This is the official Book of Proceedings (BOPs) for the FULAFIA Annual International Conference held annually. This BOPs contains articles from the Arts and Humanities, Science and Technology tracks of the Annual conference.
Artificial Intelligence in Crop Protection: An Emerging Force for Sustainable Food Security
The world faces unprecedented challenges in ensuring global food security while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Crop protection plays a vital role in addressing these challenges. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a transformative force in crop protection, offering innovative solutions to optimize crop yields, reduce chemical usage and promote eco-friendly farming practices. This paper explores AI-driven crop protection technologies, including machine learning (ML) models for pest identification, predictive analytics for early warnings, and AI-powered drones for precision pesticide application. The paper highlights real-world applications, challenges, and future prospects of AI in agriculture, emphasizing its role in achieving sustainable food security.
Human Resource Management practices on the Performance of Employees in a selected Hospitality Sector in Abuja
In a vibrant situation, existence and prosperity are grounded on excellence distribution procedure, which is principally reliant on the skills and competences of the individuals within organizations. The skills and aptitudes of the workers in any organizations could be enriched through appropriate practice of human resource management. The objective of this study was to evaluate human resource management practices on the performance of employees in selected hospitality sector in Abuja. Data were collected using adapted instrument (questionnaire) on past research related to human resource management practices on the performance of employee in organizations. Furthermore, sample size for this study was 57 employees with the population of 245. Hypotheses formulated in null form were tested using multiple regression analysis for the analysis of data for this study. The tested hypotheses for training showed positive significant effect of training on the performance of employees in the hospitality sector in Abuja. Tested hypothesis for performance evaluation also revealed a positive significant effect of performance evaluation on the performance of employees in the hospitality sector in Abuja. This study would help the owners of hospitality sector in Abuja to identify grey areas which they could improve on, particularly the training needs of their employees, in order to increase their productivity. This study concluded that if owners of hospitality sector in Abuja would make effective use of the human resource management practices, it would be able to achieve the overall objectives of the organization in getting the best output from the employees. This can improve the efficiencies of staff in discharging their duties and responsibilities. The study recommends that the owners of hospitality sector in Abuja should give priority to training of their employees to enhance staff efficiency for attainment of organizational set objectives at minimal costs.
Social Science, Arts and Humanities Track
Copyright (c) 2026 Federal University of Lafia
Optimizing Federated Graph Attention Networks for Crop Disease Detection in Low-Resource Agricultural Environments
The growing integration of Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) in agriculture is revolutionizing how crop diseases are detected and managed. While centralized deep learning models have shown promising results in disease detection, their feasibility in low-resource agricultural environments is often limited by high communication overhead and data privacy risks. Federated Learning (FL) offers a decentralized solution to this challenge, though existing FL models struggle to handle heterogeneous data distributions that are common in real-world farm settings. This study introduces FeGAN, a Federated Graph Attention Network framework, optimized to improve wheat disease detection in resource-constrained agricultural systems. FeGAN combines adaptive attention mechanisms with communication-efficient aggregation techniques to enhance classification accuracy while minimizing bandwidth consumption. The model was evaluated using datasets from PlantVillage and PlantPAD Wheat Collections, containing diverse disease samples such as Brown Rust, Fusarium Head Blight, and Powdery Mildew. Experimental results demonstrate that FeGAN achieved 94% classification accuracy, outperforming traditional FL models which averaged 88–93%. Moreover, FeGAN reduced communication costs by 30% compared to baseline FL models while converging 40% faster. The model also demonstrated a 25% reduction in energy consumption, making it a suitable solution for deployment on edge devices in remote agricultural environments. FeGAN's scalability, improved efficiency, and privacy-preserving design offer a viable solution for AI-driven smart farming, ensuring accurate disease detection without compromising resource constraints. This study provides insights for developing sustainable agricultural intelligence systems that address the unique challenges of smallholder farmers and low-resource communities.
