Interconnections among changing family structure, childrearing and fertility behaviour among the Ogu, Southwestern Nigeria

The interconnections of family transformation, childrearing and fertility behaviour are explored. Data were generated through nine focus groups organized among the Ogu and content analyzed. The analysis reveals that although the family system is still largely dominated by extended structure, the strong traditional kinship ties have begun to undergo serious strain. Child fostering and other means of spreading childrearing cost among relatives are fading out. Consequently, desired family size and ideal number of children in the society now gravitate to four children relative to over eight in the past. Given dwindling extended family resources for the support of a large number of its members, innovative reproductive behaviour is permeating the society, such as the adoption of family planning.childrearing, childrearing cost, family planning, family structure, fertility, fertility behavior, household, ideal family size, interconnections, kinship

Contexts and persistence of age of consent for accessing family planning services in Lagos, Nigeria: A qualitative study

Nigeria has one of the lowest adolescents family planning uptake in sub-Saharan Africa. Previous studies show that a high age of consent is a significant predictor. Little evidence exists about the contexts and persistence of the high age of consent for accessing family planning in Nigeria. Hence, this study used a qualitative methodology to explore the contexts, persistence and implications of high age of consent for accessing family planning in Lagos State. Forty-four in-depth interviews and 31 key-informant interviews were conducted in two Local Government Areas. NVIVO 12 plus was used to analyse data. The results suggest that contexts consisted of health and moral concerns, religious opposition and negative attitudes, which were underlying the persistence of high age of consent for accessing family planning. The contexts formed the basis for the exclusion of adolescents from family planning services. Consequently, sexually active adolescents adopted local herbs, a combination of differentmedicines, concoctions and local alcoholic drink (ogogoro) to prevent or abort pregnancies. Therefore, community-based NGOs should engage communities to promote perception change about adolescents accessing family planning and motivate the communities to begin to demand of their representatives in government a policy to lower age of consent for accessing family planning. Keywords: Perspectives, parental consent, adolescents, contraceptive us

Patterns of Meaning in Selected Nigerian Military and Paramilitary Logos: A Systemic Functional Multimodal Discourse Approach

This research is concerned with the compositional pattern of meaning in selected Nigerian military and paramilitary logos, how the logos presented their identity, and the appropriateness of visual and verbal elements. This paper is concerned with the analysis of patterns of meaning in visual and verbal components of selected Nigerian military and paramilitary logos. For visual analysis, ten logos were selected, and the texts (agency's name and motto), which accompanied the images , were grouped via 'below the clause.' Both visual and verbal components of the logos were analysed based on Kress and Van Leeuwen's social semiotics, and Halliday's systemic functional linguistics (henceforth, SFL). Our findings showed that the logo designers made use of animal (eagles, bat, horses, elephant and human eye) and object (flag, anchor, shovel, axe, flower, wheat leaves, passport, colours) participants. Analysis 'below the clause' presented Nominal Group (NG) with highest percentage which showed that the major focus of the communicators (military and paramilitary) is to persuade viewers. The verbal components of the logos were appropriately used to accompany the logos for easy understanding. Also, the selected colours are peculiar to Nigeria environment. Therefore viewers had no difficulty in getting the intended messages

Studies on a marine diatom Cosinodiscus pavillardii, Forti

A large centric diatom, tentatively identified as Coscinodiscus pavillardii Forti, was isolated from a collection of samples taken in the central area of the Sierra Leone River estuary on 23rd December, 1964. Its morphological characters are examined, and taxonomic problems involved in its identification are discussed. Laboratory studies were made with the diatom using unialgal but not axenic cultures. The effects of light intensity, temperature, salinity, different cell sizes and vitamins on the growth rate of the diatom were exmined. The saturating light intensity was 6,000 lux and there was little or no inhibition at 15,000 lux. The growth (division) rate was virtually unchanged over the salinity range of 13-33 /oo (one-third to about full strength sea water). The diatom survived at salinities below 13º/oo but not at 6.7º/oo and below. The smaller cells (73-164 μ) divided faster than the larger ones (327-345 μ), but their division rates were independent of the relative growth constant. Of the three vitamins - biotin, cobalamin and thiamine - only cobalamin medium was lower than in the complete medium (containing all the vitamins). In the absence of biotin in the complete medium the growth rate was better than in the complete medium. Whilst in culture, spore (i.e. male gemete and auxospore) formation occurred in cells of about 20-60% of the mean maximum cell diameter (464 ± 44 μ). Spore formation lowered the vegetative growth rate and occurred during the exponential phase of growth. The extent to which the growth rate was reduced was dependent on the proportion of cells involved in the activity. The effects of light, temperature, salinity and vitamins on spore formation were also examined. The favourable conditions were - (i) light intensity of 5,500 - 8,000 lux, used either as continuous light or as an alternating twelve hour light/dark cycle; (ii) salinities of 19 - 33º/oo, (iii) temperatures of 23 - 28 C. A light intensity of 11,000 - 12,000 lux; temperatures above and below the stated range; and salinities of 16.5º/oo and below, inhibited their formation. The alternating light dark cycle promoted better spore formation than continuous light, Cobalamin was found to be required for spore formation although its action seemed to be linked with the promotion of vegetative growth. When biotin was omitted from the complete medium there was a noticeable increase in the number of spores produced. Light is considered to play the most significant role in sex determination. Moreover, it appeared that spore formation in the diatom is a result of a short-day quantitative photoperiodic response complicated by an additional ionic effect, The methods of spore formation in the living material, as well as a probable case of Isogamy are described and illustrated by photomicrographs

