Urban Growth During Civilian and Military Administrations in Osogbo, Nigeria

Research on comparative analysis of urban growth and structure during military and civilian regimes most especially in Africa where coup d’etats is common and where private individuals mainly control land is limited. This study analyzed the temporal patterns and morphological characteristics of urban growth during the military and civilian regimes as well as during different civilian administrations using eight landscape metrics. Landsat satellite images of 1984, 1991, 2000, 2003, 2010 and 2014 were used in the analysis. It was found that urban growth occurred primarily through expansion (annexation) of extant urban areas rather than spontaneous and detached development

Examining spatial proximity to health care facilities in an informal urban setting

This study explores the following research questions using OpenStreetMap-based mapping approach and healthcare facility survey from one of seven slums being studied in Africa and Asia. What are the differentials of spatial proximity to health care providers in informal settlements like slum? What are some of the lessons learnt from using OpenStreetMap-based mapping approach for slum health research? Preliminary findings suggest that residents can access four categories of healthcare facilities (Clinics/Maternity Centres; Patent Medicine Stores; Traditional/Faith Healers; Eye Health Centre) within a walking distance (under 1km) where Clinics and Maternity Centres are farthest from most residents

Investigations into Physical and Fuel Characteristics of Briquettes Produced from Cassava and Yam Peels

Globally, 140 billion metric tons of biomass is generated every year from agriculture. This volume of biomass can be converted to an enormous amount of energy and raw materials. These residues are usually dumped and flared on the farms, where they constitute health risk to both human and ecology. Densification of these residues would improve their bulk handling, transportation and storage properties. Therefore, this work investigated densification characteristics of cassava and yam peels using an experimental briquetting machine. The ASAE standard methods were used to determine the moisture contents (dry basis) and densities of the milled residues and briquettes, while ASTM standard methods were used to determine the proximate and ultimate analyses of the residues. The initial, maximum and relaxed densities were also determined using ASAE standard methods. Also evaluated were compaction, density and relaxation ratios of the briquettes. The mechanical properties were determined using universal testing machine, while the heating value was determined using Ballistic Bomb calorimeter. The mean moisture contents of cassava and yam peels residues were 10.19% and 9.27% respectively, while those of relaxed briquettes were 8.76% and 7.95% respectively.  The initial, maximum and relaxed densities were 251.50 kg/m3; 741.13 kg/m3 and 386.4 kg/m3 respectively for briquettes produced from cassava peel, while the corresponding values for briquettes produced from yam peel were 283.40 kg/m3; 911.45 kg/m3 and 512.54 kg/m3 respectively. The compaction ratio of 2.94 and 3.21 were obtained for briquettes produced from cassava and yam peels respectively. The compressive strength of briquette from cassava peel was 1.53kN/m2 (SD 0.05), while that of yam peel was 1.76kN/m2 (SD 0.04). The higher heating value of briquettes from cassava peel was found to be 12,765kJ/kg (SD 30), while the corresponding value for yam peel was 17,348kJ/kg (SD 20). The results of this work indicate that briquettes produced from the two biomass residues would make good biomass fuels. However, findings show that yam peel briquette has more positive attributes of biomass fuel than its cassava peel counterpart. It has a moderate moisture content of 10.95 %, higher density of 911.45 kg/m3 and lower relaxation ratio of 1.78. Other positive attributes of yam peel briquette over cassava peel are long after glow time of 375 secs and slow propagation rate of 0.16 cm/s. It also has higher heating value of 17,348 kJ/kg and compressive strength of 1.76 kN/m2 compared to cassava peel, which are 12,765 kJ/kg and 1.53 kN/m2 respectively. Keywords: agricultural wastes, briquette, briquetting machine, cassava peel, yam peel

Analysis of Profitability of Fish Farming Among Women in Osun State, Nigeria

The simple random sampling technique was employed in selecting 62 farmers drawn from the sampling frame obtained from the list of Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) contact farmers in the four Local Governments Areas (LGAs) of Egbedore, Olorunda, Ede South and Ife Central, which made up the study area. The main instrument for collecting the primary data was structured questionnaire. It is evident from the result is that an average total cost of N371486.35 was incurred per annum by fish farmers while gross revenue of N791242.52 was realized with a gross margin of N 574314 and a profit of N 419756.17. The rate of return on investment of 0.58 implies that for every one naira invested in Fish production by farmers, a return of N1.5 and a profit of 58k were obtained. The multiple regression result revealed that fish output was significantly determined by pond size, labour used, cost of feeds, cost of lime and cost of fingerlings. The study concluded that fish production in the study area is economically rewarding and profitable

Blended learning: A viable teaching approach for enhancing biology students’ academic achievements in Adeyemi College of Education Ondo during post Covid-19 era

The covid-19 pandemic remains a global health concern, Nigeria inclusive, with the educational sector being one of the most hit sectors. This study examined “the influence of blended learning in enhancing academic achievement of biology students in Adeyemi College of Education Ondo. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. A descriptive survey design was adopted for this study which involved one hundred and fifty (150) respondents from the Departments of Biology, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo. Two research questions and hypothesis each was answered and tested for acceptance or rejection. A structured and well-validated questionnaire was used to obtain data for this study. The collected data were analyzed using the mean score and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The findings revealed that the application of blended learning in teaching biology students in tertiary institutions during post-Covid-19 enhances their academic achievements. Based on the results, the conclusion was made that “the use of blended learning in teaching biology students will enhance their academic achievement and its importance on the nation’s education cannot be underestimated. One of the recommendations made is “provision should be made by school management and stakeholders in education for the required facilities for implementation of blended learning in a tertiary institution

Achieving Sustainable Development Goals through Effective Teaching of Science Education in Nigeria Tertiary Institutions

