Assessment of Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme: Focus on Faculty of Agriculture Students, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

The study assessed Students' Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), using students of the Faculty of Agriculture, University ofMaiduguri as respondents. Structured questionnaire was used to collect datafrom randomly selected sixty students who participated in SIWES programme during 2003/2004 session. Data were analyzed using percentages, correlation analysis and ranking order methods. The majorfindings were that 61% of the respondents were male while 38.3% were females; 48.3% were members of Agricultural societies during their secondary school education. Crop Production techniques (AGF 401) was ranked by 53.3% of the respondents as the most preferred course, while the least preferred course was Workshop Practice (AGF 410) as indicatedby only 0.2% of the respondents. Inadequate practical facilities, transportation and funds were the major problems encountered in the implementation of the SIWES programme. It is therefore, recommended that policy should be formulated to ensure adequate provision of the requisite logistics to successfully implement the programme

Assessment of Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme: Focus on Faculty of Agriculture Students, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

The study assessed Students' Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), using students of the Faculty of Agriculture, University ofMaiduguri as respondents. Structured questionnaire was used to collect datafrom randomly selected sixty students who participated in SIWES programme during 2003/2004 session. Data were analyzed using percentages, correlation analysis and ranking order methods. The majorfindings were that 61% of the respondents were male while 38.3% were females; 48.3% were members of Agricultural societies during their secondary school education. Crop Production techniques (AGF 401) was ranked by 53.3% of the respondents as the most preferred course, while the least preferred course was Workshop Practice (AGF 410) as indicatedby only 0.2% of the respondents. Inadequate practical facilities, transportation and funds were the major problems encountered in the implementation of the SIWES programme. It is therefore, recommended that policy should be formulated to ensure adequate provision of the requisite logistics to successfully implement the programme

Review of adult head injury admissions into the intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Background: Head injury is frequently associated with death and disability and imposes considerable demands on health services. Outcome after head injury is closely related to prompt management, including prevention of secondary brain injury and intensive care unit (ICU) management. This study aimed at determining the aetiological spectrum, injury characteristics, ICU admission patterns, and treatment outcomes of adult head-injured patients at a sub-Saharan tertiary hospital.Methods: A retrospective study on adult head-injured patients admitted to the ICU of a sub-Saharan tertiary hospital between July 2000 and June 2010.Results: A total of 198 head-injured adult patients were managed in the ICU during the study period. This included 128 males and 70 females with a male-to-female ratio of 1.8:1. The most common mode of injury was road traffic accident. All the patients admitted to ICU had either moderate or severe head injury, with 73.7% having severe head injury. About 26.3% of the patients had associated cervical spine injuries and 50% had various musculoskeletal and soft tissue injuries. Cranial computed tomography findings included brain contusions and intracranial haematomas. Mean duration of ICU stay was 18 days (range 24 hours-42 days), with 89.9% discharged out of ICU care. The overall mortality was 10.1%, although only 36.9% had satisfactory outcomes, as determined by the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Outcome had statistically significant (P < 0.05) relationship with severity of head injury and surgical intervention.Conclusions: Head injury management in the ICU requires an approach to ensure prevention of secondary brain injury; appropriate and early neuroimaging to diagnose lesions that would benefit from timely surgical intervention; as well as management of fluid, electrolyte and haematological derangements.Keywords: head injury; admissions; IC

Profile and Challenges to Women’s participation in Agricultural Co-operative in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria.

This study analyzed the profile and challenges of women participating in agricultural co-operative activities in Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria. Structured interview schedules were used to collect data from women participating in co-operative activities in the study area. One hundred and fifty women co-operative members were purposively selected for the study. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The study revealed that 70.66% of the respondents were within the age range of 26 years to 45 years. More than half (63.80%) of the respondents were married with 51.86% of the respondents having educational qualification not beyond primary school level. The study also revealed that more than half (53.14%) of the respondents were earning at least N76, 000.00K per annum. The study also found that cooperative activities reduced the number of low income earners by 25.71% while it has increased the number of high income earners by 25.69%. The major challenges to participation of women in co-operative activities in the study area were the low level of education and cultural barriers. Chi-Square analysis revealed that family size (χ2 Tab 9.49; χ2 Cal 11.12; Ï =0.05), level of education (χ2 Tab 13.28; χ2 Cal 18.75; Ï = 0.01) and income (χ2 Tab 9.49; χ2 Cal 14.58; Ï =0.05) were significant in explaining participation of women in cooperative activities in the study area. Pearson correlation also showed that there was significant relationship between the income of respondents and their participation in cooperative activities (r= 0.864; Ï=.01). There was also a significant relationship between the level of education of respondents and their participation in cooperative activities (r= 0 842; Ï= 0.01). It was recommended that co-operative societies should engage in educational programmes in order to reduce the level of illiteracy among women in the study area. It was also recommended that cooperative societies should focus on enterpreneual training among their members with a view of strategizing how to reduce poverty among women

Profile and Challenges to Women’s participation in Agricultural Co-operative in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria.

