Emerging Evidence on the Relative Importance of Sectoral Sources of Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Purposeful, well-targeted and successful transformation policies will be elusive for a country or region that does not understand the relative importance of its sectoral sources of growth. This study aims at eliciting our understanding in this respect by providing an assessment of the relative importance of the major sectors as sources of growth in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Our findings reveal that, contrary to the general belief that agriculture is the most important contributor to economic growth in SSA countries, rather it is the service sector that leads, followed by agriculture and manufacturing. While not discounting policies aimed at strengthening all sectors, the service sector particularly needs to be better positioned to foster sustainable economic growth in SSA countries.Economic growth, sectoral drivers, Arellano-Bond

A study of the vacuum stream degassing of molten iron

Imperial Users onl

Weight Perception Among Rural Middle-School Children, Gratiot County, Michigan, 2015; Associations with BMI and Weight Goal

Graduate Applie

Disaster Preparedness and Awareness Among School Educators and Administrators – A Study of Selected Secondary Schools in Ekiti – State, Nigeria

The research was centred on ascertaining the level of awareness and preparedness among school educators and administrators in some selected secondary schools in Ekiti state. A self- administered, well-designed questionnaire  was  prepared and distributed among 200 educators selected randomly from different public secondary schools in all the 16 Local Governments in Ekiti State. The results obtained from the analysis showed that the level of awareness and preparedness of school educators and administrators are still inadequate. Little or no provision was in place in schools in term of financial aids, provision of disaster equipment in schools. Besides, school administrators and educators lack adequate training and education on disaster preparedness. Hence, the government at all levels and non – governmental organizations had been encouraged to provide required disaster equipment, training, teachings, financial aids in schools since some of the schools could be prone to the risk. Finally, they are encouraged to respond adequately and immediately in emergencies. Keywords: Disaster, Preparedness, Awareness, Educators, vulnerability DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-25-09 Publication date:September 30th 201

“Team Pair Solo” Cooperative Learning and Personality Type as Determinants of Students’ Achievement and Attitude to Chemistry

This study determined the effects of “Team Pair Solo” (TPS) cooperativelearning strategy and students’ personality type on achievement and attitudeto Chemistry. 175 SS2 Chemistry students from eight schools constituted thesample for the study. Three hypotheses were tested using ANCOVA within a2x3 factorial setting and a pretest-posttest control group quasi-experimentaldesign. The TPS instruction was significantly (F(1,168) = 16.45; p<.05) moreeffective (adjusted mean score = 9.23) than the conventional instruction(mean = 7.59) on students’ achievement. Extroverts obtained significantly(F(2,168) = 6.59; p<.05) higher adjusted achievement score (mean = 9.77)than the ambiverts (mean = 8.08) and introverts (mean =7.79). Also, the TPSfavoured the extroverts than the ambiverts and introverts. It wasrecommended that Chemistry teachers should adopt the TPS strategy witheffective supervision for the maximum benefit of all students irrespective oftheir personality type

Social Entrepreneurship: Exploring the Bricolage Model in Nigeria

Nigerian entrepreneurs face government barriers and lack the skills and awareness needed for successfully creating and scaling public value in resource-constrained environments. The concept of bricolage, which involves doing business by making do with resources at hand, has been addressed in the literature, but not as it occurs among Nigerian entrepreneurs. This study was conducted with the aim of narrowing this gap in knowledge by exploring how Nigerian entrepreneurs have successfully carried out their businesses. The research question addressed how Nigerian entrepreneurs overcame critical situations to successfully address the challenges of scaling and creating public value, and whether the theory of entrepreneurial bricolage can support their actions. A qualitative descriptive single case study with a purposeful sample of 22 interview respondents was employed. A total of 145 critical incidents were analyzed by fitting them into themes constructed a priori from the known behavioral patterns that emerged through the theoretical taxonomy of the concept of entrepreneurial bricolage. The results showed that Nigerian entrepreneurs made do with the resources at hand, improvised, and invoked stakeholder participation and persuasion to solve critical challenges of business continuity. The outcome of the research should help potential entrepreneurs determine strategies to scale their ideas or innovations to achieve positive social change. The results may be useful to any fledgling entrepreneur who needs encouragement when feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of doing business in Nigeria. Budding entrepreneurs can learn from the experiences of those who are deemed successful in their businesses, thereby avoiding challenges when they can and strategizing for those challenges that are unavoidable

The study of peer pressure and parental influence on the choice of career among secondary school students in Ogun State

The study investigated parental influence and peer pressure on the choice of career among secondary school students in Sagamu Local government Area of Ogun State. Three research questions were raised and tested during the course of the study. 125 randomly selected participants from selected Junior Secondary Schools in Sagamu Local Government Area formed the sample size. The research instrument tagged “Scale of Parental and Peer Influence on Career Choice (SPPCC) was developed by the researcher to collect data from the participants. The data collected were analyzed using mean scores and standard deviation for the research questions. The findings indicated that parents and peer exert influence on their wards’ career choices, but parental influence predominates mostly. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that parents should be counseled and orientated about the advantages of allowing their wards choose the careers they have interest in.Keywords: Peer Pressure; Career Choice; parental influenc

