Month: August 2021

Aug 31

THE CONCEPT OF THE DIVIDED LINE IN PLATO’S EPISTEMOLOGY: A CRITIQUE

THE CONCEPT OF THE DIVIDED LINE IN PLATO’S EPISTEMOLOGY: A CRITIQUE

CHAPTER ONE/INTRODUCTION

Background to the study

Plato’s divided line is a vertical line, divided unequally with the largest segment on top. These two segments represent the intelligible realm (at the top) and the visible realm (at the bottom). The two segments are divided again into subsections which represent proportions between images and originals; the lower subsections of each segment represent some involvement with images, whereas the upper subsections of each segment represent direct cognitive contact with the originals of each realm. Boyle, Anthony J.(1973)

A significant feature of Plato’s philosophy, which has its place in the representations of the line, is that the originals of the visible world are, in reality, nothing but images of the intelligible originals, the Forms.

Accordingly, the divided line features these objects as both the originals of the visible world and as the images of the intelligible world. The way that Plato makes his construction requires the middle subsections to be equal, and one might take this equality to be a significant feature of Plato’s image, especially given the appearance of Plato’s ‘participants’ as the objects at the two pertinent subsections of the line.

But Plato never explicitly calls our attention to this equality, and if we do attend to it we are led to problems in our understanding of the relative merits of the two subsections and to conflicts with what Plato does explicitly say about them. If I am right, there is a great deal we can learn from Plato’s simile, and there have been a great number of mistakes scholars have made in trying to tell us exactly what it means. But there also seems to be one problem in his image that cannot be made to go away. Given the incredible richness and substance of this very complex image, one will be tempted to think that Plato might have purposefully woven this subtle flaw into the intricate fabric of his own image, because he wished to avoid the sin of perfection. According to his own philosophy, images can never be perfect, and Plato’s divided line is, after all, only an image. Plato’s line is certainly good enough to be a model of the excellence we can expect in the products of a philosophical craftsman. Perhaps it is also just bad enough to remind us, by contrast, of a perfection no image can equal.

Statement of the Problem

Like every other discipline, Philosophy is not devoid of problems. These philosophical problems are not issues that can be solved once and for all. The fundamental problems of philosophy are perennial problems. They are basically problems of conceptualization which cannot be solved in a dogmatic manner as in religion. One of these problems is the problem of knowledge. The issue of knowledge is really a thought-provoking one and it has been reflected upon and discussed through the ages and it still persists to our own day. Plato in his Metaphor of Divided Line discussedthis problem of knowledge in a metaphysical view. He presents it as a dialogue between Socrates and Glaucon.  However, this work is an attempt to give from my perspective, a critical critique of Plato’s Divided Line;

Objectives of the Study.

The main objective of this study is to investigate the Concept of the Divided Line in Plato’s Epistemology: A Critique.

The study were guided by the following specific objectives;

  1. To make a critical exposition in Platos’s divided line
  2. To demonstrate the levels of knowledge in the concepts of Platos’s divided line

Scope of the Scope

This study is limited on the Concept of the Divided Line in Plato’s Epistemology from a critique viewpoint.

Significance of the Study

The significance of this research stems from the fact that not only does the work give a substantive and uncomplicated treatment of The Concept of the Divided Line in Plato’s Epistemology, but also, more importantly; it provides an application of the relevant themes and perspectives of platos theories.

The study will equally add to the existing body of knowledge on the subject matter. Students undergoing research work similar to the present study who may wish to use this work as a reference material or a spring board for their own work will find this work really useful.

 

Aug 31

The Notion of Mark Vernon’s Friendship and its Applicability in Nigeria Context

The Notion of Mark Vernon’s Friendship and its Applicability in Nigeria Context

CHAPTER ONE/INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

In contrast to other forms of intimate relationships in our society, friendship is uniquely voluntary. Whereas relatives are designated by blood or legal ties and neighbors by proximity, friends are selected. Furthermore, friendship is a relatively uninstitutionalized relationship without standard rituals, norms or nomenclature to guide the partners. Yet, friendship choices are not wholly fortuitous, nor is amicable behavior unscripted (Allan, 1989). Scholars who view friendship as voluntary pay special attention to dispositional factors in friendship formation and maintenance. In contrast, those who have a sociological perspective emphasize the effects of social structure and influence largely beyond individual control. These two traditions are distinct in another way as well. Dispositional theorists tend to focus on the interactive processes that take place in friendship dyads, whereas structuralists tend to study the form of individuals’ entire friendship networks (Blieszner & Adams, 1992). With two decades of research on record, it is now possible to construct frameworks for the integration of these two perspectives.

A heavy burden is placed on friendship. We turn to friends for our happiness. Some say they trust friends more than family. And there are those who want to marry their best friend – a very novel idea. Then, in the networked age, we believe, or hope, that friendship is elastic enough to connect us across the web of complex lives, and strong enough not to snap. But is it? For whilst friendship offers much, few ask about its perils and limitations, as well as its promise.

Mark Vernon examines the love shared by friends, linking the rich insights of the great philosophers of friendship with numerous illustrations from modern life to ask about friendship and sex, friends at work, the politics of friendship, and its spirituality. In this new version of his book, previously published as The Philosophy of Friendship, he explores how notions of friendship may be changing because of the internet. He also has a new chapter on self-help and friendship, challenging notions of friendship that arise from evolution and psychology.

Nigeria as a nation is being buffeted brutally by ethnic, political, social and religious conflicts. And those who happen to find themselves at the public service through any of these conflicts tend to consolidate their positions by means of the same. To achieve this they devote much time, energy and scarce resources needed to direct the ship of the state just to hatch out plans to emasculate the opposition. They siphon public treasury available to them not only to be used to enfeeble the opposition but also to maintain the interests of the whole army of their cronies and cohorts while leaving the rest of the masses moored on the shackles of poverty. They execute all these with overweening arrogance and unbridled confidence as if they have sacred and inviolable right to behave in this manner.

Many Nigerian leaders of thought have voiced out their discontentment on the Nigerian predicament (C. Achebe, 1983; B. Okolo, 1994). They excoriate the political class as being grossly responsible for this predicament. They believe that things would be better if the leaders are honest, dedicated and have the will and ability to spend themselves to make Nigeria great.

Some of the Nigerian leaders of thought underscore the importance of justice. Chukwuemeka Odumekwu Ojukwu, for instance, maintains that justice should pervade Nigeria in order for her to move forward. And for this reason he calls on any Nigerian leader to always stand for and be a symbol of justice for it is the hallmark of good governance (C.O. Ojukwu, 1989).

And yet other Nigerian thinkers blame the constitution of Nigeria for her string of woes. For this crop of people, Nigerian constitution is unsuitable to address her topsy-turvy social life. Balewa strikes on this cord as he says: “There is need to constantly bear in mind that no nation can always have good or competent leadership. Our concern should not be with the question: who should rule Nigeria? But with the more vital one: How can Nigerians so organise their political institutions that bad or incompetent leaders can be prevented from doing damage to the society”(B.A.T. Balewa, 1994).

In her search for a way that would ensure greater unity for Nigerians and promote peace, development and good standard of living, Nigeria had adopted, at the dawn of Independence, the French parliamentary system of government. It was her faith in the principles of justice that led to this option. However, the system was like a square peg in a round hole. It did not work. It was a complete failure. And so it was rejected. In 1979, it was replaced with the American presidential system of government. The latter was reviewed between 1994/95. One of the highlights emanating from the constitution review committee was the creation of six geopolitical zones (T. U. Nwala, 1997). In 1999 there was another new constitution. Alterations have made in this 1999 constitution; two alterations in 2010 and one in 2011. But all these efforts have not solved the perennial problem of conflicts – ethnic, political, social, religious. There are still great cries of marginalisation, ethnic clashes and political insurrections.

