Southwest Nigeria Research Articles

Multivariate analysis of seasonal changes of chemical elements in groundwater around Solous lll dumpsite, Lagos, South-West Nigeria

The study of changes in groundwater quality across the study areas became necessary to track the sources of the contamination in the water sources. Assessment of the physiochemical parameters of groundwater samples obtained from both borehole and hand-dug wells were conducted around the Solous III dumpsite, Lagos, South-western, Nigeria. Multivariate statistics such as correlation coefficient analysis, Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analyses (PCA) were utilised to assess the mode of association of parameters and their interrelationships to establish possible sources of groundwater contamination. Eight groundwater samples were obtained around the dumpsite during the wet and dry seasons for analyses of their physicochemical properties. The results of the analyses of water samples indicated seasonal changes for the various elemental constituents analysed. There was generally an increase in mean concentration of total dissolved solid (TDS), pH, temperature and hardness in the dry season study, and a corresponding increase in the mean concentration of Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, SO42−, NO32−, Pb, and Cr, when compared with the wet season. On the other hand, there was reduction in the mean concentration of electrical conductivity (EC), K+, Cl−, PO43−, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Ni in the dry season when compared with the wet season. Some of the water sample parameters exhibited high concentration when compared with the World Health Organisation (WHO)/Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) standards, which may be due to the impact of leachate migration from the dumpsite. Five varimax rotated factor loadings and communalities were responsible for 30 % and 35 % of the total variance in the data set during wet and dry seasons respectively. The PCA parameters identified to be influencing the quality of water are perhaps related to anthropogenic activities from the dumpsite, soluble mineral dissolution, rock–groundwater interaction and weathering activities while PCA performed on samples of groundwater during wet and dry seasons indicated 2 and 3 important clusters, respectively. The clusters of parameters as observed in the parameters dendrograms clearly validates the results earlier obtained in the correlation analysis component of this research. The dendrogram was also able to reflect variation in the quality of water with season as indicated in the difference in the number of clusters during both wet and dry seasons. The outcome of this research should help highlight and focus water quality management on key chemical elements of concern and prioritize efforts to mitigate their release into groundwater around the study area. By extension, this research work offers specific contribution to achieving the Africa's Union's Agenda 2063 Goal No. 7 i.e. Environmentally sustainable and climate resilient economies and communities, with Priority Area of Water Security.

Etiology of pneumonia in Ondo State, southwest Nigeria

Etiology of pneumonia in Ondo State, southwest Nigeria

“He Would Have Been Born if Not For Emefiele”: Impact of Currency Redesign on Maternal Healthcare Services in Abeokuta, Southwest Nigeria

“He Would Have Been Born if Not For Emefiele”: Impact of Currency Redesign on Maternal Healthcare Services in Abeokuta, Southwest Nigeria

Effects of Business Intelligence, Organisation Learning and Innovation on the Performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in South-West Nigeria

Business Intelligence (BI), both in process and product, is one of the methods used by organizations to develop and access useful information or intelligence that can help enhance their performance. This paper therefore evaluates the effect of business intelligence (BI), organizational learning (OL) and innovation (IN) on the performance of SMEs in the South West Nigeria. Ex-post facto design of descriptive survey was adopted for the study. Primary data were collected on SMEs from Southwest Nigeria. A structured questionnaire (r=0.77) was used to elicit information from selected respondents. The sample size of 400 was adopted as derived from Cochran sample size formula out of the population size of 299,401. The data obtained were analyzed using statistical and econometric techniques. The findings from the analysis through logistic regression showed that only Business Intelligent (organization learning and innovation) has a significant influence on firm performance. The study therefore concluded that firm performance could be boosted by the integration of business intelligence, organizational learning and innovation. Hence, it is suggested that Nigerian small and medium scale businesses that are yet to incorporate business intelligence-driven innovation into any part of their production and delivery processes should make a quick effort to do so.

