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This study investigated information and communication technology (ICT) skills and efficient management of educational resources in public secondary schools in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study which adopted descriptive survey design was guided by two research questions. The 268 secondary school principals in Rivers State constituted the population. A sample of 255 principals which was 95% of the population was drawn through the stratified random sampling technique. A self-structured questionnaire titled: "ICT Skills and Efficient Management of Educational Resources Questionnaire (ICTSEMERQ)" was used for data collection. The instrument which contained 14 items was properly validated and the test retest method using Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient Statistics for reliability testing yielded an 'r' value of 0.82. Percentages, mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the research questions. The study revealed that the ICT skills needed by principals include among others: knowledge of operating ICT devices, good knowledge of using ICT devices in teaching, ability to use ICT devices to store and retrieve information. The study also revealed that ICT skills enhance efficient management of educational resources through enhancing proper keeping of records, effective communication and proper accountability of educational resources among others. Based on the findings, conclusions were drawn and the following recommendations were made: Rivers State Ministry of Education in collaboration with secondary school's management board should provide capacity building programmes to principals on ICT skills and principals should enroll themselves in institutions where they can obtain ICT literacy and utilization skills.

Effective administration is a must in the dynamic centres of education: teaching and learning are required to effectively interpret and deploy the nation's education policy and execute curriculum realities that respond to the fatigues of the present and the challenges of the future. The paper, therefore, critically examined the administrative issues relevant in enhancing teaching and learning in terms of preliminary issues of school administration, teachers, and supervisory issues. To achieve this, the study used a descriptive survey research design. The sample of the study consisted of 250 participants (45 principals and 205 teachers) of private and public secondary schools randomly selected from nine local government areas of Rivers state. Three research questions and three research hypotheses guided the study that used a 19-item instrument to gather data from respondents. Descriptive statistics and independent sample t-test were the statistical tools used to analyze the data. The impact of preliminary administrative issues on teaching and learning in secondary school education was quite negative, teacher issues were not considered relevant, and the respondents had negative view of the relevance of supervisory issues of the curriculum to teaching and learning in secondary school education. However, the principals and teachers differed significantly on their mean rating of the impact of preliminary administrative issues, relevance of teacher issues, and the relevance of supervisory issues of the curriculum to teaching and learning in secondary school education respectively. It was recommended among others that secondary school owners--government and private individuals--ensure that administrative issues be given utmost attention for effective teaching and learning.

The challenge of improving secondary education to achieve the goals defined in the National Policy on Education (FRN, 2013) remains a daunting task. This study addressed the role of school development planning as a strategic tool for the improvement of secondary education in Rivers State, Nigeria. Three research questions and three hypotheses were used to guide the study. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 200 teachers from rural and urban schools in five local government areas of Rivers State. The Teacher Perception of School Development Planning and Improvement Questionnaire (TPSDPIQ) was used to collect data. The findings showed that, in general, teachers' perceptions about the significance of school development planning factors for secondary school improvement were strikingly similar. Specifically, the findings showed that: (a) teachers' perceptions about school development significantly predicted their perceptions about school improvement, (b) there was no significant difference between teachers' perception of school development planning across urban and rural schools, and (c) there was no significant difference between teachers' perception of school improvement across urban and rural schools. Recommendations included the development of a policy requiring all secondary schools in the state to have a school development plan for a specified period, as well as, having headteachers, teachers, and community engage in developing the school plan.

This paper viewed the educational system as a complex whole and a huge endeavour with numerous challenges that have emanated from the dynamic nature of society. The perceived functions of education for a rapidly changing society, has placed enormous pressure on the policy and programmes of education, on the curriculum and the organization and management of education generally. While policy and curriculum are fundamental and the enigma of the educational system, the educational system which involves the deployment of huge resources certainly requires the directional compass of leadership and management. The focus of this paper therefore, is the position of educational leadership in causing improvement in secondary school education in particular taking into consideration the politics involved in decisional resource of allocation and guidance in curriculum execution, professional issues, cooperation matters, students and staff personal issues, community participation, physical and financial issues and sundry matters.

