Universities In Southwestern Nigeria Research Articles

Investigating academic researchers' perceptions of a recommender system for mentor-to-mentee matching

The importance of mentoring among researchers cannot be overemphasized, and to this effect, several recommender systems have been presented in the literature to find experts for collaborations. However, matching researchers as mentors to their respective mentees has not been looked into. Earlier works suggest that expert-finding recommender systems primarily use metadata from experts' publications for making recommendations. Meanwhile, when matching for mentorship, more emphasis should be placed on the areas and major areas of both the mentors and mentees as intended in our proposed system. It is observed that many authors co-author in some areas in which they are not major, which may not certify them as experts in such areas. This research attempts to investigate the views of researchers about mentoring and also to determine the perceptions of the researchers on the need to develop a recommender system that can match researchers for mentorship. The study was conducted in two universities in south-western Nigeria, namely; Federal University of Technology, Akure, and Federal University, Oye-Ekiti. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaires using both online and paper surveys. The collected data were analyzed using frequency tables and charts. The results show that 99% strongly agreed and 1% agreed that mentorship is essential among researchers in academia. 98% strongly agreed and 2% agreed that there is need for tools that can help users get personalized items in all areas of life. 56% strongly agreed, 42% agreed, and 2% were indifferent that building a recommender system for matching researchers for mentorship is important. As can be seen from the results, the majority of the respondents acknowledged the importance of mentorship among academic researchers and the need to develop a recommender system to match these researchers for mentorship.

Knowledge, acceptance, and uptake of voluntary counseling and testing for human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome among undergraduates of a public university in Southwestern Nigeria

Objectives: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a global public health problem, and Nigeria has about 1.9 million people living with the virus. HIV testing and counseling services serve as a very important entry point to HIV/AIDS care and treatment. Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is one of the interventions developed to tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. This study determined the knowledge, acceptance, and utilization of VCT for HIV/AIDS among undergraduates in a public University in Southwestern Nigeria. Material and Methods: The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design, using the multistage sampling technique to select 425 respondents. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data analysis was done using Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS), version 25. Descriptive statistics were presented in tables and figures, and inferential statistics were analyzed at a level of significance of 0.05. Results: Over half of the respondents, 226 (53.2%) were within the age range of 18–25 years. The majority were female, 345 (81.2%), single 403 (94.8%), and had never had sexual intercourse 300 (70.6%). Over half of the respondents’ 240 (57%), had above average knowledge of VCT for HIV/AIDs, had above average levels of acceptance 254 (59%), and the majority 326 (76.2%) of the respondents had very low level of utilization of VCT for HIV/AIDS. There was a significant association between respondents’ age (χ2 = 55.599a, P = 0.000), gender (χ2 = 19.094a, P = 0.000), religion (χ2 = 8.990a, P = 0,038), marital status (χ2 = 8.411a, P = 0.038), age at first sex (χ2 = 61.847a, P = 0.000), knowledge of VCT (χ2 = 5.297a, P = 0.021), acceptance of VCT (χ2 = 80.235a, P = 0.000), and their uptake of VCT for HIV/AIDs. Furthermore, selected socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, and acceptance of VCT significantly predicted the uptake of VCT among respondents (F [8,416] = 20.163, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The study concluded that respondents had an above average knowledge and acceptance of VCT but a low level of utilization. To increase the utilization of VCT for HIV/AIDS among undergraduates, public health programs should focus on educating undergraduates and significant others on the importance of VCT in the context of HIV prevention, care, and treatment.

