Age, Amplitude of Accommodation and Near Addition Power of Adult Nigerians

This study was undertaken to determine the relaonship among age, amplitude of accommodation (AA) and near addional add power in Nigerian adults. A cross sectional study was undertaken in 297 adults comprising 158 (53.3%) males and 139 (46.8%) females and aged 33 – 89 years. Amplitude of accommodation was measured using the push up method and the near addition power was determined using the plus lens to clear near vision method. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the relationship among the age of the participants, amplitude of accommodation and near add power. The mean age of the participants was 52.9 ± 11.5 years (95% confidence interval = 51.6 – 54.2). The mean amplitude of accommodation was 2.07 ± 1.19 D (95% confidence interval = 1.93 – 2.21) while the mean add power was 2.06 ± 0.57 D (95 % confidence interval = 2.00 – 2.12). There was a strong negative correlation between AA and age (r = - 0.879, p < 0.001), between AA and near add power (r = - 0.777, p < 0.001) and a strong positive correlation between near add power and age (r = 0.813, p < 0.001). There is an inverse relationship between AA and age and between AA and near add power and a direct relationship between age and near add power for Nigerian adultsKeywords: Presbyopia, amplitude of accommodation, near addition power, age, NigeriansJourna

The challenges of researching corporate power: The case of Shell Petroleum Development Company in Nigeria (SPDC)

Abstract. The research on Transnational Corporations (TNCs) in Nigeria is encumbered or fraught with methodological challenges. Thus, this paper which relies on desk research, unveils the conceptualization of TNCs, Corporate Powers and the Doctrine of Domicile thereby interrogating the methodological encumbrances – (security, secrecy and access challenges) experienced in conducting researches on the modus operandi of TNCs in Nigeria with focus on Shell Petroleum Development Company in Nigeria (SPDC). The consideration of Transnational Corporations’ exploration of the lacuna created by weak or moribund state institutions, escalating corruption, lack of adequate knowledge of rights and double standards become sacrosanct in bringing about ease in the challenges of researching corporate power. The paper argues that in weak African states, the doctrine of domicile manifests through threat of divestment, undue influence on government, casualization of workers, corrupt practices and tax evasion where corporate power employ hegemonic tendencies in pursuit of  its profit maximization drive..Keywords. Transnational corporations, Liquefied natural gas, Multinational energy corporations, OPEC, SPDC.JEL. H11, H50, C13, C22

Endogenous growth model and the human capital development: Evidence from the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ)

Abstract. This study examined the effect of human capital development on economic growth in the context of West Africa Monetary Zone (WAMZ) countries for the period 2001 – 2019. The data for the study were sourced from World Development Indicators of the World Bank for the six (6) ECOWAS countries. The panel least squares (random effects and fixed effects modeling) were embraced as the estimation techniques. The empirical result of the study reveals a positive coefficient and statistically significant at 1% significance level in the fixed – effects model of the following macro economic variables government expenditure on education, Labour force and Population growth rate suggesting that they significantly stimulate economic growth in WAMZ countries. On the other hand government expenditure on health and investment income ratio had negative co-efficient with only investment income ratio statistically significant at 1% significance level. This indicates that urgent government action is required to reverse these negative trends in order to encourage health and investment contribution to economic growths in WAMZ countries. The study recommended among others that government of WAMZ countries should increase budget allocation to the education and health sectors for infrastructure and personnel development to foster a healthy work force that will promote economic growth.Keywords. West Africa Monetary Zone; Secondary school enrolment; Government expenditure on education; Total labour force.JEL. F43; J24; O11