The teacher remains a critical part of the epicenter of the educational system. The importance attached to the role of the teacher in curriculum execution and value orientation makes teacher preparation or his future duties and responsibilities no less critical. In this paper therefore, teacher preparation is conceived and defined as an academic process (theory and practical) geared towards exposing and inculcating in the would-be teacher the required knowledge, skills, capacities, values and standards for a successful teaching career and increasing school and students improvement. Thus, this paper explores the place of' managing the preparation of a would-be teacher with the aim of achieving the production of teachers with cutting edge qualities capable of leveraging learning environment and experiences that make learners responsive to the demands of globalization at a given level. To this end, the paper focused on planning issue, social perception of the teaching profession, issues of infrastructure, financial issues, policy issues, quality issues, entry processes, issues of motivation, profession issues, entry criteria. On the other hand, requirements for entering into the teaching profession, continuous professional learning, development and improvement, conditions for effective job execution and increased productivity, leveraging and standards are considered as continuing teacher preparation. The reason being that teaching is a "living thing" and dynamic phenomenon.

The physico-chemical properties of the lower reaches of the Cross River estuary were studied in the wet season month of September, 2011. A total of 50 bottom water samples were obtained using a Nansen Bottom Water Sampler, at 50 geo-referenced stations within the channel. Depth measurements were simultaneously taken at each station using an echo-sounder, while turbidity was measured using a secchi-disc. Temperature, salinity and pH were analysed for each sample, using a HANNA hand held combo meter (HI 98129). Within the channel, bottom water temperature ranged between 23 and 30℃, turbidity (transparency) ranged between 30 and 100 cm, pH ranged between 5 and 9, while bottom water salinity ranged between 0.15 and 0.20°C. Based on salinity, the channel was divided into 3 physico-chemical facies: the Upper Facies is fairly saline, characterized by temperatures ranging from 25 to 26℃, is the least turbid segment of the channel and isalkaline the Middle Facies, the least saline part of the channel, characterized by temperatures ranging from 24 to 29℃, most turbid, and neutral,; and the Lower Facies, the most saline portion of the channel, with temperatures ranging from 25 to 29℃, is the more, acidic, part of the channel. The estuary appeared to have been greatly diluted. This may be attributed to the fact that the study was carried out during the rainy season. As a result of the high freshwater discharge into the channel during this season, the freshwater-brackishwater interface has been driven further downstream, towards the Atlantic Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formation resistivity evaluation is an essential part of electrical properties measurement of porous media. Such deduced properties are often considered in modeling of associated rock properties for better hydrocarbon exploitation. Cognizance of these properties trend are necessary to ensure acceptable magnitudes for regional-based analyses. The aim of this research study was to establish a trend in formation resistivity factor and geometric tortuosity factor for Niger delta formations in Nigeria. These electrical properties were evaluated via core analysis using direct and alternating current sources. Consolidated core samples were procured from different terrains of producing oilfields in Nigeria. Characterized samples in terms of porosities and permeabilities conformed to existing trends. However, clay minerals embedded in acquired samples resulted in lower values of formation resistivity factor. Deduced formation resistivity factors show acceptable values in the range of 3.55–10.26. Geometric tortuosity factor was adopted to evaluate the tortuous nature of Niger delta porous media due to electrical conductivity. Results obtained for geometric tortuosity factors were all < 1. This was used to infer the highly tortuous and sinuous nature of consolidated Niger delta formations. Furthermore, experimental data were subjected to multivariate regression analysis model of second order. All deduced mathematical formulations were comparatively analyzed with existing geometric tortuosity factor models. Mathematical models show reasonable forecast ability for prescribed porosity range with corrected Akaike's Information Criteria difference of 0.98 and 1.59. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Much of the confusing ecophenotypic plasticity of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato is attributable to the differential biological traits of the sibling species, with their heterogeneous geographical distribution, behavioral dissimilarities and divergent population dynamics. These differences are critical to their roles in malaria transmission. Studies were, therefore, undertaken on the spatial distribution of these species and malaria prevalence rates in Bayelsa State, September, 2008-August 2010. Methods Mosquito sampling was in 7 towns/villages in 7 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 3 ecovegetational zones: Fresh Water Swamp Forest (FWSF): Sagbama, Yenagoa, Kolokuma- Opokuma LGAs; Brackish Water Swamp Forest (BWSF): Ogbia, Ekeremor, Southern Ijaw LGAs; Mangrove Water Forest (MWF): Nembe LGA. Adults were collected twice quarterly by the Pyrethrum Spray Catch (PSC) technique. Anopheles was separated morphologically and the sibling species PCR- identified. Simultaneously, malaria prevalence rates were calculated from data obtained by the examination of blood smears from consenting individuals at hospitals/ clinics. Results An. gambiae s.s. was dominant across the 3-eco-vegetational zones. Spatial distribution analyses by cell count and nearest neighbor techniques indicated a tendency to clustering of species. An. gambiae s.s. and An. arabiensis clustered in Ekeremor LGA while these 2 species and An. melas aggregated in Nembe. The gonotrophic (physiological) status examination revealed that 34.3, 23.5, 23.1 and 18.4% of the population were fed, unfed, gravid and half gravid respectively. The highest malaria prevalence rates were obtained at Kolokuma-Opokuma and Nembe LGAs. Variation in prevalence rates among LGAs was significant (t = 5.976, df = 6, p-value = 0.002, p < 0.05). The highest prevalence rate was in the age group, 30-39 yrs, while the lowest prevalence was in the 0-9 yrs group. Conclusion High malaria prevalence rates were associated with An. gambiae s.s. either in allopatry or sympatry across eco-vegetational zones. In areas where the sibling species clustered, they probably formed nidi for transmission. Socio-economic conditions might have contributed to reduced prevalence in Yenagoa, State Capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the rule of law founded on constitutionalism is central to the wave of democratisation that swept across the globe in the last decades of the 20th century, Africa remains trapped in internal frictions and conflicts. Democratisation of Africa exhibits rudimentary rule of law comprising mere electoralism and profusion of incivility. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, seems to be forfeiting an opportunity to be the largest democracy in the region due to growing institutionalisation of incivility and violence by state institutions charged with maintaining law and order. This article examines the nature and extent of violation of the principles and practice of the rule of law and democracy by the state institutions (police, army and security agencies). It analyses selected aspects of their images and public representation. It is argued that major political and social institutional reforms are urgently required to make Nigeria's current situation to conform to the demands of democracy and the rule of law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing offences within and beyond national territories challenge modern societies and justify the creation of the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime. Similarly challenged are specialised institutions mandated to monitor, apprehend, prosecute offenders and administer justice related to these offences within the national systems. Offences committed using ocean-going vessels and barges within Nigeria's territorial waters (2002-08) are analysed in this article. The findings reveal that the national territorial waters in Southeastern part of the country under the operation of NNS Pathfinder (Port Harcourt) are frequented by a large number of vessels perpetrating illegal bunkering. Similarly, several vessels suspected to be involved in illegal bunkering were most common in Southwestern (Warri or NNS Delta) province. While owners of the vessels suspected of illegal bunkering in the NNS Delta area instituted legal proceedings aimed at recovering their properties, most of those vessels perpetrating such illegal activities in the Southeastern (Port Harcourt) area failed to undertake legal proceedings. Policy implications of this study are that monitoring of offences perpetrated by ocean-going vessels should be intensified around southeastern Nigeria, which call for the strengthening of the country's law enforcing institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: In correction of angular deformities of the spine, assessment of spinal curvature from radiographs is important. The methods used for such assessment vary from simple to sophisticated techniques depending on the facilities that are available. There is the need to use a simple, yet reliable method in a health care setting with limited resources. To ascertain the level of concordance between two manual methods of measuring the spinal curvature of spinal angular deformities. Method: The traditional protractor method and the goniometer method were used to measure the angle of curvature in seventy standard erect anteroposterior and lateral spine radiographs of patients who had thoracic and thoracolumbar scoliosis or kyphosis and were managed in 4 tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. Correlation analysis was then applied to determine the association between both methods, with the level of significance set at p<0.01. Result: A strong association between the two manual methods was obtained for both kyphosis and scoliosis (r= 0.99; p> 0.01). Measurement variability increased with magnitude of curvature. Conclusion: The traditional protractor method as well as the goniometer method has clinical utility but for practical purposes, the goniometer should be preferred to the protractor method of measuring spinal curvature because of its simplicity and that it obviates intrinsic sources of error associated with the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intestinal parasitic helminth infections of man in Bonny and Isiokpo communities were studied between May 1992 and March 1994. Of the 2008 stool samples examined from Bonny community, 503 (25.0%) were infected. 305 (26.7%) of these infections were males while 198 (22.9%) were females. Ascaris lumbricoides (24.1%) occurred most frequently, followed by Hookworms (18.0%), Trichuris trichiura (17.3%,) Strongyloides stercoralis (10.1%) and Enterobius vermicularis (0.1%). Peak infection (41.7%) was recorded for the males in (10-14) years age bracket. The use of bush as a toilet facility had the highest parasitic infection (38.3%), followed by that of shoreline (35.3%), pit (33.3%), Bucket (27.8%) and of water closet (7.5%). Degree of infection relative to source of drinking water showed that well water was associated with highest infection (43.3%) while the pipe borne water was the lowest (18.0%). From Isiokpo community 2,462 stool samples were examined for intestinal parasites 1,633 (66.3%) people were infected consisting of 862 (64.8%) males and 771 (68.2%) females. Higher parasitic infection of females in this community was attributed to the cultural and occupational factors. Frequency of occurrence of individual helminth was as follows: A-lumbricoides (64.5%), T. trichiura (59.4%), Hookworms (58.8%), S. stercoralis (25.1%), Hymenolepsis nana (2.9%) and E. vermicularis (0.3%). Prevalence of infection was significantly higher in Isiokpo than in Bonny because the climatic and edaphic factors were conducive to larval development and infectivity. On the contrary, the saline soil and surface water of Bonny community constituted harsh environmental conditions inimical to larval development and infectivity. Observations on parasitic infections in relation to toilet facilities and source of drinking water were similar to those made in Bonny. The study therefore demonstrated that the provision of pipe borne water and water closet facilities in rural Niger Delta communities could reduce helminth infections of man.

