Nigerian Consumers and their Purchase Intentions for Global Brands

This paper presents the research findings of a global brand study conducted in Nigeria. This empirical research sought to evaluate the relative contribution of the following five constructs on global brand purchase intent: country of origin, brand familiarity, brand linking, brand trust, and weak-strong perceptions of the brand’s masculinity-femininity associations. Step-wise regression models were used for the study’s ten brands. The regression models indicated that brand liking and brand trust were the most important predictors of global brand purchase intent in the studied sample of Nigerian consumers

Examination Behaviours Among Polytechnic Students

This paper attempted to identify some of the examination misbehaviours common among 485 male and 360 female students randomnly selected from Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo using stratified sampling technique. The results of the study showed that there was inadequate preparation for examination and inadequate use  of study group by the students. When the respondents were asked to assume that they were in a typical examination hall and to identify the degree at which some examination misbehaviours were unnoticeably going on among their coursemates, the respondents were able to identify ten distinct examination misbehaviours. The results also showed that both sexes claimed to have observed these misbehaviours among their coursemates. All the same, most polytechnic students usually wait for examination time-table before they start preparation for examination. It was recommended that teamwork should be developed among the students by giving them group assignment, which could lead to adequate preparation and effective group work among polytechnic students. The government needs to evolve an alternative process of reward commensurate to academic achievement rather than certificate only. Keywords: Examination, malpractices or misbehaviours, Study Group, Group Work, Polytechnic Students and Level of Academic Exposur

Policy Brief on Inclusion of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Zambia`s Nationally Determined Contributions

The Paris Agreement aims to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, thus contributing to sustainable development goals through building climate-resilient communities and industries. Water is the primary medium through which climate change influences the earth’s ecosystem and thus the livelihood and well-being of societies. Extreme weather conditions impact many sectors such as health, tourism, agriculture, and industry where water plays a key role. The climate effect is first and foremost through water systems as highlighted by the World Economic Forum (2016) Global Risks Report. Hence the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector plays a pivotal role in addressing climate change. In the last decade, Zambia has experienced the impacts of climate change in the form of extreme weather conditions and rising temperatures. In light of this, the Zambian government developed NDCs in accordance with the Paris agreement that aims to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and develop sustainable climate-resilient communities and industries. The impacts of climate change are felt through its influence on water. WASH is not only affected by climate change, but also a contributing factor to GHG emissions. Therefore, the WASH sector should play a pivotal role in contributing to the climate change targets. There are gaps among state and non-state actors and with affected communities in acknowledging the critical role of WASH in making real the NDC that need bridging. These include awareness and knowledge of WASH in contributing to NDC; the need to go beyond water to include sanitation and hygiene elements in the NDCs as holistic approach; inclusive participation of civil society and other non-state actors in addressing the gaps; integration of sectors and programmes in the NDCs; and enhanced governance and accountability mechanisms

Inclusion of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Ethiopia`s Nationally Determined Contributions 2020 Update Process- A Policy Brief

Ethiopia has made large strides in water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) given rapid urbanization and a steadily increasing population. The country has developed several policies and plans that focus on improving the WASH sector. Simultaneously, the Government of Ethiopia has also developed several policies that tackle the impacts of climate change and aim to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by adapting sustainable climate resilient practices. The WASH sector plays a significant role in climate change as it contributes to GHG emissions but is also negatively affected by the impacts of climate change. In spite of the clear connection between the WASH sector and climate change Ethiopia’s NDCs do not fully address the mitigation and adaptation measures possible with water resources, sanitation, and waste management. There is growing evidence based on studies that globally emissions from sanitation and domestic wastewater are expected to rise significantly in the future. The sectoral approach in the preparation of the Ethiopia NDCs, rather than an integrated multi-sectoral approach risks missing out on important interactions and cross-cutting issues.     &nbsp

Revitalizing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Uganda’s National Determined Contributions` 2021 Revision Process- A Policy Brief

Uganda as a signatory to the Paris Agreement is required to update her Nationally Determined Contributions to demonstrate progress after every five years. The Water Sanitation and Hygiene(WASH) sector has proven to be a victim, contributor but also a critical component to addressing the existing climate challenges. Despite the clear link between WASH and Climate change, most climate change initiatives do not address WASH adequately from both adaptation and mitigation perspectives. This study analyzed the WASH related targets in Uganda’s current NDCs to ascertain how they have been addressed from both the mitigation and adaptation perspectives. The paper took on a rapid assessment of the current NDCs using a desk study and secondary literature review approach coupled with key stakeholder expert inputs through write-shops. Whereas WASH climate focused targets have been to a greater extent covered under adaptation, there is limited integration from the mitigation perspective which does not provide a balanced approach towards achieving the targets set out in the NDCs. The policy brief recommends a number of actions that include inclusion of WASH mitigation policy action in the NDCs, setting adaptation targets for the waste sector, amplifying the role of the private sector in WASH in the updated NDCs, prioritizing research and development to support decision making, providing for measurement, reporting and verifications for WASH in the NDCs, enhanced technology transfer and alignment of the updated NDCs with the long-term strategy. If adopted, these recommendations provide a starting point to comprehensively address WASH in the revised NDCs and subsequently contribute to the achievement of goal six of Sustainable Development Goals on clean water and sanitation for all

