Chemical composition and antioxidant potentials of Kigelia pinnata root oil and extracts

The chemical composition of Kigelia pinnata root oil extracted with n-hexane was analyzed by GC/GCMS. The antioxidant potential of the oil was compared to that of ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the root. UV and IR spectroscopic techniques were used to carry out partial characterization of the oil and extracts. The free radical scavenging activity by spectrophotometric assay on the reduction of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was examined while the total antioxidant activity (TAA) and relative antioxidant activity (RAA) were compared with standard antioxidant, α-tocopherol. The antioxidant activity (which correlated with the total phenolic content of the extracts) was assumed to be from the total phenolic content of the extracts. TAA was found to be higher in methanol extract (at 0.25 mg/mL). We hereby report for the first time the major component of the oil from the root of Kigelia pinnata to be elaidic acid (56.12 %). It is a reported toxicant which thereby underscores the risk in the use of the plant in traditional therapies

Government Agricultural Credit Policy and Macroeconomic Fundamentals: a case study of Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) in Nigeria

The study established the relationship between amount of loan guaranteed by the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) and some key macroeconomic variables in Nigeria. Augmented Dickey-Fuller unit root test and improved ADF-GLS unit root test conducted on the specified time series showed that all series were integrated of order one. The short-run and long-run elasticities of amount of loan guaranteed by ACGSF with respect to some key macro-economic fundamentals were determined using the techniques of co-integration and error correction models. The empirical results revealed that in the long run, the coefficients of interest rate charged by commercial banks and value of oil revenue has a significant negative and positive relationship respectively with the amount of loan guaranteed by the ACGSF in the country. Whereas in the short run, the coefficients of the previous amount of loan guaranteed and value of oil revenue as well as the real GDP has a positive association with the current amount of loan guaranteed by ACGSF while the external debt has a negative association. The results were further substantiated by the variance decomposition and impulse response analysis of the dependent variable with respect to changes in the explanatory variables. The findings call for appropriate short and long term economic policy packages that should focused on the stabilization of the identified significant macroeconomic shifters of amount of loan guaranteed by ACGSF in the country. Special attention should be given to the interest charged on agricultural loan by participating banks. Also, diversification of the country’s economy and drastic reduction in external debt would boost the operation of ACGSF in the country and enhances credit availability to Nigerian farmers. Keywords: Credit, policy, macroeconomic, external debt, interest rate, ACGSF, Nigeri

Travel, tourism, climate change and behavioral change: travelers’ perspectives from a developing country, Nigeria

While studies have examined people's understanding of climate change and its relationship to tourism, these focus largely on developed country populations. Much future tourism growth will come from developing countries following economic development; often countries where climate change will be strongly felt. Do tourists from developing countries have the same knowledge gaps about travel, tourism, and climate change as in the developed world? Will behavioral change policies be successful in encouraging more environmentally friendly approaches to climate change and tourism in developing countries? This paper presents findings from 20 in-depth interviews with active Nigerian tourists, analyzing their understanding of climate change, the links known, or not, between their travel and climate change, and their willingness to change their tourism patterns. Understanding of climate change was limited and there was conceptual confusion. Participants did not view their own travel as a cause of climate change and many were embedded in air travel practice. Participants were unwilling to change their tourism patterns to reduce their contribution to climate change. Significant structural barriers limit low carbon tourism travel in Nigeria (and other developing countries), including reliability, availability safety, and speed. Behavioral change will be difficult to achieve

Analysis of urban poverty and its implications on development in Uyo urban, Akwa Ibom State

Concern for studies on urban poverty has been of low priority to  government, researchers and development planners in Nigeria. For over two decades, studies have been focused on rural poverty. This study therefore, investigated the present poverty situation in Uyo urban area and identified the vulnerable groups and their spatial dimension. The study adopted a survey research design in data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data gathered from 20 sampled units in the study area Factor analysis technique was used to determine the different levels of poverty in the study area. The study revealed significant relationship between factorsof urban poverty and development in Uyo urban area. The study  recommended the formulation and implementation of policies by Government that would provide employment, housing, education,  improved health care among others for the urban poor

Suitability Evaluation of Alluvial Soils for Rice (Oryza sativa) and Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) Cultivation in an Acid Sands Area of Southeastern Nigeria

Two soils, Alfisols and Ultisols were evaluated for swamp rice (Oryza sativa)and cocoa (Theobroma cacao) cultivation. Both soils developed from alluvial deposits in anarea dominated by acid sands in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. Data were obtained fromeight pedons, four from each of the two locations. Both the conventional and the parametricapproaches were employed in the evaluation. The result showed that despite the favourableclimatic factors and soil physical characteristics, there was no highly suitable (SI) land forrice and cocoa cultivation. By the non-parametric method, potentially and currently, all thesoils were marginally suitable (S3) for rice cultivation. But by the parametric approach,currently, 12.5% of the pedons were marginally suitable (S3) while 87.5% were not suitable(N1) for rice cultivation. Potentially, 50% of the pedons were marginal (S3) while 50%were not suitable (N1) for rice cultivation. By the non-parametric method, potentially andcurrently, 25% of the pedons were moderately suitable (S2) while 75% were marginallysuitable (S3) for cocoa cultivation. By the parametric method, potentially and currently,25% and 75% respectively were marginal and not suitable for cocoa cultivation. The majorconstraints to rice cultivation were low water table (w), toxicity (t) and soil fertility (f);while those for cocoa were soil physical characteristics (s), toxicity (t) and soil fertility (f)

Hobbes’ Leviathan, Contemporary Global Society, and a Possible Outcome of the United States of America’s 2016 Presidential Election

