Suchergebnisse

"Environmental Education as a Viable Tool in Preventing Groundwater Pollution in Nigeria. The study focused on the use of environmental education, particularly at elementary level, to prevent groundwater degradation in Nigeria. This is especially germane because of the relative advantage of groundwater over other sources of water because of its near universal availability, dependability and low capital cost; groundwater remains the preferred source of water in most parts of the country. The development and management of the resource remains central to the success of rural and urban development programmes. Issues discussed in the research include importance of groundwater in meeting supply challenges imposed by ineffective and inefficient public water supply in Nigeria, groundwater resources and use in the country, sources of groundwater pollution, the need for environmental education and developments and techniques in environmental education. The research concluded by suggesting the need for environmental education, particularly at elementary level in addressing problems of environmental degradation and groundwater pollution in particular. This is considered appropriate because, once a good environmental attitude is developed in children, it will be very difficult for them to change their behavior negatively toward matters concerning the environment. Keywords: groundwater, pollution, aquifer, environment, education."

"Effect of Down-Hole Lithological Variation on Water Bearing Capacity of Some Boreholes in Ilorin, Nigeria. The paper attempts to explain the effect of downhole lithological variation on water bearing capacity of some boreholes in Ilorin Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined the lithological characteristics of the boreholes, assessed the variability in weathered overburden and analyzed the inter-relationships between lithology, hydrology and topography of the boreholes. Data used were extracted from twenty (20) borehole logs collected from the archive of Lower Niger Basin Development Authority in Ilorin. Information extracted from the borehole logs are: the number of lithological units intersected by each of the borehole and their depths, the nature of geological materials making up the lithological units and their moisture conditions. Information on coordinates and topographic heights of the boreholes are not given on the logs and those were collected from the field personally by the researcher using handheld GPS (Garmin GPS Channel 76 Model). The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results reveal nine downhole lithological units with loamy and lateritic soil making up the first layer of lithology in 95% of the boreholes. Thickness of the top soil and the saprolite overlying the bedrock, has mean values of 4.2m and 11.3m respectively. Depth to water in the borehole ranged between 24.7 and 140m and with a mean value of 55.9m. Three (3) of the boreholes have two lenses of aquifer while the remaining seventeen (17) have one aquifer lens each. The three (3) boreholes with two aquifer lenses have their minor aquifers located within the saprolite. The main aquifer in most (65%) of the boreholes is located within the fractured basement while the remaining (35%) boreholes have their main aquifer located in the weathered basement. Correlation analysis revealed topographic elevation as one of the drivers of hydrology in the study area. Keywords: lithology, groundwater, saprolite, basement, topography. "

This study was aimed at assessing the indigenous knowledge of rural women in forest resources conservation in Agoi-ekpo and Agoi-ibami in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. The objective of the study is: To examine the extent to which indigenous knowledge of rural women have influenced forest resources utilization and conservation. The sampling techniques used for the study are purposive and systematic in the selection of settlements. Purposive sampling was adopted because it was the researcher's deliberate intention to choose the rural communities in Yakurr L.G.A. that have direct interface with the Forest Reserves and are involved in the use and management of forest resources. While the systematic sampling was used to select rural women households at fixed intervals. The research findings revealed that a significant percent (71.2%) of the rural women were involved in the harvesting of forest resources. The study also showed that different quantities of edible leaves, fruits, snails, and medicinal herbs were collected by rural women for varying purposes. It further showed that these forest resources were harvested at varying frequencies and that they generate income to the rural women. The main forest resources conserved as revealed by the study included afang, atama, editan, bush mango, and hot leaf because of the high exploitation. Restrictions on the felling and uprooting of plants as well as ban on exploitation were the two prominent ways of forest resources conservation. Pearson's correlation result indicated a positive and significant association between indigenous practices of rural women and forest resources utilization and conservation. It also showed that problems encountered in the collection of forest resources did not vary by the ages of rural women. In order to control unwanted exploitation of forest resources as well ensure the availability for the future, local communities should set-up forest guards or vigilante to control the quantity of edible forest resources that will be harvested from the forest.