The aforementioned constitutions and their alterations have not yielded the expected results because those who framed them did not take into serious account the peculiarities of Nigeria. If they had adapted them to address the local needs and problems, perhaps, they could have brought about better political, social, economic and religious advancements. The fact that the Parliamentary system works in France and the Presidential system works in America does not mean they must be suitable for Nigeria. For Aristotle, constitutions should be adopted according to circumstances of the people (Aristotle, 1990). The history of Nigeria is different from that of France and America and should therefore have a constitution that takes this into consideration.

To address the issue of constitution, some believe that the concept of the family should be used metaphorically to restructure it. This is a laudable idea. It is far from being a cosmetic proposal. The proposition of the family metaphor is a significant step in the search for a veritable means for ameliorating the lives of the ordinary Nigerian citizens.

Be that as it may, family metaphor may not produce the desired end2. Nigeria is a mishmash of more than 250 ethnic groups. The virtues of a family may be overstretched if they are applied metaphorically to reconstruct a multi-ethnic society like Nigeria. The family metaphor is much more relevant in a homogeneous than in a heterogeneous society. This is part of the reasons why a person like Balewa is mistaken in his attempt “to investigate the underlying propensities of the Japanese political system of primarily Meiji era (1868-1912) and their applicability to the Nigerian situation” (B. A. T. Balewa, 1994). Japan is a homogeneous group (P. W. Goetz (ed), 1985). It does not have the suffocating effects of ethnic conflicts akin to those of Nigeria. Nigeria must therefore look for a concept that can take account of her multi-ethnic nature. And I believe that the best concept is friendship.

Aug 29

Information System and Organizational Performance in the Nigerian Aviation Sector

Information System and Organizational Performance in the Nigerian Aviation Sector

  1. INTRODUCTION

Aviation Industry today are much more concerned about the effect of competition than they were even a few years ago. They must react to the competitive threats not only from local source but also from international flights; likewise they must seek to explore all opportunities that are available in the immediate, national and Global environment. Deregulation has also increased competitive pressure for organizations to survive, grow and prosper. In such a competitive environment, managers must employ a lot of the resources at their disposal as efficiently as possible so as to accomplish the objectives and goals of the enterprise. Management Information System provides information in form of reports and displays to managers and many business professionals.

Management Information System also takes into account integrative nature of information flow as well as the structuring of the organization around decision centers. Standards of performance are

part of any good plans; hence, determination of standards like other aspects of the planning process depends on the availability of relevant management information system. Management information system aids the functioning and monitoring of an organization. It also describes the components and resources to ensure the proper functioning of an organization.

Management information system has changed the physical layout of offices to accommodate local networks and departmental integrated systems. It is also a formalized procedure to provide management at all levels and in all functions with appropriate information from all relevant source to enable them make timely and effective decisions for planning, directing, evaluating, and controlling the activities for which they are responsible. A major task also facing management in almost every field of Endeavour is to plan carefully so that the quantity and quality of information obtained will be adequate to meet its needs.

One potentially powerful resource available to managers is Information Technology (IT), though it could also serve as a threat/problem, but the Top management has to be creative and strategic enough through their conceptual and intellectual capacity to explore full opportunities in all strategic decisions of the enterprise which affect the long term objectives of the Organization. More reports has shown how Information Technology has successfully given some companies an advantage over their competitors both in the National and Global Markets.

A Management Information System (MIS) is a subset of the overall internal control of a business covering the application of people, documents, technologies, and procedures by management accountants to solve business problems such as costing a product, service or a business-wide strategy. Management Information Systems are distinct from regular information systems in that they are used to analyze other information systems applied in operational activities in the organization.

Financial accounting system is an important functional element or part of the total management information system structure. However, they are more narrowly focused on the internal balancing books to generate ledger and other financial accounting system. For example, accrual adjustment reconciliation and correcting entries used to reconcile the financial system to the general ledger are not always immediately entered into other management information systems. Accordingly, although management information systems and accounting reconciliation totals for related listing and activities should be similar, they may not necessarily balance.

Institutional management information systems should be designed to achieve the following;

  • Enhance communication among
  • Deliver complex materials throughout the
  • Provide an object system for recording and aggregate
  • Reduce expenses to labour intensive manual
  • Support the organizations strategic goals and

In spite of the fact that management information system supplies decision makers with facts, likewise, it supports and enhances the overall decision making process. MIS also enhance job performance throughout an institution. At the most senior level it provides the data and information to help the board and management to make strategic decisions(top management decisions or long lasting decisions) and at other levels of management MIS provides the means through which the enterprise activities are executed, monitored, controlled and information are distributed to management, supervisors, employees and customers.

Effective MIS should ensure the appropriate presentation, formats and time frames required by operations and senior management are met. MIS can be maintained, evaluated and developed by either manual or automated systems or a Combination of both. It should always be sufficient to meet an enterprise’s unique business goals and objectives. Likewise it seeks to explore all available opportunities that can be explored by the organisation in the immediate, national and global economies. The effective delivery of an enterprise’s products and services are supported by the MIS which has a great influence on the market share portion, revenue generation, sales volume achieved, recruitment of best qualified candidates, the goodwill of the enterprise and the customers’ perception about the organization and its output. These systems should be

 

 

comprehensive, accessible, flexible and useable at all appropriate levels of the organization’s activities.

MIS is a critical component of the institution’s overall risk management strategy; it supports management’s ability to perform such reviews. MIS should be used to recognize, monitor, measure, limit, and manage risks. Risk Management involves four main elements, which include:

Policies or practices. Operational processes. Staff and management. Feedback devices.

Frequently, operational processes and feedback devices are intertwined and cannot easily be viewed separately. The most efficient and useable MIS should be both operational and informational. As such, management can use MIS to measure performance, allocate, manage and control resources, and help an institution comply with regulatory requirements. One example of this would be the managing and reporting of loans to insiders. MIS can also be used by Management to provide feedback on the effectiveness of risk controls

Aug 28

THE IMPACT OF LABORATORY FACILITIES ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY STUDENT IN NIGERIA

THE IMPACT OF LABORATORY FACILITIES ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY STUDENT IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1         Background to the Study

 

It has been recognized that Scienceand Technology play a significant role in the development of many societies. As such, Science is being scrutinized with the aim of improving the lives of humans. In view of the above, Mashi, Inkani, and Yaro, (2014) asserted that many developed countries of the world today achieved their level of development through the adaptation of technology and development of an efficient Science and technology capacity.Many breakthroughs that man has recorded in the quest to improve his life were achieved through the knowledge of Science.(Akambi and Kolawole, 2014).

Science according to the Academic American Encyclopedia as cited in Ugwuoke(2017) is defined as the development and systematization of positive knowledge about the physical universe. On other hand, technology is seen as the art of making things generally useful to man. So,it can be clinched that Sciencegenerates the body of knowledge and understanding which Technology depends on to produce goods and services.

Research conducted in Sciences has led to the departmentalization of Science into different branches such as

  1. Physical Science which look at the physical aspects of how things work. The major subsets are Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy
  2. Life Science also called Biology,explore how different life forms work. Common subsets under it are Botany, Nutrition, Zoology, Genetics, Human Biology, and Medicine.
  • Earth Sciencehave as its subset Geology, Paleontology, Meteorology, Oceanography and Ecology.

