Conflict Management. The Contribution of the Christian Church

It is true now that man lives in a world of conflict. Conflict is an ever-present process in human relations. Conflict situations indeed appear frequently in daily, public and private life. Conflict may occur within and among families, groups, communities or nations; and they may be fuelled by ethnic, racial, religious, or economic differences, or may arise from differences in ideologies, values and beliefs. Conflict may be on a small or large scale. Conflict charge the people with tensions, threats, fears, anxieties and uncertainties. What makes a society ideal is the extent to which the conflicting interests and needs in a society are constructively managed so that violence does not threaten its continued existence. Since it is obvious that conflicts in any given society is inevitable, management and resolution of conflict is the very essence of talking about conflict. This is what this work is set to achieve and to offer suggestions on how to manage and resolve conflict thereby reducing its negative and destructive effects. This work showed the church has the potential to contribute to the management and resolution of conflicts in Nigeria

Life-form and Density of Valuable Non-timber Plants in Ukpom Community Forest, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Ukpom Community Forest in Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria was assessed for the abundance of plant species producing economically valuable non-timber forest products. Forty-six plant species comprising 16 tree species, 17 shrub species, 8 herb species and 5 climber species were encountered. Apart from Baphia nitida, Pentatethra macrophylla and Brachystegia eurycoma with densities of 6,4 and 3/ha respectively, all the other tree species had a density of 1/ha each. In the shrub category, Lasianthera africana had the highest density of 255/ha and Alchornea cordifolia, the least of 1/ha. Palisota hirsuta had the highest density of 136/ha in the herb life-form, and Urena lobata the least of one/ha. Among the climbers, Ancistrophyllum secundiflorum had the highest density of 51/ha and Plukentia conophora, the least of 1/ha. The implications of the results for sustainable management of the forest are discussed.Key words: Rainforest, Plants, Density, Non-Timber Products, Exploitation

Scientific and Technological Researches: An Elixir for Sustainable Development of a Nation

Scientific/technological research outputs (in the form of new technologies) have become the principal tools for meeting the world ever-expanding needs for food, shelter, housing and equitable access to health-care services. This paper posits that scientific or technological research is an activity that will allow a sovereign nation to move from her present undesirable process of growth and development onto sustainable economic growth and development paths that backup sustainable financial investments.

Effects of Some Heavy Metals on Chlorophyll Accumulation in \u3cem\u3eBarbula lambarenensis\u3c/em\u3e

Samples of moss (Barbula lambarenensis) with their substrates collected from Belewu Drive, Oke Odo, Ilorin, were taken to the screen house of the University of Ilorin biological garden to monitor the effects and tolerance of this plant to different heavy metals. The moss samples were divided into eleven regimes, widely separated from one another to avoid contaminations. Ten regimes were differently irrigated with 1000 ppm and 2000 ppm of lead, copper, cadmium, iron and vanadium thrice a week. The eleventh treatment served as the control, and was irrigated with distilled water. It was found that these heavy metals caused some damage to the chloroplasts of this plant as the bright green colours changed light green, yellowish green or brown. The concentrations of the used heavy metals are phytotoxic. In light of this, Barbula lambarenensis can serve as a bio-indicator of heavy metals

Condition Index, Meat Yield and Population Structure of the Marine Gastropod, Thais coronata, off Cross River Estuary, Nigeria

Samples of the (rock shell) marine gastropod Thais coronata were obtained at monthly intervals from the Cross River estuary, Nigeria over a five month sampling period (February-June). The condition index, CI% (dry tissue weight expressed as a percentage of shell weight) and population structure showed distinct monthly variation. The values of the condition index was maximum (in May) during the beginning of the rainy season and minimum during the dry months (March). The population structure showed that generally T. coronata in the study area is composed principally of 33.5cm rock shells with distinct peaks or modal mean lengths stable at 33.5cm for February through April with triple peaks in March and April. The monthly variations in meat yield (MY%) and condition index indicate a buildup of somatic and gonodal materials during the months of April and May, followed by rapid decline attributed to the shedding of reproductive material through spawning. A standard specimen of 4cm yields CI = 7.1% and MY = 16.3%. Hence, the population spawns during the rainy season. The pattern of variation of water content seems a reverse of that of dry weight, with a fall in water content accompanied by an increase in dry weight. This might imply that the species absorbs more water after spawning. Results indicate harvest and purchase of T. coronata are best in the month of May in the study area and the waste shells have a high potential in income generation as source of calcium for animal feed production. Key words: seasonal variations, shape, spawning and shore animals

Enterocutaneous fistula and internal hernia: unusual complications of peritoneal catheter migration into the ileum in a patient with ventriculoperitoneal shunt

