892 research outputs found

    Reforms in the Nigerian Banking Sector and Strategies for Managing Human Resource Challenges

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    The banking sector anywhere in the world occupies a very strategic position in the nation’s economy. Hence, instability in the sector is capable of creating perennial crises not only for the economy, but also for the workers in the sector. In Nigeria, the banking reforms that commenced in the sector since 2004 till date has thrown a lot of disengaged workers into the over bloated and saturated labour market with vary consequences even for the surviving ones. This paper reviews critically the reforms in the sector and the attendant human resource challenges. It argues that surviving workers who are not very certain about their future career path in the sector are facing a number of challenges with may scuttle and undermine the entire reform process. Using Neo-liberalism and Weberian Social Action as a theoretical guide, the paper examined a number of strategies that may be adopted in the sector to manage the surviving workers so that human element which is a very critical aspect of the banking reforms in Nigeria will not be compromised. Keywords: Bank reforms, Human resource, Retrenchment, Neo-liberalism, Surviving worker

    Determination of nitrate, nitrite, N- nitrosamines, cyanide and ascorbic acid contents of fruit juices marketed in Nigeria

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    The nitrate, nitrite, N- nitrosamines and ascorbic acid content as well as the levels of cyanide in eight brands of fruit juices and twelve brands of sachet water commonly marketed and consumed in Nigeria were estimated. The mean values of nitrate ranged from 2.29±0.05 to 16.50±1.21 mg/L for the juices and0.64±0.21 to 7.56±3.10 mg/L for sachet water. While the mean concentration of nitrite ranged from 6.84±0.47 to 12.03±1.07 and 0.12±0.02 to 4.42±0.33 mg/L for juices and sachet water, respectively. Four out of the eight brands of juices analyzed contained detectable levels of nitrosamines (2.75±0.47 to45.70±3.07 ìg/L) while none of the samples contained any detectable amount of cyanide. Ascorbic acid concentrations of the samples varied from 100 to 400 mg/L. The results are discussed from nutritional and toxicological points of view

    Peptic ulcer disease drugs usage patterns and its economic burden in a tertiary health institution in Niger Delta, Nigeria

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    Background: Drug utilization evaluation for peptic ulcer disease and its cost  implication are rare in Niger Delta. The objective of the study was to evaluate drug usage pattern in peptic ulcer diseases as well as its cost implications.Methods: The cross sectional drug use evaluation study involving the use of  questionnaire and patient case notes was carried out in a tertiary health institution. The validated pretested questionnaire was interviewer administered to 300 patients sampled consecutively followed by a retrospective review of their respective case notes between April to November 2013. Information collected include risk factors, prescribed drugs, Helicobacter pylori assay test results among others. Cost of each drug and therapy were then computed appropriately. Data was analyzed using  Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20, Microsoft Excel and Graph Pad Prism for windows Instat Version 3.Results: Out of the 300 patients, H. pylori test was conducted in 262 (87.3%) while the presence or absence of the organisms could not be confirmed in the remaining  38 subjects. Out of the 262 patients with H. pylori test results, only 166  representing 63.4% were positive. History of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) usage was very high among the subjects (250; 83.3%) and highest for ibuprofen 146 (48.7%). The most prescribed drugs were antacids (268; 89.3%), amoxicillin (165; 55.0%), and a combined formulation of omeprazole, tinidazole, and clarithromycin in 140 (46.7%) subjects, followed by omeprazole alone (125; 41.7%).The national direct cost implication for the estimated 17.6 million is in the range of NGN186,849,000,000.00 (958,200,000.00),outwhich NGN109,867,000,000.00(958,200,000.00), out which  NGN109,867,000,000.00 (563,420,513.00) was for PUD drugs (50.9%) and NGN32,698,575,000.00 (167,685,000.00)forH.pyloritests(17.5167,685,000.00) for H. pylori tests (17.5%), while the remaining 31.7% valued at NGN59,231,133,000.00 (303,749,400.00) was for non-ulcer drugs, personnel and transportation.Conclusion: The pattern of drugs usage is consistent with standard treatment  guidelines. Peptic ulcer drugs for the 300 subjects constituted NGN1,618,641  (8300.72)whichrepresents73.08300.72) which represents 73.0% of the total amount spent on drugs. The  national direct cost of PUD is close to NGN200 billion (1.04 billion). Updated  information on drug usage and their costs is needed for improved usage and system efficiency.Keywords: Peptic ulcer, H. pylori, Cost of illness, Pharmacoeconomic

    Empirical Study of the Use of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Among Bank Customers in Ibadan Metropolis, South Western Nigeria