This study analyzed the profile and challenges of women participating in agricultural co-operative activities in Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria. Structured interview schedules were used to collect data from women participating in co-operative activities in the study area. One hundred and fifty women co-operative members were purposively selected for the study. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The study revealed that 70.66% of the respondents were within the age range of 26 years to 45 years. More than half (63.80%) of the respondents were married with 51.86% of the respondents having educational qualification not beyond primary school level. The study also revealed that more than half (53.14%) of the respondents were earning at least N76, 000.00K per annum. The study also found that cooperative activities reduced the number of low income earners by 25.71% while it has increased the number of high income earners by 25.69%. The major challenges to participation of women in co-operative activities in the study area were the low level of education and cultural barriers. Chi-Square analysis revealed that family size (χ2 Tab 9.49; χ2 Cal 11.12; Ï =0.05), level of education (χ2 Tab 13.28; χ2 Cal 18.75; Ï = 0.01) and income (χ2 Tab 9.49; χ2 Cal 14.58; Ï =0.05) were significant in explaining participation of women in cooperative activities in the study area. Pearson correlation also showed that there was significant relationship between the income of respondents and their participation in cooperative activities (r= 0.864; Ï=.01). There was also a significant relationship between the level of education of respondents and their participation in cooperative activities (r= 0 842; Ï= 0.01). It was recommended that co-operative societies should engage in educational programmes in order to reduce the level of illiteracy among women in the study area. It was also recommended that cooperative societies should focus on enterpreneual training among their members with a view of strategizing how to reduce poverty among women

EVALUATION OF EXTENSION MANPOWER TRAINING PROGRAMME BY JIGAWA AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

The paper is in two parts. The first part provides background information on manpower development. In the second part, we discussed the manpower development opportunities provided by the Jigawa Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (JARDA). Although the Agricultural Development Programme places premium on manpower development by sponsoring different training programmes for different categories of staff, much efforts still need to be put in place, particularly for the village extension agent

EVALUATION OF EXTENSION MANPOWER TRAINING PROGRAMME BY JIGAWA AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

The paper is in two parts. The first part provides background information on manpower development. In the second part, we discussed the manpower development opportunities provided by the Jigawa Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (JARDA). Although the Agricultural Development Programme places premium on manpower development by sponsoring different training programmes for different categories of staff, much efforts still need to be put in place, particularly for the village extension agent

Growth Performance and Economy of Production of Pullets Fed on Different Energy Based Sources

This experiment was conducted for 8 weeks to evaluate the growth performance and economics of pullets fed on different dietary energy sources. A total of 300 Harco black was used for this experiment. The birds were completely randomized and divided into four diet treatment groups. Each treatment group had three replicates of twenty-five birds per replicate. Four diets containing maize, spaghetti, noodles, and biscuit was formulated to represent diet 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Diet 1 containing maize is the control, while diet 2, 3, and 4 contains spaghetti, noodles, and biscuit waste meal at 100% replacement for maize on weight for weight basis. Performance indices on Feed intake, body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and economy of production were measured. Blood samples were also collected for heamatology and serum biochemistry assessment. The result of the experiment indicated that different dietary energy source fed to birds significantly (P < 0.05) affect feed intake, body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The best cost of feed per kilogram of body weight gain was obtained in Spaghetti based diet (₦559.30). However, the best performance were obtained from diet 1(maize), it can be concluded that spaghetti as a replacement for maize in diet of pullet is most economical and profitable for production without any deleterious effects attached. Blood parameters of birds were not significantly (p > 0.05) influenced by the use of the dietary energy sources used in this experiment

Analysis of Awareness and Adaptation to Climate Change among Farmers in the Sahel Savannah Agro-ecological Zone of Borno State, Nigeria

This study examined the awareness and adaptation to climate change among farmers in the Sahel Savannah agro-ecological zone of Borno State, Nigeria. Data for the study were collected from 225 respondents selected through the Multi-stage sampling technique. A socio-economic profile of the respondents indicated that 48.89% were above 45 years of age and majority (78.23%) had educational qualifications below the secondary school level. The study also revealed that a majority (79.12%) of the respondents were small-scale farm holders and more than half (67.56%) had fewer than 7 extension contacts during the 2010 farming season. An analysis of the source of climate change awareness revealed that majority (82.22%) of the respondents was aware of the phenomenon of climate change. Of that number, extension service and friends/neighbors were ranked high as source of awareness about climate change, accounting for 47.57% and 232.43% respectively. Analysis of adaptation practices used by the respondents showed that planting ahead of rains (97.78%) and planting of cover crops 80.00% were used most. Analysis of the relationships between some selected socio-economic variables and the use of climate change adaptation measures revealed that educational qualification and the number of extension contacts were the most important factors influencing the use of adaptation measures among the respondents. The main constraints on climate change adaptation measures by farmers in the study area were poor financial resources (86.67%) and unavailability of weather information (77.78%). The study concluded that the majority of farmers were aware of climate change and its consequences. The study also concluded that although the majority of farmers were engaged in husbandry practices aimed at climate change adaptation, they were constrained by some factors; therefore we recommended that extension education should be strengthened to boost farmers’ awareness of climate change and prepare them for adaptation measures and that appropriate/indigenous technologies be promoted for adaptation by farmers