Knowledge In Nigeria Research Articles

Challenges confronting libraries in documentation and communication of indigenous knowledge in Nigeria

Indigenous knowledge (IK) and practices are usually unwritten, relying on oral transmission and on memory. This reliance often led to distortions. IK is relevant for development especially in arts, music, language, agriculture, medicine, crafts, theatre and natural resources management. It then becomes imperative that indigenous knowledge be documented and communicated as necessary to obtain its benefit where applicable. Nigeria needs to participate fully in the global exchange and dissemination of information to develop socially and economically. The paper reviews the documentation of IK for communication in print, audiovisual and electronic forms and highlights the challenges confronting libraries in documentation and communication of IK in Nigeria. It is suggested that libraries should coordinate their activities in this area and co-operate with other stakeholders, government and other funding agencies in tackling these challenges.

Challenges confronting libraries in documentation and communication of indigenous knowledge in Nigeria

Indigenous knowledge (IK) and practices are usually unwritten, relying on oral transmission and on memory. This reliance often led to distortions. IK is relevant for development especially in arts, music, language, agriculture, medicine, crafts, theatre and natural resources management. It then becomes imperative that indigenous knowledge be documented and communicated as necessary to obtain its benefit where applicable. Nigeria needs to participate fully in the global exchange and dissemination of information to develop socially and economically. The paper reviews the documentation of IK for communication in print, audiovisual and electronic forms and highlights the challenges confronting libraries in documentation and communication of IK in Nigeria. It is suggested that libraries should coordinate their activities in this area and co-operate with other stakeholders, government and other funding agencies in tackling these challenges.

Indigenous Knowledge Dissemination and Use : A Discuss

The paper discusses the dissemination and use of indigenous knowledge. It highlighted the type and sources of indigenous knowledge in Nigeria. Means and tools for creating and exchanging indigenous knowledge, the likely situations under which indigenous knowledge could be used and how indigenous knowledge can be disseminated were discussed. The paper concluded by making recommendations on how to promote the creation, usage and transfer of indigenous knowledge in Nigeria.

Knowledge creation and dissemination in sub‐Saharan Africa

PurposeThe purpose of this experimental study is to examine the effects of using broadband internet technology for creating and disseminating agricultural knowledge in Nigeria. A free broadband service Knowledge Center was established in the village of Ihiala with volunteer college students aiding the farmers in using the internet.Design/methodology/approachPre‐ and post‐test interviews of a panel of female farmers were conducted before and after the establishment of a free broadband internet access service center and experimental web site. A survey of another 97 farmers in the village was conducted to examine awareness and perception of the Knowledge Center.FindingsThe data from the interviews show that farmers who visited the experimental web site evaluated the site positively as giving them relevant knowledge. Most importantly, the broadband service facility was unanimously rated by the users as a great place for socializing with and learning from other fellow farmers. They all encouraged their friends and relatives to use the center and said they would miss the center if it was discontinued.Research limitation/implicationsThe limited funding can only examine the short‐term impact of the technology on the farmers. The demonstration of broadband internet's potential as an infrastructure in facilitating the creation and dissemination of knowledge among Nigerian farmers through this experiment can be deemed successful.Practical implicationsCustomized information and socialization functions in a knowledge creation program are important to win the support of farmers.Originality/valueThis study is the first empirical study to examine the effects of technology on knowledge creation and dissemination based on a collaborative knowledge creation model.

Interfacing health care and innovation: Traditional medicinal knowledge in Nigeria

Traditional medicinal knowledge and related innovations are deeply embedded within the context of knowledge use and exchange of health services in developing countries. Traditional medicine systems cater to the health needs of a majority of people in the developing world, and there is a clear link between such practice and feedback innovations based on traditional medicinal knowledge. Understanding these interlinkages calls for an interface between innovation systems and health systems, and this is perhaps why this issue has not received the kind of attention it deserves in either strands of literature. This paper uses field level data collected during a survey of the biopharmaceutical innovation system in Nigeria in 20032004 to highlight these interlinkages. By way of results obtained in the survey, it derives the scope for policy intervention in order to harness the role of traditional medicinal knowledge for both biopharmaceutical innovation and health care infrastructure in Nigeria.

Receptivity for probiotic products among premenopausal female students in an African university.

The objective of this study was to examine the receptivity for probiotic products among premenopausal female students in an African university. The goal of this study was to determine the local knowledge in Nigeria of probiotics and the willingness of young women to use them should they be introduced. Closed-ended questionnaires were administered to a sample of 280 participants and these addressed age, marital status, perceived risk of HIV infection for the next 3 years, and history of urogenital infections. The participants were also asked whether they would welcome a probiotic product in oral/vaginal form and in milk-based food products, willingness to purchase and use, how often they would use these products, preference of form, price, and where they would like to buy the products. The second questionnaire was open-ended. It asked the participants to freely list any concerns or worries they had in relation to probiotic products. Of the 280 participants, 55.3% indicated that they believed they were at risk of acquiring HIV within the next 3 years, illustrating the enormity of the problem in Africa and the feelings among women that they cannot easily control sexual relationships and have partners use condoms. Eighty-two percent of the subjects stated they would welcome probiotic products in capsular form for vaginal instillation or to be taken orally to improve vaginal health. Over one third (36%) of women indicated they would be willing to use the probiotic products as part of their daily self-care. One hundred nine (39.6%) respondents were willing to purchase the probiotic products at a reasonable price of 0.08 US dollars per dose, whereas 71.5% were willing to pay up to 0.38 US dollars. Some subjects (25%) raised some concern over safety of probiotics. The findings revealed that female university students are receptive to probiotic products in Nigeria and indicate strongly a need to consider women's concerns about urogenital health. Furthermore, the study identified a need for appropriate educational materials about probiotics, including benefits and safety information, in an African country suffering severely from the HIV epidemic.

The impact of an intervention to change health workers' HIV/AIDS attitudes and knowledge in Nigeria a controlled trial

The impact of an intervention to change health workers' HIV/AIDS attitudes and knowledge in Nigeria a controlled trial

The impact of an intervention to change health workers' HIV/AIDS attitudes and knowledge in Nigeria: a controlled trial

The aim of the study was to improve health workers' skills and confidence in dealing with patients with HIV disease and increase attention to patients' human rights. A longitudinal controlled trial was carried out in which one Nigerian state served as the intervention site and the adjacent state served as the control site for an intervention and dissemination of training in clinical management, health education, and attitudinal change toward patients with HIV disease. The intervention group n = 1072, control group n = 480. Following initial questionnaire-defining focus groups, nurses, laboratory technologists and physicians in all base hospitals in the intervention state were trained by influential role models who attended the initial training. Data were collected in all sites pre-training and 1 y later. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis controlling for baseline data, and orthogonal factor analysis to define scales were used. Data showed significant positive changes after 1 y in the intervention group on perception of population risk assessment, attitudes and beliefs about people with HIV disease, less fear and more sympathy for and responsibility toward HIV patients, and an increase in self-perceived clinical skills. There was increased willingness to treat and teach colleagues about people with HIV. Clinician fear and discrimination were significantly reduced, and the climate of fear that was associated with HIV was replaced with a professional concern. There was increased understanding of appropriate psychosocial, clinical and human rights issues associated with HIV treatment and prevention. This intervention, targeting health workers in an entire state and using HIV/AIDS information, role modeling, diffusion of training and discussions of discrimination and human rights, significantly affected the perception of risk groups and behaviors, perceived skills in treatment and counseling, reduced fears and increased concern for people with HIV disease, and improved the climate of treatment and prevention of HIV disease compared with a control state. Public Health (2002) 116, 106–112