12 research outputs found
The Perceived Adequacy of Vocational and Technical Education in Nigeria and the Administrative Problems in Staffing the Programs
Problem
This study was to examine the perceived adequacy of technical education in Nigeria and the problems that administrators face in staffing the programs. The aims and objectives of technical education were examined as written in the Fourth National Development Plan and National Policy for Education.
Method
Two instruments were utilized for data collection: (1) a survey questionnaire for the opinions of Nigerian technical educators, and (2) a set of structured questions to interview selected executives in industry. The researcher travelled to Nigeria\u27s technical institutions for distribution of questionnaires and for on-the-scene assessment of technical programs. Collected data and government publications were analyzed. The questionnaire covered goals and objectives, nature and scope, grade placement, laboratory facilities, competencies, funding, staffing, responsiveness of curriculum to intended objectives, and the overall rating of programs. Responses of the interviewed industrialists were also analyzed.
Findings and Conclusions
National aims and objectives were clearly defined, but the quality of education has declined because of enrollment increases, shortages of qualified teachers, textbooks, funds to run expensive programs, and the unavailability of physical facilities and teaching aids. Ninety-three out of 95 (97.9%) technical educators rated the overall Nigeria technical education programs as inadequate. Coordination and management of technical education programs were also rated inadequate. The curriculum has been too theoretical in nature. Curriculum development has occurred without the input of industry, community, and curriculum specialists. There has been lack of administrative support, proper planning, and management of resources. The remuneration for teachers has been poor; excellent teachers have not been rewarded. The number of available industries has not been enough for students\u27 industrial attachment. The quota system of allocating resources has been inadequate. Many graduates have not been employed and those employed are working in areas other than which they are qualified
Exploring inhibiting factors to affordable housing provision in Lagos metropolitan city, Nigeria
Different inhibiting factors have affected the need for affordable housing provisions to keep pace with the increase in urbanisation and population growth, leading to the non-availability of desirable, affordable housing goals for low-income earners. Unfortunately, these inhibiting factors continue to create challenges that affect affordable housing development for low-income earners. Hence, this study examines the inhibiting factors affecting affordable housing provisions using Lagos metropolitan city, Nigeria, as a case study exemplar. A quantitative research design was employed, using the survey to collect data from the target populations of low-income earners in Lagos, Nigeria, through a purposive sampling technique with a high response rate of 75.3%. Descriptive and exploratory factor analysis was conducted on the retrieved data and Cronbach’s alpha test to determine data reliability and interrelatedness. Thirty-seven identified inhibiting factors of affordable housing provisions were clustered into seven components: problems with affordable land and security of tenure; socioeconomic constraints; problems with conventional materials and technologies; unpredictable internal factors; absence of innovative framework and supply chain; absent of community collaboration and external economic factors; and urbanisation factors. The implications of the study findings provide a better understanding of land tenureship, improved social inclusion, community-based stakeholder collaboration, standardisation of indigenous construction materials and technologies utilisation, and housing policy reforms to alleviate the shortage of affordable housing delivery in metropolitan cities. The study recommends successful implementations of affordable housing provisions hinged on an innovative housing framework and affordable supply chain through design, standardisation of non-conventional materials and technologies utilisation and social inclusion. The study’s conclusion gives housing stakeholders, realtors, policymakers, and government agencies the ability to understand and implement strategies to overcome socioeconomic constraints, land security of tenure, and urbanisation factors to predict and improve affordable housing demand and supply in metropolitan cities
Sustainability Strategies in Engineering Infrastructure Maintenance in Developing Countries: Selected South Western Nigeria States Case Study
It is an undeniable fact that production of maintenance- free infrastructure is not feasible. The reality is that all the elements and components that make up an engineering infrastructure unavoidably, deteriorates with time due to inherent defects in design and construction, and the effects of environmental agents and users activities. All engineering infrastructures are subject to aging, wear and tear in the performance of their functions and deterioration by exposure to outside operating environment. Hence, left to themselves, engineering infrastructures will eventually become inefficient, unreliable and fail. The issue then is how the existing infrastructure can be sustained to the extent that the functions they are designed to perform will not be compromised. To this end, this study researched into sustainability strategies that can be adopted in engineering infrastructure maintenance. Data will be collected for purpose of extracting information on deployable strategies, including the use of Public engineering infrastructure in Southwestern part of Nigeria as case study. The study later recommended strategies than can be adopted to aid this present generation provide solution to their environmental needs without compromise ability of future generation to meet their needs, which concept of sustainability has birthed. Key Words: Sustainability, Strategy, Infrastructure and Maintenance
Vocational Skill Mobility and Its Effect on Occupational Engagement Among Tradesmen and Craftsmen in Building Sector
Building sector in Nigeria has suffered skill erosion overtime. Foreigners with special skill has mobilized their skill
into the sector and there had been mass exodus of imported skills into the sector thereby forcing citizens to jettison
idea of engaging indigenous artisans in the face of superior skills and knowledge. The aim of the study is to
appraise the vocational skills and competence of the indigenous and foreign artisans, vocational mobility in building
sector, job mobility pattern among artisans, sectors involved, attendant effects, both favorable and unfavorable, and
possible ways of addressing identified threat.
