ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH SPOILED TOMATOES

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Vegetables constitute commercially and nutritionally important indispensable food commodity. Vegetable naturally play a vital role in human nutrition by supplying the necessary growth factors such as vitamins and essential minerals in human daily diet and that can help to keep a good and normal health. Vegetables are widely distributed in nature. One of the limiting factors that influence the fruit economic value is the relatively short shelf-life period caused by pathogen’s attack (Droby, 2006: Zhu, 2006).

Tomato (Lycopersiconesculentum) pronounced Toh-MAH-to is the most important vegetable worldwide. Tomato is an annual plant which belongs to the Solanaceaefamily which includes other well-known species such as Potato, Tobacco, Pepper and Egg plants (aubergine) and can reach a height of over two meters. It’s a berry fruit, tomato is grown mainly in soil (Frazier and Westhoff,2004).

Tomato is essential mainly for its dietary needs and can be consumed in diverse ways. It can be cooked as vegetable, as an ingredient in many dishes and sauces; in the making of stew, fruit juices and can be eaten raw in salads(Masefield et al., 2002).

The modern day tomatowhich is a very popular fruitoriginated from South-Western Hemisphere, now the Peru-Euador area(Rick,2001).From here,it was distributed to many parts of tropical America. It possibly arrived the West African Ports via Portuguese traders or the Sudan (Tindall, 2004).

Tomato in West Africa is grown in gardens and irrigation schemes. In Nigeria, most tomatoes are grown in the northern parts of the country(Erinle,2007) and there is no record of any systematic or organized traditional storage method for vegetables and fruits. They are usually sold immediately after harvesting. They are packed in baskets, cardboard boxes, or wooden crates ready for transportation to the markets.

Tomato is the most perishable vegetable during handling, transportation and storage. This is because tomato contains large amount of water which makes them susceptible to spoilage by the action of microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria and protozoans (Ross, 1975). Estimates have shown that about one third of the produce is lost before reaching the consumer (Erinle, 2007), this loss has been attributed to a number of factors which include physical (mechanical breakage, bruises), physiological and also damages caused by pathological agents (Thompson and Kelly, 2000), market value of the tomato are mainly reduced by this factors.

Watt and Merrill, (2000) defined spoiled food as that which have been damaged or injured so as to render it undesirable for human consumption. Various activities may result in food spoilage: insect activities,causing physical injuries for example, bruisingand enzyme activity by microorganism causes change in colour, taste, smell, texture and quality of the food.

Pauland Sarisbury, (1981)  also referred to spoilage as any change in the condition of food in which the food becomes less palatable or even toxic: these changes may be accompanied by alteration in taste, smell, appearance or texture.

The spoilage of food by microorganisms should not be viewed as a sinister plot on the part of the microbes deliberately to destroy foods but as a normal function of these organisms in the total ecology of all living organisms (Watt and Merrill, 2000). It has also been estimated by Watt and Merrill (2000) that 20% of all fruits and vegetables harvested for human consumption are lost through microbial spoilage causing one or more of 250 market diseases. Spoilage of fresh tomato usually occurs during storage and transit and also while waiting to be processed.

Frazier and Westhoff,(2004) reported that fruits and vegetables after picking continue to respire and as a result heat is produced, this heat is known as ‘vital heat’, the amount which varies with particular amount of fruits and vegetables.

Vegetables that respire more thereby generating most heat are those that perish/spoil most rapidly (Wheeler, 2005). The resulting respiration of the fruits in addition to the normal ripening process complicates an independent discussion on microbiological spoilage of fruits in general and tomato in particular.

Fusarium oxysporium f.sp.lycoperisici andVerticilliumalbo-atrumare two fungi that cause similar wilt disease on tomato.(Nesmith etal.,1983). Fusarium is more common in replant fields and gardens while Verticilliumhas been destructive on greenhouse tomatoes and in commercial stake tomatoes. Verticillium wilt is more of a problem at cooler temperature while Fusarium wilt is considered a warm temperature disease. Both are favoured by wet conditions.

