ON THE AFRICAN CONCEPT OF TRANSCENDENCE: CONFLATING NATURE, NURTURE AND CREATIVITY

Makalah ini hendak mendekonstruksi polaritas antara natur yang dianggap pasip, liar dan feminin dan kultur yang yang dianggap dinamis, maskulin. Sambil menolak tesis Beauvoir, tubuh perempuan dikembalikan sebagai mekanisme generatif dan konstruktif yang bersifat transenden. Bumi yang perempuan dan perempuan yang membumi adalah proyeksi abstrak tubuh bangsa Afrika sendiri. Ketercabikan perempuan parallel dengan nasib bangsa Afrika yang dimutilasi oleh perang, kemiskinan, penyakit, kolonialisme dan postkolonialitas. Dalam kerangka pandang Afrika, natur dan kultur adalah matriks dari keperempuanan yang berkodrat nurture yang mengandung kemampuan prokreasi dan kreativitas

Local Government service commission and challenges of Local government Autonomy in Nigeria: An Evaluation

This paper captioned local government service commission and challenges of autonomy explored the meaning of local government, functions of local service commission, the unified local government service and local government autonomy. The historical background of local government administration in Nigeria was examined. The paper highlighted local government reforms in Nigeria and evaluated the problems of local government in relation to local government service commission, where emphasis was placed on lack of autonomy, non clarity of the constitution on the issue of autonomy for the third tier and undue interference by the other tiers of government, thereby making local government an appendage of state government. The establishment of this commission no doubt is a welcome development in the local government structure in Nigeria. But what should be avoided in its operation is executive interference and appointment of inexperienced members in the commission. This paper suggested measures which include Need for further reform to clear the confusion and intriques in the affairs of LG and its commission, Unnecessary bureaucracies like the ministry of local government should be reduced to the barest minimum to enable  Local government system performing their constitutional functions effectively  as the third tier of government in Nigeria. Key words: Local government, Autonomy, Local government civil service commission, Reforms

Buchi Emecheta (1944-2017): Beyond the dingy ditch

The media have in the past weeks been awash with the sudden demise of a great female writer, activist and publisher—Buchi Emecheta—on 25 January 2017 in London. Nigerians and, indeed, scholars all over the world have not yet recovered from their shock at the loss of two Nigerian literary giants, Elechi Amadi and Isidore Okpewho, only recently in 2016. And now another fatal blow has been dealt on the literary sphere at the dawn of a brand new year. It may be necessary to note that Buchi Emecheta passed on the heels of Isidore Okpewho’s death (an interval of just four months). Both were, incidentally, from Delta State. In fact, the three deceased writers—Amadi, Okpewho and Emecheta came originally from the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria

Entrepreneurship Education Skills Acquisition for Self- Employment among Librarians and Library Educators in Universities in South East Nigeria

The study investigated entrepreneurship education skills acquisition for self- employment among librarians and library educators in universities in South East, Nigeria. The study guided by five objectives, adopted descriptive survey design with a study population of 149 librarians and library educators from five (5) university-based Library and Information Science schools in South East, Nigeria. A survey census was used since the population is a manageable one, thus no sampling was conducted. Data for the study was collected using questionnaire titled, Entrepreneurship Education Skills Acquisition for Self-Employment among Librarians and Library Educators in Universities in South East Nigeria (EESALLE). 140 out of 149 questionnaires administered were retrieved and found usable, representing 94%. The findings of the study revealed that librarians and library educators are required to possess entrepreneurial skills, not only for self-employment, but also to create employment for others. Also, the level of adequacy of entrepreneurial librarianship courses was found to be adequate. Numerous entrepreneurial opportunities open to librarians and library educators were identified as well as challenges militating against the acquisition of entrepreneurship education skills acquisition. A host of strategies to encourage the acquisition of entrepreneurship education skills were identified. The findings of the study further revealed that lack of funding, workshops/laboratories, inadequate skilled entrepreneurship lecturers, poor power supply, etc, impeded acquisition of entrepreneurship education skills and recommended that government at all levels, in collaboration with the private sector, should make concerted efforts to address these militating factors

Reskilling Librarians: A Panacea for Bringing Students Back to the Academic Library

ABSTRACT The academic library that failed to reskill members of its workforce might face consequences of automatic loss of patrons. Based on this, the study examined reskilling librarians as a panacea for bringing students back to the library. 191 academic and research librarians (ARL) on the telegram group platform as of February 14, 2023, formed the population. An Online questionnaire was prepared and sent to the ARLs’ on their group chat. 122 ARLs filled the questionnaire out of the 191 thus having a response rate of 63.9%. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. The study revealed the need for librarians to go for reskilling. The findings showed that bringing students back to the library entails retraining librarians on 21st-century skills. The findings also revealed that the desertion of students from the library is caused by the attitudes of librarians, disorganization of the library, unawareness of the services and resources of the library, etc. This study recommends that academic library management and even the parent institution should not downplay on reskilling/retraining of librarians on different aspects of the library work

THE COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (CSDP’S) HEALTH PROJECTS ON MATERNAL MORTALITY IN SOME SELECTED RURAL COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHEAST NIGERIA

