Globalization, migration and underdevelopment in West Africa

Migration is not a new phenomenon. However, globalization has put a new spin on  igration, which results in greater economic opportunities for the developed nations to the disadvantage of developing nations of Africa. Globalization implies and does entail free movement of goods and ideas between and across borders, trade liberalization, movement of capital for greater and speedier returns and repatriation of profits from quick yielding investments from the developing to the developed nations. The consequence is that, globalization exacerbates inequality between the developed and the developing nations. This paper demonstrates the various ways by which globalization impacts on migration and in the process engenders underdevelopment in West Africa. In the first place, the unencumbered movement of capital, trade and technology accompanied by capitalists “experts” from the developed nations into Africa has led not only to disruptions in African economies but also contributed to the high level of unemployment especially of the youth, wage decline, job insecurity and general poverty in the continent. In West Africa, agriculture is rendered purposeless on account of the massive agricultural subsidies enjoyed by the developed nations thereby increasing the tendency to dump their agricultural products in the sub-region. The migration of the disadvantaged and economically displaced peoples of Africa to the developed nations is a natural response to the severe pains and plunder inflicted on the continent by the forces of globalization and capitalism. In an attempt to address the imbalance created by globalization and to prevent Africans seeking economic refuge by migrating to their countries, the developed nations dangle such palliatives as debt relief and development aid that provide only cosmetic solutions to the problems of underdevelopment in West Africa that generates migration in the first place. The question is: What are West African leaders doing to contend with the challenges posed by globalization and migration in the West African sub-region? Finally, the paper examines policy contradictions within the global system towards migration and recommends a more integrated approach

Peoples’ perception of mother-daughter sexual communication patterns and adolescent girls reproductive health in Enugu North LGA of Enugu State, Nigeria

In many African societies, sexual communication between female adolescents and their mothers is not openly encouraged because of the inherent culture of silence that surrounds sexuality. Sexual communication between mothers and their daughters has therefore remained a challenge and the consequences are that female adolescents become vulnerable to reproductive health problems such as teenage pregnancy, STDs, and HIV/AIDS. Although studies on adolescents mother- daughter sexual communication patterns in other parts of the world are widely reported in literature, very few research on the phenomenon exist in Enugu state, Nigeria. This study investigated peoples‘ perception of mother-daughter sexual communication pattern and adolescents reproductive health in Enugu state, Nigeria. The study is based on a survey of 294 respondents selected through the multi-stage sampling technique. The instruments used for data collection comprised of structured questionnaire and in-depth interview (IDI) guide. The findings among other things show that private face to face communication pattern on adolescents sexuality is adopted by majority of mothers in Enugu, Nigeria. However, this pattern is usually spontaneous and unplanned and takes place occasionally. Again, the discussions do not involve all the reproductive health issues as only a few,such as dangers of pre-marital sex, menstruation and physiological changes are mostly emphasized while the use of contraceptives is ignored. Based on the findings, systematic and effective use of face to face pattern of communication, improved sexual communication skills on sexuality education were recommended.Keywords: Sexuality, Adolescents, Sexual communication, Reproductive healt

A journey without maps—Understanding the costs of caring for dependent older people in Nigeria, China, Mexico and Peru

Purpose of the study: Populations in Latin America, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are rapidly ageing. The extent to which traditional systems of family support and security can manage the care of increased numbers of older people with chronic health problems is unclear. Our aim was to explore the social and economic effects of caring for an older dependent person, including insight into pathways to economic vulnerability. Design & methods: We carried out a series of household case studies across urban and rural sites in Peru, Mexico, China and Nigeria (n = 24), as part of a cross-sectional study, nested within the 10/66 Dementia Research Group cohort. Case studies consisted of in-depth narrative style interviews (n = 60) with multiple family members, including the older dependent person. Results: Governments were largely uninvolved in the care and support of older dependent people, leaving families to negotiate a ‘journey without maps’. Women were de facto caregivers but the traditional role of female relative as caregiver was beginning to be contested. Household composition was flexible and responsive to changing needs of multiple generations but family finances were stretched. Implications: Governments are lagging behind sociodemographic and social change. There is an urgent need for policy frameworks to support and supplement inputs from families. These should include community-based and residential care services, disability benefits and carers allowances. Further enhancement of health insurance schemes and scale-up of social pensions are an important component of bolstering the security of dependent older people and supporting their continued social and economic participation

The economic and social impacts on households of providing long-term care to dependent older people : insights from the 10/66 study.

International audienc

Towards the effective plastic waste management in Bangladesh: a review

The plastic-derived product, nowadays, becomes an indispensable commodity for different purposes. A huge amount of used plastic causes environmental hazards that turn in danger for marine life, reduces the fertility of soil, and contamination of ground water. Management of this enormous plastic waste is challenging in particular for developing countries like Bangladesh. Lack of facilities, infrastructure development, and insufficient budget for waste management are some of the prime causes of improper plastic management in Bangladesh. In this study, the route of plastic waste production and current plastic waste management system in Bangladesh have been reviewed extensively. It emerges that no technical and improved methods are adapted in the plastic management system. A set of the sustainable plastic management system has been proposed along with the challenges that would emerge during the implementation these strategies. Successful execution of the proposed systems would enhance the quality of plastic waste management in Bangladesh and offers enormous energy from waste.</p