The Stylistic and Iconographic Consideration of Awka Ndiagu Pottery and the Igbo Aesthetic Evaluation.

Among the Igbo, the artist is recognized for the skill which he possesses, the skill which the Igbo refer to as nka. This possession is admired among the people, and comes in strongly into the aesthetic admiration of the works of the artist. Among the Awha-Ndiagu potters, this aesthetic admiration is ventilated in the surface ornamentation of their pottery. This paper examines the stylistic and iconographic content of the pottery of this community against the backdrop of the possible classification of their pottery into two broad groups: form for ceremonials and festivals, and forms for everyday use. It concludes that these stylistic and iconographic contents and statements therefore fit into the differing principles of Igbo aesthetic evaluation

Repositioning the Funding of Adult and Non-formal Education (ANFE) in Anambra State, Nigeria.

The need for repositioning the funding of adult and non-formal education (ANFE) in Anambra State cannot be overlooked as manpower and material resources needed for such programs can be acquired when there is adequate funding. The study focused on the repositioning the funding of ANFE in Anambra State. Descriptive survey research design was adopted in this study, guided by three research questions. The population of the study comprised 331 instructors in all the government-owned adult education centres in Anambra State. There was no sampling because the population was manageable. Questionnaire was the instrument for data collection which was validated by two experts in the Department of Adult and Continuing Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Cronbach Alpha was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument and the overall reliability coefficient of 0.79 was obtained. Mean statistics was used to answer the research questions. The findings indicated that ANFE is funded to a low extent in Anambra State. The study also revealed that some of the challenges confronting ANFE in Anambra State include: difficulties in identifying budget meant for ANFE, lack of information on funding by individuals, inadequate funding by the government, among others. The study further showed that the strategies to be adopted in repositioning the funding of ANFE in Anambra State are: distinct budget allocation by federal and state government for ANFE, effective utilization of fund accruing to ANFE, assisting of ANFE through regular funding by international bodies and NGOs, among others. Conclusion was drawn and the study recommended that governments both federal and state should provide adequate support to ANFE, especially through proper funding and adequate monitoring of such funds

In the land of becoming: the gendered experience of communication doctoral students

This article investigates two aspects of the experience of communications graduate students. It examines their relations with their departments and the academic staff most close to their work (supervisors and mentors), and the existence and impact of other factors, such as age and dependants, on the duration of their studies. Despite the differences of the educational systems and socio-economic factors between countries, the findings show that the experience of the communications doctoral student is gender specific. To that a number of factors may play an important role such as academic environment and personal/private life commitments

The 'new majority' and the academization of journalism

The academization of journalism is reliant on the development of the field founded in scholarship demonstrated through the publication of research in peer-reviewed specialist journals. Given the profile of journalism faculty, this means inducting practitioners into a culture of critical research. In Australia at least, this cohort of neophytes is predominantly comprised of middle-aged women who were surveyed about their personal attitudes to research. They were mostly open to the idea of becoming researchers but were inclined to proceed cautiously without necessarily severing their ties with practice. There was evidence to suggest that a generally positive orientation to research was not capitalized on and that they remained uncertain about the role of research. On the other hand, they appeared not to have adopted the orthodoxy of implacable opposition to scholarly inquiry. The change in gender composition in the academy may provide, contrary to historical, but more in line with contemporary, evidence, a renewed impetus to the project of academizing the field

Assessment of the use of different forms of tobacco products among Nigerian adults: Implications for tobacco control policy

Introduction This study assessed the determinants of tobacco use among adults in Nigeria, exploring associations between different types of tobacco products and gender. Methods Study data were derived from the 2013 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). The NDHS is a nationally representative household survey of 39 902 women, 17 359 men and 38 522 households. Country weighted data were collected on participants’ demographic characteristics and current tobacco use by type. Weighted prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were performed to examine individual sociodemographic factors and tobacco use. A multivariate logistic regression was also performed to assess the relationship between tobacco use, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Results Overall prevalence of any tobacco use in 2013 was 2.9% (n=1621, 95% CI: 2.8– 3.0). The prevalence of any tobacco use was 8.3% (95%CI: 7.8–8.8, p<0.001) in men and 0.4% (95%CI: 0.3–0.5, p<0.001) in women. Cigarettes and snuff were the most commonly used tobacco products in men and women. Dual (smoking and smokeless tobacco products) use was associated with increased odds among men (AOR=26.1, 95%CI: 11.7–58.5, p<0.001), aged 45-59 years (AOR=5.6, 95%CI: 2.1–15.2, p<0.01) and completely/semi-illiterate (AOR=1.8, 95CI: 1.1–2.9, p<0.05). Conclusions Men and women differed in their preference of type of tobacco product and the associated risk factors. Tobacco control policies need to take these specific differences into consideration for the design and implementation of interventions aimed at addressing tobacco use

Living through two pottery traditions and the story of an icon: Ladi Kwali

The history of the development of ceramic art practice in Nigeria will always have a pride of place for Ladi Kwali for her immense role. The efforts of this iconic personality are very remarkable, especially given her rather inconsequential background. This paper very briefly examines who this personality was, her humble beginning and rise to international stardom: in effect her transition from her traditional cultural domain as a traditional potter to modernity where she was introduced to the use of western technology. It very briefly considers her works in both domains and examines the impact of the transition on her ceramic art practice. It highlights the honours she received and wished there could emerge more ‘Ladi Kwalis’ from our pottery communities through the length and breadth of Nigeria, as that would impact very positively other Nigerian pottery cultures

Assessment of Gambling and Co-occurring Mental and Behavioral Health Disorders: Implications for Public Health

Gambling is a very popular form of entertainment and socialization in the US and is generally considered a safe form of recreational activity. There is some evidence of associations between positive health outcomes, as well as poor behavioral and mental health conditions with gambling. However, the relationship between recreational gambling and risk health behaviors has been under researched and thus poorly understood. The 2011 Massachusetts Expanded Gaming Act provides the impetus to understand gambling related problems prior to the introduction of new gambling opportunities. The objectives of the study are twofold: (1) examine associations between recreational gambling and, behavioral and mental health disorders, (2) provide a description of health care services used and costs associated with pathological gambling and co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Study data was derived from the 2008 and 2013 Massachusetts Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) as well as the All Payers Claim Data from 2009 to 2013. This study finds significant associations between recreational gambling and co-occurring behavioral and mental health conditions which include nicotine use, alcohol abuse and poor mental health status. These findings persist with increasing risk when gambling is dissected by frequency which suggests that the overall assessment of gambling participation tends to obscure related health risks. Further, individuals with pathological gambling are important consumers of health care; they utilize a variety of use a variety of health care services and health care institutions. Approximately $1.9 million (in 2013 dollars) was spent from 2009 –June 30, 2013 on patients with pathological gambling and co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. Total average expenditure was estimated at$491.0 (in 2013 dollars). Study findings provide critical baseline information on the risk factors of co-occurring conditions associated with recreational gambling as well as health care utilization patterns and costs associated with pathological gambling prior to gambling expansion in Massachusetts. These findings have significant public health implications for the need for increased surveillance of gambling related problems