Sustainable development in Africa

A team of experts conducted a review of a set of 3 national Health policies and their implementation in Nigeria. They highlighted a number of groups that play a crucial role in the translation of the policy into plans. They also noted the lack of monitoring and Evaluation plans in the policy Implementation.

The study evaluates the organic linkage between homeland security and development in the Niger-Delta region and sustainable democratic development in Nigeria and concludes that there is a strong synergy between the threat to national security and development in all part of the country as a multiplier effect with specific attention to the issue of homeland security in the Niger-Delta region. The study recommends a holistic review of our security system. The approach adopted is the structural-functional; this is considered most appropriate as it deals on inputs, outputs, information and authoritative allocation of values.

This study offers a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria's policies and programmes for poverty alleviation over a period of more than six decades, from 1960 to 2024. The research provides a meticulous examination of the historical context, policy structures, and implementation methods utilized across different government administrations, evaluating their effects on poverty reduction, economic expansion, and human development. The study assesses the efficacy of a wide range of initiatives, encompassing social welfare schemes, economic development projects, and interventions targeted at specific sectors. The analysis pinpoints crucial obstacles that impede poverty alleviation efforts, including insufficient funding, flawed implementation, corruption, a lack of coordination, and inadequate participation from stakeholders. Additionally, the research delves into the various factors that shape poverty, covering economic, social, political, and institutional dynamics. By synthesizing the lessons learned, identifying best practices, and highlighting persistent obstacles, this study puts forth actionable recommendations for policymakers, development professionals, and other involved parties to improve the effectiveness of poverty alleviation strategies in Nigeria. The

This paper analyses seigniorage in a deregulated economy of currency and deposits, where competition in the banking sector is imperfect. Much of the literature on seigniorage analysis central bank revenue due to its power to create money, thus neglecting the existence of a ...

The purpose of the research was to determine the levels of conflict between the Dande community of the Mid-Zambezi Valley in Zimbabwe and the elephants (Loxodonta africana), their points of conflict, the problem animal control (PAC) strategies employed by the villagers against elephants, and how sustainable these measures were. A total of six villages were sampled for the study. Four of these – Chadope, Museruka, Bwazi and Chikafa -were in Guruve Communal area, while the remaining two – Masawi and Chiwashira were in Muzarabani area. Information for the study was obtained by using both structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. The questionnaires contained enquiries about household characteristics, human – wildlife conflict and crop damage, and PAC methods. Focus group discussions sought further clarifications on these issues. The data were analysed using the SPSS programme. The study revealed that in all the six villages, the main point of conflict was the cropping field...

Protected areas are universally acknowledged as being crucial to the conservation of biodiversity. However, through cross-border contacts, protected areas can also be the source of conflict between people and wildlife. As wild animals migrate or move in and out of protected areas for feeding, they may encroach upon adjacent human settlements or agricultural lands, resulting in social-ecological interactions such as crop raiding, wildlife depredation, and retaliatory killings which can significantly affect both humans and the survival of wildlife. This study investigates the type, extent, mitigation strategies by locals and the perceptions of the villagers on what should be done by the management of Yankari game reserve toward addressing human-wildlife conflict around the protected area. A total of 255 households from 17 villages around Yankari game reserve, were interviewed. Results showed that maize (60%), and millet (31%) were the most affected crops. Fox (78.4%) was the common species related to livestock depredation. Guarding mitigation strategy was the most frequently used method (60.6%) by villagers. Results showed that patas monkey (42%), baboon (34%) elephant (27%), were the most frequently reported animals involved in conflict. Monitor lizard (29.4), African hedgehog (19.2), and feral cat (15.3%) were the most frequently killed animals.

Hirundo atrocaerulea population, breeding sites, habitat condition, and threats in the arable and non-arable lands of Sanyatwe community were evaluated. The relative frequencies of distribution of aardvark holes in the two sites were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Correlations between frequencies of distribution of the Hirundo atrocaerulea and the holes across the sites were tested with the Spearman's rank correlation test. Twenty six birds, nine breeding pairs, six juveniles and two unsexed birds were observed. Frequencies of distribution of the Hirundo atrocaerulea in the two sites significantly differed from each other (P0.05). Invasive tree species and high drainage were the major threat to these birds in the non-arable land. Cultivation was a potential threat. There is need to consistently monitor and conserve Sanyatwe lands since they are an important area for the Hirundo atrocaerulea.