Continuous Process Improvement and Customer Satisfaction of Selected Food and Beverage Companies in South-West, Nigeria

The food and beverage manufacturing sector is a highly competitive and dynamic industry. Organizations in this sector must be proactive in identifying corporate strategies to enhance business sustainability. One of the key strategies for optimum performance is the application of continuous process improvement through customer satisfaction. This study examined the influence of Continuous Process Improvement on Customer Satisfaction in some selected Food and Beverage Companies in South-West Nigeria. A descriptive research design was adopted for the study, with a questionnaire as the research instrument. The sample size was restricted to 400, using a stratified random sampling technique for sample selection. The basic criteria for inclusion in the sample were job rank and organizational tenure of five years or more. A Four-rating Likert Scale questionnaire with reliability coefficients above 0.76 was used to obtain data from the respondents. Data collected were analysed by using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The main hypothesis for the study was tested by using regression analysis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that Continuous Process Improvement does not have a statistically significant influence on Customer Satisfaction. The study concluded that Continuous Process Improvement is very important in maximizing customer satisfaction in the Food and Beverage sector. However, it was recommended that as a result of the insignificant relationship between continuous process improvement and customer satisfaction, companies in this industry should focus on other factors such as product quality, customer service, and pricing to improve customer satisfaction. In addition, these organizations also need to align their improvement process needs with the demands of customers in order to boost customers’ delight.

Religious Diversity and Socio-Economic Development in Southwest Nigeria

Diversity management shares an important link with Socio-economic development. Religious diversity as a type of diversity also has a link with socio-economic development of southwest, Nigeria. The study investigated the effect of religious diversity on the socio-economic development of southwest, Nigeria. Regression analytical method was used to measure the effect of the parameters (religious diversity) which is the independent variable on the dependent variable (socio-economic development) which was measured with indicators like foreign and local investments, employment opportunities, quality education, good social amenities, higher life expectancy and personal safety using SPSS version 20.

Identifying the fungal diseases of African Yam Bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) and their incidence in south-west Nigeria

The incidence of fungi infecting Sphenostylis stenocarpa ([Hochst ex. A. Rich.] Harms) commonly known as African yam bean (AYB) were surveyed in Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, and Ogun states within SW Nigeria during the 2018 planting season. The common field symptoms across all sites were tiny spot, brown spot, leaf blight, brown spot with yellow halo, necrotic lesion on foliage, and brown spot on the pods. Of these 1005 isolations, 14 fungal species were commonly identified after their purification: Aspergillus sp, Botrytis sp, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Curvularia lunata, Trichoderma harzianum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Pestalotia sp, Phoma sp, Fusarium verticillioides, F. oxysporum, F. solani, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Choanephora curcubitarium and Nigrospora spp. based on morphological characteristics. Phoma sp and C. gleosporoides had highest frequency of occurrence 69.9% and 51.9% at early and mature stages, respectively. To conform to Koch's postulates, the pathogenicity of 15 exemplar strains of the most abundant fungal species were confirmed under greenhouse conditions. The identities of Colletotrichum sp., Aspergillus sp., Curvularia aeria, Macrophomina phaseolina, Didymella sp., Pestalopsis sp, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, F. solani and F. oxysporum were confirmed based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing and comparisons with the Genbank database. AYB germplasm from curated seed banks and farmer donated landraces were grown at the same site in 2020 and identical fungi were isolated. Further, genotypes with reduced disease incidence were identified. This first study to reveal the diversity of fungi associated with AYB in SW Nigeria that could inform disease management practices.

