HIJAB CONTROVERSIES IN NIGERIA

Over the past decade, and particularly since the September 11th terrorist attack in the United State, the Muslim community in most parts of the world has experienced an increased level of social and religious scrutiny. This unfortunate incident has fundamentally changed the way the mostly dominated Muslim society views Muslims, especially Muslim women who wear the veil or hijab in public. Muslim women have experienced various instances of discrimination including people trying to remove their hijab, and/or name-calling. A unique aspect of Muslim women in Nigeria is that they not only confront the stigma of gender, race, ethnicity, and religion but that which is attached to Islamic dress as well. Despite some of these problems, however, the experiences of Muslim women all over the world remain one of the least researched topics in sociology. The purpose of this work is to explore the controversies surrounding the hijab in Nigeria.

Development Indices of Gongronema latifolium Benth Domesticated in Otuoke Terrestrial Habitat, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

The effects of physico-chemical properties of two soil sampling locations on the proximate and mineral nutrients contents of Gongronema latifolium Benth were examined in Otuoke secondary forest habitat, in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Leaf samples of Gongronema latifolium and soil (0-20 cm depth) samples were randomly collected from two sites in the study area. Three replicates were maintained for each treatment using randomized complete block design. The pH of 5.10 was recorded at location 1 while that of location 2 was 5.00. The contents of calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iron, copper and zinc were higher in leaves of G. latifolium at location 1 than those of location 2, while the content of potassium was higher in leaves of G. latifolium at location 2 than those of location 1. The moisture, protein, lipid and fibre contents in leaves of G. latifolium were higher at location 1 than those of location 2, while the contents of ash and carbohydrate in leaves of G. latifolium were higher at location 2 than those of location 1. This study showed that the nutritional status of G. latifolium was affected by the sampling locations of the study area, hence, appropriate cultural practices are needed in the area in order to create favourable soil conditions for optimum growth and development of the test plant

An appraisal of the Philosophy of Nigerian Education for Sustainable Livelihood in Nigeria (2008 - 2012).

The philosophy of Nigerian education seems not to guarantee good lives for citizens of Nigeria. The macro-economic indicators for five years (2008 – 2012) now continuously recorded increase growth rates in Nigeria but without significant development. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the philosophy of Nigerian education could justify sustainable livelihood in Nigeria. This study was designed to provide baseline information for macro policy-management on education in order to enhance the welfare of Nigerian citizens. The study adopted a descriptive survey design in Cross River State of Nigeria as a study area. One research question and one hypothesis were applied to guide the study while the related literatures were reviewed. The population of study was 2,395 university teachers and out of which 250 was drawn using a simple random sampling technique. Researchers’ constructed instrument was used to collect information from the respondents. Data was statistically analyzed using tables, mean rating and population t-test statistics. Results obtained revealed that the contemporary socio-economic trends of the philosophy of Nigerian education have not accelerated sustainable livelihood in Nigeria. Basic needs provision among the geo-political zones of Nigeria indicated disparities. Therefore, it was recommended that better measures of economic development such as Human Development Index (HDI) be utilized to ensure sustainable livelihood in Nigeria. Keywords: Livelihood, sustainable, philosophy, education, socio-economic trends

The Role of Universities in Human Capital Development: Implications for National Transformation

This study investigated the role of Universities in human capital development in Cross River State and its implication for national transformation. Ex-post facto design was adopted in the study. Two research questions and hypotheses respectively were raised to guide the study. A sample of 227 lecturers were drawn from a population of 1,517 lecturers from the two universities. The Role of Universities in Human Capital Development for National Transformation Questionnaire (TRUIHCDFNTQ) was used to generate data. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. From the results, it was concluded that opportunities for attending retraining programmes and conferences/workshops had significant relationship with lecturers’ transformation in terms of their teaching effectiveness and subsequent national transformation. Based on the findings it was recommended that; Government should provide funds to the universities to sponsor lecturers to attend retraining programmes. Keywords: The Role of Universities, Human Capital Development, National Transformation