This paper takes a comparative analysis of the circumstances of men in a “stateless” society which Thomas Hobbes calls a “state of nature” in his book Leviathan and the prevailing global security challenges facing mankind. In both circumstances, the essay notes, the “human condition” of mankind is the same:  life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”. Just as Hobbes draws the conclusion from this state of affairs to the inescapable need for a “strongman”, a powerful and frightening body, a State or Leviathan, to overawe and subdue the belligerent urge of men in order to establish a peaceful and ordered society, so does this paper see that factor as not only responsible for the success of Donald Trump’s United States of America Presidential campaign so far but may also eventually determine the outcome of the United States Presidential election in November 2016. Keywords: Human condition, state of nature, strongman, contemporary global societ

Assessing Women Caregiving Role to People Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, West Africa

HIV/AIDS scourge remains high in most countries of sub-Saharan Africa such as Nigeria, which is home to about 3.3 million HIV positive individuals and represents the second largest burden of HIV/AIDS care, treatment and demand worldwide after South Africa. Anti-retroviral treatment options though a welcome development, has increased the number of people living with this chronic illness, and most of them depend on family members for physical and emotional support. Traditional gender norms in Nigeria ensure that legitimately, women and girls are the first options for caregiving roles. This mandatory role has in turn imposed psychosocial disruption in the lives of female family members in Calabar, Nigeria. This descriptive study utilized convenient sampling technique, Zarit Burden Interview scale and semistructured questionnaires for data collection (260 respondents), and data analyses were achieved using SPSS16.0. The study showed that a significant (p \u3c .05) proportion of women (91%) were involved in providing care, including children from 10 years and above. Caregivers had minimal social support which increased the burden they experienced. The need for policy that recognizes and supports female caregivers (“silent cornerstone”) to reduce burden and ensure high quality care of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Nigeria is advocated

Foreign exchange fluctuations and commercial banks profitability in Nigeria

The importance of examining the effect currency fluctuation has on commercial banks profitability cannot be over emphasized, particularly, given this era of Global financial integration. Most commercial banks are said to suffer from erosion of their profit arising from their exposure to fluctuations in international currencies, especially, when proper hedging strategies are not adopted. This study used the balanced panel methodology and data obtained from 12 largest banks in Nigeria to examine the relative effect of currency fluctuation on commercial banks profitability. In other to get the independent effect of currency fluctuation on commercial banks profitability the study also introduced four bank characteristic variables (bank size, bank divestment, non-performing loans and capital adequacy ratio) into the model. The initial result without the bank characteristic variables revealed that the dollar and pounds exerted a 6 percent and 11 percent negative effect on commercial banks profitability respectively. Introduction of the bank specific variables into the model saw the magnitude of the currency fluctuation reduced by 1 percent and 5 percent for the dollar and pounds respectively. More specifically, bank characteristic variables, banks size and capital adequacy exerted positive significant effect on commercial banks profitability while non-performing loans and bank divestment exerted a negative effect on commercial banks profitability. The study therefore recommended that banks should increase their divestment options as well as switch their trading options to the less volatile currency (as a measure of hedging against currency risk) in periods of severe currency fluctuations. Key words. Banks profitability, capital adequacy ratio, currency fluctuation, exchange rate risk

Determination of Baseline Data of Physicochemical and Microbiological Quality of Surface Waters in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Surface waters in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State are the predominant sources of potable water for the rapidly increasing population in the area with the presence of three tertiary institutions. Hence, the objective of this paper was to determine baseline data of the physicochemical and microbiological quality of surface waters in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria using standard microbiological and analytical procedures and values compared to the World Health Organization WHO and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) recommended levels. Results showed that water from streams 3, 4, 5 and 7 were good as source of drinking water. Water from Ikot Oku Nsit and Anyam streams had high levels of 28.46 mg/l and 23.05 mg/l, 46.14mg/l and 46.51 mg/l, 51.85 mg/l and 56.42 mg/l for Chemical Oxygen Demand, Total Suspended Solids and nitrates respectively, making it necessary for treatment. Water from stream 6 had high values of Nitrates and Fecal Coliform well above the WHO recommended levels rendering it not good for human consumption without treatment. Proper sensitization of the populace on water management, regular assessment of the surface waters and the revamping of the public water works at Afaha Nsit, have been recommended

Analysis of Empirical Relationship among Agricultural Lending, Agricultural Growth and Non-Performing Loans in Nigerian Banking System

Increasing levels in Non-Performing loans (NPLs) which has remained an area of great concern contributed to issue of declining agribusiness activities in Nigeria in the 1990s and thereafter. The study examined non-performing loans relationship with agricultural lending and agricultural productivity from 1980 to 2015 in Nigeria. Time series data obtained from CBN were analyzed using, Granger causality test, Pearson correlation, and co-integration as well as error correction models. The empirical analyses revealed that, bilateral Granger causality existed between loans and advances granted to agricultural sector and non-performing loans in Nigeria. Also, growth in GDP has a positive and significant correlation with NPL in Nigeria. In the long run, NPL is positively related to agricultural productivity, growth in the GDP and value of loans and advances offered to agricultural sector. Whereas, in the short run, NPL reacted significantly to the negative influence of interest rate and positive impact of GDP growth rate. The adjustment coefficient of 52% was discovered for the NPL long run equation in Nigeria. It is recommended that short and long- term banking reform policies be adopted to reduce fluctuations in NPLs in the banking system and efforts should be geared towards increased participation of specialized financial institutions as to accelerate investments in agriculture sector