Strategies for Enhancing the Functionality of Business Studies in the Universal Basic Education Programme in South South Nigeria

The study examined the strategies for enhancing the functionality of Business studies in the Universal Basic Education Programme recently introduced in Nigeria in 1999 and implemented in September 2007. Most secondary school seem not to have requisite facilities and teachers on ground for the successful implementation of the programme. Most surprising, the subject has been made elective in the junior secondary school curriculum. Many states have not access the intervention funds lodged in by Federal government using the principle of counterpart funding.  Research question and hypotheses guided the study. A 35 item questionnaire was designed and administered to 418 principals and 1254 teachers in 418 out of 1669 Junior Secondary Schools in South South Nigeria. The data were analysed using means and standard deviations, The study revealed that students should have interest in Business students, facilities and adequate teachers are highly needed for the programme, the subject should be made core in the curriculum and state governments should access the funds• of the federal government in order for enhancing the functionality of the programme. Keywords: Methods, Functionality, Business Studies, UBE, Nigeria

Strategies for Enhancing Quality Assurance in Business Teacher Education Programme in Nigerian Universities

This study investigated the strategies for enhancing quality assurance in business teacher education programme in Nigerian universities. Two research questions and four hypotheses guided the study. This study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study comprised 129 Business Education lecturers in state and federal universities in the south south Nigeria. There was no sampling since the population was manageable. The instrument for data collection was a 35 - item questionnaire. The content and face validity of the instrument was adequately handled. It has reliability coefficient of 0.94 using cronbach alpha. The mean scores was used to answer the research questions. The findings identified quality research and publications, quality curriculum, quality text books, discipline of teachers, quality infrastructure, quality teaching facilities among others, as some of the strategies for enhancing quality assurance in Business Teacher Education in Nigerian universities. It was, therefore, recommended that adequate qualified teachers should be employed by the school authorities and Business Education curriculum should be widened to accommodate relevant areas in marketing, accounting, office technology and management. Keywords: Enhancing, measuring, quality assurance; business teacher education; Nigerian universities

Ideal Quality of University Business Education Curriculum Required for Successful Graduates Employment as Perceived by Lecturers

Business education is education for and about business.  The purpose of business education programme is to make the business education graduates successful entrepreneurs after graduation.  The problem of the study is that business education graduates are not doing well in their entrepreneurial ambitions.  The study therefore assessed the ideal qualities of business education curriculum for successful graduates employment.  One research question was raised and three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study.  The design of the study, was a descriptive survey.  The population which also served as sample consisted 126 lecturers in Business Education in Universities in South South geopolitical zone of Nigeria.  A questionnaire comprising 20 items which was adequately validated and has a Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.83 was used for the study.  Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation.  The findings are quality university business education curriculum should be comprehensive, varied in nature, provide an understanding of business world, ability to acquire relevant knowledge and skills, correlation of subjects, individualized instruction, constant review and provision for entry into jobs among others which are required for successful graduates employment.  It was recommended that universities authorities should provide adequate teaching facilities and constant curriculum review to make the business education programme functional in the world of work. Keywords:  Quality; universities; business education; graduates; employment

Assessment of Management Competencies Possessed by Postgraduate University Business Education Students to Handle Entrepreneurship Business Challenges in Nigeria

University Business Education graduates, by the nature of their programme, ought to possess relevant management competencies for successful entrepreneurship but casual observation and empirical reports indicate that they are not doing well in this aspect. Therefore, this study assessed the management competencies possessed by the university postgraduate Business Education students to handle entrepreneurship business challenges in Nigeria. One research question and five hypotheses guided the study. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population, also used as the sample, consisted of 388 Business Education graduates who are currently running their postgraduate programme in universities in the south-south and south-east geopolitical zones in Nigeria.  The questionnaire was adequately validated by experts in Business Education and measurement and evaluation.  The internal consistency of the instrument was determine using cronbach alpha with a reliability coefficient of 0.93 was used for data collection.  The mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while Z-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance.   The result revealed that Business Education graduates are competent in ability to plan for small or medium scale business, ability to organize small scale business, ability to source funds for the running of a small scale business among others.  It was recommended that Business Education graduates should undergo conferences and workshops on how to management small scale businesses. Keywords: Assessment, management competencies, possessed, university Business Education graduates, handle business challenges, Nigeria

Malnutrition and feeding practices among under-five children in rural communities of Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria

Background: Poor dietary practices and malnutrition among under five children in Nigeria has remained a great public health concern. Objective: This study assessed the feeeding practices and nutritional status of under-five children to determine the prevalence of malnutrition of under five children in Kuje area council, Abuja. Methods: Cross-sectional study design was employed. Validated questionnaire was used to obtain information on the feeding practices of the respondents, while appropriate equipment was used for measurements of anthropometric parameters. Anthropometric data was analysed by comparing with reference standard and analysed statistically with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Result showed that 97% of the children were breastfed, 30.6% had early initiation to breastfeeding, 22.4% were breastfed exclusively, and 30.2% discarded colostrum. Only 27.7% had age appropriate timely introduction of complementary feeding. The prevalence of global acute malnutrition (GAM) was 12.8%, (severe wasting [5.4%] plus moderate wasting [7.4%]), underweight was 24.4%, stunting was 40.3% and overweight was 7.0%. Child left in the care of another child (younger than 14 years old), place of delivery, immunization status of the child, early initiation to breastfeeding, use of colostrum, and age of child were all significantly (p<0.05) associated with nutritional status. Conclusion: There is high prevalence of malnutrition and poor infant and young child practice in Kuje Area Council