Performance Evaluation of Anaerobic Co- Digestion of Cow Dung and Bagasse for Biogas Production
Energy plays very important roles on the national security of any country; it has become a basic need for modern society to strive. In recent times, the cost of energy has increased significantly, due to a growing global demand for energy and the decreasing availability of fossil fuel sources. Many countries are adopting environmental policies promoting the production and consumption of alternative, sustainable and renewable energy sources. This thesis analyzed the biogas production from anaerobic co-digestion of Cow Dung and Sugarcane Bagasse; the experiment was conducted under a batch process at thirty (30) days retention time. Eight (8) number of 10 litres digesters are fed with Cow dung, Bagasse and inoculum of Rumen fluid at various mixtures for Digester 1: 0%SG:100% CD+ Inoculum. For Digester 2: 30%SG: 70%CD +Inoculum. For Digester 3: 70%SG:30%CD + Inoculum and Digester 4 100%SG:0% CD. Digester 5:0%CD:100% SG, Digester 6: 30%CD: 70%SG, Digester 7:70%CD:30%SG and Digester 8:0%SG:100% CD. The digestion process took place at room temperature for thirty (30) days under mesophilic (28 and 45oC) conditions. The proximate composition of the substrates before anaerobic digestion revealed D 1 had the highest Moisture content and Ash content (83.83), (12.83), D4 had highest Total Solid (51.22), D5 had highest Volatile Solid, Carbon content, and BOD of (10.83), (4.32), (2.40) respectively, D7 had the highest Nitrogen (2.93). After the anaerobic digestion D7 had the highest moisture content (89.42), D4 had the highest Total solid (31.8), D2 had the highest Volatile solid and Ash content of (9.63), (11.63) respectively. D5 had the highest Carbon content, Nitrogen, and BOD of (4.21), (3.11) and (200). From the analysis of the result after fermentation, anaerobic co- digestion of the Reactor 2 or Digester with the combination of 30%SG: 70%CD +Inoculum produces more volume of biogas. These values were either reduced or increased as a result of the breakdown of molecules during fermentation the substrate where subjected to ignition and where volatilized as when compared to before the broken down by microorganisms because the digestion is a microbial enhanced process.
A Phenomenological Study of the Place of Human Autonomy and Agency in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence has greatly influenced our modern society and is being incorporated into almost all facets of human life. The capabilities and possibilities of AI are endless but its use and safety has raised a lot of ethical questions. There are also concerns that AI will negatively impact humanity if it is not designed and used ethically. Ethical considerations in the design and use of AI is a recent and pertinent issue which designers and producers of AI need to consider because of the possibilities of its tremendous impact on humanity. The dilemma of the place of human autonomy and agency in this new age of artificial intelligence is a notable ethical issue which the paper seeks to address; will human dependence on AI lead to the reduction of human autonomy and agency in the future? Will our preference for efficiency and optimization lead to the replacement of humanlike traits with machinelike traits? Employing the existentialist framework, this paper sets out to explore the place of human autonomy and agency in the age of artificial intelligence, it identifies the impact of the adoption and use of AI on human freedom, it also advocates for a future without total reliance on AI. Adopting the phenomenological method, it seeks to establish that humanity must maintain control over AI to ensure its safety and that AI must be designed and produced in a way that it augments humanity and not made to replace humanity. This must be done to ensure that humanity does not become over dependent on AI in the future. The paper recommends that AI must be designed to align with human values to ensure the preservation of human autonomy and agency in a world that is increasingly becoming dependent on AI.
Copyright (c) 2025 FULAFIA IAC Book of Proceedings
Reconstructing the Ancient History of Drama through Afrocentric Lenses and AI Tools
Afrocentrics have argued against the attribution of the origin of ancient drama history to the West. In the literary and drama sphere, the authorship of Aristotle’s The Poetics and Plato’s The Republic remains attacked by the Afrocentrics. They (Afrocentrics) posit that the origin of ancient drama history attributed to the West is a product of Western-European hegemony. Afrocentrics refute the Greek authorship of The Poetics and The Republic, and this has presented a conundrum in the search for the true origin of ancient drama history. This reality necessitates the need for drama critics to investigate history and ascertain the validity of Afrocentric positions. History is constituted by voluminous data, and it is often onerous and cumbersome to sift through history in a bid to resolve a contention. This paper argues that AI and several AI tools can help to make the analysis of history less cumbersome, offering an opportunity for drama critics to easily interrogate historical data as they search for the true origin of ancient drama history. Utilising documentary observation methodology, this paper highlights the benefits of employing AI tools in the research and discourse on the origin of ancient drama history. It was realised in this paper that in collaboration with the use of AI tools to interrogate ancient historical data, researcher’s extent of personal study helps to validate conclusions arrived at by AI tools. This paper recommends that AI should be consciously but carefully incorporated into drama research as the world progresses technologically.
