The Learning Environment and Non-cognitive Values of Secondary School Students in Cross River State, Nigeria

The study examined the predictive influence of learning environment factors on senior secondary school students’ non-cognitive values (attitude to school, interest in school and self-concept). A random sample of 965 senior secondary 2(SS2) students was used for the study. Results revealed, among others, that the learning environment factors jointly significantly predicted each of the non-cognitive characteristics of the students. It was, therefore, concluded that the learning environment, both at home and in school was key to the affective or non-cognitive development of the school learner. It was recommended, among other things, that parents and school administrators should balance firmness and supportiveness in the administration of discipline in homes and schools, respectively.

The socio-economic importance of Calabar Carnival on the economic development of Cross River State

The study investigates the socio-economic importance of the Calabar Carnival on the economic development of Cross River State, Nigeria. To establish the relationship between the festival and the development of Cross Rivers State, hypotheses were formulated based on the identified major independent variables namely: employment creation, income generation, and infrastructural development while the dependent variable is the Calabar Carnival Festival. Literatures related to the major variables of the study were reviewed. To generate data for hypotheses testing, questionnaire was used; survey research design was adopted for study while utilizing the convenience sampling technique to select the respondents (300) for study. The generated data were statistically tested at a 0.05 level of significance using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient analysis. The analysis showed that the Calabar carnival has significant relationship with job creation, income generation, and infrastructural development in Cross River State. Based on the result of the findings, the study recommended the need for tourism industry be fortified with security and as well be privatized. Also, the study recommends that youth development should be a cardinal point in the carnival as a promotional strategy in other to accelerate the state's socio-economic development.

Ethnographic Studies of Bakor Stone Monolith and Their Implication to Tourism Development

Monoliths in the Cross River State of Nigerian are found in a circular form, they are commonly known as Bakor or Ikom monoliths, because of the universality in conceptualisation and the configuration of the stones, they are sometimes referred to in this research as stone circles. Bakor speaking communities hold a large number of magnificent stone carvings called Bakor monoliths which exhibit a high level of artistic, qualities, and creative awareness by the ancient civilisation that creates them. The study is aimed at examining monoliths in Bakor LGA, to ascertain the socio-cultural and religious beliefs associated with these monoliths and their contributions to tourism development in Cross River State. A mixed-method of qualitative and quantitative research was employed. The result reveals that Cross River State monoliths have the potentials of attracting tourists, and are valued by host communities. However, the monoliths are under human and natural threats. The paper advocates that if Bakor monoliths are developed for cultural tourism, it will create job opportunities, improve the living standard of the host community, generate revenue, and guaranty their preservation, among others.

Speed of capillary blood flow and d-dimer levels in sickle cell anaemia patients in Calabar, cross river state

Background: The experience of painful episodes of ill health caused by sequelae of erythrocytes sickling, impaired blood flow, hypercoagulation and vaso-occlusion is one of the hallmarks of sickle cell disease. Preventing painful episodes and promoting the physical wellbeing of persons with sickle cell disease is usually a major objective in the management of the condition. The purpose of this study is to investigate capillary blood flow and D-Dimer activities in people with sickle cell anaemia.Methods: A total of 90 subjects (27 males and 63 females) participated in the study, the study comprised of 34 HbSS patients, three were in crisis and thirty-one in steady state, 9 sickle cell carriers (HbAS) and 47 HbAA were control subjects. The haemoglobin phenotype was determined using haemoglobin electrophoresis at alkaline pH (8.6), speed of capillary blood flow was estimated using vascular Doppler ultrasonographic technique and D-Dimer was determined using ELISA method.Results: Results obtained showed that there was a significant variation (p=0.042) in the mean levels D-Dimer among the groups. There was however no significant variations (p>0.05) in the other parameters among the groups. A post hoc analysis of mean D-Dimer in sickle cell patients, sickle cell carriers and controls showed that the sickle cell patients had significantly higher D-Dimer levels compared with controls.Conclusions: Sickle cells patients in steady state had higher D-Dimer levels compared with controls and sickle cell patients in crisis had lower speed of capillary blood flow when compared to sickle cell patients in steady state and controls.

Entrepreneurship Orientation and Entrepreneurship Culture and the Performance of Small and Medium-scale Enterprises in Calabar Metropolis - Nigeria

The study empirically examined entrepreneurship orientation, entrepreneurship culture and performance of small and medium-scale enterprises in Calabar Metropolis. The major objective of the paper was to explore how strategic entrepreneurship practices affect the accomplishment of SMEs goals in Cross River State. The study was anchored on Resource-based theory (RBT). The study used survey research design. Survey research design was employed, and a population of one thousand, two hundred and ninety-four (1294) employees were involved. The study utilized Taro Yamane formula to determine the sample size of 400 employees. The sampling technique used in this study was purposive sampling method. The paper used multiple linear regression technique in testing the two hypotheses. The study revealed a positive relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and growth of SMEs. Furthermore, it was found that entrepreneurial culture has a negative effect on profitability of SMEs. Also, it was found that strategic resource management has significant effect on the quality of products of SMEs. The researcher supported various findings with suggestions among other things that the managers should continuously incorporate new decision-making strategies, procedures and behaviour that will put the organization into an advantageous position into entering new or established markets with new or existing goods or services. It was also recommended among others that entrepreneurial culture should be strengthened by managers of SMEs in Cross River State in pursuit of firm’s performance as well as yielding to the economic growth of Nigeria.

