Assessment of Infiltration Rates and Index Properties of Soil in a Flood Prone Community, Kogi State, North Central Nigeria

The characteristics of Soil is one of the major factors that affect flooding. This study therefore was carried out to assess the infiltration rates and index properties of soil within a flood-prone community of Oforachi in Kogi State, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. Data obtained showed that the average soil infiltration rate ranges from 1.89 – 3.24 cm/hr and the maximum infiltration rate range between 6.00 – 9.00 cm/hr, while the soil antecedent moisture content was between 15.00 – 42.48 %. Soil infiltration properties classification based on hydraulic conductivity and sieve analysis show that soils within the study area combine silt and clay characteristics which has strong relationship with the persistent flood experienced in the area

Performance Evaluation of Waste Stabilization Pond for Treatment of Wastewater from a Tertiary Institution Campus Located in Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria

Appropriate treatment of wastewater before disposal into the environment or reuse is very important in the quest to protect the environment and safeguard public health. This paper investigated the performance evaluation of a waste stabilization pond (WSP) for treatment of wastewater from a tertiary institution campus located in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State in North Central Nigeria. The waste stabilization pond of the tertiary institution campus was designed for a wastewater flow rate of 12,945 m3/day. In order to evaluate the performance of the WSP, a model was developed following the Froude’s number dimensional analysis technique. The model was evaulated based on a wastewater flow of 0.4 m3/day. The final effluent from the maturation pond had 80 mg/L BOD, 195 mg/L COD, 75 CFU/100ml Total Coliforms, 610 mg/L Total solids, 19 mg/L Total Nitrogen, 210 mg/L Chloride, 28 mg/L Phosphate, 1.3 mg/L Ammonia and 7.0 pH. The WSP was able to achieve an overall efficiency of 77.78% reducing all quality parameters to recommended limited with exception of total nitrogen and phosphate. The implementation of this design will go along way to aid the treatment of wastewater from the campus of the university

Optimization of Biogas Production through Selection of Appropriate Inoculum-to-Substrate ((I/S) Ratio

The impact of Inoculum-to-Substrate (I/S) ratio on the optimization of biogas yield from the co-digestion of FW and MH was investigated in five anaerobic reactors B-1 to B-5 at 37±1oC. Cumulative biogas yield of digester B-3(28.92 L/gVS) with the I/S ratio 1 was higher than that of the other digesters. Simulation study through adoption of Gompertz model (modified) showed a large reduction in latency (λ) by 59.7% with increase in I/S ratio from 0.25 to 1, which indicates that the time taken for methanogenesis to begin was reduced by over 59%. Increase in I/S ratio had positive effects on maximum specific biogas production (Rm) and maximum biogas production potential (A) with reactor B-3 having the largest (Rm) and (A) values of 1.26 L/gVS/day and 29.58 L/gVS respectively. Lower I/S ratios of 0.25 and 0.5 were found to rather decrease biogas production. Biogas yield at I/S ratios 2 and 4 was lower than the yield at ratio 1

Socio-cultural norms encouraging violence against women (VAW) from a popular ethnic group in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and the roles of schools in preventing VAW

Existing literature has shown that violence against women (VAW) is still common in Africa. Harmful traditional cultural norms have contributed to VAW. The identification and the awareness of the negative effect of these socio-cultural norms (SCN) will reduce VAW in Nigeria. This work looks at the socio-cultural norms (SCN) that lead to violence against rural and sub-urban Nigerian women. A mixed research approach involving 400 people from Ikaland of different age levels, marital status, and educational attainment was adopted. More than 75% of the respondents agreed that blaming the wife for her husband’s angry outburst, not prospering, and his mysterious death are the leading promoters of VAW. Others are; that a woman is not accorded respect if she is not married, and it is not proper for a wife to deed any landed property in her name. Participants suggested that schools could minimise these SCN by using the teaching-learning process, mass media, and professional academic associations to carry out public campaigns. This investigation adds to the current body of information on SCN that promote VAW in the various ethnic groups and provides ways the schools can contribute to combating these norms. Educational stakeholders should implement the recommended school ways of eliminating these identified socio-cultural norms