Preliminary study on the concentration of some heavy metals around a proposed cement factory in Kogi State Nigeria

The analysis of soils from a cement mine site and the surrounding farmland for Ni, Pb, Co and Cd at different depths show concentrations that are generally below the maximum acceptable limits for land applications. Observed mean concentrations at the mine site are 0.3367 mg/kg, 0.1982 mg/kg and 0.1100 mg/kg for Ni, Pb and Co respectively. Cd was not detected. The observed mean concentrations in the surrounding farmland are 0.3800 mg/kg, 0.1705 mg/kg, 0.1143 mg/kg and 0.0064 mg/kg for Ni, Pb,  Co and Cd respectively. Thus the mine site land was not suspected to contributing to the heavy metal content in the agricultural land. The results obtained could act as a benchmark for future determinations on same study area when mining activities eventually commences. © 2013 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: FAAS, Heavy metals, cement, mine soil, agricultural land

Skills training workshops as a viable strategy for improving smallholder and cooperative agribusiness management: A case study of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Workshop training is often seen as an instrument of knowledge transfer and skills development in modern society. This paper assesses the impact of Africare-sponsored agribusiness workshops, directed at community and cooperative agribusiness projects in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Empirical evidence from this study shows that six months after attending the workshops, project managers introduced positive changes in the personnel and financial management of their projects, and increased the volume and value of their projects outputs. They also undertook new investments, obtained new loans and achieved substantial increases in the monthly projects' incomes. Thus, the study demonstrates that well-targeted skills' training, based on five to seven day workshops could be a viable strategy for improving agribusiness management and productivity in rural community projects in South Africa

Issues of Instructional supervisory Practices in primary Schools of Ebonyi State

The study examines the issue of instructional supervision in primary schools of Onueke educational zone of Ebonyi state. The purpose of the study was to find out the problems militating against effective instructional supervision in the zone. Four research questions guided the study and descriptive survey research design was employed. The population comprised of 1320 teachers in 21 primary schools in the area. Simply random sampling was used to select 100 teachers from ten selected schools. A 20 item research made questionnaire was used for data collection. The instrument received face validation and was subjected to reliability test using t-test. This was analyzed using Pearson Moment Product Correlation Coefficient and it yielded coefficient of 0.75. Mean score were to analyze the data collected. The findings revealed that inadequate personnel, poor funding, poor transportation network and inadequate materials are the problems hindering the effective supervision of institutions. Finally the paper recommended among others that government should recruit more qualified personnel into the supervisory unit in different Education Board or ministry. KEY WORDS: Concept of Instructional Supervision, Supervisory Practices, Problems Of Supervision Of Instruction, Primary Schools, And Ebonyi State

INTEGRATIVE FUNDING AND EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION PROGREMME: A NEED ASSESSMENT IN PRIMARY AND JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

This study was an assessment on the extent of integrative funding for the effective implantation of universal basic education (UBE) programme in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. In carrying out the study, a descriptive survey design was adopted by the researchers. Three research questions and two hypotheses were posed to guide the study. The population of the study was comprised of 228 principals and 1036 primary school head teachers in Ebonyi state. A 30 0/0 sample size of 59 principals and 311 primary school head teachers were randomly drawn making the sample to be 370 research respondents. The instruments for data collection were self structured questionnaire which was based on face and content values. The reliability of the instrument was established through test re-test method and the statistical tools used to analyze the results was Pearson product moment and it yielded a reliability co-efficient of 0.75. Mean and standard deviation were employed in the analysis of the data based on the research questions. While t-test of difference was used to analyze the two hypotheses at 0.05 significant level. The study revealed that government contributed to a great extent but not enough for effective implementation of UBE programme. The study also showed that local donor agencies contributed insignificantly to the effective implementation of UBE programme in Ebonyi state. Also, that international donor agencies contribute to a low extent in the provision of instructional material, sports and health equipment, furniture and classroom blocks for the implementation of UBE programme. Based on the findings, it was recommended that government should maintain the policy of allotting at least 26 percent of the entire budget to education hence, adequate fund for UBE implementation, and ensure there are committed body to see to the prudent management of such fund. Government should devise a way of holding a regular or routine meetings with the various stake holders, parents and other voluntary agencies for them to be committed towards UBE funding in Ebonyi State etc

