The Strategies Required for Improving the Teaching of Cost Accounting in Colleges of Education in South-East, Nigeria

The study determined the strategies for improving the teaching of cost accounting in Colleges of Education in South East Nigeria. Five research questions guided the study, while five null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population for this study was 123 comprising of 53 accounting lecturers from 3 federal universities and 70 accounting lecturers from state universities. The instrument for data collection was a structured 100-item questionnaire. The instrument was face-validated by 3 experts from the Department of Business Education, University of Nigeria Nsukka. Cronbach Alpha reliability technique was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument and an overall reliability index of 0.83 was obtained. The researcher with the help of five research assistants facilitated the process of data collection for the study. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation for answering the research questions while t-test analysis were used for testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study found that the teaching of cost accounting in the Colleges of Education in South East Nigeria can be improved using good instructional planning, careful selection of instructional resources among others. Hypotheses tested revealed that there was no significant difference in the mean responses of the accounting lecturers. It was recommended among others that the government through the ministry of education should organize regular workshops, seminars and on-the-job trainings on capacity building for accounting lecturers to equip them with modern accounting knowledge, skills and technique

Socio-economic Determinants of Domestic Violence Suffered by Rural Women Crop Farmers in Imo State

ABSTRACT This study identified the socio-economic determinants of domestic violence suffered by rural women crop farmers in Orlu agricultural zone of Imo state, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 80 rural women crop farmers for the study. Data was collected using structured interview schedule and analyzed with both descriptive (mean, frequency counts, percentages) and inferential statistical tools (ordinary least square multiple regression analysis). Findings show that 68.5% of the women were 40 years and below and 81.4% were legally married with 88.7% of the women being in marriage for at least 8years. Most of the women (71%) had at most secondary school education and 23.3% earned above N20, 000 per month. Out of the four nature of domestic violence examined in the study, only emotional/psychological violence reached statistical significance with a mean of 2.5. The major causes of domestic violence identified by the study were disagreement over money (mean =3.0), failure to perform domestic chores (mean = 2.7), disobedience to husband (mean=2.7) and sharing marital problems with friends (mean = 2.7). Respondent’s age, duration of marriage, educational status, religion, household size and number of wives were the major determinants of domestic violence. It was recommended that a re-orientation be given to the men in the area to enlighten them more on the negative effects of domestic violence.Â

Socio-economic Determinants of Domestic Violence Suffered by Rural Women Crop Farmers in Imo State

ABSTRACT This study identified the socio-economic determinants of domestic violence suffered by rural women crop farmers in Orlu agricultural zone of Imo state, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 80 rural women crop farmers for the study. Data was collected using structured interview schedule and analyzed with both descriptive (mean, frequency counts, percentages) and inferential statistical tools (ordinary least square multiple regression analysis). Findings show that 68.5% of the women were 40 years and below and 81.4% were legally married with 88.7% of the women being in marriage for at least 8years. Most of the women (71%) had at most secondary school education and 23.3% earned above N20, 000 per month. Out of the four nature of domestic violence examined in the study, only emotional/psychological violence reached statistical significance with a mean of 2.5. The major causes of domestic violence identified by the study were disagreement over money (mean =3.0), failure to perform domestic chores (mean = 2.7), disobedience to husband (mean=2.7) and sharing marital problems with friends (mean = 2.7). Respondent’s age, duration of marriage, educational status, religion, household size and number of wives were the major determinants of domestic violence. It was recommended that a re-orientation be given to the men in the area to enlighten them more on the negative effects of domestic violence.Â

Effects of Climate Change on Fluted Pumpkin Production and Adaptaton Measures Used Among Farmers in Rivers State

The importance of fluted pumpkin crop in rural household economy cannot be over emphasized. Farmers in the South South Nigeria depend greatly on fluted pumpkin for its many uses. The production however is beset with a myriad of constraints of which climate change is one of the most outstanding. The study assessed the effects of climate change and adaptation measures used by fluted pumpkin farmers in Ikwerre Local Government Area(LGA) of Rivers State, Southsouth Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select respondents for the study. Out of the twelve communities that make up Ikwerre LGA, six communities were randomly chosen from which one hundred and eighty fluted pumpkin farmers were proportionately selected. Interview schedule and focus group discussion were used to elicit in depth information from respondents. Data were analyzed using percentage, frequency count and mean. Tables and charts were used in presentation of data. The result of the study showed that 51 percent of the respondents were female, majority were married (77 percent) and were full time farmers (79 percent). Relatively large proportion had no formal education (42 percent) and indicated both consumption and sale (79 percent) as the major aim of production. The respondents perceived that unpredictable climate condition, changes in rainfall pattern, changes in rainfall distribution, reduced yield of fluted pumpkin and reduction of family income were the major effects of climate change on fluted pumpkin production. A combination of fluted pumpkin production with other income generating activities was shown to be the most widely used adaptation strategy by respondents. Based on the results of the study it was recommended that improved extension services that can provide the needed farming inputs (fluted pumpkin seedlings, fertilizers e.t.c) as well as useful and relevant information on climate change and adaptation strategies should be made available to the people

