The Ancestral Legacy and Daughters of Anna Julia Cooper: An Historical Ethnography of Black Women Teachers in the South

Black women teachers carry a powerful legacy of teaching philosophies and practices that center liberation, anti-racism, and resistance in their classrooms. Teacher education programs in the United States often prioritize whiteness with Eurocentric canons of educational philosophies that neglect to represent the rich ancestry of Black women as teachers in America. When Black women teachers enter the field, they find that the nature of schooling today continues an oppressive history that isolates, silences, and undervalues them. This study joins in (re)membering the legacies and traditions of Black women teachers to inform our present and future selves in the field. Dr. Anna Julia Cooper is among a lineage of Black women teachers throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries whose early philosophies and teaching embodiments illuminated the importance of Black women’s proximity to education and liberation. Womanism and daughtering created the theoretical ground for this historical ethnography to delineate the presence and influence of one historical and ancestral Black woman teacher, Anna Julia Cooper, on the herstories and pedagogical practices of three Black women teachers in the South. I used endarkened narrative inquiry to curate a study that represented stories of presence, knowledge, and pedagogy in a lineage of Black women teachers that emerged in a layered analysis of archival data, interviews, and my researcher’s journal. This study positioned the presence of multiple generations of teachers who persisted through oppression, developed care and accountability in their pedagogies and served as vital holders and producers of knowledge. The study illuminated their contributions through a short story format to show the vitality of their wisdom for teacher preparation and the future of Black women teachers. The implications of this study call for teacher education to embrace and nurture the educational philosophies and practices of Southern Black women teachers throughout history and educational research to support alternative qualitative methods and inquiry

The cephalofacial characterization in humans: The study using igbo tribe in Nigeria

Background: Cranial and facial indices are among the most important craniofacial parameters most useful racial classification, categorization and forensic examination. In this, cranial and facial parameters serve as bio-anthropological tools for both biometric and crime scene purposes in the developed nation. Despite the rise in crime scenes and body mutilations in Nigeria, very little information is available on anthropometric variables using head and face of Igbo extractions.Aim: Aim of this study is to establish facial and head anthropometry in the bio-anthropological database for the South-Eastern Nigerians.Materials and methods: A total of 189 healthy individuals without cranial or facial deformities in Urban Secondary School, Abakaliki in Ebonyi State were recruited for the study.Results: The results of the study showed that male facial parameters had significantly higher dimensions than those of the female participants. The association between cranial and facial dimensions, sex and age using Pearson’s correlation analysis was done. Linear regression analysis was applied to determinestrength of relationship of the facial dimensions and age. The level of statistical significance was determined at P < 0.05 with confidence interval at 95%.Conclusion: the study characterized anthropometrics of face and head of Igbos in the South-Eastern region of Nigeria. From this study, Igbo ethnic group fall under the platyrrhine type of nose. Igbo males and Igbo females are mesocephalic from this study. On the average from this work, the mean C.I. in the Igbo tribe belongs to mesocephalic or medium headed population.Keywords: Abakaliki, Cephalofacial, Igbos, Forensic, Parameter

Changing Pattern of Pediatric Renal Disorders in Calabar, Nigeria

Introduction: The pattern of renal diseases among children is similar in most parts of the world, but with different frequencies. The pattern of renal disorders in Calabar was studied 16 years prior to the current study. This review is aimed at revealing any change in the pattern of renal disorders in Calabar 16 years after the first study.Materials and Methods: This study was carried out by analyzing case notes of children admitted to the pediatric medical ward of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria between January 2006 and December 2016.Results:  Of 8,711 children admitted during these ten years, 216 (2.5%) had renal disorders. Acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) was the commonest renal disorder observed in 64 (29.6%) cases followed by urinary tract infection (UTI) (n=60, 27.8%) and nephrotic syndrome (NS) (n=49, 22.7%). Other diseases included nephroblastoma, chronic renal failure, acute renal failure, and posterior urethra valves. Similarly, the above findings were seen in our previous study with AGN being the commonest followed by NS and then UTI. Other findings in this study, including polycystic kidney disease, renal calculi, hemolytic uremic syndrome, HIV, and sickle cell nephropathies, were not seen in the previous study. The case fatality rate was 1.9%, which was mainly due to the complications of acute nephritis.Conclusions: AGN still remains the commonest renal disorder in Calabar and UTI is now the second commonest renal disease. The spectrum of renal diseases in Calabar is expanding, including polycystic kidney disease, calculi, hemolytic uremic syndrome, HIV, and sickle cell nephropathies.Keywords: Changing Pattern; Renal disorders; Calabar; Children