Economic Importance and Widespread of Ectoparasites Infestation in Indigenous Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). A Study from Selected Local Government Councils and States in Nigeria

A cross sectional study was conducted from June 2016 to August 2017 to identify the widespread of ectoparasites in indigenous chickens and its associated economic significance in randomly selected Local Government Councils and States in Nigeria.  A total of 1025 indigenous chickens were examined out of which 90.7% were infested with one or more ectoparasites species. Four types of ectoparasites genera were encountered in this study, 17.0% of the total chickens examined were infested with only one genera while 73.9% were infested with two or more different genera. Among the ectoparasites encountered, lice infestation (85.8%) was the most prevalent followed by mite (70.4%), Flea (27.3%) and tick (6.2%) in descending order of widespread. Ten different species of ectoparasites, namely Menopon gallinae, Lipeurus caponis, Goniodes gigas, Cnemidocoptes mutans, Dermanyssus gallinae, Epidermoptes species, Laminosioptes cysticola, Megninia species, Echidnophaga gallinacean and Argas persicus were identified in the study. Menopon gallinae (50%) was most frequently encountered while Megninia species (2.7%) was least prevalent. The findings of this study showed that ectoparasites infestations were highly prevalent among indigenous chicken flocks, which may likely affect their optimum productivity. Routine prevention and control of ectoparasites should be encouraged in the study areas.Key Words: Indigenous chickens, ectoparasites, infestations, selected local government councils and states in Nigeria

Sustainable Funding of Higher Education in Nigerian Universities in the Austere Period: Institutional Analysis

In spite of the importance of higher education to national development, the problem of underfunding has constituted the bane to accessing quality education in Nigeria. Over the years there has been general outcry about poor quality of higher education despite government allocations to financing education. The trend has fallen short of UNESCO recommendations and as a result tertiary institutions have been encouraged to source for alternative funding mechanisms. The study aimed at investigating the funding of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki in order to ascertain major sources of financial inflows. Three research questions guided the study. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The area of the study was Ebonyi State University Abakaliki. The population of this study made up of six thousand seven hundred and twenty one (6721) academic and non-academic staff of the university under investigation. The sample of the study comprised of two hundred (200) academic and non-academic staff purposively selected for the study based on qualification and experience. The instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire entitled “Sources of Revenue Inflows into Funding of Ebonyi State University” (SRIFESU). The instrument was subjected to face-validation by three specialists-one from Measurement and Evaluation and two from the Educational Administration and Planning all in EBSU, Abakaliki. The reliability coefficient of 0.66, 0.69, 0.70 and the general reliability index of 0.68 were obtained. The questionnaire was administered and by the researcher. The data collected were answered using mean and standard deviation. The results showed that the state government is the major financier of EBSU, Abakaliki. It showed that university management complement through students’ school fees and levies. It also showed that the university funds the school through proceeds from consultancy services. It also showed that the extent the university explored external grants and international services are low among others. The study recommended among others that the university should explore other alternative funding mechanisms to improve on revenue generation to avoid over dependence on state allocation. Keywords: university sustainability, funding, higher education, Nigeria universities, austere time

A Dynamic Analysis of The Relationship Between Monetary Policies and Loan Risk Exposures in Nigerian Deposit Money Banks

This work investigated the effects Monetary Policy has on Loan Risk Exposure in Nigeria Commercial Banks. Nigerian banks do not believe much in giving out loans and advances to much of the countries manufacturing and agro based businesses because of the perceived risk associated with lending to these businesses. This has prevented funds from getting to businesses that can help grow the economy. The data analysis of this study was carried out with ordinary least square multivariate regression perspective within the confinement of a vector error correction model (VECM) framework. The result of this study reveals that lending rate does not play significant role in support of loans and advances. However, monetary policy rate reveal the most significant effect on commercial banks loans and advance confirmed by its efficient estimate. This means that monetary policy rate is a competent parameter in measuring the performance of banks in the allocation of their credit facilities. Based on the findings, it is suggested that the monetary authorities give opportunity for the full interplay of the market forces of supply and demand in the allocation of credit .This interplay should be closely monitored to prevent banks from creating artificial scarcity of funds in order to hike their lending rate