Application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the promotion of Kashim Ibrahim Libraries’ products and services

This study investigated the Application of ICTs in the Promotion of Kashim Ibrahim libraries’ products and services. It was structured to achieve three objectives. Survey research method was adopted for the study. A total of 172 registered library customers and 3 marketing related staff were drawn as sample size. Questionnaire, site visits and observations were used to collect data for the study. The data collated were presented and analyzed using frequency distribution tables and percentages. The study found among others that out of the available means of promotion at the discretion of Kashim Ibrahim Library. Paper based/hardcopy outputs (posters, fliers and banners) were the most frequently employed. The study concluded that Kashim Ibrahim Library apply ICTs in the course of Promoting products and service. This is geared towards paper based or hardcopy emergence as output which can be enhanced by adopting the recommended Electronic Information Promotion Model (EIPM). The model directs output towards reduced printing which cuts promotion costs, saves time and provides cleaner projection for a more enhanced patronage.Keywords: Marketing, Promotion, ICTs, Libraries, Products and Service

Application of Facilities Management Practice in High Rise Commercial Properties: Jos in Perspective

The article studied the application of facilities management practice in high rise commercial properties. Convenience sampling technique was used in administering questionnaires to the 60 respondents who responded to the survey. It was found out that the extent of application of facilities management in the subject properties is better described as below average. Similarly, the most frequently tools of facilities management in use and employed in the properties were outsourcing and in-house sourcing. This was influenced by the level of their familiarity with the tools. Planned and Preventive maintenance should be taken regularly in order to enhance the effectiveness of the facilities management and to satisfy both the owner and customers of the organization. Keywords: Commercial Properties, Facilities Management, High Rise Buildings, In-house Sourcing and Outsourcing.

IMPACT OF WEB SEARCH ENGINES FOR DIGITAL REFERENCE SERVICES IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN SOKOTO STATE

Abstract The study investigated the impact of web search engines for digital reference services in academic libraries in Sokoto. A descriptive survey design was used for the study. The study used all the professional librarians on seat of the academic libraries (27) for the study. This is because the population was manageable and as such it does not required sampling and sampling techniques. 27 structured questionnaires were administered to the respondents for data collection and 25 (92%) were returned. The data collected were analyzed using frequency and percentages. The findings of the study revealed that majority of the libraries have trained staff to provide DRS. It also revealed that the libraries do not collaborate with other libraries in providing DRS. The study further revealed that the libraries do not have policy or statement for DRS. It is also revealed that the libraries lack digital tools to provide DRS. But the libraries have plan to start DRS though it is not yet started. The libraries also agreed that web search engines can be used to provide reference services. It was also disclosed that the libraries get topical research question most from the users than other questions. The study also found out that SMS is the channel that the libraries used most to provide reference services to its users. Finally, the services mostly offered by the libraries is CAS. The study recommended that libraries need to train more staff on ICT skills and social media skills, libraries should have written DRS policy, should provide DRS working tools, should create social media platforms for DRS and government should provide adequate funds to academic libraries to procure facilities that will run the library services better

Problems Associated with Elevators in High-Rise Commercial Buildings in North-Western State Capitals of Nigeria

The development of high-rise buildings in Nigeria has been experiencing drawbacks. The retarding growth translates to the very fewness of high-rise buildings in existence in Nigerian cities just as even most of the few in existence are poorly utilized due to some persistent factors. A current trend in modern cities all over the world is the development of high-rise buildings mainly to overcome the challenges of urban over population, for optimal use of scarce land resources, as status symbol, as tourist attractions and for beautiful skylines. From the existing literature, only few research were conducted in this very important aspect of real estate profession. The data used in this research was obtained through physical inspection and careful observations of the elevators (lifts) in some selected high-rise commercial buildings within the area of study.  Samples of 2500 tenants, 25 Property Management Companies and 70 visitors or clients were selected. The sampling procedure used includes; purposive sampling method in the selection of the experienced property managers, and random sampling technique in selecting the tenants. Part of the result shows that about 63% of the elevators studied have one problem or the other which rendered it not convenient for the passenger’s use. It was recommended that all elevators’ problems should be properly and effectively attended to as soon as the sign of failure is notice before it causes further damages that will increase costs. There is need for the property managers to consider periodic inspection and system diagnosis of the elevators by professionals to verify it conditions and advice on the way forward. It was concluded that,  with adequate maintenance policy, adhering to the manufacturer’s instructions, use of skilled and highly trained manpower in the maintenance of elevators and by ensuring only standard and approved spare parts are used, majority of the problems hindering effective use of elevators in high-rise commercial buildings in Nigeria will be overcome. Keywords: Commercial Buildings, Elevator, High-rise Buildings, Lift and Multi-tenanted Properties

