Northern Nigeria Research Articles

Socioeconomic Factors and Educational Aspirations in Northern Nigeria: Islamic Endowment as a Possible Solution

The study aims to investigate the socioeconomic determinants that influence educational ambitions in Northern Nigeria and the potential role of Islamic waqf (Waqf). This research uses a qualitative approach. Expert interviews, case studies, and literature reviews are all incorporated into this technique. These techniques make it possible to understand the difficulties facing the local education system in great detail, as well as the historical and current contributions that Waqf has made to the advancement of education. The results of the analysis of the relevant theoretical framework and practical investigations yielded valuable insights into the ways in which the Islamic waqf system can close the huge educational gaps and inequalities in the area. The study looks at the relationship between socioeconomic status and educational goals in Northern Nigeria and how the use and revitalization of Waqf institutions can advance education in the area. The conclusion of the study is that in Northern Nigeria, socioeconomic factors are still a challenge to the desire to get an education. By involving collaboration between governments, businesses, and religious institutions to create effective and inclusive structures, Islamic waqf can be a potential solution to overcome socio-economic barriers in education.

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF PROTEIN AND NON-PROTEIN NITROGEN ON THE PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF RED SOKOTO BUCKS IN MUBI ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the utilization of protein and non-protein nitrogen on the performance and carcass characteristics of Red Sokoto bucks (RSB) in Northern Nigeria. Twenty four (24) RSB approximately 5-6 months were used in a completely randomized design of four treatments replicated six times. Four different diets were formulated using two protein nitrogen (Cotton seed cake – CSC and ground nuts cake - GNC) and two non-protein nitrogen (Urea and Poultry litter - PL), mixed each with wheat offal (WO). The diets were designated as I (Urea/WO), II (PL/WO), III (CSC/WO) and IV (GNC/WO). Data were taken on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance using SPSS 23.0 (2017) for windows. The results of growth performance showed that, daily supplement intake and total supplement intake were highly significantly (P<0.001), final live weight and total weight gain were significant (P<0.05) and daily weight gain was significantly (P<0.01) different among the treatments. However initial weight gains of the bucks and feed conversion ratio were not different among the dietary treatments. Result of carcass characteristics showed that, all the parameters measured were significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.001), except spleen which was not affected by the dietary treatments. It could be concluded that diet IV (CSC/WO) being the best diet in improving the growth of the bucks and with no concomitant effects on the carcass characteristics of the bucks be recommended for feeding goats at 189.61 g/day.

Orality in Song and the Advancement of Traditional History: The Experiences of Saidu Faru

Since antiquity, orality has been the only genre through which thoughts and ideas are commuted and disseminated by heart, either as songs or traditional historical antecedents to the nascent and generation unborn. It is usually in the form of traditional history by which information is collected, commuted and disseminated in song form through the mouth. Albeit, songs of variegated types have tremendously been instrumental to a plethora of transformations evident in all human global societies. This is a similitude of the invaluable multivariate songs sung by Mal. Saidu Faru- an African iconic song composer from Faru village in Talata Mafara in the present Zamfara State, Nigeria. Historically, some of his songs to some extent have indelibly contributed positively to the remoulding and repositioning of human life, psyche, and characters, and especially in strengthening, the governance, religion (Islam), cultural heritage and political advancement of northern Nigeria society. The nature of philosophical songs soothes the human mind, bringing solace and redirection of hopes through religious proclivity that has culminated in the serene ambience that makes Mal. Saidu Faru songs were indispensable. Based on the foregoing prism, the paper adopted the historical paradigm of data collection (primary and secondary sources) and equally used qualitative content analysis for interpretation. The paper recommended that Mal. Saidu Faru songs should be listened to, especially to derive the invaluable benefits in remoulding human character, repositioning societal malaises toward the creation of peace, and harmonious relations, as quintessential to good governance in Nigerian society.

