NEW MEDIA AND MEDIATISATIONS: WHITHER NIGERIAN STUDENTS

¹Izuogu, Kingsley Chukwuemeka; ²Okpara Onyekwere & ³Ubani, Emenike Ikedichi

¹Department of Mass Communication, Abia State University, Uturu Nigeria

²Division of General Studies, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba

³Department of Mass Communication, Abia State University, Uturu Nigeria

Email: reverendizuogu@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Frankly speaking, everything in life has got its own time and season. Today, we live in the time and season of the new media which has apparently altered the conventional modes of human communication. With their inherent interactive and inter-connective attributes, the new media have condensed the communication process to a more democratic and participatory dialogue. Obviously, the new media have not only bridged the communication gap between content-creators and content-consumers, but have also introduced other media practices that seem to offer endless possibilities in the communication world. In view of the fact that every technological breakthrough comes with inherent good and bad aspects; it becomes pertinent to x-ray the use of the new media among Nigerian undergraduate students. In other words, this research is intended to investigate how Nigerian students use the new media and how much time they spend on such media sites. The study adopted the survey method of research, wherein the questionnaire was used as an instrument to explore the gratifications which undergraduate students of Abia State University Uturu and University of Nigeria Nsukka seek from the new media, and how such gratifications rob off on their academic performance.

Keywords: Citizen Journalism, New Media, Tertiary Education, Productive Learning, Nigerian     Universities

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE POWER SECTOR IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF BENIN ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY (BEDC)

¹Abioluwajumi Lucky & ²Osaghae F. S. O

¹Department of Political Science and Public Administration

Benson Idahosa University, Benin City

²Institute of Public Administration and Extension Service,

University of Benin

P.M.B. 1154, Ekehuan Campus, Benin City

ABSTRACT

The papers assess the privatization of the power sector in Nigeria with a view to find out if it is achieving the purpose for its adoption and the challenges facing it. The multifarious challenges facing the power sector such as low capacity generation of power, transmission, distribution near total darkness and the issuance of estimated billing system.

This paper viewed the unbundling of NEPA into eighteen (18) Successor Company. Eleven Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and six generation company (GENCOs) and its effect on the citizens and the economy. The methodology adopted in this study was survey research design. The elite theory and the Total Quality Management theory were the theoretical framework. This paper shows that the earlier assumptions that privatization led to regular power supply is not true. The paper also revealed that the use of estimated billing system, the reluctant behavior of Discos to supply pre-paid meters to their customers, the use of casual staff by Discos, the use or obsolete infrastructure and the inefficient supervision of the value chain by the Transmission Company of Nigeria are some of the challenges faced by the power sector. The paper recommends proper supervision/sanctions were necessary/sanctions were necessary for violations, refusal to provide pre-paid meters, the transfer of pre-paid meter to new apartment by their customers and the use of renewable energy to increase power supply.

Key Word: Privatization, power sector, value-chain, power sector road map and renewable energy.

COMMUNITY PERCEPTION OF THE IMPACT OF RADIO MESSAGES ON VESICO VAGINAL FISTULA DISEASE IN NORTH-WEST NIGERIA

 
P.T. Marcus

Department of Mass Communication

Plateau State University, Bokkos

Plateau State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

A communication intervention in Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) is a core eradication agenda strategy and exposure to intervention messages could help to achieve the goal of preventing and controlling VVF in Nigeria. This study was designed to assess community perception of the impact of radio messages on Vesico Vaginal Fistula Disease in North-west Nigeria. To achieve the objectives of the study, survey research design was adopted while; interview and Focus Group Discussions were used as the research instruments for data collection. The data was analyzed using content analysis by adopting the six-step model of Bryman. The findings shows that awareness of VVF was through other radio programmes where friendly health issues are also discussed, but there was no specific programme devoted to the campaign on the disease. The radio provided the needed information on VVF and, for those that heard the messages, they used such information to enhance their knowledge of the disease, but its impact were not significant because the messages do not reach majority of people in the study area and was not the major source of information about the disease. All health personnel and the media houses covered concurred that radio messages on VVF have not been conducted regularly and there is no specific day for reporting on the disease. Media practitioners have encountered many problems in their involvement in campaign against VVF in North West Nigeria. Some of the challenges identified included shortage of staff, lack of modern equipment, technical knowledge about VVF and health reporting, competition from other programmes, and short duration for VVF related stories. The study concluded that despite the fact that radio mass media have enormous potential to influence health-related behaviours and perceptions, the use of media for health development is not without hitches or challenges. The study recommended that Messages on life repulsive health condition, such as VVF should be frequently aired, possibly, broadcast on a daily basis so that people in the study area can be well informed about the disease. Also, for the radio to achieve the desired results on VVF, it should use the appropriate channels that are people oriented and also increase their campaigns by dedicating programmes to the campaignKeywords: Vesico Vaginal Fistula; Radio; Radio messages; Perception; North-