Sonographic patterns of retained products of conception among women attending Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital Kano, Nigeria

Retain products of conception (RPOC) remains a major concern because its complications are among the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women with postpartum uterus. Every locality should have a documented findings of postpartum uterus predicting retained products of conception. This study was aimed at evaluating the sonographic pattern of RPOC among women attending Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano. The study was prospective, conducted from January 2021 to August 2021. A total of 200 patients referred on the suspicion of RPOC on the basis of history or clinical examination were enrolled in the study. Transabdominal ultrasound with 3.5MHtz transducer was performed in all referred cases. The findings obtained were recorded on data capture sheet. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 23.0. Mean age of the patients was 21.7 ±6.7 years and the mean gestational age was 11.7 ±4.8 weeks. Most of the patients present with per vaginal bleeding, lower back pain or fever as their clinical history. Sonographic findings of RPOC were mix-echogenic content 106(53%), hypoechoic fluid collection 52(26%) and hyperechoic mass 42 (21%). The correlation between clinical history and sonographic pattern of RPOC shows a significant weak positive correlation (r= 0.15 and p= 0.03). The correlation between RPOC size and gestational age also shows a significant weak positive correlation (r= 0.27 and p= 0.00). Sonography is an accurate tool for diagnosis of retained products of conception, with mixed echogenic content as the most common sonographic pattern RPOC

Non-implementation of property rating practice, any impact on community healthcare in Bauchi Metropolis Nigeria?

The practice of rating real estate is essentially an internal revenue source, synonymous to tenement tax levied on the owner/occupier. Property rating in Nigeria is bedevilled by many factors that impeded its smooth implementation and operation, thus, this form of taxation yields zero revenue in Bauchi, due to failure of implementation. This study is aimed at measuring the impact of non-implementation of property rating on community healthcare in Bauchi metropolis of Nigeria. Two hundred and fifty (250) closed-ended questionnaires composed in five-level Likert scale were distributed to professionals in the field of real estate and facilities management, in the academia and estate firms, and two hundred and twenty one questionnaires (221) were mailed back for analysis. The Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) in IBM version of SPSS with AMOS was used to establish relationship between the variables. Findings from this study reveals that PRP does not command direct impact on community healthcare services, however, the services financed by property rating in the area of sanitation and sewage cleaning has the tendencies to curb the occurrence of diseases like cholera and malaria. Thus, it can be understood that a fully institutionalized practice of property rating could avert the outbreak of diseases

A Study of Biomimetic Architectural traits in a Pre-Medical School Complex in Nigeria: a Case-study of Faculty of Medicine, Kaduna State University (KASU) Complex, Kaduna

Biomimicry is an applied science that derives inspiration for solutions to human problems through the study of natural designs, systems and processes. Nature  can teach  us about systems, materials, processes, structures and aesthetics (just to name a few). By delving more deeply into how nature solves problems that are experienced today, timely solutions could be extracted and new directions for our built environments could be explored. This research examines Biomimetic design principles  in an attempt to identify the traits in the design of the faculty of medicine of Kaduna State University (KASU). Case study methodology was adopted for the research through a descriptive and qualitative analysis.  The findings suggested that, knowingly or unknowingly certain biomimetic attributes  had been  adopted in some aspects of the building design to achieve sustainability in the building. The  paper  recommends that a holistic approach to design and construction should always be adopted and biomimicy principles should always be considered in the design and planning of academic  facilities because it has  been shown to support the sustainable agenda. Keywords: Biomimicry; Faculty of Medicine; Nature; Sustainability; Kadun

