This thesis argues that an effective way to curb the significant problem of environmental degradation in Nigeria‘s Niger Delta region and preserve its environment for posterity is by changing the ethic underlying environmental protection laws in Nigeria to a less anthropocentric one. The wanton degradation has several causes including an overly anthropocentric view of law, life and the natural world. The Nigerian environmental legal order is flawed in the following ways: non-justiciability of Constitutional provisions on environmental matters; insufficient deterrence of some sanctions or inadequate enforcement of others; inadequate compensation; insufficient use of injunctive relief; and difficulty of victims of environmental degradation in the region to be availed by relevant foreign regimes due to lack of financial resources, ignorance, poor education, insufficiency of legal and scientific resources and inadequate action by Government law officers. The thesis explores some improvements that have been suggested in existing literature which should be adopted to make the extant system work better. It however argues that the impact of such reforms would be enhanced if the ethic underlying the Nigerian environmental protection laws is changed to a less anthropocentric one; and one way of doing so is to constitutionalize nature‘s right to exist for posterity. This right will be enforceable by individuals, Non-Governmental Organisations and Environmental Protection Agencies, any or all of whom will act as a ‘guardian’ for nature in a specialist environmental court. This is the ‘new’ contribution of this thesis as regards Nigeria. This proposal will however not be a ‘magic bullet’ but can help promote social change so long as there is genuine involvement of all categories of stakeholders - government and non-governmental institutions, communities and private sector organizations.

Nigeria, like many nations of the world, is confronted with a high level of poverty. Over the years the country has taken several initiatives to reduce the incidence of poverty. Nigeria was one of the earliest countries to adopt the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs] as a strategy in reducing poverty and promoting development across the vast nation. The federating states have also rolled out a number of poverty reduction programmes tailored along the millennium development goals. This study, therefore, evaluates the achievement of the millennium development poverty reduction target in Ogun State, South west Nigeria. The study seeks to ascertain whether the state was able to significantly reduce poverty with the introduction of the MDGs. The study also attempts to establish difference or similarity (if any) between past poverty reduction policies in the state and the MDGs poverty reduction strategies. In carrying out this study, related literature on poverty, development and poverty reduction efforts (strategies and programmes) implemented in the state were extensively reviewed and relevant information retrieved for the study. This study employed the mixed method research, comprising both the quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data through the administration of a questionnaire was obtained from 232 respondents. While in-depth interview with seven participants provided the qualitative data. Quantitative data was analyzed using Descriptive statistics, and chi-square statistical technique was used to analyze the quantitative data while qualitative data analysis was carried out using transcription and thematic clusters. The findings of the study, in general, revealed that the MDG poverty reduction strategy did not make any significant contribution in reducing poverty in the state. The MDG strategy was not any different from past poverty reduction strategies implemented in the state. The findings of the research also strongly indicated that there was low awareness regarding the MDGs poverty reduction strategies set up amongst the citizens of the state. The low awareness emerged as a major hindrance to the success of the MDG programme. Based on the findings of this study, a sustainable development poverty reduction model was developed. The model gives room for programme awareness; people’s consultation and participation. It emphasizes the need to consider the community setting or environment factors in the planning and execution of poverty reduction programme. This model contend that aligning strategies to the peculiar need of each environment is a critical component for the sustenance of any poverty reduction programme.

