Energy metabolism in the weanling pig : effects of energy concentration and intake on growth, body composition and nutrient accretion in the empty body

Dietary energy is the largest single cost in pork production. Accurate and current understanding of energy metabolism is crucial to production efficiency. The overall objective of this thesis was to evaluate the effects of dietary energy concentration and energy intake on growth, nutrient deposition rates and energy utilization in weaned pigs. In experiment 1, the optimum total lysine:DE ratio for weaned pigs was estimated at 4.27 and 4.46 g/Mcal for pigs growing from 7.5 to 12.8 kg and 7.5 to 22.5 kg BW, respectively. Experiment 2 determined if a more predictable growth, nutrient deposition and energy utilization in the weaned pig is achieved with NE or with DE. ADG either remained similar or was depressed with increased NE compared to the control (P 0.05) but increased with feeding level (P 0.05) but both LD and LD:PD ratio increased (interaction, P < 0.001). These data suggest that when amino acid:energy ratio is optimal, increasing dietary energy concentration increased energy intake but does not improve PD and overall body weight gain of weaned pigs. However, body lipid content and LD were increased. Finally, NE offers an advantage over the DE in predicting the body composition and nutrient deposition rates rather than in overall BW gain

Business Revolution through Corporate Entreprenuership

This paper examines corporate entrepreneurship as a tool for economic prosperity in the global arena from the standpoint of the roles to be played by the business organizations.The global economy is creating profound and substantial changes for organizations and industries throughout the world. In times of global crisis and increasing pressures on companies to follow strategies for a competitive position on the global markets, many top management executives have to apply different approaches referred to  as corporate entrepreneurship and the creation and maintenance of knowledge networks. Many organizations are increasingly looking to “corporate entrepreneurship” as a way of combating the lethargy and    bureaucracy that often  accompany size due to the fact that for organizations to grow and survive they must change and adapt to increasing competition, client needs and the economic climate in which they live.Corporate entrepreneurship is defined as entrepreneurship activities within an existing Company. It involves innovative activities and orientations such as development of new products services, technologies, administrative techniques, strategies and competitive postures.  It has been recognized as an important element in organizational and economic development, performance and wealth creation. It characterizes a new management philosophy that promotes strategic agility, flexibility, creativity, and continuous innovation with the aim of transforming administrative-oriented employees into intrapreneurs. It can be a powerful antidote to large company staleness, lack of innovation, stagnated top-line growth, and the inertia that often overtakes the large, mature companies of the world. Four broad typologies or categories of corporate entrepreneurship have been identified in the literature namely: Corporate venturing; Intrapreneuring; Organizational transformation; and Industry rule-breaking. Welcome to the world of corporate entrepreneurship. Keywords: Corporate Entrepreneurship; Business Renewal; Employment Generation; Economic Growth and Development

E-Commerce Advertisement and Usage Experience: The Case of Nigeria

This study presents, at a glance, the level of awareness of some respondents about e-commerce platforms in Nigeria. It explores their preferences and provides some information on how they are responding to e-commerce commercials. The theoretical anchor is the Technology Acceptance Model. Some 97.5 per cent of the 200 respondents surveyed returned their completed questionnaire. The impressive number was as a result of the large number and efficiency of research assistants whoadministered the instrument in the Ado-Odo Local Government Area of Ogun State, a political subdivision of Nigeria. Results show low awareness, though respondents had opined that the e-commercials were helpful and factual. The results further indicate that the productivity expected by respondents as a result of e-commerce patronage is unimpressive owing to infrastructural deficit, insecurity, illiteracy and a weak legal system. Findings indicate that reading manuals in local languages can lead to a better user experience. The deployment of biometric applications for more security, extensive media campaign as well as better machine-customer interaction can also help.Keywords: Nigeria, E-commerce, Advertisement, Usage experience Digital wallet, Technology, ATM, POS

E-Commerce Advertisement and Usage Experience: The Case of Nigeria

This study presents, at a glance, the level of awareness of some respondents about e-commerce platforms in Nigeria. It explores their preferences and provides some information on how they are responding to e-commerce commercials. The theoretical anchor is the Technology Acceptance Model. Some 97.5 per cent of the 200 respondents surveyed returned their completed questionnaire. The impressive number was as a result of the large number and efficiency of research assistants whoadministered the instrument in the Ado-Odo Local Government Area of Ogun State, a political subdivision of Nigeria. Results show low awareness, though respondents had opined that the e-commercials were helpful and factual. The results further indicate that the productivity expected by respondents as a result of e-commerce patronage is unimpressive owing to infrastructural deficit, insecurity, illiteracy and a weak legal system. Findings indicate that reading manuals in local languages can lead to a better user experience. The deployment of biometric applications for more security, extensive media campaign as well as better machine-customer interaction can also help.Keywords: Nigeria, E-commerce, Advertisement, Usage experience Digital wallet, Technology, ATM, POS

