This study was carried out in Badagry creek, Lagos, Nigeria, between January and December 2018, to assess the health status of some species of fish (Kribia nana, Sarotherodon galilaeus, Eleotris vitata, Cynoglossus senegalensis, Kribia kribensis, Chrysichthys filamentosus, Tillapia zilli, Monolene mertensi, Sardinella maderensis, and Pellonula leonesis) and Crab (Nematocarcinus africanus, Solenocera africana, Callinectes pallidus, and Pegusa lascaris) using their Length-Weight Relationship (LWR) and Condition Factor (K). Length and weight of four hundred and fifty-four (454) fishes and crabs belonging to nine (9) families, 13 (thirteen) genera and 14 (fourteen) species were measured in standard units. The results obtained showed that the growth pattern of the species was negative allometric. Sardinella maderensis and Monolene mertensi had the lowest and highest b value of -0.62 and 0.94 respectively. The least Intercept (a) value of 1.29 was recorded for M. mertensi while highest (a) value (12.83) was recorded in Sarotherodon galilaeus. The peak correlation value (R2) (0.75) of the length-weight relationship was obtained in M. mertensi and the least (0.00) in Tilapia zilli. The condition factor (K) ranged between 0.81 and 2.30 with Pellonula leonesis and Kribia kribensis having the lowest and highest k factors respectively. 57% of the specimens had their k factor greater than 1 and this indicated that majority of the fishes and crab’s species were thriving well in the water body. The results of the present study could serve as baseline data for these species and for comparisons with future studies. Read more

The main purpose of the study was to compare levels of mathematics teachers’ understanding and implementation of the CBA in grammar and technical secondary schools in the North West Region of Cameroon. The study adopted a survey research design. Using the Taro Yamane’s method, a sample of 153 mathematics teachers (60 from technical secondary schools and 93 from grammar secondary schools) was selected from a population of 248 mathematics teachers in the North West Region using the simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using a 25-itemised self-designed questionnaire. Cronbach alpha reliability indices for sections B and C of the questionnaire were found to be 0.82 and 0.85 respectively. Mean was used to answer the research questions and t-test to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that mathematics teachers in both grammar and technical secondary schools understand the Competency Based Approach to teaching mathematics only to a low extent. Furthermore, the extent to which mathematics teachers in grammar schools implement the CBA, though low, is significantly better than that of technical school mathematics teachers. It was therefore recommended among other things that many more training seminars on CBA related issues in mathematics should be organized by the Teachers’ Resource Center (TRC) in the North West Region, and that Inspectors of mathematics should carryout regular visits to monitor the implementation of the CBA in mathematics classrooms. Read more

Leachates by percolating through landfill liners and porous subsoil can cause groundwater pollution and adverse effects on public health depending on the chemical and biological composition of the leachate pollutants. Physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics of leachate and water samples in/and around the Ikoto Municipal dumpsite, Ogun Southwestern Nigeria were assessed and compared to check for the impact of landfill leachate pollutants on the groundwater quality of the area. Twenty-five (25) leachate samples on the dumpsite and Ten (10) water samples around the dumpsite were collected and analysed following standard procedures. The results when compared showed that some tested parameters (with CO32- having highest mean concentrations of 1509.7mg/L and 32.90mg/L in leachate and water sample respectively) were present in both samples at close concentration range thus indicating contamination of the groundwater by leachate percolation; thus, rendering the water unhygienic and unfit for consumption and domestic use without treatments. Read more

