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

Traditional Methods of Preserving Dead Human Bodies in Southeastern Nigeria

Traditional methods of preserving dead human bodies have been of immense importance in many societies. This practice has been sustained for thousands of years for cultural, religious and socio-environmental reasons. Although there is dearth of literature on the preservation of dead bodies in Nigeria, ethnographic evidences revealed that the tradition is still practised in parts of Igboland. This paper examines the traditional methods employed by the people of Southeast Nigeria in preserving dead human bodies and argues that the tradition can be harnessed for cultural tourism, while promoting the culture of the people. Key Words: Traditional preservation, Dead human bodies, Embalmment, Southeastern Nigeria

The Career Prospects of Tourism in Nigeria

The increasing need for leisure travel and the overwhelming tourism development in Nigeria has necessitated high level of human resource management in order to meet up with challenges facing the tourism industry. Of a truth, many tourism students graduates without clear understanding of the magnitude of career prospects awaiting them; while those still undergoing the programme are clouded with doubts about what the future holds for them. This paper therefore seeks to address this problem. It examines the various programmes obtainable in Nigerian institutions of learning and the career prospects of tourism students in Nigeria

Traditional Crafts and Tourism Development and Promotion in Etim Ekpo Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Many Nigerian communities are richly blessed with their own indigenous crafts and industries, which could help them to grapple with their environment and progressively enhance their living. This paper seeks to identify and document some traditional crafts in Etim Ekpo, with a view to finding out how traditional crafts affects other aspects of the peoples' culture. The paper further examines how best to harness these traditional crafts/industries for tourism development in the area. Our interest on the study area arose due the fact that these traditional crafts/industries are fast being abandoned. It is our contention here that if these traditional crafts are not studied and documented, they will only be remembered in stories and myths as is obtainable in some African countries. Therefore, harnessing the potentials of Etim Ekpo traditional craft for tourism development will stimulate the growth of rural economy, serve as a vehicle for rural community development, create awareness of people's cultural heritage as well as generates employment. Key words:Tourism, Development, Promotion, Crafts, Carving

The Isuochi Artisans: Implications of Traditional Arts and Crafts of Isuochi People for Tourism Development in Abia State, Nigeria

Man overtime has demonstrated good knowledge of her environment, and as such explores environmental resources in other to satisfy his needs. Isuochi is a community in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State that is known to possess skills, which remained distinct with them especially in traditional arts and crafts industries. These artisans are resourceful and productive and are now almost self-sufficient people. However, traditional arts and crafts are gradually going into extinction for two reasons. First, the youths often migrate to urban areas in search of white-collar jobs and thus, the art is left solely in the hands of aged and elderly persons. Secondary, imported and second-hand materials, as well as their cheapness, has made most people not to patronise local crafts. These factors among others gave rise to our interest in documenting the traditional arts and crafts of Isuochi. It is believed that if not documented, over time, the arts would only be remembered in myths and stories as in some African phenomenon. To successfully prosecute the study, ethnographic research method was employed. The researchers also used participant-as-observer. Here, the intents and purpose of the study were made known to local craftsmen work and relevant questions useful for achieving the research objectives were asked. Enlightened Isuochi elders were also interviewed. This paper, therefore, attempts to examine the traditional arts and crafts industries in Isuochi with a view to understanding their implications for tourism development. Keywords: Traditional arts and crafts, Isuochi artisans, Tourism development. DOI: 10.7176/JTHS/47-01 Publication date: February 29th 202

CFD Port Flow Simulation of Air Flow Rate in Spark Ignition Engine

In the early stages of development of internal combustion engine (ICE), limitations such as speed, range, and lifespan led to series of researches resulting in the reduction or elimination of these limitations. Combustion in ICE is a rapid and controlled endothermic reaction between air in oxygen and fuel which is accompanied by significant increase in temperature and pressure with the production of heat, flame and carbon particle deposits. This combustion process is a phenomenon that involves turbulence, loss of air-fuel mixture during inflow and outflow into the cylinder. The objection of this study is to perform port flow analysis on ICE to determine flow rate and swirl at different valve lift under stationary engine parts.Methodology employed to analyze and solve the ICE port flow simulation is the use of CFD software that uses the finite volume method of numerical analysis to solve the continuity, Navier-Stokes and energy equations governing the air medium in the internal combustion engine cylinder. The model geometry for the analysis was generated using the Ansys Design Modeller for one cylinder, one suction port and one exhaust port, and two valves. The domain considered is internal combustion engine suction port with 86741 nodes and 263155 elements. Study results revealed that air mass was more concentrated around the valve and inlet port cross-section with swirling motion seen, air stream experienced turbulence as it flowed downwards inside the cylinder, air stream spread was turbulent which will eventually enhance smooth combustion, swirling air stream moves towards the cylinder wall where it experienced tumbling and turbulent which will eventually enhance smooth combustion. From the simulation it was revealed that mass flow rate of inlet air increases with valve lift

HYPOGLYCAEMIC AND HAEMATINIC PROPERTIES OF ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS.

