A Kalman filter approach to Fisher effect: Evidence from Nigeria

This paper investigates evidence of a Fisher effect in Nigeria by employing quarterly CPI inflation and Nominal interest rates data. For a more robust result we conducted integration and cointegration tests in order to examine time-series properties of the variables. Using Co-integration and Kalman filter methodologies, the study did not find evidence of a full Fisher effect from 1961:1-2009:4. This result indicates that nominal interest rates do not respond one-for-one to changes in inflation rates in the long run despite the presence of positive relationship among the variables. Our study recommends the adoption of potent policies aimed at checking inflation so as to help reduce high interest rates in order to stimulate growth in the economy

A Club of Incumbents? The African Union and Coups d\u27Etat

This Article considers the response of the Organization for African Unity (the OAU, founded in 1963) and its successor, the African Union (the AU, which began operating in 2003) to coups d\u27etat, since 1997. The Article addresses these organizations\u27 policies concerning unconstitutional changes of government, as well as the application of these policies. In considering these issues, the Article examines the response of the AU to the coups in Togo (2005), Mauritania (2005 and 2008), Guinea (2008), Madagascar (2009), and Niger (2010). In each case, the AU was unwilling to recognize the government that came to power through coup, even when the regime had popular and political support within the state. The Article concludes by arguing that the AU should pursue a more nuanced policy in this area

Parents Preference for Students’ Choice of Urban Schools in Benin City, Nigeria: Integrated AHP Intuitionistic Fuzzy Topsis

The paper examines the attributes considered by parents for school choice enrolment for their children and wards. Four classes of school alternatives with twelve attributes were considered in this work. A survey was randomly carried out in the three Local government areas in Benin City. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was adopted  in evaluating the attributes, while intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution) was applied in the ranking of the alternatives. In adopting the method two metric functions were used with both producing same result indicating consistency and correctness of results. The Missionary schools (A4) is the most preferred of the 4 alternative schools, closely followed by private schools for middle class (A2) as second best preferred and the premier private schools for the elite (A3) is third best preferred. While, the Public (government) schools (A1) is bracing the rear as least preferred of all the 4 alternatives. It is concluded that adopting scientific approach to humanistic system is appropriate and produces accuracy in results.Keyword: School choice, intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS and attribute

Decision Rules for Supplier Selection Using Intuitionistic Fuzzy TOPSIS

This paper provides a methodology for addressing contradiction in the ranking of suppliers when more than one metric functions are adopted in intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution) for supplier selection. Our literature search revealed contradictions when more than one metric functions are adopted in the method.  Two types of contradictions were addressed: (i) contradiction of the best supplier, and (ii) contradiction at the middle of the park.  Decision rules algorithms were developed to address the problems.Worked examples were given to illustrate the rules for resolving the contradiction. A major thrust of this paper is the adoption of odd number of metric functions with the use of the ballot strategy. This paper use three metric functions which are Spherical, Euclidean and Hamming metric fuctions. In case of contradiction, the alternatve that gives majority of same rank with respect to the metrics fuctions  is selected.Keywords: Supplier Selection; Intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS; Metric Functions; Contraditions; contradiction of best alternatives; contradiction at the middle of the park

On Forecast Performance Using a Class of Weighted Moving Average Processes for Time Series

In this paper, we consider a class of weighted moving average models called the k-th moving average, the k-th weighted moving average and the k-th exponential weighted moving average models for modeling and forecasting economic time series data. Using real time series data set, we compare the ability of these various models to smooth the available data and also use an out of sample forecast performance to determine the best model among the various competitive models. Our findings is that the k-th exponential weighted moving average model performed best when all the three models where used to smooth our  time series data, while the k-th simple moving average model outperformed the others in terms of future forecasting. Keywords: k-th moving average; k-th weighted moving average; k-th exponential weighted moving average; forecastin

