Despite the nation’s wealth in natural and human resources, productivity measure in Nigeria has not been satisfactory. Several factors have been alluded to be responsible for this. This paper investigated the impact of public health expenditure (with gross capital formation and secondary school enrolment as control variables) on national productivity (real GDP divided by working population as proxy) in Nigeria between 2000 and 2020. The theoretical foundation was based on Solow Neo-classical and Romer Endogenous growth models. The unit root test showed that variables were stationary at level. The descriptive result shows significant fluctuations in government domestic expenditure on health with an average of 18% of total health expenditure. Regression results showed a significant and positive relationship between healthcare service expenditures and productivity in Nigeria. The study recommended that Nigerian health policies should focus on developing the domestic health sector by increasing yearly budgetary allocation to the sector.

Background: High risk sexual behavior (HRSB) contributes significantly to sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) and unwanted pregnancy. This study was aimed at assessing effects of interactive educational intervention, on knowledge, attitude and practice of safe sexual behavior, among sexually active in-school adolescent girls in Calabar, Nigeria. Methods: Quasi-experimental study design was used, with recruitment of one hundred and twenty (120) respondents in two senior secondary schools, comprising sixty (60) each, in groups 1 (control) and 2 (intervention). Group 2 received 2-hour daily, 3-day face-to-face educational teachings on sexual health. Outcome measures assessed at baseline, immediate post-intervention and 12-weeks follow-up, were level of knowledge, attitude and sexual health behavioral practices, with maximum scores of 62, 55 and 35, respectively. Independent t-test was used as inferential statistic, with p-value set at 0.05. Result: Mean age was 17.2 ± 1.1 years (14-19 years). At baseline, comparing groups 1 and 2, there was no significant difference in level of knowledge (24.7 vs. 26.1), attitude (33.7 vs. 32.2) and practice (23.8 vs. 24.7) of sexual health. Compared with group 1 (control), respondents in group 2 (intervention) had significantly higher level of knowledge of sexual health at immediate post-intervention (25.5 vs. 56.4, p<0.05) and 12-weeks follow-up (24.0 vs. 50.8, p<0.05). There was no significant difference in practice scores between the groups comparing these periods (p>0.05). Conclusion: Interactive educational intervention, is effective in improving knowledge of sexual health among sexually active adolescent girls. Concerted effort at establishing and sustaining school-based sexual health education should be encouraged.

This work studies fish consumption among households in Lagos State. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 400 households from Lagos Island, Eti Osa, Surulere, Shomolu, Kosofe and Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Areas. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data needed for the study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (multinomial logit model). The result indicated that the study area had more male-headed households (52.5%). The average monthly expenditure on fish by household was ₦3,640. The result of the descriptive statistics further shows that a large number of consumers had a preference for fresh fish (60.7%) and smoked fish (54.7%). The result of the multinomial result shows that Education, Age, mode of income, Gender and Household income were among the significant factors influencing households’ preference for the form of fish consumed. The study recommends the improvement of the market for fish by creating value through packaging processing and storage and better storage facilities are pertinent. This can be achieved by government provision of steady power supply and agro-processing industries which must be linked to production for household consumption.

Background: A substantial body of evidence has revealed that family planning is a cost-effective public health and development intervention.It has also been established that family planning is a means to control population growth towards the achievement of goals 1,2 and 3 of the sustainable development goals.However, the contraceptive prevalence rate of Nigerian women especially remains low with a host of factors militating against the uptake of family planning contraceptives.Objective: This paper investigated the various factors that are limiting the uptake of family planning and is thereby causing a low contraceptive uptake rate among female farmers of reproductive age (15 -49 ) in Ekiti state Nigeria. Methods: Multiple regression analysis was used to analyse demographic variables and other factors affecting the intention to use family planning among the study population with a sample size of 350 in 16LGAs/ ADPs of Ekiti State.Result: the result showed that a percentage increase in the level of each of the demographic variables and other factors like family planning perception, attitude, knowledge, and spousal support will increase the level of intention to use family planning. Conclusion:This study concluded that factors like fear of side effects, myths & misconceptions, religious barriers, spousal communication, and education have a significant relationship with the intention to use family planning.

