Writing a colonial legal history of Northern Nigeria: An analysis of methods and sources

This article analyzes the methods and sources of writing a colonial legal history of Africa. The analysis is carried out with a case study of the dual legal system operative in colonial Northern Nigeria from 1900 to 1960, which saw the English common law coexist with Islamic law. I examine how three sources of colonial law – namely, legislations, case law, and legal writings – reveal the varied perspectives of European colonial officials and Africans on the workings of this legal system. I argue that while colonial legislations and legal writings are lopsided toward the perspectives of the British authority, case law in conjunction with African commentaries provide some prospect to engage in a narrative that foregrounds the voices of Africans

Effects of application of phosphorus fertilizer on brown blotch disease of cowpea

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of level of phosphorus application on brown blotch disease of cowpea during the planting seasons of 2001, 2002 and 2003. Application of phosphorus from Single Super Phosphate at 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg P2O5/ha significantly increased the number of petioles, pods, nodules, seed/pod leaf area and yield. The higher the level of application of phosphorus the higher values of all the parameters. Disease incidence and severity of brown blotch were significantly reduced at higher levels of phosphorus (90 and 120 kg/ha) irrespective of the method of application. Moreover, there were also increases in the grain yield of cowpeaKeywords: Cowpea, disease phosphorus, levels, method

Knowledge of the National Health Act among Physicians in two Tertiary Hospitals in Southern Nigeria

Objective: Knowledge of provisions of the National Health Act among physicians and stakeholders is pivotal to its successful implementation. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of the National Health Act (NHA) among Physicians in two tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in two tertiary hospitals in Southern Nigeria. The consecutively recruited eligible respondents were assessed for knowledge of NHA using a 24-item self-administered close-ended structured questionnaire. The total obtainable score was 26.  Those with <13 points had poor knowledge, 13-21 points had good knowledge and >21 points had excellent knowledge. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 software. P-value of < 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: One hundred and ninety-five doctors with a male: female ratio of 1.9:1 participated in the study. The majority (91.8%) were ≤40 years and 129(66.2%) of the participants were ≤ 10 years post qualification. The frequency of correctly answered questions ranged between 7.7% - 89.2%. According to overall knowledge scores; 64.6% had poor knowledge; 35.4% had good knowledge and none had excellent scores. There was no statistically significant association between knowledge of NHA and gender, age, and number of years post-qualification (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that only about a third of the participants had good knowledge of key provisions of the NHA. We strongly recommend that relevant sections of the Act should be incorporated into the medical curriculum both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels

Management of anthracnose disease of cowpea with three plant leaf extracts for enhanced grain yield in Abeokuta, Nigeria

The antifungal activity of aqueous three plants leaf extracts were tested against anthracnose disease of cowpea caused by Collectotrichum lindemuthianum. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Extracts of Azadirachta indica, Acalypha wilkisiana and Carica papaya were sprayed on cowpea (Ife brown) foliage. A total of four foliar sprays were applied: three wee ks after planting, flowering stage, at the initial podding stage and at the full podding stage. Benlate served as positive controls while distilled water was negative control. Results showed the disease incidence and severity as 23.67-46.67% and 1.07-1.93, respectively. Combination of the extracts resulted in significantly (p≤0.05) low incidence of anthracnose (66.67% reduction) and improved the yield of cowpea by 1.63 tons/ha (77.25% increase) compared with untreated control plots. Azadirachta indica, Acalypha wilkisiana and Carica papaya extracts, singly or in combinations, reduced incidence and severity of anthracnose which translated to yield increase. Keywords: Anthracnose, botanicals, Collectotrichum lindemuthianum, cowpea, and managemen

Determinants of Food Security among Rural Livestock Farmers in Southwestern Nigeria

This study examined the extent to which livestock production has contributed to food security of the rural households in Southwestern Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select respondents for the study. Fifty percent of the states in Southwestern Nigeria and 30% of rural households in the selected local government areas were randomly selected resulting in a sample size of 306 respondents. Household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS), food insecurity scale was used to assess the food insecurity of the respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics while binomial regression was used to determine the determinants of food security at p = 0.05. Most respondents (76.1%) were males and married (83.7%), while about half (46.0%) of them completed secondary education. Mean age, household size and monthly income from livestock enterprises were 48.8 ± 12.8 years, 6.6 ± 3.2 and N45,068 ± 97,077, respectively. A large proportion (71.9%) practiced extensive system of livestock production. Sources of information (β = 5.304), income (β = 7.453) and constraints to livestock enterprises (β = 2.807) increased the odds of their food security. Policies that encouraged that promote diversification of income sources should be promoted to increase entrepreneurs’ income in order to improve food security situation of rural households

