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.

Economic Diversification in Nigeria: Lessons from Other Countries of Africa

Abstract: The global fall in oil prices has caused significant external shocks to developing countries whose sole reliance on oil has seen a drastic fall in revenues that accrues from oil sales. To address this issue, there have been renewed calls for developing countries to diversify their economies so as to protect, mitigate and reduce the external shocks that results from depending on a single source of revenue. Nigeria has made several attempts to heed that call. Still, it has not been very successful in making that transition, although there are indications that it may be heading in that direction. This research set out to examine diversification in developing countries using a case study methodology. The intention is simply to draw lessons from countries who have failed to make the diversification and from those who have made the diversification. The findings of this research reveal that diversification is not only a Nigerian problem, several African countries have diversification issues. Secondly, it is a complex process, and economic diversification needs an enabling environment, the right institutional mix (financial, legal, regulatory and market institutions), the necessary infrastructure, human capital development, entrepreneurship combined with the right policy mix sustained over a considerable period of time. Finally, structural challenges continues to hinder any significant transition in terms of economic diversification in developing countries.

Organizational link and employee self-efficacy of manufacturing companies in port harcourt

Abstract: This study investigated the relationship between organizational link and employee self-efficacy of manufacturing companies in Port Harcourt. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey in its investigation of the variables. Primary source of data was generated through self- administered questionnaire. The population for the study was two hundred and fifty-three (253) employees, of the seven (7) selected manufacturing companies. The sample size of 155 was determined using the Taro Yamane’s formula for sample size determination. The reliability of the instrument was achieved by the use of the Cronbach Alpha coefficient with all the items scoring above 0.70. The hypotheses were tested using the Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation Statistics. The tests were carried out at a 95% confidence interval and a 0.05 level of significance. Results from analysis of data revealed that organizational link positively and significantly influences employee self-efficacy of manufacturing companies in Port Harcourt. The study recommended that management of manufacturing firms should encourage the organizational links among the employee’s channels that provide links in the social, psychological and financial networks including the physical environment and society, work and off-work friends and groups of an employee and his or her family Keywords: Organizational Links, Employee Self-Efficacy, Cognitive Self-Efficacy, Emotional Self-Efficacy, Social Self-Efficacy CITATION: Atiyegoba, M. A. (2019). Organizational link and employee self-efficacy of manufacturing companies in Port Harcourt. The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 7(1), 14 – 22.

Assessment of Antioxidant Effects of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Zingiber officinale Rhizome in Testosterone Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Rat Model

Abstract: Aims: To assess the antioxidant effects of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Ginger rhizome in testosterone induced prostate hyperplasic male rats. Study Design: The study was a cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The experimental aspect of this study was conducted at the animal house, Department of Pharmacology, University of Port Harcourt between April and September, 2019. Methodology: Sixty (60) adult albino male wistar rats were used for this study. They were divided into 12 groups of 5 rats each and fed with commercial rat diet and clean drinking water. Aqueous and ethanolic extractions of Ginger rhizome seed were prepared using the maceration method. BPH was induced in rats after they submitted to bilateral orchiectomy by daily injections of Original Research Article Obisike et al.; JOCAMR, 8(2): 1-12, 2019; Article no.JOCAMR.52835 2 testosterone propionate (TP) (4 mg/kg b.wt.sc). Rats were treated with 500 or 1500 mg/kg b.wt. of aqueous or ethanoI extracts of Zingiber officinale (Zo) rhizome, dutasteride or in combination. Administration of extracts was done by gavage. Plasma total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, were analysed using sandwich ELISA Kits by Shanghai Korain Biotech Co., Ltd, China, while oxidative stress indices (OSI) were calculated. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 22.0 of Windows Stat Pac and p values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The results showed that exogenous induction of BPH in rats significantly increased (p=0.000) plasma TOS and OSI while TAS and SOD activities were reduced. However, 500 and 1500 mg/kg b.wt. of Zo rhizome administered orally after exogenous induction of BPH had been established for 15 days, significantly decreased (p=0.000) TOS, OSI and significantly improved the activities of antioxidant parameters like SOD and TAS. Non-significantly increased mean TAS and SOD were seen in a combination of both extracts with dutasteride, possibly suggestive of synergistic interaction between the herbs and the drug. Simultaneous administration of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Zo rhizome with TP for 30 days also showed antioxidant qualities, although the effects were statistically not better than values for treatments done when BPH was established before treatment. Ethanolic extracts of Zo rhizome produced better antioxidant effects compared to the aqueous extracts. Conclusion: From the findings, we conclude that Zo rhizome can ameliorate oxidative stress and therefore may be beneficial in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Distribution and abundance of Temnoschoita Quadrimaculata Gly. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on oil palm, Elaeis guineensis Jacq. in Ghana.

Abstract: The seasonal distribution and abundance of adult Temnoschoita quadrimaculata Gly., a pest of oil palm in Ghana was studied. The weevil occurred throughout the year with a peak of abundance from March to June. It preferred breeding in cut fronds which result from harvesting or pruning and was more abundant in 3–6 days old cut fronds.Adult weevils preferred the upper third portion in comparison to the lower and middle third portion of the palm tree. Their incidence and abundance in pruned plantations was statistically greater (P < 0.05) than in unpruned plantations. Older palm trees were relatively more susceptible to attack than younger ones. Adult weevils preferred feeding on the fresh frond tissues than on leaflets.