Utilization of insecticide-treated nets by under-five children in Nigeria: Assessing progress towards the Abuja targets

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Abuja target of increasing the proportion of people sleeping under insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to 60% by the year 2005, as one of the measures for malaria control in Africa, has generated an influx of resources for malaria control in several countries in the region. A national household survey conducted in 2005 by the Malaria Control Programme in Nigeria assessed the progress made with respect to ITN ownership and use among pregnant women and children under five years of age since 2000. The survey was the first nationally representative study of ITN use assessing progress towards the Abuja target amongst vulnerable groups.</p> <p>Population and Method</p> <p>A cross-sectional survey of a sample of 7,200 households, selected by a multistage stratified sampling technique from 12 randomly selected states from the six geopolitical zones of the country. Data collection was done during the malarious rainy season (October 2005) using a modified WHO Malaria Indicator Survey structured questionnaire about household ownership and utilization of mosquito nets (treated or untreated) from household heads.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Household ownership of any net was 23.9% (95% CI, 22.8%–25.1%) and 10.1% for ITNs (95% CI, 9.2%–10.9%). Education, wealth index, presence of an under-five child in the household, family size, residence, and region by residence were predictive of ownership of any net. The presence of an under-five child in the household, family size, education, presence of health facility in the community, gender of household head, region by residence and wealth index by education predicted ITN ownership.</p> <p>Utilization of any net by children under-five was 11.5% (95% CI, 10.4%–12.6%) and 1.7% (95% CI, 1.3%–2.2%) for ITN. Predictors of use of any net among under-five children were fever in the previous two weeks, presence of health facility in the community, caregiver's education, residence, and wealth index by caregiver's education; while religion, presence of health facility and wealth index by caregiver's education predicted the use of ITN among this group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study demonstrated that the substantial increase in ITN utilization among children under five years of age in Nigeria is still far from the Abuja targets.</p

Non-Governmental Organizations in the Eyes of Newspapers in Nigeria: 2013 – 2016 in Focus

This study examines the activities of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Nigeria that attracted newspaper coverage. Nine NGO themes in 488 stories of four leading titles – Daily Trust, The Guardian, The Punch and ThisDay – published between 2013 and 2016, were studied. Findings show that 82 reports appeared, representing 17%. NGOs reports occupied the least prominent, inner pages of the newspapers. Whilst Daily Trust appeared as the best NGO-friendly newspaper, 95% of the overall reportage was found positive. Infant and maternal health attracted 28% attention ahead of eight other themes. Also discovered were 12 dailies of “zero report†of NGO activities by all the newspapers. Overall results confirm the assertions that NGOs are poorly reported in Nigeria. The study recommends the creation of newspaper columns for NGO stories and a forum that connects both journalists and NGO operators

Attitude of Students Towards Online Shopping of Agricultural Products in Selected Tertiary Institutions in Ogun state, Nigeria

 The study  examined the attitude of students towards online shopping in selected tertiary institutions in Ogun state. One hundred and thirty-five respondents were sampled using multistage sampling procedure. Variables measured included their attitude towards online shopping, the factors that affect their decision to make purchases online, and the constraints that hinder Nigerian students from shopping online. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, chi-square and PPMC at p= 0.05. Majority of the respondents specified that the convenience and time-saving advantage (82.8%) and being able to access the Internet (76.6%) influenced their decision to shop online. Furthermore, majority of the respondents indicated network instability (71.9%) and concern for safety of payment using debit/credit card (64.4%) as constraints hindering them from purchasing online. There was a significant relationship between constraints hindering Nigerian students from making purchases online (r=-0.230) and their attitude towards online shopping. The high interest in purchasing agricultural products online in the nearest future implies that if conscious efforts are made to eliminate the perceived constraints, e-commerce strategy can be successfully utilized for selling agricultural products. Keywords:Â

Vocational Education and Employability: The Nigerian Situation

Vocational education is the form of education whose primary objective is the acquisition of skills and attitudes for gainful employment in a specific occupation or professional area. On the other hand, Employability skills are those essential skills required to secure and retain a job. These skills are required by young undergraduates to prepare them to meet the needs of various occupations after graduation. Today, the quality of graduates in terms of requisite skills development such as communication, technical abilities, human interaction, social, conceptual and analytical capacity, is on a rapid decline. This paper therefore seeks to look into the possible relationship between vocational education and the acquisition of employability skills. It also discusses basic requirements of employers worldwide in this regard. For our young graduates to be found as being employable, employability skills should be incorporated into the curriculum of Nigerian tertiary institutions. Keywords: Vocational Education, Employability Skills, Graduates