Communication is the basis of human interaction, which in turn is the bedrock of society. Free flow of communication, manifest in the public sphere, is a basic human right and democratic ideal. The mass media should create and sustain the public sphere in democratic societies, provide a forum where citizens engage in communicative interactions by converging to receive and share information, deliberate, analyse, comment and form opinions about public affairs. Such engagements enable them participate actively in democratic processes and ensure leaders are held accountable to the demands of good governance that is beneficial to society. By implication, the media constitute a democratic institution that is crucial to the entrenchment and sustenance of good governance. However, the performance of the mediator's roles in the interlocutory engagement between democratic leaders and the governed in Africa has often been queried. In the trajectories of good governance, African mass media have been accused of crippled public sphere in connivance with leaders, having been manipulated to favour their interests at the expense of the citizenry and to the detriment of democratic institutions. The results have been loss of confidence the democratic institutions, processes and leadership they produced in many African countries. This paper examined the roles of mass media in creating platforms for citizens' constructive engagement with democratic leadership in Africa. It anchored its discourse on the principles of democratic participant theory to assess media roles in promoting participation, accountability and other indices of good governance. It established leadership failure in delivering on the indices, which has generated recent reactionary waves of coup d'état in some African countries, thereby threatening democracy. The paper called the media to the onerous obligation of objective and constructive citizens' engagements while holding democratic leaders accountable to citizens on the deliverables of good governance.

This article explores the multifaceted experiences of widowhood in contemporary Nigeria through the lenses of faith, resilience, and empowerment. Using a narrative approach grounded in lived experience and observation, it highlights the socio-cultural challenges faced by widows and proposes pathways for spiritual and economic transformation. Drawing on personal insights and community-based interactions, the article argues that grief can serve as a gateway to grace, mobilising faith, policy, and empowerment structures to rewrite the story of widowed women from marginalisation to influence.

1. Utility of conducting land use change and root causes analyses Spatial analysis of land use provides rich environmental and societal information, while associated root causes analysis can illuminate how trends in land management are affecting land degradation and biodiversity. 4 Examples of information that land use and root causes analyses can provide include: 1. Identification of the components of landscape that are changing, the reasons for those changes, and their impact on land degradation and biodiversity;

One of the problems development control in Nigerian cities has been found to be the prioritization of problem solving. Development control in Nigeria, a developing country and the entire sub-Saharan African countries is bereft with several problems in decision making .Which calls for a priority selection solution in decision making due to scarce resources. This research seeks to determine a way of systematically and empirically selecting the factors and problems militating against effective development control and causes of its failure in Nigerian cities, finding the way to select the problems that are of most priority. The combination of the Ahp and the Delphi technique has been used to determine the significant factors and compared to each other to find the problem of most priority to be solved. In carrying out a development control process, it was found that expert opinions all have consistency ratio value of less than 0.1, which shows a significant value, therefore priority selection of problems was based on nearness to 0.1, where only 3 factors of the expert opinions fall within the category of selection, therefore factors such as, insufficient financial capacity, absence of public enlightenment on the importance of development control, unsuitable organisational structure for implementing the urban plans were selected as of most priority to solve a development control problem.

This study evaluates the environmental vulnerability of Efon-Alaye located in Ekiti State, Nigeria, which is a typical mountainous region with steep slope and an upland ecosystem. An Integrated Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System approach was used to analyse the environmental vulnerability of the region. Satellite data of the study area for two periods 1986 and 2002 were used for the analysis. Spatial multi-criteria evaluation operation was used to generate the vulnerability map of the study area. Indicators used were land-use, vegetation map (NDVI) and slope map generated from digital elevation model. The vulnerability distribution was classified into five levels: potential, slight, moderate, high and extreme. The results show that the environmental vulnerability in the study is at potential level and the driving force of this change is attributed mainly to the cultural activities of the inhabitants of the study area. The result of this study has also shown that using Integrating remote sensing, geographical information system and spatial multi-criteria evaluation model to evaluate environmental vulnerability in mountainous regions will assist decision makers in environmental management.

One of the problems development control in Nigerian cities has been found to be the prioritization of problem solving. Development control in Nigeria, a developing country and the entire sub-Saharan African countries is bereft with several problems in decision making .Which calls for a priority selection solution in decision making due to scarce resources. This research seeks to determine a way of systematically and empirically selecting the factors and problems militating against effective development control and causes of its failure in Nigerian cities, finding the way to select the problems that are of most priority. The combination of the Ahp and the Delphi technique has been used to determine the significant factors and compared to each other to find the problem of most priority to be solved. In carrying out a development control process, it was found that expert opinions all have consistency ratio value of less than 0.1, which shows a significant value, therefore priority selection of problems was based on nearness to 0.1, where only 3 factors of the expert opinions fall within the category of selection, therefore factors such as, insufficient financial capacity, absence of public enlightenment on the importance of development control, unsuitable organisational structure for implementing the urban plans were selected as of most priority to solve a development control problem.

The paper posits that in spite of the fact that the Bible is replete with duties of Christians towards caring for and sustaining the environment, little or no attention has been paid to assessment of the practical attitude of Christians, particularly Nigerian Christians, to the environment; this is the vacuum this work intends to fill in sustainable development discourse. This task becomes expedient in light of contemporary environmental problems manifesting in global warming, environmental degradation, deterioration, contamination, and littering of the Earth among others.

Ethnicity and identity politics remain central to Nigeria's political landscape. This work explores how ethnic affiliations shape political behavior, influence governance, and affect national cohesion. It analyses the historical roots, contemporary manifestations, and the challenges ethnicity poses to Nigeria's democracy and development.

