Federal Capital Territory Research Articles

Gastrointestinal helminths of Cattle slaughtered at Gwagwalada abattoir, federal capital territory, Nigeria

Gastrointestinal parasites are widespread in cattle worldwide, causing both clinical and sub-clinical infections that can lead to significant financial losses. This study investigated the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths infection in cattle slaughtered in the abattoir at Gwagwalada area council, federal capital territory, Nigeria. A total of 120 faecal samples were collected and analysed by flotation and sedimentation methods. The results revealed an overall prevalence of 26.67%. The helminths identified were Toxocara sp (5.00%), Schistosoma sp (10.83%), and Fasciola sp (10.83%). These findings were compared to existing studies, with variations attributed to differences in climatic conditions, management practices, and seasonal factors. Age, breed, and sex-specific analyses revealed significant differences in infection rates. While no helminth infection was found in young adult cattle (1≤3 years), a 31.37% prevalence was recorded in older adult cattle (≥3 years). Among the breeds examined, Sokoto Gudali showed the highest prevalence (100%), followed by White Fulani (26.42%) and Red Fulani (16.67%). A significant breed-related difference (p = 0.0001) was recorded. Additionally, male cattle exhibited a higher prevalence (31.37%) compared to (0.00%) in females. The study highlighted the impact of geographical, ecological, and environmental factors on helminths infection, as well as the need for strategic anthelmintic treatment, improved livestock management, and educational programs to control these infections. Regular monitoring and selective breeding may further contribute to long-term infection control in cattle populations.

Relationship Between Street Hawking, Study Habit and Academic Performance of Upper Basic School Students in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between street hawking, study habits and academic performance of Upper Basic School Students in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Methodology: The research design adopted for the study was descriptive survey design. A total of 43,922 Upper Basic School Students comprises the population. Krejcie and Morgan (1970), was used in drawing the sample of 240 students. A Self-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. The data collected was subjected to statistical analysis based on the six null hypotheses. A multiple correlation regression, an analysis of variance, t- test and Pearson correlation coefficient was used in analysing the hypotheses. Findings: The findings from the study showed that, there is no significant relationship between street hawking, study habits and academic performance of students in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, it further shows that there is no significant relationship between street hawking and study habits and that upper basic school students do not differ significantly in their study habit on the basis of gender. The results further revealed that there is no significant relationship between street hawking and academic performance of students in Upper Basic Schools, and that Students differ significantly in their academic performance based on different hawking time. It was further discovered that upper basic school Students do not differ significantly in their academic performance because of those engaged in street hawking and students who do not. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: It was recommended that parents should allow their ward hawk only after school and hours of hawking should be limited and as well monitored. The results of this have significantly address the long-standing view that students who are engaged in street hawking tent to perform poorly, academically. The non-relation obtained in this study has further revealed the need to look at other environmental factors that may likely influence academic performance of school children street hawkers. Further study may still be needed to reconcile the differences in performances in performances between students engaged in street hawking and those who do not.

Revolutionising construction safety: benefits of harnessing artificial intelligence tools for dynamic monitoring of safety compliance on construction projects in Nigeria

PurposeThis paper evaluates the benefits of harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) tools for safety compliance on construction projects in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a specialised approach by combining qualitative and quantitative approach. The study carried out a brief systematic literature review (SLR) to identify the variables of the study. These variables were prepared in a questionnaire which was distributed among professionals within the Nigerian construction sector using purposive sampling. A total of 140 questionnaires were retrieved. The collected data were analysed using Relative Importance Index (RII), Ginni’s Mean (GM) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA).FindingsThe analysis revealed that all the identified benefits hold considerable importance, with an average RII of 0.86, with real-time monitoring as the most prominent advantage. However, using the GM which was 0.861, the study identified “mitigation of hazards on worksites” as the stationary benefit of AI in safety compliance.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was conducted exclusively within Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, using a cross-sectional survey approach.Practical implicationsThe results will be valuable for professionals and practitioners in the Nigerian construction sector, as they will acquire insights into the potential advantages of utilising AI tools for monitoring of safety compliance on construction projects.Originality/valueThe study adopted a robust approach by identifying the stationary benefit using the GM in combination with RII and EFA.