This study examined into the role of science education at the tertiary level of education in achieving the SDGs' science and technology-related goals. Descriptive research design was adopted for this study. Three hundred and fifteen (315) respondents were randomly selected in the School of Science, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo. Two research questions and hypotheses were answered and tested for acceptance or rejection. A structured and well-validated questionnaire was used to obtain data for this study. The data collected were analyzed using frequency count, mean score, and t-test statistics. Findings revealed that effective teaching of science education at the tertiary level of education will significantly boost the achievement of science and technology-related goals of the SDGs. This study concludes that science education has evolved to be the backbone of the sustainable development of any nation since its teaching will result in scientific and technological advancements, which is the soul of the development of any nation. It was recommended that the government should devote greater resources to the teaching of science education at both the secondary and tertiary levels of education

Prevention of unintended pregnancies in Nigeria; the effect of socio-demographic characteristic on the knowledge and use of emergency contraceptives among female university students

Background: The proportion of unintended pregnancy remains high in developing regions due to unmet need for contraception and inconsistent use of modern contraceptives. Practice of emergency contraception is particularly important because of the high rates of unintended pregnancy. The aim was to assess the practice of emergency contraception among female students.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 5,233 female university students in Nigeria.Results: About 25.4% of the students had ever had sex while 64.3% had heard about emergency contraceptives. About half (49.6%) had good knowledge while 70% thought that emergency contraceptives are effective and easy to access and use. Good knowledge about emergency contraceptives was predicted by dwelling urban or suburban areas (AOR=1.750 and 1.817; P<0.05), being single (AOR=2.597, P=0.001), being in the fourth year (AOR=2.096, P<0.001) and having ever had sex (AOR=1.449, P<0.001). Having ever used emergency contraceptive is predicted by good knowledge (AOR=1.852, P<0.001) and perception that emergency contraceptives are effective (AOR=139.774, P<0.001) and easy to access and use (AOR=8.429, P<0.001).Conclusions: Despite a significant risk of unintended pregnancy among female university students, the usage rate of emergency contraceptive is very low. There is a need to actively promote emergency contraception along with other contraceptive methods with the involvement of health workers and the media.  

The Importance of SEO and SEM in improving brand visibility in E-commerce industry; A study of Decathlon, Amazon and ASOS.

The research study explores the significance of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) in enhancing brand visibility within the context of the E-commerce industry. In today's competitive digital landscape, having a strong online presence is imperative for E-commerce businesses to succeed and thrive. This study sheds light on the role of SEO and SEM in improving brand visibility for E-commerce companies. SEO refers to the process of optimizing a website's content, structure, and technical aspects to improve its visibility on search engine result pages (SERPs) organically. On the other hand, SEM involves paid advertising strategies, such as pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, to drive visibility and traffic to a website. Both SEO and SEM play complementary roles in increasing brand visibility, but they differ in terms of their approach and execution. Brand visibility is crucial for E-commerce businesses as it directly impacts their chances of attracting and retaining customers. When a brand is easily discoverable on search engines, it gains credibility and authority within its industry, leading to increased visibility and higher organic traffic. Higher visibility also translates into more potential customers being exposed to the brand, resulting in greater opportunities for sales and revenue generation. The study considers the E-commerce industry as its primary focus due to the unique challenges it faces in terms of brand visibility and selected a few case studies to explore. The online retail sector is highly competitive, with numerous players vying for the attention of potential customers. Therefore, a solid SEO and SEM strategy becomes essential for E-commerce businesses to stand out from the crowd and gain a competitive edge. The research employed secondary data collection methods to gather data and insights. The findings of this research will contribute to the existing body of knowledge on the importance of SEO and SEM in improving brand visibility within the E-commerce industry

Digital Marketing Strategies, plan and implementations: A case study of Jumia Group and ASDA Uk.

The rise of digital marketing has dramatically changed how brands promote themselves and engage with customers, as Chaffey and Ellis-Chadwick discussed in their 2019 research. This article thoroughly explores "Digital Marketing Strategies, Planning, and Implementation," aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of its multi-layered nature and profound impact. We start with a historical view, tracing digital marketing's evolution from humble beginnings to its current pivotal role in modern companies. We underscore how digital marketing is vital for connecting with tech-savvy consumers today, highlighting the latest trends Ryan outlined in 2016. Effective digital marketing depends on strategy, which we closely examine. Identifying target audiences and using customer journey mapping to devise compelling campaigns is critical. We also explore strategically selecting appropriate digital channels and integrating online and offline efforts to maximize reach and engagement. Creating a successful digital marketing plan requires meticulous planning. We walk through situational analysis, SWOT assessment, goal-setting, and aligning key performance indicators to gauge success. We also emphasize content strategy, social media, SEO, PPC ads, and email campaigns in shaping a cohesive plan. Next is implementation, where we explain executing each strategy after planning - creating and distributing engaging content, managing social campaigns, applying SEO tactics, administering PPC ads, and crafting persuasive emails. Real-time monitoring and analytics, as Chaffey and Bosomworth noted in 2015, provide insights into effectiveness. Evaluation through data-driven decisions is integral, focusing on key metrics and tools to assess campaign performance, per Chaffey and Patron in 2012. We also reveal iterative optimization tactics for continuous improvement. However, we acknowledge ethical challenges in digital marketing, like dynamic algorithms. We highlight common pitfalls to avoid errors and offer guidance on leveraging new technologies. Case studies provide real-world insights into implementing strategies. Looking ahead, we anticipate emerging trends like AI, automation, personalization, and enhanced customer experiences shaping digital marketing's future landscape. In conclusion, this article comprehensively explores modern marketing facets, equipping practitioners and researchers to navigate the evolving digital world