South Africa and Nigeria are developing countries and leading economies in sub Sahara Africa. Thus, effective management of the environment in their respective boundaries is not only essential for the overall goal of emission reduction across the globe but for the health of the people within their respective borders. However, while Nigeria has been classified as the second largest gas flaring nation in the world because of the unmitigated gas flaring activities that is associated with petroleum operation in the Niger Delta region, emission from refineries and other sources have been a contentious issue during and after apartheid era in South Africa, particularly in places like South Durban and Salsosbourg which are industrial settlement. The paper examines the legal and structural frameworks for management of the environment and in particular gas emission in Nigeria and South Africa in the context of the growing global demand for equity and effective governance of the environment. T...

This paper examined the relationship between sabotage induced oil spillages and human rights violations in the Niger Delta. To achieve the objectives, the paper was divided into five sections. The first section, the introduction, provided the background and ...

Internal displacement has become an issue of topical concern, due to the human tragedy and insecurity associated with it. The theme that dominates discussions on IDP's at global and national levels is conflict-induced displacements. The objective of this paper is to bring into focus, the linkages between oil based environmental degradation and displacements in the Niger Delta. The framework of analysis sees displacement as a definite social condition that diminishes individuals and group capacity to pursue interests that may or may not involve relocation. The study concludes that oil related environmental problems -oil spillages, gas flaring, among others, have diminished the productivity of Oil Producing Communities, resulting to occupational and income losses that set in both voluntary and involuntary migration. Again, for this reason, some individuals live as aliens in their own communities, where they are unable to actualize their interest or aspirations. The paper draws attention to the urgent need to resolve environmental degradation issues in the Niger Delta.

Poverty reduction is one of the major challenges facing the global community, particularly in developing countries. As a result, to achieve sustainable development, poverty reduction is key and very essential (United Nations, 2015). Hence, Countries, regional and international organizations have come up with several action plans to constrain poverty, such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a set of objectives and measurable results by 2015 and 2030 respectively, including poverty (United Nations, 2015). Nigeria, like many developing countries is facing some growth challenges, which poverty and poor health are principal factors. Notwithstanding the increasing rate of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of 7.75%, yet, there are no matching advancement in the living condition of the citizens . The larger population are living in abject poverty, despite the fact that the country is endowed with natural and mineral resources, and also one of the major oil producing countries globally. The National Bureau of Statistics (2012), reported that, about 112.519 million Nigerians are poor, this number is outrageous, and it is more prevalence among the youths in the country. According to World Bank (2018), Nigeria has an approximate of 48% of population in extreme poverty higher than Ethiopia with 23% and Kenya with 30%. In the past, the Nigerian economy was sustainable and dependent on Agriculture. Nigeria was known as the world largest manufacturer of agricultural produce, such as palm kernel, cotton, soya beans, and groundnut, to mention but a few. Nigeria was also the second world manufacturer of cocoa. According to , the discovery of petroleum, advanced the

This study examined the effect of foreign debt service on GDP in Kenya through savings and capital formation transmission channel. The specific objectives of the study were; to determine the effect of external debt servicing on capital formation in Kenya, and establish the effect of external debt servicing on economic growth in Kenya. Longitudinal research design was adopted where time series data on external debt, capital formation was analyzed. Time series properties of the data was checked in terms of stationary tests, and the standard diagnostic tests of regression such normality, autocorrelation, multicollinearity and specification. Regression of capital formation on lagged debt service was carried out which indicated negative relationship between the two variables. Regression of gross domestic product on labour and predicted capital was done, the results obtained was that, debt service affect  gross domestic product negatively  through its effect on capital formation. It was r...

The study reviews the sustainability issues that are associated with rural community water provision and some of the challenges experienced in the in Niger Delta region of Nigeria within the context of project benefits sustenance. Several rural communities in Nigeria derive water supply through hand pump operated water supply wells. The sustainability of this approach to water provision was assessed using a qualitative research methodology and undertaking a comparative review of Micro-Projects Programme (MPP3) in Nigeria with that of Volta Region Community Water Supply Programme (VRCWSP), in Ghana. The findings reveal the absence of sustainability in the current approach and the paper recommends that if community based hand pump operated rural water supply projects are to be sustainable; the sustainability factors must be given full consideration in its design and implementation. A post-project management approach is suggested which should be effectively monitored, assessed, linked and integrated into the implementation and post-operational management of hand pumps water supply systems. The use of a community based and community driven project-management options in the management of community rural water supply is proposed as this remains a credible alternative over control by external or government agencies.