Influence of trust on the acceptance of the RTS,S malaria vaccine in the Kassena-Nankana districts of Ghana

BackgroundVaccines have increasingly become some of the most effective public health tools for promoting health and reducing the burden of infectious diseases. The availability of a malaria vaccine for routine use will be a major milestone, nonetheless, trust by the public for the vaccine could pose a major challenge for its acceptance. Documented evidence such as the boycott of the oral polio vaccine in northern Nigeria and the failure of the Ebola vaccine trial in Ghana among others highlight the impact of public trust on vaccine acceptance.MethodsThis is an explorative cross-sectional mixed-method study conducted in the Kassena Nankana districts. The study was conducted in the Kassena Nankana Districts between May and December 2020. A total of 390 structured questionnaires were administrated to mothers and caregivers of children under five years of age while 15 in-depth interviews were conducted with mothers and health workers. STATA software Version 16.0 was used to interpret the quantitative data, where bivariate and multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine the influence of trust on vaccine acceptance while QSR NVivo 12 software was used to code the qualitative data to aid the thematic analysis.ResultsThe results revealed that the level of knowledge of the RTS,S vaccine among participants was high. About 95.4% of the mothers had good knowledge of the malaria vaccine and more than half 61.2% of them got information about the vaccine from the health facility. The level of trust for the malaria vaccine was equally high with 91.4% of the mothers reporting that the vaccine treats childhood malaria. In a bivariate analysis, educational status (P = 0.013), ethnicity (P = 0.008), marital status (P = 0.041), education on the vaccine and perceived ineffectiveness P < 0.05, and trust for the malaria vaccine (P < 0.05) were found to be statistically associated with vaccine acceptance. Compared with participants who agree that vaccines are harmless to children, those who disagree were significantly less likely to accept vaccines (OR = 0.25, 95%CI [0.08, 0.83], p = 0.017). The qualitative data correspondingly revealed that mothers trusted vaccines which thus accounted for the high uptake of the malaria vaccine in the districts.ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that trust in the malaria vaccine is critical for its uptake. Therefore, efforts towards improving acceptance of the vaccine should be focused on building and sustaining trust for the vaccine among mothers and community members.

Hisbah as a Model of Community Policing in Nigeria

As a religious police, there is an ongoing debate on whether &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Hisbah &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;can aligned itself to the philosophy of community policing that stressed the need for the uniformed officers to engage local citizens in law enforcement activities, which shall be accomplished through flexible hierarchies and protocols, with a view to address the root causes of neighborhood crimes and disorder. In view of the above, this paper examined the nature of &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Hisbah &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;police work in the Moslem dominated northern Nigeria where it was established with a view to understand how the elements common to all community policing approaches are observed. It was established that community policing attributes including partnership, organizational transformation and problem solving are not only found in &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Hisbah &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;policing, but also a prerequisite without which no &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Hisbah &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;policing can take place. In fact, the study has established that &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Hisbah &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;policing is another model of community policing, which was ignored by the academia and criminal justice commentators. The paper posited that in the &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Hisbah &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;community policing model, there is always a constructive engagement of the citizens in the police enterprise, especially in addressing moral decadence which often give birth to crime and disorder in the community. Finally, the study has established that community policing has been recognized by and practiced in Islamic &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;sharia states&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;, which prompted the debate on whether the philosophy of community policing was copied from the &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Hisbah &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;policing model, being the oldest (more than 1000 years old), or it was just a mere coincidence. The debate is opened for researchers to explore.

Malnutrition and food insecurity in northern Nigeria: an insight into the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Nigeria

Malnutrition and food insecurity in northern Nigeria: an insight into the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Nigeria

Education policy and its impact on socioeconomic outcomes in Northern Nigeria: A sustainable development perspective

This paper examines the impact of education policy on socioeconomic outcomes in Northern Nigeria through the lens of sustainable development. Focusing on the alignment of these policies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), the study explores how efforts to improve access, quality, and equity in education contribute to broader regional development. The study concludes that education plays a critical role in reducing poverty (SDG 1: No Poverty) and promoting gender equality (SDG 5: Gender Equality), emphasizing the urgent need for inclusive educational policies that bridge regional disparities. Despite progress, challenges such as inadequate funding, infrastructure deficits, and cultural barriers continue to hinder the full achievement of these goals. Utilizing human capital theory, the study analyzes how investment in education enhances individuals’ productivity and economic potential, fostering long-term socioeconomic growth. Hence, the study recommends that government bodies, NGOs, and communities collaborate to address these challenges and ensure the sustainability of educational reforms in Northern Nigeria.