According to Nesmithetal., (1983), both fungi are common inhabitants of Kentucky soils. These fungi attack the plant through the roots and grow up through the water-conducting vessels. FusariumandVerticilliummay be introduced to soils in several ways: Old crop residues, transplants, wind, water,implement-borne soils or mulches. These fungi become established readily in most soils and can remain in the soil for years. When susceptible tomatoes are planted, in infected soil, their roots are also subjected to attack by these fungi. Both diseases are much more serious when accompanied by root knot nematode. These problems can be controlled by using resistant tomato varieties and fumigating or stream sterilizing greenhouse soils.

ABSTRACT

The study examined the various fungal pathogens associated with tomatoes spoilage as well as their preliminary taxonomic grouping up to genus level. 25 samples of the spoiled tomatoes were collected from five locations within Gwagwalada area council. Locations include: Passo Village, Gwagwalada market, Phase III, New Kutunku and Dagiri. Thesame prevalence rate(100%) was recorded for all tomato samples purchased in all locations.The level of awareness of the general public in regards to the spoilage of tomatoes by Fungi was very significant with about 62.5% of the respondents attesting to the claim of tomato spoilage caused by Fungi and 37.5% disagreeing. Morphological studies reveal the fungal members which include members of the genus Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, MucorPenicilliumand Rhizopus species. Species of Fusarium were seen to be the most occurring in all samples. Satistical analysis also concurred to the fact that fungi are responsible for spoilage of tomatoes purchached in Gwagwalada (p< 0.05). It implies that fungi are greatly responsible for tomato spoilage. Proper handling, transportation and thorough washing with clean or chlorinated water will go a long way in reducing the risk of tomato spoilage by Fungi.

 

Editor source:  Isolation And Characterization Of Fungi Associated With Spoiled Tomatoes In Gwagwalada

 

THE EFFECT OF CALCIUM TAINTED WATER ON CADMIUM INDUCED LIVER DAMAGE

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Heavy metals are toxic agent. They are toxic to humans and animals. Heavy metals which establishes toxic actions to humans include; cadmium (Stohs and Bagchi,1995), lead ( Ferner, 2001) and mercury (Hawkes, 1997). Each of these has been studied   in isolation for toxicity (Huton and Symon, 1986; Nriagu and Pacyna, 1988; Nriagu, 1989). But, in the eco-system, be it air, atmosphere, land, and water where they occur, they do not exist in isolation. They occur in close association with other metal and non-metallic elemental pollutants. Among the metallic pollutant could be calcium, copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese, iron and others.  Metals are known to interact with one another. The interaction can bring two elements together in close proximity or it could cause out right displacement of one another. When ingested together in food and water, they antagonize each other. When it comes to intestinal and pulmonary absorption, it is therefore conceivable that the presence of other elements can the toxic potential of each of the heavy metals that have been studied in isolation.

          Eborge (1994) reported that warri river has an unacceptable high cadmium level, 0.3 mg cadmium per liter of water which was 60 folds above the maximum allowable level of 0.005 mg per liter. This report prompted our earlier studies on the hepato, nephro and gonadial toxicity of cadmium. In rats exposed to this high dose via water and diet, the diet was formulated with feed exposed to 0.3 mg cadmium per water. In the ambient water as protein source and the toxic effect investigated and reported (Asagba and obi 2000; Asagba and Obi 2001; Obi and Ilori 2002; Asagba and Obi 2004a; Asagba and Obi 2004b; Asagba and Obi 2005).The study focus on cadmium without taking into consideration the fact that other metals were also present in the river water, and as such were co-consumed by the communities using the river water for cooking drinking and for other domestic purposes. Hence, it is desirable to know if the presence of other metals would enhance or diminish the toxic potential of cadmium or indeed if any other heavy metals such as lead that was mentioned above. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to re-examine the toxic potential of cadmium in the presence of other metals such as calcium and magnesium.

          The objectives set out to achieve were;

1. Re-examination of toxicity of using established and those for liver toxicity namely; blood alanine amino transferase and aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin and total protein.
2. Re-examine the status parameter in the absence of cadmium but in the presence of calcium or magnesium or both.
3. Re-examine this parameters in the presence of cadmium, calcium and magnesium.

