Effects of Economic Recession on Universities Libraries in Nigeria: A Review Approach

This research work is focused on the effects of economic recession on Nigerian university libraries. This position paper explained the roles and importance of university libraries in achieving the mission and vision of its parent institution. Consequently, it is aimed at assessing the impact of the current economic downturn in Nigeria and its effects on the university libraries. It identified the causes of economic recession in Nigeria, including poor government policy plans, corruption by government officials, unscrupulous spending by government agents/agencies, decline in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) etc., and its consequences on the university library operations. Furthermore, the paper outlined the adverse effects of economic recession on Nigerian university libraries and the untold hardship being experienced by them, such as, inadequate funding for the procurement of library materials and equipment’s, inadequate funding for staff training and development and lack of staff motivation which often leads to poor job performance, etc. In view of these, the university library must thrive in this turbulent situation, as such; strategies for overcoming the effects of economic recession on university libraries were discussed and recommended not only to Nigerian university libraries, but libraries globally experiencing this situation

AN APPRAISAL OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MINNA, NIGER STATE: POLICY AND PLANNING IMPLICATION TO NIGERIAN CITIES

Man’s environment is of immense importance and the management of the living environment has great health implications. The activities of man and his interaction with his environment result in the generation of different kinds of wastes. The most obvious is the Solid Wastes. A lot of areas in our cities have become an eyesore due to indiscriminate dumping and poor management of solid wastes. This has led to environmental degradation and pollution.  The management of solid wastes presents particular challenges to city authorities in Nigeria because the volume of wastes generated in different cities has been increasing over the years. This paper, therefore, examines the magnitude of solid waste problems in Nigeria and the challenges of managing these wastes, with a view of assessing the policy and Planning Implication to Nigeria cities

THE IMPACT OF URBAN HOUSING ON NATION BUILDING: MINNA IN PERSPECTIVE

This study assessed the relationship between housing condition and the deterioration of urban physical environmental condition with physical planning variables in Minna town using three residential zones of varying Housing conditions and the intensity of Physical Planning. The data for this study was based on field survey and questionnaire designed to capture the physical environmental condition of housing reflected in density of occupancy, availability of water, sanitation facilities, vehicular accessibility etc, including other physical planning variables such as layout design of the settlements’ building subjected to approve plans and availability of infrastructures. A review of the operation of the Government agency responsible for physical planning and control also yielded significant information. The study indicates that the higher the housing density in the studied area, the lower the intensity of physical planning control and vice versa. Also, the higher the housing density, the higher the deterioration of the physical environment. The study concludes that there is a need for comprehensive research on the issue in order to establish an effective and sustainable intervention for nation-building

Emotional Difficulties and Experiences of Stigma among Persons with Lymphatic Filariasis in Plateau State, Nigeria.

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a chronic and often disfiguring condition that predominantly affects the rural poor and leads to social exclusion, stigma, and discrimination. Little is currently known about the emotional difficulties and stigma experiences among persons living with LF in Nigeria. Our study evaluated the emotional difficulties and stigma experienced by persons with LF in Plateau State, Nigeria. We utilized a combination of qualitative data instruments comprising focus group discussions, McGill's Illness Narrative Interviews, and key informant interviews. We transcribed and analyzed the data using a combination of inductive and deductive coding approaches. Sixty-nine respondents were interviewed: 37 females and 32 males. The prevalent community perception of LF was the belief that it was a spiritual problem. Emotional reactions included feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anger, frustration, worry, and suicidal ideation. These experiences, including those of stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion, culminated in difficulties with occupational functioning, marital life, and community participation. Our findings highlight the value of a rights-based approach that emphasizes state and non-state actors' need to provide access to the highest attainable standard of health, including mental health, and to protect persons with LF from stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion

Prevalence of depression and associated clinical and socio-demographic factors in people living with lymphatic filariasis in Plateau State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Lymphatic filariasis is a chronic, disabling and often disfiguring condition that principally impacts the world's poorest people. In addition to the well-recognised physical disability associated with lymphedema and hydrocele, affected people often experience rejection, stigma and discrimination. The resulting emotional consequences are known to impact on the quality of life and the functioning of the affected individuals. However, the management of this condition has focused on prevention and treatment through mass drug administration, with scant attention paid to the emotional impact of the condition on affected individuals. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of depression among individuals with physical disfigurement from lymphatic filariasis in Plateau State, Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional 2-stage convenience study was conducted at 5 designated treatment centers across Plateau State, Nigeria. All available and consenting clients with clearly visible physical disfigurement were recruited. A semi-structured socio-demographic questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-esteem and a 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were administered at the first stage. Those who screened positive (with a PHQ-9 score of five and above) were further interviewed using the Depression module of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). RESULTS: Ninety-eight individuals met the criteria and provided consent. Twenty percent of the respondents met criteria for depression, with the following proportions based on severity: Mild (42.1%), Moderate (31.6%) and Severe (26.3%). History of mental illness (OR 40.83, p = 0.008); Median duration of the illness was 17 years (IQR 7.0-30 years) and being unemployed (OR 12.71, p = 0.003) were predictive of depression. High self-esteem was negatively correlated (OR 0.09, p<0.004). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of depression is high among individuals with lymphatic filariasis and depression in sufferers is associated with low self-esteem and low levels of life satisfaction

Resurgence of Ebola Virus Disease in Guinea Linked to a Survivor With Virus Persistence in Seminal Fluid for More Than 500 Days.

We report on an Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivor who showed Ebola virus in seminal fluid 531 days after onset of disease. The persisting virus was sexually transmitted in February 2016, about 470 days after onset of symptoms, and caused a new cluster of EVD in Guinea and Liberia

Evaluating the Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure of Nigeria's Most Profitable Companies

This study evaluated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) disclosure in the most profitable companies in Nigeria, a review was carried out on the annual reports and websites of the five most profitable companies in Nigeria according to the market cap list 2018. This research focused on the quantity and quality of CSR disclosures, provided by these companies. The method of analysis used was content analysis. The result of this study revealed that from the three dimensions constituting Community disclosure, Environmental disclosure and Human Resource disclosure, Community disclosure was the most disclosed dimension from the top profitable companies in Nigeria. Findings revealed that these companies disclosed a lot about the different CSR activities they had undertaken within the span of one year, but the quality of these disclosures were relatively low. CSR disclosure should be encouraged by the Nigerian government by publicly recognizing companies who disclose CSR activity, this will motivate other companies to practice and disclose CSR