The giant Pascua Au-Ag-Cu high-sulphidation system is located in the El Indio belt in north-central Chile, and is hosted mainly by Triassic granitic rocks and locally by Miocene breccia bodies. Hydrothermal activity involved two distinct high-sulphidation alteration stages, the later of which was accompanied by main stage mineralization. The early hydrothermal activity consisted of extensive and pervasive advanced argillic alteration, local development of vuggy silica and distal argillic to propylitic alteration. This alteration was locally overprinted by an intermediate stage comprising argillic alteration, silicification and primary jarosite, more or less contemporaneously with the formation of Brecha Central, the main breccia body in the deposit. The superimposed second major hydrothermal event produced significant advanced argillic and vuggy silica alteration. The latter likely formed at pH near 0 owing to the limited buffering capacity of previously altered rocks. Termination of the second stage of alteration coincided with the main Au-Ag-Cu mineralizing event, in which Au dissolved in pyrite and enargite, formed inclusions in these minerals, and precipitated as isolated grains of native gold. Detailed EPMA and SIMS imaging and analyses of pyrite and enargite show that both contain Au, Ag, As, Cu, Se and Te and that their distribution is crystallographically controlled. The main trace element associations in the mineralized pyrite are As-Ag, Au-Cu and Se-Te. I suggest that the first two, As-Ag and Au-Cu, were the result of coupled substitution in the Fe site, whereas Te and Se replace S by direct anion exchange. The nature of the coupled substitutions observed in the gold-bearing pyrite underlines the fact that gold is not necessarily coupled with arsenic as previously thought and that arsenic can behave as a metal in the structure of pyrite. Approximately 55% of the gold in the deposit was scavenged from mineralizing fluids that were mainly under-saturated with respect to native gold and trapped into the structure of pyrite and enargite (50 and 5%, respectively). The remaining 45%, including - 7% as inclusions in sulphides, precipitated mainly in the form of native gold with lesser calaverite for which the gold depositional mechanism is interpreted to be an increase in pH that destabilized AuHS and AuCb". Substantial late-stage Ag-enrichment, characterized by halogen-bearing phases, is evident in the upper parts of the deposit and overprints previous alteration and mineralization. The silver enrichment event is interpreted to represent the waning stage of the hydrothermal system. Secondary leaching and weathering of pyrite, enargite and alunite created two supergene products, one dominated by secondary soluble sulphates such as voltaite, massive coquimbite, chalcanthite, and romerite, and one by jarosite. Abundant sulphides in vuggy silica altered rocks, which lacked the capacity to neutralize later oxidizing fluids, were the main locus of formation of the soluble sulphates. Elsewhere, the pH likely rose above 1, which inhibited precipitation of soluble sulphates and favoured formation of jarosite. Direct-ion SIMS images and trace element analyses of soluble sulphates indicate that these minerals likely contain gold in their structures.

No description available.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Due to inadequate financial resources and lack of managerial skills, in this case study the local level of governance does not have appropriate mechanisms to manage their resources adequately. It is observed that the Nigerian government cannot provide all basic amenities for the people at the grass-root level of development. Following the above scenario, rural communities do not have access to basic amenities such as electricity and pipe borne water. In Nigeria, little research has been done with regard to sustainable development in rural electrification. This study is based on the impact of community and individual participation in a rural electrification project, and shows how sustainable development plays a leading role. The study is based on a rural electrification project initiated and facilitated in 1996, and was completed in 2000 by the Ipari-Efugo Otukpa community members in Benue State in the North Central part of Nigeria. In spite of prevailing poverty in rural areas, Ipari-Efugo community members were able to be responsible for their own development without government intervention. The research includes literature studies of rural electrification projects and demonstrates how participation and sustainable development can lead to a successful community project. Irrespective of obstacles such as poverty and lack of economic empowerment, Ipari- Efugo community members are resilient and were able to provide electricity. Access to electricity can serve as a prerequisite for economic development and growth. The benefits accruable from the use of electricity outweigh the costs of providing the amenity to the community. Participation through sustainable development remains the core instrument responsible for the completion of the electricity project in Ipari-Efugo. This study encourages rural communities to take responsibility for their own development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: As gevolg van onvoldoende finansiële middele en 'n gebrek aan bestuursvaardighede, in die gevallestudie beskik die plaaslike regering nie oor die toepaslike meganismes om hulle hulpbronne na behore te bestuur nie. Boonop blyk dit dat nasionale regerings nie alle basiese geriewe aan diegene op voetsoolvlak kan voorsien nie. Die genoemde scenario impliseer dus dat landelike gemeenskappe nie toegang het tot basiese geriewe soos elektrisiteit en kraanwater nie. In Nigerië word weinig navorsing gedoen op die gebied van volhoubare ontwikkeling in landelike elektrisiteitsvoorsiening. Hierdie studie is gebaseer op die impak van gemeenskaps- en individuele deelname aan 'n landelike elektrisiteitsvoorsieningsprojek, en toon hoe volhoubare ontwikkeling 'n toonaangewende rol hierin speel. Die studie spruit uit 'n landelike elektrifiseringsprojek wat in 2000 deur die gemeenskap van Ipari-Efugo Otukpa in die staat Benue in die noordelik-sentrale deel van Nigerië aangevoer en gefasiliteer is. Ondanks die heersende armoede in landelike gebiede, het lede van die Ipari-Efugo gemeenskap sonder die tussenkoms van die regering verantwoordelikheid vir hulle eie ontwikkeling aanvaar. Die navorsing sluit literatuurstudies van landelike elektrisiteitsvoorsieningsprojekte in, en demonstreer hoe deelname en volhoubare ontwikkeling tot 'n suksesvolle gemeenskapsprojek kan aanleiding gee. Ongeag struikelblokke soos armoede en 'n gebrek aan ekonomiese bemagtiging, was die lede van die Ipari-Efugo gemeenskap vasberade en kon hulle uiteindelik elektrisiteit aan die gemeenskap verskaf. Toegang tot elektrisiteit kan as 'n voorvereiste vir ekonomiese ontwikkeling en groei dien. Die voordele verbonde aan elektrisiteitsverbruik oortref uiteindelik by verre die koste verbonde aan die voorsiening van hierdie gerief aan die gemeenskap. Deelname by wyse van volhoubare ontwikkeling bly die sleutelinstrument vir die voltooiing van die elektrisiteitsprojek in Ipari-Efugo. Hierdie studie moedig landelike gemeenskappe aan om verantwoordelikheid vir hulle eie ontwikkeling te aanvaar.