Elections and Nigeria’s International Image: A Study of 2015 General Elections

Election is a very important component of a democratic process in any country because, it is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office, and hence all the other variables of democracy revolve around elections. Elections represent a medium through a country can project its international image either positively or negatively through several means, particularly the electoral processes. This paper examined the influenced of 2015 general elections on Nigeria’s international image. The paper is essentially qualitative in its approach and documentary sources were the major instruments used for data collection. The paper found that what made the 2015 Nigeria’s general election credible was proper conduct of the election and general acceptability of the candidates competing for different political post. The paper argues that series of elections have been conducted in Nigeria; but the 2015 general elections actually determine the stand of Nigeria is the global support for democracy. The election not only received global commendations but also placed Nigeria as leading role of African democratic trends which many learn lesson from it their future conducts of elections. The paper concludes that violence is the greatest enemy of democracy, being the bane of Nigeria’s march to democracy. This is because there can be no democratic elections, democratization, consolidation of democracy, growth in democratic culture or internalization of best democratic practices in any country if electoral violence is prevalent. The paper recommends among others that there is need for Nigerian state to build on the existing institutions that would ensure credible elections so that future elections would be more violent-free than the recent elections. Keywords: Election, International Image, Electoral Violence and Politics in Nigeria

Elections and Nigeria’s International Image: A Study of 2015 General Elections

Election is a very important component of a democratic process in any country because, it is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office, and hence all the other variables of democracy revolve around elections. Elections represent a medium through a country can project its international image either positively or negatively through several means, particularly the electoral processes. This paper examined the influenced of 2015 general elections on Nigeria’s international image. The paper is essentially qualitative in its approach and documentary sources were the major instruments used for data collection. The paper found that what made the 2015 Nigeria’s general election credible was proper conduct of the election and general acceptability of the candidates competing for different political post. The paper argues that series of elections have been conducted in Nigeria; but the 2015 general elections actually determine the stand of Nigeria is the global support for democracy. The election not only received global commendations but also placed Nigeria as leading role of African democratic trends which many learn lesson from it their future conducts of elections. The paper concludes that violence is the greatest enemy of democracy, being the bane of Nigeria’s march to democracy. This is because there can be no democratic elections, democratization, consolidation of democracy, growth in democratic culture or internalization of best democratic practices in any country if electoral violence is prevalent. The paper recommends among others that there is need for Nigerian state to build on the existing institutions that would ensure credible elections so that future elections would be more violent-free than the recent elections. Keywords: Election, International Image, Electoral Violence and Politics in Nigeria

Influence of inorganic fertilizer and spacing on growth and yield of two maize cultivars under Striga hermonthica infestation

Field experiment was conducted during the 2013 rainy season at Lapai and Mokwa in the Southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria, to evaluate the reactions of maize cultivars to nitrogen and intra-row spacing in a Striga hermonthica infested field. The treatments consisted of two maize cultivar (Local (kabako) and SAMMAZ 16), four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg N ha-1) and three intra-row spacing (20, 25 and 30 cm). The treatments were factorial combined and laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated three times. Results revealed that plant height, number of leaves and days to 50 % anthesis of Local maize cultivars responded significantly with 60 kg N ha-1 at 9 WAS. 180 kg N ha-1 and 25cm intra-row spacing in combination with SAMMAZ 16 recorded the highest grain yield, 100 grain weight, stover yield, shelling percentage and harvest index. The local cultivars supported greater Striga infestation at 20 cm intra-row spacing and 180 kg N ha-1 was found remarkable for Striga suppression at 9 WAS in this study. From these findings, it could be concluded that the above combinations can be used for effective management of Striga hermonthica for optimum yield of maize.Keywords: spacing, maize cultivar, nitrogen fertilizer, Striga hermonthic