Microfinancing for Poverty Reduction and Economic Development; a Case for Nigeria

The main focus of this research is to juxtapose the features of microfinancing and the institutional forbearance of economic development in Nigeria. Based on empirical study, it has been observed that poverty is multifaceted and its persistence is due to lack of productive resources. The Nigerian case reveals that the major constraint to improving the standard of living of the poor is capital (finance). This has restricted their extensive participation in economic activities which could improve their lives. For this study, our theoretical a priori expectation is that provision of microfinance services such as savings and microloans have direct impact on GDP. A causal relationship will be established and evaluated with the ‘t-test’ statistic, while the relevance of the independent variables in explaining the subject will be justified based on the F-statistic test and R2 coefficient of multi-determination. Also, using a lin-log regression model, economic growth shall be regressed on poverty level in Nigeria. This will create an assertion whether Nigeria needs a systematic reinforcement of the microfinance mechanism to propagate a soothing trend for poverty reduction and economic growth.Microfinance, Poverty, Economic Development, Economic Growth, Financial Services, Gross Domestic Product

Analysing Risk Management in Banks: Evidence of Bank Efficiency and Macroeconomic Impact

The recent Global Economic meltdown triggered by the subprime mortgage crisis of United States in 2007 and its adverse effect on financial markets and participants in the financial industry worldwide have resulted in a capital management crisis in most financial institutions especially banks. This study is a case for the Nigerian banking industry, focusing on factors affecting risk management efficiency in banks. For empirical investigation, we employed Panel regression analysis taking a stratum of time series data and cross-sectional variants of macro and bank-specific factors for period covering 2003 to 2009. Result for panel regression indicates that risk management efficiency in Nigerian banks is not just affected by bank-specific factors but also by macroeconomic variables. This describes the pro-cyclicality of bank performance in the Nigerian banking sector. As it stands, the sufficiency of Basel principles for risk management is doubtful because asset quality varies with business cycles.Risk management; Nigerian banks; capital adequacy; Basel; cyclicality

Effect of Cations and Chemicals on the Activity of Partially Purified Cellulase from Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) Fruits Deteriorated by Aspergillus flavus Linn

Within ten days of incubation, freshly ripe tomato fruits (Ibadan local variety) obtained from a local market in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria had completely deteriorated and proteins which possessed cellulolytic activity were released. The enzyme was partially purified by a combination of ammonium sulphate precipitation, molecular exclusion chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography. The enzyme was stimulated to varying degrees by Ca++, Mg++, Na+ and K+ but was inhibited by ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, 2, 4-dinitrophenol and mercuric chloride

A systematic review of the impact of the National Health Insurance Scheme in Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the impact of NHIS, this study conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature.Methods: A broad literature search was undertaken on Google Web and Google Scholar for studies published between 2013 and 2018. A total of fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Thirteen studies are qualitative, and one is quantitative. They included neither experiment nor quasi-experimental design in the review.Results: Outcomes observed in the review were summarised qualitatively owning to study sample, data collection technique and impact measures. Generally, most studies reported the impact of NHIS on various variables; the most significant impact was on financial protection and healthcare utilisation. Other impacts observed were of mixed outcomes and of low quality.Conclusion: The impacts recorded in this review showed that workers in the formal sector are the beneficiaries while the poor informal sector workers are excluded from the services of NHIS. The Nigerian government needs to reform the NHIS to include the poor if it is serious about enhancing Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC).Keywords: Enrolees, NHIS, systematic revie

Cash transfer programmes on children’s outcomes: evidence from developing countries

This review evaluated the impact of conditional and unconditional cash transfer programmes on child development. The systematic search was conducted electronically with the aid of Google search engine, using these key search words - “cash transfers”, “child health”, “child development”, “child marriage” and “child labour”. Studies that used Randomised Control Trails (RCTs) and quasi-experiments, as well as studies that reported cash transfers and child development outcomes such as school enrolment, attendance, test score, child work, child health and nutrition and cognitive development were included. Data on social programmes, target population, methodological quality and study results were extracted with the aid of a standard form. The seven studies that met the inclusion criteria were two from Africa, two from Asia and three from Latin America. Six studies reported on the impact of cash transfers and educational outcomes, three on child labour and three on child health and cognitive development. Strong evidence showed that cash transfers enhanced child development on different variables, but evidence regarding child marriage was inconclusive. These results demonstrated the importance of cash transfers in enhancing the development of children living in poor households, while also offering some protection against children vulnerability in developing countries.Keywords: Cash transfers, Conditional cash transfers, children, systematic review, unconditional cash transfer

A systematic review of the impact of Ghana’s school feeding programme on educational and nutritional outcomes

The Ghana School Feeding Programme (SFP) was introduced in 2005 to improve educational and health outcomes. Due to the role the intervention has played in meeting its objectives, the review was conceived to assess the impact of the intervention on anthropometric, behavioural, cognitive, and health and nutritional outcomes. A systematic review search for non-experimental and quasi-experimental studies was conducted on different databases, websites and reference lists of selected studies. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were included in the review. Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria and they report on the role of Ghanaian’s school feeding programme as an intervention that the government is using to improve educational and health outcomes of beneficiaries. Different evaluation methods were used to assess the impact of SFP, six studies used post study design, only one study adopted Difference-in-Differences (DID) technique, five studies used a pre-post study, two studies embraced a cross-sectional study and one study adopted comparative analysis. Outcomes measured by the studies include enrolment, attendance, retention and academic performance. Others are wasting, thinness and stunting. Supporting evidence shows that the school feeding programme improved educational and health outcomes. However, the evidence of food for education on cognitive development was weak. Food for education is a social safety net that stakeholders in developing countries are using to encourage pupil enrolment, attendance and the improvement of academic performance. While the intervention played a pivotal role in these regards, there were other challenges that affected the intervention in achieving its main objective.Keywords: attendance, enrolment, Ghana, retentio

