The Role of Public Infrastructure in Poverty Reduction in the Rural Areas of Edo State, Nigeria

This study examines the role of infrastructure on poverty reduction in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State Nigeria. The objectives identified the types, distribution and impacts of these facilities on the lives of the people. Data used were obtained from the field through questionnaire, oral interview and personal observation and also from secondary sources including published and unpublished materials. The study identified that few infrastructural facilities were located in the study area, which were however not equitably distributed. Even at this, the study showed that these facilities had impacts on the lives of the people of the study area. Impacts relating to poverty alleviation as observed were in the areas of access to medical care, mortality rate, employment and literacy. These impacts notwithstanding, it was observed that facility provision was confronted with numerous problems in the study area. These include inaccessibility, inadequacy, lack of maintenance of existing infrastructure and the attitude of government to rural facilities location. Keywords: Infrastructure, Rural poverty, Nigeri

A review of the utilisation of water hyacinth: alternative and sustainable control measures for a noxious weed

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Entrepreneurship Education In Nigeria: A Panacea For Youth Unemployment.

This paper discusses the need for entrepreneurship education in Nigeria geared towards enhancing sustainable development in the country. Since entrepreneurship skills remain vital in the real sector and the sustenance of economic development, it has become imperative for government to pay attention to this sub-sector. The problems facing the country ranging from acute poverty, youth and graduate unemployment, dependence on foreign goods and technology; to youth restiveness and violence among others has prompted government’s recognition of this fact that has led to the introduction of entrepreneurial studies in tertiary institutions. The concern is to encourage youths to engage in useful livelihood. This paper therefore argues that entrepreneurship education will equip the students with the necessary skills with which to be self-reliant. The objective and strategies for re-designing entrepreneurship education are also discussed. The paper recommends that educational programmes at all levels of education should be made relevant to provide the youths the needed entrepreneurial skills. Keywords: Entrepreneurship Education, Vocational Training, Sustainable Development, Unemployment, Empowerment

Asuu Industrial Actions: Between Asuu and Government Is It an Issue of Rightness?

This study examines the history of prolonged industrial conflicts between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN). This study provides a historical and sociological account of the origins, development, primary causes and effects of industrial conflict in Nigerian universities. Data was sourced from both primary and secondary (documentary) sources. The study concludes that the ongoing ASUU strike is as a result of FGN’s indecision on the issues at stake. There are several domestic issues at stake – low wages and conditions of services, poor funding, poor and dilapidating facilities. These issues should not be glossed at. The study further revealed that macroeconomic policies further contributed to the intensity of these disputes. The findings reveal that poor emoluments of academic staff coupled with deterioration in teaching and learning facilities contributed to the brain drain from Nigerian universities. The paper reveals that disputes between ASUU and FGN has been propelled by several factors – historical, economic and political as such may continue to be difficult to resolve. Keywords: Industrial action, strike, collective bargaining, brain drain, dispute

Entrepreneurship Education In Nigeria.

This paper discusses the need for entrepreneurship education in Nigeria geared towards enhancing sustainable development in the country. Since entrepreneurship skills remain vital in the real sector and the sustenance of economic development, it has become imperative for government to pay attention to this sub-sector. The problems facing the country ranging from acute poverty, youth and graduate unemployment, dependence on foreign goods and technology; to very low economic growth and development among others has prompted government’s recognition of this fact that has led to the introduction of entrepreneurial studies in tertiary institutions. This paper therefore argues that entrepreneurship education will equip the students with the skills with which to be self-reliant. The objective and strategies for re-designing entrepreneurship education are also discussed. The paper recommends that educational programmes at all levels of education should be made relevant to provide the youth the needed entrepreneurial skills. Keywords: Entrepreneurship Education, Vocational Training, Sustainable Development, Entrepreneur, Education

The Paradox of Poverty in Nigeria: What an Irony

Poverty is an enemy to man. It not only humiliates, it dehumanizes its victims. The paper examines why the country, Nigeria is rich and the people are poor. In doing this, the paper examines poverty alleviation programmes hitherto embarked upon by the previous governments and came up with the conclusion that these policies failed in alleviating poverty in Nigeria. Rather than alleviate poverty in the country, money meant for these programmes went into the pockets of friends and cronies. The reason being that the poor people were never involved in evolving these programmes. The programmes were designed from the top as a pill and swallowed by the poor at the bottom. The root cause of this is corruption. The paper therefore suggests that government should intensify efforts at curbing corruption. Additionally, the poor who were never considered when alleviation programmes were being designed should not only be consulted, they should be recruited in executing these programmes. Keywords:Poverty, Poverty-Alleviation, Macro-Economics, Globalization, Inequalit