A Greener Spectroscopic Approach for the Quantification of Ketoconazole in Pharmaceutical Formulations
Ketoconazole as a synthetic imidazole derivative, has emerged as a significant therapeutic agent in the field of antifungal pharmacology. Its unique mechanism of action, pharmacokinetic properties and clinical efficacy have positioned it as an essential component in the treatment of various fungal diseases, leading it to gain significant attention in medical mycology. Unfortunately, incorrect dosage or wrong pharmaceutical formulations of ketoconazole drug, can cause adverse health effects, which may include the reduced efficacy, hepatotoxicity and other unintended side effects. However, most of the conventional methods followed for the quantification of ketoconazole active ingredient in pharmaceutical samples pose significant threat to environment, and are rendered undesirable and damaging to habitable environment. Hence, there is a need for coming up with safer analytical alternatives that minimize the discharge of hazardous chemicals. This research endeavours to address the multifaceted challenges by validating a developed spectrophotometric technique, offering reliable solution in promoting a green methodology for the quantitative determination of ketoconazole active ingredient. Sample solutions of 100 ppm, 50 ppm, 25 ppm, 12.5 ppm and 6.25 ppm were prepared in water for each of the four selected brands (Axo-1, Derm-2, Ketora-3 & Keta-4) and the absorbance of each solution was taken separately at a wavelength of 240 nm, using 1 cm cell. Calibration curve for each of the tested brands indicates a linear correlation between concentrations and measured absorbance, which simply validates the accuracy of this procedure. The research finally recommends engagement of more brands on this approach for further validation and accommodation.
Comparative Assessment on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Lafia Metropolis Residents on the use of Dichlorvos in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
The widespread use and misuse of dichlorvos, an organophosphate insecticide presents an important environmental and ecological problem in Nigeria. The use in both urban and rural areas against insects in residences, farms and storage facilities takes place within Lafia metropolis affecting both target and non-target insect species, and other animals including humans. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of residents of Lafia metropolis on the use of dichlorvos which is one among the numerous pesticides available in the open market. Data collection was achieved using a validated questionnaire distributed in four selected locations within Lafia metropolis in May 2021 and June 2023. Results showed that out of a total of 2,857 respondents, 1,392 (97.62%) had known dichlorvos in 2021 out of which 1,094 (78.59%) had used it themselves, while 1,422 (99.37%) had known dichlorvos in 2023 out of which 1,217 (85.58%) had used it indicating a significant increase in the period of study (p<0.05). Results also indicated that respondents learned to use dichlorvos majorly from family and friends in 2021 and 2023 (p<0.05; p=0.0014), while they applied it to farms, storage facilities and homes (p<0.05; p=0.0063) without protective clothing (p>0.05; p=0.219). Though the respondents indicated willingness to be trained on the proper use of dichlorvos (p<0.05; p=0.0397), the study further recommends constant monitoring of the distribution and sale to minimize any increase in dichlorvos misuse, which can impact negatively on the human health and environment.
Sign Language Communication Method an Identity in Deaf Community and Culture for Human Development
The paper looked at sign language as a manual system of communication commonly used by persons with hearing impairment. It is expressed through manual system using hand gestures and movement, body language and facial expressions instead of spoken words when the spoken words become impossible, not desirable or becomes difficult at stuttering. Sign Language is not universal as people who are deaf in different countries use different sign languages. It has it’s own distinct parts of hand shape, palm orientation, movement and location to create signs. Communications is the imparting or exchanging of information and knowledge by speaking, writing or the use of other medium like sign language and finger spelling. The paper went further to tease out deaf community as a group of people with similar medical problem which is hearing impairment or hearing loss or deafness, but also include their family members and sign language interpreters and view hearing impairment as a difference in human expression rather than a disability or disease. The paper again see deaf culture as a way of life, a set of social beliefs, behaviours, arts, traditions, history, value and shared institution of community that is influenced by deafness and which use sign language as their identity and main means of communication. The paper is concluded with the recommendations that the hearing world should encourage inclusivity with the deaf world. Treat them like fellow human beings in socio-economic development.
