The Determinants of Child Schooling in Nigeria

This study explores the determinants of child schooling in Nigeria and takes current enrolment and delayed entry into schools as measures of schooling outcome. The study utilized reduced form relationships for male and female children within urban and rural households. Using data from the 1999 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) of Nigeria, the study found that socioeconomic backgrounds of children are significant determinants of schooling with education of parents being the most important determinant. Educated parents desire more schooling for their children. Our decomposition analysis revealed that the way a household treats boys and girls in urban areas contracts the gender gap in enrolment, while it widens the gap in rural areas.

Consumption and income over the lifecycle in Nigeria

This paper utilises National Transfer Accounts framework to estimate age profiles of consumption and income over the lifecycle in order to determine actual period of dependency in Nigeria. The paper quantifies inter-age monetary flows of consumption and labour income and subsequent economic lifecycle deficit and the implications this will have for social policy and human capital development. The results indicate that given the profiles of consumption and income over the lifecycle in Nigeria, child dependency is for the first 33 years of life while old-age dependency occurs from 63 years upwards. The period of lifecycle surplus span 30 years from 33-63 years. The structure of consumption and income flows reveals that Nigeria has a lifecycle deficit of N3.5 trillion in 2004. Since the population is highly skewed towards children, inter-generational flows are heavily skewed downwards. The deficits must then be covered through age reallocations of transfers and asset income.  Résumé: Cet article utilise la méthodologie des comptes de transferts pour estimer le profil de consommation et de revenu par âge à travers le cycle de vie afin de déterminer la période réelle de la dépendance au Nigéria. Le papier mesure les flux monétaires de consommation, de revenu du travail entre les âges et le déficit du cycle de vie dérivé et analyse les implications que ceci aura pour le développement de la politique sociale et de capital humain. Les résultats indiquent que compte tenu des profils de la consommation et du revenu au cours du cycle de vie au Nigéria, la dépendance des enfants a lieu pendant les 33 premières années de la vie tandis que la dépendance des personnes âgées se produit au-delà de 63 ans. La période de surplus de cycle de vie se situe entre 30 ans de 33-63 ans. La structure des flux de consommation et de revenu indique que le Nigéria a un déficit de cycle de vie de N3.5 trillion en 2004. Compte tenu du fait que la population est à forte asymétrie vers des enfants, les flux inter générationnels sont fortement biaisés. Les déficits doivent alors être couverts par des redistributions entre les âge des transferts et du revenu de capitaux.Mots-clés: Comptes de transfert nationaux (NTA), cycle de vie économique, transfert entre générations, profil d'âge de revenu, profil d'âge de consommatio

Demographic transition, demographic dividend and economic growth in Nigeria

Abstract Changes in age structure that results from demographic transition have economic consequences. This paper identifies the period of potential window of opportunity or demographic dividends created by Nigeria’s demographic transition. This is done by simulating the period of the demographic window of opportunity in Nigeria. In a simulation covering 1950 – 2050 our results reveal that Nigeria entered the window of opportunity in 2003 and will last beyond year 2050. The highest benefit will accrue in years 2032 and 2033 when the dividend can account for more than 10% of the growth of GDP per capita even if the current performance scenario continues to exist. However, the paper notes that the demographic dividend is not automatically realized and Nigeria needs to embark on strategies that will develop her human capital and position her towards not only capturing the first dividend but the second dividend as well.Keywords: demographic transition; demographic dividends;national transfer accounts (NTA); economic lifecycle;economic support ratioRésumé Les changements dans la structure d'âge qui provient de la transition démographique ont des conséquences économiques. Ce papier identifie la période de fenêtre potentielle d'opportunité ou de dividendes démographiques créés par la transition démographique du Nigeria. C'est fait en simulant la période de la fenêtre démographique d'opportunité au Nigeria. Dans une simulation couvrant 1950 – 2050. Nos résultats révèlent que le Nigeria est entré dans la fenêtre d'opportunité en 2003 et durera au-delà de l'année 2050. Le plus haut avantage s'accumulera au cours des années 2032 et 2033 où le dividende peut représenter plus de 10 % de la croissance de PIB par habitant même si le scénario de performance actuel continue à exister. Pourtant, le papier note que le dividende démographique n'est pas automatiquement réalisé et le Nigeria doit entreprendre des stratégies qui développeront sa capitale humaine et la placeront vers le fait de non capturer seulement le premier dividende, mais le deuxième dividende aussi.Mots clé: la transition démographique, les dividendes démographiques, les comptes de transfert nationaux (NTA), life cyclé économique, le rapport de soutien économiqu