Synthesis of Novel Valine-based Dipeptide Carboxamide Bearing Benzene Sulfonamide Moiety as Antimalarial Agent

Communication in Physical Sciences 2020, 5(2): 176-197 Authors: James A. Ezugwu, *Ucheckukwu. C. Okoro, Mercy A. Ezeokonkwo, and China R. Bhimapaka Received 15 April 2020/Accepted 14 May 2020   Syntheses of eleven novel Valine-based dipeptide carboxamide derivatives bearing benzensulphonamide are reported. These were achieved by facile amidation reaction of p- substituted benzenesulphonamoyl alkanamides with 2-amino-4-methyl-N-substituted phenyl butanamide using classical peptide coupling reagents. The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were established by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, ESI- HRMS, and FT-IR spectroscopic techniques. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for in vivo antimalarial against P. berghei. Haematological analysis was also evaluated on the synthesized compounds. At 50mg/kg body weight, the compounds 8e, 8g, 8i, 8k, 8d and 8h inhibited the multiplication of the parasite by 46-71% on day seven of post-treatment exposure comparable to the 67% reduction with artemisinin

Impact of Capital Expenditure on the Manufacturing Sector of the Nigerian Economy

The importance of capital expenditure in an economy cannot be overemphasized. In Nigeria, capital expenditure has been given meager allocation, and the manufacturing sector has been experiencing poor growth. To this end, this study examines whether the low manufacturing sector’s growth in Nigeria is as a result of the poor allocation to capital expenditure, also whether there is any causal relationship between capital expenditure and manufacturing sector’s growth. In executing this study, the Error Correction Mechanism (ECM) is employed after Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) unit root test as well as Johansen Co-integration analysis have been applied to the variables in our model- Manufacturing Output in Nigeria; Capital Expenditure; Foreign Direct Investment; Interest Rate; and Exchange Rate. Granger causality test is employed to determine whether there is any causal relationship between capital expenditure and manufacturing sector’s growth. The study finds that capital expenditure has significant impact on manufacturing sector’s growth. It also finds that capital expenditure Granger causes manufacturing sector’s growth in Nigeria. The study recommended imperative policy options which we believe that if implemented; there will be tremendous improvements in the manufacturing sector’s growth in Nigeria

Emerging opportunities for responding to climate change in the Obama administration : why China should propel developing countries towards global carbon reduction cooperation

The use of diplomatic brinkmanship by the USA and her more recent uncooperativeness with global response to the climate crisis (Kyoto Protocol) under the presidencies of George W. Bush and Bill J. Clinton has led to fears in quarters that China, a rapidly industrialising country might opt to become uncooperative in the global climate change efforts. We use suitable conceptual frameworks of international relations to review the US’ previous conduct in international relations during the “cold war” among others to analyse recent issues pertaining to global carbon reduction under the Kyoto Protocol. We argue that China’s rising profile in economic, political and social spheres especially the way it offers loans on softer terms compared to the Western Consensus model, her ratification of the Kyoto are among the several indications that her relationship with the USA and other nations in carbon reduction portend good relationship in future. We argue also that Presient Obama’s promise of acknowledging the reality of climate (change) science and to lead other nations in responding to the crises seem to be getting fulfilled based on recent evidences. We conclude that the future for global cooperation between the USA and China, on one hand, and between USA and the rest of the world, on the other, present grounds for optimism that global carbon reduction would proceed more peacefully and profitably than it was hitherto

INVESTIGATING THE ENDOTHERMIC NATURE OF THE REACTIONS OF HYBRID HYDROXIDE-PEROXIDE WITH LIGNIN IN CORN STOVER AND NAPIER GRASS FOR SIMPLE SUGAR PRODUCTION

Napier grass and Corn Stover samples were collected as waste materials for sugar production. The samples were pretreated and hydrolyzed using hydrogen peroxide and Trichoderma ressei cellulase respectively. Chemical kinetics of the delignification process shows that the reduction reactions of lignin during pretreatment are dependent on the nature of raw material, temperature, concentration of the hydrogen peroxide and their activation energies. The calculated activation energies show that the reactions of lignin in both biomasses are though endothermic, but less energy intensive and more economically viable for Napier grass when compared to corn Stover. Based on the results, in order to obtain higher sugar yield from Napier grass and corn stover under the investigated conditions, both samples should be processed at 105 0C for 96 hours using 0.3 M and 0.1M hydrogen peroxide concentrations respectively