Copyright (c) 2024 FULAFIA IAC Book of Proceedings
Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Porcine Salmonella in Nasarawa state, North Central Nigeria
Salmonellosis is among the important zoonosis attracting global attention recently. The burden of this pathogen is rising due to antibiotics resistance threatening food safety, therapeutic outcomes and manpower productivity mostly in developing nations. The aim of this study was to determine the Antibiotic resistance profile of Porcine Salmonella in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A total of 637 freshly voided fecal samples were collected and subjected to culture and isolation according to methods described by Office International des epizooties (OIE). Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the isolates were determined against mostly used antibiotics in veterinary and human medicine. The Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that all the isolates were resistant to Erterpenem (100%),some highly resistant to Penicillin G (96.7%) and Erythromycin (90.0%) but susceptible to Cefepime (96.7%), Sulphamethoxazole (83.3%), Chloramphenicol (80.0%), Ceftriaxone (76.7%), Ampicillin (60.0%), Cefoxitin (73.3%), Imipenem (53.3%), Nitrofurantoin (43.3%), Cefotaxime (33.3%), Ciprofloxacin (30.0%), Pefloxacin, Amikacin and Gentamicin (23.3%), Tetracycline and Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid (13.3%) while susceptibility for Erythromycin and Penicillin G was 3.3%. Intermediate resistance ranged from 43.3% for Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid, 36.7% for Amikacin, 33.3% for Ciprofloxacin, 30% for Nitrofurantoin, 26.7% for Cefotaxime and Tetracycline, 20.0% for Ceftazidime and Gentamicin,16.7% for Ampicillin and Imipenem, 10.0% for Chloramphenicol and Cefoxitin while Sulphamethoxazole/Trimethoprim, Ceftriaxone and Erythromycin had 6.7%. The MAR index ranged from 0.21 to 0.97 indicating high levels of environmental contamination with antimicrobials. This study confirms pigs as reservoirs of resistant Salmonella highlighting the need for One-Health approach to safeguard the health of the populace.
Energy Pricing, Investments and Economic Growth in Africa
Africa possesses abundant energy resources, yet distorted energy pricing structures and subsidy policies have hindered investment and economic growth. This study examines the impact of energy pricing and subsidy reforms on investment and economic growth across 29 African countries using the Cross-Sectionally Augmented Autoregressive Distributive Lag (CS-ARDL) technique. The findings reveal that energy subsidies, particularly in gasoline, have significant negative effects on investment in the energy sector and overall economic growth. In the short run, subsidies distort resource allocation and create inefficiencies, while long-term analyses suggest that stable governance and consistent policy reforms can mitigate these distortions. The study further highlights that the impact of energy pricing varies across African nations, necessitating context-specific policy approaches. The results indicate that political stability plays a crucial role in fostering economic growth, while subsidy reductions can enhance fiscal sustainability. Based on these insights, the study recommends a gradual phase-out of energy subsidies, improved governance, and the implementation of targeted social safety nets to ensure equitable economic progress. Such policy measures can attract investments in the energy sector and contribute to long-term economic resilience and sustainable growth in Africa.
GUDUMMAW AR HAUSAWA GA CIGABAN GARIN GOMBI A JIHAR ADAMAWA
Wannantakardar mai taken Gudummawar Hausawa ga Cigaban Garin Gombi a Jihar Adamawa, ta yi tsokaci ne kan irin gudummawar da Hausawa suke bayarwa ga garin domin bunƙasarta. Takardar ta yi waiwayen taƙaitaccen tarihin Hausawa da zuwansu garin tare da ɗan abin da ba a rasa ba na daga tarihin garin Gombi. Sannan manufar wannan bincike ita ce bayyanar da wanzuwar Hausawa a garin, da irin gudummawar da suke bayarwa ga ci gabansa tare da cike giɓin da aka bari a fannin ilmi. Sannan an ɗora wannan aiki ne kan ra’in sauye­sauyen al’adu (al’umma) wanda Charlse Darwin ya ƙirƙira a shekarar 1958. Wannan ra’i yana bayani ne game da sauye­sauye da yake faruwa ga al’umma ko al’adunsu daga wani matsayi zuwa wani, kamar yadda zuwan Hausawa garin Gombi ya taimaka wa ci gaban garin daga matsayinsa na da ya zuwa matsayin da yake a yanzu. Hanyar tattara bayanai kuwa, sun haɗa da yin tambayoyin hira da masana tare da sanya idanu game da rayuwar al'ummomin garin. Daga ƙarshe binciken ya gano irin gudummawar da al'ummar Hausawa suke bayarwa ga ci gaban garin a ɓangarori kamar: yawan jama'a da harshe da tattalin arziƙi da tufafi (sutura) da ilmi da sarauta da siyasa da bukukuwa da abinci da zamantakewa da makamantansu.
