals, we probed strategy more extensively and found that although animals were influenced by stimulus rate, they were unable to entirely suppress the influence of stimulus brightness. Finally, we identified anteromedial (AM) visual area via retinotopic mapping and optogenetically inhibited it using JAWS. Light activation biased choices in both injected and uninjected animals, demonstrating that light alone influences behavior. By varying stimulus–response contingency while holding stimulated hemisphere constant, we surmounted this obstacle to demonstrate that AM suppression biases decisions. By leveraging a large dataset to quantitatively characterize decision-making behavior, we establish mice as suitable for neural circuit manipulation studies. Further, by demonstrating that mice accumulate visual evidence, we demonstrate that this strategy for reducing uncertainty in decision-making is used by animals with diverse visual systems

(Re)Venturing into the Public Sphere: Historical Sociology of ‘August Meeting’ among Igbo Women in Nigeria

August meetings, the annual mothers’ congresses held in the month of August, witness massive home-coming of ‘Igbo women’ to their marital rural hometowns, where they unite with their rural-based colleagues for community development purposes. However, they have of recent delved into the hitherto public sphere domains exclusive to the men-folk. Indeed, these truly typify the rise of women as a social force and their conscious pursuit of development. But, how truly participatory are they? To what extent have they empowered the women-folk in the public sphere? This study articulates the idea of the public sphere within the Igbo context and develops a comprehensive analysis and view of the agency of women’s participation therein, by focusing on their grassroots initiatives and the crucial roles they play in societal development. It analyses the history and evolution of the ‘August Meeting’, throwing light on its structure, functions  and operational modes. It further demonstrates the degree of this meeting’s autonomy from men’s groups, and highlights the factors that inhibit these women in further negotiating a space in the public sphere. It concludes that the ‘August Meeting’ has a critical mandate in Igbo political affairs and represents the socio-economic and cultural development initiative of women

The Evolution of “August Meeting” among the Igbo Women of Southeastern Nigeria

The month of August every year witnesses a massive homecoming from different towns and cities across the world of “Igbo women” groups to their matrimonial rural hometowns, where they unite with their rural-based colleagues for what is now popularly known as the “August Meeting.” These “mothers’ congresses,” as they truly are, were originally often geared towards self-help rural community development, but have in recent times delved into conflict management, peace-building and human development in rural societies. But, what is the history of the “August Meeting” initiative among Igbo women? How different is it from the two “traditional” women’s groups among the Igbo? How independent is this assemblage from men’s influences and patronage, especially in a patriarchal society like the Igbos’? This article reconstructs the evolution of the “August Meeting” among women in the Igbo society. It develops a comprehensive view of the agency of women’s participation therein, by focusing on their grassroots initiatives and the crucial roles they play in societal development

Visual evidence accumulation guides decision-making in unrestrained mice

The ability to manipulate neural activity with precision is an asset in uncovering neural circuits for decision-making. Diverse tools for manipulating neurons are available for mice, but their feasibility remains unclear, especially when decisions require accumulating visual evidence. For example, whether mice' decisions reflect leaky accumulation is unknown, as are the relevant/irrelevant factors that influence decisions. Further, causal circuits for visual evidence accumulation are poorly understood. To address this, we measured decisions in mice judging the fluctuating rate of a flash sequence. An initial analysis (>500,000 trials, 29 male and female mice) demonstrated that information throughout the 1000ms trial influenced choice, with early information most influential. This suggests that information persists in neural circuits for approximately 1000ms with minimal accumulation leak. Next, in a subset of animals, we probed strategy more extensively and found that although animals were influenced by stimulus rate, they were unable to entirely suppress the influence of stimulus brightness. Finally, we identified anteromedial (AM) visual area via retinotopic mapping and optogenetically inhibited it using JAWS. Light activation biased choices in both injected and uninjected animals, demonstrating that light alone influences behavior. By varying stimulus-response contingency while holding stimulated hemisphere constant, we surmounted this obstacle to demonstrate that AM suppression biases decisions. By leveraging a large dataset to quantitatively characterize decision-making behavior, we establish mice as suitable for neural circuit manipulation studies. Further, by demonstrating that mice accumulate visual evidence, we demonstrate that this strategy for reducing uncertainty in decision-making is employed by animals with diverse visual systems.Significance statementTo connect behaviors to their underlying neural mechanism, a deep understanding of behavioral strategy is needed. This understanding is incomplete for mice. To surmount this, we measured the outcome of over 500,000 decisions made by 29 mice trained to judge visual stimuli and performed behavioral/optogenetic manipulations in smaller subsets. Our analyses offer new insights into mice' decision-making strategies and compares them with those of other species. We then disrupted neural activity in a candidate neural structure and examined the effect on decisions. Our findings establish mice as suitable for visual accumulation of evidence decisions. Further, the results highlight similarities in decision-making strategies across very different species

