Factors influencing the business growth of women-owned sewing businesses (WOSBs) in Lagos-State, Nigeria: a gender-aware growth framework.

The purpose of this study is to introduce a new comprehensive gender-aware growth framework. To do that, this study: (I) provides in-depth insights into women’s perception of growth; (II) evaluated and modified Brush et al.’s gender-aware conceptual model, which is a framework developed for the study of women-owned firms in the USA. By doing that, this study offered a new gender-aware growth framework which scholars acknowledged is lacking in the field of gender and entrepreneurship. The objectives of this study were addressed using a qualitative research design that involved the interview of 35 women entrepreneurs, who operated sewing businesses, and other key stakeholders. NVivo is utilised for coding significant statements which were presented using textural and structural descriptions of the way that women perceive growth; and their experiences of utilising the 6Ms (money, management, market, motherhood, meso-environment and macro-environment) within their enterprises. The finding indicated that women entrepreneurs primarily associated growth with the change in their clientele. Growth was also perceived using other inconsequential growth descriptors (i.e. increase in assets) that reflected the business challenge that women currently face. Contrary to Brush et al., the findings showed that the 6Ms were categorised as direct and indirect determinants of growth. The direct elements (i.e. money, management and market) strongly supported their venture growth when their usage aligns with the way women perceived growth. The indirect determinants (motherhood, meso-environment and macro-environment) improved women’s access to the direct determinants; while their macro-environment and motherhood respectively inhibited women’s access and the utilisation of the direct growth determinants. The new gender-aware growth model enriches the limited knowledge about women entrepreneurs, their entrepreneurial and growth activities within the developing economies. That contribution to knowledge will enable policymakers to develop effective support mechanisms that can assist women-owned businesses to grow. The new model also provides women entrepreneurs with useful information that will enable them to develop valuable growth strategies. With regards to theory, the new model advances Brush et al.'s theoretical framework as a practical tool that can be used to enhance understanding on women entrepreneurship in emerging economies. Its contextualised constructs form a broad base whose interpretations and interrelationships are useful for scholars in terms of understanding that women entrepreneurship is subjected to social, spatial and institutional contexts

Towards An Effective And Sustainable Malaria Control: Ownership And Use Of Insecticide Treated Nets By Pregnant Women In Ekiti, Southwest, Nigeria.

Malaria is a major factor in maternal reproductive health problems in Nigeria. A key National intervention for malaria control and prevention among pregnant women in Nigeria has thus been access and use of insecticide treated nets (ITNS).  The aim of this paper is to describe the level of ITN ownership and use among pregnant women with a view to bringing to fore the effectiveness and sustainability of ITN-related malaria control efforts in Nigeria. A total of 900 pregnant women was selected through multi-stage probability sampling technique. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on socio-demographic characteristics; knowledge and perception of malaria; malaria preventive behaviour; and ITN knowledge, ownership, use and assessment by the women.  Data generated were analysed using descriptive statististics and summarized into percentages. The findings of the study showed that ITN use lagged well behind ITN ownership.  This seems to suggest that the focus on universal access to ITN may not necessarily lead to use, unless it is accompanied by behavior change interventions that focus on proper understanding of ITN intervention, ensure proper understanding of ITN intervention by the population, its correct use and the actual risk reduction benefits of using ITNs despite potential inconveniences for the user.  It could also be worthwhile to consider a re-positioning and re-packaging of the ITN device and to supplement its use with other preventive methods towards an effective and sustainable malaria control. Keywords: ITNs, ITN Coverage, Malaria Control

Automated calibration of multi-sensor optical shape measurement system

A multi-sensor optical shape measurement system (SMS) based on the fringe projection method and temporal phase unwrapping has recently been commercialised as a result of its easy implementation, computer control using a spatial light modulator, and fast full-field measurement. The main advantage of a multi-sensor SMS is the ability to make measurements for 360° coverage without the requirement for mounting the measured component on translation and/or rotation stages. However, for greater acceptance in industry, issues relating to a user-friendly calibration of the multi-sensor SMS in an industrial environment for presentation of the measured data in a single coordinate system need to be addressed. The calibration of multi-sensor SMSs typically requires a calibration artefact, which consequently leads to significant user input for the processing of calibration data, in order to obtain the respective sensor's optimal imaging geometry parameters. The imaging geometry parameters provide a mapping from the acquired shape data to real world Cartesian coordinates. However, the process of obtaining optimal sensor imaging geometry parameters (which involves a nonlinear numerical optimization process known as bundle adjustment), requires labelling regions within each point cloud as belonging to known features of the calibration artefact. This thesis describes an automated calibration procedure which ensures that calibration data is processed through automated feature detection of the calibration artefact, artefact pose estimation, automated control point selection, and finally bundle adjustment itself. [Continues.