Small and medium contractors (SMCs) significantly contribute to socio-economic development by creating employment opportunities and establishing inter-sectoral links with other sectors of the economy. Despite their significant contribution, evidence suggests their competency is underdeveloped due to several obscuring factors. As a part of a larger research, this study aimed to explore the endogenic factors affecting the sustainable competency of SMCs in the Ethiopian construction industry (CI). A thorough literature review was conducted to identify 65 endogenic factors arising from seven core sources. A questionnaire survey was used to collect the perceptions of industry stakeholders. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis. Findings indicated 63 significant factors affecting sustainable competency and the top factors were: employee's strategic and operational decision- making power, organisational leadership style, the existence of matured and developed entrepreneurial mindsets, the availability of institutional and business relationships, the inability to access financial resources, the lack of project management skills and low-profit margin due to competition. Factor analysis also identified 17 components. The findings from the study indicate the need to prioritise the areas of competitiveness improvement and the practical implications of making informed decisions for entrepreneurs. The findings of this study can also be used to develop a framework to create a conducive business environment.

Abstract: Conflicts constitute some negative influences on households' economic activities. In Nigeria, the past few years have witnessed progressive crises in some states and the growing level of insecurity is affecting households' economic livelihoods. This paper analyzed the determi nants of food insecurity indicator in conflict-affected regions in Nigeria. The data were collected in 2017 from 582 respondents in the North East, North-central, and South-South zones. The data were analyzed with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and heteroscedasticity consistent Tobit regression. The results showed that in the combined data, the average number of days per week that respondents relied on less preferred food, limited food portions, and reduced the number of meal per day were 3.42, 2.68 and 2.33, respectively. The PCA was used to generate indicator of food insecurity, with North-East, Northcentral, and South-South zones having average indices of 0.16, -0.09 and -0.02, respectively. The Tobit regression results revealed that in the combined data, food insecurity was promoted by household size, urban residence and receipt of remittances, but reduced by unchanged income, credit purchase and reliance on food aid. In north central, food insecurity was promoted by receipt of remittances, but reduced by ability to grow own crops. In the north eastern zone, food insecurity was promoted by urban residence, income increased, and increase in food prices, but declined by income unchanged, and pension income. In the South-South zone, food insecurity was promoted by household size, urban residence and receipt of remittance income, but declined by credit purchase and unchanged income. It was concluded that addressing food insecurity among residents in conflict-affected areas requires preferential assistances to large families, urban residents, and those with high dependence on remittances. However, the promotion of initiatives for credit purchase, food aid the and ability to grow own crops are potentially able to reduce food insecurity. Keywords: Food insecurity, conflict, remittances, food aid, credit, Nigeria.

Strategic planning of building information modelling (BIM) adoption has become increasingly important, owing to the need to minimise BIM adoption risks, maximise BIM benefits and ensure successful BIM adoption. Our understanding of strategic planning of BIM adoption in a developing country is limited. Therefore, this study develops a framework for strategic BIM adoption on construction projects. The applicability of the framework was tested by using it to analyse the pattern of BIM adoption on construction projects in South Africa. The findings of the study demonstrate interrelationships between project milestones and deadlines, the extent of use of BIM software platforms used for the BIM-based construction projects (BBCPs) and the extent of collaboration on the BBCPs. The findings also confirm interrelationships between the regulatory system, the extent of use of BIM software platforms, the extent of collaboration and the extent of integration on the BBCPs. This research has shown that the strategic planning of BIM adoption enables the proper management of BIM tools and processes. The research has also provided practical guidelines for strategic planning of BIM adoption in developing countries.

Die Autoren untersuchen für fünf Länder die Auswirkungen der Veränderungen in Landwirtschaft und Umwelt auf die Verbreitung der von Tsetsefliegen übertragenen Schlafkrankheit (Trypanosomosis). Die Erschließung landwirtschaftlicher Flächen und die Jagd hätten die natürlichen Wirte der Tsetsefliege stark reduziert; die Übertragungswege liefen nun vor allem über das häusliche Vieh. Der Niedergang der Veterinärmedizin habe deshalb ernste Konsequenzen für die Kontrolle der Krankheit. Gleichwohl gebe es eine Reihe von Möglichkeiten, doch die Bauern und die ländlichen Gemeinschaften selbst müssten die Gefahr erkennen und die notwendigen Maßnahmen ergreifen. (DÜI-Sbd)