Copyright (c) 2024 FULAFIA IAC Book of Proceedings 2024
Cultural and Creative Industries and the Future of Africa
Science And Humanities: Bridging The Divide For Human Development
Science, bridging the divide for Human development
Factors Affecting Women’s Participation in Community Development in Kakwagom-Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State
Community development is a vital aspect of sustainable growth and social progress, requiring the active involvement of all members, regardless of gender. In many regions of the world, including Kakwagom in the Boki Local Government of Cross River State, Nigeria, women's participation in community development remains an issue of significant concern; women over the years contribute in the growth of their society in spite of the many limitations that are standing in their way. This study explores the complex web of factors influencing women's participation in community development initiatives.In order to appropriately tackle and capture the variables involved in the study, the qualitative research method was adopted for the study four focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were carried out. Findings in this study reveals a wealth of knowledge on factors affecting women participation in community development in Kakwagom Boki Local Government of Cross River State; ranging from inability to access financial and property ownership, lack of awareness and training and prevention from taking decisions in the community. It was recommended among others that there should be an Improvement of women's access to resources such as land, credit and healthcare facilities Mentorship programs, Collaboration and networking should be encouraged among women groups and other stakeholders so as to ease exchange of knowledge and resources.
Visual and Performing Arts for National Development
The paper "Visual and Performing Arts for National Development" examines the pivotal role of visual and performing arts in fostering national development. Drawing on existing literature and empirical evidence, this paper explores how the arts contribute to cultural preservation, economic growth, social cohesion, and individual empowerment within the context of national development strategies. Through a comprehensive analysis of the theoretical frameworks and practical implications, this paper underscores the importance of integrating visual and performing arts into broader development agendas. By leveraging the creative potential of artists and cultural practitioners, governments and policymakers can harness the transformative power of the arts to drive sustainable socio-economic progress and enrich the cultural fabric of society.
Effectiveness of Moringa oleifera for Abattoir Wastewater Treatment
Humans and the environment can be harmed by poor management of liquid effluents, solid waste, and offensive odour from meat processing. For five (5) weeks, the performance evaluation of Moringa oleifera seed as a coagulant for the treatment of abattoir wastewater was investigated. The treatment used a completely randomized design with loading dosages of 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22g/500 mL of processed Moringa oleifera seed. A control group of wastewaters from the slaughterhouse located in Minna that had not been treated with Moringa oleifera was also included as a control. The chemical characteristics of abattoir wastewater were studied both before and after treatment with Moringa oleifera. In the fifth week, Moringa oleifera seeds appreciably removed turbidity with high percentage value of 56.6% from 17.80mg/l to 11.20mg/l using 22g/500ml. Total alkalinity concentration in the sample decreased rapidly in the first week from 216.67 mg/l for control to 63.67 mg/l at 22g which represents 70.61 % reduction which happens to be the optimum dosage based on the observations. Moringa oleifera reduced the total hardness efficiently to its minimum from 141mg/l at week 1 to 69.200mg/L at week 5 with removal efficiencies of 51.18% at 22g/500ml dosage concentration. The optimum dosage was 69.200 mg/L with 22 g/500ml observed at week 5. Decrease in the Dissolved Oxygen levels from 4.67 mg/L to 2.07mg/l at week 5 for 22g was observed showing a total decrease of 55.67%. Phosphate was reduced from 2.26 mg/l to a minimum of 0.57mg/l at weeks 4 and 5 at 16g/500ml with maximal removal efficiency of 74.78% below the NSDWQ of 10mg/L. Moringa reduced the Electrical conductivity of abattoir waste water from 1395.67mg/L to 652.67mg/L at week 1 below NSDWQ of 1000mg/L but increased with greater settling time (week 2 to 5) and dosage concentration. For Calcium, the natural coagulant Moringa oleifera, produced a substantial decrease in calcium contents of the wastewater at different concentrations with optimum removal efficiency of 70.09% at 16g/L dosage concentration in week 5. At optimum dosage of 22g/L concentration, Moringa at week 5 reduced the Zinc to 0.41mg/l with removal efficiency of 71.13%. The high content of zinc has been attributed to high blood volume found in wastewaters. Moringa oleifera has thus been confirmed as an effective natural coagulant which can be used in improving the physicochemical characteristics of water.