Africans in general and Igbo people in particular, are like the proverbial woman who has married two different husbands at different times who soon discovered who, between the two, is better. It is decades after the Europeans colonization of different parts of Africa and many Africans are getting disillusioned. Before the coming of the Europeans, Africans used to be gregarious. The Europeans came with their culture which they successfully imposed on Africa and many docile Africans are brainwashed into believing in the superiority of the Europeans’ tradition. Being brainwashed, that the African traditions are barbaric, the Africans jettisoned their own culture and tradition and then, things began to fall apart. Years after the Europeans had left Africa, many Africans who had become more Catholic than the Pope, and who had embraced the white man’s tradition almost completely annihilated the remaining tradition thereby making the society hollow. Things keep going from worse to worst as a result of the annihilation of the tradition and the consequent embrace of the align tradition. This paper looks at the society under the traditional religion and the contemporary society, and concluded that the society has corrupted by Christianity and therefore, recommends that Africans have a rethink and save their heritage. Read more

Literature has as its major aim, to educate and help the audience to understand the society as to be able to live and appreciate the society. One reading any literature reads to grasp the message of the literature. Children’s literature is an indispensable means upbringing. Therefore, the belief of many that this aspect of literature is easy to write is a mere illusion. If we believe that children in their formative stage are docile, then we will realize that children’s literature is not as easy to write as many assume. Many people have written and published trash and pushed such material to the market for the consumption of the child. When a child reads, instead of the literature reforming, it rather corrupts. It is based on this fact that the researcher has analyzed some texts and has given an illustration of the paradigm of children’s literature so that one understands why a child must not be allowed to read any book he or she lays his hand in. Read more

Primary and secondary schools. It has occurred that for the past years, people in Anambra state has been battling with lack of knowledge on the rate or pattern in which students in primary and secondary school enroll. And the rate at which male and female enroll in these institutions. It becomes necessary to determine the trend at which students enroll into primary and secondary schools in Anambra state in each of the Local Government Area. The data used for this work is secondary in nature. They were obtained from Anambra State Statistical Year Book from 2001 to 2015. The statistical methods used in data analysis are Trend analysis and student t-test. The data were tested for normality using Shapiro-Wilk test and the result showed that the date is normally distributed. Homogeneity of variance was also tested using Bartlet test and Levene test, data was found to be homogenous. Test of Independence, showed that the data set are independent. Trend Analysis was carried out using Least Square Method. The results showed that significant difference exists between the enrollment of the male and the female students in the state. Finally, that as eight states has increment in 2020 while thirteen states will have a decrement in the student’s enrollment in the year 2020. Special attention should be placed on this local government Area with decrement in their enrolment in 2020 to actually know why there the decrement exist. Read more

Until recently entrance examination and admission into Nigerian Universities were decentralized. Individual universities conducted entrance examinations and admission into their various universities. This decentralization of university admission brought about numerous problems among which were multiple admission of a student at the detriment of other students who have not gained admission, irregularities and malpractices. To address these problems JAMB was introduced in 1977 in order to centralize and coordinate university admissions in Nigeria. For almost three decades of JAMB conducting entrance examination and admissions in Nigeria universities (1997-2006), the body has faced a lot of criticisms by most scholars and leaders in the country. JAMB conduct was seen as an inconsistent and incompetent entrance examination in Nigeria universities. Due to the perceived lapses in the JAMB conducted examination which was characterized by examination malpractices which made the result of candidates doubtful, Nigerian Universities decided to conduct another screening test which is called Post UTME for the candidates who were able to score from 180 and above. Therefore, there is need to find out the degree of correlations between candidates’ scores in UTME and Post-UTME in order to determine whether the introduction of the Post-UTME by Nigerian universities is justifiable or not. Data were collected for five years 2010-2014 and were analyzed using correlation analysis. The result showed that candidates’ scores in Jamb don’t actually represent their true scores or ability. There is a weak relationship that existed between candidates’ scores in JAMB and their corresponding score in PUTME. In the period under study. The results of the research work imply that: Jamb scores of candidates differ from their corresponding scores in PUTME. It is better to maintain the two examination so as to act as check and balance for the screening of candidates seeking admission into the universities. Read more