The aim of the present study was to report the treatment of an unusual association of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). Although a commonly performed paediatric neurosurgical procedure, a VPS is associated with several complications. There are reports on gut perforation by the peritoneal catheter, but an enterocutaneous fistula is very rare. Only two have been previously reported in literature. We report, here, the first case seen in Nigeria involving a 3-year old boy, at our teaching hospital setting, with a history of a fall 18 months after VPS; this was followed by purulent, and, later, faeculent discharge from the right subcoastal region and abdominal wound. He underwent detailed neurological examination. Preoperative evaluation with a fistulogram (as a barium meal and follow-through because the superficial opening was not clearly visible to allow direct injection of contrast) showed a connection between the intestine and the skin over the shunt tunnel. He underwent a laparotomy with thorough antiseptic irrigation and repositioning of the VPS in peritoneal cavity. Postoperatively, the faeculent discharge from the upper anterior abdominal wall ceased.  He was discharged home in 2 weeks. There was complete resolution after 6 months. We conclude that there should be a high index of suspicion of an enterocutaneous fistula, although very rare, when faecal discharge is noticed following a VPS and should necessitate a fistulogram. Effective surgical treatment of the intraluminal migration and other possible complications, should involve a multidisciplinary team.Keywords: complications, enterocutaneous fistula, internal hernia, intraluminal migration, multispecialty treatment, ventriculoperitoneal shun

SEEDLINGS PRODUCTION IN Gnetum africanum AS INFLUENCED BY PROPAGATORY ORGANS

This study was conducted at the experimental site of Akwa Ibom Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP), Uyo Zone.  The rate of germination of Gnetum africanum as influenced by different planting materials – treated seeds, root cuttings and vine cuttings was on trial.  Sixty of each set of planting materials were used for the experiment.  Sixty seeds were given germination pre-treatment.  Each set of treatment was raised in the nursery with the polythene pots, using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD).  Twenty Gnetum pre-treated seeds germinated within 75 days out of 60 seeds planted, giving a 20 emergence percentage within 115 days, root cutting had 1 emergence percentage, while the untreated seeds never germinated throughout the experimental period that lasted for 115 days.  The result however showed that the treated seeds germinated earlier (75 days) and more vigorously than the untreated seeds and root cuttings.  The result suggests that Gnetum africanum may be raised through pre-germination treatment for fast development.

Histiocytosis in Nigerian children: A report of two variants

Histiocytoses are a rare group of proliferative disorders with very similar clinical and histological pictures. We present a case report of two variants seen in an eight-month-old female and five-month-old male in a tertiary hospital in southern Nigeria. They both presented with painless neck swellings and fever, leucocytosis, neutrophilia and lymphopenia. Initial histologic examinations of the cervical lymph nodes biopsy posed a diagnostic conundrum. However, Immuno-histochemical analysis done on both sample showed CD1a, positive S100 in keeping with Langerhans cell histiocytosis in the former. While, that of the latter showed strongly positive CD68, positive S-100 in 30% cells in keeping with Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SLMH) in the latter. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for histiocytosis in children presenting with generalised lymphadenopathy. Also, apart from the routine histology, immunohistochemistry analysis is recommended for all case

Sporting Equipment and Students\' Academic Performance in the Concept of Projectile in Nigerian Senior Secondary School Physics

This study investigated the effect of sporting equipment on students academic performance in the concept of projectile in Nigerian senior secondary school Physics in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A total of 183 senior secondary two (SS2) Physics students were involved in the study. The design adopted in the study was non randomized pretest – posttest control group design. The instrument used in gathering data for the study was Test On Projectile (TOP). The reliability coefficient of TOP was 0.79 using Kuder Richardson formula-21. The result showed that javelin was found to be the most effective in facilitating students' academic performance in the concept of projectile in secondary school Physics. This was followed by discus while shot-put was seen to be the least facilitative. The results also showed an insignificant gender difference in the academic performance of Physics students taught the concept of projectile using sporting equipment (javelin, discus and shotput). Also, the facilitating influence of sporting equipment on students' academic performance in the concept of projectile in Physics is about the same at all levels of gender. It is recommended that teachers should adopt the use of sporting equipment in the teaching of the concept of projectile in secondary school Physics. Keywords: Sporting Equipment, Students' Performance, Projectile, PhysicsAfrican Research Review Vol. 2 (1) 2008: pp. 1-1

Implementing a Web Based On-Demand Mentorship Platform for Young Entrepreneurs

Over 90 percent of startups fail after the first five years of kick-off in many developing economies like Nigeria due to the lack of entrepreneurial experiences, understanding of the environment and relevant insights required to handle peculiar challenges that come with running a startup company. Entrepreneurs and founders of startup companies can, therefore, improve the longevity of startups and mitigate the degree of startup failures if they can be equipped with the required knowledge and capacity. Such capacity can be harnessed from years of experiences gathered from trying, making efforts, succeeding and failing. However, entrepreneurs and founders, who are starters or lack substantial experience, may contribute to the failure rate of startups. This, nevertheless, can be addressed by taking advantage of those who have already gathered substantial experiences. These are referred to as mentorship in this study. Thus, a sound relationship between an experienced entrepreneur (mentor) and a starter entrepreneur (mentee) can enable the transfer of knowledge that mitigates the failure rate of startups. This study, therefore, seeks to explore the development of a web-based mentorship platform, where experienced entrepreneurs and young entrepreneurs meet and transfer knowledge. The platform is meant to give young entrepreneurs a leverage such that they harness the already existing experiences of experienced entrepreneurs, such as their failures, successes, methods, leadership styles and efforts. This will foster mentorship relationships, quick-finding help, and knowledge-sharing such that the failure rate of startup companies in Nigeria is reduced