Stakeholder Perception of the Impacts of Communication for Development in NGO-Supported Organizational Capacity Building: A Case of Yobe State Primary Health Care Management Board

Utilization of communication for development (C4D) in organizational capacity-building support provided by foreign aid-assisted developmental programs run by non-governmental organization (NGOs) has been shown to improve primary health care (PHC) services in both urban and rural communities, especially the latter. This study investigated stakeholder perceived benefits of organizational capacity-building support provided by NGOs toward the improvement of PHC services in Yobe State. Adopting a case study approach with key informant interview (KII), the responses of four key management staff of Yobe State Primary Health Care Management Board (YSPHCMB) were captured and analyzed using the organizational capacity assessment tool model and critical discourse analysis. The key findings revealed that two critical C4D techniques namely, advocacy and behavior-change communication have impacted significantly toward the strengthening of both YSPHCMB and improvement of PHC services in rural areas of the state more than it did in urban centers; organizational capacity-building support provided by NGOs have significantly strengthened the capacity of YSPHCMB effectively more than both the State and Federal Governments (the primary funders of PHC services) did; and perceived sustainability crisis (PSC) in the event of the expiration of the tenure of some NGOs and developmental programs has been identified as a critical challenge that may affect the tremendous successes achieved by the programs/NGOs negatively should they close as anticipated. To avert the occurrence of PSC in the aftermaths of the closure of an NGO, both the State and Federal Governments should ensure enough and timely release of PHC counterpart funding. Keywords: C4D, communication for development, Nigerian primary health care services, NGO, OCAT, organizational capacity assessment tool, PHC, DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/79-04 Publication date: April 30th 201

EXPLORING ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY STRENGTHENING FACTORS INFLUENCING THE USE OF COMMUNICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT TECHNIQUES FOR ENHANCEMENT OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES ADMINISTRATION IN NIGERIA

The impacts of organizational capacity-strengthening support provided by local non-governmental organizations toward the utilization of communication for development techniques (advocacy and behavior change communication) for the improvement of primary health care services administration in the North-eastern Nigerian state of Yobe were explored. Using the organizational capacity assessment tool model and critical discourse analysis, the responses of five key management personnel of Yobe State Primary Health Care Management Board were analyzed. Organizational capacity strengthening in respect of organizational governance, coordination and partnerships, organizational planning, human resource development and management board dimensions appeared to have salient influences on the utilization of communication for development techniques in primary health care services administration with budgeting and financing dimensions having weaker influences. Perceived sustainability crisis and government political commitment appeared to play a moderating role

Stakeholder Perception of the Impacts of Communication for Development Techniques in NGO-Supported Organizational Capacity Building: A Case of Yobe State Primary Health Care Management Board

Utilization of communication for development (C4D) techniques in organizational capacity-building support provided by foreign aid-assisted developmental programs run by non-governmental organization (NGOs) has been shown to improve primary health care (PHC) services in both urban and rural communities, especially the latter. This study investigated stakeholder perceived benefits of organizational capacity-building support provided by NGOs toward the improvement of PHC services in Yobe State. Adopting a case study approach with key informant interview (KII), the responses of four key management staff of Yobe State Primary Health Care Management Board (YSPHCMB) were captured and analyzed using the organizational capacity assessment tool model and critical discourse analysis. The key findings revealed that two critical C4D techniques namely, advocacy and behavior-change communication have impacted significantly toward the strengthening of both YSPHCMB and improvement of PHC services in rural areas of the state more than it did in urban centers; organizational capacity-building support provided by NGOs have significantly strengthened the capacity of YSPHCMB effectively more than both the State and Federal Governments (the primary funders of PHC services) did; and perceived sustainability crisis (PSC) in the event of the expiration of the tenure of some NGOs and developmental programs has been identified as a critical challenge that may affect the tremendous successes achieved by the programs/NGOs negatively should they close as anticipated. To avert the occurrence of PSC in the aftermaths of the closure of an NGO, both the State and Federal Governments should ensure enough and timely release of PHC counterpart funding. Keywords: C4D, communication for development, Nigerian primary health care services, NGO, OCAT, organizational capacity assessment tool, PHC, DOI: 10.7176/DCS/9-3-03 Publication date:March 31st 201