Prevalence of persistent proteinuria in overweight and obese primary school children in Calabar, Nigeria

Background: There is a dearth of information on the relationship between persistent proteinuria with overweight and obesity in Nigerian children. Therefore, this study is aimed at evaluating this relationship.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 275 overweight and obese primary school children aged 5 to 12 years derived from an initial screening of the Body Mass Index of 1,600 apparently healthy primary school pupils recruited by multi-stage sampling. Subjects early morning urine was collected and urinalysis done. Those with proteinuria ≥ 1+, had urinalysis repeated after two weeks and those with persistent proteinuria, were quantitated using the modified Biuret and urine creatinine with the modified Jaffe Kinetic methods. Urine protein:creatinine ratios > 0.20 were confirmed as persistent proteinuria. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0 and P-value ≤ 0.05 was significant.Results: Overweight were 192 (69.8%) and obese 83 (30.2%). Five Children (1.8%) had persistent proteinuria consisting of four (1.4%) of overweight and one (0.4%) of Obese though not statistically significant.Conclusion: Prevalence of persistent proteinuria among overweight and obese primary school children was 1.4% and 0.4% respectively. More studies are needed to evaluate the impact of overweight and obesity on the kidneys of Nigerian children.Keywords: Persistent Proteinuria, Overweight, Obesity, Childre

A Study on the Dimensions of Hypoglossal Canal in Southern Nigerian Crania

The hypoglossal canal is a bony canal in the occipital bone of the skull. It is the passageway for the hypoglossal nerves. This study was aimed at determining the incidence/dimensions of single and double hypoglossal canal, and if these varies with sex. 79 dry crania, out of which 55 were males and 24 females, were used for this study. A  Digital Vernier caliper was used to carry out measurements on the internal and external diameters of both sides. The result indicates that there was a significant difference in the size of all the dimensions measured from the hypoglossal canal (P<0.05) between the male and female groups of this population. The variation is both unilaterally and bilaterally present, with bilateral single hypoglossal canal being more prevalent. In conclusion, the size of the hypoglossal canal is sex specific since there are significant differences. Keywords: Incidence, hypoglossal canal, sexes, Nigeria

The Impact of Macroeconomic Variables on Non-Oil Exports Performance in Nigeria, 1986-2010

This study investigated the impact of macroeconomic variables on the performance of the Nigerian economy from 1986-2010. In carrying out the study we employed the ordinary least square (OLS) and co-integration test analysis based on the Engle Grenger (1987) co-integration analysis, in order to establish a long run relationship among the variables employed in this study. The study was guided by four research objectives and hypotheses. Given the influences other variables have on the performance of the Nigerian economy, we discriminately incorporated non-oil export, agricultural sector, manufacturing sub-sector and gross domestic product as the dependent variables while exchange rate, interest rate, government capital expenditure and government recurrent expenditure were the independent variables. The result of our analysis indicates that exchange rate, government capital expenditure and government recurrent expenditure are positively related to non-oil export, agricultural sector, manufacturing sub-sector and gross domestic product, while interest rate is negatively related to non-oil export, agricultural sector, manufacturing sub-sector and gross domestic product. The four formulated null hypotheses were rejected while the alternative hypotheses were accepted. Based on the findings of this study, we therefore recommended that investment should be increased in the areas of non-oil exports, agricultural sector and manufacturing sub sector because our result shows that they are related to the macroeconomic variables used except interest rate. Though government capital and recurrent expenditures, maintained positive relationship with non-oil exports, agricultural sector, manufacturing sub-sector and gross domestic product but had made very, almost insignificant impact on them, therefore government should increase the budget allocation of capital and recurrent expenditures and continue to force down interest rate in order to attract potential investors. Government should increase lending to agricultural sector and manufacturing sub-sector and also place less emphasis on oil sector so as to concentrate more on other aspects of the real sector of the economy. This is because increase in real sector investment, reduction in interest rate, increase budgetary allocation to government capital and recurrent expenditures are ways of improving the performance of the Nigerian economy. Keywords: Non-Oil Export, Exchange Rate, Interest Rate, Gross Domestic Product Government Capital and Recurrent Expenditure

A Study on the Dimensions of Hypoglossal Canal in Southern Nigerian Crania.

