Mobility services and their key contributions towards tourism development in Enugu State, Nigeria

This paper examines the contributions of mobile goods and services to tourism development in Enugu State. The study uses ethnographic approach to elicit useful information from respondents and data collected were analyseddescriptively. The findings revealed that mobile goods and services in Enugu State are valued because of the tangible products they offer for consumers to purchase as well as numerous services offered. The paper argues that mobile goods and services are essential in rural destination sites where there are absencesof stationary business outlets to serve the needs of tourists. Tourism professionals are encouraged to collaborate with these mobile goods and services outfits with a view to identifying and using their products to develop and promote destination sites

Pilgrimage Circuit of Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove and Shrine, Osun State, Nigeria

One religious tourism destination site of note in Southwestern Nigeria is the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove and Shrine, located along the banks of the Osun River in the city of Oshogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. The sacred grove and shrine was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005. This paper examines the routes and trails people take to get to Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove and Shrine with a view to evaluating access to the destination site as well as the factors impacting on the sacred grove. The study uses ethnographic methods to elicit information from respondents and data collected were analysed descriptively. The paper argues that Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove and Shrine can improve the living standard of the host community and create job opportunities if its access routes, facilities and trails are improved upon by government

A Documentation of Some Traditional Aspects of Wood Consumption in Anaocha, Nigeria

The usefulness of wood to mankind varies from place to place, community to community, state to state, and nation to nation. Wood is a natural product, which is one of the components of biodiversity and a bio-product that serves numerous purposes to mankind. Such multifunctional purposes include those of sociopolitical, economic, religious, and cultural aspects of man. This article examines some traditional aspects of wood consumption in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria, with a view to ascertaining the uses to which the people put wood as a by-product of the trees around them. In-depth interview, on-the-site observation, and focused group discussion were used to elicit information from knowledgeable elders, artisans, and wood vendors in different towns that make up the local government area. This research brings to limelight aspects of wood consumption in Anaocha and lends credence to the belief that wood is still the major source of revenue and energy in rural areas, probably because it is a free gift of nature. The research findings show that modernization has not completely eroded the value of wood in the study area

Preliminary study of Affia Cave, Waterfall and natural bridge in Okpatu, Enugu State

Caves and waterfalls abound in most parts of Igboland. They are the rich nature - induced attractions, which when developed will not only bring development, but also revenue to the destinations in which they are located. Enugu State is endowed with natural and cultural tourism resources located across the state, all of which can produce a distinctive tourism industry capable of generating income and raising the living standard of the local people . This study is aimed at bringing to limelight the cave, waterfall and natural bridge in Okpatu, Udi Local Government Area (L.G.A) of Enugu State. The research employed reconnaissance survey, interviews and direct observation to elicit information in the study community. Preliminary findings revealed that the sites have great potentialities, given the scenic attractions, rich heritage resources in the community and their proximity to already existing attractions within the visitor domain (including the standing furnaces in Ibite - Okpatu and the Awhum Monastery with a cave). It is proposed that the sites be developed so as to ensure improved visitation to the area. Local participation should also be encouraged to ensure sustainability of such development

Social media platforms and their contributions to tourism development and promotion in Nigeria

Internet based applications and social media are inextricably linked to modern businesses; each contributing to and having impact on the other. Social media platforms specifically have been used to share information among internet users both within and outside the tourism industry. They allow people to engage in conversations with one another and are regarded as the future of communication. They present people with a countless array of internet platforms that increase and enhance the sharing of information. They make the transfer of text, photos, audio, video and electronic information in general easy. Social media platforms include Google, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, blogging, Linkedin, Flickr, Whatsapp, Wechat, Badoo, Quantcast, etc. These communication modes have experienced a tremendous growth during the recent past years, and as they continue to grow, so is the importance of harnessing their contributions as marketing and management tools for businesses, especially the tourism industry, since the industry has long relied so much on the spread of information through the word-of-mouth, destination popularity and other forms of print media. The research, therefore, takes a look at the selected social media platforms available in Nigeria and how they are used for tourism promotion and development. To achieve these aims, the research employs an ethnographic method of data collection through the distribution of questionnaires via http://www.surveymonkey.com to elicit useful information on the subject matter from users of social media in Nigeria. The study argues that social media platforms are actively used for tourism development and promotion, though the usage is still poor when compared to other countries. Hence, there is need to create enabling environment for increased usage

Communication modes in Nigeria and their contributions to tourism development in Enugu State, Nigeria