Customer intelligence and customer retention in hotels in south-west Nigeria

ABSTRACT The impact of customer intelligence on customer retention in midscale and luxury hotels in south-west Nigeria was examined in this study. A model was developed for the consequent variables to test the research hypotheses relative to the impulse buying theory. A total of 1972 research instruments were retrieved from customers of 160 conveniently sampled midscale and luxury hotels, and used for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the demographic elements, while the Pearson Correlation was utilised to reveal the statistical relationship between customer retention and the customer intelligence constructs. The linear regression model was employed to test the research hypotheses and determine significant relationships between the consequent variables of the study. Results showed the effectiveness of the regression model in identifying relationships between the consequent variables, in which a positive relationship was revealed between customer intelligence and customer retention in the hotel industry. The study concludes that data generated through customer intelligence can filter customer preferences, help hotels prioritise purchases, and further create a sense of need in their customers. Recommendations include that hotels should consider their products and services as tangible elements that would become routine in due time, while considering customer reviews as vital for analysing weaknesses in the service delivery processes.

Factors Associated with Utilization of COVID-19 Preventive Measures by Patients Attending Private Healthcare Facilities in Southwest Nigeria

Background: Understanding disease risk is important for prevention. Identifying high-risk COVID-19 patients helps healthcare professionals implement precautions. This study examined factors related to COVID-19 prevention in patients at private healthcare facilities in Southwest Nigeria, during the early stages of the pandemic. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in two hospitals using multi-stage sampling. 400 respondents were selected two out of 78 private healthcare facilities in in Southwest Nigeria. Trained interviewers administered a questionnaire to collect information on risk profile, symptoms, perception of COVID-19 risk, and preventive practices. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and binary logistic regression at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The average age of participants was 27.83 + 10.46 years. 52.8% of respondents were female. 70.5% were single, 75.8% belonged to the Yoruba ethnic group, and 72% identified as Christians. None had a history of international travel or contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in the past 14 days, but 12.75% had been in contact with suspected cases. 47% reported having a fever. The majority had a low risk score for COVID-19. Most did not smoke (98.5%), consume alcohol (83.75%), or visit club houses (85.75%). Only 9.5% underwent COVID-19 testing, and 16.0% of those tested were positive. The main reason for test refusal was a lack of perception of susceptibility to COVID-19. Adherence to preventive practices was poor in all investigated circumstances. Conclusion: Patients presenting in hospitals during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic had a low risk of COVID-19. However, their poor compliance with preventive protocols and low testing uptake make them a potential source of transmission. Strategies to promote adoption of preventive measures are needed, especially among patients at private healthcare facilities.

Technical Vocational Education Training and Entrepreneurship Redesigning a Pathway for Female Students in Technological Institutions in Southwest Nigeria

This study focuses on redesigning a pathway for female students in technological institutions in Southwest Nigeria with the aim of promoting gender diversity and entrepreneurship in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The research identifies the challenges faced by female students in pursuing technological education and entrepreneurship, explores successful models from other regions, and proposes innovative strategies to enhance female participation and success. The objectives include designing interventions, assessing impact, creating a roadmap for implementation, and advocating for policy changes. By addressing gender disparities and creating a supportive environment, this project seeks to empower female students to excel in technology-related disciplines and contribute to the advancement of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in southwest Nigeria. This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2023 to February 2024 among students from various technological higher institutions, using a convenience sampling technique. The calculated total sample size was 312. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used for the data collection. Analysis was done using percentage, binary logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression. 67.2% of the respondent experienced challenges in inclusion and supportive environment for Technological related program and not willing to continue with their career. Also 33 % of the respondent inclined to ascent to such career. Among them 32%, 31% and 37% were science, management and engineering students, respectively. There was a statistically significant association between entrepreneurship skills and building career on Technological education program

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Malnutrition and Hypertension among University Students in Southwest Nigeria

