Government Policy Intervention Programmes in Ogun State: Youth Acceptability and Challenges

Every government acknowledged to be proficient is always observed to be responsive to the needs of her citizenry particular ly the teaming population of her youth through series of intervention programmes This study examined the available government intervention programme its youths acceptability of such programmes and some challenges encountered in the process The study adopted the qualitative design using narrative approach with a population of 4 500 Voluntary Teachers Corps Scheme VTCS and 12 Desk Officers in the Teaching Service Commission of Ogun State A sample of 60 VTCS and two 2 Desk Officers constituted the Focus Discussion Group The selection process involved the multi stage stratified purposive convenient and simple random sampling techniques The data collected were analyzed using content analysis The results showed that government intervention programmes were in different areas such as sports education job creation r ural school study agriculture and agro allied matters works and services to mention a few These intervention programmes were well accepted by the youths due to the potential prospects there in and the availability of the youth who showed interest but could not be satisfied posed a serious challenge It was however concluded that since its impact remained positive the intervention programme should be embraced more and sustained for better and improved youthful livin

Teachers’ Salary Administration in Nigeria Schools: Determinants, Fundamentals and Methods

Salary plays a vital role in the success of any organization be it public or private. Salary is very important to employees simply because it constitutes the main part of their cash flow either directly or indirectly, and serves as a major source of motivation in the world of work. It is therefore become expedient to examine relationship between salary determinants and teachers’ mobility among private primary schools in Osun State. This paper made use of primary and secondary data. Data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, and percentages for the descriptive aspect of quantitative while correlation was used for inferential aspect. The paper found that the key determinants in administering teachers’ salary are based on the students’ school fees, number of subjects taught and location of teachers. It concluded that there is significant relationship between salary administration and teachers’ mobility in private primary schools, Osun State

Entrants’ Age and Academic Competence of Undergraduates in Universities in Osun State

This study examines the influence of university entrants’ age on the academic competence of undergraduates in universities located in Osun State, Nigeria. Motivated by growing concerns about the preparedness and performance of students entering higher education at varying ages, the research seeks to determine whether age at entry serves as a significant predictor of academic success. Using a survey research design, data were collected from undergraduates in the selected universities in Osun State through academic records and structured questionnaires. The investigation into the intricate relationship between admission policy, specifically regarding age, and academic competence among university undergraduates has provided valuable insights into the complexities of the educational landscape in universities across Osun State. This conclusion synthesizes the key findings, highlights the issue of noncompliance with the admission age policy by university management, and explores the nuanced relationship between admission age and academic competence reflecting on the significant influence of admission age on the academic competence of university undergraduates in the state. The findings also reveal statistically significant differences in academic competence associated with age brackets, with older entrants demonstrating higher levels of academic maturity and self-regulation, while younger entrants showed greater adaptability and learning agility. The study recommends that university admission policies and student support programs consider age-related academic needs to enhance learning outcomes. These findings have implications for educational planning and student development strategies in the region. Given these insights, it is recommended that university management adhere to the stipulated minimum admission age. This guideline ensures that students admitted into higher institutions have attained sufficient development across cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains, thereby better equipping them for the academic demands of tertiary education

Workers Retirement in Nigeria: A Pleasant Experience?

This study examined workers’ perceptions of retirement with some conditions that could make it either pleasant or disgusting in south-western, Nigeria. These were intended to disseminate knowledge about retirement, the crises that comes with it, and the steps that should be taken as part of self-retirement plans to prevent problems after retirement. The study as well assessed near-retirement workers self-mitigative measures being taken to forestall crisis and unpleasant experiences after retirement. The study adopted a descriptive research design using quantitative approach. The population consisted of all the principals, teachers of secondary schools as well as some retired teachers in south-west, Nigeria. The multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 1,095 teachers from three states (Ogun, Osun & Ekiti) purposively selected for the study. A self-designed research instrument titled: Workers’ Retirement Questionnaire (WRQ) was used to elicit information for the study. Results on retirement perceptions showed different views such as total departure from paid work (78.4%), as an immediate change in life (63%), and a time one needs another means of financial sustenance (63.4%). On commonly experienced issues, findings showed issues such as non-payment of pensions and gratuities to time accompanied by untold hardship (84.3%), increased economic stress (75.3%), psychological tortures (63.2%), and inadequate care and poor family support (60%). As regards threats being envisaged by serving workers, reslts showed that inconsistent salaries and nonconformity with the stipulated minimum wage (62.5%); politicisation and marginalisation of labour unions (59.7%); inability of labour laws to protect workers’ rights against abuses (59.7%), and corrupt practices among retirement administration authorities (62.2%). Finally, on mitigative measures, results showed savings into retirement accounts via a comprehensive retirement plans (61.5%); exercising one’s mind by learning something new (54.2%), and maximising one’s income sources (61.3%). The study, therefore, concluded that retirement for workers in Nigeria could be seen as both a curse and a blessing but with proper planning and support, retirement can be a time of fulfilment and enjoyment. This is however dependent upon a strong political will and governmental commitment

Assessment of Success and Failure Factors in Policy Implementation on Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) Education