Enhancement of Bilirubin Excretion in Alloxan - Induced Diabetic Rats Treated with Crude Aloe vera Gel

This study was aimed at determining the effect of type 1 diabetes mellitus on bilirubin excretion, and to ascertain the impact of treatment with crude Aloe vera gel on bilirubin excretion. The phyto-constituents and median lethal dose of the plant material were determined before administration. Forty albino wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups of 10 rats each as follows; control group, alloxan - induced diabetic untreated group (DM), alloxan - induced diabetic treated group (DMT) and control treated group (CT). The dose of crude Aloe vera gel used for this study was 0.2ml/100g body weight daily, per oral route. Biliary total bilirubin (BTB) and serum total bilirubin (STB) concentrations were significantly (p<0.001) increased in the DM group compared to control, DMT and CT group. BTB and STB concentrations were significantly lower (p<0.001) in DMT group compared to DM group. BTB and STB concentrations were significantly reduced in the CT group compared to control. Biliary conjugated bilirubin (BCB) and serum conjugated bilirubin (SCB) concentrations were significantly lower (p<0.001) in the DM, DMT and CT group compared to control. BCB and SCB concentrations were significantly lower (p<0.001) in the DMT group compared to DM group. BCB and SCB concentrations were significantly lower (p<0.001) in the CT group compared to control. Biliary unconjugated bilirubin (BUB) and serum unconjugated bilirubin (SUB) concentrations were significantly increased (p<0.001) in the DM group compared to control, DMT and CT group. BUB and SUB concentrations were significantly reduced (p<0.001) in CT group compared to control. These results are suggestive of the fact that crude Aloe vera gel enhances excretion of bilirubin in diabetic and normal conditions. Keywords Aloe vera, Bilirubin, Bile, Diabetes Mellitus, Seru

Principals’ management of library resources and teachers’ lesson preparation practices in secondary schools: A predictive evaluation

The literature is predominated by studies seeking to clarify the extent of the availability, functionality, accessibility and/or utilisation of library materials in schools at various levels. The extent of principals' management of library resources and their contribution to the lesson preparation activities of teachers seems to have been under-researched. In bridging the gap, the current study was designed to assess the extent and contribution of principals’ management of library resources to teachers’ lesson preparation practices. Six specific objectives were of interest to the researchers. The quantitative research method, following the ex-post facto research design, was adopted. The stratified proportional random sampling technique was used to choose a sample of 743 respondents from a population of 1,857 secondary school teachers in Ikom Education Zone, Cross River State, Nigeria. An instrument named "Management of Library Resources and Teachers' Lesson Preparation Questionnaire" (MLRTLPQ) was used to gather data. The quantitative content validity method was used to assess the degree to which the items in the instrument were clear, relevant, and represented a wide range of the anticipated content based on the views of domain experts. One sample t-test and hierarchical regression analyses were used for data analyses. Four stepwise hierarchical linear models were specified and fitted accordingly. It was found that teachers’ lesson preparation practice is significantly low generally; there is a significantly low extent in principals’ management of textual, auditory, visual and audio-visual library resources; there is a significant composite contribution of principals’ management of library resources on teachers’ lesson preparation practices in public secondary schools in model 3 and model 4. Based on these findings, practical implications are discussed, with recommendations made for a better library management practice in secondary schools for quality lesson preparation practices