A Parasitology survey was conducted in Sagbama Community of the Niger Delta to determine the pattern of infection of intestinal parasites of man. 280 faecal samples were collected from randomly selected individuals and examined microscopically for ova, larvae and cysts of intestinal parasites. The overall infection rate was 33.6%. The frequency of the parasites encountered was as follows: Ascaris lumbricoides (18.2%). Entamoeba histolytica (6.4%). Hookworm (5.4%). Trichuris trichiura (3.5%), strongyloides stercoralis (3.5%), Schistosoma intercalatum (2.5%), Enterobius vermicularis (1.4%), Fasciola hepatic (0.7%) and Hymenolepis nana (0.4%). The rate of infection (41.1%) was highest in the 6--15 years old age bracket and lowest in the age group above 45 years. Prevalence rate of the males (37.1%) was statistically different from prevalence rate of the females (28.3%) at (P > 0.01). Percentage infection in relation to type of toilet facilities showed that the use of "Bush" as convenience carried the highest rate of parasitic infection (42.0%) followed by the use of stream/river (36.6%). Individuals who used pit, bucket and water closet as toilet facilities had infection rates of 27.7%, 20.9% and 15.5% respectively. Rate of infection in relation to source of drinking water showed that river/stream, wall/pond and pipe borne water had 35.9%, 32.8% and 12.5% respectively. The present study demonstrated that the type of toilet facilities and source of drinking water, among others, are important determinants of the level of parasitic infection in a rural village setting.

Studies on Urinary schistosomiasis and its snail vector was undertaken between October 1991 and September 1992 in Odau. Of the 890 urine specimens examined 514 (57.8%) were infected. 235 (45.7%) were excreting under 100 eggs per 10ml urine, 167 (32.5%) were excreting between 100-500 eggs per 10ml urine while 112 (21.7%) were excreting more than 500 eggs in 10ml of urine. Of the 514 infected persons 336 (60.5%) were males and 178 (53.1%) were females. Overall peak infection (78.7%) occurred in 10-14 years group. Male infection peaked (83.7%) in the 15-19 age bracket while peak infection in the females (73.1%) was in 10-14 years age group. Two snail vectors, Bulinus globosus and Bulinus forskalii, were collected from the study area. Bulinus forskalii was not infected with cercarise of schistosome throughout the study period. B globosus was found infected with furcereus cercariae believed to be human schistosomes. Population trend of Bulinus globosus was closely studied and observed to be related to infection with schistosome cercaria. Two broad transmission foci were located. One was in the village ponds where more children were infected. The other was in the pits, ditches and swamps in the plantations where the adults were infected. Control of schistosome infection through chemotherapy will best be achieved by January because immediate reinfection of parasites is not possible owing to the drying out of the ponds in January and February. And control of the snail vectors will be best in March and April because a large proportion of snail population is young and highly vulnerable to molluscicide attacks.