Sacramental Theology of Elochukwu Uzukwu in Light of Vatican II and Its Application in African Contexts

Recognition of the indispensable intersection of faith and culture has become a major trend in the contemporary theology. This renewed approach emphasizes various anthropologies and cultures as locations of divine activity. Specifically, the Second Vatican Council’s understanding of sacraments as pneumatological, and ecclesiological, beyond the dominant Christological motif, and its call for profound adaptation gives a wide latitude for rethinking the sacraments. This provision overcomes the danger of enforcing a monocultural model of sacramental celebration, which can submerge local voices and separate sacramentality from symbols and values that resonate differently with various peoples and cultures. This dissertation shows how Elochukwu Uzukwu utilizes the provisions of Vatican II, in conjunction with resources from African traditional wisdom and culture, to argue for the emergence of truly local church and true border-crossing of sacramental and liturgical celebrations. To think of sacraments from this perspective highlights the African view of the human body, particularly its penchant for expressive worship and community – oriented celebrations, is a reality that seeks to bridge the disconnect between sacraments and ethics, thereby overcoming mere ritualism and making the sacraments more relevant. This approach finds justification in the long history of appropriating anthropological and sociological models to give expression to the reality of the Christian experience. The thesis is that rethinking the sacraments is a practical mission of the church in Africa, with implications in every aspect of Christian life and practice. The centrality and implications of the sacraments, especially in the Roman Catholic tradition, makes this approach a delicate but necessary theological investigation

The environment and natural rights

The argument advanced is this thesis is that the entities that make up the environment are those that do not owe their origin to any willful creative activity but have evolved through accidental natural processes. This fact of not being willfully created makes the environment ontologically independent and confers on it intrinsic value as opposed to instrumental value. This intrinsic value is one that all the entities that make up the environment share. It is further argued that this intrinsic value is aesthetic rather than moral. Only beings that are specially endowed with certain capacities, like reflection and understanding, could be said, in the context of this work, to have intrinsic moral value in the sense of being moral agents. But as moral agents, we need to give moral considerability to all the natural entities in the environment since they share the same natural right with us, based on our common origin. So, even though the nonhuman, natural entities in the environment do not have moral rights, they have natural rights. It is further argued that this natural right could be best safeguarded in a legal framework

Investigation on the microbial profile of canned foods

A total of thirty (30) canned food samples comprising of six samples each of Sardines, Milk, Tomatoes, Meat and mixed vegetables were randomly collected from super stores, kiosks and local markets. All samples are within expiry date, none of which is bloated, leaking and/or physically damaged. Samples were analyzed by standard methods for total plate counts (aerobic and anaerobic incubations), and for spoilage, pathogenic and coliform organisms. The total aerobic plate count ranges from < 10cfu/g to 1.4x103 cfu/g. Anaerobic plate count ranges from < 10cfu/g to 1.0 x 102. Bacillus subtilis, B. coagulans, B. cereus, Clostridium perfringens, C. sporogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp and S. epidermides were isolated from some of the samples. The need for effective HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) is recommended to prevent under processing, pre-process and post-process contaminations, inadequate cooling, contamination from leakage through seams and pre-process spoilag

Electricity Theft in Nigeria: How Effective Are the Existing Laws?

There is an overwhelming concern that if electricity theft is not controlled urgently, it will contribute immensely to a continued cycle of mountain debts and inefficiencies for not just the DISCOs but also for the GENCOs. There is an estimated average loss of about N21 billion annually in the power sector to energy theft. Against this backdrop, this paper provides a menu of options for the DISCOs in controlling electricity theft. In doing this, existing laws and regulations prohibiting energy theft in Nigeria and relevant empirical literatures were duly reviewed. Cutting edge ideas on how to combat electricity theft were drawn from cross country experiences. Experience from the United Kingdom, United States of America and South Africa coupled with Nigeria’s peculiarities informed the issues raised for legislative consideration. Keywords: Electricity theft; existing laws; Nigeria. JEL Classification: D11, D

Energy Saving and Eco Driving Behaviour: Empirical Evidence from Ibadan, Nigeria

This study empirically examined the impacts of eco-driving behaviour on energy saving. The descriptive method of analysis was complemented with the OLS estimation technique for robustness check. Results from the two methods reinforced each other. 68.1% of the commercial transport operators affirmed that they were aware of driving styles/behaviour that can help reduce the quantity of fuel their vehicle consumes daily. Despite this, 69.2% of them declared their willingness to learn new driving skills/styles. Our study revealed that 81.3% of the transport operators carry overload and that 85.7% of them do not make use of AC when it is functional. Markedly, we found that traffic hold-up is the most factor that hinders 81.3% of the operators from applying eco-driving skill/behaviour. The results of the empirical model indicated that car fuel consumption (CFC) varies positively with model, number of stoppages, idling, over load, air condition and negatively with engine tuning and tire gauge. Based on our findings, we recommend that the stake holders in the road transport business should intensify practical efforts towards increasing awareness on how car fuel consumption could be reduced using of the eco-driving options. Keywords: Energy Saving, Eco-Driving, Empirical Analysis. JEL Classification: B21, R4

Exchange Rate Fluctuations, Oil Prices and Economic Performance: Empirical Evidence From Nigeria

