Volume 5, Issue 1 , 2017

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Browsing Volume 5, Issue 1 , 2017 by Title

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    Open Access
    Deforestation, Food Security and Environmental Sustainability in South-west, Nigeria, 1960-2015
    (University of Lagos Press, Akoka, 2017) Ajiola, F.O; Ilesanmi, T.E
    The forest region of Nigeria—especially the south-western agrarian, and other non-farming communities have witnessed ruthless deforestation either for urbanization or other consumerist purposes, since the past few decades. This anomie constitutes a major challenge in the drive towards achieving sustainable food production from the agrarian areas as well as environmental sustainability. Deforestation is a major threat to the ecosystem and agricultural activities in Nigeria. This article examines the relationship between deforestation, food insecurity and environmental sustainability in South-western Nigeria. Social, economic and environmental historians in Nigeria have overlooked the impact of the phenomenon on food security and environmental sustainability in Nigeria. The study adopts the historical methodology and uses the vent-for surplus theory to show that food insecurity, substandard human quality of life, low life expectancy, epidemics and changes in the biodiversity in southwest Nigeria are results of deforestation and environmental mismanagement. The paper recommends that reducing the growing de-agrarianization, food shortage, and environmental challenges in Nigeria, requires the need to reinvent the wheel by strengthening institutional regulations, including non-state agencies monitoring the use of the environment and conservation of biodiversity. Traditional environmental protection mechanisms, such as taboos, myths, superstitions may also help to reduce the alarming rate of environmental mismanagement.
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    Open Access
    Economic Diversification in the Context of a Constitutional Right to Happiness: Implications for Law and Policy Initiatives
    (University of Lagos Press, Akoka, 2017) Akintayo, A.E
    Nigeria’s oil resources have been more of a curse than a blessing. This has given rise to the need and current efforts to diversify the Nigerian economic base from over reliance on oil for a more stable and sustainable economic development. Diversification of the Nigerian economy is however a process that cannot but take place in contexts and one of the requisite contexts is the constitutional and the legal one. Nigeria’s constitutional and legal frameworks and economic initiatives and policies, however, present a contrast and a contradiction. While the economic policies and initiatives are neo-liberal in form and character, they are underpinned by a constitution with a social democratic orientation. One of the core norms of Nigeria’s social democratic oriented constitution is the constitutional right to happiness. This article highlights the contradiction inherent in Nigeria’s social democratic oriented constitutional framework vis-a-vis the economic policies and initiatives. It also interrogates the implications of a right to happiness as a core value of Nigeria’s social democratic oriented constitution on the economic diversification laws and policies of Nigeria. The clear articulation of the constitutional context(s) within which the diversification of the Nigerian economy is to take place has become important at this time because of the apparent disconnect between the vision of the Nigerian Constitution and the aims and objectives of current economic reforms. It is hoped that a clear exposition of the requisite constitutional context(s) will bring about the much needed focus and direction in the formulation and execution of people oriented and people focussed policies and laws for sustainable economic reforms.
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    Open Access
    Entrepreneurship Education and Skill-Oriented Trade Development in Nigerian Higher Institutions
    (University of Lagos Press, Akoka, 2017) Ikeche, N; Okafor, O
    The goal of entrepreneurship education and skill-oriented trade development is to equip students with entrepreneurial capacities in terms of the ability to take risks, identify opportunities and manage resources available even in the face of challenges and difficulties. Entrepreneurship education is designed to furnish students with skills required to enable them to be self-reliant and self-employed. This study therefore assessed the relevance of the curriculum content of entrepreneurship education in choosing skill-oriented trade by postgraduate students in higher institutions of learning. The descriptive research design was adopted to assess three hundred respondents selected from three institutions of higher learning in Lagos State using random sampling techniques. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Research questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings of the study reveal that: the existing curriculum content of entrepreneurship education is comprehensive but does not solve the problems of the immediate environment; students lack the capability to identify skill-oriented trade opportunities; and there is a significant relationship between students’ course of study and course contents of entrepreneurship education. It is therefore recommended that policy makers should fine-tune the courses to be relevant to students’ immediate environment and review the pedagogical approach to learning.