Health Risk Assessment of Selected Heavy Metals in Cocoyam from Three Quarry Sites in Old Netim, Cross River State, Nigeria

This study assessed health risk assessment of heavy metals in cocoyam from three quarry sites in Akamkpa LGA, Cross River State, Nigeria. Cocoyam tubers were obtained from three quarry sites in Oban Okoroba, each 4.5 kilometers apart and 20 kilometers from the control site. Cocoyam tubers were obtained from 0km, 0.2km, 0.4km, and 0.6km. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) was used to determine the content of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Arsenic (As) and Manganese (Mn), showing relative abundance across all sites and samples in the sequence Mn > Cu > Pb > As > Cd. Quarry site D had highest levels of Mn, As and Cu (50.003 ± 5.478 mgkg-1, 0.207 ± 0.184 and 4.522 ± 1.204mgkg-1). Quarry site C and B respectively had the highest levels of Pb and Cd (1.136 ± 0.267 mgkg-1 and 0.041 ± 0.028 mgkg-1). Results of Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Life Carcinogenic Risk (LCR) showed ingestion of cocoyam tubers from Old Netim is safe and devoid of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. THI on the other hand revealed non-carcinogenic threat may result from prolonged ingestion of cocoyam tubers cultivated within quarry sites in Old Netim.

Leadership Styles of Social Studies Teachers and Academic Achievement of Junior Secondary School Students in Social Studies in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine leadership styles of Social Studies teachers and academic achievement of junior secondary school students in Social Studies in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State-Nigeria. Ex-post facto research design was adopted. The simple random sampling technique was used in selecting the six public secondary schools used for the study. A sample of two hundred junior secondary school three students (JSS 3) was drawn from the population and used for the study. Three research questions and hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Data were collected using two researcher made instruments tagged “Social Studies Teachers Leadership Styles Questionnaire (STLSQ) and Social Studies Achievement Test (SOSAT) The Data Collected was analysed using the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the Fisher Least Square Difference (SLD) was used in the multiple comparism. The findings of the study revealed significant differences in the academic achievement of students based on their teachers’ leadership styles. Students taught by teachers with autocratic and laissez-faire leadership styles had a lower LSD value compared to students taught by teachers with democratic leadership styles. Students taught by teachers with democratic styles performed academically higher than those taught by teachers with either autocratic or laissez-faire leadership styles. Based on this, it was recommended amongst other things that Social Studies teachers imbibe more of democratic rather than autocratic or laissez faire leadership styles in their classroom and that educational administrator should organize workshop and seminars for teachers on proper classroom management.

Molecular Characterization of Virus Infecting Momordica charantia Linn and the Application of Trichoderma viride as Biocontrol Agent in Baccocco Cross River State, Nigeria

Momordica charantia Linn, commonly called bitter-melon or ampalaya, is a vigorous, tendril-bearing, frost tender, annual vine of the cucurbitacae family reported to play significant role in health and nutrition. Chlorotic spot symptoms were observed on this plant during a visit to some Gardens in Baccocco Cross River State, Nigeria in 2021. The aim of this study was to identify the virus infecting this plant and investigate the ability of Trichoderma viride to control the virus. Infected leaf samples of M. charantia were collected and maintained on young seedlings of cucumber through mechanical inoculation which was further used to test the ability of Trichoderma viride as biocontrol agent, the sample was further tested against RT-PCR. Result obtained from Gene sequence analysis revealed 87 % nucleotide sequence identity with Morroccan watermelon mosaic virus. This is the first report of MWMV infecting M. charantia in Nigeria. The result further showed that Trichoderma viride was very effective in the control of virus the pathogen.

"This is Calabar South; shine your eyes" : Urbanization and Insecurity in Nigeria, case study of Calabar metropolis and its effects on state- society relations

It is common to describe some parts (especially the satellite zones) in the metropolitan areas of Nigeria as hot spots for crimes or high-risk zones: Ikorodu in Lagos, Ikwere in Rivers State, Warri in Delta State, etc. From this context, it is obvious that some areas possess characteristics that encourage or entrench crime and violence. This paper focuses on one of such contemporary high-risk zones in Cross River State, Nigeria: the Calabar South. We argue that the accelerated growth of urbanization has amplified the demand for key services in Calabar metropolis and that the provision of shelter and basic services such as water and sanitation, education, public health, employment, and transport has not kept pace with this increasing demand. Therefore, accelerated and poorly managed urbanization has resulted in various types of atmospheric, land and water pollution, and violent crimes which in turn jeopardize human security in the area and creates hate-sentiments between the dwellers of Calabar South and the administrative authorities. We utilize qualitative research methodology. Oral interviews and questionnaires serve as primary sources utilized while an extensive literature represents the secondary sources utilized here-in. We arrived at the conclusion that the increased environmental, social and economic problems associated with rapid urbanization are the causes of high-risk zones.