Effects of Socio-Economic factors of Loan Administrators on Recovery Rate among Agricultural Cooperatives in Benue State, nigeria

This study was undertaken to analyze the effect of socio-economic factors of loan administrators on loan recovery rate among agricultural co-operatives in Benue State of Nigeria. A purposive and simple random sampling technique was used to select 130 respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression. The result showed that majority of the respondents were male (58.46%), married (67.69%), educated (63.01%), with mean cooperative experience of 14.39 years (86.92%) and household size between 1 - 5 members. The result also showed that respondents were averagely young (36 years) and were relatively low income earners (N 2,480,000 per annum). The result shows that loan size was the only variable that significantly and positively affected loan recovery rate. The coefficients of salary, age, years in education, household size, cooperative experience, marital status and sex had no effect on recovery rate. It was recommended that administrators should give higher portfolio size loans as these will trigger them to carefully look at business activities in their coverage areas that are capable of repaying loans from precede of sales and cash flow

Is African philosophy progressing?

No Abstrac

Evaluation of Urban Forestry and Housing Patterns in Awka Metropolis of Anambra State, Nigeria

This study evaluated urban forestry and housing patterns in Awka metropolis of Anambra State in Nigeria, with the aim of establishing the trend of housing and urban forestry / urban greening in the study area over a period of ten years (2001-2010) and to suggest ways of improving urban agriculture for a better environmental quality in Awka and other cities with high rate of developmental projects / urbanization. In other to establish this trend, the linear regression and correlation coefficient of the land use data over the time period was calculated using the concept of housing and urban forestry as a benchmark. The data analyses confirmed that there is a significant correlation between housing pattern (urbanization) and the vegetal distribution of trees (forestry) in Awka. Also, housing and urban forestry in Awka metropolis is spatially distributed in space; as shown in the results from the satellite imageries. The result of the least square regression showed that the rate of forest displacement is as a result of the increasing structural development in the study area. The work thus concluded by recommending the adoption of some tree planting techniques among urban structures and the replacement of failed trees by new one to be undertaken by the government, urban planners, land developers, the community and every individual

Relationship Between Plasma Homocysteine and Vitamin B12 Levels in Clinically Diagnosed Cases of Cardiovascular Accident in Lagos, Nigeria

Vitamin B12 deficiency interferes with the normal pathway for homocysteine metabolism, even in the presence of adequate serum folate and pyridoxine. Homocysteinaemia, is an elevated level of homocysteine in plasma which has been established as a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disorders. However, there has been conflicting report from various research works on the role of Vitamin B12 in the occurrence of major cardiovascular disorders. The study was set to determine the mean values of homocysteine, and correlate same with mean plasma levels of vitamin B12 in the subjects, and to estimate the prevalence of anaemia in the stroke patients, using Haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) as indices. One hundred (100) participants were recruited, comprising 40 clinically diagnosed stroke patients (hemorrhagic or thrombo-embolic), and 60 normal adults as control group. Plasma homocysteine levels were measured by HPLC and plasma vitamin B12 levels by Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immuno-assay method. Anticoagulated whole blood samples were evaluated for Hb, and MCV using automated Advia-60. Mean value of plasma homocysteine for the stroke patients (17.7±4.4umol/l) was significantly higher than values obtained in the control group at 9.5±2.4umol/l (

Evaluating the Solid Waste Dump Site within Lokoja Metropolis using Geospatial Techniques

Solid waste management has become a complex global environmental problem in both developed and less developing Countries. The problem is widely noticeable in Lokoja area of Kogi State, Nigeria. This is mostly caused by poor planning and lack of adequate information need to tackle urban solid waste management. Therefore, adequate information on solid waste dump site (SWDS)is required to mitigate future hazards that may emanate from these wastes within Lokoja Metropolis. This study applied Geospatial Techniques to assess the trend of the Solid Waste Dump site within the period of three years. Due to different parameters involved, the study adopted the principle of Separation Distances as recommended by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Landfill Manual 2006. The separation distances parameters considered in the monitoring of the Dump Site include; the distance of the dump site to water body (>960m), the slope of the Dump Site (0 o -5 o ), distance of the dump site to the road (100m-1000m), and distance to the residential areas (>8000m). LandSat ETM imagery of 2014, 2016, and 2018 of the study area wasused for the supervised classification as well as the distance analysis over the years. ASTER imagery, and Quickbird satellite imagery were used to generate the slope, extraction of the roads/buildings and delineation of rivers within the study area. The study revealed that the distance of the dumpsite to the road accounted for 160m in 2014, 57m in 2016, and 14m in 2018.The distance of the dumpsite to the built-up areas accounted for 1547m in 2014, 1287m in 2016, and 876m in 2018. It can be seen from the analysis that the slopes were 3 0 in 2014 and 2016, and 5 0 in 2018. It is recommended that the existing dumpsite be relocated to another area. Suitability analysis should be carried out before siting new dumpsites

Evaluating farmers’ adaptation strategies to climate change: A case study of Kaou local government area, Tahoua State, Niger Republic

The study discusses local farmers’ strategies of coping with and building resilience against the negative impact of climate change. Information for the discussion was from data collected using a set of structured questionnaires from interviews scheduled with 128 farmers. The questionnaire was based on previous literature and direct reconnaissance interview with farmers, which culminated in 13 strategies used for the study being reported. For each question, respondents were asked to choose their best and worst strategies. Thus, the difference between the best and worst strategies consistent with random utility theory has been used for the modelling. Results show that semi-transhumance, various handicrafts making, rural migration, small-scale vegetable production and small-scale river exploitation were the most important strategies identified, whilst water transport and vending, shifting cultivation, gypsum mining, gathering and trading of wild fruits and edible plants as well as cattle and sheep fattening were the least appreciated strategies identified amongst the farmers facing climate change. These findings are therefore imperative for planning farmers’ capacity-building and resilience against climate change projects to ensure sustainability in the study area. Keywords: Farmers’ adaptation strategies; Climate change resilience; Kao