Implications of Missionary Education for Women in Nigeria: A Historical Analysis

Education is a key factor in human development and social transformation. The problematic of women development in Nigeria traces its roots in the type of education dispensed by missionary agencies and the British colonial administration. Christian Missionaries were the first to initiate the development of western education in Nigeria. Government participation first took the form of giving limited financial assistance to voluntary agencies and gradually developed into the recognition of education as the responsibility of the Government. The present study is a historical analysis of the evolution of the development of education in Nigeria in relation to the contemporary women question it seeks to establish the place of girls’ education in the missionary and government overall plan for the education of Nigerian youth. The objective of the study is to demonstrate the significant economic, social and political implications of the government controlled education for women in Nigeria. If women still lag behind in these three key areas of human development, the history of education has had its own contributions to make. The primary source of the study is based on archival data in form of annual and periodic reports, programme of education for boys and girls, statistical information and relevant government publications

Effects of Temperature on Mucuna solannie Water-Based Mud Properties

Water-based mud formulated from Mucuna solannie seeds, a leguminous plant, has been proved to be efficient and cost effective. Hence, the effects of temperature on the properties of the mud formulated from Mucuna solannie have been shown to follow similar trend as other mud formulations-water or oil based. Properties at temperatures of 95oF, 120oF and 180oF gave decreased values of Plastic Viscosity, Yield Point, Low Shear Rate Yield Point and Apparent Viscosity with increase in temperature, while an increase in Fluid Loss was recorded with temperature increase for both unweighted and weighted muds. Mud properties at temperature up to 212oF and above should not be found without a corresponding increase in mud pressure to prevent boiling

An Economic Evaluation of Investment in Mucuna solannie Production

Mucuna solannie, a perennial crop, is a Fabaceae found in the South East of Nigeria and in some African and Asian countries. It exhibits interesting properties as a food additive, where it serves as viscosifier. It has, hence, been tested and used to formulate a drilling mud. The drilling mud formulated from it compares quite fine with other muds; with excellent rheological properties. It is suitable for top hole sections. The purpose of Mucuna solannie farming, as a cash crop, is to maintain adequate supply for continued application in the drilling industry; hence, it is a business venture. Also, a comprehensive list of processing equipment has been provided. The study gives the first pass assessments of the requirements for production and processing, necessary for sustained supply. A suitable farm location has been found in South-East Nigeria. Square planting pattern, on 10 hectares area of land, based on one plant per hill, with no filler crops, has been shown to yield 63.9 metric tonnes per year. An initial minimum investment of about $820,920 is required for seeds, land rent, equipment costs and other contingencies; with projected minimum revenue of$283,500 per year, at 22% DCF ROR, if the venture must remain profitable

The inland west clusters of Ikekeonwu’s Igbo dialects classification: A modification

Among the five clusters Ikekeonwu classified the Igbo dialects, is the Inland West Dialect Cluster, which covers the Igbo dialects spoken in Onitsha, Awka and Aguata areas. The classification seems not to properly position the Igbo speech varieties of mambala area, which have some linguistic traits that qualify them to be recognised as a main dialect of the Inland West Igbo Cluster. This paper seeks to position mambala speech varieties within the landscape of Igbo dialectology by modifying the Inland West Cluster. It uses linguistic criteria with focus on the similarities and differences in the phonemes, phonological patterning of words, phonological processes and secondary articulation features. It adopts minimal pair/set analysis and comparative analysis. From the result, mambala speech varieties are grouped as mambala Main Dialect of the Onitsha Inland West Igbo

Strengthening health systems in Africa: The COVID-19 pandemic fallout

This narrative review aims to highlight the shift in the paradigm of strengthening health systems in the African setting since the onset of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Strengthening health systems involves upgrading a country’s health-care system through increased funding for health infrastructure, health policy improvement, and universal health coverage (UHC). Inadequate funding for health infrastructure, erratic health policy, and the inability to meet UHC targets have contributed to high mortality rates among the continent’s vulnerable groups. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed the weak health systems in many African countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Before the pandemic in Africa, the African health context’s challenges essentially comprised weak health systems, weak governance and accountability, high rates of out-of-pocket expenditures, adverse social determinants of health, and non-harmonization of health aid and health service delivery. During the pandemic, a significant shift in the paradigm of strengthening health systems has occurred, with emphasis on increased funding for health infrastructure, which targets the following: Improvement of health infrastructure, the motivation of the health workforce, and improvement in laboratory facilities. It is hoped that the fallout from strengthening health systems in Africa after the pandemic can be sustained by a continental peer- review mechanism to monitor compliance with increased funding for the health sector among member nations. In the post-pandemic period, further gains in strengthening the health systems can be achieved by improving UHC (through increased funding for health insurance), constant capacity training for health care workers in critical care medicine, and institutionalization of hand hygiene