Thesis submitted to the Wits Business School, Faculty of Commerce, Law, and Management, in fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctorate Degree in Entrepreneurship University of the Witwatersrand September 2016 / Many research findings have highlighted the importance of numerous sustainability factors needed for the growth and development of entrepreneurship. Sustainability factors such as finance, environmental stability, and good management practices determine the likely success of entrepreneurial activities. These factors are sometimes referred to as success factors and have been found to boost entrepreneurial activities as well as enhance the industrialisation process in many economies. Interestingly, entrepreneurship evolves across distinctive phases from conception to becoming a full-fledged enterprise, with sustainability factors determining the extent of success in each identifiable phase. This study was, therefore, designed to ascertain the most crucial sustainability factors necessary for navigating through entrepreneurship phases in two major emerging economies in Africa- Nigeria and South Africa. It was also designed to estimate the probability of successfully moving from one entrepreneurship phase to another, with a comparative analysis of the findings from these distinctly representative economies. Primary data was collected through administration of questionnaire to and in-depth interviews of selected respondents in the commercial capital cities of the two sample economies- Lagos and Johannesburg. STATA and Atlas Ti were used for the quantitative and qualitative analysis, respectively. The quantitative analysis was in two stages; stage one involved descriptive statistics while stage two involved inferential statistics. The results showed that relevant sustainability factors vary across entrepreneurship phases, and were peculiar to either economy. Further, some similarities exist in the sustainability factors relevant in identical phases in both economies. The results also confirmed that some factors are more crucial than others in some entrepreneurship phases. Furthermore, the probability estimates of moving from one entrepreneurship phase to another in both economies revealed the most volatile and least volatile phases in the entrepreneurship evolution. Based on the findings of this study, some policy suggestions are made, and areas for further research are identified. Financial and non-financial supports are also recommended for entrepreneurs in the volatile phases. Given the relative importance of the sustainability xii factors in each entrepreneurship phase and economy, the policy makers and other stakeholders would be aware of the core areas to channel necessary interventions. Many research findings have highlighted the importance of numerous sustainability factors needed for the growth and development of entrepreneurship. Sustainability factors such as finance, environmental stability, and good management practices determine the likely success of entrepreneurial activities. These factors are sometimes referred to as success factors and have been found to boost entrepreneurial activities as well as enhance the industrialisation process in many economies. Interestingly, entrepreneurship evolves across distinctive phases from conception to becoming a full-fledged enterprise, with sustainability factors determining the extent of success in each identifiable phase. This study was, therefore, designed to ascertain the most crucial sustainability factors necessary for navigating through entrepreneurship phases in two major emerging economies in Africa- Nigeria and South Africa. It was also designed to estimate the probability of successfully moving from one entrepreneurship phase to another, with a comparative analysis of the findings from these distinctly representative economies. Primary data was collected through administration of questionnaire to and in-depth interviews of selected respondents in the commercial capital cities of the two sample economies- Lagos and Johannesburg. STATA and Atlas Ti were used for the quantitative and qualitative analysis, respectively. The quantitative analysis was in two stages; stage one involved descriptive statistics while stage two involved inferential statistics. The results showed that relevant sustainability factors vary across entrepreneurship phases, and were peculiar to either economy. Further, some similarities exist in the sustainability factors relevant in identical phases in both economies. The results also confirmed that some factors are more crucial than others in some entrepreneurship phases. Furthermore, the probability estimates of moving from one entrepreneurship phase to another in both economies revealed the most volatile and least volatile phases in the entrepreneurship evolution. Based on the findings of this study, some policy suggestions are made, and areas for further research are identified. Financial and non-financial supports are also recommended for entrepreneurs in the volatile phases. Given the relative importance of the sustainability xii factors in each entrepreneurship phase and economy, the policy makers and other stakeholders would be aware of the core areas to channel necessary interventions. Many research findings have highlighted the importance of numerous sustainability factors needed for the growth and development of entrepreneurship. Sustainability factors such as finance, environmental stability, and good management practices determine the likely success of entrepreneurial activities. These factors are sometimes referred to as success factors and have been found to boost entrepreneurial activities