This research identified the sources of credit available and utilized by the respondents, evaluated the socioeconomic factors determining farmers’ access to credit, constraints encountered by respondents and the influence of access to credit on management practices of poultry farmers in Obafemi Owode Local Government of Ogun State. The data collected from 90 poultry farmers were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the logit regression model, to evaluate the socio-economic factors determining the respondents’ access to creditand also to analyze the influence of access to credit on faecal management practices in the study area. The descriptive result showed the farmers earned less than N100, 000 monthly (mean = 61,402±12,127.17, ca. $290) and up to 48% still lacked access to credit. The major use of credit among the farmers was for operational activities (53%) which included waste management. Only 48% of the farmers had access to quality extension service and 46% do not participate in any cooperative. Despite the fact that most of the farmers were aware of impact of farming activities on climate change, about 80% still practiced open dumping of faecal waste without proper treatment because of credit constraint. The logit result (all at p < 0.05) showed that farming experience, farm size, awareness of credit source, cooperative participation, access to extension service and farm income were associated with both access to credit and farmers’ use of appropriate waste management practice. Based on the findings, it is recommended that better waste management practices among poultry farmers should be enhanced by facilitating increased access to credit and this is sine qua non to mitigating climate change. Key words: climate change, credit access, faecal management, Nigeria, poultry

This study characterized the health risks due to the consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated foods and assessed the consumer awareness level of mycotoxins in households in two north-central Nigerian states during the harvest and storage seasons of 2018. Twenty-six mycotoxins and 121 other microbial and plant metabolites were quantified by LC-MS/MS in 250 samples of cereals, nuts and legumes. Aflatoxins were detected in all food types (cowpea, maize, peanut and sorghum) except in millet. Aflatoxin B1 was the most prevalent mycotoxin in peanut (64%) and rice (57%), while fumonisin B1 occurred most in maize (93%) and beauvericin in sorghum (71%). The total aflatoxin concentration was highest in peanut (max: 8422 µg/kg; mean: 1281 µg/kg) and rice (max: 955 µg/kg; mean: 94 µg/kg), whereas the totals of the B-type fumonisins and citrinin were highest in maize (max: 68,204 µg/kg; mean: 2988 µg/kg) and sorghum (max: 1335 µg/kg; mean: 186 µg/kg), respectively. Citrinin levels also reached 51,195 µg/kg (mean: 2343 µg/kg) in maize. Aflatoxin and citrinin concentrations in maize were significantly (p < 0.05) higher during storage than at harvest. The estimated chronic exposures to aflatoxins, citrinin and fumonisins were high, resulting in as much as 247 new liver cancer cases/year/100,000 population and risks of nephrotoxicity and esophageal cancer, respectively. Children who consumed the foods were the most vulnerable. Mycotoxin co-occurrence was evident, which could increase the health risk of the outcomes. Awareness of mycotoxin issues was generally low among the households.

Sustainable implementation of policy to control malaria is sine qua non to reduce the infant mortality rate especially in agrarian economies like Nigeria where malaria is common. This study examined the relationship between infant mortality rate and government expenditure on malaria (GEM) (proxy for health policy as explanatory variable), per capita income, infrastructure development index (IDI), government expenditure on education and health (as control variables) using data from 1990 to 2019 obtained from the World Bank and African Development Bank database. The unit root test conducted showed that all the variables were not stationary at first difference. The co-integration test established a long run equilibrium relationship between the variables which suggested the use of the Error Correction Model. The analysis of the estimated coefficients in the model showed that IDI and GEM significantly reduce infant mortality rate at P<0.05. Improvement in government funding to control malaria and efforts to develop infrastructure especially in the rural agrarian communities is recommended.

Youths’ interest in Agriculture is daily declining due to lack of awareness and information about the prospects in agriculture, leaving the nation’s agricultural sector in the hands of the ageing population. This study examined the impact of agricultural career information on the knowledge, perception and attitudes of secondary school students towards taking agriculture, as a career choice. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 136 school science students in senior secondary schools and structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on their knowledge, perception and attitudes with respect to career in agriculture. Data was collected for pre-test (baseline) and post-test (end-line) after the respondents had participated in an intervention tagged “Agricultural Career Information Program” and analyzed using descriptive and inferential (using t-test at p ≤ 0.05) statistics. Result showed that the students had a significant change in attitude towards choosing agriculture as a career choice after being exposed to the intervention program, but no significant change in the students’ knowledge and perception after being exposed to the program. Agricultural career counselling should be intentional in the education of the youths, in order to influence their attitude and eventual choice of a career in agriculture. The study recommends that career guidance be included in the curriculum of primary and secondary school students, with a focus on agricultural sector. Information sessions on the agricultural sector can also be organized to improve students’ knowledge, attitude and perception in order to direct their choice towards agriculture.