Medicinal and ethnoveterinary remedies of hunters in Trinidad

BACKGROUND: Ethnomedicines are used by hunters for themselves and their hunting dogs in Trinidad. Plants are used for snakebites, scorpion stings, for injuries and mange of dogs and to facilitate hunting success. RESULTS: Plants used include Piper hispidum, Pithecelobium unguis-cati, Bauhinia excisa, Bauhinia cumanensis, Cecropia peltata, Aframomum melegueta, Aristolochia rugosa, Aristolochia trilobata, Jatropha curcas, Jatropha gossypifolia, Nicotiana tabacum, Vernonia scorpioides, Petiveria alliacea, Renealmia alpinia, Justicia secunda, Phyllanthus urinaria,Phyllanthus niruri,Momordica charantia, Xiphidium caeruleum, Ottonia ovata, Lepianthes peltata, Capsicum frutescens, Costus scaber, Dendropanax arboreus, Siparuma guianensis, Syngonium podophyllum, Monstera dubia, Solanum species, Eclipta prostrata, Spiranthes acaulis, Croton gossypifolius, Barleria lupulina, Cola nitida, Acrocomia ierensis (tentative ID). CONCLUSION: Plant use is based on odour, and plant morphological characteristics and is embedded in a complex cultural context based on indigenous Amerindian beliefs. It is suggested that the medicinal plants exerted a physiological action on the hunter or his dog. Some of the plants mentioned contain chemicals that may explain the ethnomedicinal and ethnoveterinary use. For instance some of the plants influence the immune system or are effective against internal and external parasites. Plant baths may contribute to the health and well being of the hunting dogs

Heteromorpha trifoliata (Dombwe) accelerates acetic acid-induced peptic ulcers: A preliminary study in the rat

Objectives: To investigate the effect of H. trifoliata on: (a) acetic acid-induced ulcers, (b) food intake, (c) water intake, (d) weight gain, (e) gastric acid secretion in rats. Design: Comparative study. Setting: Laboratory. Subjects: 20 female Sprague Dawley rats (220 to 250g) with acetic acid-induced peptic ulcers randomly assigned to test and control groups (n=10). The test rats were allowed water and normal rat diet comprising 20% H. trifoliata (‘Dombwe) and ‘Imfe nkulu’ in Shona and Ndebele respectively) for 17 days after ulceration while control rats were allowed water and normal rat diet for 17 days after ulceration. Thirty six other rats were prepared to study the effect of H. trifoliata on gastric and acid secretion stimulated by histamine, gastrin and carbachol. Main Outcome Measures: Photographs of the gross anatomy and hisotology of test and control rat stomachs were taken. Daily food and water intake, weekly weight gain and gastric acid secretion were measured in the test and control rats. Results: 17 days following the consumption of the H. trifoliata containing diet, macroscopically, no ulcen were found on the outer surface of the stomach walls of test rats. However, histological examination revealed traces of ulcer at the sites where ulcers were induced previously. In contrast, 70% of the control rats still had ulcers on the surface of their stomach walls. Histological examination showed massive denuded mucosa and submucosa at the ulcer sites which are signs of severe ulceration. Food intake in both groups was not significantly different except during the first three days when test rats consumed significantly less food (p< 0.01) than control rats. Daily water intake and weekly weight gain were also not significantly different in the test and control groups. H. trifoliata had no significant effect on gastric acid secretion stimulated by histamine, gastrin and carbachol. Conclusions: H. trifoliata does not affect daily food and water intake and weekly weight gain in rats. It also does not affect histamine, gastrin and carbachol-stimulated acid secretion in rats. However, H.trifoliM accelerates the healing of acetic acid-induced peptic ulcer in rats. This may validate the use of H. trifoliatt in the treatment of peptic ulcer in humans

Religion’s relationship with social boundaries surrounding gender

This paper examines the religious persuasion on the social boundaries surrounding gender. Gender has been a contentious issue that is associated with segregation, marginalization and differentiation between men and women. In the light of this, scholars' views on the subject matter were considered. Thus, this indicates that in spite of the fact that some women by virtue of their ability are qualified for a particular position, would be denied by reason of gender dichotomy. Also the impetus given to the social boundaries by religion as alleged by the scripture (Bible) aggravates the situation. It is therefore the submission of the paper that the persistence of religion's consolidation on the social boundaries surrounding gender is as a result of the inability to separate culture from religion. The recommendation therefore is that although roles differentiation are necessary in the society it should not be mistaken for gender inequality.Key Words: Religion, Social Boundaries, Gender, Christianity, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Inequalit