The Impact of Fake News and the Emerging Post-Truth Political Era on Nigerian Polity: A Review of Literature

Since the rising to notoriety of the present ‘genre’ of malicious content peddled as ‘fake news’ (mostly over social media) in 2016 during the United States’ presidential election, barely three years until Nigeria’s 2019 general elections, fake news has made dangerously damaging impacts on the Nigerian society socially, politically and economically. Notably, the escalating herder-farmer communal clashes in the northern parts of the country, ethno-religious crises in Taraba, Plateau and Benue states and the furiously burning fire of the thug-of-war between the ruling party (All Progressives Congress, APC) and the opposition, particularly the main opposition party (People’s Democratic Party, PDP) have all been attributed to fake news, untruth and political propaganda. This paper aims to provide further understanding about the evolving issues regarding fake news and its demonic impact on the Nigerian polity. To make that contribution toward building the literature, extant literature and verifiable online news content on fake news and its attributes were critically reviewed. This paper concludes that fake news and its associated notion of post-truth may continue to pose threat to the Nigerian polity unless strong measures are taken. For the effects of fake news and post-truth phenomena to be suppressed substantially, a tripartite participation involving these key stakeholders – the government, legislators and the public should be modelled and implemented to the letter

Determining ICT Use Level from Use Pattern: ICT Use Level of Malaysian Agribusinesses

The research was financed by Universiti Putra Malaysia (Putra Grant) No. GP-IPS/2014/9433928 (Sponsoring information) Abstract There has been a continuous commitment of policymakers in Malaysia to support information and communication technology (ICT) adoption in small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs). For these novel and innovative policy initiatives to be successful, an understanding of the SMEs’ ICT use pattern and use behaviour is required. In this study, the focus is upon the pattern of the use of ICT in agribusiness enterprises and the use level, which could explain the role that ICTs play in the performance (processing and production) of agro-based products by Malaysian agro-SMEs and give insight into the factors that influence their ICT use. The study adopted the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and focused on model’s independent variable, i.e., ICT use. Using data obtained from randomly sampled 400 workers (both managers and employees) of 43 agribusiness enterprises that were also randomly selected, the study ran factor and descriptive analyses to determine the most important items in the questionnaire that determine the ICT use level in the scale. The findings have shown that the prevalent patterns of ICT use among the agro-SMEs are in entrepreneurial (organisational) business communication and product processing and production line, though the use of ICT in the latter purview was rather still low. Some recommendations for policy-makers and a suggestion for future research were provided. Keywords: Agribusiness Enterprises, ICT use behaviour, ICT use level, ICT use pattern, SME

DEVELOPING A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ON ENTREPRENEURIAL CAPACITY BUILDING STRATEGIES AND JOB CREATION AMONG RURAL COMMUNITIES IN NIGERIA

Entrepreneurship ability and capacity can be easily achieved through entrepreneurship education. it is a continuous training and development of entrepreneurial ability, capacity and skills that are relevant and whose comprehension and applicability enhances or enable the recipients to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of the economy. This study employed a conceptual literature review to develop a conceptual framework on Community Entrepreneurial Capacity Building Strategies among Rural communities in Nigeria

PROFITABILITY AND FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF MICROFINANCE BANKS IN NIGERIA

This study seeks to evaluate the profitability of microfinance banks operating in Nigeria as a precondition of financial sustainability. Profitable banks tend to maintain adequate capital, high deposit base, high liquidity status and high loan quality.  Correlational research design was adopted for the study and balanced panel data was used.  Financial sustainability microfinance banks were profiled on size, capital adequacy and liquidity status, deposit base and loan quality following a balanced panel design. Multiple regression was used to analyze the data collected. The study reveals low level of profitability and sustainability, and hence recommends that Government and Monetary authorities (CBN) should increase the capital requirements for the establishment of Microfinance Banks as the current requirements are inadequate; embark on effective monitoring of the activities of Microfinance Banks; and promulgate policies that will enhance transparency, proper accountability and competition in the sector to attract more credible investors