SERUM BIOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS IN DOE RABBITS RE-MATED AT THREE POSTPARTUM TIME-PERIODS UNDER TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT

Three groups of crossbred (New Zealand White x Chinchilla) does were used in a randomized complete block design. Does were re-mated 1-9, 10-20 and 21-28 days after parturition in the dry and rainy seasons in Ayetoro, Ogun State, Nigeria. Blood samples were collected at 2, 10 and 20 days post coitum (pc) in the does following their second parturition. The blood samples were processed and assayed for serum proteins, glucose, urea and creatinine. Serum total protein (STP) at 2 days after mating was lower (P<0.05) in the 1-9 days group (4.3g/dL) when compared to 10-20 days group (5.8g/dL) and 21-28 days group (5.1g/dL). Does re-mated 10 -20 and 21-28 days postpartum had a significantly (P<0.05) higher serum albumin than does re-mated at 1-9 days postpartum at 20 days pc. At 20 days after mating serum globulin was highest (P<0.05) in does re-mated 1-9 days post partum. Serum glucose at 2 and 20 days after mating were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by postpartum re-mating interval. At 20 days after mating however, serum urea and creatinine decreased (P<0.05) as postpartum re-mating interval increased.  Serum total protein, serum albumin, glucose and urea were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the dry season than rainy season. However, most values obtained fall within normal ranges for the domestic rabbit except serum globulin. The result of this research has demonstrated little or no stress to internal physiology due to concurrent pregnancy and lactation at least in the short run.Â

Yahweh’s Indictment on Corrupt Shepherds in Jeremiah 23:1-4 and its Reflections in Political and Religious Structures in Nigeria

Jeremiah 23:1- 4 is considered as one of the cases where Yahweh expressed his displeasure on the leaders he appointed for his People. One of the responsibilities of the leader is justice for all. Yahweh was surprised to see that the leaders that are expected to protect and defend their subjects are the ones scattering and exploiting them. The study, therefore examined the activities of the Shepherds or Leaders in Jeremiah’s time and their effects in ancient Israel, with a view to establishing its reflections in political and religious structures in Nigeria. The researcher observed that, like in the days of Prophet Jeremiah some Political and Religious Leaders in Nigeria are Corrupt. They abuse the power entrusted to them. They feed themselves instead of feeding the flock. They are more concern about their well-being than that of their subjects. They use their influence or power to pervert justice. This has brought the nation to disrepute. Moral decadence and all kinds of vices are the order of the day. Today, Nigeria is believed to be one of the most corrupt nations of the World. There are allegations of corruption traced to some political and religious leaders in Nigeria. To build a virile nation, political and religious leaders in Nigeria are to be exemplary in conduct and make justice and equity their watch word. Keywords: Yahweh, Political, Religious, Leaders, Corrupt, and Nigeri

Impact of remittances on healthcare utilisation and expenditure in developing countries: a systematic review

Background: The poor and low-income earners used remittances to access healthcare services because most of them are not covered by private or government health insurance schemes.The money sent by migrant workers from abroad to their family members, relatives and friends serves as social protection, especially in developing countries where there are no standardised social protection programmes.Objective: This review assesses the impact of remittances on healthcare utilisation and expenditure in developing countries.Methods: A systematic search for relevant literature was conducted online for studies published between 2002 and 2018.Results: The inclusion criteria of the study were met by 7 out of the 135 studies searched electronically. The studies conducted in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America, found that remittances contributed toincreased healthcare access, utilisation and expenditures. However, the degrees of these impacts were limited among the studies except in Armenia, where remittances significantly increased healthcare utilisation.Conclusion: Although remittances can not serve as an alternative to formal healthcare insurance schemes, they can serve as a short-term measure in healthcare utilisation in developing countries. It is the responsibility of governments at all levels to formulate health policies that will embrace universal healthcare coverage for all citizens.Keywords: Expenditure, healthcare, remittances, utilisatio

A Systematic Assessment of Anti-poverty Programmes in Nigeria

The rising poverty level in Nigeria since 1999 prompted the designing and implementation of different anti-poverty programmes to assist the poor to escape poverty. This study systematically assesses the impact of these interventions. A systematic search was conducted electronically for qualitative studies that used mixed method analysis. Inclusion criteria were met with eight studies. All the included studies used interviews as methods of data collection. Income, entrepreneurial development, expenditure, job opportunities, welfare, access to health and education, empowerment and quality of life were the domains reported by the studies reviewed. There is evidence of anti-poverty programmes in reducing poverty among poor households. There is weak evidence suggesting anti-poverty programmes have a positive impact on household expenditures, employment, income, agricultural development and the quality of life of beneficiaries. There is negative evidence showing that anti-poverty programmes not impacting on access to health and education and the affordability of health services and education. Despite the not too impressive results, anti-poverty programmes can act as tools for mitigating poverty if were planned and implemented. Key Words: Anti-poverty programmes, intervention, microcredit, Nigeria, povert