An Appraisal of Teachers’ Professional Development in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja-Nigeria

This study assessed the professional development (PD) of primary and secondary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nigeria. A mixed-method research design was adopted, where questionnaires and oral interviews were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. A sample of 109 teachers from four purposively selected schools was used in the study. The findings revealed that a significant proportion of teachers (about 86%) have accessed PD; and about half,48.6%, of the teachers have benefited from government-sponsored professional development programmes between 2020- 2022. The appraisal of teachers’ work is not regular. While the perceptions of the impacts of PD were mixed, most of the teachers rated it as good and excellent. Factors inhibiting effective PD are diverse, the most important ones being inadequate funding, poorly organised PD and non-personalised PD for teachers’ needs and interests. It is rec commended that more funding should be channelled to PD; more personalised PD opportunities with input from teachers should be provided; as well as regular appraisals and the provision of feedback on teachers’ work.

Intelligence Gathering and Policy Formulation for Addressing Security Threats in Nigeria

Intelligence has been discussed by many scholars across the globe. But no doubt, there is no universal acceptable definition of intelligence. It is germane to explicate intelligence as the result of information that has been collated, evaluated and interpreted. More so, intelligence is the information that have been processed and originated to be truth and accurate about an object, subject, or group of people. Without accurate and timely intelligence there would not be a functional government or sustainable nationhood. This paper focuses on how government could improve on policy formulations through prompt and accurate intelligence from intelligence community (IC) to frustrate, submerge the activities of hostile intelligence service (HIS) cum local perpetrators of crime. The population of the study comprised of the Nigeria Intelligence Community (IC) which are Department of State Services (DSS), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and National Intelligence Agency (NIA). The sample technique adopted was purposive sampling considering the experiences and knowledge of the participants involved in the study, the data collection were both primary and secondary. The primary data was anchored on qualitative research method (in-depth interviews). While the secondary data was relied on textbooks, journals, theses, internet sources, et cetera. The study was affixed on triarchic theory of intelligence to explored the relationship between the policy makers and intelligence community to produce a better policy for the masses. The study comes to conclusion that timely and accurate intelligence must be gathered by the IC and promptly utilized by the PM to form a policy that will curtail any security threats. The study was conducted in Abuja being the Federal Capital Territory, epicentre of intelligence community and seat of power.

Blood Biomarkers of Trans-Fatty Acid Intake among Nigerian Adults in the Federal Capital Territory: A Cross-Sectional Study

BackgroundIntake of trans-fatty acids (TFAs) is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In April 2023, Nigeria passed regulations limiting TFA content in foods, fats, and oils, but the current level of TFA exposure in the Nigerian population is unknown. We assessed TFA biomarkers in dried blood spots from Nigerian adults in the Federal Capital Territory before policy enforcement to establish a baseline for future evaluation. MethodsWe used gas chromatography to measure TFA content in dried blood spots from adults participating in a cross-sectional household survey using a representative sampling frame. Individual TFA (t-16:1, t-18:1, and t- 18:2) and their total, were expressed as % of total fatty acids. We assessed differences in TFA levels between subgroups based on sex, age, body mass index (BMI), education, income, and local government area using multivariable-adjusted linear regression models. Mean TFA levels were compared to samples from individuals in 30 countries. ResultsIn 213 adults (62% females; mean age: 36 years, mean BMI: 25.9 kg/m2), the mean TFA level in dried blood spots was 0.61% of total fatty acids (range: 0.23-1.31%). In multivariable-adjusted models, TFA levels were higher in younger adults (<30 years compared with ≥42 years, 0.07% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.00,0.15], p=0.047), those without a high school degree (compared with higher education, 0.08% [95% CI: 0.01,0.16], p=0.023;), and residents of Abuja Municipal Area Council (compared with residents in Gwagwalada, 0.12% [95% CI: 0.05,0.20], p=0.001). Total TFA levels were comparable to international samples, but t-16:1 and t-18:1 appeared lower, whereas t-18:2 appeared greater (52% of all TFA), in the Nigerian samples. ConclusionsThese results provide a baseline assessment of TFA exposure in Nigerian adults to evaluate implementation and effect of national regulation passed in 2023. The observed subgroup differences may help identify subpopulations for targeted interventions to reduce TFA intake.