1.1     CADMIUM

Cadmium is a chemical element with symbol Cd and atomic number 48. This soft, bluish-white metal is chemically similar to the two other stable metals in group 12, zinc and mercury. Like zinc, it prefers oxidation state +2 in most of its compounds and like mercury it shows a low melting point compared to transition metals. Cadmium and its congeners are not always considered transition metals, in that they do not have partly filled d or f electron shells in the elemental or common oxidation states. The average concentration of cadmium in Earth's crust is between 0.1 and 0.5 parts per million (ppm). It was discovered in 1817 simultaneously by Stromeyer and Hermann, both in Germany, as an impurity in zinc carbonate. Cadmium occurs as a minor component in most zinc ores and therefore is a byproduct of zinc production. It was used for a long time as a pigment and for corrosion-resistant plating on steel, whereas cadmium compounds were used to stabilize plastic. The use of cadmium is generally decreasing due to its toxicity (it is specifically listed in the European Restriction of Hazardous Substances (Morrow, 2010)) and the replacement of nickel-cadmium batteries with nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion batteries. One of its few new uses is in cadmium telluride solar panels. Although cadmium has no known biological function in higher organisms, a cadmium-dependent carbonic anhydrase has been found in marine diatoms.

1.1.1  PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Cadmium is a soft, malleable, ductile, bluish-white divalent metal. It is similar in many respects to zinc but forms complex compounds (Holleman et al., 1985). Unlike other metals, cadmium is resistant to corrosion and as a result it is used as a protective layer when deposited on other metals. As a bulk metal, cadmium is insoluble in water and is not flammable; however, in its powdered form it may burn and release toxic fumes (CSEM, 2011).

1.1.2  CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Although cadmium usually has an oxidation state of +2, it also exists in the +1 state. Cadmium and its congeners are not always considered transition metals, in that they do not have partly filled d or f electron shells in the elemental or common oxidation states (Cotton, 1999). Cadmium burns in air to form brown amorphous cadmium oxide (CdO); the crystalline form of this compound is a dark red which changes color when heated, similar to zinc oxide. Hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and nitric acid dissolve cadmium by forming cadmium chloride (CdCl₂), cadmium sulfate (CdSO₄), or cadmium nitrate (Cd(NO₃)₂). The oxidation state +1 can be reached by dissolving cadmium in a mixture of cadmium chloride and aluminum chloride, forming the Cd₂²⁺ cation, which is similar to the Hg₂²⁺ cation in mercury(I) chloride (Holleman et al., 1985).

Cd + CdCl₂ + 2 AlCl₃ → Cd₂(AlCl₄)₂

The structures of many cadmium complexes with nucleobases, amino acids and vitamins have been determined (Carballo et al., 2013).

1.1.3  OCCURRENCE

 

Cadmium metal

Cadmium makes up about 0.1 ppm of Earth's crust. Compared with the more abundant 65 ppm zinc, cadmium is rare (Wedepohl, 1995). No significant deposits of cadmium-containing ores are known. Greenockite (CdS), the only cadmium mineral of importance, is nearly always associated with sphalerite (ZnS). This association is caused by the geochemical similarity between zinc and cadmium which makes geological separation unlikely. As a consequence, cadmium is produced mainly as a byproduct from mining, smelting, and refining sulfidic ores of zinc, and to a lesser degree, lead and copper. Small amounts of cadmium, about 10% of consumption, are produced from secondary sources, mainly from dust generated by recycling iron and steel scrap. Production in the United States began in 1907, (Ayres et al., 2003) but it was not until after World War I that cadmium came into wide use (Plachy, 1998). One place where metallic cadmium can be found is the Vilyuy River basin in Siberia (Fthenakis, 2004).

Rocks mined to produce phosphate fertilizers contain varying amounts of cadmium, leading to a cadmium concentration of up to 300 mg/kg in the produced phosphate fertilizers and thus in the high cadmium content in agricultural soils (Grant and Shepperd , 2008). Coal can contain significant amounts of cadmium, which ends up mostly in the flue dust (Bettinelli et al., 1988).

1.1.4  BIOLOGICAL ROLE

Cadmium has no known useful role in higher organisms, (Hogan, 2010) but a cadmium-dependent carbonic anhydrase has been found in some marine diatoms (Lane et al., 2005). The diatoms live in environments with very low zinc concentrations and cadmium performs the function normally carried out by zinc in other anhydrases. The discovery was made using X-ray absorption fluorescence spectroscopy (XAFS) (Lane et al., 2000).