The role of women in sustainable aquacultural development in Delta State was reviewed. Women have been involved in both artisanal and aquacultural fish production in the State. Out of 2,533 fish farmers managing cluster fish farms located in different areas of the state, 291 (11.5%) are women. Statistics show that the artisanal fish production was estimated at 30,000 m 3 tons/year. Aquaculture fish production was estimated at 28,693.2 m 3 tons/year. This amounted to an estimate of 58,693.2 m 3 tons of fish production in the state, as of 2009. With a demand of 70,000 m 3 tons of fish/year in the state, a shortfall of 11,306.8 m 3 tons/year of fish supply has been estimated. There is, therefore, an urgent need for improvement in aquacultural development in the state. Women's involvement in sustainable aquacultural development in the state is low. More women should be encouraged to participate more fully in fish production as this can help improve fish production figures. Information regarding other activities of women in fish preservation and marketing should be properly documented. The Youth Empowerment Through Agriculture (YETA) in the state should recruit more women to participate in the aquacultural programs. Women should also be empowered through education and training, political, and economic empowerment by way of having access to loans to enhance their roles and full participation in sustainable aquacultural development in the Delta State.

The problems of fresh fish marketing in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State was examined. Primary Data were collected within a 12 months period via interview instrumentsquestionnaires and observations. Questionnaires amounting to 144 were randomly distributed to 2 wholesalers and 10 retailers from 3 identified markets with evidence of fish marketing activities in the four major towns in the study area. Reports from 126 respondents who returned their questionnaires show that cultured fish ponds are the most regular and reliable source of fresh fish in the area, though rivers/stream provided more fishes but supply was irregular and not reliable. Fresh fish was observed to be significantly (P < 0.05) more abundant in the dry season than in the rainy season. Results also show that seasonality, scarcity, means of preservation, poor means of transportation and the use of badly-shaped containers are the main problems of fresh fish marketing in the Local Government Area. The paper recommends the creation of enabling environment to encourage more people to go into aquaculture in order to beat the problem of seasonality in fish supply. Also, fish smokers should use cheaper alternative fuel for smoking unsold fish.

Sea foods have been a very good source of nutrients to man. In this research, the nutritional value of three sea foods namely shrimps, oysters and periwinkles obtained from Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State were investigated. Vitamins were analyzed with HPLC, while the minerals were determined using AAS. From the findings, phosphorus is the most concentrated mineral in the three seafood studied, with significantly (p≥0.05) higher concentrations of 3112.860ppm±15.204, 2117.863ppm±22.625 and 2906.524ppm±31.850 in shrimp, oyster and periwinkle respectively. The least concentrated minerals were iron and zinc with values of 0.031ppm±0.000 and 0.043ppm±0.001 for Shrimp, 0.056ppm±0.002 and 0.112ppm±0.021 for oyster and 0.056ppm±0.005 and 0.026ppm±0.000 for periwinkle respectively. Despite the fact that oil exploitation activities in Bayelsa state results in pollution, Shrimps, oysters and periwinkles from the study still can still serve as sources of vitamins and minerals, hence, ...

This paper examined the relationship between sabotage induced oil spillages and human rights violations in the Niger Delta. To achieve the objectives, the paper was divided into five sections. The first section, the introduction, provided the background and ...

Internal displacement has become an issue of topical concern, due to the human tragedy and insecurity associated with it. The theme that dominates discussions on IDP's at global and national levels is conflict-induced displacements. The objective of this paper is to bring into focus, the linkages between oil based environmental degradation and displacements in the Niger Delta. The framework of analysis sees displacement as a definite social condition that diminishes individuals and group capacity to pursue interests that may or may not involve relocation. The study concludes that oil related environmental problems -oil spillages, gas flaring, among others, have diminished the productivity of Oil Producing Communities, resulting to occupational and income losses that set in both voluntary and involuntary migration. Again, for this reason, some individuals live as aliens in their own communities, where they are unable to actualize their interest or aspirations. The paper draws attention to the urgent need to resolve environmental degradation issues in the Niger Delta.

This essay reopens the debate among African politicians and intellectuals concerning which paradigm is the most suitable for achieving the goals of development in Africa at this present moment of her history. Since the early 70s, African intellectuals and politicians have reflected on this problem and the highpoint of the debate was that only a synthesis of our traditional cultural elements with other relevant areas of foreign culture holds the prospects for achieving this goal. This essay however indicts this latest position as encouraging the hegemonisation of western cultural values as well as the marginalisation of those African states for which this paradigm is meant to serve as blueprint for development. The essay then identifies the need for the debate to transcend the basic assumptions underlying the major paradigms by proffering an approach that will not only guide against the continued marginalisation of African states, but that will at the same time ensure their effective participation in the development process currently going on across the globe.