Molecular Typing of Cryptosporidium in Cattle in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Cryptosporidium is an enteric pathogen with worldwide distribution in humans and animals with cattle as their reservoirs. Molecular tools have been very useful in determining the epidemiology of this zoonotic pathogen of public health importance. Despite the importance of this pathogen to humans and animals, there is limited published information on the risk factors of its epidemiology in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Positive faecal samples of 400 cattle in 46 farms located in 6 area councils of the FCT that were earlier screened for Cryptosporidium on light microscopy were genotyped by nested PCR using primers that targeted 18S ssUrRNA gene and followed by RFLP. The PCR-RFLP products were further sub genotyped by nested PCR and GP 60 KDa gene amplification. The nucleotides of the amplicons were subsequently sequenced. The overall PCR detection rate was 5.5%. Analysis of the 18S rRNA gene of the PCR-RFLP fragments revealed Cryptosporidium ryanae (18.3%), C. andersoni (8.5%) and C. parvum (4.2%). Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the GP 60KDa gene of all the C. parvum detected showed all to be 100% subtype family IIa and 100% sub genotype IIaA18G3R1. In conclusion, this study has established the presence of Cryptosporidium in cattle in the FCT. The detection of the zoonotic C. parvum, its subtype IIa and its allele IIaA18G3R1 is an indication of source of zoonotic transmission of the parasite in the FCT, Nigeria.

Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccination among Eligible Adults in Abuja, Nigeria: A Mixed-Methods Study Using the WHO Behavioral and Social Drivers of Vaccination Framework.

Despite the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, Nigeria still faces significant COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, with only 60.7% of the eligible population fully vaccinated as of 20 March 2023. Our study, part of a community-based effort to improve knowledge and uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine in the Gwagwalada Area Council of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria, utilized the WHO's Behavioral and Social Drivers (BeSDs)-of-vaccination framework to examine the drivers of COVID-19 vaccination among eligible adults. This was a mixed-method study with focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) involving 40 purposively sampled participants. We triangulate qualitative findings with data from a household survey of 1512 eligible adults identified using a two-stage systematic cluster sampling approach. All data were collected from the 1-18 November 2022. The household survey showed 46% COVID-19 vaccine uptake, with Pearson chi-square and Fisher's exact test showing significant associations between vaccine uptake and gender, religion, and education. Multivariate logistic regression showed that confidence in vaccine safety, knowing vaccination sites and family/friends' endorsement of COVID-19 vaccination were the strongest items associated with vaccine uptake in the thinking-and-feeling, practical-issue, and social-process domains, respectively. Multiple items measuring these domains aligned with BeSD priority question, demonstrating the robustness of the pared-down framework. Qualitative data corroborated these findings. To address vaccine hesitancy and increase uptake, community-driven approaches to improve trust in vaccine safety and benefits and promote positive vaccination norms are needed. In addition, service delivery strategies to make vaccination services easily accessible and identifiable should be developed and tailored to community needs.

Back Duty Audit and Companies Income Tax Compliance in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria: The Moderating Role of Tax Officers’ Expertise

Low tax compliance is a serious problem that has continued to ravage the Nigerian tax system which has forced the government to source for an alternative means of financing its budget. To tackle this issue, the government has introduced tax audit to enhance tax compliance. This study examines back duty audit and companies income tax compliance in Nigeria, the moderating role of tax officers’ expertise. The population of the study comprises 304 FIRS staff in the audit department in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Taro Yamane formula was used to determine a sample size of 173. Multiple regression was used to analyze the data and to test the hypotheses of the study with the help of STATA version 13. The result revealed that back duty audit has a positive and significant effect on companies income tax compliance. The moderator, tax officers’ expertise has a positive and significant effect on companies income tax compliance. When the moderator interacted with back duty audit, the result was positive and statistically significant. The study recommended that the FIRS should emphasize more on routine audit because it helps to increase compliance by companies now and in the future. Secondly, the tax officers should constantly reach out to companies’ representatives to help them resolve complexity in the tax laws.