Economic Cost of Tobacco-Related Diseases in Nigeria: a Study of three Hospitals in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

Costs of tobacco-related disease can be useful evidence for important macroeconomic health policy. The costs can be enormous given that tobacco-related diseases have major adverse effect on the quality of life and productivity of affected individuals. This is the gap in tobacco-related research in Nigeria that this paper attempted to fill. This paper provides estimates of economic costs of four active tobacco-related diseases in Nigeria. This paper is a hospital-based study which utilized an exploratory survey carried out between March to September 2010 to assess and document different components of economic costs of tobacco-related diseases within the Ibadan metropolis, South West Nigeria. A structured questionnaire form was used to collect data on tobacco smoking behaviour, as well as direct and indirect costs associated with outpatient visits and hospitalization. Using the prevalence-based method of the cost of illness (COI) approach, the paper estimated that the mean total direct and indirect costs during hospitalization period were $3,142 and$2,322.95 for Stroke or Transient Ischemic attack and lung cancer respectively while the costs were$1,445.24 and$741.43 for COPD and tuberculosis respectively (in term of dollars). The paper found that direct and indirect costs were mainly paid by out of pocket by the victims and their respective families. The results further reveal that the high cost of the disease can be catastrophic for individuals from poor households. The paper thus concludes that anti-smoking measures to avoid tobacco-related diseases can reduce the economic costs of the disease

Economic Cost of Tobacco-Related Diseases in Nigeria: a Study of three Hospitals in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

Costs of tobacco-related disease can be useful evidence for important macroeconomic health policy. The costs can be enormous given that tobacco-related diseases have major adverse effect on the quality of life and productivity of affected individuals. This is the gap in tobacco-related research in Nigeria that this paper attempted to fill. This paper provides estimates of economic costs of four active tobacco-related diseases in Nigeria. This paper is a hospital-based study which utilized an exploratory survey carried out between March to September 2010 to assess and document different components of economic costs of tobacco-related diseases within the Ibadan metropolis, South West Nigeria. A structured questionnaire form was used to collect data on tobacco smoking behaviour, as well as direct and indirect costs associated with outpatient visits and hospitalization. Using the prevalence-based method of the cost of illness (COI) approach, the paper estimated that the mean total direct and indirect costs during hospitalization period were $3,142 and$2,322.95 for Stroke or Transient Ischemic attack and lung cancer respectively while the costs were$1,445.24 and$741.43 for COPD and tuberculosis respectively (in term of dollars). The paper found that direct and indirect costs were mainly paid by out of pocket by the victims and their respective families. The results further reveal that the high cost of the disease can be catastrophic for individuals from poor households. The paper thus concludes that anti-smoking measures to avoid tobacco-related diseases can reduce the economic costs of the disease

Determinants of household direct CO2 emissions: Empirical evidence from Nigeria

The excess concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the earth’s atmosphere has been identified by scientists as the major cause of climate change. If left uncontrolled, this has grave implication for sustainable development. Hence, there is need to formulate and implement informed based climate change mitigation policy. Data on household socio-economic and demographic variables were obtained from the 2015 General Household Survey and household direct CO2 emissions was estimated using the Linear Multiplier Factor Method. An Environmental Kuznets Curve based econometric model was specified and the parameters were estimated using the Ordinary Least Squares technique. At the national level, results revealed that household income, household size, household head gender, literacy ratio and motorisation have significant positive impacts on carbon emissions. However, literacy ratio contradicts a priori expectation. Male population, polygamy and age of household head have insignificant effects. Both age and household income show significant non-linear relationship with household carbon emissions. For urban and rural households, results revealed that household income, household size and household head gender have significant positive effects. Age and motorisation significantly affects urban household carbon emissions. Other factors do not have significant effects on urban household and rural household carbon emissions. The study concludes that household income, household size, motorisation and literacy ratio are the quantitative factors that influence the level of Nigerian household carbon emissions. Based on the research results, the study recommends policies to the government