The highest concentration of cadmium has been found to be absorbed in the kidneys of humans, and up to about 30 mg of cadmium is commonly inhaled throughout childhood and adolescence (Perry et al., 1976). Cadmium can be used to block calcium channels in chicken neurons (Swandulla and Armstrong, 1989). Analytical methods for the determination of cadmium in biological samples have been reviewed (klorz et al., 2013).

1.1.5  ENVIRONMENT

The biogeochemistry of cadmium and its release to the environment has been the subject of review, as has the speciation of cadmium in the environment (Cullen et al., 2013).

1.1.6  CADMIUM POISONING

The bioinorganic aspects of cadmium toxicity have been reviewed (Maret et al., 2013).The most dangerous form of occupational exposure to cadmium is inhalation of fine dust and fumes, or ingestion of highly soluble cadmium compounds.  Inhalation of cadmium-containing fumes can result initially in metal fume fever but may progress to chemical pneumonitis, pulmonary edema, and death (Hayes, 2007). Cadmium is also an environmental hazard. Human exposures to environmental cadmium are primarily the result of fossil fuel combustion, phosphate fertilizers, natural sources, iron and steel production, cement production and related activities, nonferrous metals production, and municipal solid waste incineration.  Bread, root crops, and vegetables also contribute to the cadmium in modern populations (Mann, 2012). There have been a few instances of general population toxicity as the result of long-term exposure to cadmium in contaminated food and water, and research is ongoing regarding the estrogen mimicry that may induce breast cancer (Mann, 2012). In the decades leading up to World War II, mining operations contaminated the Jinzū River in Japan with cadmium and traces of other toxic metals. As a consequence, cadmium accumulated in the rice crops growing along the riverbanks downstream of the mines. Some members of the local agricultural communities consuming the contaminated rice developed itai-itai disease and renal abnormalities, including proteinuria and glucosuria (Nogawa et al., 2004).

Jinzū River area, which was contaminated with cadmium

The victims of this poisoning were almost exclusively post-menopausal women with low iron and other mineral body stores. Similar general population cadmium exposures in other parts of the world have not resulted in the same health problems because the populations maintained sufficient iron and other mineral levels. Thus, although cadmium is a major factor in the itai-itai disease in Japan, most researchers have concluded that it was one of several factors. Cadmium is one of six substances banned by the European Union's Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive, which bans certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment but allows for certain exemptions and exclusions from the scope of the law. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified cadmium and cadmium compounds as carcinogenic to humans. Although occupational exposure to cadmium is linked to lung and prostate cancer, there is still a substantial controversy about the carcinogenicity of cadmium in low, environmental exposure. Recent data from epidemiological studies suggest that intake of cadmium through diet associates to higher risk of endometrial, breast and prostate cancer as well as to osteoporosis in humans (Julin et al., 2012). A recent study has demonstrated that endometrial tissue is characterized by higher levels of cadmium in current and former smoking females (Rzymski et al., 2014). Although some epidemiological studies show a significant correlation between cadmium exposure and occurrence of disease conditions in human populations, a causative role for cadmium as the factor behind these effects remains yet to be shown. In order to prove a causative role, it will be important to define the molecular mechanisms through which cadmium in low exposure can cause adverse health effects. One hypothesis is that cadmium works as an endocrine disruptor because some experimental studies have shown that it can interact with different hormonal signaling pathways. For example, cadmium can bind to the estrogen receptor alpha, (Fechner et al., 2011) and affect signal transduction along the estrogen and MAPK signaling pathways at low doses (Ali et al., 2010).

Tobacco smoking is the most important single source of cadmium exposure in the general population. It has been estimated that about 10% of the cadmium content of a cigarette is inhaled through smoking. The absorption of cadmium from the lungs is much more effective than that from the gut, and as much as 50% of the cadmium inhaled via cigarette smoke may be absorbed (Friberg, 1983). On average, smokers have 4–5 times higher blood cadmium concentrations and 2–3 times higher kidney cadmium concentrations than non-smokers. Despite the high cadmium content in cigarette smoke, there seems to be little exposure to cadmium from passive smoking. No significant effect on blood cadmium concentrations has been detected in children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.  In the non-smoking part of the population food is the biggest source of exposure to cadmium. High quantities of cadmium can be found for example in crustaceans, molluscs, offals, and algal products. However, due to the higher consumption the most significant contributors to the dietary cadmium exposure are grains, vegetables, and starchy roots and tubers. Cadmium exposure is a risk factor associated with early atherosclerosis and hypertension, which can both lead to cardiovascular disease (Jarup, 1998).

