(Critical Review) Repositioning Science and Technology Education for Security and National Economic Growth and Development in Nigeria

This article examined the repositioning of science and technology education for security and economic growth and development in Nigeria. The wreck on the nation's image by the incidences of insurgency has caused negative effects on the nation's security and economic development. Security issues are presently major challenges in Nigeria, especially in Northern Nigeria. Furthermore, the continuous rise in insecurity and deterioration in the economic development in Nigeria has called for concern among researchers and policymakers over the years. This article highlights the need for rebranding Nigerians through the internal process of repositioning the science and technology education system for national security and economic sustainability. Literature and other research papers using to gather information. The paper recommends that the nation adopt a proactive approach to improving the teaching and learning of science and technology education professionally and empowering youth while taking everlasting measures to curtail the issues of insurgencies in Nigeria. In other words, we need to reposition our youth's mental reasoning and economically empower them to certify the demands of the modern world. Repositioning Nigerian is one of the fruitful tools to achieve this objective, and rebranding directs the power and energy of Nigerians toward academic and productive goal

Rethinking Rights and (In)Security in (Post)Colonial Nigerian-State

Harold Laski’s assertion that political rights are useless to a starving being entreats us to move beyond limited notions of ‘human rights’, to more fundamental issues quintessential to minimally decent living. Notions of, and concerns for, human rights have long emphasised protection from bodily harm or physical violence at the expense of issues not limited to freedom from basic want or economic starvation, “basic sense of moral worth”, fear of social deprivation/exclusion, and basic sense of mental worth, etc., all revolving around the primary reason of the state, that is, the overall wellbeing of the human person. This draws directly from minimalist conception of security, which hitherto dominates human rights discourse, and downgrades economic deprivation, social exclusion, political marginalisation, and mental suppression, etc., as forms of terror endangering minimally decent life for humans. The contention is that the composite nature of human rights means that the realisation of one depends on and is in turn depended upon by others in an intricately linked and overlapping manner. This paper argues that states’ conduct, in some ways, either by error, omission and or commission, constitutes forms of terror in the broader spectrum of political violence. Anchored in critical terrorism studies (CTS) and employing content analysis, this paper examines the purpose of the state vis-à-vis its role in perpetuating terror and undermining ‘human rights’ through negligence and or political irresponsibility by focusing on security challenges in Nigeria. The paper concludes that, witting or unwittingly, state’s negligence in the provision of conditions necessary for security and wellbeing of the citizenry constitutes a major threat to ‘human rights’ and removes the human from human rights discourse. Keywords: Human rights, Security, Critical studies, Post/colonial state, Violence, Nigeria DOI: 10.7176/DCS/13-4-03 Publication date:June 30th 202

On the Stability of Nigeria's Import Demand: Do Endogenous Structural Breaks Matter?

In this paper, we reassess the traditional import demand function and an augmented version that includes volatility of external reserves and oil revenue inflows as explanatory variables. In each version, we examine the role of regime shifts on the stability of Nigeria's import demand function which has been ignored in previous studies. Our findings suggest the existence of a long-run relationship between import demand and its determinants. We also present evidence of one-way causality running from changes in relative prices, oil revenue inflows and volatility of international reserves to import demand in Nigeria. However, when structural breaks were introduced, bi-directional causality is observed; indicating the critical role of regime shifts in determining the stability of Nigeria's import demand. The results make a case for diversifying Nigeria's revenue inflows in a bid to dampen the effect of contemporaneous shocks that affect external reserve accumulation thereby weakening its import financing capacity

Telecommunication Infrastructure and Economic Growth in Nigeria: New Evidence From ARDL Bound Testing Approach to Cointegration

This study investigates the relationship between telecommunication infrastructure and economic growth in Nigeria using time series quarterly data for the period of 2002 to 2014. A functional relationship was modeled between macroeconomic variables such as GDP growth rate, teledensity, number of mobile telephone subscribers, number of landline subscribers, degree of openness in the economy, gross domestic investment and foreign direct investment. This study adopted an autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) estimation techniques approach to cointegration test using bound test, stability test and others. The results from the analysis revealed the existence of long run relationship between telecommunication infrastructure and economic growth in Nigeria and concluded that, gross domestic investment, foreign direct investment and degree of openness in the country has improved the teledensity, number of mobile telephone subscribers as well as number of landline which facilitates or enhanced economic activities and in turn leads to increased economic growth. We therefore recommends that government should implement policies that will enhance the development of the telecommunications sectors and complementary factors such as electrification particularly in rural areas, pay more attention to measures that would increase mobile telephone penetration such as reduce tariffs on telecommunication components, as well as formulate policies that will enhance domestic savings and attract more foreign direct investment. Keywords: Telecommunication Infrastructure, Teledensity, Gross domestic Investment, ARDL, Economic Growth

Application of quality function deployment to design a liquefied petroleum gas trolley

In Malaysia, the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is widely used for domestic purposes. The delivery men who are in charge of delivering the LPG cylinders to the customers are exposed to the ergonomic risk factors associated with excessive force due to the heavy steel cylinders. There are devices used to assist the delivery task, however, the devices are not efficient to be used in non elevated apartments. Due to this reason, this study aims to design an LPG cylinder trolley. Quality Function Deployment was integrated to design the LPG cylinder trolley, so that it can fulfill the delivery man's requirements, thus, an effective device to assist the delivery task is produced. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the integration of QFD is an effective solution in designing an effective LPG cylinder trolley

Political Thuggery as a Blight to Nation Building and Democracy in Nigeria: Appraising the Role of Drama and Playwright

