The architecture and chemistry of a dug-out : the Dufuna canoe in ethno-archaeological perspective

This research work emanated from a joint research project between the Johann-Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Germany and the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria; as outlined in the Bilateral Agreement of July 21st 1988.1 The research program is interdisciplinary in nature involving these areas: Archaeology, Geography, Linguistics and Historical Ethnology; all under the general theme of West African Savannah. Considerable research work has already been carried out in these areas by German explorers and scholars dating back to the mid-nineteenth century. The project is funded by the German Research Foundation. The present paper addresses itself purely to one and very important aspect of an archaeological campaign undertaken in the Chad Region of Nigeria in late 1990/1991 season. In consequence to reconnaissance survey and excavation conducted at a site called Gajiganna, abundant lithic materials were noticed and collected. The crucial question one poses to the site which lacks physical outcrops in and within the precinct of the settlement are, what could have been the source of the raw materials at the site? Were they transported from somewhere to the site? If so, why was it necessary for the materials to be brought to this site? These and other related questions posed a serious commodity problem for most sites in Borno with lithic materials

Hostile gatekeeping: The strategy of engaging with journalists in extremism reporting

This article broadly examines the relationship between strategic communications and journalism with specific reference to the issue of violent extremism. Using a case study of reporting on the Boko Haram conflict in Nigeria, it analyses the nature and consequences of engagement among the various communicators involved. The primary data were drawn from focus groups and individual interviews with thirty-two journalists and strategic communicators, and from analysis of Boko Haram videos and Nigerian security forces’ press releases. The findings suggest that journalists have a tense but interdependent relationship with strategic communicators that is characterised by conflict and cooperation, harassment and intimidation. Strategic communicators’ control of the conflict theatre and use of the Internet to reach audiences directly give them leverage in the relationship. They, however, rely on journalists to help enhance the reach and credibility of their narratives, while journalists depend significantly on their media releases

Effect of Bio-phosphate on Increasing the Phosphorus Availability, the Growth and the Yield of Lowland Rice in Ultisol

Effects of Bio-phosphate on Increasing the Phosphorus Availability, the Growth and the Yield of Lowland Rice in Ultisol (Yafizham and M Abubakar): Ultisol soil is low of macro and micro nutrient, pH and base saturation as well as high toxicity of Al and Fe. To increase productivity of ultisols soils, especially availability of P nutrients, the use of bio-phosphate can increase P solubilizing in the soils. The research was conducted in the green house of Agriculture Faculty, the University of Lampung from January to March 2005. A factorial experiment using two factors in a randomized completely block design with five replications was conducted. The first factor was dosages of bio-phosphate (0; 10; 20 g L-1), the second factor was lowland rice cultivar (Ciherang, Sintanur, Cilosari and IR64). The results showed that the availability of N, K and P nutrients in the soil before planting was low. Application of biophosphate increased availability of N, K and P in the soil. Application of 10 g L-1 and 20 g L-1 of bio-phosphate increased root length of lowland rice, there were 13.3% and 36.8%, respectively. Application of 20 g L-1 of biophosphate increased 100 grain weight of lowland rice which were higher 11.4% compared to without any bio-phosphate

The concept of Pulaaku mirrored in fulfulde proverbs of the Gombe dialect

The paper gives a brief history of the Fulçe people who are found all over West and Central Africa. Since no study of a people is complete without mentioning their language, the paper also gives a very brief account of Fulfulde, the language of the Fulçe people. However, the central focus of the paper is the concept of pulaaku, that unique attribute of the Fulçe that serves as an unwritten code of conduct for all ‘true’ Fulçe. Pulaaku is Fulçe’s guiding principle in their dealings with their fellow Fulçe as well as with all other people. Rather than talk about pulaaku in isolation, however, the paper tries to mirror it through Fulfulde proverbs. Coded or loaded messages called wise-sayings or proverbs are widely used in all languages. Fulfulde is particularly rich in this, which is why the paper explores this reservoir of knowledge in trying to portray the rich culture of the Fulçe people. The corpus of proverbs from which the selected proverbs come, was compiled in and around Gombe with the help of Mallam Bappayo Bappa Yerima Djibril. Since the Fulçe are easily the most dispersed people in Africa, no single study can do real justice to all of them. This is why this study narrows its scope to cover just the Fulçe of Gombe area of the northeastern of Nigeria

Cash-Cow into the Purse of Malaysian Property Investors: Students Housing Investment

Growing demand for higher education (HE) and increasing students enrolment in higher education institutions (HEI) has been a global issue especially in the last three decades and housing the growing student population has become a dilemma for all concern HEIs stakeholders. Globally increasing demand for HE and enrolment has long been not corresponding with student housing supply. Most HEIs provide housing accommodation for a small proportion of their total students’ population while the majority depend on private rental sector for their alternative housing. In most of the HEIs neighbouring community residential houses were rented out to students. These houses are not sufficient to accommodate the teaming student population because the market is dominated by traditional small-scale private developers. However, with the continuing expansion and demand for HE, increasing enrolment and increasing students housing demand, the study highlighted and suggested for private investors to pull up and dig into student housing investment. This will ameliorate and fill the shortfall created by inadequacy of HEIs housing provision. Student housing investment is a resilient market, lucrative venture and guaranteed cash cow

Development of Hybrid Block Integrator for the Numerical solution of Stiff and Oscillatory Differential Equations for first order Ordinary Differential Equations

This paper discussed the development of a new numerical hybrid block integrator for the numerical solution of stiff and oscillatory differential equations for first order ordinary differential equations. The method of interpolation and collocation at some selected grid point to generate the continuous scheme was adopted. The research also investigates the consistency, convergence, zero-stability and region of absolute stability of the integrator using matlab and the integrator was tested on some numerical experiments for comparism. The analysis of the method showed that the method is Zero-stable, consistent, convergent and computationally stable. The method handles stiff and Oscillatory differential equations effectively. AMS Subject Classification: 65L05, 65L06, 65D3