Abstract Aim/purpose – Provision of basic education is pertinent to human capital development, poverty alleviation and abating the threat of insurgence in Africa. Governments in different countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) do budget and spend various amount of money on education every year, but little is known about the effect of such spending on education, especially primary school enrolment which forms the basic educational foundation. Design/methodology/approach – Using data for 24 countries from 2000 to 2016, this study assesses the effect of government educational spending on primary school enrolment in SSA by employing the System-GMM approach. Findings – The results show that government spending has significant (p ≤ 0.05) and positive effect on primary school enrolment in SSA. The results are further confirmed using different diagnostic tests which include the Arellano–Bond test for first and second order autocorrelation in the disturbance term and the Hansen J-test for the validity of the instrumental variables. Other variables analysed (control), which have positive influence on enrolment, include GDP, general number of teachers available, and percentage trained teachers. Population growth rate negatively influences enrolment. Research implications/limitations – The study therefore concludes that increasing spending on education by governments in SSA is sine qua non for improving primary school enrolment rate in the region. Originality/value/contribution – This study has contributed empirically and theoretically to the body of knowledge. The scope covered also makes the study uniquely robust and different from previous ones, though scanty, country-based assessments.

The recent economic recession in Nigeria was manifested shortly after the successful democratic-to-democratic transmission of political power in 2015, against the backdrop of continental and global economy rankings of the country as the largest in Africa, and 24th in the world as at 2014. Based on relevant variables of datasets from 1981 to 2016, this paper employed error correction mechanism on log-linear regression model to evaluate macroeconomic policies being implemented to stabilise and restorethe economy on the path of sustainable growth. The variables were surrogates of fiscal, monetary, exchange rate and supply-side policies. The results showed that the respective macroeconomic policies had mixed effects, but jointly had significant growth-retarding effect on the country’s economy. Therefore, the paper concludes that macroeconomic policies had heterogeneous effects, and emphasised the need for appropriate mix of macroeconomic policies to be implemented to sustain and move theeconomy out of the recession trap. JEL Codes: C22, C52, E52, E62 and F31

This study compared mycotoxin levels in 53 household-formulated and 84 industrially-processed complementary foods, assessed co-exposure patterns from consumption of the contaminated foods by infants and young children (IYC) in two Nigerian states, and evaluated the influence of awareness and adopted processing practices at the household levels on toxin levels in the foods. About 42 and 93% of the industrial- and household-processed foods, respectively, were contaminated by mycotoxins. Aflatoxins, altemariol, citrinin and dihydrocitrinone levels were significantly higher in household-formulated foods while fumonisins were similarly higher in the industrially-processed foods. Of the household-formulated items, Tom bran contained higher aflatoxin levels leading to higher exposure (median: 641 ng/kg bw per day) and health risk (A-coefficient 51.4; p = 0.01) in the IYC. Family cereal and ogi contained the highest levels of fumonisins in the industrial and household food categories, respectively, with the highest exposure estimated for IYC who consumed family cereal (median: 18 mu g/kg bw per day). Aflatoxin exposures were higher in children aged 12-24 months compared to those below 12 months of age. About 69 and 75% of IYC who consumed family cereal and Tom bran, respectively, were co-exposed to mycotoxins resulting in commensurate risks of co-exposures. Overall, 47% of the IYC were co-exposed to 2-4 mycotoxins (aflatoxins, citrinin, fumonisins and ochratoxin A) with eight different co-exposure combinations. Only 33% of the respondents were aware of mycotoxins. Length of grain storage influenced food aflatoxin levels. Adequate risk management advice to concerned stakeholders for mycotoxin control in complementary foods in Nigeria is offered herein.

Malaria is one of the commonest tropical diseases plaguing rural African thus combating it has remained a major health and economic issue as highlighted in the Sustainable development Goals (SDGs).This study examined the effect of malaria on the productivity of cassava based farmers in Ogun state. The data for this study were collected from 338 farmers in Ogun State selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. Information gathered, which included socio-economic, institutional and farm-level factors, were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and regression model (at P-value ≤ 0.05). The result of the analysis showed that 72% of the farmers were susceptible to malaria. Average days of incapacitation due to malaria in the study area (proxy for malaria burden) were 12 days with estimated average annual per capita income loss of N 10,922.83 (approx. $30). Few farming households (20%) used mosquito nets to prevent malaria and most of them (53%) practice self-medication in treating malaria when sick. Majority (51%) of the farmers had productivity levels >1.0 and their level of productivity is influenced negatively by days of incapacitation due to malaria. Other factors which influenced productivity include level of education, farming experience, farmers’ access to credit facility and farm size. Thus, efforts should be directed towards policies and programmes that will further enhance farmers’ awareness of the need to prevent malaria especially with the use of mosquito nets and environmental sanitation. This will increase their potential to improve productivity sustainably.