Cura para masculinidade fraca: estratégias de eufemismo persuasivo em anúncios selecionados de medicamentos fitoterápicos nigerianos

The study examined herbal medicines advertising discourse as unique terms of depicting weak manhood euphemistically in order not to sound vulgar. Twelve advertisements (ads) served as the data of investigation. The data were taken from Facebook advertisements (both texts and images) and analyzed from the purviews of Barthesian denotative and connotative annotations, Halliday's transitivity concepts, and critical discourse analysis. This study aims to examine how weak manhood is portrayed, the ideology behind its portrayal, and the persuasive techniques used in the ads. The study revealed concealments in form of sexual satisfaction (e.g. next match, lasting gbola, bigga gbola, better something, leg shaking) and power/activeness (e.g. big carrot, strongest bamboo, Manpower, 45 mins, inner chamber, excellence in the other room, power to do more, and extra time/large). The study suggested that further researches to analyze from a multimodal perspective on how different visual and linguistic choices deployed in the herbal cure for weak manhood ads contribute to the euphemistic and persuasive import of taboo-related advertising. Again, however acceptable euphemistic expressions may be in certain context; they are considered too explicit, pinged with negative connotation and therefore create war among readers.El estudio examinó el discurso publicitario de las medicinas a base de hierbas como términos únicos para representar la masculinidad débil de una manera eufemística para no sonar vulgar. Doce anuncios (anuncios) sirvieron como datos de investigación. Los datos fueron tomados de los anuncios de Facebook (textos e imágenes) y analizados a partir de las notas barthesianas denotativas y connotativas, los conceptos de transitividad de Halliday y el análisis crítico del discurso. Este estudio tiene como objetivo examinar cómo se representa la masculinidad débil, la ideología detrás de su representación y las técnicas persuasivas utilizadas en los anuncios. El estudio reveló ocultamientos en forma de satisfacción sexual (por ejemplo, espacio, poder para hacer más y tiempo extra/grande). El estudio sugirió más investigación para analizar desde una perspectiva multimodal cómo las diferentes opciones visuales y lingüísticas desplegadas en los anuncios de curas a base de hierbas para la masculinidad débil contribuyen a la importación eufemística y persuasiva de la publicidad relacionada con tabúes. Una vez más, por muy aceptables que sean las expresiones eufemísticas en un contexto dado; se consideran demasiado explícitos, con connotación negativa y por lo tanto crean guerra entre los lectores.O estudo examinou o discurso publicitário de medicamentos fitoterápicos como termos únicos para retratar a masculinidade fraca de forma eufemística para não soar vulgar. Doze propagandas (ads) serviram como dados de investigação. Os dados foram retirados de anúncios do Facebook (textos e imagens) e analisados a partir das anotações denotativas e conotativas barthesianas, dos conceitos de transitividade de Halliday e da análise crítica do discurso. Este estudo tem como objetivo examinar como a masculinidade fraca é retratada, a ideologia por trás de sua representação e as técnicas persuasivas usadas nos anúncios. O estudo revelou ocultações na forma de satisfação sexual (p. espaço, poder para fazer mais e tempo extra/grande). O estudo sugeriu que novas pesquisas para analisar de uma perspectiva multimodal sobre como diferentes escolhas visuais e linguísticas implantadas nos anúncios de cura à base de ervas para masculinidade fraca contribuem para a importação eufemística e persuasiva da publicidade relacionada a tabus. Novamente, por mais aceitáveis que sejam as expressões eufemísticas em determinado contexto; eles são considerados muito explícitos, com conotação negativa e, portanto, criam guerra entre os leitores

Gender Revolution Prospects in Nigeria: Implications for Marriage Timing and Fertility

We hypothesise that the prospects of gender revolution (GR) is rising in Nigeria and may be swaying marriage timing and fertility. The 1990 and 2013 NDHS data and 45 in-depth interviews were analysed. The analysis suggests that the prospects for the emergence of GR increased between 1990 and 2013. Women with high GR status positively predicted marriage timing in 2013 as against the inconsistent association observed in 1990. Similarly, high GR status negatively predicted children ever born (CEB) in 2013. Also, qualitative data suggest a general preference for completing education and participating in labour market before marriage among women. The findings suggest that as the proportion of women with improved GR status increases across Nigeria, delayed marriage is likely to soar and sustainable fertility decline achieved. Social policy to accelerate female education and labour force participation along with realistic economic recovery strategies are therefore of critical importance.Keywords: Female education, Labour force participation, Age at marriage and Children ever bor

GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC AND SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF EPOXIDISED CANOLA OIL

Peroxyformic acid prepared in-situ was employed for epoxidation of canola oil in the presence of toluene. Gas chromatographic analysis of the product revealed the following species: C16:0; C18:0; C18:1; C18:2; C18:3; monoepoxy C18:0; monoepoxy C18:1; monoepoxy C18:2; diepoxy C18:0; diepoxy C18:1 and triepoxy C18:0, that were well separated and easily quantified. Result also revealed that epoxidation of canola oil was almost complete after 8 h using 4.0 moles of 85% formic acid in excess hydrogen peroxide. The 1H and 13C NMR of the products are discussed. KEY WORDS: Epoxidation, Canola oil, Epoxidised canola oil, Peroxyformic acid Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2006, 20(1), 75-81

Difficult component areas of research experienced by lecturers in the Faculty of Education, Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State

The study was conducted to ascertain difficult component areas of research experienced by lecturers in the faculty of Education, Federal University of Kashere. Three (3) purposes and three (3) research questions guided the study. The population of the study was 155 lecturers in the faculty. Purposive sampling techniques was used to select a sample of 65 lecturers below the rank of Associate Professor who were not on study fellowship. A 31 items questionnaire developed from literature reviewed was use to collect data for the study. Data collected for the study was analyzed using mean, standard deviation and Need-gap analysis to answer the research questions while t-test statistic was used to test the null hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. It was found out that lecturers in the Faculty of Education, Federal University of Kashere experienced difficulties is some aspect of research such as conceptualizing research problem, writing the background of the study relating all variables of the study, conceptual and theoretical framework, research methods, interpretation of results among others. It was recommended that the Dean Faculty of Education should organize seminar and workshop for the lecturers on principles of conducting and writing research

Like Animals Like Human Beings: An Ecocritical Metaphor Discourse of Leadership in Selected Poems of Niyi Osundare

Niyi Osundare extensively investigates the natural world, which is the habitat inhabited by nonhuman beings, in his poems. As a result, his poetry is referred to as eco-poetry. There have been a lot of studies of Niyi Osundare’s poetry that have focused on traditional aesthetics, political power, exile, and the African experience, but not enough studies that have looked at the leadership of animals in their natural habitats. The main sources of information for the study are Niyi Osundare’s The Leader and the Led and Random Blues. This study examined the animal metaphor in relation to leadership from the viewpoints of Lakoff and Johnson’s conceptual metaphor theory and Michael Halliday’s transitivity theory. Four main participant and process categories are identified by the data as being present in the poems, with the Material and Relational processes having the largest frequency distributions (62.98% and 22.22%, respectively). This large proportion indicates both the ongoing activity in the African continent and the significant demands that people are under in their desire to rule the biosphere. The the low occurrence of verbal and mental processes in followers (11.11% and 7.40%, respectively) suggests that both animal and human leadership aspirants are more interested in what followers do than followers are. Also, the findings revealed the metaphorical representation of each animal thus: serpent(complacence), leeches and lice (parasite), orangutans (class), beasts (hard labor), crocodile (betrayal), hive (defense), lion (subjugation), antelopes/impalas (fright), hyena (glutton), giraffe (nonchalance), zebra (duplicity), elephant (destruction), warthog (ugliness), rhino (violence), snake (anarchy), lamb (peace), tiger (aggression), doe (compassion). Overall, the study concluded that we need leaders and followers who are similar to lambs and does for harmonious cohabitation in the ecosystem

Molecular Study of the Phytase Gene in Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Ogi and Kunun-Zaki, African Fermented Cereal Gruel and Beverage

 Background and objective: Phytate is an anti-nutritional agent in cereal foods, making nutritional and health problems in human. The gene responsible for the degradation of phytate has been identified in many bacterial species but not in lactic acid bacteria. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize phy gene in lactic acid bacteria isolated from Ogi and Kunun-zaki.Materials and methods: Lactic acid bacteria from Ogi and Kunun-zaki were phenotypically screened for phytase production. The phytate-degrading lactic acid bacteria isolates were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Amplification of phytase (phy) gene was carried out using polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses were carried out. Soluble proteins of three selected isolates were extracted and analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide agarose gel electrophoresis.Results and conclusion: Totally, 16 isolates of phytate-degrading lactic acid bacteria were identified as Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus pentosus and Lactobacillus paraplantarum. The phy gene with an amplicon size of 2.0 kb was amplified and sequenced. Sequence similarities between the phy genes of lactic acid bacteria and that of Bacillus in GenBank included 97-99% with a phylogenetic relationship of less than 40%. The SDS-PAGE electrophoresis analysis revealed a 50-kDa molecular weight of the phytase in the three isolates. This study has shown that phy gene of the lactic acid bacteria presents in fermented foods, suggesting its potential product use as starter to produce fermented foods with improved nutritional qualities.Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest