Geospatial Model for Flood Mitigation along the Coast of the River Niger in Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria

Flooding is a recurring natural disaster with the potential to cause widespread devastation to communities and their environments. This study focuses on the spatiotemporal analysis of flood risk and mitigation strategies in Lokoja, Nigeria, a region susceptible to recurrent flooding due to its location at the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers. The research aims to provide valuable insights into understanding the dynamics of flooding in Lokoja, assessing its potential impact, and proposing mitigation measures. The study employs an interdisciplinary approach, utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), surveying, and statistical techniques to collect, analyze, and model data related to flooding. Data sources include Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) imageries, satellite data, historical flood records, and climatic information. Findings reveal a nuanced understanding of flood risk, encompassing the spatial distribution of flooding along Niger River and the contributory factors, such as increasing annual rainfall and river overflow. Also, recent findings from the Federal Government’s flood prediction report indicated that heavy rainfall and potential flooding may impact multiple towns in Nigeria, including those along the Niger River. This highlights the continued importance of proactive flood mitigation efforts, not only in Lokoja but also in various regions susceptible to flooding. The study offers predictive models to anticipate future flooding scenarios. In the light of these findings, this study underscores the significance of comprehensive flood risk assessment and mitigation strategies in Lokoja. The research not only aids in understanding the behavior of the Niger River during heavy rainfall but also provides critical information for developing flood management plans, constructing flood barriers, and enhancing the resilience of the community to flooding. Furthermore, it recommends innovative approaches to harness the recurring dam overflow from Cameroon by channeling the water to Sambisa Forest for agricultural purposes, constructing new turbines for excess electricity generation, and utilizing the water for irrigation during the annual dam release. This study serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, urban planners, and researchers seeking to address the challenges posed by the flooding across Nigeria

Geospatial Model for Flood Mitigation along the Coast of the River Niger in Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria

Flooding is a recurring natural disaster with the potential to cause widespread devastation to communities and their environments. This study focuses on the spatiotemporal analysis of flood risk and mitigation strategies in Lokoja, Nigeria, a region susceptible to recurrent flooding due to its location at the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers. The research aims to provide valuable insights into understanding the dynamics of flooding in Lokoja, assessing its potential impact, and proposing mitigation measures. The study employs an interdisciplinary approach, utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), surveying, and statistical techniques to collect, analyze, and model data related to flooding. Data sources include Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) imageries, satellite data, historical flood records, and climatic information. Findings reveal a nuanced understanding of flood risk, encompassing the spatial distribution of flooding along Niger River and the contributory factors, such as increasing annual rainfall and river overflow. Also, recent findings from the Federal Government’s flood prediction report indicated that heavy rainfall and potential flooding may impact multiple towns in Nigeria, including those along the Niger River. This highlights the continued importance of proactive flood mitigation efforts, not only in Lokoja but also in various regions susceptible to flooding. The study offers predictive models to anticipate future flooding scenarios. In the light of these findings, this study underscores the significance of comprehensive flood risk assessment and mitigation strategies in Lokoja. The research not only aids in understanding the behavior of the Niger River during heavy rainfall but also provides critical information for developing flood management plans, constructing flood barriers, and enhancing the resilience of the community to flooding. Furthermore, it recommends innovative approaches to harness the recurring dam overflow from Cameroon by channeling the water to Sambisa Forest for agricultural purposes, constructing new turbines for excess electricity generation, and utilizing the water for irrigation during the annual dam release. This study serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, urban planners, and researchers seeking to address the challenges posed by the flooding across Nigeria

Technology-Enhanced Teaching: A Technology Acceptance Model to Study Teachers’ Intentions to Use Digital Games in the Classroom

This research to practice paper uses a Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to explore the factors that affect teachers’ intentions to use digital educational games in the classroom. Research shows that using computers and other digital technologies like digital games is one way to influence young people’s career aspirations and improve their digital literacy. This is particularly important as the world of work is changing and emerging jobs becoming more intensive in their use of digital technologies. In the developing world and in particular Nigeria, there have been calls to improve the digital literacy skills of young people to help them make informed career choices, and fully participate effectively and equally in the digital world. However, many of the computing and digital technology education initiatives have not produced the positive results intended. The lack of awareness, readiness and buy-in of the relevant stakeholders are some of the factors that has been identified as a barrier here. For example, for computing and digital technology-based projects in schools, the success largely depends on the support and attitude of teachers. As one of the major stakeholders in the classroom, teachers need to be consulted in decisions that affect the way they deliver their lessons; especially when novel ideas and approaches that challenge tradition are introduced. It is therefore important to consider their acceptance or otherwise of digital games in the classroom. A Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was modified to include constructs previously identified by teachers that potentially influence their intention to use digital games in the classroom. The extended TAM was developed into a questionnaire and tested with 220 teachers in Nigeria. Analyses of the results show that syllabus connectedness, perceived usefulness and self-efficacy are significant predictors of the intention of teachers to adoptdigital game-based learning in the classroom. Furthermore, the teachers' demographics including experience of teaching, age and gender all mediated the intention of the teachers to use digital game-based learning. The results and findings present recommendations for school leaders and developers of digital educational games. The practical insights from this are also important here and helpful for guiding the deployment of such games particularly in areas where such technological interventions have not been used before

Patterns and Determinants of Recreational Behaviour in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

By surveying a 5% probability sample of residential clusters, yielding 369 residents in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, this study has ascertained actual recreational behaviour of the residents; determinants of recreational behaviour; perceived adequacy/inadequacy of government provision of recreational facilities; and residents’ suggestions for improvement of recreational facilities. It was found, amongst others, that weekly participation in passive (outdoor) recreation averaged 3.7 hours and 2.5 hours for females and males, respectively; the corresponding figures for passive (indoor) recreation were 35.2 hours and 43.9 hours. For active (outdoor) recreation males and females averaged 8.9 hours and 5.3 hours, respectively. The corresponding figures for active (indoor) recreation were 5.3 hours and 6.2 hours. Of 5 personality variables, income was the most potent in explaining recreational behaviour. About one half and 43.3% of residents considered government-provided indoor and outdoor recreational facilities inadequate, respectively, demonstrating the need for government to play more active roles in (i) providing recreational facilities; and (ii) encouraging recreational participation, considering its well-known benefits.Leisure Time, Recreation, Participation, Recreational Demand, Multiple Classification Analysis

Spatial assessment of open defecation in the core area of Akure metropolis, Ondo state, Nigeria.

There have been some approaches in tackling Open defecation both locally and globally, but nevertheless open defecation still exists. This study aimed at spatially assessing the practice of open defecation in the study area which serves as one of the ways towards achieving an Open Defecation Free (ODF) city. The data used in the study include primary and secondary data. These are; the coordinates of Open Defecation sites, public toilets, markets and schools which was acquired with the aid of Global Positioning System (GPS) and 2020 google earth satellite imagery. The coordinates acquired were plotted in ArcGIS 10.3 software to determine their spatial distribution. Hotspot analysis was applied to examine the level of practice of open defecation in the study area. Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation was used to identify the spread of practice of Open Defecation. The result shows that most dump sites has been converted to Open Defecation sites and are found to be very close to places with influx of people such as markets. In addition, the study shows that the existing public toilets are not sufficient and as a result, three new toilets were proposed. Furthermore, the study shows specifically that Araromi, Sabo, Stadium road, Imuagan, Odo Ikoyi, Oja Oshodi, Odo ikoyi, Ijemikin and Ajaye street were the major hotspots where open defecation is practiced in the study area. This study recommends a quick attention on the identified hotspot locations in the study area by the government and agencies working towards Open Defecation Free (ODF) city

Influence of Staff Discipline and Attitude to Work On Job Satisfaction Lecturers in Tertiary Institutions in Cross River State

The paper examines the influence of staff discipline and attitude to work on job satisfaction of Lecturers in tertiary institution in Cross River State. A forty-item four point-liker survey questionnaire was used for data collection.  A total of 400 lecturers (200 males and females) out of a population of over 2,000 were chosen. Four (4) hypotheses were formulated for the study. The data generated was analyzed using Person Product Moment Correlation Analysis and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The result of study revealed that lecturers who have high, moderate, or low perception of how a staff is disciplined do not differ in their level of job satisfaction.  Also, lecturers’ attitude towards classroom teaching, lecturers’ attitude towards the tasks of disciplining students, lecturers’ attitudes towards supervision of instructions and lecturers’ attitude towards classroom management do not significantly relate to their job satisfaction. The result of the study showed a significant relationship between lectures recognition and their job satisfaction. Based on the findings, the following recommendations are made, inter-alia: to ensure appropriate staff discipline there is need for a enabling teaching environment to be created. Lecturers should be properly rewarded for their effort through improve conditions of serves. In-service training for all lecturers should be made compulsory to enhance their job satisfaction. Keywords: Discipline; job satisfaction, tertiary institutions; in-service training; attitude to work

Spatial Analysis of Control Points Distribution in Federal University of technology Akure

Context and background As a result of advancement in Technology, the densification of Survey Control Points (SCP) has become very easy. There has been some Survey Control Points (SCP) that were established within the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) campus, Ondo state, Nigeria with no intention for database storage.Goal and Objectives: This study aimed at mapping of control points distribution within the University community. The objectives include to identify and re-coordinate all existing control points in the study area, compare the result statistically and create a database in a mobile application environment.Methodology: Ground survey and Geographic Information System (GIS) methods were adopted in the study. All existing Survey Control Points (SCP) within the study area were re-coordinated with the use of South Differential Global Positioning system (DGPS) in static mode with minimum of thirty-minutes observation per station. The observed data were downloaded and processed using South GPS Processor, AutoCAD 16 and ArcGIS 10.3.1 software. Student’s T-test was used in comparing some existing and the observed coordinates. The coordinates (Northings, Easting and Height), images of Survey Control Points (SCP) location, number and nearest identifying feature gotten from the ArcGIS environment were used in building the mobile application. Also, in the process of developing the mobile application, the following programming languages were used; JavaScript, HTML, CSS and Bootstrap. Notepad++ was used in compiling the codes while IntelXDK platform was used in building, testing and debugging the mobile application.Results: The result reveals that the control points are evenly distributed within the study area. It has also contributed to the quality of geospatial data in the University environment, eliminate duplication of efforts, and provide an effective and efficient means of data accessibility through the creation of a mobile application database. The developed mobile application database is hereby recommended for adoption and update by the Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, FUTA.

Covid-19 pandemic: Psychosocial effect among physical and health education staff in Kogi State Nigeria

Fear and anxiety have always been a negative affect in performance and job settings, especially when there are external pressures. The Corona virus-19, took the world by surprise just when everybody was enthusiastic about the long-expected year 2020. Movements were restricted, offices, businesses, and public places shut down with imposed curfews allowing only “essential workers” do their jobs. These, invariably affected the way work and associations would later become even after the lockdown. The study aimed to know whether the psychosocial effect of COVID-19 (fear and anxiety) affect physical and health education staff of Kogi State Nigeria. Descriptive survey method was adopted for the research. 200 respondents (male & female) that included physical and health education staff (350) from all higher institutions in Kogi state were part of the study. The average age of respondents was 48.5years. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) (α =.74) and the Corona Virus Anxiety Scale (α =.82) was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics of frequency counts, means and percentages were used to analyze data. It is concluded that physical and health education staff in Kogi State do not experience anxiety and fear due to COVID-19. A limitation encountered was most respondents feared been stigmatized with COVID as was the case at the time.  It is significant in the sense that employees are greatly influenced by the views of their employer. Further research should be on the attitude of physical and health educators in Kogi State Nigeria to work during COVID-19 pandemic

Effect of Process Parameters on the Photocatalytic Degradation of Phenol in Oilfield Produced Wastewater using ZnO/Fe2O3 Nanocomposites.

The upstream processing of crude oil is often associated with the presence of phenolic compounds when not properly treated could result in adverse effects on human health. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of process parameters on the photocatalytic degradation of phenol. The ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite photocatalyst was prepared by sol-gel method and characterized using various instrument techniques. The characterized ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite displayed suitable physicochemical properties for the photocatalytic reaction. The ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite was employed for the phenol degradation in a cylindrical batch reactor under solar radiation. The photocatalytic runs show that calcination temperature of the ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite, catalyst loading, initial phenol concentration and pH of the wastewater significantly influence the photocatalytic degradation of phenol. After 180 min of solar radiation, the highest phenol degradation of 92.7% was obtained using the ZnO/Fe2O3 photocatalyst calcined at 400 ºC. This study has demonstrated that phenol degradation is significantly influenced by parameters such as calcination temperature of the ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite, catalyst loading, initial phenol concentration and pH of the wastewater resulting in highest phenol degradation using the ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite calcined at 400 ºC, initial phenol concentration of 0.5 mg/L, catalyst loading of 3 mg/L and pH of 3. Copyright © 2020 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).