Diversity and Taxonomic Classification of Epiphytes in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Epiphytes exist in the Federal Capital Territory communities but there is little or no information on their diversity and taxonomy. However, Federal Capital Territory is a treasure house of ethnic communities and some valuable plant species. One major gap across the Federal Capital Territory, is lack of formal record on the diversity and taxonomic classification of the epiphytes. The objective of this study is to collect and identify epiphytes present in the Federal capital Territory, determine species composition and abundance, and further identify the various plants used as hosts by the epiphytes. The greatness of epiphytes has enabled them to exploit a wide range of habitats including tropical and temperate woodlands, plantations and mangroves. In tropical canopies, epiphytes are remarkably diverse and show asynchronous phonological patterns at the community level. A reconnaissance survey of the study on diversity and taxonomic classification of epiphytes was carried out from November to December, 2021 in Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria. Eighteen study points were randomly selected from the administrative town and two settlements from each of the area council. The study sites were selected considering the dry riparian nature of the region, altitudinal ranges, notable presence of epiphytes diversity and recommendation from respondents. Data was collected by administering semi-structured questionnaires to 90 respondents for a single face-face interview. Epiphytic plants collected from the field were identified. Those that could not be identified were taken to the Biological Sciences Department, University of Abuja, for identification and documentation. The epiphytes were classified into eight (8) taxonomic groups namely; Polypodiophyta, Tracheophyta, Basidiomycota, Magnoliophyta, Ascomycota, Bryophyta, Marchantiophyta and Anthophyta while four (4) evolutionary taxonomic groups were identified. Based on their mode of life, some epiphytes were classified as Typical Epiphytes while others were Semi Epiphytes and Occasional Epiphytes. The study shows that different epiphytic plants occur in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria, and they belong to various taxonomic groups. Epiphytes in the Federal Capital Territory, and their Taxonomic Groups, indicated that Nephrolepis bisserata (Sw.) Schott, Platycerium stemaria (P.Beauv.) Desv., Ficus benghalensis L., Ficus vogelii Miq., Elaeis guinensis Jacq., Ageratum conyzoides (L.) L., Ficus leprieurii (Miquel), Ficus lutea Vahl, Ficus thonningi Blume, Ficus exasperate Vahl., Ficus platyphylla Delile, Polyhandra longiflora L., Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler, Lycoperdon spadiceus Pers., Auricularia polytricha (Mont.) Sacc., Viburnum tinus L., Plagiothecium undulatum (Hedw. Schimp., Frullania dilatata (L.) Dumort., and Ficus aurea Nutt. occured in all the area councils of the FCT while Fomitopsis sp P.Karst., Entodon sp MÜll. Hal. and Funaria sp Hedw. were seen in Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali area councils. Nephrolepis undulata (Afzel. Ex Sw.) J.Sm. occurred in Bwari, Kuje and Municipal area councils. Coprinus lagopus P.Karst., Daldinia concentrica (Bolton) Cesati and de Notaris, Entodontopsis nitens (Mitt.) W.R.Buck and Ireland, Syntrichia laevipila (Brid.) K.F.Schultz. occurred in Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Municipal area councils. Having studied the diversity and classification of epiphytes of the Federal Capital Territory, it is recommended that further research analysis be carried on the phytochemical constituents of some of these epiphytes to determine their major classes of compounds.

Assessment of the State of Pharmacovigilance in Secondary Hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, Using WHO Pharmacovigilance Indicators.

The importance of pharmacovigilance (PV) in ensuring drug safety, especially in the detection and prevention of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is critical. However, PV activities in Nigeria still face many challenges, such as very low spontaneous reporting rates, and inadequate training and funding. This study assessed the state of pharmacovigilance in the federal capital territory of Nigeria (FCT), using WHO pharmacovigilance indicators. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was carried out among secondary healthcare facilities in the FCT. The WHO Pharmacovigilance Indicators Questionnaire, which consists of the structural, process and outcome measures, was used to collect data from the focal person for pharmacovigilance at all the consenting facilities. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize all variables. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee of the FCT development authority. Of the 14 secondary healthcare facilities in the FCT, 11 agreed to the study (response rate = 84.6%). Among the respondents, 4 (36.4%) were females, and 2 (18.2%) had 9 years of experience in pharmacovigilance. For the core structural indicators, 7 (63.6%) of the facilities had a pharmacovigilance center while only 4 (36.4%) had a copy of the Nigerian pharmacovigilance policy. Regarding financial provisions, 10 (90.9%) hospitals reported that there was no regular financial provision for the center while 10 (90.9%) centers had a standard adverse drug reaction reporting form. For the core process indicators, the mean ± SD of the nine core process indicators ranged from 0.9 ± 3.0 to 75.6 ± 38.6 and the total number of reports in the local database, therapeutic ineffectiveness, and medication error were limited. The assessment of pharmacovigilance activities in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria revealed significant gaps in infrastructure, financial support, and process implementation. Despite the presence of pharmacovigilance centers in the majority of facilities, the lack of consistent financial support and limited adherence to core process indicators highlight the need for enhanced training, resources, and policy enforcement to improve ADR reporting and overall drug safety monitoring. Strengthening these areas is crucial for advancing pharmacovigilance practices and ensuring patient safety in Nigeria.