However, to ensure that scientific growth and development in the nationit became pertinent that Science be taught at all levels of education. At the senior secondary level Science is departmentalized into Chemistry, Biology and Physics to encompass all branches of Science.

Chemistry is one of the major fields that spearhead the study of Science for national development.It is a natural Science which studies composition, structure, properties and change of matter. (Arokoyu, and Charles-Ogan, 2017).Chemistry is typically divided into several major sub-disciplines such as Analytical Chemistry, BioChemistry, InChemistry, Materials Chemistry, Nuclear Chemistry, and Chemistry.Chemistryinvolves the scientific study of the structure, properties, and reactions of organiccompounds and organicmaterials, i.e., matter in its various forms that contain carbonatoms(Clayden, Greeves, and Warren, 2012).Matter, from the chemical point of view, consists of the substances encountered in daily life in whatever phase such as solid, liquids, gaseous and plasma, as well as the atoms and molecules of which these substances are composed

For Chemistry to be studied as a scientific discipline one needs to be continuously involved in a series of guided experimentation which can only be carried out under the conditions of a well-equipped laboratory facility. However,despite the prime position Chemistry occupies in our educational system in Nigeria and the efforts made by researchers to enhance performance, students’ performance in Chemistry and Sciences, in general, are still low. Two of the reasons identified for this failure are laboratory inadequacy and the environment. The adequacy and use of educational resources like laboratory facilities enhance the effectiveness of teachers’ lesson and understanding of abstract ideas and improve performance. Chemistry teaching is supposed to be result oriented and student centered, and this can only be achieved when students are willing, and the teachers are favorably disposed to, using the appropriate methods and resources in teaching the students.

Students by nature are curious; they need to be actively involved in the learning process in which they are continuously experimenting, testing, speculating and building their own personal construct and knowledge. It is only by personalizing such knowledge that it becomes valid, meaningful and useful to them. Knowledge is actively constructed through the action of an individual. Clayden; Greeves, and Warren, (2012),propose thatall Science must be underpinned by evidence. According to Watts (2013), Practical work is formative as it helps the students to understand Science and how the scientific ideas are developed. To achieve the goals of Science education, it is imperative that an attempt is made to balance emphasis on both theory and experiments. The skills normally emphasized in Science practical include procedural and manipulative, observation, drawing and reporting and interpretative skills. The purposes of practical work include:

  1. motivation of students;
  2. excitement of discovery;
  3. consolidation of theory;
  4. development of manipulative skills;
  5. knowledge of standard techniques;
  6. general understanding of data handling;
  7. development of other skills like analytic, evaluative, planning, applied and mathematical; and developing an understanding of how Science works through concept of scientific process, collaborative working, reproducible results and fair testing.

Experiments are the essence of Science. And all such experiments must be performed in the school Sciencelaboratory.

Laboratory has been a distinctive feature in the teaching of Science. Nbina (2013), defined a Science Laboratory as an instructional facility used by Scienceteachers to help the students learn about Scienceand how the scientists investigate the world around them. It is a place set aside for scientific inquiry. To him the laboratory experiences provide opportunities for students to interact directly with the material world or with data drawn from the material world, using tools, data collection techniques, models and theories of Science. Examining the role of the laboratory and its potential for contribution to Science education. The laboratory can provide students with an understanding of procedures for scientific investigation, including control of certain variables, careful observation and recording of data and the development of conclusions. In summary, the study of Science through laboratory experience serves a dual function. The students learn the concepts of, and facts of the Science itself and, in addition, learn how to grow in their knowledge and understanding of Science.

A Chemistry Laboratory offers the environment and resources for teaching practical Chemistry skills, which help students handle examination; and their day-to-day affairs. When the students are given the chance to learn through more senses than one, they can learn faster and easier. Indeed, the identification, manipulation, and overall use of laboratory equipment are integral parts of the subject of Chemistry. Many, if not most of the concepts and principles common in secondary school Chemistry, can be demonstrated or delivered through experiments performed with simple apparatus. The Chemistry laboratory represents a wonderful opportunity for making the connection between the unseen microscopic world and the observable macroscopic world in which we live. Laboratory experiences provide opportunities for team building, inquiry-based learning, hands-on activities, and exposure to standard laboratory equipment and technology (Arokoyu, and Charles-Ogan, 2017).

The foundation of a child’s education is built from the primary and secondary level. However, today more students are entering post-secondary education with diversity of learning styles and varied stages of preparedness to further their studies and contribute to the substantial development of the society. Teachers are therefore hard pressed to bridge this gap that hampers equality in education for all children. The absence of properly equipped and functioning Chemistry laboratories in many Senior Secondary Schools in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, as well as the underutilization of the available ones as identified earlier impede the proper teaching of Chemistry which is one of the requirements for Science students to gain a certificate at this level. This results in a lot of undergraduates finding it difficult to do well in Chemistry and its related discipline in the Higher Institution. Therefore,an extensive investigation on the availability of Chemistry laboratory facilities in senior secondary schools as well as its usability to teach Chemistryin schools becomes very necessary.

1.2         Statement of TheProblem

When one has the knowledge of Chemistry you not only benefit yourself but also benefit the people around you because Chemistry helps you to understand the world you live in. Everything you touch, smell, or taste is Chemistry related. It explains the everyday things we encounter like what causes water to solidify when cooled as well as dry up when heated, why you fry egusi in palm oil before adding water and the other ingredients. In fact, knowledge of Chemistry helps you to make educated choices about every day products that you use.

Our nation Nigeria has seen how necessary Chemistry is for our development. Therefore, it is one of the essential subjects required for certification in Secondary Schools as well as compulsory for admission into certain fields of study like Medicine, Science, and Engineering in many Higher Institutions. Chemistry being a sub-set of Chemistry is very vital for building a solid foundation in Chemistry at the secondary level. However, there are certain concepts in Chemistry that may be difficult for the students to understand fully if they were only taught theoretically. There are a few topics in secondary school Chemistry that require laboratory work. According to Ababio (2010), these topics include:

  1. fractional distillation of crude oil and testing the properties of each fraction;
  2. cracking of medicinal paraffin;
  • hydrolysis of an ester (ethyl ethanoate);
  1. preparation of soap from castor oil;
  2. hydrolysis of starch by an enzyme;
  3. preparation of Perspex.

The Practical lab work conducted on these topics will make the concepts less abstract and more real to the students. Emphasizing understanding by doing, in other words, experiencing them through laboratory activities. This can only be achieved when the facilities for these activities exist, are well equipped and utilized. Hence, the need to investigate the availability and usability of Laboratory Facilities for the teaching of Chemistry in Secondary Schools

Aug 27

PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING BUSINESS STUDIES IN SECONDARY

PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING BUSINESS STUDIES IN SECONDARY

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Business studies could be referred to as that area of vocational education that offers to courses in economic, commerce, book keeping, accounts, business mathematic typing and shorthand.

The international dictionary of education (1979) refers to it as both commercial studies and business studies. The dictionary sees the commercial studies of education as the area that comprises such school subjects as typewriting, shorthand, book keeping and elementary accounting at defines business studies a studies of commerce and management subjects.

This definition however does not indicate the level of education at which the title should be used.

The difference in title is a matter of sentiment which does not in any way determine the content of the courses at the various levels of education.