Equiano Narratives: An Historical Inquiry into Igbo Drinking Culture

The drinking habits of the lgbo people changed with their contact with Europeans around 1600s through their coastal neighbours. Prior to this contact, the only alcoholic brand known to the people was palm wine. Prominent Igbo merchants such as the Aro played vital role in spreading European trade goods such as alcohol in exchange for slaves, As a result of the absence of written source ,Equaino narratives of 1789 offers a useful alternative in understanding the fact that the Europeans importation of brands such as Schnapps, Brandy, Whiskey, Rum, etc altered the cultural habits of the people with regards to alcoholuse. Using Equiano narratives therefore, this paper concludes that Igbo people were moderate alcohol drinkers relying solely on palm wine prior to their contact with Europeans

Childhood Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome as a Podocytopathy

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is the commonest manifestation of glomerular disease in children. The syndrome is characterized by massive proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, generalized edema, and hyperlipidemia. Although genetic or congenital forms are now well recognized, nephrotic syndrome is largely acquired. The latter form can be idiopathic or primary (the causes are unknown) and secondary (the causes are known renal or non-renal diseases). Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome consists of the following glomerulonephritides: minimal change nephropathy (MCN), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MesPGN), and membranous nephritis (MN). The etiopathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome has evolved through several hypotheses ranging from immune dysregulation theory and increased glomerular permeability theory to the current concept of podocytopathy. Podocyte injury is now thought to be the basic pathology in the syndrome. The book chapter aims to highlight the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome as a podocytopathy

A Comparative Study of the Resurrection of the Body in Christianity and African Tradition Religion

The doctrine of resurrection is the heart of Christianity. It is what makes Christianity different from other religions. In the days of Jesus, there was a difference of opinion among the Jews concerning resurrection. The doctrine of resurrection, thus, has been opposed in history. Some scholars are doubtful of the opinion that the very body which was deposited in the grave would be raised up. While some early Christian fathers stressed the identity of the present body and the resurrection body. The dispute concerning the concept of resurrection lies in African Traditional Religion. Most scholars are of the opinion that African Traditional Religion is silent on this. Through a comparative study, the paper examined the concept of resurrection in Christianity and African Traditional Religion. Oral interview is a tool employed in this study to ascertain the perception of adherents of African Traditional Religion on resurrection of the body. This paper discovered that the idea of bodily resurrection is not absent in both religions. In African Traditional Religion, resurrection is conceived in reincarnation and apparition. The concept of resurrection is widely accepted in Christianity but not explicitly stated in African Traditional Religion

Understanding Freedom and Human Rights in Africa

The issues of human rights and freedom are topical in most socio-political discourse especially in the African continent given the plethora of cases of human rights abuse and unnecessary curtailment and most times outright denial of freedom to citizens. This constitutes a serious bane to the flowering of human potentialities and the general human well -being. This anomaly has however continued unabated despite the volumes that have been written on the subjects and seminars and conferences held on the same. This paper, through the analytic and critical methods, argues that much may not be achieved until the philosophical foundation upon which these subjects rest is well articulated and appreciated. The paper equally claims that one of the ways of enhancing the respect for human rights and freedom in Africa is to recognize the symbiotic relationship between the two subjects. The paper finally argues that an integral view of human freedom/rights which recognizes not only freedom-from but also freedom-to and rights-to, is foundational for the promotion of human well-being

A comparative study of immortality of the soul in Christianity and African traditional religion

Mankind has been searching for a way to live forever. If he cannot live forever, the next best thing would be to become alive again after death. Some scholars argue that there is no immortality of the soul. They believe that death is a period of absolute annihilation. Contrarily, others regard this as erroneous teachings. This paper adopted a comparative approach to examine the views of the select religions: Christianity and African Traditional Religion on the immortality of the soul. The paper discovers that the soul of man continues to live after death. The belief in reincarnation, the ancestral world, the living-dead, continued existence of the soul in hell or heaven depicts this