In this paper, attempt is made to conceptualize the role civil disobedience can possibly play in the development and sustenance of a stable democratic culture, particularly in Africa. The paper explores the socio-political conditions in Africa since the early 70s, with a view to showing how Africans have adjusted to heinous situations that call for protests and how this general indifference and apathy has contributed to the socio-political and economic crises presently threatening democratic experiments on the continent. The paper observes the increased rate at which civil disobedience acts are being replaced by organized violence and armed protest groups in most of the newly democratic states in Africa, and attributes this to be the consequence of the way and manner governments in most of the states in Africa have been reacting to acts of civil disobedience. Greater danger to democratic sustainability the paper argues, now lies in, (i) the general indifference as well as refusal of citizens in most states in Africa to embark on civil disobedience even when prevailing circumstances have been calling for such acts and, (ii) the continued intolerance and repression of acts of civil disobedience by governments in most of the democratic states in Africa, which has forced most of their citizens to seek social fulfillment within groups not receptive to democratic ideals. The main argument in this paper is that civil disobedience as a corrective mechanism is informed by the individuals' moral conviction on the inadequacy of rules and policies of government and that the basis for such conviction is provided by the individuals' conscience. Since political office holders in a democracy exercise power in trust for the individuals who voted for them, the individuals' conscience will continue to remain a major source of challenge to all those who exercise political power under a democratic arrangement. If therefore governments in Africa wish to sustain their present democratic structures, they must continue to respect the dictates of the individual citizen's conscience as expressed through civil disobedience. This, the paper concludes, is the first major step to building a sustainable democratic culture in Africa

Non-revenue water levels are reported to be averaging around 50% in Zimbabwe which is in contrast to the 25% level accepted by the World Bank. This study sought to establish the determinants of non-revenue water in Makusha residential area, Shurugwi. Although non-revenue water studies have been extensively conducted globally, there are somewhat a few empirical studies which focus on smaller towns in developing countries. A questionnaire survey of a 110 randomly selected households, a direct observation exercise, and key informant interviews were employed to collect data. Research findings reflect that the town council's system of estimating water consumption encourages negligent water usage. Moreover, incidences of water theft and leakages are rampant. The study recommends that the town council must conduct regular monitoring to ensure cutoff users do not practice water theft. Furthermore, the town council may need to incentivize residents to ensure that leakages and illegal water usage are reported promptly.

Resource management and property rights in rural Africa are both gendered. This is despite the fact that there is a strong relationship between gender, resource management, and ownership of natural resources in the African rural landscape. Patterns of resource use relates to poverty and the traditional gender division of labor. Women have more user rights, than ownership, to land and natural resources, making it difficult for them to make decisions relating to land use and resource management. Women's indigenous knowledge is not respected and women are also excluded from scientific environmental knowledge, resource management, and administrative structures. However, omens' participation is significant at household and community levels. The paper discusses the role/impact of men and women on environmental degradation and resource management in the African rural landscape. It looks at how scarcity of natural resources affects women and their participation in resource management. Gender aware policies that incorporate women in policy making at regional and national level, down to the household level, are suggested. Application of gender analysis to determine gender roles, resource ownership, use, environmental impact, and resource management is recommended as crucial. Empowerment of women on their rights to natural resources and environmental information is also vital. Representation of women in resource management boards, coupled with gender responsive planning, implementation, and monitoring of intervention projects, also need to be considered seriously.

This paper highlights the factors determining the decision to use inorganic fertilizer over a five year period in a rural community in Malawi, given changing macro-level fertilizer subsidy programs and the micro-level work of agricultural research interventions that were driven by innovation system concepts. The results indicate that different factors that influence households' ability and willingness to purchase inorganic fertilizers were found to positively and significantly influence the decision to use inorganic fertilizer in varying degrees in different cropping seasons. Participation in innovative agricultural research interventions was however, found to negatively affect fertilizer use as the system of beneficiary identification was subjective and dependent upon criteria set by local traditional leaders and extension agents. The paper concludes that the current system of fertilizer coupon distribution in Malawi leads to discrimination against households that are viewed as better off. The results imply that there is the need to mainstream agricultural innovation systems concepts in all public agricultural research and extension programs, so that beneficiaries are not considered better off and hence excluded from social welfare programs to which they are entitled.

Although Cameroon recorded in increase in primary school enrolment rates in the 1970s and 1980s, there was a decrease in the 1990s in spite of a 3% yearly average increase in the population of school age. The fact that this drop in the rate of schooling coincided with an economic recession and the implementation of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) seems to suggest that the austerity measures were at the root cause of the falling enrolment rates. Using time series data from Cameroon, the paper shows that adjustment policy instruments, which often target macroeconomic indicators did adversely influence primary school enrolment. It is therefore recommended that SAPs should be reformulated so as to jointly promote growth and school enrolment.

Although Cameroon recorded in increase in primary school enrolment rates in the 1970s and 1980s, there was a decrease in the 1990s in spite of a 3% yearly average increase in the population of school age. The fact that this drop in the rate of schooling coincided with an economic recession and the implementation of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) seems to suggest that the austerity measures were at the root cause of the falling enrolment rates. Using time series data from Cameroon, the paper shows that adjustment policy instruments, which often target macroeconomic indicators did adversely influence primary school enrolment. It is therefore recommended that SAPs should be reformulated so as to jointly promote growth and school enrolment.