Communication networks have over time become instrumental in tourism development, especially in the face of globalisation and modern technological advancement. Their importance in tourism sector is notable and due to the nature of the industry, various high tech communication technologies (wireless communication networks, visual, audio and print media) are employed in the sector around the world. They are used to advertise tourism products and create awareness of services, tourism product development, marketing, distribution and training of tourism personnel. The increasing competitiveness in the global tourism market encourages tourism operators to invest more in promotion, knowledge and quality in order to achieve satisfactory growth. Therefore, it is extremely important to be in touch with the latest technological trends and have the knowledge required to effectively respond to the challenges of global competition. In order to project the paramount role that communication networks play in the tourism industry in Nigeria, this study uses Enugu State as a case study and examines the different communication network outfits obtainable in the state. To adequately prosecute the study, ethnographic method of data collection was used by conducting semi-structured in-depth interviews with the management of the different communication outfits in Enugu Metropolis as well as the users of these networks within the study area. A total of 500 residents were selected and interviewed to get their views on the different communication networks that are used for tourism development. Findings revealed that the communication networks in the state have not been fully utilised because of high cost of access to information, low living standard of the populace, and low educational standard (high illiteracy level) among others. The study concludes that even in the face of these challenges, the Nigerian tourism industry should embrace the use of modern communication networks because of the technological advancement they afford in this twenty first century, and because of the fragmented nature of the tourism industry

Determination of the level of some elements in edible oils sold in Zaria, northern Nigeria.

The human body uses oils and fats in the diet as an energy source, as a structural component and to make powerful biological regulators. The significance of trace metals and toxicological effects of heavy metals on human health and nutrition have been increasingly studied in recent years. Micronutrients play a role in cellular defences, acting both as ‘sinks’ for free radicals or by being involved in the activity of the enzymes required to deal with the oxidative products e.g. zinc and copper in superoxide dismutase. Presence of metals in edible oil could be from soil or during the manufacturing process. In this present study, the levels of some metals were determined in vegetable oils sold in Zaria, Nigeria. The concentration ranged from 19.10-110.6, 0.34-2.77, 0.01-0.34, 0.05-0.84, 0.02-0.25, 0.01- 0.08, 0.14-0.91, 0.34-0.97 mg/kg for sodium, cadmium, lead, chromium, aluminium, copper, manganese and nikel.KEY WORDS: oil, metals, human bod

A preliminary study of cave, rock-shelters and waterfalls in Owerre-Ezukala, Orumba south local government area of Anambra State, Nigeria

The study of caves and rock - shelters over time has been of immense value to both archaeologists and tourism specialists alike. To the former, they provide information on the habitation pattern of the past occupants, including their dietary habits and religious beliefs; while the latter perceive caves and rock - shelters as a means of experiencing ecotourism, learning and relaxation. Waterfalls are also appreciated for their aesthetics and as valued source of ecotourism experience. This preliminary study is aimed at bringing to limelight the tourism potentialities of the cave/rock - shelters and waterfalls in our study location. We used GPS along with direct observation/interview to locate the site, identify their inherent features and subsequently map them

Exploring the Sukur cultural landscape in Adamawa State of Nigeria: A methodological discussion

The Sukur Kingdom, one of the ethnic groups located in the west of the Mandara Mountains is within the Sukur District of the Madagali North Development Area in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Sukur Kingdom flourished between the early 16th and late 18th centuries as a cultural landscape. In 1999, Sukur cultural landscape became a world heritage site (WHS) and the first to be named in Nigeria. However, the survival of the cultural landscape is in serious doubt, especially with the recent spate of terrorist attacks which have ravaged the northeastern region of Nigeria. This is more worrisome because not many research have been conducted in the area to highlight and document the tourism potentials of the landscape, to help spur more attention. In this paper, we narrate how we conducted our ethnographic fieldwork, selected and interacted with respondents within the Sukur Kingdom and other key stakeholders in the area to help understand the context of the WHS. We also try to share how our ontology and epistemology influenced and guided our research approach during our fieldwork while we equally argue for more rigorous qualitative research to be conducted in the study area as this would contribute to public awareness

Clinical significance of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in the growth and symptomatology of uterine fibroids

Background: Uterine fibroids are responsible for significant morbidity in a large proportion of the female population of the reproductive age worldwide. Hence, there is a need to determine the levels of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in relation to the growth and symptomatology in a purely African population noted for high  incidence of uterine fibroids.Objectives: To determine the levels of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in normal myometrium and uterine fibroids and ascertain whether there are any significant clinical associations.Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department in collaboration with the Morbid Anatomy Department, both at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). Tissue specimens obtained from uterine fibroids and normal myometrium during surgeries performed on patients with a pre‑operative diagnosis of uterine fibroids were histologically  examined. The concentrations of oestrogen and progesterone receptors were  histochemically determined for the selective tissue slides. The results and the  socio‑demographic characteristics of the patients were used to generate a database for analysis.Results: A total of 262 cases of uterine fibroids were analysed. Those presenting with lower abdominal mass had more oestrogen receptors in uterine fibroids (57.0%, P = 0.014), whereas more progesterone receptors were found in those presenting with menorrhagia (P = 0.001). A comparison of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in uterine fibroids and normal myometrium showed significantly higher levels of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in fibroids than in normal  myometrium (P = 0.000).Conclusion: The concentrations of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in uterine fibroids were significantly higher than those in normal myometrium. The steroid dependence of the growth and symptomatology of uterine fibroids may be related to the steroid receptor level. Identification and quantification of the concentrations of oestrogen and progesterone receptors will be useful in the prognostication and the development of newer treatment modalities for uterine fibroids. Further research in this area is clearly warranted.Key words: Myometrial tissues; oestrogen receptors; progesterone receptors;  uterine fibroids; University of Benin Teaching Hospital