How Nigeria’s 2015 presidential election outcome was forecasted with geodemographics and public sentiment analytics

In 2015, Nigeria held one of the most fiercely contested presidential elections in the nation’s recent democratic history. The outcome of the election was expected to exert significant influence on democratic practices on the African continent. The stiffness of the contest also meant that it was difficult to predict the likely winner of the election. This paper summarizes how an empirical approach was used to forecast the outcome of the election by modeling public sentiment data-set using a geodemographic framework. Results indicate that the main electorates that determined the outcome of the election were situated in thirteen battleground states. Additionally, results showed that two years before the presidential election, Goodluck Jonathan’s public approval ratings on corruption, insecurity, and the economy (the main drivers of the 2015 election) had nose-dived across many of the battleground states. This eventually contributed toward his loss

Women cooperatives and power redistribution in rural Nigeria : a case study of Nsukka, Enugu State

Partial final repor

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among the staff (25-70 years) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Campus

Background: The upsurge of overweight and obesity among adult workforce has become an epidemic and public health concern globally, contributing to low productivity, high medical cost and increase risk of non-communicable diseases and death.Objective: The study assessed the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the staff of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Campus.Methods: This study adopted a cross sectional study design. A total of 1470 academic and non- academic staff of the university aged 25–70 years were randomly selected through a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire which elicited information on the socio-demographic and dietary pattern. Height, weight, waist and hip circumferences were measured and used to derive indices (body mass index and waist/hip ratio) which were compared with the WHO reference standard for age. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 and presented as descriptive statistics. Chi-square test was used to assess the relationships, with a significant level set at p < 0.05.Results: Majority (85.4%) of the respondents skipped meals especially breakfast (55.0%), 44.6% and 40.9% skipped meal due to time constraint and not been hungry, respectively. Less than half (43.1%) exercised, 37% (35.1% of academic and 38.4% of non-academic staff) were overweight, 6.7% (6.6% of academic and 6.7% of non-academic) were obese and 21.4% males and 100.0% females were at risk of cardiovascular diseases.Conclusion: This study revealed poor dietary and lifestyle pattern, high prevalence of overweight and obesity, risk of cardiovascular diseases among the staff of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Campus.Keywords: Overweight, obesity and university staf

Iron and vitamin C rich foods intake of lactating mothers whose staples are roots and tubers

Background: In many communities in Nigeria, culture and gender-based intra food distribution in households increase the risk of micronutrient deficiency among women irrespective of their physiological state.Objective: This study evaluated the consumption pattern of iron and vitamin C rich foods of lactating mothers whose staple foods are roots and tubersMethods: A cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate consumption pattern of iron and vitamin C rich foods intake of 587lactating mothers whose staple foods were roots and tubers. The consenting mothers were selected from 12 out of the 23 primary health centres a community in Enugu state, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information mothers infant breastfeeding practices, consumption pattern of iron and vitamin C rich foods and factors influencing choice for selection of foods. Data collected were analysed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 22.0 and presented as frequencies, means and percentages.Results: As many as 41.9% and 37.9% advanced wrong combinations of foods as sources of iron and vitamin A, respectively. About 49% ate meat/product occasionally, 23.6% and 20.4% consumed fluted pumpkin and tomatoes daily, respectively. There was a significant (p < 0.02) relationship between the consumption pattern of vitamin C rich foods and iron rich foods.Conclusion: Intake of iron and vitamin C rich foods was observed to be low in this study. Women empowerment and nutrition education with emphasis on dietary diversity should be incorporated in the antenatal programme.Keywords: Lactating women, vitamin C, iron, intake, roots and tuber