Comparative Study of Activated Kaolin From Ahoko Clay and Lemu Clay
A major issue facing the globe today is climate change and global warming, which are caused by the use of fossil fuels in transportation and other industries that generate large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. These CO2 gases is the major greenhouse gas which causes damages to health and environment. In this work, Ahoko kaolin and Lemu kaolin were activated and compared as an adsorbent for CO2 adsorption from the atmosphere. Both clays were activated using acid in order to improve the adsorbent. The BET analysis was carried out to determine the surface area, pore volume and pore size of both samples before and after activation. The result shows that the kaolin from Ahoko has a larger surface area with 82% increment of the activated samples compared to the raw samples. Also the activated Lemu kaolin increases by 132% compared to raw Lemu kaolin. The SEM analysis was also done before and after the activation of both samples to identify and interpret the surface morphology of the adsorbent (Ahoko kaolin and Lemu Kaolin). The FT-IR revealed that both samples have characteristic peaks associated with hydroxyl group, silicate group and oxides group. The research shows that the activated kaolin shows a better result compared to the raw kaolin from both samples. It also shows that activated kaolin from Lemu will likely capture CO2 more, compared to activated kaolin from Ahoko.
Utiliisation of Crumb Rubber as Partial Replacement for Sand to Produce Lightweight Concrete
The development of crumb rubber concrete for lightweight concrete production has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential environmental and structural benefits. Disposal of condemned tyre continues to constitute serious problem to the environment, hence there is need for further research on effective use of crumb rubber in concrete. The crumb rubber possess the capability as a sustainable and environmentally friendly material. This study therefore, focuses on developing crumb rubber concrete for practical use in light weight concrete construction. Concrete mix design was done, followed by processing of crumb rubber concrete in the laboratory and the performance of the concrete was evaluated. This process included three stages namely; selecting effective rubber particle size, designing and adjusting concrete mixes, and testing recommended mixes for practical applications. The compressive strength, tensile strength and flexural strength were measured. The results showed that within the crumb rubber size range used (0.075–5.00 mm), increasing the rubber particle size decreases the compressive strength. Compared to conventional concrete, the presence of 16% rubber as sand volume replacement decreased the 7-day/28-day strength ratio by values that ranged between 9% and 20%.
Copyright (c) 2025 FULAFIA Annual International Conference
Physico-chemical Properties of Lateritic Soil Treated with Limestone Powder and Fly-Ash
The quality of embankment construction directly influences the performance of the supported infrastructure. This research examined the quality of lateritic soil stabilized with limestone powder (LS) and fly ash (FA) through changes in the physico-chemical properties of mixtures. The representative lateritic soil was treated with a predetermined optimum LS content of 6% and varying proportions of FA (3, 6, 9, 12 and 15% by dry weight of soil). Physico-chemical test such as Atterberg limits (Liquid and plastic limit), linear shrinkage, specific gravity, cation exchange capacity (CEC), electrical conductivity (EC) and pH were conducted on soil mixtures. The result of the tests revealed that the natural soil was classified as A-7-5 and MH (inorganic silts) under ASSHTO and USCS classification systems respectively. The study also found that the addition 6%LS to the natural soil increased the plasticity index to 24.4% from 17.2% for the natural soil, while the combined effect of 15%FA +6%LS decreased the value to 15.9%. Similarly, both specific gravity and linear shrinkage of mixtures containing LS and FA were found to be lower compared to that of the natural soil. On the contrary, pH of soil increased on introduction of 6%LS which increased further when FA was added due to their neutralizing and alkaline properties. Likewise, the combined treatment yielded higher CEC, indicating more exchangeable cations, while the EC increased with fly ash, suggesting increased dissolved ion concentration from fly ash's soluble salts.
Comparative Study of Privacy-Preserving Measures in Nigerian E-Commerce Platforms
Most Nigerian e-commerce today are faced with numerous challenges, primarily due to the pressure that exist between providing e-commerce services and protecting users personalized information. Users’ details provided on these platforms are most times shared with third-party advertisers and analytics companies without users’ consent. Hackers and internet fraudsters take advantage of the weakness of these platforms to obtain account details of users. An assessment of privacy-preserving strategies in Nigerian e-commerce platforms is therefore crucial in the present digital era, when online transactions and data interchange have become indispensable to the corporate environment. Because of the increased attention that privacy problems in e-commerce platforms have received, users of these platforms need to be more aware of how their personal information is treated. This article investigates privacy-preserving methods used by popular e-commerce platforms in Nigeria. The goal of the study is to present a thorough assessment of the level of privacy protection in most commonly used Nigerian e-commerce platforms. The study's recommendations are intended to direct customers, e-commerce companies, and policymakers toward a safer and more secure online buying environment in Nigeria.