COPING STYLES AS PREDICTORS OF POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AMONG NIGERIAN SOLDIERS

¹Ogbole A James, ²Aboh Uche James& ³Mgbenkemdi Ejike. H

Department of Psychology

 Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani Enugu

Headquarters Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Maiduguri

ABSTRACT

The study investigated coping styles as predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder among Nigerian soldiers. The study was carried out among Nigerian military personnel deployed in the North-eastern part of Nigeria fighting insurgency. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select 242 participants with combat experience. Demographic information revealed that 231 (95.5%) are males, 11(4.5%) are females. Analysis of participants’ rank revealed that 215(88.8%) were private and 27 (11.2%) were commissioned, officers. The participants were administered two sets of  instruments based on survey design; a 17-item Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Military (PCL-M) (Weathers, Huska, & Keane, 1991);  and 30-item Personal Functioning Inventory (Kohn, Brien-wood, Pickering &Decicco, 2003; Umeh, 2004); Descriptive statistics were used to present the socio-demographic factors of participants while hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis in relation to coping styles as predictors of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Nigerian soldiers. The results showed that the coping style was a significant predictor of PTSD among the soldiers (β = -.384, P <.05). The findings were discussed in relation to literature reviewed and it was suggested that the Nigerian military authorities should effectively engage the services of mental health professionals such as the Psychologist to help in ensuring the mental state of soldiers fighting an insurgency. The researcher concluded that individuals with negative coping strategies such as emotional-focused coping styles are more likely to experience PTSD.

Key words: Coping Styles, Posttraumatic stress disorder, Nigerian Soldiers

INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN NIGERIA: A PATHWAY TOWARDS ATTAINING ECONOMIC GROWTH

¹Victor Ushahemba Ijirshar, ²Joseph Tarza Sopko, ³Hilary Eshidenang Ushie & ⁴Kelvins Terhemba ADZER

^1,2Benue State University, Makurdi

³University of Calabar Microfinance Bank

⁴College of Education, Katsina-Ala

ABSTRACT

The study examines the relationship between innovation and economic structural changes as a pathway towards attaining economic growth in Nigeria. The study covers 1986 to 2018. The study is based on the Auerbach-Kotlikoff (AK) model, product variety theory, and the Schumpeterian theory of growth. Vector Error Correction (VEC) Granger Causality test was used to examine the causal relationship between innovation and economic structural changes and the Vector Error Correction test was used to examine the influence of innovation and economic structural changes on economic growth in Nigeria. The study found a unidirectional relationship running from domestic investment to innovation in Nigeria and no causal relationship between innovation and economic structural changes in Nigeria. Innovation and economic structural changes also do not granger cause economic growth in Nigeria. The study further reveals that innovation, value addition in agriculture, value addition in manufacturing, value addition in industry, and value addition in the service sector have a strong influence on economic growth in Nigeria in the long-run. The study recommends that Nigerian government should channel government spending towards productive investments and improve research and development that could advance the level of technology and accelerate the economic structural changes in the country, create enabling business environment through development of infrastructural facilities for domestic investors to strive, establish investment incentives such as soft loans and implement trade policies that could favour the growth of the domestic infant industries and invest hugely in value addition activities in all the sectors that could change the economic structure of the Nigerian economy thereby creating a room for growth.

Keywords: Economic Growth, Innovation, Economic structural changes, and Value addition