The phenology of flowering in Citrullus lanatus (Thumb.) Mansf. in southwestern Nigeria

An optimal fruit set in water-melon is highly dependent on the appropriate timing of pollination. This study was conducted in two cropping seasons, to determine the most suitable and appropriate time of pollination of water- melon. Water-melon was sown at the rate of 2 seeds per hole at a spacing of 2 x 2 m. At floral induction, flower buds were tagged to monitor the number of male to female flower ratio, sequence of flower development and pollen rating from 5.00 to 19.00 hrs. The result of the study showed that, there were 50 - 100 males to 1 female flower. Flowers opened at a relatively fast rate in the morning till mid-day and closed gradually in the evening. Also, the pollen rating was highest between 6.00 and 11.00 hrs and subsequently declined steadily as the flower closed up at 18.00 hrs. The best period for pollination to obtain optimum fruit set in water-melon was therefore at stages 3 - 6 in this study which fell within 7.00 and 12.00 hrs.Keywords: Floral development, phenology, pollen rating, water-melo

Characteristics of natural rubber – carbonized pawpaw seed composites

The search for eco-friendly and less expensive fillers and additives has necessitated the use of renewable natural resources of plant origin in rubber compounding. This research work utilized carbonized pawpaw (Carica papaya) seeds as filler in natural rubber compounds in a bid to determining the reinforcing potentials. The carbonized pawpaw seeds (CPS) and dried raw pawpaw seeds (RPS) were separately pulverized, screened with a 75 μm sized test sieve and incorporated into natural rubber, Standard Nigerian Rubber (SNR 10), loaded between 0 – 50 parts per hundred (Phr) of the rubber. The cure characteristics, physicomechanical properties as well as the percentage swelling characteristics of vulcanizates were measured as a function of filler loading and compared with the values obtained using industrial grade carbon black (N330) as a standard reinforcing filler. Results showed that the CPS and RPS filled SNR 10 influenced the cure characteristics and physicomechanical properties of rubber vulcanizates. The scorch and cure times of the vulcanizates decreased as filler loading is increased while maximum torque increased with increase in filler loading. Tensile strength and modulus at 100% strain for all SNR 10 filled vulcanizates increased to optimum level at 40 phr respectively, thereafter decreased, and elongation at break decreased as filler loading is increased. The hardness and abrasion resistance of the vulcanizates increased with increase in filler loading, while compression set and percentage swelling in both petroleum and aromatic solvents decreased as filler loading is increased. The vulcanizates tend to swell more in aromatic solvents than in petroleum solvents. Percentage swelling of the vulcanizates (N330 – SNR 10 < CPS – SNR 10 < RPS – SNR 10) and in the order benzene > toluene > kerosene > diesel solvents. The research work showed that CPS and RPS fillers exhibited considerable reinforcing potentials but somewhat inferior to carbon black, N330. Keywords: Natural rubber, pawpaw seeds, fillers, vulcanizates and reinforcement

Financial Incentives and Rewards on Employee Motivation in the Nigerian Electricity Distribution Company

The study, financial incentives and rewards on employee motivation in the Nigerian electricity distribution company, used likert scale form questionnaire to gather data from purposive selected employees of the company. On one hand, respondents were asked to rank six financial and non-financial incentives and rewards in order of importance. The result revealed that financial incentives and rewards were more important and motivating to the respondents. On the other hand, Chi-Square crossstabulation on the hypotheses revealed that financial incentives and rewards influence employee attitude, job satisfaction and productivity irrespective of gender and cadre in the organisation.  The study concludes that financial incentives and rewards motivate employee to have positive attitude at work, lead to job satisfaction, improve productivity, and recommends that employers should concentrate more on it to ensure employee positive attitude, job satisfaction, improved productivity and performance. Keywords: Financial Incentives and Rewards, Employee Attitude, Job Satisfaction, Motivation, Productivit

Environmental Governance in Nigeria: The Community Perspective

This study examined the community involvement in environmental governance in Nigeria. The main objectives were to identify prevailing environmental problems in Nigeria and examine the community’s participation in its management.  To achieve this, a process approach was followed in which secondary data, sourced from text books, articles in journals and the internet were utilized. The study revealed that communities in Africa had little or no role to play in the governance of their environment. The study showed that government alone played this role which has been seen to be ineffective considering the extent of air pollution, oil spillage and deforestation in the urban and rural environments in the continent.  On the basis of this, the study therefore recommended among others things that, participatory approach to environmental governance including the government, the private sector; multinationals and the community were    required to effectively harness the environment. The study also recommends that policies should be strengthened while environmental education should be a basic requirement for communities. Keywords: Environment, Governance, Community, Nigeria