as well as enhance the industrialisation process in many economies. Interestingly, entrepreneurship evolves across distinctive phases from conception to becoming a full-fledged enterprise, with sustainability factors determining the extent of success in each identifiable phase. This study was, therefore, designed to ascertain the most crucial sustainability factors necessary for navigating through entrepreneurship phases in two major emerging economies in Africa- Nigeria and South Africa. It was also designed to estimate the probability of successfully moving from one entrepreneurship phase to another, with a comparative analysis of the findings from these distinctly representative economies. Primary data was collected through administration of questionnaire to and in-depth interviews of selected respondents in the commercial capital cities of the two sample economies- Lagos and Johannesburg. STATA and Atlas Ti were used for the quantitative and qualitative analysis, respectively. The quantitative analysis was in two stages; stage one involved descriptive statistics while stage two involved inferential statistics. The results showed that relevant sustainability factors vary across entrepreneurship phases, and were peculiar to either economy. Further, some similarities exist in the sustainability factors relevant in identical phases in both economies. The results also confirmed that some factors are more crucial than others in some entrepreneurship phases. Furthermore, the probability estimates of moving from one entrepreneurship phase to another in both economies revealed the most volatile and least volatile phases in the entrepreneurship evolution. Based on the findings of this study, some policy suggestions are made, and areas for further research are identified. Financial and non-financial supports are also recommended for entrepreneurs in the volatile phases. Given the relative importance of the sustainability xii factors in each entrepreneurship phase and economy, the policy makers and other stakeholders would be aware of the core areas to channel necessary interventions. / GR2018

Since the discovery of oil in Nigeria, way back in 1950s, the country has invariably suffered some negative environmental consequences such as oil pollution resulting from gas flaring and oil extraction, loss of mangrove trees, which before now was a source of livelihood for the indigenous people and habitat for the area’s biodiversity. Oil production activities have caused contamination of marine life, and habitat, which in turn have had negative consequences on the health of humans, who consume the sea food. Inadequate attention had been paid by the successive Governments of Nigeria and the oil companies to these environmental problems over the years. In this study, an assessment of the effects of oil and gas exploration and exploitation on the nearby communities in some of Chevron’s operational areas was carried out using the Ugborodo community as a case study. Furthermore, investigations were carried out on the toxicity effects of the Escravos crude oil on aquatic organisms like Tilapia and a terrestrial organism such as the Earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris,). The study established the effect and the impact of crude oil when exposed to such organisms mentioned above. The rate of death of barbus fingerlings of Tilapia and the Earthworm (Lumbricus Terrestris) at different concentrations of crude oil was determined and reported. The community survey undertaken by polling data shows the dwindling of the natural resources of the area due to oil exploration and the survey indicate the impacts on natural resources from pollution by crude oil and the consequences on the affected communities using the Ugborodo community in the Chevron’s Nigeria Limited Operational base as a case study. / Environmental Sciences / M.Sc. (Environmental Management)

Since the discovery of oil in Nigeria, way back in 1950s, the country has invariably suffered some negative environmental consequences such as oil pollution resulting from gas flaring and oil extraction, loss of mangrove trees, which before now was a source of livelihood for the indigenous people and habitat for the area’s biodiversity. Oil production activities have caused contamination of marine life, and habitat, which in turn have had negative consequences on the health of humans, who consume the sea food. Inadequate attention had been paid by the successive Governments of Nigeria and the oil companies to these environmental problems over the years. In this study, an assessment of the effects of oil and gas exploration and exploitation on the nearby communities in some of Chevron’s operational areas was carried out using the Ugborodo community as a case study. Furthermore, investigations were carried out on the toxicity effects of the Escravos crude oil on aquatic organisms like Tilapia and a terrestrial organism such as the Earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris,). The study established the effect and the impact of crude oil when exposed to such organisms mentioned above. The rate of death of barbus fingerlings of Tilapia and the Earthworm (Lumbricus Terrestris) at different concentrations of crude oil was determined and reported. The community survey undertaken by polling data shows the dwindling of the natural resources of the area due to oil exploration and the survey indicate the impacts on natural resources from pollution by crude oil and the consequences on the affected communities using the Ugborodo community in the Chevron’s Nigeria Limited Operational base as a case study. / Environmental Sciences / M.Sc. (Environmental Management)