Determinants of household direct CO2 emissions: Empirical evidence from Nigeria

The excess concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the earth’s atmosphere has been identified by scientists as the major cause of climate change. If left uncontrolled, this has grave implication for sustainable development. Hence, there is need to formulate and implement informed based climate change mitigation policy. Data on household socio-economic and demographic variables were obtained from the 2015 General Household Survey and household direct CO2 emissions was estimated using the Linear Multiplier Factor Method. An Environmental Kuznets Curve based econometric model was specified and the parameters were estimated using the Ordinary Least Squares technique. At the national level, results revealed that household income, household size, household head gender, literacy ratio and motorisation have significant positive impacts on carbon emissions. However, literacy ratio contradicts a priori expectation. Male population, polygamy and age of household head have insignificant effects. Both age and household income show significant non-linear relationship with household carbon emissions. For urban and rural households, results revealed that household income, household size and household head gender have significant positive effects. Age and motorisation significantly affects urban household carbon emissions. Other factors do not have significant effects on urban household and rural household carbon emissions. The study concludes that household income, household size, motorisation and literacy ratio are the quantitative factors that influence the level of Nigerian household carbon emissions. Based on the research results, the study recommends policies to the government

A Review of Cyanogenic Glycosides in Edible Plants

Cyanogenic glycosides are natural plant toxins that are present in several plants, most of which are consumed by humans. Cyanide is formed following the hydrolysis of cyanogenic glycosides that occur during crushing of the edible plant material either during consumption or during processing of the food crop. Exposure to cyanide from unintentional or intentional consumption of cyanogenic glycosides may lead to acute intoxications, characterized by growth retardation and neurological symptoms resulting from tissue damage in the central nervous system (CNS). Processing methods can detoxify cyanogenic glycosides and reduce the risk of cyanide poisoning. The efficiency of cyanide removal, however, depends on the processing technique employed and the extent of processing. Processing operations such as fermentation, boiling/cooking, and drying, applied to process food‐containing cyanogenic glycosides have been reported to reduce cyanide content to acceptably safe levels. The present review discusses the level of cyanogenic glycosides in specific plant foods, health implications of consuming cyanogenic plants and effect of various processing method on cyanogenic glycosides with updated information gathered from the published reports on cyanogenic glycosides

Equity in Health Care Expenditure in Nigeria

Equity is one of the basic principles of health systems and features explicitly in the Nigerian health financing policy. Despiteacclaimed commitment to the implementation of this policy through various pro-poor health programmes and interventions,the level of inequity in health status and access to basic health care interventions remain high. This paper examines theequity of health care expenditure by individuals in Nigeria. The paper evaluated equity in out-of-pocket spending (OOP) forthe country and separately for the six geopolitical zones of the country. The methodological framework rests on KakwaniProgressivity Indices (KPIs), Reynold-Smolensky indices and concentration indices (CIs) using data from the 2004 Nigerian National Living Standard Survey (NLSS) collected by the National Bureau of Statistic. The results reveal that health financing is regressive with the incidence disproportionately resting on poor households with about 70% of the total expenditure on health being financed through out-of-pocket payments by households. Poor households are prone to bear most of the expenses in the event of any health shock. The catastrophic consequences thus push some into poverty, and aggravate the poverty of others. The paper therefore suggests that the country’s health financing systems must be such that allows people to access services when they are needed, but must also protect household, from financial catastrophe, by reducing OOP spending through risk pooling and prepayment schemes within the health system