Resource Management in Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC)

This PhD thesis investigates the effective ways of managing the resources of a Multi-Access Edge Computing Platform (MEC) in 5th Generation Mobile Communication (5G) networks. The main characteristics of MEC include distributed nature, proximity to users, and high availability. Based on these key features, solutions have been proposed for effective resource management. In this research, two aspects of resource management in MEC have been addressed. They are the computational resource and the caching resource which corresponds to the services provided by the MEC. MEC is a new 5G enabling technology proposed to reduce latency by bringing cloud computing capability closer to end-user Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile devices. MEC would support latency-critical user applications such as driverless cars and e-health. These applications will depend on resources and services provided by the MEC. However, MEC has limited computational and storage resources compared to the cloud. Therefore, it is important to ensure a reliable MEC network communication during resource provisioning by eradicating the chances of deadlock. Deadlock may occur due to a huge number of devices contending for a limited amount of resources if adequate measures are not put in place. It is crucial to eradicate deadlock while scheduling and provisioning resources on MEC to achieve a highly reliable and readily available system to support latency-critical applications. In this research, a deadlock avoidance resource provisioning algorithm has been proposed for industrial IoT devices using MEC platforms to ensure higher reliability of network interactions. The proposed scheme incorporates Banker’s resource-request algorithm using Software Defined Networking (SDN) to reduce communication overhead. Simulation and experimental results have shown that system deadlock can be prevented by applying the proposed algorithm which ultimately leads to a more reliable network interaction between mobile stations and MEC platforms. Additionally, this research explores the use of MEC as a caching platform as it is proclaimed as a key technology for reducing service processing delays in 5G networks. Caching on MEC decreases service latency and improve data content access by allowing direct content delivery through the edge without fetching data from the remote server. Caching on MEC is also deemed as an effective approach that guarantees more reachability due to proximity to endusers. In this regard, a novel hybrid content caching algorithm has been proposed for MEC platforms to increase their caching efficiency. The proposed algorithm is a unification of a modified Belady’s algorithm and a distributed cooperative caching algorithm to improve data access while reducing latency. A polynomial fit algorithm with Lagrange interpolation is employed to predict future request references for Belady’s algorithm. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm obtains 4% more cache hits due to its selective caching approach when compared with case study algorithms. Results also show that the use of a cooperative algorithm can improve the total cache hits up to 80%. Furthermore, this thesis has also explored another predictive caching scheme to further improve caching efficiency. The motivation was to investigate another predictive caching approach as an improvement to the formal. A Predictive Collaborative Replacement (PCR) caching framework has been proposed as a result which consists of three schemes. Each of the schemes addresses a particular problem. The proactive predictive scheme has been proposed to address the problem of continuous change in cache popularity trends. The collaborative scheme addresses the problem of cache redundancy in the collaborative space. Finally, the replacement scheme is a solution to evict cold cache blocks and increase hit ratio. Simulation experiment has shown that the replacement scheme achieves 3% more cache hits than existing replacement algorithms such as Least Recently Used, Multi Queue and Frequency-based replacement. PCR algorithm has been tested using a real dataset (MovieLens20M dataset) and compared with an existing contemporary predictive algorithm. Results show that PCR performs better with a 25% increase in hit ratio and a 10% CPU utilization overhead

Curbing Corruption in Nigeria: The Imperatives of Good Leadership

The work generally examined the past and present government leaderships' efforts at curbing corruption in Nigeria and the imperatives of good leadership. The study, specifically, analyzed the relationship between effectively fighting and curbing corruption and the leadership style in Nigeria. The basic finding is that because corruption in Nigeria is very pervasive at the nation's various leadership levels, the effort to curb it has not been significantly successful. This is because the leaders who are at the forefront of the anti-graft war are grossly embedded in corrupt activities themselves. In the face of this, the work recommends that to effectively fight and control corruption in Nigeria, government leadership at all levels must be honest, upright, sincere and accountable in their management of state affairs. Very importantly, the leaders need to exhibit exemplary attitudes and serve as models for upright and honest public and even private lives. In fact, Nigeria leaders must be willing and capable to demonstrate personal commitment to the ant-graft war not only in words but, very importantly, in deeds. This is very necessary if the efforts at fighting corruption in Nigeria are to be effective and meaningful

Impact of Poor Accounting Practices on Budget Implementation on Government Owned Industries. A Study of Enugu State

This work titled impact of poor accounting practices on budgetary implementation on Enugu State owned industries aimed at identifying the major causes of poor accounting and budgetary practices in government owned industries; determine the effects of these problems on implementation of budgets in government owned industries; and analyse the impact of these numerous problems to the growth and development of government industries in Enugu State.  The study reviewed other existing literature. It applied content analysis techniques. The study discovered that there exist poor accounting practices in government owned industries in Enugu Sate and also appropriate budgetary implementation are hardly kept by these industries. It was found also that employment into these industries are defective hence poor accounting practices and impact of budgetary implementation are hardly met.  The study recommend that appointment into board members should not be defective. Rather people who are called to serve should be appointed in-spite zone or local government to ensure success of government industries. In addition, employment into those industries not be zoned to ensure that experts are employed and they effectively discharge their duties diligently and proper things being done at the right time.  Government Should introduce policy where wrong appointee should be re-visited or cancelled if possible to ensure that correct personnel is employed for effective performance.  Study is recommending that national growth should be preferred by introducing measures that will motivate and increase individual representative willingness and performance through incentives and rewarding system.   Implication of the findings. Due to the fact that required personnel often do not occupy the right position in government industries in Enugu State it creates loopholes especially in area of accounting and its budgets. It affects the performance of the entire industry

Socio-Demographic Determinants of Health Care Programme Usage by Women During Pregnancy and Child-Birth in ADO-ODO/OTA Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

This study sought to determine the socio-demographic factors responsible for health-care programme usage by women during pregnancy and child-birth in a developing country like Nigeria, especially in Ado-Odo/ Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. Three research questions and one hypothesis were formulated to guide the study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. A sample size of two hundred and sixty (260) respondents were selected from five rural wards in the Local Government Area using the stratified random sampling technique. A face to face structured interview and focus group discussion were used for data collection. Content analysis and the econometric bivariate regression model were used for both qualitative and quantitative data analyses respectively. The hypothesis formulated for the study was tested using ANOVA. A total of eleven independent variables were used for computing the regression equation/model. Data analyses yielded eight findings which showed the significant factors that determine health-care programme usage by pregnant women. These are level of educational attainment, distance to health-care facility, male domination women’s perpetual dependence on men, poverty and so on. These findings were exhaustively discussed and some appropriate policy implications and recommendations outlined

Cost Implications of The Prevalence Of HIV/AIDS On The Economic Development Of Nigeria.

HIV/AIDS emerged in the last three decades as visible threat to health and the socio-economic conditions of developing countries including Nigeria. Against this background, this study sought to determine the cost implications of the prevalence of HIV/AIDs on the economic development of Nigeria. The study adopted mainly qualitative approach sourced from National Bureau of Statistics-(NBS) and Central Bank of Nigeria-(CBN) statistical Bulletin respectively for analysis. Findings seem to support claims that the incidence of HIV/AIDS exert serious negative influences on the economic growth of Nigeria. This is due to the fact that HIV/AIDS reduces to a large extent the proportion of the working population with its huge corresponding cost implications, which in turn affect economic resources in the country. The policy interventions strategies recommended for stemming the scourge of HIV/AIDS include; prevention of new infections, cost reduction of treatments for patients, positive adjustments of patients to employment environment and development of activities like pychoeducational programme to motivate and foster HIV/AIDS prevention and management behaviours among the Nigeria populace especially the youth

Nigeria Local Government: A Discourse on the Theoretical Imperatives in a Governmental System

The need for the creation and existence of local governments in a  governmental system has, over the years, been one of the most frequently discussed issues in public administration studies. Accompanying this  discussion usually is the consideration of the challenges confronting the local governments in the performance of the functions that underscore the imperative for their creation. In this work, we articulated and analyzed in detail, the theoretical imperatives for the creation of local governments in governmental system. This we did under three major schools of thought on the functional relevance of the local governments. These schools of  thought are the democratic participatory school, the efficient-service school and the development school. We further explored and analyzed some of the factors that constitute fundamental challenges to the performance of the expected development roles by the local governments using the  Nigerian Federal system of government as a reference point. In conclusion, we noted that local governments constitute key institutions for enhancing democracy and advancing development particularly at the local or  grassroots level but constrained in the performance of these roles, by inadequate finance, poor political leadership and insufficient autonomy as exemplified in the Nigerian federal system of government.Key words: Local Government, governmental system, developmen

Cost Implications of the Prevalence of HIV/AIDS on the Economic Development of Nigeria.

