Military History and Strategic Studies as Imperatives for National Security Development in Nigeria

Nigerian military history is an aspect of Nigerian history that reconstructs the philosophies, beliefs, life and times of military personnel in relation to time and place. On the other hand, strategic studies involve a study of the security policies and political conduct of states in their interaction within the international system. Since it is the military institution that implements these security policies, itself central to the objectives of states in international politics, it is logical  to view military history and strategic studies as pivotal to the securitydevelopment of the Nigerian nation as it is for every other nation. Given this understanding, this study attempts to situate Nigerian military history and strategic studies as imperatives for national security development in Nigeria. To achieve its goal, the paper employs mostly secondary and but a few primary sources subjected to content historical analysis from which it was deduced that military history and strategic studies are important for the advancement of security development in Nigeria. Keywords: Military, Strategic Studies, History, Securit

Gender Disparities in Water Resource Management Projects in Njoro Sub-County, Kenya

Gender disparities are of major concern, in water resources management because men and women play different roles and have different rights on water usage and it is important to take in account the interest of both genders into account. Njoro Sub-county is currently facing a serious problem of water scarcity as a result of several factors such as poor management, loss of forest cover, climatic variability, population increase, and limited endowment of the resource. Water being an economic good and a cost attached to its development, distribution, operation and maintenance there has been gender disparity in its management. Women are responsible for multiple uses of water resources and principal decision-makers regarding domestic uses and sharing responsibility with men for productive uses. However men often control this resource and make major decisions related to location and type of facilities available hence the need to investigate why women despite their vital stake in water affairs, they are frequently overlooked and under-represented in water policy decisions and in water projects committees. The argument in this paper is that gender disparities may have resulted in overexploitation and mismanagement of water resources

Career Decision-Making and College and Career Access Among Recent African Immigrant Students

The number of African immigrant youth in American classrooms is on the rise. School counselors are uniquely positioned to help these students to be college and career ready. Using the Social Cognitive Career Theory framework, this article aims to address the unique career development needs, college and career access challenges faced by African immigrant students with an emphasis on high school students, and recommends strategic interventions for school counselors helping this population navigate career choice and determination. Implications for school counseling practice and research are also addressed

Influence of Land Tenure on Gender Participation in Management of Water Projects in Njoro Sub-County, Nakuru

Most water projects in Kenya, account for women having fewer opportunities in decision making committees than the men counter parts. In Njoro sub-county there are different ethnic groups who utilize land and water differently as a result of  difference in socio-cultural backgrounds which in-turn affect gender participation in management. Kenya as a country has made great efforts to entrench gender issues in management of water projects but have been affected by socio-cultural factors such as land tenure which derail realisation of gender equality and equity in water management. Administration of water users association projects have been decentralised by the government through enactment of water Act 2002, which advocates for gender equity and equality in participation but this, has not been fully translated into practice in water and sanitation projects. In Njoro sub-county there are several water users’ association projects in which men and women perform different function in management as a result of different socio-cultural backgrounds. Despite the role played by women and men in management of water as a resource, and the efforts that the government has made in enhancing women’s participation in management of water resources, there appears to be an existing gender gap between policy and practice. The main objective of this paper is to highlight the influence of land tenure on gender participation in the management of water projects in Njoro Sub-county. Keywords: Land tenure, Gender participation, Management, Water projects

Challenges of Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the Jubilee Manifesto: the Case of Old People Cash Transfer Pension Scheme in Nakuru County

Most Kenyans lack financial resources for retirement and rely on their families, yet the family is becoming a less reliable source of support in old age due to decreasing fertility and the increasing mobility of the young. In response, and as one of the strategies of realising Vision 2030, the Kenyan government has established an Old People Cash Transfer Pension Scheme (OPCTPS) as a form of social protection for the elderly. This study focused on the challenges of the OPCTPS in Kenya under the Jubilee Coalition government that came to power in 2013. The study used survey research design and the target population was sampled randomly from a list of registered beneficiaries to form 340 respondents and 10 key informants. The data was collected using questionnaires for key informants and interview schedules for the respondents. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science computer program and was presented using descriptive statistics. The results of the study showed that the challenges which hindered implementation of the OPCTPS, in order of importance, include low coverage, low allocation of funds, credibility in management, delays in payments, high administrative costs, poor awareness and lack of relevant documents. The study findings may be used by policy makers to plan for better coverage of the OPCTPS. Also the results may be used by stakeholders to strategies on how to empower the aged and ageing people and in allocation of domestic resources. Above all, the Jubilee Coalition government in power should spearhead the passing of at least one Act of Parliament to consolidate the existing legal framework and policy on the OPCTPS

