Reducing incentives for fiscal indiscipline at Nigeria’ssubnational government level

LSE’s Eustace Uzor offers potential solutions for improving fiscal governance in Nigeria’s subnational units

Tackling Corruption in Nigeria through Public Service Reforms

Eustace Uzor examines evidence from India which suggests that employing individuals with a natural aptitude for the public sector could help reduce corruption

Enhancing Tax Collection Efficiency and Compliance in Nigeria: The role of behavioural economics

Eustace Uzor argues that incorporating insights from behavioural economics into the operation of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) could transform tax collection in Nigeria

Falls prevention advice and visual feedback to those at risk of falling : study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

Studies have shown that functional strength and balance exercises can reduce the risk of falling in older people if they are done on a regular basis. However, the repetitive nature of these exercises; combined with the inherent lack of feedback of progress may discourage seniors from exercising in the home, thereby rendering such an intervention ineffective. This study hypothesizes that the use of visual feedback and multimodal games will be more effective in encouraging adherence to home rehabilitation than standard care; thereby promoting independence and improving the quality of life in older adults at risk of falling

Rituals in Nollywood films: a discourse in ideology

Nollywood films are replete with themes and scenes of ritual murder, magical and spiritual powers. This has been attributed to the prevailing belief system and mind-set of the Nigerian society. Interestingly, this has received so much attention from scholars locally and internationally. However, film is a cultural product, which thrives within the culture of a film’s origin. As such, the cultural background provides the scenarios and thematic preoccupations which form the predominant ideas in films. This paper examines rituals in Nollywood films as statements on the life patterns of the Nigerian society. This research involves a textual analysis of the video film text, Issakaba 1. The choice of this film narrative is informed by the thematic content in relation to the ideologies of the Nigerian society. The findings reveal that rituals are part of the culture and belief systems of the Nigerian society. In that case, Nollywood films can only present their narratives against the backdrop of culture by relating content to existing situations within the society. This paper therefore recommends that for proper critical assessment of rituals in Nollywood films, an understanding of the culture and belief system of the Nigerian society is important

Targeting the splice factor kinase CLK1 in prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer is the most rampant diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer related death in men between middle age and old age. There is a need to identify the molecular genetic processes that underpin prostate cancer and to search for new treatments. Alternative splicing affects over 94% of human genes and aberrant splicing is implicated in prostate cancer. Splicing is regulated by splice factors and protein kinases (the latter including SRPK1 and CLK1). The CLK1 protein kinase specifically regulates alternative splicing by phosphorylation of SR proteins within the nucleus, particularly in nuclear speckles (splice factor storage sites). CLK1 is also found to be overexpressed during malignant prostate cell transformation-; therefore targeting the splice factor kinase CLK1 by its specific chemical inhibitor (TG003) could be therapeutically useful. We confirm that CLK1 expression is itself regulated through alternative splicing: skipping of exon 4 or retention of intron 4 results in truncated, inactive CLK1. The aims of this project are to study CLK1 alternative splicing and to explore the effects of targeting the splice factor kinase CLK1 in prostate cancer.Prostate cancer cell lines (androgen independent PC3 and DU145 cells) were treated independently for 24, 48 and 72hrs with varying concentrations (10nM -100μM) of thebenzothiazole compound (TG003) a specific inhibitor of CLK1. Results suggest that chemical inhibition of CLK1 with TG003 treatment suppressed growth and induced apoptosis in prostate cancer cell lines, as well as causing decreased cell migration and invasion. Similar effects were observed when CLK1 expression was reduced with an siRNA. There was also increased E-cadherin expression with TG003 treatment; incontrast, vimentin expression was reduced suggesting reversal of endothelialmesenchymal transition following TG003 treatment. RT-PCR analysis revealed that TG003 treatment altered CLK1’s own splicing by altering exon 4 skipping rates in a iv dose dependent manner, suggesting that a feedback loop mechanism contributes to the regulation of CLK1 expression. In vivo mouse work with PC3 cell line xenograftsshowed a highly significant reduction in tumour growth and volume following intraperitoneal TG003 administration (10 and 50μM). In conclusion, the findings presented in this thesis suggest that targeting CLK1 may bring considerable anticancer benefits