Boko Haram insurgency: Tactics and evolving operational strategies in Northern Nigeria

Boko Haram, which translates from Hausa to mean ‘Western Education is forbidden,’ has ignominiously attracted negative attention and publicity from many quarters in Nigeria and the international community at large. Indeed, the organisation is arguably one of the significant security concerns confronting the Nigerian State. This has undoubtedly created an atmosphere of fear and terror, especially among Nigerians in the North. Generally, their activities threaten the very fabric of the country’s unity, prosperity, and stability. The paper is a desk study, drawing heavily from secondary sources of data and analysing it using the thematic method. It examines the evolution, operational, and tactical transformation of Boko Haram from a small, localised group into a violent Islamic insurgent group with better coordination and sophistication. Findings show that the strategic and tactical flexibility of the group’s operations is peculiar to all asymmetrical warfare. It, therefore, recommends that the Nigerian government intensify its counter-insurgency war while also exploring the option of expanding the counter-insurgency war beyond the military option to include addressing the socio-economic realities in Northern Nigeria, such as unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy.

Empowering Women through E-Learning: The Role of Waqf in Supporting Digital Education for Girls and Women in Northern Nigeria

This study aims to investigate how women in Northern Nigeria might benefit from digital education through waqf, an Islamic endowment. To increase girls and women's access to education, the study focuses on determining how waqf institutions may aid in creating e-learning infrastructure, materials, and training initiatives. The study aims to eliminate social and economic hurdles that restrict women's access to education in the area, advance gender equality, and provide women with the skills necessary for socioeconomic development by utilizing waqf monies. The ultimate objective is to demonstrate how integrating digital education programs with Islamic charitable frameworks can establish long-term avenues for women's empowerment and promote wider community development in Northern Nigeria. Women's education greatly aids Social and economic progress, especially in areas with large gender gaps. Women's access to formal education has been hampered in Northern Nigeria by long-standing obstacles such as early marriage, poverty, and cultural conventions. However, the emergence of e-learning offers a special chance to close this gap by giving women and girls remote access to educational materials. This study uses a mixed-methods approach, this study investigates how Waqf supports e-learning for women in Northern Nigeria by integrating qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The results indicate that women's educational chances can be greatly improved by combining Waqf with online learning programs, enabling them to better their socioeconomic circumstances and make a positive impact on their communities. The study's conclusion emphasizes the necessity of deliberate actions to optimize Waqf's effectiveness in resolving gender-based educational disparities in Northern Nigeria.

HPV vaccine hesitancy among parents and caregivers of adolescents in Northern Nigeria

BackgroundThe recent introduction of the HPV vaccine into Nigeria's routine immunization schedule has brought parental vaccine hesitancy to the forefront. This cross-sectional study, conducted in Kano State, a region with historically low immunization rates, is crucial in assessing the level of parental hesitancy and uncovering its determinants, potentially informing future public health policies. MethodsThe participants were a representative sample of parents or caregivers of children aged 9–14 years (n = 1071) in Kano State and were selected via a multi-stage sampling method. We administered structured questionnaires anchored in the Socio-ecological Model and the Precaution Adoption Process Model. We utilized validated measures to assess intent to vaccinate against HPV and potential key indicators of intent to vaccinate adolescent boys and girls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of parental HPV vaccine hesitancy. ResultIf the HPV vaccine were free or subsidized, about one-third [32.7 %] of parents would choose not to vaccinate their children against the virus. Only 4.2 % had ever heard of HPV, and a mere 5.1 % had heard of the cervical cancer vaccine or HPV vaccine. Compared to those who were aware of the virus, those who had never heard of HPV had higher adjusted odds of vaccine hesitancy [OR: 2.86, 95 %CI: 1.28–6.40]. Some of the top reasons for parental hesitancy were their concerns about the safety of the vaccine and the lack of doctors' recommendations. ConclusionThe study revealed that parental hesitancy is a significant barrier to HPV uptake in Kano State. There is an urgent need for a multi-faceted HPV knowledge enhancement approach focusing on elevating parental awareness about the HPV vaccine and, particularly, its relationship to cervical cancer prevention.