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    Restricted
    Intellectual Capital and Firm Performance: A Review of Empirical Literature Based On VAIC™ Model
    (University of Lagos Press, Akoka, 2017) Odekunle, L.A; Akani, L.O; Isola, W.A
    The importance of intellectual capital (IC) has been a growing subject of discussion in academic, business and policy circles. Also, there has been quite a number of innovations in its concepts, measurements and valuations. One of such innovative measurement model is the Value added Intellectual Capital Coefficient (VAIC™) proposed by Pulic (2000). Although the model has been criticised in literature as a result of the reliance of its measures on financial account figures. However, available evidence showed that it is one of the widely used model for measuring IC. This paper presents a survey of empirical IC - performance literature by focusing on studies that used Pulic’s VAIC™ as proxy to measure intellectual capital. Review and evaluation of the milestones in the developments and contributions to IC research are essential. It could foster an understanding of the context within which IC came into being as a vital organisation element in today’s business world. In summary, our findings revealed that the results of these studies mainly demonstrate that VAIC™ and its components influence performance variables positively, except in few noticeable situations.
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    Open Access
    Issues in the Definition and Valuation of sustainable Buildings in Lagos, Nigeria
    (University of Lagos Press, Akoka, 2017) Oyalowo, B.A; Babawale, G.K
    The purpose of this paper is to contribacademic discourse on the incorporation of sustainability into property valuation practice. ute to the The study assesses the criteria guiding the conceptualisation of sustainable buildings as found in academic literature and proposes a holistic, lifecycle based conceptualisation of sustainable buildings; which can then be localised as necessary. The elemZZnts from the conceptualisation are then developed into sustainability features of a hypothetical property, which is then used as the basis for the quantitative aspect of the study. The study is based on a survey of practising estate surveyors and valuers in forty two estate firms in Lagos; selected with the use of cluster sampling and surveyed with a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Analysis revealed that although the investment approach was acknowledged to be the most appropriate method of sustainable building valuation, the most readily available data inputs were for the cost method of valuation. Given the state of market maturity, this implies that the cost method presently remains the most expedient method of valuation of such properties. It was also found that respondent valuers possess limited experience in the valuation of buildings with core environmental features. While there are perceptions of capital and rental value increases attributable to sustainable buildings, there is limited expertise on how to account for sustainability features, and these could affect value judgments. It is recommended that as the sustainable property sub-market grows, specific training for valuers on sustainability, continuous professional development, systematic information gathering and sharing within the market must be strategically carried out to ensure the appropriate capture of the impact of sustainability on property value.
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    Open Access
    Ivory Tower Research and National Development: Emerging Issues
    (University of Lagos Press, Akoka, 2017) Attoh, F; Omogbeni, T
    A Nation’s development depends on its ability to improve the lives of the citizenry. Basically, the development of every Nation is basically measured by the quality of its research output. The main importance of research is to proffer solutions to human problems through well-defined methods. Research brings about new insights deriving from knowledge, it is also acknowledged as a systematic and objective search for knowledge, to establish theories and methods. National development is measured by the ability of a country to improve the social welfare of the people, in terms of providing social amenities like quality education, potable water etc. Indeed, it embodies all attempts to improve the conditions of human existence in a sustainable way such that today’s consumption does not imperil the future. The method deployed in the study was the key informant interview (KII) to ascertain the nexus between ivory tower research and national development. The systems and social exchange theories were used as explanatory tools to explain the phenomenon. The article posits that there exist many researches in different fields of study and development can be applied to political, social and technological progress which is critical and essential to the sustenance and growth of any nation. The development of a country depends on the method of research employed, which can either be Basic research or Applied research. The academic community should realise that in knowledge society there is a need to marry theory with practice to achieve a better society.