 

EDITOR SOURCE:   The Effect Of Calcium Tainted Water On Cadmium Induced Liver Damage

 

ASSESSMENT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOUNDATION AND THEIR MODE OF CONSTRUCTION

 

ASSESSMENT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOUNDATION AND THEIR MODE OF CONSTRUCTION

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

          One of the major needs of human being in life is shelter to protect man and their properties from some nature hazards. Such hazard may include rainfall, wind, snow, sun, e.t.c which may challenge the way of standard living which man propose. One of the most critical agenda that human being proposed about their wellbeing in the olden days is to have houses inform of huts where they can live after which civilization exhausted the mindset of human from staying in hut to a more conducive and mighty buildings.

            The development of bricks and stone for the construction of building necessitate the need for foundation, though the type of foundation most appropriate for a given structure depend greatly on the type of soil, the soil properties, soil condition and the type of building intended to be built on it.

            Foundation can thus be defined as the horizontal members supporting the entire structure and transmitting the load of the structure to the subsoil. Foundation in respect to soil may further be explained as the lowest part of a building which is situated below the ground level and it is satisfactorily design to transfer or permit load on it.

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

          This project work is concerned with assessment to different types of foundation and their mode of construction though looks like a literature review but entails full information and chosen.

            Foundation samples were limited to three different locations within Ilorin metropolis. Terzaghi equation was used for determining soil bearing capacity of the three cohesionless soil samples taken.

            The result obtained from the calculation shows that the soil in the three foundation Examined can resist any excessive settlement of super-structure load without excessive settlement of shear and it shows a good indication that the soil is good to be used as a sub grade or sub-base materials for construction.

            In general the soil material in those three foundation posses similar characteristic.

 

 

EDITOR SOURCE:    Assessment Of Different Types Of Foundation And Their Mode Of Construction

 

BRANDING AND MARKETING OF PURE WATER

 BRANDING AND MARKETING OF PURE WATER

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

As we move through the present economic conditions, the socio economic setting is different from what is used to be in the past today, many industries have to contend periodically with shortages and others face interactive competition people values are changing.

          An attempt to know the most satisfying product right channels to be adopted, types of pricing tactics to adopt and the promotional strategy to apply.

          Marketing is something that we do well, we all live by selling something. (stevenson) workers exchange their labour for income and use their income to buy wanted goods, companies use their products and use the receipt to buy raw materials and equipment move goods making a profit all know is a crucial human investing. It embraces the activities we engage into satisfy economic want.

          This marketing was born, marketing means working in markets which in means attempting to satisfying human activity directed at satisfying needs and want through exchanges process, it consists of finding out what product and services people already need and want and than proceeding to design, promote and distribution them.

          A production is any thing that can be offered to a market for attention acquisition, use or consumption that might satisfy a went or need, which exchange can be defined as the art of obtaining a desired object from some one by offering something in the return.

          Marketing determines the growth and expenses of any businesses organisation, the market therefore is a researcher, investor, a psychologist, sociologist, economist communicator and a lawyer all rolled in the one, the professional marketer is involved in finding consumer needs and desires, developing product concepts aimed at satisfying fulfilled needs and desire, testing the validity of those product concepts, designing product features, packaging and finding a suitable brand name, pricing the product to recover a reasonable from an investment arranging for regional, nation and international distribution creating effecting marketing communization to let public know about the product’s availability commercial scene, and dating scale, monitoring customer satisfaction and rendering marketing plans in the light of results.

          Good marketing defined a purpose for every organization, and statement of purpose should be specifies as to the business domain in which the organization will operate e.g. we help farmers to increase their productively. In its development of a definition for business domain, the company may want to specify up to from concession needs customer growth product and technology.

          The energy of pure water has made it imperative to effectively market such product many years back there nothing of such and since there are a lot of them in the market now, the opportunities which they found and tend to exploit soon become a threat. This is so because many people went out to exploit negatively the opportunities there is with out adequate consideration for a health and proper hygiene water packaging.

          Marketing is a total system of business activities designed to plan, price, promote and distributed want – satisfying goods and services to present and potential consumer whole maximizing sales profitably over the long run.

