Vocational and Technical Education in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and the Way Forward

The paper seeks to look into the subject of vocational and technical education in Nigeria the issues involved, challenges encountered and how it can get better. The purpose is to unveil education as an instrument for transformation, productivity and motivator for the betterment of individual who has passed through it. In this paper vocational and technical education can be seen as that aspect of education use to gear the preparation of skilled manpower towards nation’s development. Major constraints to vocational education such as nation’s growth and vocational technical education, job scarcity and severance of Nigerian youths, implication of technology on vocational education training, parental attitudes toward vocational education, vocational for secondary schools, vocational technology elucidation for present needs and redundancy expiration & engagement with vocational technical education were discussed. The paper concluded that Nigerians should give vocational technical education leverage in her educational system and some recommendations were proffered

Effect of daylight hours on performance of growing grasscutters

The grasscutter (Thryonomysswinderianus) holdspromise as a source of increased protein for populations of Sub-Sahara African countries. It is inexpensive to feed and features the feed utilization characteristics of ruminants and monogastrics. It is nocturnal in its activities, especially feeding. This experimentwas carried out to determine the effect of daylight hours or photoperiod on growing grasscutters under intensive rearing conditions. The effect of daylight hours on growing grasscutters was determined using sixteen 8-months old femalegrasscutters. Thegrasscutters were separated into four groups and allotted to four  treatments of varying daylight hours. The treatments included; zero (0) hours of daylight and twenty four (24) hours (6.00 am-6.00 am) of darkness (0L:24D), six antemeridiem (am) hours (6.00 am-12.00 noon) of daylight and eighteen (18) hours (12.00 noon-6.00 am) of darkness(6L(am):18D), six post-meridiem (pm) hours (12.00 noon-6.00 pm) of daylight and eighteen (18) hours (6.00 pm-12.00 noon) of darkness (6L(pm):18D) and twelve (12) hours (6.00 am-6.00 pm) of daylight and twelve (12) hours (6.00pm- 6.00am) of darkness (12L:12D).Allgrasscutters were fedadiet containing 2200kilocalories metabolizable energy perkilogram (KcalME/kg) and crude protein (CP) level of 20%. Cassava root meal and wheat offalwere the main sources of energy, while soybean meal was the main source of protein in the diets. Elephant grass was fed as basal diet.The results showed thatforage, concentrate (diet) and total feed intake, and daily weight gain were significantly (P<0.05) higher under the 6 post-meridiem hours of daylight and 18 hours of darkness (6L(pm):18D) than under other conditions. It was, therefore, concluded that the optimum daylight conditions required for the rearing of growing grasscuttersare the six (6) hours of post-meridiem daylight, followed by eighteen (18) hours of darkness

Economic Integration, Trade Balances and Socioeconomic Development in Nigeria

This article examined the link between economic integration, trade balances and socioeconomic development in Nigeria. Specifically, the work was designed to trace the trend of the variables of exports and imports, trade flows and trade balances as well as the variables of socio-economic development including the gross domestic product (GDP), unemployment and inflation rate in Nigeria from 1981 to 2013. In order to achieve this objective, the exploratory, descriptive and desk research design were used. In line with these, data were sourced from existing documents and materials including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical Bulletin, CBN Annual Reports and Statement of Account, CBN Bullion, Journals, textbooks, periodicals and internet-based sources. Keywords: economic integration, trade balances, trade flow and socio-economic development

Microinsurance, micro investments and sustainable development in Nigeria

This article attempted to examine the relevance of microinsurance, in promoting micro investments and sustainable development in Nigeria. Specifically, this work sought to assess the nature, characteristics and operations of microinsurance and to establish the link between these elements and the growth of micro investments as well as the variables of sustainable development, such as poverty level in the country. The experimental, pilot and replicative research designs were used. Secondary data sourced from the publications of the National Insurance Commission of Nigeria, reports from Delta State Ministry of Poverty Alleviation, journals, text books and periodicals, among others were analysed qualitatively and descriptively. It was discovered that microinsurance has high potency in promoting micro investments or micro projects in the country based on the experience in Delta State where a lot of micro entrepreneurs, mainly the beneficiaries of the state microcredit scheme and Youth Empowerment Programmes, have been compensated through microinsurance scheme. This has promoted micro entrepreneurship, business growth, stability and continuity leading to poverty alleviation in the State. To this end, it was recommended that other states and relevant agencies should adopt the microinsurance scheme as experimented in Delta State. This is one of strategies for effective financial inclusion required for sustainable development as obtained in other countries of the world. Keywords: Microinsurance, Micro Investments, Financial Inclusion, Sustainable Developmen

Morphometric and hydraulic geometry assessment of a gully in se nigeria

Gully erosion represents one of the most devastating form of land degradation in the Sedimentary Formations underlying south eastern Nigeria leading to both onsite and off- site adverse effects on the environment. In this paper, a surveyed section of a second-order gully located in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, SE Nigeria is analyzed. Along the gully, 20 cross-sections were established and measured with a Rover GNSS and the Base GNSS. The sections were located at variable distances, placing them in areas where active erosion was evident. In total, 19 field measurements were carried out, and the geometric characteristics of 19 cross-sections were obtained. Morphometric analyses were carried out in 421m surveyed Udo Inwang segment of the 860m long main gully. The results indicated that Udo Inwang gully was a mature gully, measured gully depth varied from 1.1m to 29m, while the shoulder or top width ranged from 26m to 98m. It is worth noting that the bed width is typically narrow ranging from 4m to 33m wide. The cross-sectional profiles were indicative of U-shape to V- shape, all with very narrow bed width and steeply sloping gully sides, which are feature of gullies developed on very loose and incoherent soils that slumps/collapses on exposure. The total volume of soil lost from the watersheds was 480,376.26m3, which translated to 18,593.64 tons/ha and the average rate of soil loss has appeared to be 476.76 ton/ ha /year. The annual average growth rate of the gully length was 22m/year. Hence, the average growth rate of gullies in the study watershed with 22 m/ year-1 laid under catastrophic or destructive type of gully erosion