In spite of their important contributions to the sustenance of both the ecological and human systems, wetlands the world over, have come under serious threats, abuse and degradation. This paper therefore, examines the importance and threats to Nigerian wetlands, as well as assesses the strategies for wetlands management in Nigeria with a view to recommending the watershed management approach as a more participatory and holistic approach as promoted by the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP). Present efforts to manage wetlands in Nigeria have failed to yield the desired results due to various reasons including: unclear and overlapping mandates of responsible federal and state institutions, insufficient technical capacity in these institutions, absent or weak land-use planning and implementation, weak regulatory compliance and enforcement, poor community involvement in planning, prevention and restoration activities, insufficient attention to alternative livelihood issues of the affected communities, corruption and lack of transparent governance, among others. The recommended approach aims to address these weaknesses through a robust and holistic watershed management framework that strikes a balance between all environmental, economic and socio-cultural forces in the watershed management equation, while ensuring community sensitization and the use bottom-top mechanism, and bio-remediation in wetlands restoration processes. Ultimately, this approach ensures that the wetlands are managed as part and parcel of the watershed system.

All over the world, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operate in different spheres of life. In some countries, they are as powerful (if not more powerful than) as national governments. They command wider access to foreign aid than the respective governments where they operate. They are easier heard by international development and donor agencies. Their relevance are well focused in their recognition by bodies like United Nations, European Union, African Union, other multinational organizations and powerful governments. This is especially the case with foreign NGOs, who in most cases, in the point of view of some of the international agencies, are saints. They do no evil; they are not corrupt; they are for the poor; and above all are the 'third eye'. In the recent times, developments have brought these perceptions to query. Many now ask whether NGOs are actually progressive partners in the quest for sustainable development. It is the growing popularity of this question that forms the major issue in this paper. The paper strives to find out whether NGOs can effectively aid development, reduce poverty and stand against recent threats to health, environmental degradation and social deformities in most of the world societies, especially within the African context.

The objective of this paper is to review the practice of monetary and fiscal policies in Nigeria since independence. It shows how oil has turned Nigeria from a revenue generating to a revenue sharing nation. This has led to immense difficulties in enshrining fiscal discipline at all levels of government. Given the underdeveloped nature of the country's securities market, it is not surprising that monetary policies have consistently been ineffective in this environment of fiscal dominance. Finally, the paper argues that curbing the fiscal indiscipline of Government will take much more than enshrining fiscal policy rules in our statute books. This is because the statute books are replete with dormant rules and regulation. For any meaningful progress towards fiscal prudence on the part of Government to occur, some powerful pro-stability stakeholders strong enough to challenge government fiscal recklessness will need to emerge.

Most horticulture irrigation cooperatives in Zimbabwe are failing to establish strong relationships with supermarkets. Instead, commodity brokers buy the fresh produce from the irrigation cooperatives and sell at a profit to the supermarkets. The research sought to find out reasons why there are weak links between the supermarkets and horticulture irrigation cooperatives and ways in which these relationships can be improved. A case study of Dotito Muchenje cooperative, located in Mt. Darwin, Zimbabwe, was carried out. Data was collected from 30 farmers through questionnaires. Interviews and field observations at the irrigation cooperative were made to complement data collected through questionnaires. Key information was obtained from officials in the Department of Irrigation in the Ministry of Agriculture Mechanism and Irrigation Development. Interviews were carried out with 10 supermarkets in Bindura and Mt. Darwin towns, the nearest towns to the scheme. The research findings show ...

The presence of 10 of the world's most rapidly deforesting nations in Africa adds to threats to sustainable development on the continent. Although Agro forestry is increasingly promoted for restoring forest, degraded environment, reducing green house gases, and gaining other co-benefits, its implementation in parts of Nigeria is poorly understood. Using geodemographic and spatial analysis, we show patterns of agro forestry implementation in Nigeria's 36 states and capital territory. We found that per capita implementation of agro forestry (populations of farmers and totals by states) have been low nationally and varies among constituent states/territory. We argue that Israel's reversal of about 400year old desertification and Niger (Nigeria's northern neigbour)'s re-vegetation and environmental improvement through agro forestry present good practices and innovations in agro forestry for reversing Nigeria's 50-year old desertification. The implication of this paper for policy includes the adoption of agro-forestry for achieving multiple MDGs in Nigeria as urgent and imperative.

This study examined drivers of youth rural-urban migration in Kogi East, Nigeria, and involved 240 rural households made of those with migrants and non-migrants. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, probit regression and mean score. The results indicate that educational status of migrants, number of dependants, employment status of migrants, remittance received, and non-food expenditure significantly influenced migration choices of youths. Challenges that come with rural-urban migration were identified to include mainly increased crime rate (Mean=4.5), dilapidated and congested road system (M=4.4), high unemployment rate (M=4.1), increased rural poverty (M=3.1) and deteriorating quality of social services in cities (M=3.1). To significantly discourage rural-urban migration among youths, the government should consider sustainable rural development by improving social facilities in the rural areas, while concerted effort shou...