Strengthening Capacity for Tailored Immunization Programs Using Adult Learning Principles: A Case Study from Nigeria.

Introduction: Nigeria has the highest number of children who have not received any vaccines in Africa. The training-of-trainers (TOT) model used to train program managers (PMs) and health care workers (HCWs) is ineffective for adult learning and limits immunization programs' success. We incorporated adult learning principles (ALPs) in designing and delivering TOT for immunization PMs and HCWs to use data to engage communities for tailored immunization strategies.Methods: Our study was implemented in 3 local government areas (LGAs) of the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. A training curriculum was developed, integrating ALPs and technical and operational content based on best practices in delivering immunization training and the training needs assessment findings. State PMs (n=10), LGA PMs (n=30), and HCWs (n=42) were trained on the human-centered design for tailoring immunization programs (HCD-TIP) approaches using ALPs. We used interviews and surveys with purposively and conveniently sampled PMs and HCWs, respectively, and observations to assess participants' satisfaction, knowledge and competence, behavior changes, and results. The interviews were analyzed thematically, and surveys were statistically.Results: There was a high level of satisfaction with the training among LGA PMs (100%), state PMs (91%), and HCWs (85%), with significant knowledge and competence improvements post-training (P<.001). The trained participants conducted 2 HCD sessions with 24 undervaccinated communities and co-designed 24 prototype solutions for testing. Results showed increased coverage of the pentavalent vaccine first dose (54%) and third dose (188%) across 12 participating communities. Improved community colaboration, communication skills, and data-driven approaches were the most cited behavior changes in practice.Conclusion: The application of ALPs in training, use of HCD-TIP approaches and tools, and supportive supervision enhanced PMs' and HCWs' capacity for tailored interventions. Countries should consider adopting a holistic approach that focuses on using these approaches in immunization programs to strengthen the health system for equitable vaccine coverage.

Awareness of the Impacts of Chemotherapy Induced Alopecia among Individuals with Cancer at the Tertiary Hospitals of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja

Hair is an important aspect of human identity. Chemotherapy induced alopecia (CIA) is a common side effect of the chemotherapy treatment given to cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the awareness of the impacts of chemotherapy induced alopecia among patients with cancer in the tertiary hospitals of the Federal Capital Territory. A cross-sectional research design was adopted for the study. A total of 394 cancer patients with chemotherapy induced alopecia were interviewed for the study. The instrument used for data collection was a researcher developed questionnaire. Data collected were summarized using frequencies, percentages, bar and pie charts. Results showed that 109 of the respondents were males (27.7%) while 285 (72.3%) were females, 215 (54.6%) were Christians, 139 (35.3%) were Muslims, and 26 (6.6%) and 14 (3.9%) were traditionalists and atheists respectively. Over 75% of the respondents reported that they were aware of the various side effects of chemotherapy including alopecia, and about 43% reported chemotherapy induced alopecia as their most devastating side effect of chemotherapy. The results on the impact of CIA also revealed that CIA affected the accomplishment of daily tasks in about 62.4% of the respondents; it also limited about 62.9% of the respondents from going out because of shame. It made about 82% of the respondents appear ugly, and made about 56.6% of the patients always ashamed of themselves. It made about 79.7% of the respondents unable to go out without covering their hair, and about 59.6% of the respondents had difficulty getting enough wigs that fit. The researchers concluded that a greater percentage of the respondents are aware of CIA and that CIA had a great impact on the participants. The researchers therefore recommend that more time should be devoted to creating awareness on the impacts of CIA during clinics.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Women of Reproductive Age in Nigeria in 2018.