Pattern of paediatric tooth extractions in KANO, northern Nigeria: implications for policy and practice

Pattern of paediatric tooth extractions in KANO, northern Nigeria: implications for policy and practice

The Need for Solar Power Energy Utilization in the Northern Part of Nigeria for Sustainability and Economic Growth (A case study of Nigeria)

Northern Nigeria is one of the most recognizable areas, having vast amounts of solar radiation and rapidly growing populations. Thus, there is an opportunistic aspect of the use of solar power in this region. Since this region enjoys all-year sunshine, it is one of the best places for the integration of solar energy. With huge problems of energy she presently faces such as irregular supply of electricity, people's growth and thus demand, solar power presents an immediate usable, reliable, and sustainable solution. The energy demand in northern Nigeria is expected to sharply increase from about 48 billion kWh in 2024 to 64.5 billion kWh by 2034. This escalated energy requirement directly puts a demand for an efficient and sustainable source of energy, and as such, the promise of steady and renewable energy supply through solar power makes it very appealing. The average regional solar radiation exceeds 6 kWh/m2 per day, which points towards a very vast potential for solar energy generation. But to meet the energy requirements that will arise in the future from solar, it would call for a tremendous investment in infrastructure. This is because it is estimated that approximately 246,000 km2 of solar panels might be needed by 2034 in order to be able to cover the energy needs of the country. However, this massive area is required, but the benefits of solar energy do not stop there at solving shortages of energy. Solar power would increase economic activities due to job creation, stimulation of local industries, and the end reliance on fossil fuels. It has implications on environmental sustainability as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions and promotes cleaner practices of energy consumption. Northern Nigeria will unlock a stable and reliable source of power through investment in this infrastructure. This is important for economic development, thereby eventually improving the quality of life. Indeed, the integration of solar power addresses the immediate needs of satisfying energy challenges but builds a foundation for sustainable growth and environmental stewardship over the long term. Solar power in northern Nigeria is important for ensuring future demands for energy and significant economic development while emphasizing sustainability within the environment. A lot still has to be tapped into by tapping into the solar resources that are available. Key words: Solar Energy,Sustainability,Economic Growth,Energy Demand,Renewable Resources

Assessing the impact of structural modifications in the construction of surveillance network for Peste des petits ruminants disease in Nigeria: The role of backbone and sentinel nodes.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious disease affecting mainly sheep and goats. Livestock movements contribute to the spread of the disease by introducing it to naive areas or exposing susceptible animals to it in infected regions. Because of its socio-economic impact, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) have set the goal to eradicate it by 2030, one of the key steps being the improvement of surveillance networks. The present study aimed to provide tools to identify areas that could serve as sentinel nodes, i.e. areas that may be rapidly infected at the onset of epidemics. Using data from a market survey conducted in Northern Nigeria, we reconstructed the small ruminants mobility network and simulated the diffusion of PPR virus through animal movement. From the analysis of simulation outcomes, we investigated which nodes could act as sentinel nodes under specific conditions for disease transmission. We considered several modified networks to get around the problem of data only being available for part of the overall network structure and to account for potential errors made during the field study. For each configuration, we simulated the spread of PPR using a stochastic Susceptible-Infectious (SI) model based on animal movements to assess the epidemics' extent and the presence of recurrent patterns to identify potential sentinel nodes. We extracted the backbone of the reference network and checked for the presence of sentinel nodes within it. We investigated how the origin (seed) of the epidemics could affect the propagation pattern by comparing and grouping seeds based on their respective transmission paths. Results showed that the isolated backbone contains 45% of sentinel nodes that remain stable or undergo only minor changes in 9 out of 11 configurations. On top of that, the characteristics of sentinel nodes identified in the backbone are not influenced by the severity of the disease. The H index, in-degree, and eigenvector are the most essential variables. This study provides an overview of the major axes of animal movements in Nigeria and the most vulnerable locations that should be prioritized for monitoring livestock diseases like PPR.

Groundwater potential mapping in semi-arid region of Northern Nigeria by integrating analytic hierarchy process and GIS

Groundwater resource management in drylands, characterized by climate variability and population growth, is difficult. Exploration and exploitation of groundwater, due to inadequate surface water is very costly. This study employed the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and GIS to identify groundwater potential (GWP) areas in a semi-arid region of Nigeria. Land-use-land-cover, drainage density, slope, rainfall, static water level, soil, lithology, and aquifer were selected for GWP analysis. Parameter weights were determined using AHP and ranked based on their contribution to GWP by experts. The parameters were then integrated using the weighted overlay tool in ArcGIS 10.5 to produce a GWP map of the study area. Borehole yield data from 245 wells were collected to determine the model accuracy and model validation. Results classified the study area into very high GWP (1.9%), high GWP (8.8%), moderate GWP (62%), low GWP (20.70%) and very low GWP (6.6%). Areas with better GWP include Gurun, Dugol, Zago, Kumbo, Dukku, Doguwa, Riruwai, Dambazau, etc. Moderate GWP areas are widely spread across the state while areas with poor GWP include Sharawa, Kadewa, Koya, Dagar, Jigilawa, Galwanga, Yanganau, Kunchi, Tofa, Tsanyawa, etc. Validation of the AHP model with borehole yield data shows a correlation coefficient of 71.3% giving a good prediction. AHP and GIS can be used to successfully map GWP areas which could serve as an exploration guide for sustainable management of groundwater resources in semi-arid areas.