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)  specifies that hazards exist in every workplace in many various forms; falling objects, sharp edges,  flying sparks, noise and a myriad of other potentially dangerous situations. The OSHA consequently requires that employers protect their employees from workplace hazards that can cause injury.  One area of concern related to occupational safety and health is dressmaking shops in the Tamale Metropolis, which has a cluster of sewing centres scattered all over. The training of dressmaking apprentices involves a wide number of health and safety hazards, some of which are apparent and others that are usually not noticed until it is too late. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the health and safety practices of dressmaking apprenticeship training programmes in the Tamale Metropolis of the Northern Region of Ghana and offer suggestions on how they can be managed. In order to adequately collect relevant data, observation...

This thesis investigates treatment technologies for human excreta for safe recycling of the plant nutrients present as fertilizers. The thesis consists of three papers, the first of which investigates incineration of faecal matter as a treatment and sanitation method using a locally fabricated incinerator made of steel sheets. The second and third papers investigate composting of faeces and food waste at two size scales, using 78-litre and 216litre wooden reactors. Incineration of faeces containing ash added during the collection phase showed that faeces/ash mixtures with ash content >80% caught fire when the temperature exceeded 800°C. Thereafter, temperatures in the range 800-1000°C were recorded. Incineration reduced mass almost instantly by 15-36%, organic matter by 78-99%, total nitrogen by 90-94% and available phosphorus by 70-94%. Incinerating faeces/ash mixtures with dry matter (DM) content <90% resulted in a strong smell that lessened when DM was higher. Incineration disinfects human excreta almost instantly and reduces their mass, while the ash produced can be used as a toilet additive, which is advantageous in urban areas where access to ash is limited. Composting of faeces-to-food waste (F:FW) in wet weight ratios of 1:0, 3:1 and 1:1 was studied in 78-litre reactors. Styrofoam insulation (25 mm thick) around the compost reactors and compost turning every three days enabled sanitising temperatures (>50°C) to be reached and sustained for over a week in the F:FW = 1:1 compost, giving a reduction of >3log 10 for E. coli and >4log 10 for Enterococcus spp. Composting of faeces/ash mixtures (F:FW = 1:0) with food waste (F:FW = 1:1 and 1:3) was also studied in 216-litre reactors insulated with 75 mm styrofoam and in non-insulated control units with faeces/ash. Composts that attained sanitising temperatures (>50°C) had high initial pH (8.5-9.7), moisture content between 43-63% and initial ash content up to 77%. E. coli and total coliforms decreased below detection in composts with temperatures above 50°C for at least six days. With no food waste, the time above sanitising temperatures was short. Disadvantages of incineration and composting, e.g. possible environmental pollution, risk of contamination and disease when handling initially unsanitised material and lack of social acceptance, can be overcome by improved design, use of protective wear and community training.

Terrorism is a socio-political disorder that has grown to the detriment of the international security system and global economy. Acts of Terrorism have increased over the years since September 11, 2001 terrorist attack directed at the United States of America. Since then, some nations including Nigeria have been suspected as pro-terrorist countries, possible haven for the terrorists and prone to terrorist attack. This paper examines various questions regarding terrorism in Nigeria. The questions are: what factors precipitates terrorism and how does it thrive? Is terrorism a new phenomenon in Nigeria? Does Nigeria provide a fertile haven for terror and or terrorism? Is the threat of terrorism in Nigeria real or perceived? The paper submits that Nigeria is prone to terrorism either internally or externally motivated. We also argued that terrorism is not new in Nigeria and that conditions which supports the development and growth of terrorism is patently manifested in the country. The ...

Organizational culture is the collection of business practices, ethics, processes, and interactions that make up the work environment more favorable and productive. Due to the pivotal role organizational culture plays in the hotel business, managers and hotel owners invest heavily in human and material resources to bridge the communication gap. However, there are still inconsistencies and lacuna between the employer and employees in the hotel industry in Enugu Metropolis which do result in
a hostile and unpleasant working environment leading to poor service delivery. This study examined the relationship that exists between organizational culture and hotels quality service delivery in Enugu Metropolis, Enugu State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and data were collected from respondents with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed using the arithmetic mean. Hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment correlation Coefficient via Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS 23). Findings showed that there is a significant relationship between organizational behavior and quality service delivery in hotels in Enugu Metropolis. The study concluded that organizational culture has a great
impact on the quality of services hotels in Enugu Metropolis offers to the customer, and recommended that management of hotels in Enugu Metropolis should inculcate the organizational value and international best practices to the functionality of her staff as that will help sell out the organizational image to the satisfaction of their customers which is ultimate in the hotel business.

Over the years Nigeria has been engulfed in series of conflicts resulting in deaths of thousands of lives and lost in property. Notable among these conflicts in recent times include the clashes between the Hausa-Kataf in Kaduna State, the Tiv and Jukun conflict in Wukari, the Ife/Modekeke, the Chamba and Kuteb in Taraba State etc. Most of these conflicts are rooted in discriminatory practices between indigene and settlers the issues around which these violent conflicts occurred relate to citizenship rights. Scholars argued that the problem started since the imposition of colonial rule. However, little is done to examine postcolonial policies put in place by various governments to address the problem of citizenship crisis in Nigeria. The federal character is one of such policies. The background to the adoption of the federal character doctrine in Nigeria could be traced partly to the inability of Nigerian leaders to evolve an effective means of holding the units together towards a na...