Congenital transmission of Toxoplasma gondii can occur when a woman becomes infected for the first time during or just before pregnancy. Toxoplasma gondii in the fetus can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, ocular or neurological abnormalities at birth, or progressive visual, hearing, motor, and cognitive deficiencies. The national seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in Nigeria was previously unknown. The 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey collected demographic, socioeconomic, and HIV-related data and stored blood specimens with consent for future analysis for other pathogens of public health importance. We evaluated toxoplasmosis seropositivity and risk factors in a sample of 44,269 women of reproductive age (WRA) between 15 and 44 years. The national T. gondii seroprevalence among WRA was 26.8% (95% CI: 25.8-27.7%). We found that WRA from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory had T. gondii exposure. Seroprevalence was higher in 25- to 44-year-olds than in 15- to 24-year-olds. A similar proportion of pregnant and nonpregnant women were seropositive. Increased odds of seropositivity were associated with unimproved toilet facilities and drinking water sources, being in a higher wealth quintile, and primary and secondary education compared with no education. Decreased odds of seropositivity were associated with living in an urban area and owning livestock. This study provides the first-ever national seroprevalence estimate for WRA in Nigeria. Although information on known risk factors for toxoplasmosis (e.g., consumption of undercooked meat, cat ownership) was not collected, future studies could further investigate potential risk factors to inform the development of effective toxoplasmosis prevention measures.

Impact of AI-Powered Personalized Learning Platforms on the Academic Achievement and Motivation of Computer Science Senior Secondary School Students in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) FCT-Abuja, Nigeria

This study investigated the impact of AI-Powered Personalized Learning Platforms on the Academic Achievement and Motivation of Computer Science senior secondary school students in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) FCT-Abuja, Nigeria. The study raised two research questions and two corresponding hypotheses which were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted a mixed research method; of both the quasi-experimental design and descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised all the public senior secondary school students in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT). A sample of 100 students was selected through a combination of purposive and simple random sampling techniques for the study. The researchers adopted Code.org as a treatment instrument while the instrument for data collection was a researchers’ designed Computer Achievement Test (CAT) and Motivation Based Questionnaire (MBQ). A draft of the questionnaire was validated through expert judgment involving three lecturers. This was done to establish the face and construct validity. The reliability of the instrument was established through a test-re-test method. A reliability co-efficient of 0.85 and 0.80 was established for both instruments (CAT &amp; MBQ). The data collected were analysed by using independent t-test statistics to test the two formulated hypotheses. The results indicated that Code.org significantly improved the academic achievement of secondary school students compared to traditional learning methods. Furthermore, Code.org positively impacted the motivation of secondary school students. The study recommended amongst others that schools should adopt AI-powered personalized learning platforms such as Code.org for teaching and learning.

Farmland Inventory Delineation and Vegetation Cover Change Using Space-Based Technology in Federal Capital Territory (Fct), Nigeria

Farmland Inventory Delineation and Vegetation Cover Change Using Space-Based Technology in Federal Capital Territory (Fct), Nigeria

Investigating the Influence of Social Media on Youth Engagement in the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance Protests in Nigeria

Social media has emerged as a significant platform for political, economic, and social dialogue worldwide, acting as a vehicle for self-expression and a means to hold political leaders accountable. In Nigeria, platforms such as Facebook, X, WhatsApp, and Instagram have played a crucial role in the organisation and mobilisation of protests. This study explores the impact of social media on youth participation in the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria. Using the public sphere theory, the research adopted a quantitative survey approach, collecting data from 300 respondents across the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The results reveal that social media was instrumental in mobilising and engaging young people during the protests. Prominent themes discussed on social media included the high cost of living, reversal of the fuel subsidy removal, investigation of the fuel subsidy regime, reduction in electricity tariffs, high cost of governance, corruption, deficiencies in educational and healthcare systems, unemployment, insecurity, and widespread poverty. This study highlights social media's dual function as both a catalyst for mobilisation and a tool for organisational coordination. It is recommended that public training on the responsible use of social media be implemented to maximise its effectiveness in civic engagement.