In the secretary school in Nigeria the course is regarded as business studies but in the higher levels, in colleges and universities it is known as Business education or management science which covers subjects as well as related courses like business law, business management, accountancy, marketing data processing and computer.

Under the new system in education, these subjects are not studies in isolation in the junior secondary school. As a result of this problem, there has been less interest and motivation on the part of the students who offer business subjects in schools.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

Business education in Nigeria is at its developmental stage at the initial introduction of this course into our education system there was no interest nor motivation from the government. According to Nsofor (1979) “The government was not only uninterested in including commercial subjects in the educational curriculum it made a deliberate and calculated attempt to frustrate the efforts of come of the philantiopicts”. Due to lack of attention which business education received at the introduction stage, efforts by the private proprietors no attention to crumple down. The proprietors gave no attention to the training of business teachers. This may be due to professional complications and financial burden which were not within their reach.

It is discouraging to note that despite all the problem business education faces at the earlier stage and the opportunities at had offended to the country, much has not been done to improve the situation. Schools, students still today lack qualified business teachers  which may be as a result of the period of former inadequate when compared with the complexities and dynamic nature of knowledge required. A major problems that face business education today is lack of equipment which are very necessary for proper mastery of the subject. As a result of these problems, there has been less interest and motivation on the part of the students who offer business subjects in school.

Another problems which will inhibit a smooth teaching of business studies in secondary school is lack of libraries. The important of which cannot be over emphasized nor will not occupy lengthy discussion in this work..

Aug 25

Causes and consequences of child abuse on the academic performance of secondary school students

Causes and consequences of child abuse on the academic performance of secondary school students in Anambra state

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigateCauses and consequences of child abuse on the academic performance of secondary school students in The study was qualitative in nature and utilised thephenomenological research design. The target population were the abused learners from the AWKA schools.Data were collected from 15 abused learners and their class teachers in four schools. The critical case purposivesampling method was used to select these schools. Thus, only those schools that had abused learners wereselected.Semi-structured interviews focus group discussion and document analysis were used to collect data. Thefindings showed that a majority of the abused learners underperformed as a result of abuse andbecame suspiciousofevery person around them and this had a negative bearing to their academic performance. Some became antisocialand adopted a misdirected rancorous attitude to everyone around them. Thus in the main, the study concludes thatchild abuse affects the academic performance of learners at primary school level. Based on the findings, the studyrecommends that the stakeholders; parents, school administrators and teachers included, should work hand-in-hand inhandling abused learners in order to help them overcome their challenges and improve theiracademic performance andsocial life. In addition to that, the relevant ministries (Police, Child and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Educationand Training) should assist in curbing child abuse at grassroots level.

CHAPTER ONE/INTODUCTION

Child abuse is not a new phenomenon in the history of man. It has been going on right from time immemorial. In Africa/Nigerian society what constitute abuse today has never been regarded as abuse. It has been seen as a way of training the child to become a well behaved, disciplined and self actualized person in society. It is a normal process that children from birth be exposed to a variety of experiences from parents, caregivers and other adults in the society. This is to enable the children acquire the necessary basic norms and skills for effective participation in the society where they belong and for their personal growth and development.

The process of acquiring these skills is sometimes stressful for the children to bear. Some parents and care givers make the condition for acquiring these skills so difficult that the children may find it difficult to cope. The condition in which children are exposed to as they try to acquire the skills to become disciplined and hardworking individuals is where the problems lie. When these conditions become over-stretched it becomes an abuse. For instance, when a child is taught the skills of becoming a farmer, he is taken to the farm, he practice these skills and he is kept in the farm doing that same work from dawn to dusk, without any rest, or having a good meal, this becomes an abuse (Apebende, Umoren, Ukpepi and Ndifon, 2010). Also it may be normal if a child is asked to hawk from morning to evening or before going to school he sales and immediately after school he continues until dusk. This becomes an abuse. Orere-Clifferd (2011) states that children suffer from child abuse because their parents and guardian demand a great deal from them for more than the children would bear. Most children in our public primary schools find themselves in such situation most often.

Child abuse is found in all societies and social class. It is found in the rich or poor home, as well as illiterate or literate homes. The parents abuse their children by frequently using them in their farm work, trade and businesses. This is to help support the income of the home and sometimes to provide for children needs. They are sometime asked by their parents to do some menial jobs such as house helps, cooks, baby sitters, and gardeners to help improve the income of the home (Apebende, Umoren, Ukpepi and Ndifon, 2010).

The rich on the other hand have enough to care for their children but they exploit the children they employ as house helps and cooks. This they do by over working the servants in the daily house chores, while their own children are over pampered.

The servants or house helps work 24 hours a day, without any rest. Others do not have good food, clothes and sometimes no good place to lay their heads. Some are treated like animals, they are beaten, kicked pushed, and sometimes, hot oil, water and even acid is used on them. (Falaye, 2013).

Many more, caregivers called abusive names such as; good for nothing, block head, etc. sometimes some are tired hands and feet and locked in a room, for hours and even days. These actions demoralize the child (Falaye, 2013).

Those who go to school may not be attentive in class because of the work they do at home. The classroom may be the only place where they have a rest from such home activities so they may fall asleep in the class. They may therefore not partake in classroom activities and so may not acquire any learning (Apebende, Umoren, Ukpepi and Ndifon, 2010).

The children of the rich parents may not be allowed to take part in the general activities in the home. They may therefore not know how to cook, wash or care generally for the home. This constitutes an abuse because the child needs to be exposed to such activities because it is certain that the child may need such knowledge in future (Falaye, 2013).

The term child abuse is seen as the process by which children are exposed to maltreatments by parents or guardian (Apebende, Umoren, Ukpepi and Ndifon, 2010). Axmaher (2010) defined child abuse as any mistreatment or neglect of the child that result in non-accidental harm or injury and which cannot be reasonably explained. Obekpa (2011) view child abuse as any condition injurious to physical or emotional health that has been inflicted by parents, guardian or other caretakers. Igbo and Ekoja (2013) defines it as a non-accidental injury inflicted on a child by a parent or guardian.

An abuse according to Isanghedehi (2004) could be seen in three perspectives physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. To Oniyama, Oniyama and Asamaigbo (2004), child abuse manifest in four main categories viz; physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.

Physical abuse refers to any contact with the body of the child, which may result in an injury. Such contact may involve beating, hitting, kicking, shaking, punching, biting or any act or omission that is not an accident but that which brings some injuries to the child’s body.

Emotional abuse is any act on the part of a parents or caregiver that has the potential for or has actually caused serious emotional cognitive, mental or behavioral disorders. Emotional abuse is evident when a parent or care giver uses abusive words such as blockhead, good for nothing, a mistake, on the child or when the child is locked up in a room, tired both hands and feet, or not allowed to make friends. Mba (2013) maintained that emotional abuse implies constantly blaming the child, belittling and or berating the child, being unconcerned about the child’s welfare and overtly rejection of the child by parents or caretakers or caregivers.

Sexual abuse occurs when a parent or care giver engages in inappropriate sexual behaviours with the child. This may take the form of actual sexual intercourse, kissing, or foundling or genitals or either the abuser or the abused. According to Uzoezie (2004) sexual abuse occurs when an adult or older person uses his or her power over a child. The abuse may trick, bribe, threaten and if possible force a child to take part in sexual activity.

Neglect according to Okpara (2001) include inadequate feeding, shelter and lack of supervision, inadequate body care, poor clothing, poor and denial of medicinal attention and inadequate provision of educational materials and supervision. Other aspects of neglect may include letting the child live in a filthy environment and non provision of proper nourishment.