Use of Engineering Geophysics to Investigate Gbongon Flyover Bridge Foundation, Gbongon, Southwest Nigeria

Engineering geophysical investigation was conducted to understudy the structural and lithological characteristics of subsurface materials with the aim of determining the appropriate location, competent layer and depth of core holes required for geotechnical analysis at a proposed site for a flyover bridge at Gbongon using electrical resistivity method (Sounding and Profiling). The different subsurface lithologies were delineated and depth to the top of the different layers was determined. Approximate thickness of the different subsurface layers and depth to the top of the basement or competent layers were established. The lateral or horizontal continuity of the subsurface layers was also delineated. Three different subsurface lithologic units were established from the sounding curves namely; lateritic topsoil, clayey-sand and, fresh basement. The topsoil is relatively thin along the traverse with average resistivity and thickness values of 45Ωm and 4.0m respectively, and is predominantly lateritic clay. Clayey-sand was encountered at shallow depths of 4.0meters on the average in all locations and the average resistivity and thickness values for the Clayey-sand are, 56Ωm, and 5.0m respectively. Basement is the fresh bedrock and is the last layer. It is relatively shallow in the study area and the average resistivity and depth values to the top of basement are, 1302Ωm, and 9.0m respectively. The resistivity values are high because of its crystalline nature. The overburden is assumed to include all materials above the presumably fresh basement which is regarded as the competent layer in this case. The depth to the bedrock varies from 7.0 to 10.0m and the average depth to the bedrock is 9.0m

Antecedents of Business Level Strategies in Nigerian Agro-Based Firms

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of antecedent factors on business level strategies of Nigerian agro-based firms. The study made use of survey method over one hundred and ninety-three respondents. Pearson’s correlation and regression analysis were used to analyze the data obtained. The existing relationship stemming from the results revealed that top management factor, organizational system, and departmental connectivity are important antecedent factors that determine the success or otherwise of strategic orientation dimensions. The study recommends that the calibre of the top management personnel and the internal cohesion between departments should be considered a critical variable in the adoption of particular orientation

Impact of direct and indirect tax on the Nigerian economic growth

This research examined the direct and indirect impact of taxation on the Nigerian economic growth. This research centered on two major objectives by focusing on the trend of direct and indirect tax and the impact of the Nigerian tax system on the growth of the economy. The research adopted the descriptive research design. The secondary source of data was also engaged as this data was from CBN statistical bulletin and the annual reports from 1994-2013. The research also used the ordinary least square regression technique. With the use of E-views 7.1 to analyze the data, the first objective was achieved by using graphical analysis while the second objective used ordinary least square regression analysis. The results reveal that the direct and indirect tax have a positive impact on the economy of Nigeria. Therefore, it is recommended that government should take advantage of taxation and promote tax system in Nigeria

IFRS Adoption and Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence from Nigerian Quoted Firms

This study examines whether International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption has impacted significantly on Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in Nigeria. The study specifically investigates the views of the preparers and users of annual reports based on the impact of foreign investors on quoted companies that adopted IFRS in Nigeria. The primary method of data collection was adopted with 165 questionnaires administered while Regression method was used for data analysis. The findings revealed that the adoption of IFRS is positively and significantly related to FDI. The result also showed a significant impact of foreign investors on quoted firms that have adopted IFRS in Nigeria. The study recommends that the government should create an enabling environment to encourage investors, so as to attract foreign direct investments for the enhancement of economy status of Nigeri

The development of a design and development framework between OEM and supplier

Suppliers are of great importance to OEMs because of the benefits that can be gained from collaborating with them. But for the OEM to select the appropriate supplier for the specific job they want accomplish, they must first create criteria that can be used to evaluate the supplier. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a design and development framework between OEM and supplier. The framework is focused only on the design and development activities and not manufacturing. This research was able to identify the right criteria for OEMs to use to assess, select and evaluate suppliers. Moreover, it was able to clarify the difference in criteria for each of the three aforementioned activities. The construction of the framework commenced with the use of an extensive literature review which was followed by an industrial field study consisting of 5 interviews with four companies who specialise in different sectors of engineering. The outcomes were integrated to generate the contents of the supply chain framework. A case study was simulated in order to verify the framework. The design and development framework provides the necessary means by which an OEM can assess, select and evaluate suppliers during product design and development processes. As a result of this, a functionally feasible and enhanced design and is more efficient can be realised. The framework that was developed as a result of this is very comprehensive and is able to mitigate the challenges faced in the industry today, regarding a outsourcing of OEMs’ product development activities to supplier. The contributions to the knowledge are as follows: (1) The developed framework provides a clear understanding of what constitutes as assessment criteria, selection criteria and evaluation criteria in product design and development within the supply chain. (2) The framework mitigates the evolving challenges faced by OEM and suppliers when product design and development is outsourced. (3) The developed framework encompasses all the activities involved in assessing, selecting and evaluating suppliers throughout the outsourcing process.Manufacturin

Power Factor Correction for Thyristor Equipment in Glass Industry

Thyristor power controllers are now widely used in the glass industry for controlling furnace temperature. While offering a number of operational advantages, they operate at lagging power factors which require correction for minimum power cost. Harmonic resonance with the utility feed, however, complicate the use of capacitor banks. The nature of harmonic problems is described and the use of inductors to tune capacitor banks below any possible harmonic frequency is demonstrated.The Information Manager Vol. 8 (1) 2008: pp. 22-2

Entrepreneurship, Unemployment and Economic Growth in Nigeria

This study examined the trend between entrepreneurship, unemployment and economic growth over the period 1981-2011. The study adopts secondary data as a source of data. Data for the purpose of this study was gleened from CBN Statistical Bulletin and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Nigeria. This study made use of descriptive and econometric method of analysis. For the descriptive method, tables and/or graphs were used to achieve objective one while for the econometric method, Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method and Error Correction Model (ECM) was used to achieve objective two. The trend analysis showed that the variables are positively sloped which indicates that the stationary of the data. The econometric technique adopted showed that entrepreneurial activities, investment, and unemployment are statistically significant and positively related to economic growth. The result from this study also showed that there is a positive relationship between unemployment and economic growth. This study therefore recommended that developing countries such as Nigeria should create enabling environments for entrepreneurial activities which will consequently reduce unemployment while increasing both growth and standard of living