The study investigated the effectiveness of Problem-based learning (PBL) in the Further Mathematics classrooms in Nigeria within the blueprint of pre-test-post-test non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design. The target population consisted of all Further Mathematics students in the Senior Secondary School year one in Ijebu division of Ogun State, Nigeria. Using purposive and simple random sampling techniques, two schools were selected from eight schools that were taking Further Mathematics. One school was randomly assigned as the experimental while the other as the control school. Intact classes were used and in all, 96 students participated in the study (42 in the experimental group taught by the researcher with the PBL and 54 in the control group taught by the regular Further Mathematics teacher using the Traditional Method (TM)). Four research questions and four research hypotheses were raised, answered, and tested in the study. Four research instruments namely pre-test manipulated at two levels: Researcher-Designed Test (RDT) (r = 0.87) and Teacher- Made Test (TMT) (r = 0.88); post-test manipulated at two levels: RDT and TMT; pre-treatment survey of Students Beliefs about Further Mathematics Questionnaire (SBFMQ) (r = 0.86); and post-treatment survey of SBFMQ were developed for the study. The study lasted thirteen weeks (three weeks for pilot study and ten weeks for main study) and data collected were analysed using Mean, Standard deviation, Independent Samples t-test statistic, and Analysis of Variance. Results showed that there were statistically significant differences in the mean post-test achievement scores on TMT (t=-3.58, p<0.05), mean post-test achievement scores on RDT (t=-5.92, p<0.05) and mean post-treatment scores on SBFMQ (t=-6.22, p<0.05) between students exposed to the PBL and those exposed to the TM, all in favour of the PBL group. Results also revealed that there was statistically significant difference in the post-test achievement scores on TMT at knowledge (t= -23.97, p<0.05) and application (t= -11.41, p<0.05) but not at comprehension (t= -0.50, p>0.05, ns) levels of cognition between students exposed to the PBL and the TM. Based on the results, the study recommended that the PBL should be adopted as alternative instructional strategy to the TM in enhancing meaningful learning in Further Mathematics classrooms and efforts should be made to integrate the philosophy of PBL into the pre-service teachers’ curriculum at the teacher-preparation institutions in Nigeria. / Science and Technology Education / D. Phil. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

With the current trends in integrated management of childhood diseases in developing countries, it is important to resolve the controversies of coinfections between helminths and malaria, and properly evaluate the epidemiology of diarrhegenic parasites with molecular study, which sometimes cause overlapping infections. Again, the major challenge facing the global success of mass deworming initiative aimed at controlling helminths is lack of sustainability due to limited donor funds. We therefore decided to evaluate the effectiveness of a school based deworming program using only the school teachers without spending money on training and logistics. Demographic information, height and weight were measured and stool samples were collected from pupils in a semi-rural area of Nigeria during the initial visit by the study team. Malaria cases were recorded over a 3 month malaria transmission period prior to stool sampling. Four hundred and seventy six (33%) of the study population was infected with one Soil transmitted helminth (STH) or the other, especially with Askaris lumbricoides (26.0%) and Hookworm (8.4%). We found a negative association between malaria and STH in this community. Helminth infection rate of 18.3% was observed in children with malaria compared to 34.4% in controls. We also found a high carriage rate of Giardia (37.2%), low Cryptosporidium (1%) and no E. histolytica infection contrary to previous studies that were based on traditional diagnostic techniques. There was 7.9% reduction in the number children with low weight-for-age in the helminth infected children at 6 months after mass deworming, the number of uninfected children with low weight-for-age also reduced by 3.2%. There was also a reduction in the number of children with more than 25% absenteeism among both helminth infected (13.9%) as well as uninfected (7.2%). The association between malaria and STH in our study calls for the need for integrated approach to health problem in Africa instead of the common vertical campaigns. Results from our molecular study also shows the need to strengthen collaborations between researchers from developed and developing countries to be able to map out the true epidemiology of these parasites and hopefully produce novel, inexpensive diagnostics that circumvent the need for advance technological infrastructure

China’s economic expansion in recent years is one of the most important geopolitical developments of the 21st century (Mockli, 2007). More interestingly, Africa relations with China continue to be of keen concern to many, precisely because these two countries have been humiliated severely during the years of colonialism. This study examines, to the extent possible, Chinese changing foreign policy and resource diplomacy towards Africa, using Nigeria as a case study specifically looking at socio–economic issues. The study uses the Hegemonic Stability Theory as a framework of analysis. While the method of data collection is premised on existing qualitative and quantitative analysis on Africa–China relations, faceto- face interviews and one telephonic interview with an expert on Africa–China relations were conducted as a method of gathering new data. The present study, finds that China’s economic expansion can be detrimental to Africa in many ways. For instance, China continues to export to Africa cheap manufactured goods, while extracting raw materials to fuel its own industrialization. This situation works against intra–Africa trade, which could potentially address the socio–economic issues facing the continent. However, to maintain its resource supply and stable market, China’s foreign policy of ‘non–interference’ has changed significantly, particularly towards Africa. For example, China recently opened its first military base in Africa. This study argues that, because of the above mentioned arguments, the repercussions of the Africa–China relations could be dangerous for Africa since the continent is not really benefiting from these dealings. Furthermore, this study notes that China is contributing negatively towards the socio–economic development of Nigeria, despite the fact that it provides Nigeria with aid and loans, primarily for infrastructure projects. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

The research explores the escalation of the herder-farmer conflict in Nigeria to identify the significant patterns of escalation. Relying on a mixed-method analysis of secondary data and aligning with the analytical anchorage of dynamic systems theory, the research argues that the although Benue and Enugu observe the same herder-farmer the patterns of conflict escalation is neither similar, linear or recurrent. This research submits ethnoreligious antagonism, lawlessness, and exclusionary politics as reasons why the conflict escalated into widespread violence. Adding that each of these elements self- reinforces and influence each other to sustain a coordinated state of violence or maintain peace. It makes a case for pragmatic policies that captures the history and political, economic, and social interaction of states and local government.

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This thesis seeks to establish the levels of population densities, beyond which excessive pressure of population on land would occur in parts of Owerri Province, Nigeria. These Critical Population Densities are determined using Allan's Model. The results of an original field survey and questionnaire provided the information for calculating land requirement per head of the population, and for estimating the carrying-capacity of land. Certain normative hypotheses relating some variables in agricultural land use to elements of farm structure are tested. Other tests are also performed to determine the relative degree of importance of the variables associated with acreage per head cultivated in the province in 1971. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

Nigeria, a former colony of Britain gained its independence on October l, 1960. Since the country's independence, it has experienced a prolonged military rule punctuated by short democratic regimes, but since 1999 it has managed to sustain a stable democratically elected government. Nigeria is a nation blessed with vast oil and other resources but the World Bank estimates that almost 70% of the Nigerian people live below the poverty level. A great potential for growth exits in this country of about 140 million people but there seems to be a missing wire needed to spark the fires of economic development. The Nigerian economic environment has not been very conducive to foreign direct investment due to problems with corruption and other obstacles to foreign investment. It is imperative that the financial sector be developed in Nigeria to provide a catalyst for a sustainable economic development in the country. While the banking sector should not be the only focus of a country's financial system, the banking sector has always been dominant in the Nigerian financial scene and evidence suggest that this will remain so at least until a capable capital-market can be developed to support it. This thesis seeks to analyze the critical role of banking in the economic development of Nigeria.