 

 

 

ABSTRACT

This research work deals with branding and marketing of pure water in Ilorin township, about satisfaction by the competitor that the regulatory system. The problem aims at solving some of the questions that might arise in the branding and marketing of pure water. The method of data used in the project was primary which include questionnaire and chi – square correlation  analysis that was prepared for the testing of the hypothesis. During the period of finding, the researcher was able to examine and ascertain that branding enhances the effectiveness and efficient running of the branding has the marketing of pure water in Ilorin, therefore it was to realized that for any sector to develop and effectively running, it must be competitive and marketing oriented, so that the branding and marketing of pure water. Lastly the recommendation shows that branding influences the choice of a product in the market. For consumer to identify the product of their choice. This project contain five chapters, chapter one presented background of the study, statement of problem, aims and objective of the study, significance of the study, scope of the study and limitation and constraint to the study. Chapter two also explained the text book and author of the research been used in this project work. The concept of marketing, marketing strategy, branding and brand, branding policy methods of treating water and hypothesis formulation. Chapter three provided how research design population sample and sample size, sources of data, method of data collection and method of data presentation and analysis been gathered. Chapter four talk about the brief history of Ayobat pure water, data presentation, date analysis, hypothesis and discussion of finding. Finally, chapter five analysis the summary of report, conclusion and recommendation given to the company has an personal advice

 

 

EDITOR SOURCE:   Branding And Marketing Of Pure Water In Ilorin Township (A Case Study Of Ayobat Pure Water)

THE ROLE OF WOMEN EDUCATION IN PROMOTING HEALTHY SOCIETY

 

THE ROLE OF WOMEN EDUCATION IN PROMOTING HEALTHY SOCIETY IN DEVELOPING SOCIETY

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Education in its broadest perspective is the lifelong learning, both formal and informal, which aims at equipping the individual effectively with acceptable skills, knowledge, attitudes and competences that will enable him/her to cope favorably with the problems of the society. It is one of the main keys to economic development and improvements in human welfare. As global economic competition grows deeper, education becomes an important source of competitive advantage, closely linked to economic growth, and a way for countries to attract jobs and investment. In addition, education appears to be one of the key determinants of lifetime earnings. Countries therefore, frequently see raising educational attainment as a way of tackling poverty and deprivation.

In developing countries, education is also linked to a whole batch of indicators of human development. Unfortunately, the potential contribution of women in education is undervalued and underutilized (Onyishi, 2007). In Nigeria, there had been several developmental initiatives in the sector since 1960; however, the standard has been degrading instead of getting better (Norah & Ihensekhien,

2009). In view of the crucial role of women in molding individuals from birth and throughout human lifecycle, there is no way a country can achieve development without the participation of women in government. It is not just the participation of women in government that is the necessary solution, but having women in decision making positions. In many countries of the world, the contributions of women were not being recognized until when the United Nations (UN) declared the Decade of Women (1976-1985), making it mandatory on governments to focus on issues of women as an integral component of national development (Lawson, 2008).

Women's education can be regarded as a kind of knowledge given to women for enhancing their self-respect and self-dignity. This knowledge can be in form of formal, non-formal and informal education, it can also be in form of adult education, community development, workshops, seminars, conferences and training. Women's education is for making women to become economically independent and self-reliant (Lawson, 2008). Women as mothers, are educators within their families, what they learn, they pass on to their children and their future generations (Lawson, 2008).

Education for women is a development priority due to the dynamic potential of educated women. Therefore, the main objectives for women's education are as follows:

•      To enable women to improve their family's health and diet.

•      To increase women's productive ability, thus raising their families' standard of living.

•      To give women access to appropriate technologies, management of

cooperatives and the use of loan facilities.

•      To improve women's social and culture status.

•      To enable women to discharge their responsibilities more effectively

•      Helping women to fight their own fears and feelings of inadequacy or

inferiority.

•      Educating women in all round development. That is mentally, socially, physically, psychologically, religiously and economically.

•      To make women participate fully in all the affairs of their nation and to be at centre of sustainable development.

•      To make women able to acquire their own basic needs of the society, like food, shelter, fuel, clothes and nurturing. 

•      To enhance nation building in terms of economic and human development.

