Period In Nigeria Research Articles

Phenology of flowering in cacao (Theobroma cacao) and its related species in Nigeria

Adequate utilization of genetic variability in both cultivated and wild relatives of any crop species is a major objective in genetic improvement and crop breeding programs. The timing of onset of flowering is also crucial to reproductive success of flowering plant. Flowering pattern in five species in the genus Theobroma and oneHerrania spp. was studied over a 10 year period in Nigeria. Results showed that although at different intensities, flowering incidence was observed in Theobroma cacao in all the months of the year. In Theobroma microcarpum and Theobroma bicolor, flowering commenced at the onset of dry season in November / December and ceased at the end of the second module of rainfall. In Theobroma speciosum and Theobroma grandiflorum, flowering was mainly confined to the dry period between December and April. However, inHerrania spp., flowering occurred mainly during rainy season. Flowering incidence in Herrania spp. was significantly negatively (r = –0.906, P < 0.0001) correlated with duration of sunshine hours but significantly positively (r = 0.743, P < 0.004) correlated with rainfall. On the other hand, flowering in T. speciosum was significantly positively (r = 0.655, P = 0.015) correlated with duration of sunshine hours but negatively (r = – 0.743, P = 0.003) correlated with rainfall. Flowering in T. grandiflorum was in direct antithesis of the bimodal rainfall pattern observed annually. Key words: Theobroma, inter-specific hybridization, flowering time, pollination.

Effect of Supplemental Electrolytes and Ascorbic Acid on the Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Raised During High Temperature Period in Nigeria

The effect of supplementing drinking water with sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride and ascorbic acid on feed intake, weight gain, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), visceral and immunological organs of broilers reared under natural heat stress was undertaken. A total of 200 day-1 Arbor acre strain chickens were randomly divided into five treatments. Each treatment was in quadruplicate of ten chickens each. Treatment 1 (T1) was the control with water without any supplement while treatments T2, T3, T4 and T5 had their water supplemented with 0.5% ammonium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride and 300ppm ascorbic acid respectively. The design of the experiment was a completely randomized design. Birds given salts (T2, T3 and T4) had lower feed intake (721.5 g, 732.6 g and 730.30 g respectively) compared with their counterparts on Treatments 1 and 5 (735.30 g and 733.10 g respectively) Birds on T3 had significantly improved (p 0.05) by the treatment except birds on T4 which recorded significantly lower (p<0.05) relative weight of intestine (2.93%), higher weight of bursa of fabricus (0.19%). Conclusively, (0.5%) salts supplementation in water had positive effect on the performance of heat stressed broiler in this experiment.

Longrun Relationship Between Energy Consumption And Economic Growth: Evidence From Nigeria.

This article investigates the long run relationship between energy consumption and the economic growth in Nigeria from the period of 1985 to 2010. However, the study make use of secondary data analysis of ordinary least square method of Multiple regression analysis and the objectives of the study is to examine whether energy consumption brings economic growth in Nigeria and also to examine the long run effect of energy consumption on growth in Nigeria. Moreover, the results revealed that Petroleum, Electricity are positively related to Nigeria economic growth while coal and Gas shows that there is a negative relationship with Nigerian economic growth. However, the study conclude that that increased energy consumption is a strong determinant of economic growth having an implicit effect in lagged periods and both an implicit and explicit effect on the present period in Nigeria. Thus, the study recommends that the energy sector should be given more relevance even by exploiting the opportunities laden in the sector to increase economic growth.

Regional trend analysis of pan evaporation in Nigeria (1970 to 2000)

The trends pan evaporation (PE) in 4 different climatic regions (Sahel, Midland, Guinea Savannah and Coastal/Tropical Rainforest) covering about 21 tropical stations in Nigeria (during the period 1970 to 2000) were investigated. The influence of meteorological variables, which have significant impact on the spatial and temporal trends of pan evaporation for three consecutive decades across the different regions in Nigeria was tested. Mann-kendal statistical test was carried out to investigate the trend. A decade to decade trend analysis was carried out for 3 consecutive decades over all the regions. A general decrease trend was observed in all the regions except Sahel region in the first decade under consideration. The decade (1970 to1979) coincided with the period when there was a global solar dimming. However, the rest decades witness an increase trend in pan evaporation for all the climatic regions across Nigeria. The general trend analysis of PE for Nigeria shows that about 80% of stations involved in the study experience increase trend (development of arid condition) out of which, only 50% were significant. The rest 20% exhibited decrease trend (creation of humid condition) with none significant. Further trend analysis was carried out on the various seasons and this revealed that all the wet season (April to October) exhibits downward trend for all the regions while similar trend regime was established for dry season months (December to March) in Sahel and Guinea Savannah and upward trend for midland and the coastal or tropical rainforest. Evidence of pan evaporation paradox was also established for certain period in Nigeria. Key words: Pan evaporation, trend, potential evaporation, meteorological variables.