Political thuggery is a form of social violence that has posed a lot of problems to Nigeria. The problem is so much that it threatens the socio-economic and political fabric of the Nigerian society. Thugs are often used, especially during election periods, to intimidate, harass and in some cases kill political opponents. This paper critically examines the underlying factors responsible for thuggery as impediment to nation building and sustainable democratic system. The study is anchored on Frustration – Aggression Theory (FAT). The theory was propounded in an attempt to explain the occurrence of violence and crimes in a society. In their view, human beings have needs, ambitions, or expectations in life that are arranged in their order of priority. The paper revealed that unemployment, inadequate political education, poverty (among the citizenry) and inordinate ambition among the political elites are some of the factors responsible for political thuggery. The paper appraises the content of Alex Asigbo’s The Reign of Pascal Amusu and Tor Iorapuu’s April 1421 adopting the qualitative research methodology. The findings reveal that playwrights and dramatic works have beamed their searchlights on the issues of thuggery as a bane to nation building and sustainable democracy. To this end, the paper concludes that a synergy of efforts by all stake holders in the society can curb the trend if not out rightly eliminating it and recommends among others that both government and non-governmental organization should work hand in hand to provide employment opportunity for the citizens towards peaceful society and sustainable nation building.

Sectorial Analysis of the Impact of Aviation Transport on Nigerian Economy: A Study of Four Selected International Airports (2003-2015)

This study examined the impact of aviation sector on economic growth in Nigeria using four selected international airports activities namely; Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos; Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; and Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt between 2003-2015. The study employed error correction model in analyzing the model specified in the study. The result revealed positive connection amid the explained variable LGDP and explanatory variables; Passanger Traffic and Aircraft Movement for all the considered airports which are all in compliance with the apriori expectation. All the explanatory variables except passenger traffic and aircraft movement of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport were significant in explaining economic growth in Nigeria. While the error correction term, ECMt-1 with a high feedback of 84% has the expected negative sign and presented the rate at which disequilibrium will be adjusted back to equilibrium which also showed the existence of a strong relationship between the aviation sectors’ activities and economic growth in Nigeria. The study recommends that government should ensure continuous supervision of the activities of aviation sector so as to increase their services of connecting people, goods and services which in turn will create more economic value leading to economic growth and improve aviation infrastructures for a competitive advantage to that of other countries

HOW DO GLOBALIZATION CHANNELS AFFECT ECONOMIC GROWTH? EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA

The short run and long run relationship between channels of globalization and economic growth are examined in Nigeria using multidimensional econometric models. The unit root suggests that some of the variables are stationary while others are not. Moreover, causality test shows mix outcome with few cases of bi-directional causation. Also, co-integration result reveals the existence of long run relationship between the variables of the model with six co-integrating equations. The paper argues that channels of globalization affect economic growth more positively. Consequently, it recommends the pursuance of policy aiming at reducing external reserves, ensuring foreign exchange rate stability among others

Determinants and Sustainability of International Reserves Accumulation in Nigeria

This paper examines the determinants and sustainability of international reserves accumulation in Nigeria. An assessment of the short- and long-run relationship between International reserves and its driving factors between 1970 and 2010 is carried out with a view of determining its sustainability, given the need to save against future exigencies. It makes use of error correction mechanism and the bounds testing approach to co integration within an autoregressive distributed lag framework proposed by Pesaran et al. (2001). The empirical estimates reveal that variability of export earnings, and the one period lagged value of international reserves positively affect reserve holding in Nigeria while oil price negatively affect it in the long-run. The economic (GDP per capita) and environmental (CO2 emission) measures of sustainable development also affect international reserves accumulation in the long-run. The striking result from this study is that oil price negatively affects reserve holding in the long-run but is positive in the short-run. The fi ndings suggest the need to diversify Nigeria’s sources of external reserves accumulation towards more environmentally and economically sustainable activities such that the negative effects of volatile oil export earnings as well as crude oil extraction are minimized

IMPACT OF FUNDING IN THE ORGANIZATION OF SPORTS FOR THE DISABLED PERSONS IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA

The Nigeria National Education Policy (6-3-3-4) is specific on physical education when it stated in paragraph 7 and 8 of section one of the National Policy on Education that physical education will be emphasized at all levels of the educational system. In an attempt to further confirm the attention given to sport in Nigeria, the federal government of Nigeria’s Sports Development Policy documents (FRN, 1989) states that the Federal government accepts special responsibility for ensuring adequate level of funding for such programme as sports for the disabled. Very little efforts have been made in respect of proper funding for sports for the disabled in special schools in Nigeria. This paper discussed the impact of funding in the organization of sports for the disabled persons in special schools in Nigeria. The hypothesis stated in this paper was that funding has no significant impact in the organization of sport for the disabled persons in special schools in Nigeria. The population of this study consists of 5030 disabled students, 38 sports coordinators and 35 coaches of Special Schools in Nigeria. Proportionate sampling technique was used in selecting the number of respondents while simple random sampling technique was used to select the respondents from each of the special schools using the dip and pick method. A sample size of four hundred and eight (408) respondents made up of disabled persons in special schools, sports coordinators and coaches were used. A designed questionnaire for the deaf and dumb, the crippled were administered while the blind were equally administered with questionnaire which was interpreted into braille. The result in table 1 indicated the calculated chi-square value of 441.18 to be higher than the critical chi-square value of 34.17 at df 20 at 0.05 alpha level of significance. This shows that funding has significant impact in the organization of sports for the disabled persons in special schools in Nigeria. Therefore, the null hypothesis which states that funding has no significant impact in the organization of sports for the disabled persons in special schools in Nigeria is hereby rejected.  Article visualizations