Determinants of e-pharmacy adoption and the mediating role of social influence among young users

PurposeThis study aims to examine the mediating role of social influence on the relationship between key predictors of E-pharmacy adoption among young consumers based on the unified theory of adoption and use of technology (UTAUT).Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a quantitative correlational research design. Based on cluster sampling, data was collected from 306 university students from three public universities in southwestern Nigeria. Data was analysed using partial least square structural equation modeling.FindingsThe primary determinant driving the adoption of e-pharmacy is performance expectancy. Social influence plays a partial mediating role in linking performance expectancy to e-pharmacy adoption. In contrast, it fully mediates the relationship between effort expectancy, facilitating conditions and the adoption of e-pharmacy services.Research limitations/implicationsThis study provides theoretical clarity on recent issues within the UTAUT framework. Findings highlight the complexity of how social factors interact with individual beliefs and external conditions in determining technology acceptance.Practical implicationsResearch includes information relevant to access the impact of e-pharmacy services on healthcare accessibility, affordability and quality in developing countries.Originality/valueThe findings extend the adoption of technology literature in healthcare and offer a new understanding of adoption dynamics. The results emphasize the importance of performance expectancy in driving e-pharmacy adoption, providing a clear direction for stakeholders to enhance service quality and user experience of e-pharmacy. Additionally, the mediating effect of social influence highlights the significance of peer recommendations, celebrity endorsements and social media campaigns in shaping consumer adoption of e-pharmacies among young people.

Does Librarians’ Psychosocial Work Environment Matter to Research Productivity?

The study examined the influence of psychosocial work environment on the research productivity of librarians in universities in southwestern Nigeria. A descriptive survey research approach was utilised in the study. The population consisted of 363 librarians from all of southwestern Nigeria's university libraries. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings indicated that librarians' research productivity was high in of quantity of publication but low in terms of publications in Scopus/WoS. Librarians' psychosocial work environments were discovered to be psychologically and socially fit. The study concluded that librarians' research productivity was significantly positively influenced by their psychosocial work environment, and it therefore recommends that library management adhere to a planned work schedule to reduce librarian strain, and that procedures be put in place to ensure that librarians are not overly exposed to the critical life events of others.

Assessing the impact of Ordinary Level Grades on the Cumulative Grade Point Average of First Year University Students (A Factorial Design Approach)

The purpose of this work is to model the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of first year engineering students of a private university in southwestern Nigeria using the Ordinary level (O’ level) grades in mathematics, physics, and chemistry as factors. The choice of the three subjects was due to the fact that virtually all the courses taken in first year by engineering students require a solid background in these three subjects. Duplicate samples were randomly selected from a population stratified into all possible factor levels The O’ level grades were converted to scaled variables (as typically done in factorial design) and used as the model matrix of six levels of a three-factorial design. Three orthogonal statistical models were fitted namely; first order, interaction and response surface models using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) Estimators. The model of best fit was identified and used to obtain the combination of ordinary level grades that maximized and minimized first year CGPA. The results showed that the three models were statistically significant with each having p-value < 0.001. Response Surface Model provided a better fit in terms of the R^2=47.0% and the RMSE =0.320. The combination of grades that maximizes and minimizes first year CGPA were A1 in all the three subjects and A2 in mathematics, C6 in physics and chemistry, respectively. The results of this work suggested that a large percentage of extraneous factors is affecting the CGPA of first year engineering students in this university due to the relatively small values of the coefficient of determination returned by the three models

Knowledge, attitude, and perceived risks related to diabetes mellitus among university students in Southwestern Nigeria

IntroductionDiabetes mellitus (DM) has recently shown a demographic shift in epidemiology among adolescents and young adults. Adolescents and young adults are an important demographic of study since studies have shown an increasing prevalence in low-income countries including Nigeria. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and perceived risks of DM among university students in selected universities in southwestern Nigeria. MethodsThis study was a cross-sectional study carried out among university undergraduates in southwestern Nigeria. An online questionnaire was used to collect data via students’ WhatsApp groups. The students' knowledge was ranked as good (≥70%), fair (50–69%), and poor (<50%) while attitude was categorized into positive (≥50%), and negative (<50%). The difference in knowledge based on demographics, disease profile, and source of information was analysed using the independent sample t-test and one way analysis of variance for variables with 2 and > 2 groups respectively. Analyses were conducted using SPSS software version 25. ResultsA total of 349 students consented to participate in the study of whom 55.3% were female. 25.2% had good knowledge while 92.3% of the participants were aware of DM. Positive attitudes and perceived risks were reported among all of the students. Source of information, family history, level of study, and age were significantly associated with knowledge of diabetes. ConclusionA small proportion of the students exhibited good knowledge, while all demonstrated a positive attitude and perceived risks associated with DM. There is a clear need for educational interventions, such as health programs and awareness campaigns, to enhance their knowledge of DM.