Communal prevalence of malaria parasite and evaluation of Long Lasting Insecticidal Treated Nets (LLINs) for malaria control in Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria

This study investigates the prevalence of malaria and evaluates Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) utilization for malaria control in Ikenne LGA, Ogun State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in five major communities in Ikenne Local Government Area (LGA) namely: Ilisan, Ikenne, Iperu, Ogere and Irolu. Fifty (50) households were systematically selected for assessment in each of the communities. Household heads were interviewed on possession and all members of a household were interviewed on individual usage of LLINs. Each household was geo-referenced using hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS). Finger prick blood samples were collected from consenting members of each household and examined for malaria parasite using standard methods. Chi-square and regression analysis was used to identify association between LLINs usage and Plasmodium spp infection. A total of 301 household members were screened for malaria parasites, 150 (49.8%) were positive with infection significantly higher in males 92 (63.0%) when compared to females 58 (37.4%) (p<0.05). Of the 250 (100%) households visited during the study, 198 (79.2%) were in possession of at least one LLIN, while only 112 (56.6%) currently sleeping under nets. LLINs coverage by communities was not statistically different (p>0.05) across the communities surveyed. Only 107 (39.1%) of respondents that have LLIN slept under the net the night preceding the survey. Respondents who do not sleep under LLINs the night preceding the survey are more than ten times at risk of Plasmodium infections compared to those who slept under LLIN (OR=11, 95% CI = 5.53-22.3, p=0.000).This study shows the need for an effective strategy to increase adoption and effective usage of LLINs given to households. This is essential to ensure the targeted control of malaria using this intervention tool is achieved.Keywords: LLINs; malaria control; GPS

Polyparasitism with Malaria and Intestinal Parasite Infections among Infants and Preschool-Aged Children in Egbedore, Osun State, Nigeria

Polyparasitism is widespread in many communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is paucity of data on polyparasitism in infants and preschool-aged children (IPSAC), to inform policy developments. Therefore, a survey of 1110 consented IPSAC was undertaken in Egbedore Local Government Area (LGA), Osun State, Nigeria, to determine the prevalence of polyparasitism in IPSAC in ten randomly selected rural communities. Fresh stool and blood samples were collected and processed for intestinal parasites and malaria infection. Mothers/caregivers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to obtain demographic data of their IPSAC and to document knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) on parasitic infections. Data obtained through the questionnaire were analyzed using EpiData version 3.1, while parasitological data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 20.0). Descriptive statistics were computed for demographic data and association which were tested using bivariate analysis at a 95% confidence level while significance was set at p0.05) observed. Significantly (p0.05) was observed across the communities. Double parasitic infection of Plasmodium falciparum and Ascaris lumbricoides (30.12%) and triple parasitic infection of P. falciparum, A. lumbricoides, and T. trichiura (14.81%) were the most common forms of polyparasitism encountered in the study. This study showed that polyparasitism is a burden in IPSAC and needs further investigation

Morphometric analysis of schistosome eggs recovered from human urines in communities along the shoreline of Oyan River Dam in Ogun State, Nigeria

There are growing concerns that communities characterized with surface water, where both humans and livestock interact for agricultural, domestic, cultural and recreational purposes, are likely to support hybridization between schistosome species infecting humans and livestock. This study therefore investigated the morphometrics of schistosome eggs recovered from human urine samples in four schistosomiasis endemic communities (Imala-Odo, Abule-Titun, Apojula and Ibaro-Oyan) along the banks of Oyan River Dam in Ogun State, Nigeria. Recovered eggs were counted, photographed, and measured with IC Measure™ for total length, maximum width and a ratio of egg shape. A total of 1984 Schistosoma eggs were analysed. Two major egg morphotypes were identified: the first represented 67.8% of the eggs, with the typical round to oval shape and mean length and width of 166 μm, 66.8 μm, respectively; the second represented 32.2% of the eggs and are more elongated, with a mean length of 198 μm, and width of 71.3 μm. Our results revealed significant variations in sizes of the schistosome eggs recovered (length: t = −35.374, degrees of freedom (df) = 1982, P = 0.000; weight: t = −10.431, df = 1982, P = 0.000), with the atypical shaped eggs appearing more elongated than expected. These eggs might represent individuals with some degree of contribution from Schistosoma bovis or possibly other Schistosoma species known to be present in Nigeria. Hence, this observation calls for further molecular studies to establish the genetic information about the miracidia from both atypical and typical eggs. It is also important to establish the presence of bona fide S. bovis infection in cattle and vector snails in the presumptive areas of hybridization