The dominance of oil in the Nigeria's external sector and as its major source of revenue is not in dispute. This therefore necessitates the need to probe the nexus and the magnitude of the effects of fluctuation in the exchange rate on oil price and on how it impacts the Nigeria's economic performance. Against this background, this study evaluated the effects of exchange rate fluctuations on crude oil price as well as on economic performance, simultaneously. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and the Two Stage Least Squares (TSLS) estimation techniques were employed. The study found that real exchange rate has a positive effect (1.2 per cent) on the Nigeria's economic performance. We also found that a one percentage increase in the price of oil would positively influence the economic performance of Nigeria by the magnitude of 4 per cent. The R2 shows that 82 per cent deviation in the gross domestic product was captured by the explanatory variables whereas the J-statistics of the model is insignificant, thus, confirming the relevance and validity of the instruments used. Keywords: Exchange Rate; Oil Prices; Economic Performance JEL Classification:  E3; F41; F4

Modeling the Determinants of Foreign Reserves in Nigeria

This study evaluated the determinants of foreign reserves in Nigeria. Literature relevant to the subject matter were rigorously reviewed. The model of the study hypothesized that foreign reserve (RESV) in Nigeria is a function of some macroeconomic variables. The Johansen cointegration tests established evidence of a long run relationship among the variables. The results of the estimated short run coefficients based on parsimonious Error Correction Model (ECM) indicated that RGDP, oil exports (OILEXP) are positive and significant determinants of RESV. This significant deterministic value of OILEXPT remained up to the first period lag. Expectedly, EXCH was found to be significant but negative determinant of RESV. FDI inflows positively and significantly determine RESV only in its first period lag while lending rate (LR) was discovered to be a negative and insignificant determinant. Similarly, the coefficient of inflation rate (INFL) was negative and significant. However, the coefficient of non-oil exports (NOILEXP), though positive, was not significant determinant of RESV. The probability of the diagnostic tests conducted reinforced the robustness of the model. On the basis of the empirical findings we recommend that the government incentivise NOILEXP as a means of positively affecting RESV. Keywords: Foreign Reserves, Exchange Rate. JEL Classification: F41, C5, C22

Modelling the Causal Relationship among Remittances, Exchange Rate, and Monetary Policy in Nigeria

This study examined the relationship and causality that exist between remittance inflows exchange rate and monetary aggregates - money supply, interest rate, and the domestic price level in Nigeria. The Johansen co-integration and the Granger causality techniques were employed. The Johansen co-integration test indicated that long run relationship exist among the variables. The Granger causality test results revealed a unidirectional causality running from money supply (LM2) to remittances (LREM) only at lag one and not in the reverse. In other lags, there was no evidence of causality between the duos. The results also showed that, consistently from lag one to lag five, causality run from exchange rate (LEXR) to LREM and not in reverse direction. Unidirectional causality run from interest rate (INT) to LREM, occurring from lag one to lag four. There was no evidence of causality in any direction between inflation rate (INF) and LREM within these lags. We also found that causality run from exchange rate (LEXR) to money supply (LM2) only at lags one and four and not in the reverse order. Keywords: Remittance Inflows, Exchange Rate, and Monetary Policy.

Techno-economic and risk analysis of closed-cycle gas turbine systems for sustainable energy conversion.

With renewed interest in research and development on the closed-cycle gas turbine technology, it is almost certain this energy conversion system may well emerge in the foreseeable future as a viable option in power generation and utility industry due to: (a) its easy adaptability to a wide spectrum of working fluids and heat sources (b) very high fuel utilization efficiency (c) reduction in pollution and energy consumption, (d) potential for high degree of availability, reliability and low maintenance cost and (e) high part-load performance characteristics. In Europe, power plants up to 50MWe have operated successfully on arrays of gaseous, liquid and solid fuels, and have demonstrated a high degree of availability and reliability, with both helium and air used as working fluids. Waste heat thermal energy from these plants, in form of hot water, has been utilized for industrial and urban district heating with results of over 80% fuel utilization efficiency met. However, despite the many advantages of the closed-cycle gas turbine system, it has not enjoyed widespread commercialization. This is because its features do not come free and the diffidence exploring the technology for future investment may be related to limited experience in design and operation for several variables such as working fluid options. Therefore, for the full potentials of the closed-cycle gas turbine to be realized, its suitability in the choice component design, cycle performance, economic potentials with minimum risk have to be proven in several off-setting conditions before any appropriate investment decision can be made. This research seeks to address the knowledge gap on the effect of selected working fluids such as helium, air, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide on the overall component design, cycle performance, and economics of the closed-cycle gas turbine power plant. To implement the research aim, a robust decision support framework for closed-cycle gas turbine using the Techno-economic, Environmental and Risk Analysis (TERA) method has been adopted in this research, as a multidisciplinary tool for strategic decision making in closed-cycle gas turbine technology investments. The governing principles of TERA arise from different module integration, which allows for design considerations and/or operating areas such as performance, environment, economics and risk analysis. In this research, each of the operating areas was modelled to achieve the central goal of the research. The results from the performance perspective show that the overall cycle efficiency of the closed-cycle gas turbine is maximum for working fluid with a high ratio of specific heats at lower pressure ratio. Also, the research shows that working fluid have great influence on design choice configuration, gas turbine component sizing and the initial cost of investment in closed-cycle gas turbine technology. In the economic assessment, competitive cost information was generated with helium showing a higher risk of investment due to its limited supply. Most significantly, the research provides a representative of trade-offs on the plant thermodynamic performance characteristics, economics and impact of working fluids on closed-cycle gas turbine system technology.PhD in Aerospac

Towards the vision of the African Union: a critical evaluation of the AU agenda from the perspective of Anyiam-Osigwe's Group Mind Principle

The research paper aims to assess the objectives of the African Union (AU) and establish that if the internal workings of the AU and its member states are premised on Anyiam-Osigwe’s Group Mind Principle, its avowed objectives will be greatly served