Mise-en-scene and authenticity in Kunle Afolayan’s October 1

Illusive realism is the hallmark of film narratives and it is achieved in film production through appropriate composition of narrative elements in film shots and sequences. These elements constitute the mise-en-scene and their purpose is geared towards authenticating the narrative, while offering the basis for the interpretations and meanings given it. This study examines Kunle Afolayan’s October 1, focusing on the significant role played by mise-en-scene in carrying the thematic thrust through the use of realistic sets, props, costumes and make-up. It hinges on the analysis of these elements to understand their role in the signification of the period in the narrative. Using semiotic principles, it analyses these elements as signs denoting and connoting a certain period in Nigerian history. This study also emphasizes the semiotic readings of mise-en-scene in Nollywood films to tinge out relevant meanings encoded in the composition of images in film narratives. It is also expected to guide the Nigerian filmmaker towards accuracy in the use of mise-en-scene. It is hoped that film makers will create believable illusions of reality using the narrative elements that can best support the narration.Keywords: Mise-en-scene, Narrative, Props, Costume, Set, Make-u

Moderating Effect of Monetary Policy and Financial Development on Manufacturing Sector Performance

The purpose of this study is to examine the moderating impact of monetary policy and financial development on manufacturing sector performance in Nigeria from 1981 to 2021. The study employed annual time series data collected from the World Bank’s Development Indicators. The data was analysed using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag estimator. The study found that monetary policy and financial development have significantly impacted manufacturing sector performance positively. Also, the interaction between monetary policy and financial development drives the performance of the manufacturing sector by lubricating access to investible funds in the sector through expansive monetary policy, stable inflation, and moderate interest rates. The practical implications of the study are that manufacturing sector performance is enhanced by expansive monetary policy and financial sector development. Moreover, monetary policy and financial development are complementary in their impact on the manufacturing sector. The main conclusion and its contribution are that financial development effectively moderates the impact of monetary policy on manufacturing in Nigeria. Thus, an expansive monetary policy and financial development strategies through efficient credit creation to the private sector would be the panacea for the dwindling performance of manufacturing in Nigeria. Keywords: Monetary Policy; Financial Development; Manufacturing Sector Output; Autoregressive Distributed Lag; Moderating Effect DOI: 10.7176/JESD/14-16-04 Publication date: October 202

Stage interpretation of Spencer Okoroafor’s “Battle of Wit and Will”: An Adaptation of Achebe’s Arrow of God

This paper is an appraisal of the power of adaptation in literary text. It is motivated by the need to critically assess the impact of the act of  adaptation in play productions. The study used the historical method to reveal the power of drama in vividly exposing themes originally in the work of the first writer. The researchers discovered that the act of adaptation consistently helps to promote and popularize the work, the author, and  ultimately the culture in focus as in the prose being studied. The paper  recommended that more attention should be given to the act of adaptation of literary works from poetry and prose to drama. The excise helped to  foreground the thematic thrust of the original text, while expanding the target audience. This particular adaptation further projected the Igbo  culture depicted in the prose which forms the corpus of this research.Key Words: Adaptation, playwriting, production elements, betrayal, performance

Compact Dynamic Optimisation Algorithm

In recent years, the field of evolutionary dynamic optimisation has seen significant increase in scientific developments and contributions. This is as a result of its relevance in solving academic and real-world problems. Several techniques such as hyper-mutation, hyper-learning, hyper-selection, change detection and many more have been developed specifically for solving dynamic optimisation problems. However, the complex structure of algorithms employing these techniques make them unsuitable for real-world, real-time dynamic optimisation problem using embedded systems with limited memory. The work presented in this thesis focuses on a compact approach as an alternative to population based optimisation algorithm, suitable for solving real-time dynamic optimisation problems. Specifically, a novel compact dynamic optimisation algorithm suitable for embedded systems with limited memory is presented. Three novel dynamic approaches that augment and enhance the evolving properties of the compact genetic algorithm in dynamic environments are introduced. These are 1.) change detection scheme that measures the degree of dynamic change 2.) mutation schemes whereby the mutation rates is directly linked to the detected degree of change and 3.) change trend scheme the monitors change pattern exhibited by the system. The novel compact dynamic optimization algorithm outlined was applied to two differing dynamic optimization problems. This work evaluates the algorithm in the context of tuning a controller for a physical target system in a dynamic environment and solving a dynamic optimization problem using an artificial dynamic environment generator. The novel compact dynamic optimisation algorithm was compared to some existing dynamic optimisation techniques. Through a series of experiments, it was shown that maintaining diversity at a population level is more efficient than diversity at an individual level. Among the five variants of the novel compact dynamic optimization algorithm, the third variant showed the best performance in terms of response to dynamic changes and solution quality. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that information transfer based on dynamic change patterns can effectively minimize the exploration/exploitation dilemma in a dynamic environment