Eye care utilisation among slum dwellers in the greater Accra region, Ghana

Objective: To investigate the pattern of eye care utilisation and the knowledge of eye care services and personnel among slum dwellers in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.Setting: Structured questionnaire was administered to each participant by trained interviewers using the local language were it is evident that participants cannot communicate in English Language.Subjects: Study subjects originally comprised 700 randomly selected adults from seven randomly selected clusters from Accra Metropolitan Assembly designated slum areas in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.Results: Responses from the remaining sample of 699 subjects (aged 18 – 80 years) comprising 355 (50.8%) males and 344 (49.2%) females were analysed. Majority had little or no formal education. 38.9% of the respondents have health insurance. 44.1% had no knowledge about eye care while 68.7% did not know any eye care professional. 44.7% of those who have had an eye problem had not presented for an eye examination. Some of the respondents still undertake unorthodox and harmful traditional practices such as using sea water to irrigate the eye and applying breast milk to treat eye infections.Conclusions: From our study, we conclude that there is poor uptake of eye care services and poor knowledge of eye care services and personnel in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Refractive Error Status In Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Refractive errors affect the whole spectrum of the population without regard to age, gender, race and ethnic group. Uncorrected refractive errors have severe consequences for the individual, family and society.Records showthat no study documenting the distribution of refractive errors in Bayelsa State had been carried out. Records of patients who presented between January, 2004 and October, 2005 in the government-subsidized eye clinic of the Niger-Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri for refractive error servicewere reviewed.Myopiawas defined as = -0.50DS; hyperopia as = +1.00DS while astigmatismwas definedas = -0.25DC. Emmetropiawas defined as spherical power of -0.25Dto +0.75D. Results of the right eyewere usedfor analysis.Datawere analyzedusingthe Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10. In this retrospective study, a total of 654 patients fitted the inclusion criteria. There were 319 males and 335 females (48.78%and 51.22% respectively) with an age range of 5 - 86 years. Mean age was 42.18±13.1 (95% CI = 41.17 - 43.19) years. Significant refractive error was observed in 355 cases (54.28%) while 299 (45.72%) were emmetropic. Of the 355 with refractive error, 181 (50.99%) were male and 174 (49.01%) were females. Astigmatism was the commonest refractive error (n=162, 45.63%) followed by myopia (n=113, 51.83%) and hyperopia (n=80, 22.54%). The ranges of refractive power were as follows: astigmatism, -0.25DC to -1.75DC; Myopia, -0.50D to -9.00D and hyperopia, +1.00DS to +11.00DS. More males had hyperopia and myopia while more females had astigmatism. Presbyopia as indicated by the use of near addition was present in 490 (74.92%) of the subjects.The results can be used for planning self sustaining refractive error services in the state. Keywords: Emmetropia,Myopia,Hyperopia,Astigmatism, Presbyopia

Refractive Error Status in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Background: Refractive errors affect the whole spectrum of the population without regard to age, gender, race and ethnic group. Uncorrected refractive errors have severe consequences for the individual, family and society. This study , is the first of its kind, to document the distribution of refractive errors in Bayelsa State. Methods: Records of patients who presented between January 2004 and October 2005 in Okolobiri General Hospital—the government-subsidized eye clinic in Okolobiri, Bayelsa State—for treatment were examined. Myopia was defined as ≥- 0.50DS; hyperopia as ≥+ 1.00DS; while astigmatism was defined as ≥- 0.25DC. Emmetropia was defined as spherical power of –0.25D to +0.75D. Results of the right eye were used for analysis. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10. Results: A total of 654 patients were analyzed. There were 319 male and 335 female patients (48.8% and 51.2% respectively)with an age range of 5 – 86 years. Mean age was 42.18 years (SD 13.1, 95% CI = 41.17 – 43.19 years). Significant refractive errors were observed in 355 cases (54.3%), while 299 (45.7%) were emmetropic. Of the 355 with refractive error, 181 (51%) were men and 174 (49%) were woman. Astigmatism was the commonest refractive error (n=162, 45.7%) followed by myopia (n = 113, 31.8%) and hyperopia (n = 80, 22.5%). The range of refractive power was as follows: astigmatism, - 0.25DC to – 1.75DC. Myopia, - 0.50D to - 9.00D; hyperopia, + 1.00DS to + 11.00DS; More male patients have hyperopia and myopia while more female patients have astigmatism. Presbyopia as indicated by the use of near addition, was present in 490 (74.9%) of the subjects. Conclusion: Significant refractive error was present in over half of patients presenting in the period under analysis. The range of refractive errors recorded will assist in planning self-sustaining low-cost refractive error services in the state.Key words: refractive error, presbyopia, astigmatism, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Refractive errors in children with down syndrome in Lagos State, Nigeria

Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal disorder and many with the condition tend to be more at risk of several ocular disorders than those without Down syndrome. The study was aimed at assessing the distribution of refractive errors in children with Down syndrome between 5-18 years of age. The cross-sectional study used data from 104 children with Down syndrome from selected exclusive special needs schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. Visual acuity was measured using the Lea symbol chart and non-cycloplegic refraction was carried out using both static retinoscopy and autorefraction. Significant refractive error was defined as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism of 0.75D and above respectively. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS statistical software version 20.1. Chi-square and independent t test were used to test the hypotheses. A total of 91 children with Down syndrome were examined; 52 (57.1%) were males with a mean age of 13.6 +3.8 years. The study showed that refractive errors was present in 82 (95.3%) of the participants, with astigmatism being the commonest form of refractive error occurring in 61(67%) followed by hyperopia 12(13.2%) and myopia 7(7.7%) of the 91 participants studied. The study also supported the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference between the types of refractive error and gender (p=0.8331). Recorded visual acuities also revealed a generalised reduced visual acuity which significantly improved with best optical correction (p <0.001). This study indicates the need for people with Down syndrome to be provided with prompt eye care services.Keywords: Refractive error, Down syndrome, visual acuity, prevalence, distributio

The Implications of Free Trade Area on Domestic Industries: Empirical Evidence from Nigeria

The paper sought to examine the impact of Free Trade Area on Nigeria’s domestic industries from 1980 to 2019. It employed the autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) estimation technique to analyze the short-run and long-run relationships between the independent and the explanatory variables, thereby validating the objective of the study. All the variables were stationary after the first difference, except Ease of Doing Business (EDB). In the short run, all the explanatory variables were statistically significant after two-period lags. However, in the long run, the estimated ARDL results revealed all the explanatory variables were negatively related to the industrial growth in the Nigerian economy. Such a negative relationship between Free Trade Area (FTA) as captured by trade openness and growth of the industrial output will portend a deleterious consequence on the industrial sector of the Nigerian economy. By implication, when fully consummated with the dearth of trade infrastructure coupled with a lack of competitive network structures, Free Trade Area will ensure that the industrial sector in Nigeria becomes manifestly dependent on imported goods produced from low-cost production centres in Africa. Based on this conclusion, it is recommended that a cautious and guided opening of the Nigerian economy should be the operational template between Nigeria and the rest of Africa in terms of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

Evolving economic growth via the human capital development paradigm: Evidence from the Francophone West-African economies

Abstract. This research examined the impact of Human Capital Development (HCD) on economic growth among the ten French-Speaking West African Countries. In carrying out the empirical research, data were collected on human capital development and growth indices from countries in the sub region and panel data analysis was conducted. The period of analysis covered was between 1995 and 2017. Panel data analysis was used in capturing the relationship between human capital development and economic growth in the West Africa sub region. The endogeneity problem often associated with panel data analysis was accounted for through the use of the Generalized Method of Moments. From the Arellano-bond dynamic panel estimation, it revealed that secondary school levers (SSE6), those who enrolled for a minimum of four years at the tertiary school level (TSE4) and gross capital formation (GCF) were statistically significant in determining economic growth among the Francophone countries in West Africa. The Arellano-Bond dynamic panel results show the acceptance of the null hypotheses, which indicate that there is no significant relationship between economic growth and secondary school and tertiary school enrolment in Francophone West African sub region. From the result, emphasis should be devoted to vocational and functional technical education as well as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and increase in government expenditure on health in the French-speaking West Africa sub region.Keywords. Human capital development, ICT, Economic growth, Generalized methods of moments, Variance inflation factor.JEL. F43, J24, O11