Morphology, Organic Carbon and Dissolved Nutrients in Groundwater Table in Two Benchmark Wetlands Sites in Nigeria

Wetland soils in two benchmark sites located in the tall/grass land savanna (Edozhigi) and in the Rain Forest (Ibadan) were selected in order to study the soil morphological characteristics, organic carbon contents, and the nutrient dynamics (P, Ca, Mg, Fe, and NH4-N) in the ground water table when rice was planted. Morphologically these soils are gleyed, mottled, with a hue of 10 YR, and low chroma that reflects poor drainage (i.e. aquic soil moisture regime). The soils are deep; more than 1.20 m in depth. The soil organic carbon was high in the surface soils (between 0.6 and 2.15%) and fluctuated irregularly with depth. In addition, the ground water table fluctuated between 40-80 cm depth within all the soils at both sites. Following soil submergence, water soluble P, Ca, Mg, Fe, and NH4-H increased in the first week and began to decline as from the 56 – 70 days after transplanting (DAT) which coincided with the tillering stage of rice plants. The Nitrate-N concentration was very low (<4 mg/l) at both sites. This flooding during the rainy seasons would benefit rice plants and the high organic carbon contents in the soils could be a substantial factor in the maintenance of these soils for the cultivation of arable crops during the dry seasons

Catalyzing the inclusion of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Tanzania`s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

Tanzania continues to experience more frequent precipitation extremes such as droughts and heavy rainfall. These temperature and extreme weather events particularly droughts, heavy rains and flooding are predicted to increase further in both frequency and severity in the future. According to various studies these impacts are expected to include profound changes in water availability among other implications. The Government of Tanzania (GoT) estimates the annual economic costs of addressing climate change impacts to be about 1% of the country’s GDP. This figure could rise to 2% by the year 2030. As part of its climate change response plans, Tanzania has ratified the Paris Agreement and is currently reviewing its National Determined Contributions (NDCs). The nexus between Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and NDCs in the Tanzania policy framework falls within the Water, Health, and Waste Management sectors. Review of the NDCs shows an implicit inclusion of WASH but only as it relates to water resource management and health as adaptation priorities, and waste management as a mitigation priority. The NDC WASH commitments do not fully cover global WASH indicators and do not explicitly articulate the linkages between WASH and implementation in the areas of Water, Health and Waste Management. Given the change of context since 2015 and in the circumstances of COVID19, which has created further challenges in WASH service delivery, the government should consider integrating relevant WASH targets in the ongoing NDCs review process to speed up its commitment to reduce green emission, boost sufficient availability of quality water, and thus positively impact sanitization practices

Novel <i>IRF6 </i>mutations in families with Van Der Woude syndrome and popliteal pterygium syndrome from sub-Saharan Africa

Orofacial clefts (OFC) are complex genetic traits that are often classified as syndromic or nonsyndromic clefts. Currently, there are over 500 types of syndromic clefts in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database, of which Van der Woude syndrome (VWS) is one of the most common (accounting for 2% of all OFC). Popliteal pterygium syndrome (PPS) is considered to be a more severe form of VWS. Mutations in the IRF6 gene have been reported worldwide to cause VWS and PPS. Here, we report studies of families with VWS and PPS in sub-Saharan Africa. We screened the DNA of eight families with VWS and one family with PPS from Nigeria and Ethiopia by Sanger sequencing of the most commonly affected exons in IRF6 (exons 3, 4, 7, and 9). For the VWS families, we found a novel nonsense variant in exon 4 (p.Lys66X), a novel splice-site variant in exon 4 (p.Pro126Pro), a novel missense variant in exon 4 (p.Phe230Leu), a previously reported splice-site variant in exon 7 that changes the acceptor splice site, and a known missense variant in exon 7 (p.Leu251Pro). A previously known missense variant was found in exon 4 (p.Arg84His) in the PPS family. All the mutations segregate in the families. Our data confirm the presence of IRF6-related VWS and PPS in sub-Saharan Africa and highlights the importance of screening for novel mutations in known genes when studying diverse global populations. This is important for counseling and prenatal diagnosis for high-risk families