Stock Market and Economic Growth: The Nigerian Experience

The study examined stock market-economic growth nexus in the Nigerian economy. It specifically investigates the effects and the causal relationship between the two variables in Nigeria. This was with the view to providing empirical evidence for stock market operation to stimulate economic growth with maximising the welfare of the people. The study employed annual time series data from 1981 to 2008 collected from various issues of Central Bank of Nigeria’s Statistical Bulletin and Annual Report and statement of Account of Nigeria Stock Exchange 2009 edition. An Error Correction Mechanism (ECM) Model was adopted in the analyses of the interaction between stock market and economic growth. The granger causality pairwise test was conducted in determining the causal relationship among the variables. The empirical results showed that, there was unidirectional causality between stock market and economic growth, which ran from economic growth (GDP) to stock market (MCAP) at 5 percent significant level., stock market has negative effect on economic growth in the short run but positive effect in the long run with (t=1.6, P>0.05) and (t = 4.6, P<0.05) respectively. However, the effect was statistically significant at 5% level of significance only in the long run. The study concludes that, the Nigerian stock market is no exception to other developing countries which are working towards reforming and deepening their financial systems through the expansion of its stock markets in order to improve their ability to mobilize resources and efficiently allocate them to the most productive sectors of the economy so as to enhance economic growth. Keywords: Market Capitalization, Total Value of Transactions, Total New Issues, Gross Domestic Product and Bank Total Asse

Bond Market Development and Economic Growth in Nigeria (1982-2014). A Gmm Approach

There has beenan upsurge in bond market trading in Nigeria since the advent of civilian rule.However, there are concerns over whether or not bond market trading have anysignificant effect on the Nigerian economy. This study sought to: (i(i) toanalyze the impact of Bond market development on the economic growth of Nigeria (ii) ascertain the direction of causalitybetween bond market development and economic growth in Nigeria. Annual timeseries data were sourced from Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletinvarious issue and World Development Indicators (WDI) (2014) edition of theWorld Bank for the period 1982-2014. We employed both Generalized Method ofMoment (GMM-IV) Instrumental variables estimator and Granger Causality Test toexamine relationship between bond market development and economic growth inNigeria. Result from the study revealed that bond market bond market havepositive but statistically insignificant effect on economic growth in Nigeria(β= 0.0148; t = 0.4106).  It was alsodiscovered that there is no causal relationship between bond market and economicgrowth in Nigeria. It is therefore recommended, amongst others, that Nigerianbond market be deepened by instituting incentives that can attract corporatepatronage and intuitional investors.Keywords: Bond Market, Economic Growth, GMM, Granger Causality

Synchronous Presentation of Autoimmune Hepatitis and Multiple Myeloma

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare immune-mediated disease predominantly seen in women and triggered by various environmental factors. Rarely, AIH can be triggered by an underlying malignancy. We report a woman in her 60s who presented with markedly abnormal liver biochemical tests. Serology was positive for anti-smooth muscle antibodies and a liver biopsy confirmed AIH. During the hospital course, she developed sepsis and acute renal failure requiring dialysis support. Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) showed a monoclonal IgG kappa protein of 1.92 g/dL and a bone marrow biopsy revealed 7% clonal plasma cells. She had lytic lesions on skeletal survey confirming the diagnosis of a coexisting multiple myeloma (MM). Given her markedly abnormal liver chemistries, we decided to treat the AIH first and use the steroids (an important anti-myeloma therapy) as a bridge to the specific treatment of the MM once her clinical condition improved. She was treated with oral prednisone and azathioprine for AIH. One month later, a marked improvement in liver biochemical test results was noted and she was started on oral ixazomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone. She received palliative radiotherapy to the lumbar spine (L2), left femur, and ischium lesions. This case highlights a rare co-occurrence of AIH and MM, the underlying mechanism of which is unknown

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A REMOTELY CONTROLLED VEHICLE ANTI - THEFT SYSTEM VIA GSM NETWORK

Remotely controlled vehicle anti - theft system via GSM network is a system that explores the GSM network in order to produce a reliable and efficient vehicle security system. However, the design project can be viewed from two perspectives viz the hardware consideration and the software consideration. Minicom which is a terminal emulation program on Linux was utilized for the configuration of t he Modem used in this project work due to its inherent advantages. Communication between the user and the vehicle sub - system is via sms (Short Messaging Service) messaging. SMS commands are sent to the GSM/GPRS Modem Module. The GSM/GPRS interpretes the me ssage and performs necessary control actions. Also, sms messages are sent from the GSM/GPRS Modem Module to the user’s mobile phone whenever an alarm situation occurs. However, a toy car was used as a prototype display of this project work and prototype ca r was immobilized and demobilized from a mobile phone via SM

Road Accident and its Impacts on the Environment: The Case of Oil Tanker Accident in the South-East Nigeria