Effective measures towards satisfactory and enjoyable retirement period in Nigeria

As one works for a paid job for many years there will come a time of rest. This is the period of retirement. Retirement is actually for elderly people. Retirement...

Does energy consumption contribute to economic performance? Empirical evidence from Nigeria

This article investigates the relationship between energy consumption and the Nigerian economy from the period of 1970 to 2005. The energy sources used to test for this relationship were crude oil, electricity and coal. By applying the co-integration technique, the results derived infer that there exists a positive relationship between current period energy consumption and economic growth. With the exception of coal which was positive, a negative relationship was noted for lagged values of energy consumption and economic growth. The implication of the study is that increased energy consumption is a strong determinant of economic growth having an implicit effect in lagged periods and both an implicit and explicit effect on the present period in Nigeria. Thus, it is pertinent that this sector should be given more relevance even by exploiting the opportunities laden in the sector to increase economic growth. Key words: Energy consumption, economic performance, Nigeria.

Global and local contexts: the Northern Ogoja Leprosy Scheme, Nigeria, 1945-1960.

Deriving funding from missionary sources in Ireland, Britain and the USA, and from international leprosy relief organizations such as the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association (BELRA) and drawing on developing capacities in international public health under the auspices of WHO and UNICEF through the 1950s, the Roman Catholic Mission Ogoja Leprosy Scheme applied international expertise at a local level with ever-increasing success and coverage. This paper supplements the presentation of a successful leprosy control program in missionary narratives with an appreciation of how international medical politics shaped the parameters of success and the development of therapeutic understanding in the late colonial period in Nigeria.

Major amputations in Nigeria: a plea to educate traditional bone setters.

A study was made of 100 major amputations performed on 96 patients in two regional hospitals in a 10-year period in Nigeria. The objective of the study was to evaluate the outcome of major amputations in Nigeria. The median age of patients was 30 years with male to female ratio 3:1. Ninety of the 100 major amputations involved the lower limbs with the above-the-knee/elbow-the-knee ratio of 0.5. Trauma was the leading indication for 70 amputations, of these 60 were iatrogenic resulting from mismanaged fractures by the traditional bone setters. The non-traumatic indications were: diabetic limb gangrene (20); bone malignancies (9); and vascular insufficiency (1). Provisional amputation was offered in 60 cases, of these 10 had reamputation. There were eight (8.5%) mortalities. The functional outcome for this group was discouraging. Only 25 amputees affording successful prosthetic fitting and social rehabilitation. Major amputation in Nigeria foreshadows a dismal existence and emphasizes the need for health policies which are effective in controlling the risk factors.

Old songs in a new flute: Theme, language and audience in Ezenwa-Ohaeto's poetry

The post civil-war period in Nigeria has seen the coming, into the literary scene of the country, of many young aspirants crying out for their voices to be heard. One of such voices is EzenwaOhaeto, who has called himself a traveller with a song, a kind of troubadour) The civil war (1967-1970), in addition to forming a literary watershed between the serious Nigerian literary beginnings and the immediate present, has rightly been referred to as a rich source o f poetic harvest 2 because of not only the number o f works that have drawn from that experience but also because o f the continued and accelerating national socio-economic decay indirectly linked with that holocaust, and against which our playwrights, novelists and poets have all along been crying out. Credit for some of our fledged and fledgling weaverbirds' temerity and courage to be talkative, even into the muzzle of guns,

Grain stocking and storing in Benue State: An appraisal of the Federal Government of Nigeria's food grain storage policy

Grain storage requirements in Nigeria are 5%, 10% and 85% of the total annual production at the Federal, State and on-farm levels, respectively. Storage at both Federal and State levels are geared towards some strategic targets — price stabilization, cushioning the bad effects of unforeseen circumstances, etc. The annual hunger period in Nigeria which is assuming some increasing magnitude casts a dark shadow on the implementation of the grain storage policy. This paper therefore appraises Nigeria's grain storage policy using Benue State as an example. Descriptive and inferential statistics are employed as analytical techniques. About 0.0033% and 0.0005% of the total grain production are stored at the Federal and State levels, respectively leading to over 99.9% storage volume at the on-farm level where fragile and clearly inefficient storage out-fits are in use. The food security in Nigeria is therefore in jeopardy. There is an urgent need to reallocate the grain distribution proportions in commensurate with the storage efficiency per level of storage. The implications of this key recommendation within the Nigerian economy are discussed.

95/04386 Proclaiming the truth

Grain storage requirements in Nigeria are 5%, 10% and 85% of the total annual production at the Federal, State and on-farm levels, respectively. Storage at both Federal and State levels are geared towards some strategic targets — price stabilization, cushioning the bad effects of unforeseen circumstances, etc. The annual hunger period in Nigeria which is assuming some increasing magnitude casts a dark shadow on the implementation of the grain storage policy. This paper therefore appraises Nigeria's grain storage policy using Benue State as an example. Descriptive and inferential statistics are employed as analytical techniques. About 0.0033% and 0.0005% of the total grain production are stored at the Federal and State levels, respectively leading to over 99.9% storage volume at the on-farm level where fragile and clearly inefficient storage out-fits are in use. The food security in Nigeria is therefore in jeopardy. There is an urgent need to reallocate the grain distribution proportions in commensurate with the storage efficiency per level of storage. The implications of this key recommendation within the Nigerian economy are discussed.