Farmers in Nigeria are credit constrained. Thus, access to credit is a sina qua non for achieving the sustainable development goal of sustainable food production and improving the welfare of the farming folks. This study assessed credit utilization among cassava farmers in Ogun state and its influence on farm profit. Emphasis was placed on the Ogun State Agriculture and Multi-purpose Credit Agency (OSAMCA). The multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 400 farmers for the study. Data collected with the use of questionnaire (388 found useful) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, gross margin and the Logit regression analyses. Inferences were drawn at 5% level of significance. Result showed that OSAMCA credit was the predominant source of credit available to respondents however, only 39% have benefited and up to 47% have not benefitted from any source of credit. Generally, most of the farmers confirmed their need of credit especially for recapitalization or expansion. The t-test result for difference in mean average gross margin per hectare (proxy for profitability) for credit and non-credit beneficiaries showed that access to credit positively and significantly impacted agribusiness enterprise. Lack of collateral (compulsory security savings/ down payment) was reported by 74% of the farmers as the limitation for sourcing for credit. Regression result showed that the coefficients of hired labour, membership of cooperatives, awareness of credit sources, past loan size and ability to meet down payment arrangement were positive and significant thus increase in these variables will increase probability of access to credit (OSAMCA). Furthermore, coefficient of distance to the credit source was negative and significant indicating that proximity of farmers to credit source will enhance access. It is recommended that efforts directed towards enhancing the factors that increases farmers’ access to credit is pertinent. JEL Classification: E51, N27, Q18

Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the world. Marketing of garri, a major product from cassava, has potential for economic empowerment in Nigeria. The study analyzed the efficiency of garri marketing in Nigeria based on evidence from Kwara State. Data for the study was collected from 120 respondents and analyzed using budgetary and regression techniques. The results showed that most of the respondents were uneducated women who relied on personal savings to finance their agribusiness. Marketing efficiency was 1.12 indicating efficient marketing system which implies that the enterprise is profitable with huge potential for economic empowerment. Factors influencing profitability of garri enterprise (significantly at P ≤ 0.05) included cooperative participation and experience in garri marketing. Major reported marketing constraint included price fluctuation. In order to further improve profitability, hence the potential of garri enterprise for economic empowerment, this paper recommends increasing respondents’ access to more formal financial intermediaries, especially the cooperatives.Keywords: cassava, marketing efficiency, profitability, Nigeria

Aims: Increasing food production through improving land productivity, while conserving the environment and preventing climate change is pertinent to policy makers. This study assessed the predictors of composted poultry waste use intensity (CUI) among arable farmers and its implication for climate change. Study Design: Survey design was used. Primary data was collected from surveyed participants. Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted in Ogun state, south-west Nigeria between August 2014 and April 2015. Original Research Article Babalola et al.; BJAST, 12(1): 1-7, 2016; Article no.BJAST.20774 2 Methodology: multistage sampling technique was used to select 180 farmers. They were interviewed using well structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and the ordinary least square regression model were used in analyzing the data collected. Results: Most of the farmers had below secondary education (57%), did not participate in cooperative (51%), had poor access to extension education (62%) and sourced compost too far from farm. Mean age and years of experience were 45±9.99 and 10.5±6.10 years respectively. Average farm size and income were 2.68±1.44 and N 107,315 (approx. $537) respectively. About 78% of the respondents use both composted and untreated poultry manure while 38 % use only composted poultry manure which protects both the soil and the environment. Most of the farmers perceived vulnerability of their farms to degradation (53%) hence the need for conservation. The regression result showed that factors which increased CUI among farmers were farmers’ education (P< 0.05), access to credit (P< 0.01), farm income (P<0.01), cooperative participation (P<0.05), perceive efficacy of compost (P<0.05), number of quality contacts with extension agents (P<0.01), enterprise combination by keeping poultry birds (P<0.01) and male farmers (P<0.01) while factors which decreased CUI included household size (P< 0.01), farm size (P<0.01), access to fertilizer subsidy, especially for inorganic fertilizers (P<0.05) and distance to the source of compost (P<0.01). Conclusion : Policies to improve organic fertilizer subsidy, extension services and cooperatives for educating farmers on the advantages of intensifying the use of composted poultry manure, especially as regards climate change and public health should be put in place.