The hypoglossal canal is a bony canal in the occipital bone of the skull. It is the passageway for the hypoglossal nerves. This study was aimed at determining the incidence/dimensions of single and double hypoglossal canal, and if these varies with sex. 79 dry crania, out of which 55 were males and 24 females, were used for this study. A  Digital Vernier caliper was used to carry out measurements on the internal and external diameters of both sides. The result indicates that there was a significant difference in the size of all the dimensions measured from the hypoglossal canal (P<0.05) between the male and female groups of this population. The variation is both unilaterally and bilaterally present, with bilateral single hypoglossal canal being more prevalent. In conclusion, the size of the hypoglossal canal is sex specific since there are significant differences. Key words: Incidence, hypoglossal canal, sexes, Nigeria

Age-specific sex differences in weight, height and cephalofacial dimensions among Ebonyi Indigenes in Nigeria

Introduction: Anatomy of the human body and its measurements are affected by biological, ecological, age and sex factors. Anthropometric measurements determine the morphological characteristics of the face and head. Aim: To assess age-specific sex differences in weight, height and cephalofacial dimensions among Igbo tribe in Nigeria. Materials and methods: This research is conducted on 300 subjects, 150 males and 150 females in the age of 15-18 years. In addition to the height and weight of the subjects, cephalofacial parameters were measured and then cephalic and facial index is calculated. The cranial and prosopic indices were sharply higher in age 17 years for both sexes at level p<0.005. The weight of males was slightly higher than females at 18 years and above (p<0.005). Conclusion: There were predominantly mesoprosopic and mesocephalic face and head forms in both sexes

Challenges with non-uptake of home-based HIV screening among siblings of HIV positive children in Calabar, Nigeria

Background: Knowledge of HIV status is critical to expanding access to HIV treatment, care and support in a timely manner. Household members of HIV positive persons often are also infected but unaware of their HIV status with consequent diagnosis and treatment gaps. Targeting siblings of index HIV infected children is an important approach of improving identification and enrolment into care. Homebased HIV counselling and testing (HBHCT) has been identified as an acceptable model to complement Provider initiated counselling and testing (PITC) efforts.This study was therefore conducted to assess the uptake of HBHTC among siblings of HIV positive children in Calabar.Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in two health facilities in Calabar. Siblings of HIV positive children were traced to their homes and HIV test was done using the home-based HIV counselling and testing model. Reasons for non-acceptance of HIV test at home were documented. Data was collected and analyzed using SPSS version 21 and p-value &lt;0.05 was considered significant.Results: Out of 401 children recruited into the study, 314(78.3%) accepted home testing while 87 (21.7%) were tested at the health facility giving an uptake of 78.3% among siblings of HIV positive children. The reasons given for non-acceptance of home-based HIV test were; fear of stigmatization 87 (100%), fear of HIV status disclosure by 54(38.3%) and previous testing for HIV 80(92%). None statistically significantly predicted uptake of home-based HIV testing.Conclusion: Home-based HIV testing among siblings of HIV positive  children in Calabar has a high acceptability. However, fear of stigma, HIV status disclosure and previous HIV test were responsible for non-uptake.Keywords: HIV, Home-based HIV testing, Sibling, Stigma, Disclosure, Non-acceptance, Uptak

Economic Growth through the Lens of Non-Oil Export in Nigeria, 1970 – 2010

This study examined economic growth through the lens of non-oil export in Nigeria from 1970 to 2008. It was prompted by incessant insignificant contribution of non-oil export to economic growth of Nigeria from 1970 to 2008. The overall objective of the study is to ascertain the impact or influence of non-oil export on Gross Domestic Product by way of finding, if any, the relationship between economic growth and non-oil export through an economic lens. In order to achieve these objectives, research questions were raised and hypotheses were formulated. For these raised issues to be addressed, econometric analysis of Ordinary Least Squares regression method (multiple regression analysis) and the co-integration/error correction technique. The findings of the study include money supply is positively related to economic growth. This implies that an increase in money supply stimulates growth. This is in agreement with our expectation and economic theory. An increase in money supply spurs growth by making investment funds available at a reduced rate to investors. At a lower interest rate people borrow more that is as investment increases, production and output also raises leading to a rise in economic growth. Also, the result of our analysis indicates that non-oil export and money supply are positively related to economic growth. On the other hand credit to the private sector was found to be negatively related to economic growth. Based on the findings, it is therefore recommended that Government should increase investment in non-oil sector; because our result shows that non-oil export is positively related to economic growth but insignificant at 5 percent level. An increase in investment by both private and the government in real sector like agriculture, industry and manufacturing will help boost economic growth through employment creation, output stimulation and improvement in income level. The real sector remains the key avenue for rapid and sustained growth in an economy be it developed or developing countries. The monetary authorities should reduce lending rate to single digit may help stimulate investment and economic growth in the country. We therefore conclude that rise in these variables can stimulate growth while a fall, reduces economic growth. On the other hand credit to the private sector was found to be negatively related to economic growth. Keywords:Economic Growth, Non-oil Export Agriculture, Employment Creation, Stimulation Income Level