Cocoa husks: a sustainable resource for alkali production

Nigeria has no commercial alkali plant and most of her alkali requirements are imported. Thus the sustainability of using cocoa husks as resource for alkali production was investigated. Cocoa husks collected from three locations in Edo State; (CH1), (CH2) and (CH3) were separately burnt to ashes. Moisture content of ashes ranged from 72.25 ± 1.92% to 74.75 ± 4.11%, dry matter from 25.26 ± 4.11% to 27.76± 1.92 %, while ash content ranged from 20.29 ± 3.00% to 23.01 ± 3.71%. Alkali was extracted from the ashes by leaching with water at room temperature and CH1 had highest alkaline content (0.84± 0.01 M) while CH2 had the lowest (0.78± 0.02 M). Conductivity of the extract was 72.45± 0.03 s/m, 71.02± 0.02 s/m and 71.64± 0.01 s/m, while the pH was 11.655± 0.02 s/m, 11.40± 0.01 s/m and 11.42 ± 0.02 s/m respectively for CH1 CH2 and CH3. Metal analysis revealed that they contain appreciable potassium (CH1 = 43.54%, CH2= 41.15% and CH3= 41.67%) and sodium (CH1 = 34.78%, CH2 = 37.55% and CH3 = 34.86%) ions, thus can be used to generate alkali as alternative to foreign alkali, reduce Nigerian dependence on foreign alkali and providing environmental solution to their disposal problem.Keywords: Potassium, sodium, ash extract, waste

The Influence of Gender on Junior Secondary School Students Attitude towards Mathematics in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State

This paper is on the influence of gender on junior secondary school student’s attitude towards mathematics in Ovia North East local government area of Edo state. The descriptive survey design was employed for the study. The population of the study comprised of all the JSS3 students, a total of Three Thousand Six Hundred and Ninety (3690) students in the 12 public junior secondary schools in in Ovia North East local government area of Edo State. Three schools selected from the 11 wards in the local government constituted the sample of the study. The simple random technique was used to select one hundred and fifty students (fifty from each of the three schools) in the Local Government Area. The instrument that was used for this study was the Secondary Student Mathematics Questionnaire (SSMQ). Mean score, t-test and analysis of variance was used to analyze the responses from the respondents. It was revealed that the attitude of the student towards mathematics was positive. The study also revealed that there is a difference between the attitude of male and female students in mathematics.Key words: Mathematics, gender, attitude, and performanc

THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA

Nigeria is on its way to modern development. Branding itself as the “giant of Africa”, the country now needs to prove its potential by raising its standards to a level with other fast developing economies of the world. The vision 20-20-20 program this country is currently pursuing is a major step to achieve this goal. Nigeria, according to its seven point agenda, is focussing on developing agricultural as an important strategic move. This paper uses trend analysis in terms of a historical and current perspective and various descriptive methods to analyse the development of Nigeria through each decade since its independence in 1960 and examines the factors that have had an impact on its agricultural productivity. This will aid in describing and predicting the performance of the agricultural sector in Nigeria and as a result, the overall economic development of the country in the coming decade. This paper proves that an in-depth research on the development of the agricultural sector is essential to the progress of the country. Also, it is important to find out what has not worked previously and why, before taking any steps to develop the agriculture or the economy. The basis of this development should start with the empowerment of the poor

Alternative Energy Source in a Developing Country: Biodiesel Option in Nigeria

The depleting reserves of petroleum and attendant environmental issues have led to the search for more eco - friendly and renewable fuels. Biodiesel obtained from various renewable sources have been  recognized as one of the alternative fuels due to its biodegradability, high cetane number, no sulphur emissions and low  volatility. In this paper, biodiesel was obtained from waste frying oil (WFO) by esterification to reduce the free fatty acid (FFA) content (determined by standard titration methods) and then transesterified using base catalyzed transesterification method. The WFO had an FFA content of 11.3%. The WFO was esterified hourly (1, 2, 3, 4) for reduction in %FFA until about < 1% FFA was achieved prior to transesterification. The esterified oil was transesterified in batches to establish  optimum conditions for the reaction by varying; time, temperature, stirring speed and methanol to oil molar ratio respectively. The methyl ester yield from the efficient based catalyzed transesterification of WFO were found to be 50oC, 6:1 methanol-to-oil molar ratio, 1% w/v catalyst concentration and a reaction time duration of 40 minutes, 96% optimum yield and the result of the FTIR analysis confirms the formation of methyl ester having wavelength of absorption at  2959.475nm, 2784.153nm, 1747.191 and 1469.005 respectively. The fuel properties of the methyl ester produced were compared with set ASTM standards and were found to be in line with the standards.Keywords: Waste frying oil, co-solvent, Transesterification, Yield, FTIR analysis and Fuel Propertie