Other aspects of child abuse may include child exploitation, slavery, trafficking and abandonment. The different forms of abuse affect the child in all spheres of life including academic attainment.

Conversely, a child is said to be abused when the parents, care givers or any human action leads to physical, emotional and sexual abuse of the child. It also involves failure of the parents to provide the necessary love and care for the child.

It has been observed of late that the academic performance of children in public primary schools in the State, particularly, in Kwande Local government Area is becoming low. One wonders if such low academic performance is as a result of the maltreatment children are exposed to. The study therefore seeks to find out if child abuse has any effect on the academic performance of primary school pupils. Specially, the big question is; does physical, emotional and sexual abuse affects the academic performance of primary school pupils?

The major objective of the study is to determine the effect of child abuse on the academic performance of primary school pupils in Kwande Local Government of Benue State, specifically, the academic performance of pupils who are physically, emotionally and sexually abused.

Statement of the Problem

At the heart of every educational system lays the desire for the students, teachers and the institutions to achieve their educational goals; however, the extent to which this desire is achieved in the study period of a student varies based on individual differences. Individual differences in academic performance have been linked to differences in intelligence and personality. Students with higher mental ability as demonstrated by IQ tests and those who are higher in conscientiousness (linked to effort and achievement motivation) tend to perform highly in academic settings. A recent meta-analysis suggested that mental curiosity (as measured by typical intellectual engagement) has an important influence on academic performance in addition to intelligence and conscientiousness. Despite high mental abilities, conscientiousness and intellectual engagement demonstrated by most children it has been observed of late that the academic performance of children in public primary schools in the State, particularly, in Kwande Local Government Area is becoming low. It has also been observed that in this recent times issues of child abuse and neglect is on the rise in the local government due to economic depression caused by the global economic backdrop and incessant social/civil unrests. One wonders if such low academic performance is as a result of the abuse/maltreatment children are exposed to.

Aug 24

Effect of Computer Assisted Strategy on Students Attitude Retention And Achievement in Biology

Effect of Computer Assisted Strategy on Students Attitude Retention And Achievement in Biology

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

 

Science education is obligatory at all levels of instruction in secondary school. Science education is essential and fundamental within the curriculum as it provides students with the ability to think critically and practice methods of inquire, develop science concepts that facilitate understanding of biological and physical environment, and develop appropriate attitude and skills essential for democratic leadership (Lemlech 2010). Biology is one of the branches of science that manages the natural phenomena and help to develop biological knowledge and scientific skills that enhances humanity to appreciate the essence of biodiversity, ecological protection and sustainable utilization of resources (UNESCO, 2007).

Biology education is a pre-requisite for professions in health science, environmental science and precursor of biotechnology development. The knowledge of genetics that is a branch of biology has revolutionized determination of paternity disputes and identity of serious crime culprits with precision and certainty through Deoxyribonucleic acid and sequencing and profiling (Institute of Biology 2007).

Biological knowledge plays an important role in most aspect of human life. Its application in genetic engineering has contributed towards meeting the demand of food security, medicine and control of variety of pest and diseases (UNESCO, 2013). Further biological knowledge lays foundation for commercial agriculture the engine for economic growth in  Nigeria (Government of  Nigeria, 2003). Research have used biological knowledge to develop high yield, disease resistant and fast maturing food crops and animal to meet the food requirement of ever increasing world population (Burn 2005). Due to the significant role of biological knowledge, therefore there is a concern on the improving academic achievement and motivation in biology in secondary school.

 

Despite this importance of biology, students’ academic achievement in the biology at the national examinations in many countries across the world has remained to be low. According to Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (2011), 56 countries and other education systems administered TIMSS at grade eight. Less than half of the countries that participated had an average scale score of below 500. The Scores on the TIMSS mathematics and science tests range from 0-1000. Both tests have an average scale score of 500, with a standard deviation of 100. In Africa, Morocco, South Africa and Ghana participated in the TIMSS (2011) but their scale scores in biology subject were below average, this determines the academic achievement of the learners. According to Chime, (2004) academic achievement is a determinant of a student success that measures the extent to which the learners have achieved their educational goals because of an interactional session between the teacher and the learner.

Academic achievement is a measure of student learning or acquisition of certain skills at the end of teaching and learning activities that is reflected in an examination written by the student after a process of learning (Usman, 2000). Therefore, academic achievement is a measure of value and the amount of success that one has in authority of learning skills and comprehension determined by using the standardized test. This has a great influence on student achievement and motivation. Motivation energies, maintains and coordinates conduct towards a student academic achievement.

 

In  Nigeria, Biology is a key science subject in secondary school. Its achievement has been low when compared to other science subjects over the recent years as indicated by the  Nigeria National examination council report (2011-2017). Academic achievements in biology are determined by using a standardized test or an achievement test.

Aug 24

AN ASSESSMENT OF EFUA T. SUTHERLAND:THE MARRIAGE OF ANANSEWAA

AN EXPOSITION OF EFUA T. SUTHERLAND: THE MARRIAGE OF ANANSEWAA

Efua T. Sutherland is a Ghanaian, she is an innovator and she founded an Experimental Theater in 1958 and her plays, in Akan were acted. She has experimented with the integration of traditional Africa forms and European theatrical practice.

The Marriage of Anansewaa is an experimental drama, for the playwright deviates from western/European conventional forms. Among the works of Efua Sutherland are: Anansewaa and the Dwarf Brigade, a play developed from a folktale, and Edufa. The dramatist uses the traditional folktales of her people – Akan people – to teach morals.

TEXTUAL BACKGROUND AND SETTING

The Marriage of Anansewaa is from ‘Anansesem’ – a form of storytelling by the Akan-speaking people developed from ‘Anansegoro.’ The name of ‘Anansesem’ literally means Ananse story. Ananse means spider. Ananse appears to represent a kind of every man, artistically exaggerated and distorted to serve society as a medium of self-examination.

The development of Anansesem is a result of the history of the evolution of West Africa Drama. Efua T. Sutherland writes in Akan and draws on folktales. She makes use of local language in the play. She seeks to combine traditional African drama with certain aspects of European theatrical convention, thus establishing an original meaningful dramatic act form in Africa.

The Marriage of Anansewaa is a celebration of energy, where Ananse uses his energy to become wealthy on the gullibility of the four chiefs.

PLOT

The storyline of the Marriage of Anansewaa is a linear progression from exposition, middle, to the end. There is no complexity in the structure. There is a single location of setting in one place and the action is around Ananse’s house.

The play is in four acts and it reveals Ananse’s attempt, on the one hand, to make so much money out at his daughter’s suitors – the Chief of Sapa, Togbe Klu Iv, Chief of the mines, and Chief-who-is-chief – and on the other hand, to extricate himself from a tangled web of deceit and lies he has woven to cover up his actions.

Ananse secretly favors Chief-who-is-chief, when asked by his daughter, Anansewaa , why the choice of four Chiefs, Ananse replies, ‘Let ‘s say that  covers North, South, East, West.

Ananse receives gifts from each of the Chiefs, none of whom knows his rivals, the four Chiefs decided to come and offer the ‘head drink’, thus establishing their marriage to Anansewaa, Ananse persuades his daughter to pretend to be dead (mock death), then a message is sent to the four Chiefs about the death of Anansewaa. They all send their messengers with gifts for the funeral ceremony. The speeches from the messengers indicate to Ananse how much their love would have cared for Anansewaa.

