ON THE USE OF KRIGING MODEL CONCEPT TO DETECT GROUNDWATER POTENTIAL ZONES IN HILLY DUTSIN-MA, NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA

In this present study, the geology, relief, spatial variation and challenges of groundwater quality has been carried out, using Kriging Model. The methodology employed was drawn from primary and secondary data sources. Detailed chemical analyses for some of the parameters of the groundwater were done on a total of twenty-one (21) samples of both hand-dug wells and borehole waters collected during the full field investigation. In the laboratory analysis, the AAS and XRF machines were used to analyze eight (8) samples, namely: Temperature, pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), EC, Total Hardness, Lead, Iron, and manganese. The results of the chemical analyses which were akin to groundwater geochemical characterization based on the ranges of parameters shows that the value of pH in the study area ranges from (6.53 to 7.30), The Total Dissolved Solids ranges between (0.00 to 24.00), the EC has concentrations between (0.06 to 22.00) which was also around the permissible units of both SON and WHO. Total Hardness of the samples of the area run from lowest concentrations of (60 to 3915) which does not exceed the SON permissible unit, but exceed the recommended limit of WHO. The corresponding limited ranges of iron and manganese ranges from (0.53 to 15.24 and 0.4 to 3.35),the concentrations of Lead from lowest to highest were (0.74 to 2.31), both of which defy the recommended limits of WHO (0.05) and that of SON (0.01). Based on this, it was concluded that some of the groundwater sources assessed are safe for human consumption. If the practice of consuming groundwater without treatment continues, it may lead to health hazard.. ANOVA-F (One Way) was adopted in testing the hypothesis (Calculated F=6.63 while Critical F=2.16). The study recommended that appropriate measures should be taken to bring the higher concentrated parameters to desired levels.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ITS PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA

Global statistics revealed that the development of science and technology research has aided and facilitated growth and sustainable development in most industrialized societies while the story is different for less developed countries hence, this paper examined policy issues and challenges confronting the development of science and technology research in Nigeria. The study adopted the elite theory and derived its data from secondary sources which included official government documents, textbooks, published journals articles, the international news media, newspaper publications, materials from the internet etc. The study also adopted the descriptive research method hence, the data collected were analysed using the qualitative method. Findings in the study show that lack of consistency in the development of a science and technology development policy has hindered the growth and use of indigenous technology in Nigeria. Thus, there is need to develop and implement an indigenous home grown sustainable science and technology development policy in Nigeria in order to compete favourably in the international market.

PROBLEMS AND PROSPECT OF ETHICAL ISSUES IN SCIENCE AND APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY AND FORMULATION OF POLICIES FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

The degree at which some issues can be meaningfully discussed ethically arises from the nature of the issue at hand. Some issues are axiomatic, ambiguous and controversial mainly because there are evidence in dispute. In scientific research, and in the development and applications of technology, notably live saving technology. Scientists are confronted with ethical problems in their choice of research and education, and in ways and manner they deal with publications and media. The application of science and technology has chain of causes and effect on almost all areas of our lives. The social media, the globalization, the growing cultural pluralism, conflict and war. The development of new weapons, non-sustainable development, depletion of resources, and environmental degradation. Many of these possibilities that are opened by science and technology are harmful and retrogressive. Though, science also proffers possible improved living conditions, improved healthcare, and more awareness of the needs of people in other parts of the world and greater possibilities to assist them. However, the ethical gurus may lack the wherewithal to tackle some of the problems identified in terms of science and technology, they may still be able to say something useful about whether it is acceptable to indulge in a given risk such as stem cell research, GMO research, euthanasia, abortion, falsifying of data and other forms of research that may involve a colossal damage that could have some ripple effect on society and the environment. Ethical literacy, ethical imperative and Ethical bargain becomes a tool at hand.