Investigating the Culture Around Sexual Harassment in First-Generation Universities in Southwestern Nigeria: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

The phenomenon of sexual harassment (SH) is a complex issue with multiple prongs that concerns all members of academia and raises serious challenges, particularly regarding prevention and response. SH in tertiary institutions remains a huge problem worldwide, leading to severe emotional, academic, and career difficulties, as well as undue suffering. Institutions have responded in various ways to alleviate the burden of SH with little success, especially in Nigeria. The prevalence is high but reportage is low because of the culture of silence around SH in most educational institutions. This study aims to identify factors associated with SH in tertiary institutions in Nigeria and explore factors surrounding reportage or nonreportage following the experience of SH, the institutional mechanisms to prevent and respond to SH, and the lived experience of survivors of SH. The objective of this study was to present a study protocol that is designed to identify factors associated with the experience of SH in tertiary institutions in Nigeria, the institutional mechanisms to prevent and respond to SH, and the lived experience of survivors of SH. A mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methods approach is used consisting of a policy review of existing antisexual harassment policies in the selected universities, a quantitative survey to determine the correlates of SH, focus group discussions to explore the perspectives of the university community concerning SH, in-depth interviews to explore the lived experiences of survivors of SH, and key informant interviews to understand the perspectives of people who provide interventions to survivors. This study was funded in July 2022 by the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa, and data collection started in November 2022. The SH policies were comprehensive, with clear policy statements and definitions, and recognized a wide range of survivors and perpetrators. However, there was no clear mention of prevention and response to same-sex SH. Lived experiences showed negative psychological and social sequelae and little institutional support. This is the first study that has a component investigating same-sex SH in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. This is also one of the first studies to explore the lived experiences of survivors of SH in Nigerian universities. The findings from this study suggest that periodic evaluation of SH policy implementation will improve institutional support, thus creating safe spaces for survivors and will thereby encourage reportage and support; prevention and response strategies need to be more inclusive; and more interventions should focus on strengthening prosocial skills and healthy, equitable relationships. DERR1-10.2196/49126.

Academic Staff Research Productivity in Private Universities in Southwestern Nigeria

Research productivity (teaching, research, and community service) in any university is the totality of academic staff academic achievement within a given period of time which is partly used for university ranking. There has been a renewed interest in the debate about the quality and quantity of research output and the factors which influence the output of university lecturers at the same time. Therefore, this study assessed the level of academic staff research productivity in private universities in Southwestern, Nigeria. The survey design of the correlational type was adopted. Proportional to size and stratified random sampling techniques were used to select 30% of academic staff across the various ranks in the selected universities, making a total of 657. Academic staff research productivity (= 2.02) was low as against the norm test of 3.00. Low research productivity can be overcome if investment in research at private universities is increased and academic staff utilise them in line with the emerging digital trend in universities around the world.

Determinants of cervical cancer screening uptake among female staff in a multicampus university in South-Western Nigeria