Effect of fasting on cardiovascular risk factors among healthy adult Muslims attending primary care, Kano, Northern Nigeria

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the most prevalent and preventable chronic diseases in the 21st century The global burden of disease: 2004 update. The Report in Sections. A person’s risk of developing CVD can be reduced by adopting healthy lifestyles, spiritual and religious practices The American Heart Association Life’s Simple 7 in African Americans of the Jackson Heart Study. Fasting as a spiritual practice is not exempted from these benefits. Most world’s religions recommend a period of fasting. The obligatory Ramadan fasting in Islam may provide an interesting opportunity to reduce food intake and increase physical activity. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of Ramadan fasting on cardiovascular risk factors on healthy adult Muslims.MethodThe study was pre/post-test single arm intervention conducted at the staff clinic of Family Medicine department, AKTH, and Northwest, Nigeria. Kano. The study recruited healthy adults 18yrs and above not on any medications that can affect metabolic profiles consecutively from two weeks before Ramadan fasting of 2018 and the last week of Ramadan of the same year. The questionnaire included information on sociodemographic, clinical parameters and Lifestyle pattern.ResultThirty healthy volunteers were included in this study, 25 males (83.3%) and 5 females (16.7%). The mean age was 38.23 ± 6.35(SD). Twenty-five participants were married (83.3%) with 4 singles (13.3%) and 1 divorcee (3.3%). During Ramadan fasting, weight reduced (67.90 ± 11.61 versus 66.53 ± 12.13 4th week of Ramadan p-value < 0.002) Body Mass Index (22.89 ± 3.63 versus 4th week of Ramadan 22.38 ± 3.64 p-value < 0.002) and systolic blood pressure (120.33 ± 19.91versus 4th week of Ramadan 115.33 ± 14.32 p-value 0.003) reduced significantly compared to baseline. The waist circumference, pulse rate, fasting blood sugar and cholesterol were reduced but were not statistically significant.ConclusionThe result from this study suggested that Ramadan fasting may be a useful means of reducing burden of cardiovascular diseases, as the improved cardiovascular risk factors associated with fasting may translate into a significant health benefit.

Evaluating the implementation of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) gateway for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) across six Northern states in Nigeria

BackgroundThis evaluation research utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods to assess the implementation of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) gateway of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) across six states in Northern Nigeria: Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, and Yobe.MethodsThis was a mixed-method research that utilized longitudinal surveys and Key informant interviews to gather information about the implementation status of the BHCPF-NPHCDA gateway. Checklists were developed based on the BHCPF’s national guidelines to gather quantitative data, while simple open-ended questionnaires were used to collect qualitative data from the state BHCPF Program Implementation Unit (PIU) focal persons as key informants.ResultsThe result revealed that the NPHCDA had accredited these six states to use one Primary Health Care (PHC) facility in each political ward to implement the BHCPF. Factors that contributed to the success achieved in some states included the early completion of contingent start-up activities, well-established coordination structures, strong support from partners, and the availability of established financial management systems. However, the delays in the submission of quarterly business plans by the BHCPF facilities affected timely approval and fund disbursement. Other challenges included staff capacity gaps, inadequate human resources, and poor management and supervision from the state health agency teams.ConclusionThere was suboptimal implementation of the BHCPF in at least one thematic area across all states. Therefore, actions such as government commitment for improved coordination, continuous capacity building, effective monitoring and evaluation, and targeted supportive supervision using innovative approaches should be undertaken to improve the program’s implementation. In a broader setting, the insights from BHCPF implementation are valuable for LMICs, offering guidance on overcoming implementation challenges associated with PHC financing. This research provides a resource for enhancing healthcare financing strategies in similar contexts.