Economic implication of foreign reserves management on the performance of the Nigerian economy, 1995 to 2013

The focus of this study has been on the economic implications of foreign reserves management on the performance of the Nigerian economy. Despite declaration of huge external reserves, the reserves had depleted drastically and economic indicators have not significantly improved, as they have always been highly fluctuating with marginal growth levels. This study aimed to establish relationships among economic performance indicators (capacity utilization rate, manufacturing output, growth rate of gross domestic product) and foreign reserves management variables (foreign reserves position, exchange rate, imports, exports). Relevant studies have been reviewed and the methodology implied desk and empirical research. The ordinary least square multiple regression model was used to analyze the data and it helped discover inverse relationships that exist among exchange rate, imports, exports and capacity utilization rate in Nigeria. The analysis found that exchange rate exerts significant impact on manufacturing output in Nigeria, and that there is an inverse relationship among manufacturing output, foreign reserve position, imports and exports. Moreover, positive relationships exist between foreign reserve position and both capacity utilization rate and growth rate of gross domestic product. Discoveries showed that if greater parts of Nigeria’s foreign reserves were channeled to the productive sectors of its economy, capacities of productive machines would be fully utilized, domestic industries would perform well, real value of manufacturing output would increase, the domestic market would have significant positive improvements, and the growth rate of gross domestic product would be improved. On these grounds, proposed recommendations encompassed that the Nigerian government should redirect foreign exchange earnings and reserves in the productive sectors of the economy. Also, they should encourage more exports and discourage or reduce to minimum imports by reviving ailing domestic industries. The exchange rate should be properly controlled and managed by monetary authorities to aid local producers in acquiring productive facilities at cheaper rates and enhance domestic production. Keywords: Economic Implications, Foreign Reserves, Foreign Reserves Management, Nigerian Economy, Gross Domestic Product, Capacity Utilization Rate, Manufacturing Outpu

Comparison of nutritional values of brown and white beans in Jos North Local Government markets

Cowpea is an important bean which play significant role in the diets of Africans. It serves as a major source of protein in the absence of sufficient animal protein for the population. Two varieties (white and brown) of  cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) were analyzed for their proximate and elemental contents. These varieties belong to the same species in the family leguminosae. The brown and white seeds were found to be nutritious. Both contained carbohydrate, protein, fibers and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, zinc, manganese and copper. The crude protein was found to be 15.62 and 17.91% with the brown seeds having the higher amount. The carbohydrate content analyzed was found to be 56.80 and 60.57% with the  white seeds having the higher value. The crude lipid gave the least range which is 2.13 to 2.42%. The other parameters, moisture content, crude fiber and total ash contents were 3.56 to 5.08, 13.54 to 14.15 and 4.07 to 4.27%, respectively. Potassium and copper had the highest and lowest concentration in cowpea varieties ranging from 741 to 768 and 0.58 to 0.60 mg/100 g, respectively. There were significant (p<0.05) differences between the potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, manganese and zinc concentration of the cowpea varieties, except between iron and copper concentration.Key words: Vigna unguiculata, cowpeas, nutrition, minerals, vitamins

Some Histological Changes in the Intestines of Alloxan Induced Diabetic Mellitus Albino Rats

Changes in intestinal histology of the Albino rats with alloxan induced diabetes mellitus was investigated using fifteen (15) albino rats. The rats were divided into 3 groups A, B, C. Group A served as the control group, group B served as the experimental low dose treated with 100mg/bw of Alloxan, while group C served as the experimental high dose was treated with 200mg/bw of Alloxan. The small intestines were removed and passed through routine tissue processing. The results in the rat of the control group A showed the mucosa, sub-mucosa, muscle and serious layer, luminar surfaces of the villi were lined by simple columnar cells. The brunner glands were also seen in the submucosa. While in rat of group B (low dose); the brunner glands appear to have decreased in size and number of goblet cells appeared more columnar. The histology of the layer was almost as similar to that of the control group. Group C (high dose); whereas in rats in group C was degeneration of the brunner glands characterized by pale staining cytoplasm; the nuclei of the columnar cells of the villi appear pykonotic; there was also loss of villi; the sub-mucosa coat appears to have undergone fibrotic changes; and, the various layers appear indistinct. Our results suggest that high dose of alloxan causes degeneration of the various layers of the duodenum. Keywords: Alloxan, Diabetes mellitus, Wistar rats, Histological change

Distribution Effects of Foreign Direct Investment on the Performance of the Nigerian Economy from 1970 to 2013

This study focused on examining the distributive effect of foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows on the performance of the Nigerian economy, with specific reference to the real sector of the economy. The major problem was that despite increasing inflows of fdi to the Nigerian economy, the sectors identified in this work were performing poorly. Thus, the objective of this study were to establish the relationship that exists between capacity utilization rate, export volumes, growth rate of gross domestic and the inflows of fdi to mining & quarrying, manufacturing & processing, agriculture and fisheries, transport & communication, building and construction and trading and business. Literature was reviewed and the OLS multiple regression model was used to analyse the relationships. Keywords: foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows, distribution effect economic performance