The study examined the activities of International Donor Intervention on the wellbeing of the rural dwellers in Nigeria through Community and Social Development Agencies in the South East States from (2010-2019). The objective of the study was to examine international donor intervention on the development of the health sector of the Nigerian economy with particular emphasis on the Community and Social Development Health Projects in the South East States of Nigeria. The objectives were developed into a hypothesis. The research work has both theoretical and empirical significance. Empirically, the study offers an insight into the factors that are affecting the implementation of CSDP projects in rural communities in the South East and by extension other Geo-Political Zones in Nigeria. Theoretically, the findings of the research will go a long way in educating readers on the impact of international donor interventions on development in Nigeria. It will also be beneficial to students and other researchers as information contained in this work will help widen their knowledge and serve as a stepping stone for further researches. A survey and content Analytical Approach were adopted to elicit data for the study. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select respondents. The primary data were analyzed using Z-test to measure the relationship between the variables. The findings revealed that CSDP  health infrastructures positively impacted maternal health which is associated with significant reductions in maternal mortality. Given these targeted impacts, it is important to channel more donor assistance to the promotion of reproductive health and the urgent need for health systems improvement and interventions to accelerate reductions in maternal mortality

Social Networking: A Marketing Strategy for Effective Service Delivery in Academic Libraries in Imo State.

Abstract This paper examined the online social networking tools used as techniques for effective marketing of services in selected academic libraries in Imo State. The study was guided by three research questions and objectives. A survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was fifty nine (59); comprising Heads of departments/units and librarians working in the libraries studied. The population also served as the sample due to its manageable nature, hence the adoption of census enumeration technique. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics involving mean scores. The findings revealed that: the mostly used social networking tools to market library products and services in the academic libraries studied are Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter; that some of the benefits of social networking tools in academic libraries are: promotion of library resources; knowledge creation and sharing among libraries/librarians; helping to publicize special events and programmes of the library; enhancing research and scholarly publications among librarians and others; and that the academic libraries are being affected by a lot of challenges in their quest to use social networking tools to market their products and services to the public which include, inadequate funding, lack of qualified ICT librarians, network problems, erratic power supply, among others. It was therefore recommended that academic libraries should endeavour to embrace other forms of social networking tools in addition to Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter to market their products and services to users and install solar energy in order to tackle the issue of erratic power supply

Cancer Patients’ Perceived Need for Information and Education on Sexuality Challenges in a Regional Oncology Center in South-Eastern Nigeria

Background: Cancer patients in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) experience sexuality concerns most often un-disclosed by patients and unaddressed by oncologists. This study investigated adult cancer patients’ need for information and education on perceived sexuality challenges in Nigeria.Materials and Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study enlisted 298 adult cancer survivors. A pre-tested researcher-developed questionnaire was used for data collection and analysis done with IBM SPSS, version 19.0 using descriptive and inferential statistics (at p<0.05).Results: Findings showed that only 5.4% have tried discussing sexuality concerns with caregivers, (282=94.6%) had never even when the majority felt anxious about the sickness (3.66±1.12) and depressed about the loss of a body part (3.13±1.41); females had difficulties performing roles as mothers/wives (3.45±1.47), men reported having difficulties performing roles as fathers/husbands (3.53±1.52). The majority considered discussions on sexuality as important (4.17±1.36) and desired to a very high extent discussion/information on the impact of cancer and cancer treatment on sexuality and sexual life/behaviour (4.36±0.88) with nurses (67.1%) than doctors.Conclusion: Cancer patients need information on cancer and sexuality. Health care providers should include such discussions during patient assessment and treatment. Sexuality discuss, although appreciated is a sensitive issue that requires skills and ongoing training for cancer care professionals

Aquatic macrophytes (Spirogyra porticalis and Nymphaea L.) as substrates for biofuel production: potentials and challenges

Green fuel represents one of the most promising means of sustainably replacing liquid fuels, and freshwater macrophytes has become one of the auspicious substrates for biofuel production due to high cellulose and hemicellulose contents. In this study, the use of Spirogyra porticalis and Nymphaea alba Linn for biodiesel, bioethanol and biogas production was investigated with other feedstocks (rice husk and biochar) using dry and wet extraction methods. Spirogyra porticalis and Nymphaea alba Linn were harvested from a freshwater lake in Ndufu Echara in Ikwo Local Government, Ebonyi State, Nigeria and thoroughly washed. Biodiesel, bioethanol and biogas production by an alkali-catalysed transesterification using mechanical and chemical methods, acid and base simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, and anaerobic digestion was carried out, respectively. Results showed that freshwater macrophytes produced more biodiesel compared to rice husk and biochar. S. porticalis and Nymphaea L. yielded higher biodiesel using chemical and mechanical methods, respectively. Quality evaluation of the diesel oil according to ASTM standard revealed that chemical method was the most proficient for biodiesel production because of its proximity to ASTM D6751 standard. For bioethanol, acid hydrolysis (1M HCl) produced more bioethanol than the base (1M NaOH) with Nymphaea L. yielding 60% ethanol. However, the macrophytes did not generate biogas after 30-d of anaerobic digestion compared to other feedstocks. Further analysis revealed sample acidification and inhibitions on the anaerobes responsible for anaerobic digestion (p<0.05). This suggests that acidification and/or toxicity may be a major factor associated with anaerobic digestion and biogas production from aquatic macrophytes. Thus, optimization and/or combined pre-treatment methods (biological, mechanical, enzymatic) are recommended. This suggests that Spirogyra porticalis and Nymphaea alba Linn could be major substrates for biofuel production, and tropical freshwater ecosystems can be good for their large-scale cultivatio