Through the mock-death, Ananse is able to make money out of the Chiefs and profit from his tricks. It is the message of Chief-who-is-chief that appeals most to Ananse. Chief-Who-is-Chief considers himself already married to Anansewaa and as such accepts full responsibility for the funeral and for Anansewaa. Ananse later invokes the spirits of the ancestors to restore Anansewaa’s life, because of Chief-who-is-chief’s love for Anansewaa.

Anansewaa comes back to life and we are led to believe that she will marry

Chief-who-is-chief and live happily thereafter.

THEME

The theme which is central to the plot is that of poverty and ambition. The whole play is about Ananse’s ambition to improve his lot in life. There is, in the play, Ananse’s demonstration of his energy to be the object of his own life by turning from his poverty to affluence.

Ananse celebrates the energy and to celebrate energy is to celebrate life. He uses his energy to become wealthy; Ananse is seen as poor from the beginning of the play, unable to pay his daughter’s secretarial fees. He is whipped by rain, poverty, the plight of Anansewaa, and life generally. He is able to achieve what he wants and this is to assert that man is the subject of his history.

Man, here, is in control of the universe, for Ananse is able to become rich and comfortable in the society as he plays upon his victims’ gullibility.

The playwright shows the gullibility of the society: that people can be deceived easily, e.g. the deception of the four Chiefs is a vivid example.

Another thematic pre-occupation is about love and materialism. True love and material love are opposite ideals, but somehow Ananse manages to strike a balance between them in this play. Although motivated by personal economic benefits, Ananse succeeds at the same time in making true love the basis of his daughter’s marriage.

ACT-BY-ACT SUMMARY 

Act I

Ananse is seen here entering his house from where he has gone to buy some typing materials for the letters he intends to write to his daughter’s suitors. It is raining outside. Anansewaa soon enters, already dressed to go to work. But her father talks her into staying to type the letters. Ananse begins to complain that he is poor.  From his is a complaint, his daughter is able to realize the event of her father’s poverty and she then promises to co-operate if that will alleviate the suffering.

The letters are then written in the order that suits Ananse –  first to Chief Sapaase, then to Chief of Akata (Togbe Klu IV), the third to Chief of the Mines, and finally to Chief-who-is-chief. While the first three letters have the same tone and content, the one to Chief–who-is-chief is quite different, it is more emotional than the rest because he is the most favored of all the suitors.

After the typing, Ananse gives his daughter the sum of 120 cedes, being the fees for staying away from her studies at the E.P’s Secretarial School. This money is part of the cash gift from Chief–who-is-chief. Anansewaa soon gets to know her father’s plan and objects to being sold into marriage. However, she is convinced to accept Chief-who-is-chief almost reluctantly.

There is a short interlude that features some musical performances (the Mboguo), celebrating the love affair between Akwesi and Akosua. This scene is meant to illustrate the fact that it is only the presentation of the compulsory head-drink that gives the man confidence to lay claim to a woman as his wife. After the initial cash gift from Chief-who-is-chief, more gifts continue to pour in the Ananse. Next to arrive is Togbe Klu’s gift through postal order.

ACT II

Two women arrive on the scene bearing gifts from chief Sapaase. Ananse is obviously happy and with all appreciation, he asks the women messenger to sit:

Chairs! Bring chairs for the messengers of royalty and water! Water, instantly! Let the royal travelers have water at once.

Next is the cheque gift from the Chief of the mines,. Ananse is full of praises for this chief but wishes that Chief-who-is-chief should increase his own gift to win the competition. In the end, Chief-who-is-chief’s messenger arrives to say that the head-drink for Anansewaa will be sent in two weeks’ time. As he goes out, he stumbles on Chief Sapaase’s messenger comes yet again with a telegram. Ananse is now rich; he calls in artisans, the carpenter, the mason, and the painter- to refurbish his old house. With donations pouring in from all corners, Ananse has transformed into a big and comfortable man. Ananse’s trick has paid off he is now one of the richest men in the town. Wealth has changed his status from low to high.

ACT III

It is time for Anansewaa’s outdooring ceremony. This ceremony is to mark the passing from girlhood to womanhood. It is a kind rite of passage usually performed for marriage. But Anansewaa’s outdooring ceremony is coming rather too late. Anansesem’s mother is angry at this lateness. She says:

But to wait until five years after the girl has become a woman and then say ‘outdoor her!’ That’s not good custom-keeping in anybody’s world.

 

At any rate, the ceremony is performed with Miss Christiana Yamoah in attendance to dress for Anansewaa. Six girls of Anansewaa’s age come to bring her out and start off the ceremony with a song. In the midst of the celebration of this passage, a disturbing telegram arrives from Togbe Klu, bringing all the excitement to a premature end. Other telegrams are being sent in quick succession from Anansewaa’s suitors all promising to place her head-drink on the table before long, Ananse is confused because he hardly expects this to happen. But this incident brings out his best in the trade of deceit and cunning. He quickly thinks of a way out and then presents a scheme whereby. Anansewaa feigns death as a way of stopping the various plans for the presentation of the head drink. Anansewaa soon gets to know that this scheme is to allow Chief-who-is-chief to win the competition and she eventually gives her full co-operation.

         To get his mother, Aya, and anut, Ekuwa, out of the way so as not to face their opposition, he quickly invents a lie. With Christie Yamoah’s collusion, he lies that some enemies have set fire to the family’s cocoa farm in their hometown and then asks his mother and his aunt to go home immediately. Christie is seen at the end bring the scene to a close with a song.

ACT IV

Here, there is fake mourning for Anansewaa. On her father’s instruction, she feigns death on the very day Togbe Klu is expected to perform the head-drink ceremony. Christie tells the audience that the news of Anansewaa’s death has been sent to all the four suitors. Then the messengers of the various suitors arrive in turns to bring their funeral messages.  From the messages of the suitors, we get to know their various reasons for desiring to marry Anansewaa. Chief of the Mines wants to marry Anansewaa against the advice of his councilors who would then have hated her. Chief Sapaase would have brought her into a domestic rivalry in his place. Togbe Klu:

Was looking forward to having a real helper at the last to assist him in building up a substantial business. Who would ruin him as some of his own?

Togbe Klu would have entrusted all the business documents to his wife, Anansewaa. This revelation surprises Ananse so much, but still wishes Chief-who—is-chief could do better.

Not long after, Chief-who-is-chief messengers arrive with the message that the Chief accepts full responsibility for Anansewaa’s burial rite. The Chief will do everything a husband does for his wife by providing a wedding ring, expensive clothes, a large number of drinks, and a glass coffin for her funeral. This definitely makes him the winner of the contrived competition for the hand of Anansewaa in marriage.

Ananse invokes his daughter back to life and the play end on a happy note with songs and music.

CHARACTERIZATION

 Ananse

He is the most important character in the play, he is the hero. His full name is George Kweka Ananse, a poor, struggling widower with an only child (a daughter, Anansewaa), an aging mother, Aya and an elderly aunt, Ekuwa. He is fairly advanced in age. Everything revolves around his actions. Ananse is a schemer, cunning, ambitious, witty, and flatterer.

Ananse is a loving father, for he cares and loves his daughter, Anansewaa, thus when he discovers his abject poverty condition, he schemes and manipulates his way out to become wealthy.

Ananse is a liar and it is through falsehood that he manages his life. He tells lies that his daughter is dead so as to make money from the Chiefs. He lies also about the fire on his cocoa farm.   Ananse likes to complicate matters, for His ways are certainly complicated.

