Rivers State University of Science and Technology

About: Rivers State University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Threatened species. The organization has 1826 authors who have published 1833 publications receiving 15183 citations.

THE EFFECT OF VENTURE CAPITAL FINANCING ON THE ECONOMIC VALUE ADDED PROFILE OF NIGERIAN SMEs

Abstract: This study examines the use of venture capital (VC) financing for small and medium-scale enterprise (SME) development in Nigeria by comparing the economic value added (EVA) of venture capital-backed SMEs and those of non-venture capital-backed SMEs. Three independent variables were specified namely: Equity finance, management support, and technical support, and the following tests were conducted: paired t-tests for significance of the differences in dependent and independent means, f-test for significance of R2 and t-test for significance of individual regression coefficients. 120 sets of questionnaire were administered, 60 for each category of SMEs, and a stepwise procedure followed the first response in order to maintain balanced responses between venture capital and non-venture capital-backed SMEs. Each set of questionnaire retrieved was checked for adequacy and completeness and if not, fresh questionnaires were sent out, ensuring that the objective criteria set out were met. It was found that VC financed SMEs clearly outperformed non-VCfinanced SMEs, and that the distinctive performance is the effect of management support by venture capitalists in their portfolio SMEs. The study concluded that given this positive trend in enterprise sustainability, VC-backed SMEs will contribute more to society in terms of taxes to government, provision for corporate social responsibility, and staff welfare. Finally, it was recommended among other things that more incentives for VC investments should be offered to encourage greater participation.

Effect of processing on certain antinutrients in bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) cotyledons

Abstract: Cotyledons of two Nigerian varieties of bambara groundnut were analysed for trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) and polyphenols after whole beans had, in each case, been cold-soaked, hot-soaked, cold-soaked/germinated and dehulled. Another portion of beans was fermented after they had been cold-soaked, dehulled and boiled for 10 min (pretreatment), simulating the ‘dawadawa’ process. Germination made dehulling of the beans very easy, as the hulls broke open during the process, but was not very effective in reducing the polyphenol levels (9%, average loss) and TIA (17%, average loss). The combined pretreatment/fermentation process reduced the polyphenol level and TIA by 24% and 40%, respectively (average losses). Hot-soaking considerably improved the dehulling properties of the beans over cold-soaking and was more effective in reducing the TIA level in the cotyledons (31%, average loss) than cold-soaking (12%, average loss). Polyphenol losses by the two conditioning methods were similar (9%, average). Generally, losses in polyphenols and TIA could be attributed to leaching and inactivation respectively during the processes involved. The results show that a combination of two or more simple processing methods could be used to improve the food value of bambara groundnut. © 1997 SCI.

Effect of traditional processing of cassava on the cyanide content of gari and cassava flour

Abstract: Detoxification of cassava cultivars (30572 TMS and 30555 TMS) during their traditional methods of processing to produce gari and cassava flour has been investigated. The HCN quantitative determination was done using the enzymatic assay. Fermentation of cassava pulp for 96 hours during cassava processing for gari reduced the HCN by 22 ppm (52.4 percent) and 20 ppm (57.3 percent) for 30572 TMS and 30555 TMS respectively. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the HCN content of the two cultivars. Soaking of the sliced cassava tissue for 24 hours in cassava flour production prior to sundrying resulted in 16 ppm (38.1 percent) and 15 ppm (38.4 percent) HCN reduction for 30572 TMS and 30555 TMS respectively. HCN loss during sundrying was 6 ppm (14.3 percent) and 5 ppm (12.8 percent) for the two cultivars. There was significantly (P < 0.05) higher HCN loss in processing of gari than cassava flour. The residual cyanide in gari was 12 ppm for 30572 TMS and 10 ppm for 30555 TMS and that in the flour was 20 ppm for 30572 and 19 ppm for 30555 TMS.

Microbiology and nutritional composition of an edible larva (bunaea alcinoe stoll) of the niger delta

Abstract: The microbial load and nutritional composition of the Bunaea alcinoe larvae were investigated. The bacterial population of the skin and intestinal content were 8.16 × 10 6 and 5.70 x 10 5 cfu/g while the fungal populations were 2.07 x 10 6 and 1.32 × 10 6 cfu/g, respectively. Twenty bacterial isolates belonging to the genera Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Micrococcus and Acinetobacter were isolated. Staphylococcus aureus occurred on both the skin and intestinal content. The nutritional composition of the larvae revealed high protein (55%) followed by fat (25%). Total available carbohydrate, moisture and ash were 4, 8 and 8%, respectively. The public health implication of the presence of S. aureus is highlighted. B. alcinoe larva is a rich source of protein and can be recommended in the diet of communities where protein is scarce or expensive.

Customer‐focus, competitor‐focus and marketing performance

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the influence of customer focus and competitor focus on marketing performance of food and beverages organizations in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopted an exploratory design‐ six measures of marketing performance is used to capture the customer‐focus and competitive‐focus of food and beverages organizations in Nigeria. Data were collected from key informants using a research instrument. Returned instruments were analyzed using regression analysis through the use of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16.Findings – The paper validated the existing instruments for measuring customer focus, competitor focus and marketing performance. The paper also finds a strong positive relationship between the three constructs.Practical implications – Two major implications are identified in this paper, one to scholars on the investigation of the link between customer focus, competitor focus and marketing performance in two different ...