THE NEED FOR STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF MAIDUGURI MODERN MARKET COMPLEX, BORNO STATE

The market management in Nigeria has been an area of concern to the public and agency of the government concerned, especially with the maintenance system. The government spent a lot of money developing those market stalls but little or nothing is done maintaining them. This usually leads to decay given this; the research examines the role played by the Maiduguri Modern Market Company Limited on the management of these stalls and facilities. The research revealed a lack of strategic approach to management, limited recognition of the value of these assets by property users and operational decision-makers have eroded the significance of the market. It also reveals that the statutorily recognized property managers are not involved in implementing necessary quality management approaches and lack of competence on the part of the government agency. Therefore, if the market management must survive for the market and vice versa, then the personnel of the management company should be re-examined. Qualified, innovative and creative professionals from real estate, management sciences, architecture, and built environment should be employed to effectively manage the market. Finally, the best guess for the effective strategic management of this market is that the private sector is considered. This is more professional than public management.

AFRICAN DEITY AND PEACE DEVELOPMENT IN JULIE OKOH’S WE ARE RIVERS AND THE NIGERIAN SPACE

Until recent time, African deities, positioned as viable medium of creating sanity and tranquility in the African front have been ironically neglected due to incursion of Christianization, civilization, modernization, and advanced technology. The efficacy of the African deity which is paramount insomuch that it preserves the culture, tradition, norms, values, artifacts, morals, and way of lives of the people, thus militating against evil forces whose agenda is targeted at the people, by increasing the level of death, sickness, ailment, farming, barrenness, strive, poverty, and every other forms of wickedness as portrayed in Julie Okoh’s We Are Rivers, is today, neglected and most often abolished. This has unequivocally created fear and pain of the people and underdevelopment to the nation. It has therewith created impetus for creative portraiture in dramatic and argumentative representations by dramatist and critics over the years, yet, the issue is still persisting. The study therefore aims at repositioning African Deity as viable medium of sanity and a mechanism of enhancing peace and development in the Nigerian space. Thus, with content analytical methodology, this study investigates how Julie Okoh attempts to establish the cause and effect of deity negligence and service on the Nigerian space using the instrument of drama. The effect of it will create positive change amongst Nigerians, thus, create change in their society. The study therefore recommends that maximum attention be made towards promoting African deity to the frontier of politicians as that would define the hallmark of peace and development.

EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON RAINFALL PATTERN AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN AFIKPO NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

This research was carried out to generate information/data on rainfall distribution in the study area in the year, 2019. Prior to the issues of realities of global warming and subsequently climate change, farmers had substantial knowledge of the weather conditions of their immediate environment and with this planned their farming activities effectively with reduced losses of produce and other farm resources. But nowadays, this knowledge appears to have been eroded consequent on the influence of global warming and climate change. The field work was carried out in Afikpo North Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State. The LGA comprises of 12 Autonomous Communities (ACs) and out of these, ten (10) were randomly selected. Field Assistants (FAs) were needed for the field work and two (2) FAs were purposively selected from each of the selected ACs to assist in the field work. The data generated were analyzed using tables and descriptive statistics. The result of the field work, among others, showed that the rains now commence early in the year between the months of February and March and thereafter cease and start again in the month of May. The result also showed the absence of the usual double peaks of rainfall “double maxima”. The recommendations, among others, include establishment of weather stations in the localities to help in the generation of information on weather conditions for farmers use and farmers’ to construct water channels on the farms as source of irrigation.

PRINCIPALS’ MANAGERIAL SKILLS ANDEFFICIENT MANAGEMENTOF EDUCATIONAL RECORD KEEPING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, EDO STATE

The aim of the study was to investigate whether there would be a positive relationship between principals’ managerial skills and efficient educational records keeping. Descriptive survey research design was employed in the study. Simple random sampling technique was used to select a total of One hundred and two principals from public secondary schools in Edo State. One research question was raised for the study. Four research hypotheses were formulates to guide the study. A researcher-designed instrument titled” Principal managerial skills and educational record keeping Questionnaire (PMSERKQ) was used for the study. The face validity of the instrument was ascertained and a reliability Coefficient of 0.71 of the instrument was obtained using the test-retest method. The means of standard deviation was used to analysis the research question. Data were analyzed using Pearson Product moment correlation and multiple regressions. Results indicated a significant relationship between the administrative leadership styles of the principals and the management of record keeping in the public secondary schools (r = .618, p< 0.05); it was revealed a significant relationship between the educational qualifications of the principals and the management of records keeping in the public secondary schools(r = .526,p< 0.05): also it was revealed that supervisory styles of the principal correlates with management of record keeping (r=.463, p< 0.05); both variables jointly explain 38% of the variance observed in the management of records keeping in public secondary schools in Edo state and it was statistically significant at F (df =2, 99) = 6.423.The result revealed that secondary school principals have different ways of managing school records in other to meet with the management of school records. Based on the findings, it was recommended that secondary school principals should be encouraged to attend conferences, workshops in-service training and retraining and seminars in other to polished and enhance their administrative skills. School principals should properly keep and manage educational records for utilization and future retrieval thereby enhancing efficiency and effectiveness of the school system. Supervisory styles by the school principals would promote the effectiveness and efficiency of the educational records in the school system.