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    Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is perceived to offer considerable benefits and challenges both to the banks and their customers, yet these are rarely empirically investigated. The study was conducted in purposively selected eight ATM location points of four banks in Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria. The sample size was made up purposively selected one hundred and eight-two (182) and another twelve (12) respondents for survey and in-depth interviews respectively. Data were collected and analyzed through quantitative and qualitative methods. Results showed that most respondents were utilizing the machine for various purposes. Also, respondents mentioned convenience, quick funds transfer, and time saving as the real benefits of the machine. Some respondents mentioned fear of armed robbery attack, technical hitches, invalid debit and perennial network failure as the challenges of utilizing the machine. On the whole, most respondents (67.0%) evaluated the machine as having benefited them more than it had cost them. The bivariate analysis showed that more female bank customers (?2=6.469; p<0.05); more relatively younger customers (?2=66.846; p<0.05); more customers with relatively higher level of education (?2=26.892; p<0.05) and more student customers (?2=61.196; p<0.05) agreed the machine had benefited them more than other groups. Qualitative data also confirmed the various benefits and challenges of the machine to the customers. Using the modernisation and rational choice theories, the study argued that ATM is a modern technology which some bank customers were selectively adopting based their real subjective and objective experiences. The study concludes that for the benefits of ATM to be consolidated and to gain wider acceptance among bank customers, the challenges inherent in the machine should be addressed. Keywords: ATM, bank customers, benefits & challenges, modernisation, rational choic

    Models for predicting compressive strength and water absorption of laterite-quarry dust cement block using mixture experiment

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    The use of laterite, quarry dust and recycle aggregates etc as replacement for sand in sandcrete block production is common trend in developing countries like Nigeria. Most resources and research efforts are committed towards conducting trial test with a view to coming up with mix production that will yield the desired property. This work presents a mathematical model for predicting the compressive strength and water absorption of laterite-quarry dust cement block using augmented Scheffe's simplex lattice design. The statistical models developed can predict the mix proportion that will yield the desired property. The models were tested for lack of fit and found to be adequate.Keywords: compressive strength, laterite, mixture experiment, quarry dust, water absorptio

    Effects of Land Price Inflation in Management of Slums and Housing Provision in Onitsha, Anambra State

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    Sequel to the need to tackle the problem of inadequacy in housing provision and the accompanying problems of slum growth, this study analyzed the effects of land price inflation in management of slums and housing provision in Onitsha, Anambra State, with a view of coming up with better solution to the challenges of slum creation and housing provision. The study adopted a survey design/method, having as instruments of data collection; field observation, questionnaires and interviews. A total of 300 copies of the questionnaire was administered randomly in three strata each stratum having about 100 persons being sampled as randomly selected. While stratum 1is the inhabitants of the slum, stratum 2 comprises of the professionals in general environmental  sciences (enlisting environmental managers, estate managers, builders, architects, urban and regional planners, etc) gotten from academic institutions of higher learning and secretariats of professional bodies around the study area. To achieve the aim of this study the following hypothesis was formulated and tested using chi-square as a statistical tool; H0: the inflation of land Prices does not significantly affect Housing Provision and Slum generation. From the result of the test of hypothesis and field survey, the study concludes that the inflation of land Prices significantly affects Housing Provision and Slum generation therefore needs to be addressed. The study thus recommends that: there should be a reclamation campaign for the slums in Onitsha which will start by education and conscientization of the inhabitants to open their eyes on the benefits of living in a more decent, hygienic and safe environment; the government should make policies which will encourage property owners to develop their properties to standards and rent them out to individuals or cooperate bodies to arrest a situation whereby these undeveloped (uncompleted) structures/buildings serve as hideouts for hoodlums; numerous stringent protocols to land acquisition should be scaled down; creation of gainful employment for the poor masses in the study area and Provision of alternative housing to accommodate or relocation of the inhabitants of these slums.

    The Need for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Teaching Social Studies in Nigeria Colleges of Education: Issues and Challenges

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    The world today is technology driven which has brought about development in all spheres of human endeavour. Based on this, there is urgent need to use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) which can be seen in computers, satellite, global system of mobile communication etc. and its application to the teaching of social studies in Nigeria Colleges of Education. This paper establishes that relying on textbooks and traditional patterns of teaching cannot make for effective teaching and learning of social studies. The paper therefore, highlights the need to use information and  communication technology (ICT) in teaching of social studies in Nigeria Colleges of Education. It also highlighted some of the problems and challenges militating against the use of ICT in teaching and learning of social studies and concluded that government should make provision for ICT in Nigeria Colleges of Education and train teachers in the skills as this will make tertiary institutions of learning remain relevant in the global scheme of things educationally

    Geohelminth infections in egg laying domestic fowls and associated financial losses in poultry production

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    Domestic fowls especially egg layers (of the genus Gallus gallus domesticus: Galliformis) in different poultry farms in Rivers State of Nigeria were observed to either die in their numbers or perform poorly. On post mortem examinations of 500 birds carcasses which were routinely carried out over a period of 6 months, it was observed tha tmany of them had parasitic helminthes in their gastro intestinal tracts.These were majorly responsible for much of the mortality and low productivity in the birds.Two hundred and seven(207 ie 41.4%) of them were found with helminthes in their gastro-intestinal tracts. These included several species of stomach and intestinal worms such as Ascariidia galli(50.2%),Taeniasp.(40.6%), Heterakis gallinaerium(4.3%),Capillaria retunsa(2.9%)and Tetramere americana(1.9%).Two of the helminthic species-Taenia sp. and Ascariidia sp. were found to cause more severe damage to the layers especially in terms of mortality and loss of eggs. The economic implications(costs of prophylaxis and other therapeutic measures for prevention and/or removal of the helminthes in these poultry farms) of this level of infestation and their adverse effects on profitable commercial poultry-production was analyzed.  The financial losses associated with the loss of the birds and their products were considered. This was observed and reported to be in millions of naira. Keywords: Domestic fowl, Egg layers, Financial loss, helminthosis.
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