Background- Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women in developing countries despite the availability of screening tests that could detect pre-cancerous conditions. The aim was to assess the respondents' level of knowledge and attitude towards cervical cancer screening as well as to identify factors predictive of screening uptake.&#x0D; Methodology- A cross-sectional survey of 150 female staff of Osun State University, South Western Nigeria selected across campuses by multi-stage sampling. Data was collected with the aid of semistructured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.&#x0D; Results- The mean age for the respondents was 34.7 (±8.32) years. Majority (80%) of the respondents were aware of cancer of the cervix but only 40% had good knowledge of the disease. About 77.5% of the respondents had a good attitude towards its screening. Only 21 (%) had ever done cervical cancer screening. Factors associated with cervical cancer screening uptake include age, income, level of education, staff category, respondents' belief on general availability of cervical screening, attitude, having known a person with cervical cancer, having had information through counseling on cervical cancer as well as respondents' knowledge of cervical cancer. The latter two are predictive of screening uptake. Respondents with good knowledge were about four times likely to have had cervical cancer screening compared with respondents with poor knowledge.&#x0D; Conclusion- Majority of the respondents had poor knowledge of cervical cancer but good attitude towards its screening. Identifiable determinants of cervical cancer screening uptake were knowledgebased, thus continuous enlightenment of women of all age-groups becomes imperative.

Motivation, Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention Level of Academic Staff in Private Universities in Southwestern Nigeria

The study investigated the influence of level of motivation and job satisfaction on the level of turnover intention of academic staff in private universities in Southwestern Nigeria. The descriptive design method was employed and multi-stage sampling technique was adopted for the study. One thousand four hundred and seventy three academic staff participated in the study. The participants were drawn from 8 private universities randomly selected from 4 states which were randomly sampled from 6 states in Southwestern geo-political zone. Research questions were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation and multiple regression was used to analyse the hypothesis. The results revealed low level of motivation and job satisfaction as well as high level of turnover intention of academic staff in private universities in Southwestern Nigeria. Results also indicated a significant influence of the level of motivation and job satisfaction on the level of turnover intention of academic staff in private universities in Southwestern Nigeria. This means that 12% of the total variance in turnover intention of academic staff in private universities in Southwestern Nigeria is attributed to the influence of the level of motivation and job satisfaction. This indicates that the independent variables (motivation level and job satisfaction level) and the dependent variable (turnover intention level) have linear and significant relationship.

Stifled Screams: Experiences of Survivors of Sexual Harassment in First-Generation Universities in Southwestern Nigeria

The aim of this study was to explore the lived experience of survivors of sexual harassment, as well as reportage factors and outcomes, psychosocial sequelae, and how survivors coped in first-generation higher-education institutions in Southwestern Nigeria. A qualitative exploration of the experience of 12 (11 females and 1 male) participants using in-depth interviews was conducted. The findings were grouped into four broad themes, namely: (i) experience of sexual harassment, (ii) reporting patterns, (iii) coping strategies, and (iv) the physical and emotional impact of sexual harassment. Most survivors had experienced sexual harassment multiple times and same-sex harassment occurs in higher-education institutions. Survivors did not report to university authorities because of the perception that the support from the environment was poor. Many shared information with their support networks or visited a psychologist for mental health care. Others used maladaptive coping mechanisms such as increased alcohol consumption. Mental health symptoms ranged from mild to severe. Institutes of higher education need to take decisive actions to improve the environment and to promote the prompt reporting of sexual harassment by survivors; they must also provide access to support to prevent the development of mental health problems, which are a common post-event occurrence, as identified in the present study.

Development of Pedagogical Competence Scale for Lecturers in Universities Using Item Response Theory

To ascertain whether lecturers had the pedagogical competency skill needed in impacting students with necessary skills they need outside school, this study developed a scale to measure Lecturers’ Pedagogical Competence (LPCS) in universities using item response theory. The pedagogical competence of university lecturers was assessed using a set of items designed and evaluated the scale's construct validity. The initial scale consisted of a 70-item four options Likert-type. The multi-stage sampling procedure was employed. Proportional sampling was used to choose four universities in South Western Nigeria. At each of the institutions selected, 20% of the staff population was selected from all faculties using stratified random sampling with a cadre as a stratum. Thus, 906 lecturers from federal universities and 294 were selected from federal state universities, respectively. In all, 1,086 of the 1200 lecturers selected completed the study's instrument. The results showed that four of the six optimal factors underlying lecturers’ pedagogical competence were reliable. Eventually, 20 can measure LPC. Furthermore, the LPCS showed validity by optimally measuring the theoretical construct underlying the scale. Evaluation of learning outcome; managing student behavior during lecture; using ICT to Enhance learning; and lecturers’ student interaction remains the most important factors in LPCS.