Enhancing hypertension education of community health extension workers in Nigeria’s federal capital territory: the impact of the extension for community healthcare outcomes model on primary care, a quasi-experimental study

BackgroundHealthcare workers (HCWs) including community health extension workers (CHEWs) in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria participated in a hypertension training series following the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model which leverages technology and a practical peer-to-peer learning framework to virtually train healthcare practitioners. We sought to evaluate the patient-level effects of the hypertension ECHO series.MethodsHCWs from 12 of 33 eligible primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in the Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria Program (NCT04158154) were selected to participate in a seven-part hypertension ECHO series from August 2022 to April 2023. Concurrent Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria Program patient data were used to evaluate changes in hypertension treatment and control rates, and adherence to Nigeria’s hypertension treatment protocol. Outcomes were compared between the 12 PHCs in the ECHO program and the 21 which were not.ResultsBetween July 2022 and June 2023, 16,691 PHC visits were documented among 4340 individuals (ECHO: n = 1428 [33%], non-ECHO: n = 2912 [67%]). Patients were on average (SD) 51.5 (12.0) years old, and one-third were male (n = 1372, 32%) with no differences between cohorts in either characteristic (p ≥ 0.05 for both). Blood pressures at enrollment were higher in the ECHO cohort compared to the non-ECHO cohort (systolic p < 0.0001 and diastolic p = 0.0001), and patients were less likely to be treated with multiple medications (p < 0.0001). Treatment rates were similar at baseline (ECHO: 94.0% and Non-ECHO: 94.7%) and increased at a higher rate (interaction p = 0.045) in the ECHO cohort over time. After adjustment for baseline and within site variation, the difference was attenuated (interaction p = 0.37). Over time, control rates increased and medication protocol adherence decreased, with no differences between cohorts. Staffing levels, adult patient visits, and rates of hypertension screening and empanelment were similar between ECHO and non-ECHO cohorts (p ≥ 0.05 for all).ConclusionsThe ECHO series was associated with moderately increased hypertension treatment rates and did not adversely affect staffing or clinical capacity among PHCs in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. These results may be used to inform strategies to support scaling hypertension education among frontline HCWs throughout Nigeria, and use of the ECHO model for CHEWs.Trial RegistrationThe Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria Program was prospectively registered on November 8, 2019 at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04158154; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04158154).

Impact of revenue on budget implementation in Nigeria: an Appraisal of FCTA

The study examines the impact of Revenue on Budget Implementation in Nigeria with particular reference to Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The data was obtained from secondary sources. The variables studied were Actual Total Expenditure as dependent variable while Actual Recurrent Revenue Receipt and Actual Capital Receipt as independent variables. The methodology employed was OLS regression model. The Result suggests that, the Actual Recurrent Revenue Receipt has a positive and significant impact on Budget Implementation. On the other hand, Actual Capital Receipt had a positive but insignificant impact on Budget Implementation. The researcher concludes that Actual Recurrent Revenue Receipt and Actual Capital Receipt have positive impact on Budget Implementation; however, bureaucratic bottleneck militates against budget implementation efficiency. In view of that, the study recommends that, there is need for increase in capital grants to enhance capital receipts in order to finance capital projects. FCTA should improve on its revenue collection by exploring other sources of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) like Property Taxes on unoccupied estates in the city so as to boost performance in revenue collection and improve on collection of water bills etc. Relying on the existing tax base, FCTA can maximize on the collection of taxable (withholding tax etc.) and vatable items on goods, supplies and services through proper inspection of taxable and valuable items before payment to all and sundry. There is also the need for digitization of the budget system, incentives and adequate training to serve as motivation, improve capacity, collection of revenues, enhance the budget preparation exercise and implementation, as well as to guard against all sorts of behaviors.

Assessing residual chlorine levels for water security at the Lower Usuma Dam treatment plant: Implications for Sustainable Development Goal 6

Despite advancements in water treatment, the degradation of water quality during distribution remains under-researched in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the physicochemical and microbial quality of the water distribution system, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which focuses on water and sanitation management. The effectiveness of water treatment and distribution processes was assessed, identifying variations in water quality across 11 distribution points. Although most physicochemical parameters met standards, manganese levels exceeded WHO guidelines at 10 locations, and low residual chlorine was linked to microbial contamination. These findings underscore the need for enhanced monitoring and treatment, providing recommendations to improve water quality management and protect public health.