Identification of Post-Tuberculosis Lung Function Impairment Early during the Course of Treatment.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and an important contributory factor to chronic lung disease. TB-associated permanent lung damage manifests with varying levels of respiratory disability long after TB has been successfully treated, which is a condition known as post-TB lung disease (PTLD). This study assessed whether lung function impairment associated with PTLD occurs early during TB treatment. Using a cross-sectional design, we enrolled newly diagnosed adult TB patients aged ≥18 years who had received anti-TB medication for ≥2 months from a large treatment center in northern Nigeria. We used spirometry and the Global Lung Initiative 2012 reference equations for African Americans to assess and characterize lung function for enrolled participants (N = 94). The median age (range) of participants was 34 (18-72) years. Approximately 5.3% (n = 5) of participants exhibited features of abnormal lung function, 4.2% (n = 4) showed features of obstructive lung abnormality, and 1.1% (n = 1) showed restrictive lung abnormality. Compared with historical patients recruited ≥6 months after TB treatment in the same center, our participants had significantly lower forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity values. Our findings suggest an opportunity for early intervention for primary and secondary prevention of PTLD to reduce the impact of severe respiratory impairment.

Nutritional diversity of two &lt;i&gt;phaseolus&lt;/i&gt; accessions from northern Nigeria

Nutritional diversity of two &lt;i&gt;phaseolus&lt;/i&gt; accessions from northern Nigeria

EPID-08. PATTERN OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION OF INTRACRANIAL NEOPLASMS IN NIGERIA FROM 1960: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND POOLED ANALYSIS

Abstract BACKGROUND Intracranial neoplasms, encompassing a range of benign and malignant tumors, pose significant health challenges worldwide. This study systematically reviews the epidemiological patterns of intracranial neoplasms in Nigeria from 1960 to the present, providing a comprehensive analysis of their distribution, demographic characteristics, and temporal trends. METHODS A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, encompassing studies published from 1960 onwards. Databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online were searched using relevant keywords. Eligible studies were those that reported on the incidence, prevalence, or demographic details of intracranial neoplasms in Nigeria. RESULTS A total of 45 studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 3,517 cases of intracranial neoplasms. The pooled analysis revealed a significant increase in the incidence of intracranial neoplasms over the study period. The pooled prevalence between the year 1960 to presences is 3.22 (95% CI: 1.66 – 5.22), while the pooled 10-yearly incidence was 3.66(95% CI: 1.67 – 6.32), the incidence rose from 2.18% in 1960-1969 to 4.08% in 2000-2009, and eventually to 4.84% in 2010 – 2019. The most common types of intracranial neoplasms identified were gliomas, meningioma pituitary adenomas; meningioma was the leading type found in adults followed by glioma and pituitary adenoma, while in pediatric age group glioma was leading followed by medulloblastoma, and craniopharyngioma. The demographic analysis indicated a higher prevalence in males compared to females with male-to-female ratio of 1.17:1, with the majority of cases occurring in the fourth to sixth decades of life. Geographic distribution showed higher incidence rates in southern Nigeria especially south east and south west compared to Northern Nigeria, potentially reflecting disparities in diagnostic facilities and healthcare access. CONCLUSION This review highlights an increasing trend in the incidence of intracranial neoplasms in Nigeria, with distinct demographic and geographic patterns. The findings underscore the need for improved diagnostic capabilities, enhanced public health strategies, and targeted interventions to address the burden of intracranial neoplasms in Nigeria.

Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Fly Ash on the Concentration of Heavy Metals around Cement Company of Northern Nigeria

This study assessed the impact of Coal Fly Ash on the concentration of Heavy metals in water, soil, and vegetables (moringa and spinach) in the environment of Cement Company of Northern Nigeria. The samples collected were digested, and analysed for heavy metals concentration using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The concentrations of heavy metals obtained in water samples were higher than the WHO/SON permissible limit, except for Cu and Zn which are below the standard limits. The average concentration of Pb, Mn, Cd, and Ni in all plant samples was higher than the permissible limit, except Cd in spinach sample. The roots of the spinach accumulate higher concentrations of heavy metals than the leaves and stem, while leaves of moringa accumulate higher than the roots and stem. The concentration of heavy metals in soil sample was below the WHO limit. Comparatively the plants samples have the highest concentrations of heavy metals than the water and soil samples. The coal fly ash from the Cement Company must have contributed to the significant concentration of Heavy metals in the environment making the water and plants from the study area unfit for human and animal consumption.