“Baranda”: structure and praxis of “Onibaranda” (micro-middlemen) in Yorubaland

This study investigates the historical antecedent of baranda practice, marketing strategies of Onibaranda, as well as the benefits and challenges associated with baranda practice. Using exploratory research design, primary data were collected from 27 interviewees in two purposively selected markets in Ibadan. Responses were audio-taped, transcribed, proofread, categorized into themes and finally content analyzed to decrypt the underlying thought patterns and processes. Findings showed that the origin of the age-long practice of baranda was unknown. It was also discovered that Onibaranda employed various, dynamic and situational marketing strategies to carve a niche for themselves, in response to the demand of the markets in which they operate. Lastly, the results showed that while some stakeholders see Onibaranda as useful and necessary marketing agents that uniquely connect sellers and buyers, others outline the ignoble role that Onibaranda play in their bid to create valuable exchanges between sellers and buyers. Knowledge of this study is germane to informal market stakeholders both in Yorubaland and across the globe. This empirical study represents the first attempt to examine the structure and praxis of Onibaranda in Ibadan. This study concluded that unless baranda practice is properly regulated, various ills associated with it might discredit the numerous benefits inherent in the practice. Concerted effort by all market stakeholders is therefore highly imperative so as to provide rules and regulations that will guide and check the excess practices of Onibaranda in the study locations, as this will enhance customer satisfaction, sellers’ profits and smooth continued operation of Onibaranda

Neglecting the Neglected: Encumbrances to Children’s Successful Transitioning From Orphanages to Adoptive Homes in Nigeria

The majority of children living within institutional care have a history of neglect. Past studies have identified developmental challenges with children in institutional care, for which reasons, orphanages must be transitional. However, placement of some children living in the orphan homes remains difficult. Through an in-depth interview with orphanage managers, social workers, prospective and successful adopters, and foster mothers, the study situates the diverse encumbrances to child placement in observed irregularities within three stages (entry, within the home, and at the exit point) of children’s contact with the orphan homes. The study found that unresolved regulation on the duration for custody of children in orphan homes impedes the placement of children who are merely kept for care and protection. Lack of response to the basic care needs of children within orphan homes poorly influence their chances for adoption, and sometimes disrupt placement processes. Also the legal preference for domestic adoption discourages and sabotages efforts toward inter-country placement of children who are not locally desired. These result into prolonged stay of children in orphan homes, and as such, children outgrow either adoption or fosterage. Child protection policy direction must, therefore, be value-laden, and informed by the unique system/society realities. This study, specifically, makes a case for more political interest in children living in orphan homes

“The World is Unfair to Childless Women”: Experience of Infertility among Igbomina Women in Kwara South, Nigeria

Infertility as an integral aspect of reproductive health has often been ignored in developing nations where it is mostly involuntary, constituting grave ills to infertile persons and their families. Virtually all attentions are geared towards addressing more supposedly salient reproductive health concerns and the worries of high population growth to the point that the ills of infertility are deemed insignificant. This study reveals the lived experience of infertility among childless Igbomina women in Kwara South, Nigeria using a social constructionist approach. Data set from in-depth interviews of thirteen childless women were used. The results were analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis. ATLAS.ti 8 was used to organize data, identify the codes, and themes, and verify the analysis. The study showed that childless women experience infertility as a riddle, as sitting on a time bomb, as though the world is unfair to childless women, and as an existential crisis. This study supports the claims that the experience of infertility in Sub-Saharan Africa is somewhat founded on androcentric culture and religious sentiments. Nevertheless, it challenges studies that report that women are arbitrarily blamed for infertility. The findings show the need to renegotiate this sociocultural aspect of infertility and integrate them into designing culture-specific intervention programs on the management of infertility and other strategies aimed at improving reproductive healthcare in Nigeria

Social, Economic and Ecological Factors Influencing Cassava Farming in Nigerian Rural Context