The study evaluated the possible effects of aqueous leaf extract of Aframomum melegueta on the antioxidant status of obese rats induced by using three models: monosodium glutamate (MSG), high fat diet (HFD) and MSG +HFD in rats with a view to employing the plant as a new class of anti-obesity agent. The study involved the preparation of aqueous leaf extract of Aframomum melegueta. Obesity was induced in rats as follows: sixty-five healthy albino rats were randomly divided into 13 groups of 5 rats each and obesity was induced by the subcutaneous injection of MSG (2 and 4 mg/g bwt) and HFD, treated with the extract of A. melegueta (200 and 400 mg/kgbwt) and standard drug, orlistat (50 mg /kg bwt). The activities of enzymatic (glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase) non-enzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione) were evaluated. In the MSG model, there were significant decreases (p < 0.05) in the activities of GPx, SOD, (CAT) and reduced glutathione in the obese rats when compared to the control group. Administration of aqueous extract of A. melegueta at 400 mg/kg bwt significantly increase (p < 0.05) the GPx level. In the MSG+HFD model, there were significant decreases (p < 0.05) in the activities of SOD and reduced glutathione concentration in the obese rats when compared to the control group. Treatment with the extract (200 mg/kg bwt and 400 mg/kg bwt) significantly increased (p < 0.05) the activity of SOD. In the HFD model, there were significant decreases (p < 0.05) in the activities of SOD, catalase and reduced glutathione concentration in obese rats when compared to the control group. However, administration of the extract at 400 mg/kg bwt significantly increased (p < 0.05) the activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione concentration. The study concluded that extract of A. melegueta possesses antioxidant activities at 400 mg/kg bwt with the most apparent effect in HFD-induced obesity. The plant could be employed in the treatment and management of oxidative stress implicated in obesity and related disorders. Read more

Marriage is not just a union between a man and a woman, it is a tie between two families and one in which traditional gifts are exchanged between the two families concerned. Although universally accepted, there is the problem of uniformity in the way marriage rites are conducted. This varies from community to community and even from country to country. In some communities, it is simple while in some others, it is complex. The purpose of this study is to find out the structure and peculiarity of betrothal or marriage rites in Onicha subculture area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Interview and observation methods were employed for this study. The tomcat theory was used to analyze the concept of marriage. This study will apart from significantly adding to our rich cultural heritage, educate and encourage suitors from other parts of the world to engage in intertribal marriage which will assist to a large extent in fostering peace and unity among the people of Nigeria. It was found that the marriage structure in Onicha subculture area has remained basically the same. What differ are the rites and rituals involved in the marriage process. Novelties imported from other cultures also have both social and economic implications for young men of marriageable age. Government at all levels should legislate on what should be the standard marriage procedure to make marriage less expensive and more affordable to persons of marriageable age. Read more

In response to the chemically harmful effects of commercially sold body creams on the skin due to the presence of steroids, hydroquinone and kojic acid, natural oil extracts from medicinal plants and fruits are seen as alternative. The use of natural oil extract is not without some intricacies too as its effect against skin microflora has been reported. Therefore, the inhibitory potentials of coconut and carrot oil extracts on some bacterial skin microflora were determined using standard laboratory identification and agar well diffusion methods for identification of bacteria from human skin swab and antibacterial susceptibility test, respectively. The isolated organisms include, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus species, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The result obtained shows that carrot oil extract inhibits all the test isolates with mean zones of inhibition (MZI) ranged from 6.00±1.00 to 12.15±0.55 while coconut oil extract was only active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with MZI of 12.50±0.55. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) result also shows that carrot oil extract was significantly (p ˂ 0.05) more active than coconut oil with MIC of 50% while the test isolates were still viable at 100% use of coconut oil extract. There was no minimum inhibitory concentration (MBC) obtained as all the test organisms were still viable at 100% of both oil extracts. From the result of this study, it can be concluded that carrot oil extract possesses inhibitory potentials against skin microflora as opposed to coconut oil extract. Therefore, it is safer to apply coconut oil on human skin since it has less inhibitory effect on skin microflora. Read more