CHALLENGES OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN SOKOTO STATE OF NIGERIA: IMPLICATION FOR COUNSELLING

Contemporary Early Child Care, Development and Education (ECCDE) in Nigeria are becoming more diverse. Nevertheless, it is still bedeviled with issues and problems. This paper discusses the existing UBE programme, policies and strategies in the implementation of the ECCDE in Nigeria. The paper further examines the challenges of ECCDE in Nigeria. The main issues of which include the use of English as medium of communication and instruction; lack of competent and qualified teachers; lack of effective supervision; and the ratio of teacher to pupils. The paper concludes that for Nigeria to achieve sustainable education development, interventions to improve the quality of ECCDE in Nigeria, the school-based curriculum must be adequately promoted. The paper suggest the use of mother tongue in teaching at this level, provision of more infrastructures and the introduction of unified standardized curriculum for set of programme.

ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ALMAJIRIN SYSTEM OF EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

The word Amajiri was derived from Arabic “Almuhajiri” meaning an emigrant. It usually refers to a person who migrates from luxury of his home to other place or to a popular teacher in the quest for Islamic knowledge. The board objective of this study is to assess the progress in the implementation of Almajiri policy on Education. This is with due cognizance of the original objectives of the Almajiri implementation system. The Bastardisation of the Almajiri system by its contemporary operators, pupils and the society encourages child abuse, and, above all, portrays Islam in bad light to the outside world. The current system should be abolished as it puts the future of the younger generation in jeopardy. The government integration scheme is a welcome development provided it is sustained by successive governments.

EFFECTS OF MOBILE INSTRUCTIONAL APP ON UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN ECONOMICS IN SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA

Mobile instructional app (MIA) is a set of instructions put together as a program usually installed on mobile devices to facilitate learning and improve academic performance. MIA helps to motivate students for the enhancement of positive academic performance, thus, it could be utilized in an individualized or in a blended learning environment to supplement traditional teaching-learning process. This study investigated the effects of mobile instructional app on undergraduate students’ academic performance in economics in Sokoto State. The study adopted quasi experimental with a pre-test and post-test, non-equivalent comparison involving 2x2 factorial design.All undergraduate students in Sokoto State formed population of the study. A total of 61 undergraduates formed the sample for the study, 34 for experimental group one (23 males and 11 females) from Sokoto State University (SSU) and 27 for experimental group one (22 males and 5 females) from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS). Pilot study was carried out at Federal University Birnin Kebbi using twenty 100 level undergraduates. Economic Principles Test Instrument (EPTI) was used for data collection. Reliability coefficient of 0.78 using Kuder Richardson 20 (K-R, 20) was obtained. Research hypothesis one was tested using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), while hypothesis two was tested using t-test statistics. The study found among other that the app was academically effective. There was significant difference in the achievement of the undergraduate students exposed to mobile instructional app and those taught using blended approach (F (1, 58) = 13.649, p<0.05) in favour of experimental group 2. There was no significant difference in the academic performance of the undergraduate students taught in a blended learning environment based on gender. The study concluded that the mobile instructional app (MIA) enhanced the academic performance of undergraduates from the two universities (UDUS and SSU) irrespective of gender. It was established by the study that the undergraduates taught in a blended learning environment out-performed those exposed to MIA alone. The study therefore recommended that lecturers should endeavour to develop and utilize mobile instructional apps that are in line with new NUC benchmark to supplement teaching process.