Research and Development Potentials in Biofuel Production in Nigeria

Nigeria is at present suffering from the worst energy crisis in her 48 years of existence as an independent nation. Even though there is a global crisis in the international oil market, Nigeria seems to suffer disproportionately from the negative impacts when compared to other oil producing nations. Although, Nigeria’s natural resource wealth (including renewable energy potentials) has been well documented and acknowledged, the contribution of renewable energy sources to the total national energy supply and demand is currently very low or negligible. There is a clear link between access to energy services and poverty reduction and hence development. Apart from its contribution to poverty reduction, it is the very diversity of biofuel that provides potential of a win-win development path for the environment, social and economic development, and energy security. It is in the light of this that this paper examines the research and development potentials in ethanol and biofuel in Nigeria.Keywords: Biofuel; Energy; Oil; Poverty reduction; Developmen

Facies analysis and paleoenvironments of the upper cretaceous sediments in share – Lafiagi areas, northern Bida basin, Nigeria

The Bida Basin is located in central Nigeria and it is perpendicular to the main axis of the Benue Trough. Due to its large areal extent and facies variation, the basin is often geographically divided into northern and southern Bida Basins. Whereas, aspects of the mineral resource and sedimentation history of the sediments in NW and SE extremes have been consistently studied, the present study area (Share-Lafiagi-Shonga areas) remains either unknown or under-reported. In the study area, fifteen vertical profiles of the Campanian-Maastrichtian sediments were studiedalong road cuts, erosional channels and Cliff sides with special attention focused on their internal physical and biogenic attributes. The sedimentological analysis permitted recognition of five distinct depositional facies; alluvial fan, braided channel, floodplain, tidal channel and shoreface in the lithostratigraphic units mapped. In Unit I, the proximal alluvial fan facies were preserved as conglomeratic facies which overly nonconformably, the Pre-Cambrian weathered schists and granites. Both the matrix and grain supported subfacies are indicative of gravity induced alluvial processes. The braided channel facies comprising of conglomeratic sandstone, medium-coarse grained sandstone subfacies are wide spread and their fluvial origin is supported by unidirectional flow pattern and absence of marine biogenic features. The sequence grades into claystone facies which probably formed in localized non marine floodplains. The younger Unit II comprises of conglomerate, sandstone and claystone facies. The conglomerate facies is moderately sorted and mature showing evidence of reworking and recycling. Association of this facies with herringbone cross stratifified beds probably indicates tidal channel lag origin. The sandstone facies are commonly compositionally mature, bioturbated and contain clasts of reworked clays and clay drapes suggesting high energy tidal channels and shoreface subenvironments.The depositional model for the Upper Cretaceous sediments in the study area is strongly dominated by alluvial processes which in places evolved into shallow marine processes and frequently incised by fluvial channels.The clay deposits of the floodplain may offer economic resource potential in the area

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: 22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. Findings: Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations. Interpretation: Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic

Evaluation of School Library Resources, Services and Usage: A Case Study of International School, University of Ibadan

The paper evaluates the library resources services and usage in the International School, University of Ibadan. Data for the study was collected by means of questionnaires administered to students, staff and the librarian of the school. Interviews were conducted and records were observed to support the data gathered The study revealed that the International school, University of Ibadan, did not have enough resources to meet the standards recommended in manual for school libraries. The usage of the libraty was not high enough because of lack of facilities and equipment. The study recommends adequate funding, provision of prints and non-print materials, equipillent, integration of Library hour on the school timetable and use of computer to process and access information to improve the services and usage for the library

ICT skills of library personnel in a changing digital library environment: A study of academic libraries in Oyo State, Nigeria.

The survey examined ICT skills of library personnel working in academic libraries in Oyo state vis –a- vis level of competence and methods of acquisition. It also considered whether the personnel’s ICT skills competence is related to their method of ICT skills acquisition. The sample used consists of 155 professional and para - professional library personnel working in government – owned tertiary institutions in Oyo state. A questionnaire tagged ICTSQ with a Cronbach alpha measure of 0.91 wa s used to collect data. Two research questions were raised and one hypothesis was formulated for the study. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentages, mean scores and standard deviation. Inferential stat istics of Pearson correlation was used to analyse data for the hypothesis. The result showed that library personnel have acquired basic ICT skills for using the Internet, computer and e mail. However, they lacked skills for using advanced web - based ICT p ackages for web page design, troubleshooting and project management. Moreover, there was no significant relationship found between the ICT skills level and methods of ICT skills acquisition(r= -.165,P>0.05). The study made recommendations based on the findings of the study.Key Words: ICT, skills, Libr ary, Personnel, Digital, Environment

Information Literacy Skills Development for Teachers and Students

Acquisition of information literacy skills by teachers and students in this 21st century Information Age is paramount for their all-round success in life. This paper has X-rayed how different authors conceptu alised information literacy skills and the role they can play in the academic, professional and personal life of individuals. The process of developing the skills by the teachers and the students through integration of information literacy skills instruction in the school curriculum is well discussed in the paper. The article recommends ways of achieving the goal of developing information literacy skills by teachers and students in Nigerian schools

Students' access usage and awareness of electronic information resources at the University College Hospital, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

No Abstract.Lagos Journal of Library and Information Science Vol. 3(1) 2005: 16-2