Investigating electronic media viewing by undergraduates in federal universities in Southwestern Nigeria

The study investigated electronic media viewing among undergraduates in selected federal universities in Southwestern Nigeria with a view to identifying the contents viewed, purpose of viewing and attitude exhibited during viewing. The survey research design was adopted for the study while questionnaire was used as the major instrument of data collection. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select a total of 723 undergraduates across 3 federal universities in Southwestern Nigeria to constitute the sample for the study. The data were analysed with frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation. The findings revealed that movies, entertainment news, general news, games, e-books and educational programmes are the major electronic media contents which undergraduates in Nigerian universities viewed and that the undergraduates viewed electronic media content for the purposes of information, entertainment and socialisation than for academics. On the attitude exhibited by the undergraduates while viewing electronic media, finding from the study established listening to music, social networking and text messaging as major attitudes exhibited. The study also established the multi-tasking abilities of the undergraduates. The study recommended that undergraduates should use electronic media technologies properly for widespread educational purposes and that university authorities should strategically engage the undergraduates in purposeful electronic media usage for assignments, projects and term papers, among others in order to reduce excessive use of electronic media, thereby redeeming their time for gainful exercise.

Information and communication technology adoption and electronic information resource usage among university-owned senior secondary school students in southwestern Nigeria

Electronic information resources (EIRs) usage by students involves accessing and utilizing electronic sources and services for knowledge acquisition, entertainment and learning purposes. However, extant literatures have shown that most of the students in Nigeria do not use these information resources adequately. Previous studies focused largely on accessing and utilisation of IRs among students in tertiary institutions with little emphasis on secondary school students, particularly those in university-owned secondary schools. This study, therefore, was carried out to examine the adoption on EIRs usage among students in Federal university-owned senior secondary schools in southwestern Nigeria. The survey design of ex post-facto type was utilised. The university-owned senior secondary schools from five federal universities in southwestern Nigeria were purposively selected. Six hundred and seventy- four Senior Secondary School II students in the five schools were enumerated. The instruments used were: Information Communication Technology Adoption (r=0.70) and IRs Usage (r=0.77) scales. This was complemented with a focus group discussion session with 10 students in each school. Quantitative data were subjected to descriptive analysis, Pearson’s product moment correlation at 0.05 level of significance, while qualitative data were thematically analysed. The respondents’ age was of 16.0±2.0 years, 50.6% were males and 68.1% were from the sciences. The ICT adoption level was high ( ̅=2.90) against 2.50 criterion mean. Information resources were used on a regular basis within the interval of 26-50 on the test of norm table. The sources of accessing the IRs were Internet (85.4%), mobile phone (77.8%), television (71.5%), e-books (50.9%) and educational software (49.1%). The ICT adoption (r=0.58), correlated significantly with IRs usage. ICT adoption predicted IRs usage (F(3;670) =24.26; Adj. R2=0.366), accounting for 36.6% of its variance. The ICT adoption (β=0.52) contributed to IRs usage. Instability of network services, information overload, inadequate technical support and restrictions of ICT tools use were challenges facing IRs usage among the students. Information and communication technology adoption influenced information resources usage among students of university-owned senior secondary schools in southwestern Nigeria. Therefore, there is need for the provision of functional and effective network services and enactment of flexible rules on information and communication technology tools.

