Financial Inclusion and Unemployment In Nigeria

Studies have shown that financial inclusion harnesses savings from the locals, which increases loanable funds at the disposal of the money deposit banks which in turn increases investments that translates into increased employment opportunities in Nigeria. This study therefore examined the impact of financial inclusion on the unemployment situation in Nigeria from the year 1991 to2021. Anchored on the financial literacy theory of financial inclusion articulated by Ozili, (2020), the study employed secondary data sourced from world bank indicator (WBI) and utilized Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) to analyze them. The results show amongst others that F-statistic value of (3.071786) is less than the 5% critical value of (4.01) indicating that there is no long-run dynamic relationship between unemployment rate and financial inclusion in Nigeria. But, the t-statistic value of (3.819815) is greater than the 5% critical value of (-3.41) in absolute terms, indicating that there is a short-run relationship between unemployment rate and financial in Nigeria. The result further indicates that as the F-Statistic of the model is 52.21126 with probability value of 0.000000. This implies that the variables impact on the unemployment rate is statistically significant at 5 percent level since the F-calculated is greater than the F-tabulated, even with the p value which is practically zero. The study therefore recommends that the government should embark on massive financial education to bring the knowledge of financial services and products to the citizens to enable them tap into the benefits therein. Again, the monetary authority should step up one of its key functions of guiding credit and loans channels to private sector to ignite the benefits of financial inclusion

Apprenticeship in the Academic System among Agricultural Education Lecturers in Nigerian Universities

The aim of the study was to ascertain the impact of apprenticeship system among agricultural education lecturers in Nigerian Universities. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design. The study was conducted in Nigerian Universities. Six universities comprising one university each from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria was randomly selected for the study. The study had a population of 86 agricultural education lecturers in the sampled universities. Out of the 86 lecturers, 41 lecturers were purposively sampled which consisted of all agricultural education lecturers with five years or less of work experience. Data was collected from the participants with the use of focus group discussion. Data collected were analyzed qualitatively. Points which were suggested by a majority of the participants formed part of the findings of the study. The researcher used the points raised to make inference. The findings of the study revealed that younger lecturers carry out many academic and non academic activities for their senior colleagues. It also revealed that these activities have positive and negative impacts on the academic and personal life of the participants. The study therefore recommended among others that senior and younger agricultural education lecturers are encouraged to have a gentleman agreement before agreeing to partake in apprenticeship system and senior colleagues should ensure that the personal responsibilities of younger lecturers are considered before dishing out personal responsibilities to them

Predictive mathematical modeling and computer simulation of direct ethanol fuel cell

Abstract: The challenges of finding a better substitute of energy as well as the short comings identify with direct ethanol fuel cell, this includes; high anode over potential and crossover necessitate the need to investigate the influence operating parameters on the performance of fuel through computer simulation. This study focus on the development of a predictive mathematical modeling for direct ethanol fuel cell for the purpose of investigating the influence pressure, temperature cathode and reactants concentration on the performance, efficiency and heat generated by the cell. Results obtained indicate that increase in operating temperature resulted led to decrement in output voltage and cell efficiency, while same condition of increasing the temperature positively favour the heat generated from the cell. Simulated results also show that cell performance is improved with increase in concentration of the fuel (ethanol) and oxidant (oxygen). It can be inferred from this study that the cell performance of DEFC can be theoretically predicted with the developed model

Assessment and Modeling of Drawbar Power Necessities of Disc Plough in Sandy-clay Soil in South-East Nigeria

The incongruities between agro-ecological soil states demand statistical records of the performance of tillage equipment under various soil classifications for proper choice of implements to minimize charge, curtail energy wastage, and upsurge agricultural output. This research was carried out to assess and model the drawbar power requirements of disc plough on sandy-clay soil in South – East Nigeria that will help farmers predict the power requirements and detect the optimum value of power demand of the plough in orderto select apposite plough subject to the soil type for proficient and bravura productions. Results showed that the highest drawbar power of 5.42kW was achieved when the plough was engaged at full working width of 180 cm, at tillage depth of 15 cm and least operational speed of 6km/hr. The statistical analyses revealed that tillage depth and operational speed have a significant effect (p˂ 0.05) on the drawbar power of the disc plough compared to the effective working width of the plough.The quadratic model was statistically significant for the response (P ˂ 0.05). Results also pointed out that the coefficient of determination; R2 was 0.9759 for drawbar power, which indicated high correlations amid the factors. The adequacy Precision of 19.912 obtained indicated decorous indicator and that the models could navigate the design space. The optimum drawbar power of 4.95kW was achieved with the desirability of 1.000 at optimal effective working width of 119.06 cm, ploughing depth of 13.71 cm and operational speed of 7.74kmh-1. Farmers can henceforth, appraise and select the disc plough implements with the developed model equation

Cholera Outbreaks in Nigeria are Associated with Multidrug Resistant Atypical El Tor and non-O1/non-O139 Vibrio cholerae.