Empowering Communities with the Mental Health Gap Action Programme in Nasarawa State, Nigeria (2019-2021)
A 14% global burden of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders exists, of which 75% of the people affected in low-income countries do not have access to treatment. An assessment of the short-term results of the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) using a cross-sectional retrospective study in Nasarawa State (2019-2021) utilized secondary data (total sampling technique) from 10 communities in 3 focal Local Government Areas. Ten Mental Health interventions utilized by mhGAP included community-based efforts by community and religious leaders, local government teams, media conducting meetings and home visits, thus increasing awareness and number of referrals to focal Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) for care and treatment. This also helped dispel rumor and misconceptions on the causes of mental ill health. PHCs were strengthened by capacity building activities (step down mental health disorder trainings resulting in an increase of 40% in knowledge and skills of health care workers at PHCs and General Hospitals), re-activation of the Drug Revolving Fund and data management for mental health. With continued supportive supervision of healthcare workers at PHCs and communities, 29 Mental Health Self Help Groups were formed with 567 registered clients enrolled into care and treatment at the health facilities. Depression was the commonest mental health disorder diagnosed (42%), least was epilepsy (4%). This decentralized healthcare community based mental health model showed increased access and utilization (743 mental disorders diagnosed, 200 fully recovered) of mental health services.
The Morphology of anti-corrosive coatings on metal surfaces using exracts of Calotropis procera and Euphobia kamerunica pax
This study was carried out in order to assess the morphology of coatings on mild steel metal surfaces using Euphorbia kamarunica Pax and Calotropis procera plant extracts as corrosion-inhibitors. The determination of the morphology of the coated film on the metal surfaces was carried using the scanning electron microscope. The images obtained showed extracts of E. kamarunica are in the form of strands on the metal surface with mean particle size of 25 nm while those of C. procera were oval in shape with mean particle size of 180 nm. Generally, the particle sizes seen from both extracts ranged from 12500 to 25nm. Shapes of morphology plant coatings on metal, mean provides the distribution of particle sizes- allowing particle dimension for characterizing materials studying aggregates and assessing particle distribution, angles sizes of the orientation of features in a SEM image enables the analysis of crystallographic orientation surface roughness and the alignment of particles and length which helps to understand the scale and dimensions of the objects observed under microscope of the coated plant extracts have all been provided from the Scanning Electron Microscope analysis of the natural plants. These results are indicative of the degree of effectiveness of using these plant extracts as corrosion inhibitors.
Determination and modeling of heavy metal concentrations in river Rutu and Doma dam in Doma LGA, Nasarawa state
River Rutu and Doma dam in Doma LGA of Nasarawa state were analyzed for their physicochemical parameters and heavy metal concentrations. This was to ascertain the level of contamination and develop models for predictive purposes. Water samples were collected from each river in dry season twice (January & March) and same in the wet season (July & August). Physicochemical analyses were obtained using standard procedures while heavy metal concentrations were obtained using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Results showed that all physicochemical parameters analyzed were below the maximum tolerable limit by Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality and the World Health Organization. Heavy metals analysed showed a general increase in concentration in the dry season with the exception of copper which showed a high concentration in the wet season in both study areas. Ni concentration in river Rutu was low and was not detected in Doma dam in the dry season. Data from physicochemical parameters and concentrations of respective heavy metals were inputted into the Minitab 18 statistical computer software for model development. The models developed for each heavy metal, Pb, Zn; Fe; Cu; Co; Cr and Mn were all multivariate in nature and noted to be statistically reliable at 95 % confidence limit. R2 values for all the models ranged from 65 to 98 %, implying that the developed models can be relied on in predicting the concentration of the respective heavy metals by measuring the physicochemical parameters and evaluating using each model.
Effects of proximity to anthropogenic disturbances on nesting colonies of red-throated bee-eaters
Anthropogenic disturbances are major threats to biodiversity especially birds in their nesting habitats. Therefore, proximity of nesting sites to such disturbances remains a concern to biodiversity conservation. This research investigated the relationship between the proximity to various surrounding features (distance to building, distance to nearest road, distance to farmland, distance to quarry, and distance to refuse dump) and nest selection in avian species belonging to the family Meropidae nesting in Plateau State using binomial regression. The results revealed associations between certain features and nest selection. The distance to nearest road (0.004, z = 2.523, p = 0.012) and distance to farmland (0.007, z = 2.007, p = 0.045) exhibited significant positive effects, indicating that greater distances from roads and farmland were associated with increased nest selection. However, the distance to quarry (-0.001, z = -0.902, p = 0.367), distance to building (-0.003, z = -1.812, p = 0.070), and distance to refuse dump (0.001, z = 1.858, p = 0.063) did not show significant effects on nest selection. These findings suggest that the proximity to roads and farmland may influence nest selection, while the distances to quarry, buildings and refuse dump may not have a significant impact. Environmental awareness in communities with nest records is therefore recommended.