The study focused on revealing the impact of road accident on the environment. A study of oil tanker accident, which is common in the country, is carried out in the south east Nigeria. The recorded available data on oil tanker accident were sourced from Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Federal Road Safety Corp. The data was subjected to descriptive statistics and qualitatively analyzed. Oil tanker accident record for nine incidences in the south east Nigeria shows that 533 people were burn died, 317 people injured, total area spillage of 12250m2, and about #807.81 Million of property damaged. The researcher discovered the impact of oil tanker accidents as; air pollution, climate change, soil quality and destroyed vegetation, noise, distortion of urban landscape and agricultural land, health hazard. The researcher summarized that oil tanker accidents have caused enormous environmental, human and material losses. The study therefore suggests traffic management. In this case, oil tanker should not be allowed to ply on the road during peak periods with other kinds of vehicles. There should be a time frame preferably from 9pm to 6am when the road is less congested from pedestrian and other kinds of vehicular movement. This could serve as a temporary measure while the country should carry out the implementation plan of reviving railway transportation in the country so that petroleum products could be convey by train services as it was in the early days. This will drastically reduce oil tanker accident and its impact on the environment

Audit report: Baseline health facility assessment of quality assurance for malaria diagnosis in existing government hospital laboratories in Sokoto State, Nigeria

Background: Quality laboratory services are needed to direct reasonable malaria case management through malaria microscopy and rapid diagnostic test. This study assessed the existing diagnostic capacities including laboratory structures and systems, human resource, skills and competences, using the standardized WHO/NMEP EQA assessment tool. Methodology: Data were collected by an assessment team using a standardized assessment instrument/checklist drawn from WHO/NMEP assessment tool and analyzed with Open Data Kit (ODK) and Open-source suite of tools on Android mobile devices from September 3-11, 2020. The use of ODK allowed data to be collated offline where internet services were poor or unavailable and uploaded thereafter. Results: Of the 24 laboratory facilities assessed, diagnostic services on malaria are routinely done with combined malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT) and microscopy at 17 (65.0%) laboratories, microscopy only at 7 (27.0%)laboratories, while only mRDT was performed in 1 (3.8%) laboratory due to lack of functional microscopes, supplies, or trained personnel in microscopy. In the 24 facilities providing laboratory services, 16 (63.0 %) had one of the staff received basic malaria microscopy and mRDT training in the year prior to the assessment, and 23 (96.0%) of the laboratories had at least one functional electric binocular microscope. None of the laboratory had a good structured quality assurance/quality control procedure or standard operating procedures for either microscopy or mRDT. Conclusion: There were gaps in laboratory services due to lack of well-established quality control framework and ineffective communication system, which could have substantial impacts on the quality and accessibility of malaria diagnosis. These issues can be addressed by improving laboratory services.   French title: Évaluation de base par les établissements de santé de l'assurance qualité pour le diagnostic du paludisme dans les laboratoires hospitaliers gouvernementaux existants dans l'État de Sokoto, au Nigéria Contexte: Des services de laboratoire de qualité sont nécessaires pour diriger une prise en charge raisonnable des cas de paludisme grâce à la microscopie du paludisme et au test de diagnostic rapide. Cette étude a évalué les capacités de diagnostic existantes, y compris les structures et les systèmes de laboratoire, les ressources humaines, les aptitudes et les compétences, à l'aide de l'outil d'évaluation EQA standardisé de l'OMS/NMEP. Méthodologie: Les données ont été collectées par une équipe d'évaluation à l'aide d'un instrument d'évaluation/liste de contrôle standardisée tirée de l'outil d'évaluation de l'OMS/NMEP et analysées avec Open Data Kit (ODK) et une suite d'outils open source sur les appareils mobiles Android du 3 au 11 septembre 2020 L'utilisation d'ODK a permis de rassembler les données hors ligne lorsque les services Internet étaient médiocres ou indisponibles et de les télécharger par la suite. Résultats: Sur les 24 établissements de laboratoire évalués, les services de diagnostic du paludisme sont systématiquement effectués avec un test de diagnostic rapide du paludisme combiné (mRDT) et une microscopie dans 17 laboratoires (65,0%), la microscopie uniquement dans 7 laboratoires (27,0%), tandis que seul le mRDT a été effectué. dans 1 (3,8%) laboratoire en raison du manque de microscopes fonctionnels, de fournitures ou de personnel qualifié en microscopie. Dans les 24 établissements fournissant des services de laboratoire, 16 (63,0 %) avaient un membre du personnel ayant reçu une formation de base en microscopie du paludisme et mRDT au cours de l'année précédant l'évaluation, et 23 (96,0%) des laboratoires avaient au moins un microscope binoculaire électrique fonctionnel. Aucun des laboratoires ne disposait d'une bonne procédure structurée d'assurance qualité/contrôle qualité ou de modes opératoires normalisés pour la microscopie ou le mRDT. Conclusion: Il y avait des lacunes dans les services de laboratoire en raison de l'absence d'un cadre de contrôle de la qualité bien établi et d'un système de communication inefficace, ce qui pourrait avoir des impacts substantiels sur la qualité et l'accessibilité du diagnostic du paludisme. Ces problèmes peuvent être résolus en améliorant les services de laboratoire