Social media use and information seeking behaviour of library and information science (LIS) undergraduates in Southwestern Nigeria

Information seeking behavior is considered very important as it entails how people interact with information, in particular, the ways in which they seek and utilize information. Studies have however shown that some people including students do not seek information appropriately. Several factors, one of which include social media use, have been suggested to be responsible for this. This study therefore examined social media use, and information seeking behaviour of library and information science (LIS) undergraduates in southwestern Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design of the correlational type was adopted for this study. The population consisted of 463 LIS undergraduates in three universities in Southwestern Nigeria. Stratified random sampling technique was used to arrive at the sample size of 277. Data was collected with the aid of questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics such as Pearson Product Moment Correlation and multiple regression analysis were used in presenting the data. The findings of the study revealed that the most used social media platforms by LIS undergraduates were WhatsApp ( ̅ ), Facebook ( ̅ , YouTube ( ̅ and Instagram ( ̅ .Most of the LIS undergraduates 218 (87.6%) and 122 (49.0%) revealed that they made use of WhatsApp and Facebook on a daily basis. Majority of the respondents used the social media for information dissemination ( ̅ , communication ( ̅ , and assignment completion ( ̅ . The most prominent information sources used by the respondents were online databases ( ̅ . Majority of the LIS undergraduates sought information to be outstanding academically ( ̅ . Most of the respondents accessed the needed information on the Internet through their smart phones ( ̅ . The major factor affecting information seeking by majority of the respondents was slow internet connectivity ( ̅ .the study also revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between social media use and information seeking behaviour (r = .342, p&lt; 0.05). The study concluded that social media use is critical to information seeking behaviour in this digital era, and therefore recommended that lecturers in the library schools should create social media groups in which all the students will be encouraged to join and marks awarded for level of interaction and participation.

Investigation into the reading culture of undergraduates in Nigerian universities: A qualitative approach

A strong reading culture is an essential tool for anybody who wants to achieve in life. It broadens students' knowledge, breadth of knowledge, and enjoyment. Reading culture is crucial for personal and academic success, and its significance cannot be over-emphasised. This study was designed to investigate the reading culture of undergraduates in federal universities in Southwestern Nigeria. Three objectives guided the study. Survey research design was adopted for the study while focus group discussion was used for data collection. A total of three sessions of focus group discussion were held with eighteen undergraduates across the three universities selected for the study which are, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University and University of Lagos, Lagos. Six undergraduates were selected from each of the universities to form the sample for the study. Data collected were analysed using Atlas ti8. The findings revealed that the undergraduates read majorly for academic purposes and that they undergraduates have positive attitudes towards reading.. The study recommended that university management should make the curriculum more flexible to enable undergraduates to be involved in reading exercises other than academics. Undergraduates should also make determined efforts to engage more in pleasure/recreational reading to enhance their reading culture.

A Correlate of Acceptance and Actual Use of Cloud Computing Technology for Teaching among University Lecturers in Southwestern Nigeria

Cloud computing technology had been found effective and efficient in providing online learning at all levels of education. This study investigated the relationship between the lecturers’ acceptance of the technology and its’ actual use for teaching. It also determined the influence of sex, academic qualifications and university ownership on the acceptance and actual use of the technology for teaching. The study is a survey. The population consisted all the lecturers in all the universities in southwestern Nigeria. Three hundred lecturers selected from one Federal, one State and one Private university using multistage sampling technique were the sample. AUCT an adapted questionnaire was used for data gathering. Analysis of data showed a significant relationship between acceptance and actual use of cloud computing technology for teaching among the lecturers (R2 = 0.37; p = 0.00). Also neither sex (F(1,274) = 1.83; p &gt; 0.05), academic qualifications (F(3,274) = 0.30; p &gt; 0.05) nor ownership of university (F(3,274) = 2.57; p &gt; 0.05) significantly influenced lecturers’ acceptance of cloud computing technology for teaching. Sex, academic qualifications and ownership of university combined also had no significant influence on the lecturers’ acceptance of cloud computing technology for teaching (F(3,274) = 0.12; p &gt; 0.05). Sex, academic qualifications and ownership of university combined also had no significant influence on the lecturers’ actual use of cloud computing technology for teaching (F(3,274) = 0.23; p &gt; 0.05). Acceptance of cloud computing technology for teaching has positive correlation with actual use among university lecturers in southwestern Nigeria.