Success of any government policy hinges on its execution. The Internally Displaced Persons deserve to be given reasonable consideration as enshrined in the displaced persons policy. However, many factors determine whether the desired benefits of the policy, which includes; enjoyment of equal fundamental human rights as those who are in their homes, freedom from any form of brutality and creation of conducive learning environment are met. This paper presents an empirical study of success and failure factors in policy implementation on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) education and its implications. A total of 2,900,000 IDPs housed in government recognized camps in Nigeria and 24 Desk Officers in-charge of IDPs in the Ministries of Education of the States under study were used. Three research questions were raised and answered using qualitative approach to analyze the data. The major findings are that IDPs of school age in North Central had low access to education; in the North East and North West, they had moderate access but they had high access to quality and inclusive education in South-South. The extent of policy practice of IDPs’ education was moderate in North Central, North West and in South-South but the extent of policy practice in the North East was high; because, the policy dictates were strictly followed. The success of the policy implementation in the Northern part of the country were: IDPs’ access to education, conducive and safe environment for learning and integration; while the failure aspect of the policy implementation was poor access to education. In South-South, success area of policy implementation include access to education and care for girl-child peculiarities, while the down side of the policy implementation in this region was poor integration of IDPs. Therefore, it was concluded that the extent of policy practice of IDPs’ education was moderate in North Central, North West and in South-South but high in North East because of the strict compliance with the policy dictates

Computerised interpretation of fetal heart rate during labour (INFANT) : a randomised controlled trial

Background: Continuous electronic fetal heart-rate monitoring is widely used during labour, and computerised interpretation could increase its usefulness. We aimed to establish whether the addition of decision-support software to assist in the interpretation of cardiotocographs affected the number of poor neonatal outcomes. Methods: In this unmasked randomised controlled trial, we recruited women in labour aged 16 years or older having continuous electronic fetal monitoring, with a singleton or twin pregnancy, and at 35 weeks' gestation or more at 24 maternity units in the UK and Ireland. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to decision support with the INFANT system or no decision support via a computer-generated stratified block randomisation schedule. The primary outcomes were poor neonatal outcome (intrapartum stillbirth or early neonatal death excluding lethal congenital anomalies, or neonatal encephalopathy, admission to the neonatal unit within 24 h for >= 48 h with evidence of feeding difficulties, respiratory illness, or encephalopathy with evidence of compromise at birth), and developmental assessment at age 2 years in a subset of surviving children. Analyses were done by intention to treat. This trial is completed and is registered with the ISRCTN Registry, number 98680152. Findings: Between Jan 6, 2010, and Aug 31, 2013, 47 062 women were randomly assigned (23 515 in the decision-support group and 23 547 in the no-decision-support group) and 46 042 were analysed (22 987 in the decision-support group and 23 055 in the no-decision-support group). We noted no difference in the incidence of poor neonatal outcome between the groups-172 (0.7%) babies in the decision-support group compared with 171 (0.7%) babies in the no-decision-support group (adjusted risk ratio 1.01, 95% CI 0.82-1.25). At 2 years, no significant differences were noted in terms of developmental assessment. Interpretation: Use of computerised interpretation of cardiotocographs in women who have continuous electronic fetal monitoring in labour does not improve clinical outcomes for mothers or babies

The effect of farmyard manure and urea on grain yield and agronomic characteristics of maize (Zea mays)

Combining organic and inorganic fertilizer has been proved to be an effective and sustainable soil management strategy for increased crop yield and safe environment. Field experiments were conducted in two locations in Nigeria namely Malete and Shao during 2018 and 2019 seasons. This was to find out the efficacy of organic and inorganic fertilizer (including prilled and granular urea) and their various combinations on grain yield and agronomic characteristics of maize. The use of full dose of P and K + 75% N through Granular Urea + 25 % N through farmyard manure improved most of the soil chemical properties with high economic returns. It was concluded from the experiment that a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers is an environmentally friendly practice and could lead to high yields and improve farmers’ income and their livelihoods

2021 Thalassaemia International Federation Guidelines for the Management of Transfusion-dependent Thalassemia

Beta-thalassemia and particularly its transfusion-dependent form (TDT) is a demanding clinical condition, requiring life-long care and follow-up, ideally in specialized centers and by multidisciplinary teams of experts. Despite the significant progress in TDT diagnosis and treatment over the past decades that has dramatically improved patients' prognosis, its management remains challenging. On one hand, diagnostic and therapeutic advances are not equally applied to all patients across the world, particularly in several high-prevalence eastern regions. On the other, healthcare systems in low-prevalence western countries that have recently received large numbers of migrant thalassemia patients, were not ready to address patients' special needs. Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF), a global patient-driven umbrella federation with 232 member-associations in 62 countries, strives for equal access to quality care for all patients suffering from thalassemia or other hemoglobinopathies in every part of the world by promoting education, research, awareness, and advocacy. One of TIF's main actions is the development and dissemination of clinical practice guidelines for the management of these patients. In 2021, the fourth edition of TIF's guidelines for the management of TDT was published. The full text provides detailed information on the management of TDT patients and the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, diagnostic approach, and treatment of disease complications or other clinical entities that may occur in these patients, while also covering relevant psychosocial and organizational issues. The present document is a summary of the 2021 TIF guidelines for TDT that focuses mainly on clinical practice issues and recommendations