Labour migration and rural transformation in Nigeria.

Urban development since the colonial period in Nigeria has led to a rural-urban migration pattern in the post-independent state. A return labour migration process with implications for rural development has, however, accompanied certain socio-economic and political events in Nigeria in the 1980s. This paper highlights some factors that have impaired the rural transformation prospects of the new migration trend.

Nigerian government participation in housing: 1970–1980

The oil boom period in Nigeria accentuated rapid urbanisation as well as the proliferation of overcrowded “slums” and informal human settlements on the fringes of the big cities. Furthermore, the Federal Government for the first time adopted a national policy in which the provision of mass housing “for the lowincome households” featured prominently. Public policy and programmes, however, defined the country's housing problems mainly in terms of numerical shortages and physical standards and proceeded to attempt to meet these “quantitative and qualitative” deficiencies centrally. The aim of this paper is to briefly document the conventional mass housing approach deliberately adopted as a public policy in Nigeria during the period 1970–1980. The consequences of the espousal and implementation of this policy option, which was based on the assumption that only the government had the instrumentalities and competence to “house the masses”, are also examined. In 1970, Nigeria's urban population was estimated as 16.3% of the total population. This rose to about 20.2% in 1980. The country's Third National Development Plan (1975–1980), however, noted that the housing problem was essentially an urban one during the period of 1970–1980. Although almost no statistics have been, or are, available with regards to the quantity and quality of the housing stock in Nigeria, Table 1 gives an indication of the housing situation in 10 selected urban centres in 1972–1973. The decade 1970–1980 started with both the Federal and State governments according very low priority to the housing sector in their Development Plans. The advent of the oil boom era (1973–1976), however, changed this. The tremendous increase in revenues as a result of this led to a greater public intervention in the housing sector. A series of actions, programmes, reorganisation and creation of institutional frameworks and policies which had a direct impact on housing supply throughout the country was taken by both the Federal and State governments. This paper notes that amongst the major factors that were responsible for the ineffectiveness of public policy and programmes, two stood out prominently. These were: lack of incentives for the private sector to participate actively in the housing sector; and, the inadequacy of mortgage finance institutions in Nigeria.

Intercropping of cassava ( Manihot esculenta) with maize or cowpea under different row arrangements

The effects of various intercropping arrangements of cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz) and maize ( Zea mays L.) or cowpeas ( Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) on crop yields were compared over a 3-year period in Nigeria, in an attempt to improve grain yields of the maize and cowpea intercrops without substantially reducing the cassava root yield. Sole-cropped cassava produced the largest yield; this was significantly reduced by about 40% when intercropped with maize or cowpeas but only when using a 1:2 (cassava:intercrop) row arrangement, mainly because of a reduction in its population density. Cassava yield differences among different row arrangements were more marked when grown with maize than with cowpeas. Maize and cowpea grain yields were reduced by intercropping, but somewhat less so when grown with cassava in widely spaced rows. Cassava row spacing did not affect maize yield, but cowpea yield was affected significantly. Land Equivalent Ratios were always greater than 1, irrespective of the crop combinations and row arrangements. However, increased yields of intercropped cassava:maize were obtained at 1:1 or 2:2 row arrangements and of cassava:cowpea at 2:2 rows, without much reduction in cassava tuber yield.

Measurement of insolation using CdS photoresistor

Utilizing a cadmium sulphide (CdS) photoresistor, the intensity of solar electromagnetic radiation (insolation) was investigated. Readings were taken daily and hourly at the Nsukka Campus of the University of Nigeria which lies on latitude 6.8° north and longitude 7.35° east. Our investigation spanned a period of 8 months (February–September). This was an extension of work done by E. Klugmann & O. E. Onyeogu who carried out a similar investigation, but for a shorter period, 4 months (October-January) and also their investigations took account of only the dry season and harmattan. Our investigation took account of a very vital climatic period in Nigeria, namely the rainy season (March–September). It was observed that with a cadmium sulphide photoresistor which has an average efficiency of 7% 2, the maximum average hourly insolation is roughly 63 W m −2 which is equivalent to 900 Wm −2 if cadmium sulphide were to be 100% efficient. Furthermore, it was consistently observed that the amount of solar intensity falling on our detector is always greater after the rains. Finally, our results are then compared with the modified empirical equations of Rapp & Hoffman and there is some times nice agreement between experimental and theoretical results of hourly insolation in Wm −2, and sometimes there is sharp contrast between the two.