Ananse certainly needs a rest after spinning such a web. (Act 1, p.15)

Ananse is Machiavellian, for he believes that so long an event has a successful outcome, the method you use to achieve this success does not matter morally. Finally, Ananse is clever, resourceful, and full of energy for he says:

I covered a mile. I traveled the country by bus, by trains, by ferryboat. I lobbed for introductions into the palace after palace….. I assessed everything before I selected the four chiefs to whom I could show your photographs in advance. (Act 1, p. 11)

  • Anansewaa

She is a young, educated, inexperienced but intelligent daughter of Anansesem she is twenty years old. She is an obedient daughter thereby tied to the apron strings of her father.

She learns secretarial studies at the E.P’s Secretarial School and later proceeded to that Institute for Prospective Brides. Despite her education and modern outlook, she enjoys traditional ceremonies.

Anansewaa is a romantic girl, for when she heard of Chief-who-is-chief. She becomes amazed and happy. She is a thrusting innocent child though she does not accept things from her father hook, line, and sinker.

Though the play’s title is The Marriage of Anansewaa, it is not Anansewa that dominates the play but Ananse. In order words, Anansewaa’s role in the play is more or less a passive one.

  • Miss Christiana Yamaoh

She is also known as Christie. She is a fashionable woman. She falls in love with Ananse and can be dishonest. In her efforts to get Ananse to marry her, she acts as Ananse’s wife, helper, and adviser. She is disliked by Aya, the mother of Ananse.

Christie is a good actress, for acts very well in the mock death of Anansewaa. She is urbane and modern in her ways. She is a flamboyant lady, and Aya thinks she is senselessly extravagant’. She contrasts with Aya and Ananse’s aunt who are followers of tradition.

Apart from Ananse and his daughter, Christie is the next most important character in the play. She plays a vital role in the deadly game Ananse resorts to as a desperate measure to escape discovery and humiliation.

  • Aya

Aya literally in the Ghanaian language means ‘grandmother’. Aya is Ananse mother who believes in traditional ceremonies.

Aya is more rustic; crude and spiritual. She is fully involved in the rituals and chants and invokes prayers on Anansewaa before unveiling her. During the outdooring ceremony.

She is brave and very loving; she loves her son, Ananse, and her granddaughter, Anansewaa. When she heard of the family threat, she described to go and tackle, single-handedly, and punish the ‘offspring of vipers’.

  • The Storyteller

The storyteller performs three functions, as he is seen as omniscient. He introduces the story; interprets the story and exposes the characters to the audience as to what will happen later and gives us suspense to what to suspect.

            He is a respectable family man. According to him:

And let me admit that I can feel a little for Ananse. I am a father myself. To tell you the truth. I wish I had a little bit of his kind of cunning. (p. 16)

 

Occasionally, he is a partaker of the action and holds dialogue with some of the characters, as with the postman. (pp.19-56) and with Christie (p.56) The story becomes the property of the storyteller. The storyteller performs the function of the Greek convention of the chorus.

DRAMATIC TECHNIQUES AND LANGUAGE

 

         The play employs the storytelling format, that is, the story is being portrayed in action. The storytelling format involves the use of a storyteller and a pool of actors who voluntarily take part in the action.

In Sutherland’s efforts to give the play a rich African background, she uses multiple dramatic devices. In fact, music begins and ends the play, in addition to constant dancing and singing which characterize the action all the way.

One of the major dramatic techniques being employed in this play is the metaphorical use of the Spider’s web, Sutherland depicts Ananse as a ‘spider who is always spinning a web and trapping his victims in it. The web, no doubt, is a predominant symbol in the play.

The first noteworthy thing about the language being used in this play is transliterations. This means translating literally from the vernacular into English. Though this is not noticeable, as the characters speak in normal English most of the time but not in the speech of the storyteller on (p. 66, Act IV):

Do you notice that since we started thinking, we also have arrived right where the eye of the story is?

The eye of the story means the climax.

There is also the use of imagery in the play. The most outstanding use of metaphor in the play is at the height of crisis where Ananse is about to implement his last risky enterprise in which Anansewaa is expected to feign death.

Also appreciable is the witty use of language in the play. This can be admitted more with Ananse who employs language as part of his cunning and ‘trickish’ devices. Ananse also manages to subdue, Anansewaa in the opening scene by the sheer speed and power of his language. (pp. 2-3)

REVISION QUESTIONS

  1. Give an account of the reasons why Ananse has to write to his daughter’s four suitors?
  2. Examine The Marriage of Anansewaa as a story drama?
  3. Is Anansewaa the passive heroine of the play? Discuss.
  4. Discuss the theme of love and marriage as portrayed in the play?
  5. Who is poverty man and what role did he play in the chorus?
  6. Discuss fully the circumstances leading to Anansewaa’s fake funeral?
  7. Of what significance is the use of song and dance in The Marriage of Anansewaa?
  8. Who is Christie, and how important is she in the play?
  9. Of what significance is the Postman in The Marriage of Anansewaa?
  10.  Give a central account of the use of language and narrative technique in the play?
  11. Describe with close reference in the play, the general atmosphere at the fake murmuring for Anansewaa and comment on its outcome.
Aug 23

IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING ON CORPORATE PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIA

IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING ON CORPORATE PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT 

This study examines the Effect of environmental accounting and reporting on corporate performance. The study adopted a cross section descriptive survey research design and covers a period of ten years. Data collected were analysed using multiple regression analysis. Finding of the study shows that environmental cost accounting is vital for effective performance of a firm.it was noted in the findings that environmental accounting disclosure enable a firm to fully understand the performance state of the organization, hence, making it possible for the firm to know exactly areas to adjust the activities in order to enhance the performance of the firm. The study recommends that Any firm that aim at continuous survival, profit making and effective performance should always carryout environmental cost analysis in order to know their performance level and results obtained from Environmental disclosure of a firm should never be neglected, since it

 

is the bedrock for knowing much more about a firm’s performance. It was also recommended that managers of firm should always implement information’s obtained from environmental cost analysis in order to know areas to improve or adjust the performance of their firm.

Aug 23

The Effect of Financial Regulations on Corporate Performance of Banks in Nigeria

CHAPTER ONE/INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Banking business is not a mere activity for which all decisions of the business should be surrendered to the owners or management of such companies. The nature of the banking and its accompanying risks to operators and economist system call for certain degrees of uniform operational practices. The need to regulate the activities of banks is becoming a matter of very high necessity following global trends of financial institutions collapse and maladministration. The global financial crisis following the failure of big firms like Lehman Brothers and others has highlighted the importance of adequate bank regulation and supervision. The approval of the Basel Committee on Banking Regulation to strengthen global capital and liquidity regulations in order to promote a more resilient banking sector by the G20 is a positive signal in this direction (Klomps & De Haans, 2011)

The Banking Sector serves as catalyst for growth and development and is therefore sensitive to the economy in terms of stability. The critical nature of the sector induces need for checks and regulations to minimize possible financial mishap to national and global economies. It is not surprising that government the world over are attempting to evolve efficient banking system not only for the promotion of efficient intermediation, but also for the protection of depositors, encouragement of efficient competition, maintenance of public confidence in the system, stability of the system and protection against systemic risk and collapse. The degree to which governments should intervene remains an issue of international debate. Financial analyst differs on the level of intervention required per economy; particularly on regulation imposed on the financial intermediaries. Some scholars have clamoured for more stringent regulatory frameworks to authorize, oblige, supervise and control banking business so as to ensure smooth, consistent and sanitized system of banking business, while others are of the opinion that a liberal system is the most ideal given a market driven economy.