Cultural identity in the throes of modernity: an appraisal of Yemoja among the Yoruba in Nigeria

Culture is a complex and dynamic phenomenon through which a particular group of people is identified. Thus, each Nigerian community possesses certain unique cultural traits which uphold the solidarity of the community in a changing situation. Each community is conditioned by its natural environment to produce gods or goddesses that will serve as agents of subtle coercion so that people can adhere strictly to the culture of their land. Yemoja, a prominent river goddess among the Yoruba, is one of the divinities that people anchored on to live as people of distinct cultural traits. This work therefore aims at giving an appraisal of the influence of Yemoja on the sociocultural and economic development in Nigeria and the consequences of her neglect in this modern age. It concludes on the note that, although the society is dynamic and culture is not static yet, we must not lose our identity in transition.Keywords: culture, identity, modernity, appraisal, Yemoja, Yoruba, Nigeri

Semiarid Land Sustainable Agricultural Practices: The Evaluation of Annual Cover Cropping Systems Influence on Forage Productivity and Short-Term Soil Health Impact

The objective of this studies was to determine the influence of different annual cool-season and warm-season cover crop systems on above and belowground biomass production, tissue carbon and nitrogen, forage nutritive value, nutrient cycling, and short-term soil health indicators under irrigation in a semiarid environment. The first study was carried out at the Valley Road Field Laboratory study site, Reno, NV, USA. Treatments (cover crop systems) were a fallow (no cover crop), five monocultures of rye (Secale cereale L.), winter lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi), white sweetclover (Melilotus alba), forage kale (Brassica oleracea L.), and two three-species mixtures in 50-25-25 seeding ratios (CCM 1: rye, winter lentil, arrowleaf clover; CCM 2: rye, white sweetclover, forage kale). Cover crop systems were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Plots were fall seeded in early October of each year (2020 and 2021) and terminated at the end of July of 2021 and 2022 respectively. Responses were considered different P < 0.05. Averaged across years, aboveground biomass production was least for the monoculture of winter lentil (4104 kg DM ha-1; SE = 1551) compared to all other cover crop systems (average = 7593 kg DM ha-1; SE = 1551). For the second study, treatments from the previous winter cover crop study were incubated to evaluate biomass loss, residual carbon and nitrogen, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratios. These were evaluated over six incubation periods; (30, 60, 90, 200, 230, and 278) days. Each treatment was replicated three times per incubation period to make a total of 126 treatments. At the end of the study (278 days), forage kale significantly reduced in mass compared to other cover crop systems. The 30-d incubation period significantly differed in percentage mass loss from the other incubation periods evaluated in the experiment. The third study was carried out in Fallon, Nevada. Treatments comprised ten treatments, including four monocultures of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] ‘Silo Pro-BMR’, foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.] ‘Golden German’, cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] ‘Red ripper’, and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] ‘Large lad’. The four binary mixtures consisted of sorghum + cowpeas, sorghum + soybean, millet + cowpeas, and millet + soybean, and the tenth treatment was fallow. All systems were seeded on a pure live seed basis and arranged in an RCBD with four replications. Interaction effects between SCC system × year were observed for biomass carbon, biomass nitrogen, and forage nutritive parameters of ADF, NDF, DDM, and DMI. The main effect of SCC was observed in C and N concentrations, and no effects were observed in CP and the C/N ratio

Motivation, Personal Satisfaction of Team Members and Conformity to Team Norms as Predictors of Team Performance

The study investigated the Relationship between Motivation, PersonalSatisfaction of Team Members, Conformity to Teams Norms and TeamPerformance. Two hypotheses were postulated and tested. The surveyresearch design was adopted to conduct the study. The sample included two&nbsp;thousand and eighty-eight athletes (players of six sports) surveyed through a&nbsp;purposive sampling techniques from among the selected team sports in&nbsp;Nigeria Spots Zone One. The 4-Scale Group Environment Questionnaire&nbsp;(GEQ) and Structured Interview were the instruments used for the study.&nbsp;Results of data analysis and Cronbach�s alpha coefficient tested at .05 level&nbsp;of significance indicated that there is a significant linear relationship&nbsp;between team performance and the entire set of predictor (Independent&nbsp;Variables (F 1,2048 = 1625972 P &lt; .05). The observed R of .995 was&nbsp;significant and that 99% of the variance in team performance can be&nbsp;accounted for by the independent variables. With all predictor variables in&nbsp;the model, all the independent variables except for motivation are important&nbsp;for better prediction of team performance. On the basis of the findings,&nbsp;suggestions and recommendations were made on how to maintain and&nbsp;improve team performance