Background: Malnutrition and hypertension are widespread among university students, with dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles playing significant roles. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and factors linked to malnutrition and hypertension in Southwest Nigeria’s university population. Methods: Conducted from January 2018 to December 2022, a cross-sectional study was undertaken at Lead City University in South-West Nigeria. Medical records of 5110 enrolled students were analyzed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with malnutrition and hypertension within the university population. Data encompassing demographic information and health metrics were examined for this study. Results: A study of 5110 participants, mean age (23.57+14.89), female sex (54.1%), blood group O prevalence (53.6%), Rhesus negative (4.9%), and genotype AA prevalence (73.6%). The average weight was 67.17+ 15.18 kg and height of 1.67+ 0.93 meters. Hypertension prevalence was at 8.7%, while malnutrition is 42.7%. Among the participants, 3% were anemic while the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 115.93+15.26 and 73.52+17.43 respectively. Male sex was significant factor in hypertension and malnutrition (p < 0.001). PCV levels lack significant associations, while BMI categories strongly correlate with hypertension (p < 0.001). Discussion: The demographic profile reveals a youthful population vulnerable to behaviors impacting long-term health. With malnutrition prevalence at 47.2%, significant health concerns arise, while the relatively low hypertension rate of 8.7% is promising but requires ongoing monitoring. Age is a notable risk factor for hypertension, stressing targeted interventions for older adults. Sex disparities highlight the need for sex-specific healthcare. Blood group, Rhesus factor, and genotype lack significant associations with hypertension, while hypertension prevalence varies across packed cell volume levels. BMI strongly links to hypertension, highlighting obesity management’s importance. Conclusion: Understanding demographic factors and health metrics is crucial for developing effective interventions to address malnutrition and hypertension risks within populations.

Getting in Touch with the Out of Reach: Fieldwork Strategies in Research on Women and Politics (South-West of Nigeria)

Researching women’s political representation in legislative policymaking provides an interesting lens to understand women’s struggle for political inclusion. Factors which could impede a systematic study of this subject include limited access to politicians who often become almost invisible once they get elected to public office on the one hand, and poor record-keeping culture of legislative assemblies which could restrict the traceability of past events and transparency of the current decision-making process on the other hand. In this article, I analyse the study of three sub-national legislative assemblies in the South-West of Nigeria, namely: Ekiti State House of Assembly (EKSHA), Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA) and Ogun State House of Assembly (OGSHA). I give an account of how both formal and informal entries helped facilitate the gathering of data for the understanding of women’s struggle for power and their legislative policymaking activities in Nigeria. I begin by presenting my positionality as a male graduate student from a working-class background researching gender/women issues and the implication of this situation on the type of data I generate. Thereafter, I provide insights into how I navigated these assemblies to gain access to these lawmakers by articulating the kind of information I had hoped to get and what I eventually got. Then, I discuss women’s struggle for political inclusion, agency and their activities in legislative policymaking. I conclude by reflecting on the complementary roles of both formal and informal entries and how they shaped and enhanced the data gathering process.

Feeding Pattern, Prevalence of Malnutrition and Associated Determinants amongst Primary School Children in Rural and Urban Communities of Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria.

Malnutrition is an increasing health problem amongst children, especially in developing countries. This study assessed and compared the feeding pattern, prevalence and determinants of malnutrition amongst primary school children residing in the rural and the urban communities of Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria. The study employed a cross-sectional comparative study design and was carried out amongst 983 children attending primary schools in Ekiti State, 495 of them from urban and 488 from rural communities using an interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire and the World Health Organization AnthroPlus version 1.0.4 to collect data on the nutritional status and anthropometric indices of the schoolchildren. A multistage sampling technique was used and data collected were analysed using SPSS 23 with the level of statistical significance set at P < 0.05. A statistically higher proportion of primary school children in the rural communities (24.8%) had a low dietary diversity score than those in the urban communities (8.5%) (P < 0.001). Less than half of the pupils (47.1% in the urban and 48.6% in the rural communities) were malnourished. Lower birth order, respondents from household with poor toilet facility, lower class in school, low education of caregiver, occupation of household head and father as caregiver were factors associated with malnutrition in both urban and rural communities. The prevalence of malnutrition was high in both urban and rural primary school children though higher in rural settings. Furthermore, dietary diversity score and feeding pattern were worse in rural than urban communities.