School Guidance and Counseling in Kenya: Historical Development, Current Status, and Future Prospects

Despite the government’s emphasis on guidance and counseling program implementation in Kenyan schools and a rapid increase in the number of trained school counselors, lack of standardized training curriculums, ethical standards, counseling models, and role ambiguity persist. This article reviews the historical development of guidance and counseling in Kenya, addresses current challenges, and discusses future prospects for the profession. The authors proposes a paradigm shift from the way guidance and counseling has been conducted in Kenyan schools for the past years and recommends the implementation of organized comprehensive guidance and counseling programs that addresses the needs of all students. Implications for the future training and practice of school counselors and are also addressed. Keywords: Guidance and Counseling, Historical perspectives, Challenges, Future prospects, Kenya

Fluoride Adsorption onto Soil Adsorbents: The Role of pH and Other Solution Parameters

Soil adsorbents continue to attract increasingly high numbers of researchers in water defluoridation studies. An aspect of solution parameters, that is the aqueous adsorption of fluoride onto soil adsorbents in defluoridation studies, has been reviewed and reported. The pH was found to be the main factor controlling fluoride adsorption on the popular soil adsorbents including: aluminosilicates, iron (hydr)oxides, aluminum (hydr)oxides, apatites, carbonaceous minerals, calcareous soils and zeolites and the other key parameters being temperature, time of contact, and co-existent ions. Fluoride adsorption onto metal-exchanged zeolites and hydroxyapatites (optimum pH = 4–10), iron (hydro)oxide minerals (pH = 2–7), and carbonaceous minerals (pH = 4–12) is relatively pH-independent, and high amounts of fluoride are able to sorb upon the surfaces of these minerals in a wide range of pH values. However, montmorillonites (optimum pH = 5–6), aluminum (hydro)oxide minerals (pH = 5–7), and calcareous minerals (pH = 5–6) only sorb significant amount of fluoride in a narrow range of pH values. The fluoride adsorption onto the latter class of minerals, also generally occurring at slightly above room temperatures, appears to be highly specific and not strongly affected by the presence of coexistent anions including: PO43−,SO42−,Cl−,andNO3−

Influence of One Third Gender Rule on Gender Participation in Management of Water Projects in Njoro Sub-County, Kenya

In Kenya the importance of one third gender rule in management of rural water supply projects has often been emphasized, yet the implementation of the policy has not been fully operationalized into action. Project managers and management committees in rural water projects have not perceived the importance of gender aspects as potential contributor to sustainability of water supplies projects. However, the dynamics of power relations between women and men in management committees is commonly influenced by socio-cultural factors that perpetuate the subordinate position of women in management affairs of water projects. In Njoro sub-county some water management committees, do not put into consideration one third gender rule in electing or appointing leaders in leadership position. This paper therefore focuses on one third gender rule on water resource management in Kenya with the intension of filling the gap between policy and practice. Key words: One-third gender policy, Gender participation, Water projects, Management

Does Adoption of Information Technology Improve Firm Performance? A Survey of Firms Listed in the Nairobi Securities Exchange

Information technology has become a major driver for firm performance in the 21st century. Many firms however, have lagged behind in the adoption of IT which a major drawback given the nature of global competition. The objective of the study is to determine the effects of the adoption of Information Technology on organisational performance which is a survey of firms listed in the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Cross sectional research design was used in the study. The study targeted the chief information technology officers, information technology managers, information system managers and managers involved in policy making decisions on computing systems in all the companies listed in the Nairobi securities exchange. Both open ended and closed questionnaires instrument was used to gather the data. The study found out that competitive advantage, cutting costs, customer service and convenience, enhancing security, and financial management are the attributes that are associated with adoption of information technology and this improves the performance of the firms listed in the NSE. The study concludes that IT adoption has an effect on performance of firms listed at NSE, in addition environmental, strategic and managerial factors have an effect of IT adoption on the performance of organisations. The study recommends that firms should invest in IT capabilities and IT resources in order to spur performance. Keywords: Information technology, Security exchange.