Effects of Climate Change on Fluted Pumpkin Production and Adaptaton Measures Used Among Farmers in Rivers State

The importance of fluted pumpkin crop in rural household economy cannot be over emphasized. Farmers in the South South Nigeria depend greatly on fluted pumpkin for its many uses. The production however is beset with a myriad of constraints of which climate change is one of the most outstanding. The study assessed the effects of climate change and adaptation measures used by fluted pumpkin farmers in Ikwerre Local Government Area(LGA) of Rivers State, Southsouth Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select respondents for the study. Out of the twelve communities that make up Ikwerre LGA, six communities were randomly chosen from which one hundred and eighty fluted pumpkin farmers were proportionately selected. Interview schedule and focus group discussion were used to elicit in depth information from respondents. Data were analyzed using percentage, frequency count and mean. Tables and charts were used in presentation of data. The result of the study showed that 51 percent of the respondents were female, majority were married (77 percent) and were full time farmers (79 percent). Relatively large proportion had no formal education (42 percent) and indicated both consumption and sale (79 percent) as the major aim of production. The respondents perceived that unpredictable climate condition, changes in rainfall pattern, changes in rainfall distribution, reduced yield of fluted pumpkin and reduction of family income were the major effects of climate change on fluted pumpkin production. A combination of fluted pumpkin production with other income generating activities was shown to be the most widely used adaptation strategy by respondents. Based on the results of the study it was recommended that improved extension services that can provide the needed farming inputs (fluted pumpkin seedlings, fertilizers e.t.c) as well as useful and relevant information on climate change and adaptation strategies should be made available to the people

Motivational needs of early career agriculture lecturers in Rivers and Imo State of Nigeria

The study identified the motivational needs of early career agriculture lecturers in Rivers and Imo States of Nigeria. Specifically, it determined the socio-economic characteristics of early career agriculture lecturers, identified their motivational needs and determined the relationship between their motivational needs and their socio-economic characteristics. Fifty-two respondents were selected for the study using Multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analysed using both descriptive (mean, frequency, percentages) and inferential statistical tools (Ordinary Least Square regression analysis). Results showed that majority (67.3%) of early career agriculture lecturers were male, 55.8% fell between the ages of 31-40 years, 54.4% had B.SC and M.SC as their highest educational qualification while 30.8% had teaching experience of 3 to 4 years. Happiness in their personal life (M=3.60), good performance of students in courses taught (M=3.40), promotion and opportunity for growth in the organisation (M=3.35) and effective mentorship by senior colleagues (M=3.25) were found to be the major motivational needs of the agriculture lecturers in the study area. The result of the Ordinary Least Square regression analysis showed that relationship exist between the motivational needs of early career agriculture lecturers and their socio- economic characteristics. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that Federal government in conjunction with other stakeholders in the educational sector should factor out ways of instituting effective incentives that will motivate the lecturers into better performance of their job. Also, the university management should put in place structures that will boost good mentorship system in the universities

The Strategies Required for Improving the Teaching of Cost Accounting in Colleges of Education in South-East, Nigeria

The study determined the strategies for improving the teaching of cost accounting in Colleges of Education in South East Nigeria. Five research questions guided the study, while five null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population for this study was 123 comprising of 53 accounting lecturers from 3 federal universities and 70 accounting lecturers from state universities. The instrument for data collection was a structured 100-item questionnaire. The instrument was face-validated by 3 experts from the Department of Business Education, University of Nigeria Nsukka. Cronbach Alpha reliability technique was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument and an overall reliability index of 0.83 was obtained. The researcher with the help of five research assistants facilitated the process of data collection for the study. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation for answering the research questions while t-test analysis were used for testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study found that the teaching of cost accounting in the Colleges of Education in South East Nigeria can be improved using good instructional planning, careful selection of instructional resources among others. Hypotheses tested revealed that there was no significant difference in the mean responses of the accounting lecturers. It was recommended among others that the government through the ministry of education should organize regular workshops, seminars and on-the-job trainings on capacity building for accounting lecturers to equip them with modern accounting knowledge, skills and technique