Mentoring support for librarians' research productivity in southwestern Nigeria: A study of quantity of publications in quality outlets and online channels

The study examined the influence of mentoring support on the research productivity of librarians in universities in southwestern Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The population consisted of 363 librarians from all of the university libraries in southwestern Nigeria. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that librarians' research productivity was found to be very high in terms of quantity of publication but low in terms of publications in Scopus/WoS and online outlets. Librarians were found to receive a mix of informal and formal mentorship, with more librarians receiving informal mentorship than formal mentorship. Psychological support was shown to be more prevalent than career support among librarians. The study concluded that librarians' research productivity was significantly positively influenced by mentoring support, with career support playing a significant role in this, and it thus recommends that there be a more structured career mentoring support for librarians in southwestern Nigeria to enable more targeted support to librarians who require mentorship.

Information Seeking Pattern as Predictor of Managerial Effectiveness of Academic Heads of Departments in Public Universities in South-Western Nigeria

At the departmental levels in the universities are academic HODs appointed among the lecturers to direct and coordinate the activities of their departments with a view to ensuring good quality education through their effectiveness. Managerial effectiveness is the academic heads of departments’ ability to achieve desired results and goals of the departments and universities. This study investigated the influence of information seeking pattern on managerial effectiveness of academic heads academic HODs in public universities in South West, Nigeria. Survey research design which included the collection of primary data from the respondents was adopted for the study. The study population comprised 770 academic HODs in public universities of South-West Nigeria. Yaro Yamani table of sample size determinant was used to draw sample size of 258 from the population. A structured and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient for the constructs ranged from 0.73 to 0.84. A response rate of 96% was achieved. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential (simple and multiple regression) statistics. Information seeking pattern has significant influence on managerial effectiveness of academic heads of departments in public universities in South West, Nigeria (R2 = 212, β=.460, t (246) = 8.112, p&lt;.05). The study concluded that information seeking pattern is a catalyst to managerial effectiveness of academic HODs in public universities in South West, Nigeria. The study recommends that academic HODs should improve on the level of their managerial effectiveness. The university management in public universities in South West of Nigeria should also strive to reduce some of the identified challenges inhibiting the effectiveness of academic.

Prevalence of Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum co-infections among young adults in a private University in South-Western Nigeria

Background: Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum are major causes of diarrhoeal diseases of humans worldwide and are included in the World Health Organization’s ‘Neglected Diseases Initiative’. Aim: This research was designed to assess the prevalence of G. lamblia and C. parvum co-infections among undergraduate Students of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods: An aggregate of 120 faecal specimens were obtained from 120 partakers (60 females and 60 males) who met the inclusion criteria. The clinical and demographic data of the participants were compiled with the use of patterned survey. Diagnosis was carried out using standard laboratory methods for the detection of these parasites. Results: The outcome of this study shows that there was no record of G. lamblia and C. parvum co-infections among the study participants; however, G. lamblia and C. parvum mono-infection exist among the examined participants with a preponderance of 10% and 4.2%, respectively. There were no substantial differences (P&gt;0.05) in the percentage occurrences of the two parasites established on the individual-level characteristics of the partakers. All participants who tested positive for mono-infection by each parasite had a history of diarrhoea (14.2%). Meanwhile, the 12(10%) participants who tested positive for G. lamblia mono-infection indicated abdominal pain (10), nausea and bloating (2.5%), presence of foul smelling watery stool (0.8%), presence of blood and mucus in stool (0.8%) and weight loss (0.8%). While all the 5 participants who tested positive for C. parvum indicated that they had only abdominal pain (4.2%). Significant risk factors associated with the occurrence of these parasitic infections include: lack of awareness, history of diarrhea, poor toilet hygiene, poor toilet-student ratio, as well as infrequent visits to the hospital for medical check-ups/laboratory tests. Conclusion: Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum co-infection does .......