This study examined socio-economic and ecological factors influencing cassava farming, various products and benefits of cassava farming, challenges facing cassava farming, and governmental interventions geared toward promoting cassava farming in Nigerian rural context. Descriptive explanatory research design was adopted to collect primary data from cassava farmers in Kuje Area Council, Abuja. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select study sample, using semi-structured questionnaire and indepth interview guide as research instruments. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. The results demonstrated that various socio-economic and ecological factors influenced cassava farming in the study location. Also, findings showed that there were several final products and bi-products of cassava that served various socio-economic benefits. Lastly, the findings revealed that majority of the cassava farmers had not received any government intervention. Among the minority who had received government interventions, it was gathered that financial support, amenities and equipment, as well as seeds and new species were the major assistance rendered by the government. The study concluded that there were various socio-economic factors influencing cassava farming in the study location and recommended that soft loans, access to land, basic amenities and farm implements, small scale investment in cassava farming and favourable policies should be considered for cassava farmers especially in Nigerian rural areas

Poverty: Place of Agricultural Development on Economic Growth of Nigeria

No society attains development where poverty and economic insecurity prevail. This article examines poverty with the place of agricultural development on the economic growth of Nigeria. It aims at examining the importance of agricultural growth on sustainable development while also looking at the barriers to effective economic growth through agriculture. Agriculture has always been a major boost in Nigeria's economy from inception until the shift from agriculture to oil production which has brought about the declining trend of growth in Nigeria. The study adopted a survey as the design for the study. The Cluster sampling technique was employed in this study. 200 respondents carefully arrived at on referrals from farming associations in Kwara state made up the sample size for the study. The study gathered data from the study population through questionnaires and such data collected were analyzed using simple percentages and frequency tables so as to reach conclusions to the issues being addressed. Findings from the study reveal that majority of the respondents have no tertiary education and thus practice traditional methods of farming. It also brought forth that agriculture, as practiced by the majority of the respondents, is a vital tool to reducing unemployment but not able to reduce poverty. It sees lack of support from the government as a blow to the interest of the youth in Agriculture It, therefore, suggests that for the economic growth of Nigeria to be repositioned, the nature and manner in which agriculture is practiced should be reviewed and government intervention should be intensified

Poverty: Place of Agricultural Development on Economic Growth of Nigeria

No society attains development where poverty and economic insecurity prevail. This article examines poverty with the place of agricultural development on the economic growth of Nigeria. It aims at examining the importance of agricultural growth on sustainable development while also looking at the barriers to effective economic growth through agriculture. Agriculture has always been a major boost in Nigeria's economy from inception until the shift from agriculture to oil production which has brought about the declining trend of growth in Nigeria. The study adopted a survey as the design for the study. The Cluster sampling technique was employed in this study. 200 respondents carefully arrived at on referrals from farming associations in Kwara state made up the sample size for the study. The study gathered data from the study population through questionnaires and such data collected were analyzed using simple percentages and frequency tables so as to reach conclusions to the issues being addressed. Findings from the study reveal that majority of the respondents have no tertiary education and thus practice traditional methods of farming. It also brought forth that agriculture, as practiced by the majority of the respondents, is a vital tool to reducing unemployment but not able to reduce poverty. It sees lack of support from the government as a blow to the interest of the youth in Agriculture It, therefore, suggests that for the economic growth of Nigeria to be repositioned, the nature and manner in which agriculture is practiced should be reviewed and government intervention should be intensified

Social, Economic and Ecological Factors Influencing Cassava Farming in Nigerian Rural Context

This study examines socio-economic and ecological factors influencing cassava farming, benefits of cassava farming, challenges facing cassava farming and governmental interventions geared toward promoting cassava farming in Nigerian rural context. Descriptive research design was adopted to collect primary data from cassava farmers in Kuje Area Council, Abuja. Purposive sampling technique was adopted to select study sample, using semi-structured questionnaire and in-depth interview guide as research instruments. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. The results demonstrated that various socio-economic factors affected cassava farming in the study location. Also, findings showed that there were several socio-economic benefits of cassava. Lastly, the findings revealed that majority of the cassava farmers had not received any government intervention. Among the minority who had received government interventions, it was gathered that financial support, and provision of amenities and equipment, as well as seeds and new species were the major assistance received from the government. The study concluded that there were various socio-economic factors influencing cassava farming in the study location and recommended that soft loans, access to land, basic amenities and farm implements, small scale investment in cassava farming and favourable policies should be considered for cassava farmers especially in Nigerian rural areas