Cassava farmers' adaption to climate change in Oron agricultural zone of Akawa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study examined climate change adaptation measures used by cassava farmers in Oron agricultural zone of Akwa Ibom State. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select eighty cassava farmers for the study. Data was collected with the use of structured questionnaire and interview schedule. Adaptation measures were captured using a 4 point Likert- type scale, while the data was analyzed using descriptive statistics namely; mean, percentage, frequency count and a multi variance factor analysis. The findings show that 30% of the respondents were between the ages of 31 and 40 years. Majority of the respondents were female (67.5%), 86.3% married, 90% literate with an average farming experience of 25 years. The result of the factor analysis identified seven major adaptation options used by the cassava farmers namely; use of improved& resistant species and farm chemicals (Factor 1), use of improved farming practices and information from agricultural extension agent (factor 2), diversification (factor 3), water conservation practices (factor 4), soil fertility and land policies/ practices (factor 5), use of insurance and credit facilities (factor 6), use of weather forecast facilities (factor 7). The study recommended that Agricultural Development Programme should make room for extension agents to visit farmers, create awareness, and disseminate proven measures to boost the adaptive/resilience capacities of the farmers in the area

Constraints faced by rural women arable crop farmers in adapting to climate change in Orlu agricultural zone of Imo State

The study identified the constraints faced by rural women arable crop farmers in adapting to climate change in Orlu agricultural zone of Imo state. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select 80 rural women arable crop farmers for the study. Data was collected using structured interview schedule and was analyzed using frequency, percentages and varimax rotated factor analysis. The study revealed that majority (67.5%) of the arable crop farmers were fifty years and above, 78.4% were married and 40.5% had at most primary education. Also, 39.2% had farm size of less than 1ha, 36.2% have household size of between 4 and 6 persons. Only 5.4% earned above N20, 000 and 18.2% do not belong to any social organization. Furthermore, it was shown that all (100%) of the rural women arable crop farmers are aware of climate change while 31.2% have been aware for more than 10 years. The major source of information on climate change was personal experience (95.9%), radio (85.1%), extension agents (65.7%) and fellow villagers/relatives (64.8%). The factor identified the major constraints faced by rural women arable crop farmers in adapting to climate change as unavailability of farm facilities and lack of adequate information, lack of/or inadequate supply of farm inputs, Poor skills of extension personnel and health status of farmers, traditional belief, land and labour constraints and lack of credit facilities. It was then recommended that Government and other stakeholders should be responsible for the provision and accessibility of farm inputs and credit facilities for the farmers. Also, more training and support should be given to extension personnel on effective sensitization of climate change and practical adaptation measures

Towards sustainable adaptation to climate change: The role of indigenous knowledge in Nigeria and Ghana

Climate change has been identified as a threat to poverty reduction and economic growth, and it may erode many of the development gains made in recent decades. From the short to the long term, climate change and variability threaten human and social development by altering customary means of livelihood and restricting the fulfilment of human potential. In all these, indigenous people are the most affected, considering their high vulnerability level. In view of this, such people find it difficult to adapt to climate variability and change as well as other environmental changes. Not only is the viability of indigenous livelihoods threatened, due to food insecurity, lack of potable water and poor health, but also the cultural integrity is also  undermined. This study assessed the various sustainable indigenous adaptation strategies being utilised in the respective countries to combat the adverse effects of climate variability and change; and also, examined how sustainable the adaptation strategies were. The study employed the use of quantitative and qualitative methods to elicit information from the respondents from Ghana and Nigeria. The results  indicate that there are major international differences but that adaptation strategies taken among indigenous people in the respective countries are similar. Indigenous people are resorting to soil-water conservation, identification of resistant crops to prevailing climate, use of appropriate techniques and chemicals for improving soil fertility, improvised harvesting techniques, and strategic planting periods for their crops. In most cases also, local people also embark on alternative livelihood options to support income levels of their households. The authors strongly recommend extension services and introduction of scientific technologies to complement indigenous knowledge approaches.Keywords: sustainable practices, adaptation strategies, indigenous knowledge, climate chang