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Iodometric Determination Of The Vitamin C Contents Of Selected Citrus Fruits Sold In Lafia Metropolis
This study aimed at determination of vitamin C content of five citrus fruits sold in Lafia metropolis using iodometric method of titration. Vitamin C concentrations of the juices and fibers from the five citrus fruits were compared. The results obtained indicated that orange juice had the highest vitamin C concentration of 53.5 mg/100L followed by grapefruit (51.30 mg/100L), lemon (36.3mg/100L), tangerine (30.40 mg/100L) and lime (24.70 mg/100L). Similar trend was also followed in the vitamin C contents of citrus fruit fibers with the order: orange (2.80 mg/10g) > grapefruit (2.60 mg/10g) > lemon (1.00 mg/10g) > tangerine (0.70 mg/10g) > lime (0.20 mg/10g). The results clearly showed that the juice of studied citrus fruits had higher contents of vitamin C than their fibers. The orange is highly rich in vitamin C content followed by grapefruit while lime was of the lowest concentration in both the juice and fiber. Lemon and tangerine had moderate concentrations of vitamin C in both their juices and fibers. This analysis provides essential insights into the nutritional variability of the different citrus fruits, aiding consumers in making informed dietary decision and potentially offering valuable information for the food industry.
Prevalence Of Malaria Parasites Among Patients Attending General Hospital Wuse, Abuja
Malaria still remains a health challenge in Nigeria and even though a lot of efforts have been made in controlling the rate of infection, several people are still at risk of the parasitic infection. This study determined the prevalence of malaria parasites among patients attending General Hospital Wuse, Abuja. The sample population included 232 out-patients who presented with symptoms of malaria infections at the hospital. Five milliliters (5mls) of blood was collected from the patient into well labeled ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tubes and malaria parasite was examined using a microscopy. Chi square (χ2) test was used for data analysis at 0.05 probability level. The overall prevalence of malaria was 45.7%. There was significant difference in the prevalence of malaria between microscopy and RDTs (p<0.005). Age groups 21 – 30 had the highest prevalence of 29.2%, followed by 17.9% in 41 – 50 age groups. The least prevalence of 4.7% was seen in age groups 51 and above. Patients who sleep under mosquito net (22.6%) had less prevalence compared to 77.3% recorded among patients that did not sleep under mosquito treated net. Prevalence of malaria parasites based on gender recorded in this study is higher in females 71 (66.9%) than males 35 (33.0%). A malaria prevalence rate of 45.7% is considered high and should be a cause for significant concern and urgent efforts of control strategies in the affected Area.
Malaria In Symptomatic Patients Attending A Federal Medical Centre In Central Nigeria
Malaria remains an ongoing problem in Nigeria even though a lot has been achieved in the past years; millions of people are still at risk of contracting the parasite. Thus, this study determined the malaria prevalence in symptomatic patients attending a Federal Medical Centre in Central Nigeria. Five milliliters (5mls) of blood was collected from 250 patients between July and December 2023 by the use of a well labeled ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) vacutainer tube and malaria parasite test was conducted using microscopy and Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT). Out of a total of 250 patients examined for malaria parasite in this study, 132 (52.8%) were significantly (P<0.05) positive to microscopy while RDT recorded 55 (22.0%) positive. Males had higher malaria prevalence of 61.3% in microscopy and 28.6% in RDT than 45.0% (microscopy) and 16.0% (RDT) recorded in females. Age groups, < 5, 5 – 10 and 50 and above years had the highest positive cases of 51.8%, 56.1% and 65.6%, respectively. A significant difference (P<0.05) was also recorded in relation to educational background, amongst rural and urban dwellers, and net usage status, respectively. The inhabitants of Keffi Local Government Area should observe regular sanitation to clear out all potential malaria vectors breeding grounds and avoid human-vectors contact by sleeping under long lasting insecticide treated bednets.
Copyright (c) 2025 FULAFIA IAC Book of Proceedings 2024