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    Open Access
    Meaning and Change in the Advertisements of Star Lager Beer: A Systematic Functional Approach
    (University of Lagos Press, Akoka, 2017) Adepoju, B.H
    This paper focuses on linguistic meaning and change in the print advertisements of STAR Lager beer. STAR is a product of Nigerian Breweries (NB). In order to answer the question of how and with what tools advertisers are able to reach the consumers, language which is a communication tool exclusive to human beings comes to mind. Two objectives were set for this study. They are (i) to describe the structural features of linguistic signs used in explicating meaning in advertisements and (ii) to investigate how changes in linguistic signs used indicate changes in meaning in advertisements. Advertisements of STAR over the last seventy years are carefully selected for analysis through the process of media monitoring. They were print advertisements that were extracted from newspapers and newsmagazines, NB publications and the internet. In the bid to analyse linguistic messages of the advertisements, Halliday’s Systemic Functional Theory (SFT) was employed. Halliday’s functional grammar is predicated on ideational, interpersonal and textual ‘metafunctions’. The apparatuses of this theory dwell on linguistic messages. The findings reveal that advertisers utilise diverse linguistic structures to signify meanings in advertisements. Besides, changes and variations in Processes, Participants and Circumstances signify changes in meanings.
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    Open Access
    Preservation of African Poetic Heritage through Self-Representation in the Poetry of Tanure Ojaide and Alfred Kisubi
    (University of Lagos Press, Akoka, 2017) Edoama, F.O
    This study examines the perpetuation of African traditional art-forms by contemporary African diaspora poets through the different ways of representing “the self” in their literary creations. It explores the continued utilization of oral art forms by African poets – Tanure Ojaide and Alfred Kisubi – who live and practice their literary art in the Diaspora in the contemporary period; and how the consciousness of inhabiting multiple locations influences the blending of the oral arts forms with the modern styles of poetry expression. The selected collections of poetry are Tanure Ojaide’s When It No Longer Matters Where You Live and Alfred Kisubi’s Time Winds. The research appropriates Postcolonial concepts of Alterity, Hybridity and Subalternity in the interrogation of the extent to which the consciousness of inhabiting the complex transnational space in the global age influences the creative output of African Diaspora literary artists, as reflected in the poems studied. The study establishes that the hybrid nature of these literary artists’ creations stem from their consciousness of straddling diverse locations in the global era. It also shows that through the practice of conveying their experiences in the creative pieces, in their own unique way, these Africans in the Diaspora are able to universalize and internationalize Africa and her cultural values. The study further reveals that the contemporary African diaspora writers in order to uniquely assert their identity and personality in their creative texts rely heavily on the African oral art forms and use mostly African images and symbols to enrich their scripted experiences.
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    Open Access
    Prioritising Community Needs Assessment towards Improved Governance of Urban Services: Case Study of Lagos Slum Settlements
    (University of Lagos Press, Akoka, 2017) Elias, P; Babatola, O; Ademola, O; Fasona, M
    Rapid urbanization and proliferation of slum settlements are among the major challenges facing developing countries. Slum settlements are notorious in lacking basic services such as safe drinking water, sanitation, durable dwellings. There is also lack of security of tenure with slum living populations in overcrowded spaces. Community needs assessments have become global best practices but grossly neglected in cities of developing countries such as Lagos, the focus of this paper. The paper examined the condition of selected slum settlements, access to urban services, estimated population of underserved households and strategies for improving governance of urban services in slum communities. Agege, Bariga and Itire-Ijesha were purposively selected out of the nine critical slum communities in Lagos and an upscale settlement (Ebute-Metta LSDPC Estate) was selected as the control. Cluster sampling approach was used to select 1,200 households based on a sample size of 0.55% of the populations of each selected settlement for the social survey. The results show that urban services and infrastructure in the selected slum settlements were inadequate with variations in intensity associated with their socioeconomic conditions. The slum settlements present a high sociodemographic diversity in terms of occupation, income level, housing and tenure situation compared to the upscale community. The condition of urban services such as drinking water, sanitation and toilet were rated as poor, but housing condition was rated as adequate in all the selected slum communities. All these services were rated as adequate in the upscale settlement. The proportion of households underserved with urban services are 22.4% (Agege), 27.1% (Bariga) and 28.7% (Itire-Ijesha) for drinking water, 40.2% (Agege), 43.8% (Bariga) and 46.1% (Itire-Ijesha) for sanitation/toilet; and 84.2% (Agege), 72.8% (Bariga) and 72.6% (Itire-Ijesha) for electricity. Some of the suggestions to improve governance of urban services include social relations, foreign support, and community participation among others. The analysis in this paper provides useful guides for policy makers and urban managers with respect to prioritizing the needs of slum populations based on their perception of priority needs which could strengthen social cohesion and stability.