The study engaged 120 questionnaire using random sampling technique. The questionnaire was designed in Likert
scale, structured on sematic rating scale 1 to 5. The study identified the following reasons among others reasons
behind the disparity in occupational engagement among artisans in Nigeria building sector, the reasons include:
inadequate skill and knowledge by indigenous artisans, no vocational focus, half -baked knowledge of the work,
poor workmanship and poor finishing and poor education background or lack of former education among others.
The study recommended the following factors as panacea to the problem; reinvigoration of artisans competence,
continuous training of the artisans, value reorientation of artisans, promoting technology transfer among indigenous
artisans and foreign artisans
Legislative oversight and structural violence in the Lagos State Health Scheme: A study of Alimosho Local Government Area
Structural violence imposes constraints on achieving equitable, affordable, accessible, and high-quality public services, encompassing healthcare. Despite establishing the LSHS, aimed at providing healthcare irrespective of economic status, residents continue to experience deprivation, restricted access, and substandard healthcare services. Doubts arise regarding the efficacy of legislative oversight in mitigating structural violence. This study explores this issue by employing a comprehensive methodology involving primary and secondary data collection through literature reviews, questionnaires, and interviews. The analysis reveals that the prevalence of structural violence within the LSHS cannot be exclusively attributed to deficiencies in the oversight responsibilities of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Lingering disparities, limited accessibility, unaffordability, and inadequate healthcare quality persist. Contributing factors encompass inadequate funding mechanisms, and deficiencies in communication, among others. Challenges such as executive interference, corruption, and the absence of a robust legislative framework impede the effectiveness of oversight
Assessment of Physiochemical and Bacteriological Quality of Water Supply for Domestic Use in Student Hostels in Nigerian University
Abstract
The study examined the consistency in quality of water supply within the student halls of residence in a Nigerian University. The water samples were collected at four different points along the supply chain for three months and both physicochemical and bacteriological tests were conducted on the samples based on World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigeria Standard for Drinking Water (NSDW) standards concurrently. The results of the physicochemical test showed that all the samples were within the WHO and NSDW specified permissible range except their pH (4.57-6.00). However, the bacteriological results revealed that the Escherichia Coli (E. coli) of all samples (2, 2, 4 and 28cfu/100ml) were not acceptable. In addition, the fecal coliform results of two samples (0cfu/100ml) were within WHO and NSDW permissible limit values while other samples (1,2 cfu/100ml) were contaminated by some measure of fecal element. Nevertheless, the results of Total Coliform samples of two points were 0&3cfu/100ml therefore within the acceptable limit range but, the remaining two samples points (TNTC) were not acceptable. One of the influences on the result of the bacteriological is the closeness of the water supply pipes to the sewage pipes. In conclusion, the bacteriological standard required by both WHO and NSDW was not satisfied in the water supply to the halls of residents. Therefore there is an urgent need for the treatment of water supply against the presence of fecal elements to forestall liable diseases for sustainable health.
Keywords: bacteriological test, physicochemical test, water, Nigerian university, WHO, NSD
Short-term COVID-19 vaccine adverse effects among adults in Ekiti State, Nigeria
Background: The safety of the COVID-19 vaccines has been a topic of concern globally. This issue of safety is associated with vaccine hesitancy due to concerns about the adverse effects of the vaccines. Consequently, this study determined the short-term safety profile of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between May and July 2021 among individuals who had received the first dose of the first batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. A Google form was used to collect data on the adverse effects of the vaccine. Results: Out of over 1,000 individuals who were approached, 758 respondents completed the study. A large percentage (57.4%) of those who received the vaccines were healthcare workers. Adverse effects were reported in 70.8% of the participants with most manifesting on the first day of the vaccination. The predominant adverse effects were injection site soreness (28.5%), followed by fatigue (18.7%) and muscle pain (8.6%). There was no report of severe adverse effects such as anaphylactic reactions, thrombosis, myocarditis, transient myelitis, or Guillen-Barre syndrome. Conclusion: This study found that self-reported adverse effects of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine were mild and short in duration. This outcome has promising implications for improving COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the immediate environment and Nigeria
Factors Affecting the Competencies and Project Delivery of Small-Sized Indigenous Construction Firms in Lagos State
Every industry is prone to problems Performance is a general challenge affecting construction and most especially small-sized indigenous construction companies. The study focused on determining the likely factors affecting the competencies and project delivery of small-sized construction firms in Lagos. 60 questionnaires were designed and administered to professionals (15-Architects, 15-Builders, 15-Engineers, and 15-Quantity Surveyors) working in the construction companies in Lagos State and 48 questionnaires were retrieved. These questionnaires were analysed with SPSS and several findings were derived from this analysis. The various factors affecting the performance and project delivery at varying degrees are: high cost of plants, equipment, materials and labour, lack of skilled craftsmen, unavailability of funds, poor managerial skills, lack of government patronage, and poor communication among stakeholders. The study found out that the most prominent factors are poor managerial skills, lack of project planning and unavailability of funds. The main factors affecting the performance of small sized indigenous construction firms are based on three key elements namely time, quality and cost. These three elements when properly harnessed will increase the performance of small sized indigenous firms. The study recommended that the use of ICT would help improve performance by making work flow more easily. Access to bank loans and more machinery on site and sufficient government patronage would improve performance. It concluded that better management and project planning would go a long way in improving competencies and project delivery of small sized construction firms