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.

Anthropometric Parameters Affecting Ocular Axial Length in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract: Aim: To determine the anthropometric parameters affecting ocular axial length in Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Methods: This was a community based descriptive study carried out in Port Harcourt City LGA, Nigeria using a multistage random sampling technique. Inclusion criteria were Visual Acuity > 6/18, age greater than 18 years and no history of past ocular surgeries or trauma. Socio demographic data was obtained through an interviewer based proforma and included age, sex and tribe. Anthropometric parameters were measured using a standard height and weight automated scale (SECA 769,220). Ocular examinations done included visual acuity, applanation tonometry, and ophthalmoscopy. Axial length (AL) was measured using Amplitude (A) scan ultrasonography (SONOMED PACSCAN 300AP). Data obtained from one eye of the subjects were analyzed using SPSS (Version 17), and P value was set at ≤ .05. Results: The study was made up of two hundred and twelve (212) males (45.5%) and two hundred and fifty four (254) females (54.5%) with M: F ratio of 1:1.2 giving a total of four hundred and sixty six (466) subjects. The age range was 18-92 years and mean age of the subjects studied 43.0±14.2 years. Findings revealed mean AL, Height and Weight to be (23.2±1.0 mm), (162.5±9 cm) and (70.5±14.8 kg) respectively. The mean AL was greater in males than females. There was a statistically significant relationship between height and AL in both gender with AL increasing by 0.035mm (p=0.001, r=0.261) with one centimeter change in height in males and 0.025 mm (p=0.001, r=0.2680) in females. There was also a statistically significant (0.009 mm) increase in AL per one kilogram change in weight in females (p=0.0001, r=0.188). Conclusion: This study noted that there are significant relationships between AL and height and weight respectively. This could add to the data bank for AL in the country and form a basis for identifying deviations from the normal, for further research.

Government Expenditure and its Effect on the Industrial Sector in Nigeria

Abstract: This study examined the effect of government expenditure on the growth of the industrial sector in Nigeria. A regression analysis was applied in the analysis of the data. The study found that government capital expenditure has positive and significant effect on the industrial sector; tax has positive and significant effect on the industrial sector; monetary policy rate has positive and significant effect on the growth of the industrial sector, while real interest rate has a negative and no significant effect on the growth of the industrial sector. From the findings, we conclude that government policy has significant effect on the growth of the Nigerian industrial sector. It recommends that government fiscal policies such as public expending should be directed toward improving the quality of infrastructures in the country, especially the power sector, so that the cost of production can reduce. Government should examine should create an enabling environment with the right infrastructure, improve the security situation and reduce the epileptic power supply related issues. Also, government should examine its monetary policy variables such as interest rate and monetary policy rate. Furthermore, to promote growth, government should develop the industrial sectors of the economy through its capital expenditure. Data Article Ozuzu and Isukul; AJEBA, 21(7): 81-92, 2021; Article no.AJEBA.67196 82

Role of Agricultural Journalism on the Adoption of Agricultural Innovation among Farmers in Etche Local Government Area Rivers State

Abstract: The study examined the role of Agricultural Journalism on the adoption of agricultural innovation among farmers in Etche local Government Area Rivers State. The population of the study comprised all registered small scale farmers and extension workers in Etche Local Government area. The sample size of the study was 105 small scale farmers and 32 extension workers selected using simple random sampling techniques. The instrument used was a self-structured questionnaire title “Role of Agricultural Journalism on the Adoption of Agricultural Innovation among small scale farmers. The validation of the instrument was done by two experts and the reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient. However, the reliability index obtained was 0.86, which is acceptable for instrument consistency. Mean and the standard deviation were used to analyze the responses on each item. Items ≥ 2.50 were accepted, otherwise were rejected. Z-test statistical tool was employed to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study established that creating awareness on modern farming methods, providing information on the effectiveness of crop varieties, establishing the procedure of Original Research Article Amadi and Raji; AJAEES, 38(1): 111-118, 2020; Article no.AJAEES.54799 112 input combination, communicating the impacts and accomplishment of the innovation, disseminating agricultural research findings to farmers are roles of agricultural journalism on the adoption of agricultural innovation among farmers in Etche. The study recommends that agricultural research institutes should also utilize agricultural journalism to educate farmers on their new development. Agricultural journals should contain detailed information about the use of innovation.

Impact of Land Reclamation on the Vegetal Cover of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract: The study examined the impact of land reclamation on vegetal cover in Bayelsa State. For the purpose of this study, both quantitative and qualitative research methods were adopted. Field observations, questionnaire survey and landsat imagery of land cover changes in the year 1986 and 2018 were generated from the global ground cover facility stream. The time series study design and supervised classification of the image processing were adopted to determine the impact of land reclamation on vegetal cover of the study area. It was therefore recommended that recovery of land will make strategic urban planning initiatives sustainable in overcrowded areas and institutions should also put in place laws and strategies to regulate reclamation activities across the region and also geo-spatial skills should be put in place to help quantify the dynamics, trends and rate of reclamation induced land cover change in the environment. Educational institute should inculcate environmental knowledge in the local environment.

Debt Financing and Corporate Finance Performance: A Dynamic Investigation from Nigeria Quoted Firms

Abstract: There are two components of corporate capital. This paper examined the effect of debt financing on the financial performance of quoted firms in Nigeria stock exchange using time series data from 2000-2017. The objective was to examine the controversial findings of scholars on the effect of capital structure on corporate performance of firms. Return on assets and return on equity was modeled as the function of debt equity ratio, debt ratio, equity ratio, total liability ratio and long term debt ratio. Multiple regressions with the aid of statistical package for social sciences were used as data analysis techniques. Model one found that a correlation coefficient (r) of .872 this implies that a very strong correlation exists between return on assets and explanatory variables. The coefficient of determination (r²) is .678 which shows that 67.8% of the variation in Return on Assets is attributable to the variations in the financial leverage. Also, the F- value calculated of 8.338 has a correlation corresponding value of .004 which implies a good model utility. The test of significance conducted as shown in the tables above states that ROA has a calculated value of 242.032 and a corresponding significance value/probability value of .014. The positive sign of t-value (1.653) shows the direction of the variables. This therefore implies that when a financial leverage is well used, this leads to a better, reliable and fairer financial result that is objective and represent the true state of affairs in the food and beverage companies proportionately. Model two found that a correlation coefficient (r) of .772 this implies that a very strong correlation exists between return on assets and explanatory variables. The coefficient of determination (r²) is .639 which shows that 63.9% of the variation in return on equity is attributable to the variations in the financial leverage. Also, the F- value calculated of 7.644 has a correlation corresponding value of .004 which implies a good model utility. The test of significance conducted as shown in the tables above states that ROE has a calculated value of 568.906 and a corresponding significance value/probability value of .003. The positive sign of t-value (3.310) shows the direction of the variables. This therefore implies that when a financial leverage is well used, this leads to a better, reliable and fairer financial result that is objective and represent the true state of affairs in the food and beverage companies proportionately. We recommend that management of the firms should work very hard to optimize the capital structure in order to increase the returns on equity and assets and that Management of Nigerian firms should increase their commitments into capital structure in order to improve earnings from their business transaction.