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    Open Access
    Protecting the Right of Non-Standard Workers to Equal Pay for Equal Work in Nigeria
    (University of Lagos Press, Akoka, 2017) Danesi, R.A
    This paper examined the rights of non-standard workers to equal pay for equal work in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. In particular it looked at a group of non-standard workers known as contract workers and analyses why they are discriminated against by employers. Workers in this form of work arrangement do not get equal pay for equal work of equal value as permanent employees. In Nigeria non-standard work arrangements have been growing steadily in the past 10 years but there is no legislation to regulate it. In the absence of regulation, most employers exploit these workers by not paying them what they pay to the permanent employees even though they perform same tasks and usually have the same skills as their permanent counterparts. The examination of the Nigerian labour law brought to fore the lack of provisions to regulate non-standard work arrangements and protect non-standard workers from exploitation. The paper concluded by advocating that the Nigerian legislature should amend the Labour Act so as to create a legal framework for the provision of equality in the workplace as has been done in other jurisdictions such as Ghana, South Africa, China, United States, Australia and the European Union.
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    Open Access
    Service-Users’ Perceptions of Quality of Teacher Education Products in Lagos State, Nigeria
    (University of Lagos Press, Akoka, 2017) Thomas, O.A; Adekunle, A.A; Oladejo, M.A
    It is generally believed that the quality of teachers affects the quality of education in any society. Consequently, the Federal Government of Nigeria recognizes the need to place emphasis on teacher education in national development. This study therefore investigated the quality of the products of teacher education programme as perceived by the users of teachers’ services in schools. The study was guided by four research questions and corresponding null hypotheses. The descriptive survey research design, which was ‘ex-post facto’ in nature was used for the study. The study population comprised Principals of public and approved private secondary schools in Lagos State. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 530 participants. A researcher-designed instrument entitled “Quality of Teacher Education Programme Descriptive Questionnaire (QTEPDQ) was used for data collection. Independent t-test statistical tool was used for data analysis. Findings showed a significant difference in the quality of lesson preparation (t=-.312; df =528; p<.05), lesson delivery (t=-.422; df =528;p<.05) and mastery of the subject matter (t=-.333; df =528;p<.05) between graduates of Colleges of Education and Universities. However, no significant difference was established in classroom management effectiveness (t=-.304; df =528; p>.05). It was suggested that teaching practice exercise, especially in Nigerian universities should be re-organized to better equip the teacher-trainees in the practical aspect of teaching. There is also the need for teacher registration council of Nigeria to be more proactive in its mandates, specifically, as it concerns the internship programme.
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    Open Access
    A Study of Aspects of Digital Discourse in Nigerian Democratic Space
    (University of Lagos Press, Akoka, 2017) Opeibi, T; Adekunle, A.A; Oladejo, M.A
    The primary aim of this study is two-fold: one, to situate corpus-based digital political discourse within the field of digital humanities; and, two, to apply computer methodologies to examine the use of web-based platforms for political purposes in Nigeria. It adopts a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches as demonstrated in Corpus-Based Discourse Model and Computer-Mediated Discourse Analysis (CMDA). Both methodological and analytical methods used rely on the use of some internet-based computer applications and corpus analytical tools such as Sketch Engine, Topsy and AntCorc3.4. The data set was collected through media monitoring and online data harvesting strategies from the Internet, webpages and social media networks of key political actors and stakeholders in Nigeria, and extracted from a specialised corpus named Corpus of Nigeria New Media Discourse in English (CONNMDE). The application of computer methodologies to the analysis of digital political text is presented as a new research orientation in digital humanities that can improve scholarship and research breakthroughs. Digital media technologies such as Facebook and Twitter can indeed help citizens acquire new skills which can foster creativity, boost engagement and enhance capacity. These may help the country solve problems which can galvanize economic development. The study further argues that widespread use of Internet-based technologies for political purposes can accelerate our progress towards a sustainable and strong democracy. They can indeed transform our national political narratives, promote participation, transparency, accountability and improve national development index.