Econometric Analysis of Foreign Reserves and Some Macroeconomic Variables in Nigeria (1970–2007)∗

Countries are showing interest in accumulating foreign reserves to ensure macroeconomic stability. There has been some debate whether to beef up the level of nations’ foreign reserves or make it lower, especially in developing countries like Nigeria. Whereas some argue that the foreign reserve determines the country’s rating in the global market, others hold opposing views. In this light, this paper examined the interactive influence of foreign reserve (FRS) on some macroeconomic variables such as: economic size (GDP); trade; level of capital inflows (KFL); exchange rate (EXR); and inflation. Analyzing secondary data from CBN statistical bulletins (1970–2007), the econometric results obtained from cointegration test, vector error correction (VEC) within the framework of autoregressive distributed lags (ARDL) revealed the following: (1) existence of a longrun relationship between the variables and two cointegrating equations; (2) possibility of convergence of the variables from the short run to the long run with slow speed of adjustment. It is thus the conclusion of this paper that accumulation of large foreign reserves is not very productive in Nigeria due to its inability to induce some of the macroeconomic variables

Evaluating the Strength Characteristics of Clay- Gravel Mixtures

Shear strength is one of the most important soil properties in almost all geotechnical engineering problems. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the effect of gravel on the shear strength of clayey soil. Two clayey soil samples were obtained from a dug pit from different locations in Osogbo, Osun State and the gravels were collected locally. Three different gradations of gravel (2-6mm, 6-12mm, and 12-20 mm) were mixed in a dry state in percentages of 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 50% with the collected clay soil respectively. Initially, some physical properties of clayey soil and the gravel, which include specific gravity, particle size analysis, liquid limit and plastic limit, were determined in accordance with BS 1377-3:2018. Consequently, the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and Consolidated - Undrained (CU) triaxial compression tests at three different confining pressures of 50, 100 and 150 kN/m2, with a loading rate of 0.5 mm/min were carried out on the clay-gravel mixtures in accordance with BS 1377 (1990). The results from the CBR test indicated that the CBR value of the clay-gravel mixtures was higher than that of pure clay. The result of shear strength showed that the cohesion and effective angle of internal friction increases as the concentration of gravel increases from 0 to 50%. As the gravel size was increased from 6-12mm, effective cohesion reduces and angle of internal friction increases.  It concluded that locally available gravel can be used to improve the strength properties of clayey soil for engineering construction

Predicting Organizational Commitment from Transformational and Transactional Leadership Styles among Secondary School Teachers in Southwestern Nigeria

A ZJER study on leadership styles and organizational commitment among Nigerian secondary school teachers.This study examined the relationship between leadership style and organizational commitment of secondary school teachers. Participants were 420 (male = 200, female = 220) teachers randomly selected from five states in southwest Nigeria. Measures of leadership and organizational commitment were administered on the teachers. The results revealed that transformational, transactional and laissez faire leadership styles jointly predicted organizational commitment. While transformational and transactional leadership styles separately predicted organizational commitment, laissez faire leadership did not. Based on these findings, it is recommended that counseling and organizational psychologists should train principals to use transformational and transactional leadership styles in order to enhance organizational commitment of their teachers. Key words: Organizational commitment, Transformational leadership, Transactional leadership, teachers, motivation

Relationships of Emotional Intelligence and Self-Efficacy to Work Attitudes Among Secondary School Teachers in Southwestern Nigeria

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of emotional intelligence and self-efficacy to work attitudes of secondary school teachers in southwestern Nigeria. The sample consists of 475 secondary school teachers (males = 230, females = 245) randomly selected from southwestern Nigeria. Measures of demographic data form, career commitment, organizational commitment, emotional intelligence, self-efficacy and work-family conflict were administered to the teachers. Data collected were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results of the study indicate that emotional intelligence and self-efficacy had significant relationships with work attitudes. However, age, sex and work experience had none. The implications of the findings for selection, training, counselling and retention of teachers were discussed. It was recommended that emotional intelligence and self-efficacy of the teachers should be enhanced to improve their work attitudes

Has the airway microbiome been overlooked in respiratory disease?

The respiratory disease field is changing because of recent advances in our understanding of the airway microbiome. Central to this is dysbiosis, an imbalance of microbial communities that can lead to and flag inflammation in the airways. The increasing momentum of research in this area holds promise for novel treatment strategies

DITROPHIC INTERACTION BETWEEN GLOMUS MOSSEAE AND PHYTOPHTHORA INFESTANS IN JUTE MALLOW (CORCHORUS OLITORIUS) SEEDLINGS AT DIFFERENT AGES

Corchorus olitorius is one of the cheapest sources of minerals and vitamins being rich in folic acids used for removal of folacin deficiency in pregnant women in Africa.  Proper supply of this vegetable is affected by soil-borne pathogens, causing root-rot, damping off of seedlings, or other diseases in plants. This study, ditrophic interaction between Glomus mosseae fungus and Phytophthora infestans and their subsequent effects on the growth of jute mallow plants at different ages was carried out both in the laboratory and greenhouse. Six different treatment factors were used with three replicates for each treatment in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). At different ages of the seedlings, different measurements of the growth parameters were taken as agronomic data. The collected data were subjected to the Analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS).At different ages (4, 6, and 8 weeks), inoculation with P. infestans significantly reduced the growth parameters of jute mallow, in contrast to the growth response and biomass of jute mallow seedlings inoculated with G. mosseae. This was found to be significantly higher than that of non-mycorrhizal plants, both in the presence and absence of the pathogen in the greenhouse. Regression analysis of this study shows that there is significant difference in the number of weeks among the growth parameters; it reveals a coefficient of determination (R2) that is near perfect fit while treatments show significant difference based on the increase in ages of the jute mallow seedlings. It can then be concluded that, Glomus mosseae fungus acting as a bio-protective agent was able to suppress the incidence and severity of Phytophthora infestans in their ditrophic interaction. It also enhanced the growth parameters of jute mallow seedlings with respect to the age of the seedlings and time of inoculations.Â

Effect Of Reservoir Outflow of Hydropower Dams on The Downstream River Flood Regime: Nigeria’s Experience

Over more than five decades, the energy sector in Nigeria, particularly the rural energy sector, is characterized by lack of access, low purchasing power and over-dependence on traditional fuels for meeting basic energy needs. In an attempt by the government to solving this challenge, the hydropower scheme came on stream as the forerunner in 1968, 1986 and 1990 at Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro respectively. The objective was to improve access to reliable, secure, affordable, climate friendly and sustainable energy services and to boost investment in energy in Nigeria. Hydro Electric Power (HEP) is one of the few sources of energy that has assumed great significance since the beginning of the twentieth century. Electric power supply in Nigeria is government controlled and operated by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). PHCN has five thermal stations located at Afam, Delta, Egbin, Ijora and Sapele power stations and three hydropower plants located at Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro hydropower power stations. They have installed capacities of 760 MW, 560 MW and 600 MW respectively and a total output of 1900 MW. The choice of hydro systems to generate peaking power carries a higher economic value of the water resource used and resulting in a substantial increase in the benefits realized. However, this solution seems to be characterized with some challenges at the downstream sector of the hydropower dams. The communities in the flood plains experience annual flooding when the authorities of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) open the gates of the dams to let off water at the peak of the rains. The floods have caused damages and untold hardships to lives and property. The occurrence of flood has great effect on communities and farming activities downstream of Jebba and Shiroro dams. This paper presents an hydrological assessment, overview on reservoir effect of reservoir outflow of Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro Dam on the environment and the mitigation measures (Non-Structural and structural measures) would be reviewed.