HIV/AIDS emerged in the last three decades as visible threat to health and the socio-economic conditions of developing countries including Nigeria. Against this background, this study sought to determine the cost implications of the prevalence of HIV/AIDs on the economic development of Nigeria. The study adopted mainly qualitative approach sourced from National Bureau of Statistics-(NBS) and Central Bank of Nigeria-(CBN) statistical Bulletin respectively for analysis. Findings seem to support claims that the incidence of HIV/AIDS exert serious negative influences on the economic growth of Nigeria. This is due to the fact that HIV/AIDS reduces to a large extent the proportion of the working population with its huge corresponding cost implications, which in turn affect economic resources in the country. The policy interventions strategies recommended for stemming the scourge of HIV/AIDS include; prevention of new infections, cost reduction of treatments for patients, positive adjustments of patients to employment environment and development of activities like pycho-educational programme to motivate and foster HIV/AIDS prevention and management  behaviours among the Nigeria populace especially the youth. Keywords: Cost, Economic Growth; Employment, HIV/AIDS, Productivit

Cost Implications of the Prevalence of HIV/AIDS on the Economic Development of Nigeria

HIV/AIDS emerged in the last three decades as visible threat to health and the socio-economic conditions of developing countries including Nigeria. Against this background, this study sought to determine the cost implications of the prevalence of HIV/AIDs on the economic development of Nigeria. The study adopted mainly qualitative approach sourced from National Bureau of Statistics-(NBS) and Central Bank of Nigeria-(CBN) statistical Bulletin respectively for analysis. Findings seem to support claims that the incidence of HIV/AIDS exert serious negative influences on the economic growth of Nigeria. This is due to the fact that HIV/AIDS reduces to a large extent the proportion of the working population with its huge corresponding cost implications, which in turn affect economic resources in the country. The policy interventions strategies recommended for stemming the scourge of HIV/AIDS include; prevention of new infections, cost reduction of treatments for patients, positive adjustments of patients to employment environment and development of activities like pycho-educational programme to motivate and foster HIV/AIDS prevention and management  behaviours among the Nigeria populace especially the youth. Keywords: Cost, Economic Growth; Employment, HIV/AIDS, Productivit

Influence of Parental Occupation and Level of Education on Academic Performance of Accounting Students in Nigeria

THE study examined the influence of parental occupation and level of education on academic performance of accounting students in Nigeria. It was informed by the fact that the proper functioning of every country’s financial system and extent of viability of her economy is a function of the quality of accountants produced by her tertiary institutions. The specific objectives were to determine the relationship between parental occupation and level of education on academic performance of accounting students in Nigeria. The scope embraced accounting students in the Department of Accountancy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The main instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire. The population of the study comprised 150 final year students of accounting in the University. Purposive sampling technique was employed in selecting 60 as sample size and in the administration. Data analysis were done with the statistical tools of Chi-square (X2) and t-test statistics. Results obtained indicate that parental occupational level significantly influenced students’ academic performance in accounting studies in Nigeria, and that parental educational levels have strong positive relationship with students’ academic performance in accounting studies in Nigeria. It was recommended among other things that the three tiers of government should help to improve academic achievement of students in Nigeria, by extending educational support in form of adult literacy programmes to uneducated parents in the country. Keywords: Parents, Occupation, Educational Levels, Accounting Students, Academic Performance

Safety of Ionizing Radiation in Selected Conventional X-ray Diagnostic Centres in Calabar and Uyo metropolises, Nigeria

Background: Humans are inevitably exposed to background radiation in work and public environments. The aim of this work is to assess the effectiveness of the secondary barriers in conventional x-ray diagnostic centers in Calabar and Uyo metropolises. This is by determining the weekly and annual effective dose in their respective uncontrolled areas and comparing them with the international recommendations. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in three x-ray diagnostic centers in Calabar, represented as C1, C2, and C3 respectively, and in four xray diagnostic centers in Uyo, represented as U1, U2, U3, and U4 respectively. Background radiation was measured using Radex 1212 A-A battery-powered survey meter, at a distance of 2.5meters away from the xray units. Radiation measurement was taken at three different spots, and the recorded data were analyzed. Results: The mean calculated effective dose per week in mSv/week for each diagnostic center was given as 0.130 ± 0.0068mSv/week. Also, the mean calculated effective dose per year in mSv/year for each center was given as 0.66 ± 0.35mSv/year. These values are below the National Commission on Radiation Protection (NCRP) recommendations of 0.02mSv/week and 1mSv/year respectively. From the results, the mean calculated chance of developing cancer was 2.33 ×10-3% which was lower than the NCRP recommendation for continuous public exposure of 5.5×10-3 %. Conclusion: It could be concluded that the integrity of the shielding designs and their dimensions assessed are safe