Determinants of Food Security among Rural Livestock Farmers in Southwestern Nigeria

This study examined the extent to which livestock production has contributed to food security of the rural households in Southwestern Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select respondents for the study. Fifty percent of the states in Southwestern Nigeria and 30% of rural households in the selected local government areas were randomly selected resulting in a sample size of 306 respondents. Household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS), food insecurity scale was used to assess the food insecurity of the respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics while binomial regression was used to determine the determinants of food security at p = 0.05. Most respondents (76.1%) were males and married (83.7%), while about half (46.0%) of them completed secondary education. Mean age, household size and monthly income from livestock enterprises were 48.8 ± 12.8 years, 6.6 ± 3.2 and N45,068 ± 97,077, respectively. A large proportion (71.9%) practiced extensive system of livestock production. Sources of information (β = 5.304), income (β = 7.453) and constraints to livestock enterprises (β = 2.807) increased the odds of their food security. Policies that encouraged that promote diversification of income sources should be promoted to increase entrepreneurs’ income in order to improve food security situation of rural households

Evaluation of fallow and cover crops for nematode suppression in three agroecologies of south western Nigeria

A study was conducted in three agroecological zones of south-western Nigeria to evaluate the effect of siam weed (Chromolaena odorata) and mucuna (Mucuna utilis) cover/fallow crops on plant-parasitic nematode population. The natural bush regrowth was used as control. Plant-parasitic nematodes were identified and counted during the fallow periods. Eleven genera of nematodes were identified and three (Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, and Helicotylenchus) species were predominant across the trial locations.Other important genera present were Scutellonema, Tylenchorhynchus and Rotylenchus species. Nematode population densities of pre-crop were lowest in Alagba soil (Rhodic lixisols) at Ikenne in the wet forest zone of Nigeria. The populations in Iwo soil (Rhodic haplustalf) at Ibadan, a dry forest zonewas lower than in the Temidire soil (Plinthic luvisol) at Ilora in the derived savannah of south-western Nigeria. There was significant suppression of nematode population densities under the different crops as the fallow period increased. The population reduction in the different locations depended on the nematode species and the cover crops. The natural bush re-growth had the least effect on the nematode suppression at the end of the fallow period. On the average, siam weed fallow reduced nematode population densities by 67-79%, mucuna by 64-72% and the natural bush by 30-49% across the trial locations. For effective nematode suppression with fallow cropping, proper determination of the principal nematode species predominant in an environment is essential

Sources of resistance to cassava anthracnose disease

A total of 436 African landraces and 497 improved cassava genotypes were planted in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 growing seasons.. These were evaluated for their reactions to cassava anthracnose disease (CAD) under natural infection conditions at Ibadan (a high infection zone). The severity of the disease was determined by counting the total number of canker/plants and measuring the diameter the cankers. Data were collected at 6, 9 and 12 months after planting. The four-year data were pooled and subjected to statistical analysis. Result showed that of the 436 improved germplasm evaluated, 10 were resistant, 64 moderately resistant, 328 were moderately susceptible, and 95 were highly susceptible. The results also showed that 45 of the landraces were resistant, 87 moderately resistant, 354 were moderately susceptible, whereas 60 were highly susceptible. Of the resistant landraces and the improved, TME 19, TME 53, TME113, TME 244, TME 475, and TME 523; I85/02015 and I8700028 were completely free of cankers. The resistant genotypes have been introgressed into broad-based breeding populations to diversify resistance to CAD in newly improved genotypes.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (6), pp. 570-572, 200

Towards widening participation in post-graduate research: The ASPIRE programme

In recent years, universities in the UK have increased efforts to promote diversity and equality in their institutions. Such efforts include establishing partnerships with schools and colleges in local communities (Russell Group, 2023), creating mentorship programmes (SHU, 2022), attempting to decolonise the curriculum (HEPI, 2020), funding research to address the ethnic minorities awarding gap (OFS, 2021), and providing ringed-fenced scholarships for Black and mixed heritage students (Sucharitkul and Windsor, 2021). These interventions are directly aimed at widening access and participation for under-represented groups. Nevertheless, there remains a significant amount of work to be done in supporting improvements in the progression and outcomes for minoritised students in universities, especially those from Black and mixed-Black ethnic backgrounds