Background: Anaemia is known to be associated with diabetes; moreover, with the increasing cases of diabetes there is need for the use of more affordable alternative herbal medicines for the treatment of diabetes and anaemia. The aim of this work was to evaluate the hypoglycaemic and haematinic properties of Artocarpus heteropyllus on diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Ethanol leaf extract of Artocarpus heteropyllus was screened for phytochemicals and its acute toxicity was tested on mice. Induction of diabetes was done at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight (b.w) (with exception of the control group). The extract was administered to rats for a period of 7 days at 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg b.w, respectively, following induction. Blood samples of rats were tested for fasting blood sugar (FBS), packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin, neutrophil lymphocyte and eosinophil counts. Results: The ethanol leaf extract of A. heterophyllus showed no mortality up to a dose of 5000 mg/kg b.w. Administration of the extract to diabetic rats resulted in a decrease in the FBS of diabetic rat, and significant increases (p< 0.05) in RBC, PCV, WBC and haemoglobin levels. Conclusion: The ethanol leaf extract of A. heterophyllus increased the haematological indices of diabetic rats. Our findings support the use of this plant as an herbal alternative in the treatment of diabetes and anaemia associated diabetes

Effectiveness of Treatment Outcomes of Public Private Mix Tuberculosis Control Program in Eastern Nigeria

Effective tuberculosis treatment has been shown to have significant effect on the control of tuberculosis. Completion of treatment of active cases is therefore the most important priority of tuberculosis control programmes. Descriptive statistics with a retrospective cohort study design used to analyze secondary data set (2007-2010) of patients accessing TB-DOTS treatment in two facilities (Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH and Department of Health Services Tuberculosis and Leprosy  Control Unit Nnewi North Local Government Area (L.G.A.) Secretariat, DHSTLCU ) as public health facilities and other two facilities ( Immaculate Heart of Catholic Church Hospital, IHCCH  and Diocesan Anglican Communion Hospital, DACH) as private health facilities in Nnewi North L.G.A., Anambra State. Gender of patients were male: female 54%(1016 patients) : 46% (883 patients) and 53%(63 patients) : 47%(56 patients) in public and private health facilities respectively . Using WHO (1996) standards the health facilities adjudged as efficient were: in 2007, private facilities using the indicator  of treatment failure rate; private facilities using the indicator of death rate;  public facilities and private facilities using  the indicator of transfer-out rate ; public facilities using the indicator of  treatment completion rate. In 2008, effective health facilities were: private health facilities using the indicator of failure rate; public and private health facilities using the indicator of transfer-out rate; private facilities using the indicator of treatment completion rate. In 2009, effective health facilities were public and private health facilities using indicator of treatment failure rate; public and private health facilities using the indicator of death rate; public and private facilities using the indicator of transfer out; public and private facilities using the indicator of treatment completion rate. In 2010, effective health facilities were: private health facilities using the indicator of  cure rate; private facilities using the indicator of death rate ; public and private facilities using the indicator of transfer-out; public facilities using the indicator of treatment completion rate. In conclusion, private health facilities were more effective than public health facilities  by the several indicators over the four year period.  Future research is needful to use primary and secondary data sets in assessment of TB control program effectiveness; technical efficiency assessment using non-parametric statistics will assess the validity of assessing effectiveness using only the WHO standards; identify centre-specific factors associated with poor treatment outcome; institutionalizing a reward system for effective TB-DOTS facilities will engender healthy competition in the Public Private Mix for sustained effectiveness; the Monitoring and Evaluation tools especially the treatment card for data capture should be improved upon for comprehensiveness of patients socio-economic history. Keywords: Tuberculosis, Effectiveness, Treatments Outcomes, Public Private Mi

Nigeria’s Archaeological Heritage

People have exploited mineral resources for several reasons ranging from the production of metal and ceramic objects to stone and wooden tools. Indigenous extraction and use of mineral resources for production of general goods among others have continued unabated. In this article, archaeological and ethnographic data were used to identify extraction methods for some of these raw materials in the past, and thus, examine how failure to manage such resources has adversely affected technological and resource development in Nigeri

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