Background The current millennium has seen a steep rise in the number, size and case-fatalities of cholera outbreaks in many African countries. Over 40,000 cases of cholera were reported from Nigeria in 2010. Variants of Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor biotype have emerged but very little is known about strains causing cholera outbreaks in West Africa, which is crucial for the implementation of interventions to control epidemic cholera. Methodology/Principal Findings V. cholerae isolates from outbreaks of acute watery diarrhea in Nigeria from December, 2009 to October, 2010 were identified by standard culture methods. Fifteen O1 and five non-O1/non-O139 strains were analyzed; PCR and sequencing targeted regions associated with virulence, resistance and biotype were performed. We also studied genetic interrelatedness among the strains by multilocus sequence analysis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The antibiotic susceptibility was tested by the disk diffusion method and E-test. We found that multidrug resistant atypical El Tor strains, with reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol, characterized by the presence of the SXT element, andgyrASer85Leu alleles as well CTX phage and TCP cluster characterized byrstRElTor, ctxB-7 and tcpACIRS alleles, respectively, were largely responsible for cholera outbreaks in 2009 and 2010. We also identified and characterized a V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 lineage from cholera-like diarrhea cases in Nigeria. Conclusions/Significance The recent Nigeria outbreaks have been determined by multidrug resistant atypical El Tor and non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae strains, and it seems that the typical El Tor, from the beginning of seventh cholera pandemic, is no longer epidemic/endemic in this country. This scenario is similar to the East Africa, Asia and Caribbean countries. The detection of a highly virulent, antimicrobial resistant lineage in Nigeria is worrisome and points to a need for vaccine-based control of the disease. This study has also revealed the putative importance of non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae in diarrheal disease in Nigeria

Application of High-Voltage, Precision, Low-Power Max9943/Max9944 Operational Amplifier in Industrial Process Control Using ±20ma OR 4-20ma Current-Loop Systems

This article explains how to apply a high-voltage, high-current-drive operational amplifier to convert a voltage signal into a ±20mA or 4–20mA current signal for use in process-control industrial applications. The MAX9943 op amp a family of high-voltage amplifiers that offers precision, low drift, and low power consumption device was used as case study]. Experiments are described and test results presented. Current loops are known for their high immune to noise compare to voltage-modulated signals, a feature that makes it ideal for use in a noisy industrial environment. This signal can travel over a long distance, sending or receiving information from remote locations. A current loop typically includes a sensor, transmitter, receiver, and an ADC or a micro-controller (figure 1). The sensor measures a physical parameters such as pressure or temperature and provides a corresponding output voltage. The transmitter converts the sensor's output into a proportional 4mA-to-20mA current signal, while the receiver then converts the 4mA-to-20mA current into a voltage signal output. This receiver's output is then received, interpreted and converts into a digital signal output by an ADC or a micro-controller. Experiment performed using the relationship the relationship stated in equation 5, shows that if the input voltage level rise above or fall below ±2.5v, the op amp device attains its saturation point and its output voltage can no longer increase. As shown in figure 3, where the curve flatten and no longer follow the ideal linearity characteristics that was supposed

Chemically Deposited Cuprous Oxide Thin Film on Titanium Oxide for Solar Applications

Semiconducting cuprous oxide film (shell) was prepared by chemical bath method onto chemically bath deposited Titanium oxide thin film (core). The deposited films were treated under various annealing temperature up to 673K in order to determine the effects of thermal annealing on the structural and optical properties of the film. Our results showed that there is more crystallization and more orientation of the crystal growth with increase in temperature. TiO2/Cu2O core/shell thin film has a in the range of 0.8 "“ 3.5 m-1. The optical band gap lies between 2.99eV- 4.00eV. The properties indicates that the thin film can be used as coatings for suppression of UV radiations, in thermal control and solar control coating, electrical isolation and so on

Assessment of the Quality of Borehole Water Sample in Federal Housing Estate and Sites and Services Areas of Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Assessment of the quality of borehole water samples from Federal Housing Estate and Sites and Services areas of Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria was conducted to determine the suitability of these borehole water samples. Six samples of borehole water gotten from six different families living in these areas were analyzed for microbial, chemical and physicochemical parametersusing standard analytical method of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The result of microbial analysis revealed that all the water samples (samples D, E, F, G, H, and M) had total coliform count of 64.0cfu/100ml, 5.0cfu/100ml, 41.0cfu/100ml, 16.0cfu/100ml, 124.0cfu/100ml and 0.0cfu/100ml respectively. This showed that sample D, F, G, and H exceeded the standard of 10 coliform counts/100ml. The entire samples resulted at 0 counts for Escherichia coli. Samples D, F, G and M tested negative for pseudomonas test, whereas samples E and H did not. The chemical analysis showed that all the samples did not meet up with the recommended standard of pH (6.5-8.5).However, there was significant difference (p<0.5) between samples D and E. samples F and J were significantly the same, also as samples G and M. Sample M was the least significant while sample D was the most significant at pH 4.6 and 6.4 respectively. The temperatures were all significantly the same and did not exceed standard limit of 370C. The total dissolved solid also did not exceed the limit of 500ppm and the conductivity limit was not exceeded. All the samples did not exceed limits for zinc, copper, lead, magnesium, cadmium and iron which are 3mg/l, 1mg/l, 0.01mg/l, 0.02mg/l, 0.03mg/l and 0.3mg/l  respectively except for calcium, where samples D, E, G and H were beyond standard of 0.4mg/l. All the samples were significantly different for each parameter except for lead of which the entire sample were all the same. The depth of the borehole in relation to the distance of septic tank, distance of neighbor’s septic tank and distance of refuse dump as obtained from these families revealed that sample M had the highest distance and was the least contaminated, whereas sample H had the closest distance and the greatest microbial contamination. The depth of Sample G borehole was according to the regulatory standard of 150 ft., and from the analysis the entire parameters were within standard except for pH. Keywords: Water, Standards, Microbial analysis, Total Dissolved Solid, Metals, Septic tan