This study examined the determinants of the use of food safety information in the purchase of milk. Survey data were collected from 200 randomly selected consumers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression models were used to analyze the data. Results showed that the use of food safety information was positively influenced by knowledge of food safety, marital status, educational level, and presence of risk groups in the household (p < .05). Gender and household size negatively influenced the use of food safety information, thus indicating the target group for food safety communication and intervention.

Abstract- This article assessed credit utilization among arable farmers in Kwara state, Nigeria and its influence on farm income. The data analyzed were collected from 100 farmers purposively sampled. Despite an average of 11years experience, 47% of the farmers have not benefited from agricultural credit. Average income per hectare for farmers who were able to access funds for their farm business was higher (N52,000/$325) than for those who did not (N35,430/$221) however, average loan granted (N55,550/$347)was lower than applied for (N77,900/$486). Lack of collateral was a major limitation for sourcing for credit. Factors determining farmers’ decision to use credit included household size, use of hired labour, cooperatives participation, awareness of credit sources, past loan size, possession of collateral and proximity to the credit lending institution. Policies and programmes directed at enhancing these factors will increase farmers’ decision to use agricultural credit. Keywords: credit utilization, farm income, collateral, kwara, poultry, nigeria.

The paper examined the incidence, economic burden and determinants of domestic violence among households in Odogbolu community of Ogun state. Primary data were collected from 80 respondents purposively selected. Data collected were analyzed using the descriptive statistics. Results showed that mean age of the respondents was 35, mean years of educational was 8 years and average household size was 6. Some 67% of the respondents earned above N20,000 per month, 45% have experienced one form of domestic violence or the other. Further results showed that domestic violence exists among households in the study area. In-law’s influence, extra marital affairs, polygamy, poor education and alcohol/substance use were the major determinants domestic violence. Economic burden of domestic violence among respondents included cost of treatment of injured victims and loss of work output. The majority (53%) of the households with incidence of violence were farming households. Interventions of spiritual/traditional leaders (67%), counselors/social workers (63%) are foremost in respondents’ coping strategies for domestic violence. The study recommends community-based efforts encouraging women economic empowerment to reduce poverty and food insecurity and fostering unity of the nuclear family and discouraging unhealthy interference of extended family members in the affairs of the household.

The study analyzed the determinants of poultry farmers' adoption of agricultural insurance in Abeokuta metropolis of Ogun state, Nigeria. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 80 poultry farmers for the study. Data collected with the use of questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The results shows that 64% of the respondents had up to tertiary education, 53% have been in poultry business for 5 to 10 years, 60% perceived high risk associated with poultry business, 71% had experienced severe risk challenges in the past, 75% earned above N100, 000 (approx. $ 625) monthly and 53% had access to credit facility. However, only 46% of the farmers were aware of the agricultural insurance policy and only 44% have adopted. Regression result showed that farmers' adoption of agricultural insurance will increase if there is increase in formal and extension education, higher level of awareness of insurance policy, more perception and concern for past experience with risk and less indifference resulting from too much confidence in their years of experience and alternative risk management strategies. It is recommended that government and other stakeholders' efforts should be directed towards policies and programmes that will further enhance those factors that increase farmers' adoption of agricultural insurance.

Emerging body of knowledge suggest the need for food expenditure studies in the urban areas.This study identified the determinants of food expenditure among urban households in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria.Respondents (household heads) were selected randomly and data gathered by means of structured questionnaire.Data analysis was accomplished using descriptive statistics and regression model.Results of the study showed that 60% of the household income was expended on food which is considered high, suggesting low income and possible high cost of food in the study area.When combined with existing large members (>5) in most households (66%), existence of food insecurity and vulnerability to poverty in the study area was implied.Regression analysis showed that 65.5% of the variation in household expenditure on food in the study area was accounted for by the explanatory variables.Household income, tribe, household size and the composition of the household had a significant effect on food expenditure.The authors, therefore, recommended a policy option for general food price subsidy and particularly to address urban food prices which would improve spatial pricing efficiency.