Assessing the Role of ICT Training in Bridging Digital Competence Gap among Administrative Staff of Federal Tertiary Institutions in South-West Nigeria

This study examines the role of ICT training in bridging digital competence gap among administrative staff of the Federal tertiary institutions in southwest Nigeria. The study employed the survey approach with the use of questionnaire as instrument for data collection. The population comprised all senior Registry staff of the institutions from which a sample of 373 was selected systematic multi-stage technique. Three hypotheses were formulated and tested with inferential statistics involving regression at 0.05 level of significance. The results indicate that ICT training has significant contributions to electronic information processing skills, virtual communication ability and adaptive technology use among administrative staff of Federal tertiary institutions in South-west Nigeria. It was concluded that ICT training especially in domain specific areas is essential in equipping administrative staff of federal tertiary institutions with relevant and up-to-date digital skills, bridging the digital competence gap and leads to adaptation of the staff to new and emerging technologies. The study recommends that ICT training needs of the administrative staff should be regularly assessed and such trainings should be domain-centered and focused on key areas of administrative roles in which digital competence and mastery are required.

The clinical spectrum and management outcome of adult-onset aqueductal stenosis: Insight from South-West Nigeria.

Adult-onset aqueductal stenosis (AOAS) is an uncommon cause of hydrocephalus in adults. Its etiopathogenesis is poorly understood, with various proposed mechanisms, spectrum of presentation, and management. Very little has been reported on this anomaly in African literature. This study aimed to describe the pattern of presentation, clinical spectrum, and early outcomes following the shunt procedure in our population practice setting. This was a retrospective case series of patients with non-tumoral AOAS managed between 2008 and 2023 in a tertiary center in South-West Nigeria. Relevant demographic, clinical-radiologic, and outcome data were retrieved and analyzed. There were seven males and one female. Their age ranged from 18 to 50 years. The duration of symptoms ranged from 3 to 120 months. All patients admitted having headaches; however, visual deterioration (n = 5) was the most common presenting symptom. Features of endocrinopathy (n = 1), cerebellar dysfunction (n = 2), cognitive deficit (n = 2), spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak (n = 1), and sphincteric dysfunction (n = 1) were also observed. The mean Evan's index at the presentation was 0.43. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) insertion was performed in seven patients with good outcomes. One patient opted for a referral. One patient had shunt revision 6 years later on account of shunt disconnection. AOAS is an infrequent cause of hydrocephalus in our setting, with most patients seeking medical consultation following visual deterioration. Proper evaluation of adults with long-standing headaches and associated features is advocated to avert total visual loss in this subgroup. VPS insertion is a viable treatment option with a good outcome.

Impact of customer intelligence on customer repurchase behaviour in hotels in South-West Nigeria

This study examined the effect of customer intelligence on customer repurchase behaviour in hotels in South-West Nigeria. The model for the research was developed on the consequent variables of the study to test the research hypotheses. A total of 1972 copies of usable questionnaires were retrieved from customers of 160 conveniently sampled midscale and luxury hotels, and used for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the demographic elements, while multivariate analyses were conducted to reveal the statistical relationship between customer repurchase behaviour and the customer intelligence constructs. The Pearson's correlation was employed to test the research hypotheses to determine significant associations and relationships between the consequent variables of the study. Results showed the effectiveness of the regression model in identifying relationships between the consequent variables, in which the four null hypotheses were rejected. The study concludes that a consideration of the factors that have a significant effect on the various dimensions of customer repurchase behaviour, and the emergence of customer attrition and retention, can help hotel organizations make better product marketing decisions. Recommendations include that hotels should ensure that their customer analysis is directly targeted, to ensure the continuous retrieval of actual information that will directly influence business decisions.