The risky nature of banking under voluntary financial markets amidst stringenent competition will only worsen the economic condition of the globe. From internal to external regulatory framework, banking business must be closely monitored by ombudsmen to minimize the possibilities of mortgaging public interest and the overall stability of economic systems. More importantly, laws are tools on which stable economies strive. They act as legal mechanisms that provide guide for the appropriate conduct within the industry. A system that exist without laws is prone to all manners of manipulations

Interestingly, banking started in Nigeria as an unregulated business. Even with the dominance of the scene at inception by foreign banks, neither the foreign nor government made any regulatory demand on the banks as the then. This partly may be due to the emergent business with little or no details of control and mainly on the fact that banking at inception had little risk and complexity compared to the present day. It may not be in Nigeria commenced as a regulation-free business and glides to a highly sophisticated and duly regulated one today.

Taking into cognizance the importance of the business of banking in Nigeria economy and the series of corporate malpractices and financial scam in the then banking institutions, the first banking legislation into Nigeria, the 1952 banking ordinance, was passed into law. By 1958, another banking ordinance was passed section 25 of which repealed the 1952 Act. Subsequent banking legislations- 1958 CBN Act, 1968 Banking Act, 1990 Banking Act, The BOH ACT of 1991, the CBN Act, 1991, CAMA 1991 and the recent 2007 CBN Act Prescribe rules, regulations and principles, which any corporate person willing to partake in banking business must observe before it is authorized to do so.

These legislations equally impose certain duties and obligation on licensed banks and equally put in place series of rules and conventions empowering the central Bank and other bodies like the Federal Ministry of Finance to supervise and control banking institutions so as to ensure smooth running of the business, avoid all the problems experienced by banking institutions prior to 1952 and to safeguard members of the public from losing their funds. The banking sector being a conspicuous and significant partner in every nation’s economy needs to be regulated for its stability, reliability, confidence and above all, tranquility.

Statement of the Problem

Bank regulation is implemented to ensure a sound and safe financial system in the economy. The measures are mainly concerned with the quality of risk asset in banks, compliance with key ratios such as liquidity ratio, cash reserve ratio, capital adequacy ratio amongst others, the quality of management and other corporate governance issues.

However, inadequate regulatory framework and lack of an effective risk asset database and information sharing system have contributed in no small measure in disrupting the activities of banks, thereby leading to the often distasteful incidents of banking distress and liquidation by the regulators.

In line with this problem, various banking legislation/acts have been promulgated as well as the introduction of different strategies all aimed at increasing the efficiency of banking regulatory supervision. Among them are on-site, off-site banking examination, routine examination, special examinations culled at the instance of the regulators as well as other methods of surveillance to be discussed in subsequent chapters. These measures are mutually reinforcing and are designed to timely identify and diagnose emerging problems in individual banks with a view to presenting most efficient resolution directed towards ensuring continued public confidence in the banking system.

Objectives of the Study

The general aim of this research work is to investigate Bank Regulation and Performance in Nigeria.

The main objective is of this study are as follows:

  1. To examine thoroughly how supervisory and regulatory functions of the regulating agencies and their performances has effect on Nigerian banks.
  2. To determine if the Nigerian banking industry has become safe, stable and command the confidence of the general public since the promulgation/implementation of the BOFIA/NDIC Act?
  3. To determine the efficiency and effectiveness of Deposit Insurance Scheme in Nigerian banks as a means to boosting depositors’ confidence in the system.

Research Questions

The research will provide answer to the following research questions:

  1. Is the supervisory and regulatory functions of the regulating agencies has effect on Nigerian banks?
  2. Has the Nigerian banking industry become safe, stable and command the confidence of the general public since the promulgation/implementation of the BOFIA/NDIC Act?
  3. How effective has NDIC guaranteed depositors’ funds through its deposit insurance scheme?

Research Hypothesis

Ho: The supervisory and regulatory functions of the Central Bank (CBN) and the NDIC have been effective in curtailing distress in the Nigeria banking system.

H1: The supervisory and regulatory functions of the CBN and the NDIC have not been effective in curtailing distress in the Nigerian banking system.

Scope of the Study

The study will cover the operation of the regulatory authorities as it relates to the banking industry in the past twelve years prior to the consolidation era and thus, would be limited to the period of 2005-2015.

In view of the technicalities involved, it would be unrealistic to assume that all necessary facts have been gathered in the process of the study. Information gathered is limited to those accesses and made available by the respondents and also those gathered with the aid of local newspapers, magazines, journals and annual reports of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Agusto Industry report and basically the internet. However, the effect of this limitation will be reduced to the barest minimum.

Significance of the Study

The findings of this study will be of immense benefit not only to the Nigerian banking industry and its related institutions, but also to those interested in understanding the inter-relationship between the actions of the regulators on one hand and the banking institutions on the other as well as providing a platform for promoting an efficient and effective banking practice.

It is also imperative to state that a study of this nature provides an independent platform via which the regulators can appraise fundamental tools of supervision in a bid to make reasonable adjustments where necessary.

The study is significant in that it will help depositors of funds in financial institutions to fully understand the mechanism of banking supervision and the provisions of the law as it relates to the deposit insurance scheme. It also provides a platform for the regulatory authorities to appreciate the impact of their activities on the banking industry, and underscores areas for improvement.

The significance becomes more prominent when the effect of regulation and supervision is examined against the background of the consolidation exercise of the present policies of the Central bank of Nigeria. It is worth mentioning that the present state of the nation’s financial industry precipitated out of the supervisory framework of the Central Bank, hence this study would attempt to examine what impact the present consolidation exercise would have on the regulatory framework.

Organization of the Study

This research is structured into five chapters. Chapter one deals with the introduction and general background to the study. In this chapter, statement of the problem, research objectives and hypotheses were stated. In addition, the scope of the study, significance of the study and definition of terms were highlighted. Chapter two was set aside for review of literature dealing so on. In Chapter three methodology was presented with focus on research design, types and sources of data, methods of data collection and analysis. In Chapter four, the data collected presented, analysed and presented. Finally, the summary, conclusion, recommendation and suggested areas for further research were discussed in chapter five.

Operational Definition of Terms

Financial Intermediation: Financial Intermediation is the mobilization of funds from the surplus spending units at a cost or lending of such funds to the deficit spending units at a price both within and outside the shore of a country.(Gabriel, 2008)

Bank regulation: A body of specific rules or agreed behaviour either imposed by some government or other external agency, or self-imposed by explicit or implicit agreement within the industry that limits the activities and business operations of financial institutions e.g. CBN/NDIC (Mark, 2011).

Bank supervision: Is the process of monitoring banks to ensure that they carry out their activities in accordance with laws, rules and regulations, and in a safe and sound manner.(Masaka, 2015)

Stable banking system: A stable banking system means that banks have the ability and capacity to meet maturing obligations as they fall due, and are making adequate profits from authorized banking business to justify their investment while at the same time keeping banking failures at a minimum within the country.(Akpan,2014)

Prudential guidelines: Is a body of specific rules imposed by government through the Central bank aimed at ensuring prudent management and administration of banks’ funds so that reports of financial institutions are correct and reflective of their true portfolio. (Onsachi, 2011)

Deposit insurance scheme: Is primarily intended to promote stability of the financial system and to protect depositors by minimizing the risk that depositors will suffer, lender of last resort. (Yinka, 2000)