Reports on problem animals are on the increase and this is associated with livestock predation, crop losses, poaching, retaliatory killing, loss of human lives, increased human wildlife conflicts (HWC) and poverty. In some spaces, HWC intervention measures such as fences established to separate communities and wildlife have failed to provide the much-needed peace and security on the peripheries as interaction between local people and wildlife continue to intensify, especially at the boundary between a communal area and protected area. This study sought to understand ecological strategies and mechanisms adopted by local people living on the edges of Gonarezhou National Park, southeast Zimbabwe to promote co-existence. Faced with competing interests within the local communities, the main question in this study was to establish whether local communities needed the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) which would require limited fencing for sustainability purposes or full fences. Data were collected between January and February 2024 and a total of 322 participated. A mixed research method was used in this study where focus group discussions, structured and semi-structured interviews were adopted as data collection instruments. The research established that there is a growing tension between communities and wildlife, HWC is on the increase and fencing alone cannot fully address co-existence. The study concluded that the existing local ecological mechanisms are not enough to support co-existence and promote biodiversity. Fences play a key role in mitigating HWC and co-existence can only be possible after proper planning and management, which entails effective fencing and meaningful involvement of local communities. The findings from this study help to strengthen the already existing co-existence mechanisms

Reports on problem animals are on the increase and this is associated with livestock predation, crop losses, poaching, retaliatory killing, loss of human lives, increased human wildlife conflicts (HWC) and poverty. In some spaces, HWC intervention measures such as fences established to separate communities and wildlife have failed to provide the much-needed peace and security on the peripheries as interaction between local people and wildlife continue to intensify, especially at the boundary between a communal area and protected area. This study sought to understand ecological strategies and mechanisms adopted by local people living on the edges of Gonarezhou National Park, southeast Zimbabwe to promote coexistence. Faced with competing interests within the local communities, the main question in this study was to establish whether local communities needed the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) which would require limited fencing for sustainability purposes or full fences. Data were collected between January and February 2024 and a total of 322 participated. A mixed research method was used in this study where focus group discussions, structured and semi-structured interviews were adopted as data collection instruments. The research established that there is a growing tension between communities and wildlife, HWC is on the increase and fencing alone cannot fully address coexistence. The study concluded that the existing local ecological mechanisms are not enough to support coexistence and promote biodiversity. Fences play a key role in mitigating HWC and coexistence can only be possible after proper planning and management, which entails effective fencing and meaningful involvement of local communities. The findings from this study help to strengthen the already existing coexistence mechanisms

The study investigated the ideological background and context of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) from 2000 to 2015, examined the significant components of both Sino-Nigerian trade relations and AGOA, assessed the impact of Sino-Nigerian energy trade on the US-Nigeria energy trade under the auspices of AGOA; and analyzed the effects of Chinese textile imports on Nigeria’s textile exports under the auspices of AGOA from 2000 to 2015. These were to provide information on how Sino-Nigerian trade relations impacted the African Growth and Opportunity Act from 2000 to 2015. Primary and secondary data were utilized for the study. Primary data were sourced through in-depth interviews (IDI) with 24 purposively selected respondents based on their knowledge of the dynamics of Sino-Nigerian trade relations, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, foreign direct investment (FDI), and trade and commerce from the target population. Secondary data was sourced from books, journals, newspapers, official publications, and the internet. Four research questions and three testable assumptions guided the study. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive analyses and pivot tables. The findings revealed that AGOA was established within the context of neo-liberal economic ideology based on the primacy of market forces. The findings also showed that oil and gas formed substantial parts of Sino-Nigerian and Nigeria-US trade. Findings revealed that the Sino-Nigerian trade also characterized the Sino-Nigerian trade besides oil and gas, electronics and electrical equipment, vehicles, textiles, and cash crops. In contrast, US-Nigerian trade under the auspices of AGOA was critically tied to energy. The study also found a significant decline in US-Nigeria energy trade between 2014 and 2016; however, this had no direct bearing on Nigeria-China energy trade. Instead, it showed that this was a direct consequence of increased shale oil production in the United States. The study revealed that Nigeria’s textile and cottage industry collapsed due to internal and external factors. While the salient external factors derived from Nigeria’s adoption of trade liberalization policies of the World Trade Organisation and the massive imports of cheap textile products from China, the internal factors stemmed from the government’s negligence of the agricultural sector, mismanagement, corruption, and poor infrastructural development. The study concluded that Sino-Nigerian trade relations have yielded mixed results. While Nigeria has benefited significantly from Chinese investments in infrastructure, its local textile industry has virtually collapsed due to the unbridled importation of cheap textile products from China.