Information Management Practices and Job Performance of Secretaries in Public Polytechnics in South-west, Nigeria

Information explosion has become the order of the day in every organization. With the emergence of ever dynamic technologies, secretaries are expected to upgrade their skills of information management practices to enrich their performance. This necessitates enquiry into influence of information management practices on job performance of secretaries in public polytechnics in South-west, Nigeria. The descriptive research design was adopted in the study and the population comprised 648 secretaries from both federal and state polytechnics in six states of South-west, Nigeria. The sample size was 242 which was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination table. A stratified proportionate sampling technique was used to determine the number of questionnaires that was given in each of the institutions. Results showed that the level of information management practices of secretaries under examination is moderate with a mean of 3.32. There was a significant influence of information management practices on job performance of secretaries in public polytechnics in South-west Nigeria (Adj.R2 = 0.328, F(5.212)=22.191,p&lt; 0.05). The study concluded that information management practices have significant influence on job performance of secretaries in public polytechnics in South-west Nigeria. It was therefore, recommended that management of polytechnics in South-west Nigeria should provide training sessions for secretaries to enhance their information management skills. Workshops should be mounted on the use of software tools, managing emails, and organizing digital files efficiently among others.

Perceived Work Stress and Quality of Life Among Bankers in Southwest Nigeria.

Work-related stress is the response people may have when presented with work demands and pressures that are not matched to their knowledge and abilities and challenge their ability to cope. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines quality of life (QOL) as individuals' perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns. This study aimed to determine the pattern of perceived work stress and its impact on the QOL of bankers in Ado-Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among three hundred and two bankers in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. The single-stage study obtained data on the socio-demographics, work history, and medical history of respondents with the socio-demographic questionnaire. The perception of work stress by the respondents was assessed with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and the QOL was assessed with the WHO QOL Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). Fifty-seven (18.9%) had a low perception of stress, 233 (77.1%) had a moderate perception of stress, and 12 (4.0%) had a high perception of stress. In this study, an association was found between perceived work stress and social relationship domain of QOL. This study showed that there is a high prevalence of moderately perceived work stress among bankers. It also showed a significant association between perceived work stress and QOL.

Effect of Leaderships Styles on Performances of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in South West Nigeria

Effect of Leaderships Styles on Performances of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in South West Nigeria

Potentials of Phyllanthus amarus, Viscum album and Moringa oleifera supplements to mitigate heat stress in female rabbits in humid tropics.

Global warming is a key challenge subjecting animals to heat stress conditions resulting in multiple physiological alterations in tropical climate. Dietary approach seems to be the more friendly approach to curb the adverse effects of heat stress in rabbits. Some herbs have been categorized to have high potential for promotion of immune responses for amelioration of heat stress. Thus, this research aims to evaluate the potential of Mistletoe (Viscum album), Moringa (Moringa oleifera) and Phyllanthus (Phyllanthus amarus) leaf meal as herbal supplements for the alleviation of heat stress in female rabbits by measuring improvement in sex and stress hormonal responses in serum biochemistry. 80 Rabbit does were exposed to 4 dietary groups supplemented with each of Mistletoe, Moringa, Phyllanthus and a control in an 84-day trial at the summit of thermal stress in South west Nigeria. Growth indices were monitored throughout the study, blood samples were compiled at the end of the trial to assess serum biochemistry, stress and sex hormonal responses of the Does using standard protocols. The results revealed that final weight and weight gain of Does fed on Phyllanthus were significantly (p < 0.05) higher (11.46% and 14.25%, respectively) than Does on control. The herbal supplements enhance glucose, protein, albumin and globulin, reduced cholesterol, and creatinine of Does under heat stress conditions. Among the herbal treatment groups, mistletoe, moringa and phyllanthus had 12.42%, 18.39% and 16.90%, respectively, lower corticosterone than control groups which had 39.76ng/ml. Triiodothyronine of Does fed control were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than Does on Moringa oleifera and Phyllanthus amarus supplements. Estradiol and Follicle stimulating hormone of rabbit Does fed on moringa supplement were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than other treatments. In conclusion, the herbal supplements tend to mitigate the detrimental outcome of thermal stress on Does by suppressing stress hormones. Moringa oleifera and Phyllanthus amarus enhanced sex hormones while Phyllanthus amarus confered growth promoting effects on the Does.