Since Nigeria has joined the rest of the world to allow women to participate fully in the society; from going to school to doing formal jobs, she has witnessed a remarkable improvement in educational sector and the workplace (Anugwom,

2009). The Federal Government of Nigeria has also fully embraced some of the resolutions of these conferences and has in the past ten years or so appointed women generally into some decision making positions such as Ministers, Special Advisers, Director Generals, etc. To this effect, this study is set to investigate the role of women of education in the development of Igbo-Eze North local government area of Enugu state.

 

 

EDITOR SOURCE:   The Role Of Women Education In Promoting Healthy Society In Developing Society

 

SATISFACTION AND RETENTION: A KEY TO BUSINESS SURVIVAL

 

SATISFACTION AND RETENTION: A KEY TO BUSINESS SURVIVAL (A CASE STUDY OF BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC)

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

It's difficult to over-stress the importance of customer satisfaction. Sustained profitability is only possible through building customer value and satisfaction. Profit comes as a consequence of building customer value.

As Henry Ford said:

"Business must be run at a profit... else it will die. But when anyone tries to run a business solely for profit, then also the business must die, for it no longer has a reason for existence."

Value Defined

Something that satisfies a consumer's need or want has value in the eyes of the consumer. Whether or not a consumer will buy a product offering depends on whether what it costs them is greater or less than the product's perceived value. Furthermore, when choosing between similar offers, a consumer will choose the product that offers the biggest difference between value and cost. Costs to the customer include not only monetary costs, but everything associated to acquiring it, such as time and hassle. For example, having to go and pick up concert tickets you've already paid for online adds an additional cost. Therefore, even if your product is more expensive, it will nevertheless be chosen if it carries more value in the eyes of the customer.

The difference between what the consumer perceives as the value of the product offering and its costs, are known by marketers as the delivered value. The goal is to ensure that the delivered value for your product is greater than the delivered value of the customer's alternatives.

Customer Satisfaction Defined

Customer satisfaction is closely related to customer expectations. Once acquiring a product, the customer will compare the actual performance of the product with what was expected. The customer will have feelings of pleasure if product performance meets expectations, and feelings of disappointment if it doesn't. If actual performance exceeds expectations, the customer is highly satisfied or delighted.

Customers form their expectations from a variety of sources such as friends, past experiences, competitors as well as the marketer's messages and promises. A balancing act must be made here. If you set expectations too high with your messages, your customers are more likely to be disappointed. If you set them too low, fewer will buy. The most successful firms set expectations high and then are able to deliver performance to match – at a profit.

Creating Customer Value

Given the importance of customer value, it's useful to use what Micheal Porter of Harvard calls the value chain as a tool to find ways to create more customer value. The value chain consists of company activities that create value and add costs in an organization. The primary activities in the value chain are:

• Bringing materials into the company (inbound logistics)
• Converting materials into finished products (operations)
• Shipping out finished products (outbound logistics)
• Marketing the products (sales and other marketing activities)
• Servicing the products (customer service)

Primary activities have secondary support activities which include procurement (or purchasing), technology development, human resource management and firm infrastructure. These support activities may be handled by specialized departments or by multiple departments.

Your job as a marketer is to examine the costs and performance of each value-creating activity, and find ways to improve in each area. It's helpful to compare competitors costs and performance in the value chain as a benchmark. If you can outperform your competitors you can gain a competitive advantage.

It's important to note that internal departments sometimes act in ways to maximize their interests rather than those of the company or customers. For example, a credit department may take too long ensuring the credit worthiness of a customer to avoid the possibility of a bad debt. During this time, the customer is waits and waits, and the sales person becomes frustrated.

The solution to this problem, is to ensure the core business processes are managed smoothly, by using cross disciplinary teams to manage core processes.

It's important to look beyond your own operations as well. Finding competitive advantages beyond your own operations will increase your chances of success. For example, Walmart's suppliers are plugged directly into its inventory system so that they can track sales and replenish items as needed. This reduces the chances of stock outages.

The importance of customer retention

Often, organizations focus a lot or their marketing efforts on attracting new customers and far less attention retaining customers. Satisfied customers are loyal customers. Here are some interesting statistics from the Harvard Business Review (The Loyalty Effect by Frederick F. Reichheld and Thomas Teal):

• It can cost 5 times more to get a new customer than to satisfy and retain a current customer
• In a typical company, customers are defecting at the rate of 10-30% per year
• The profitability of a customer tends to increase the longer the customer is retained

A 5% reduction in the customer defection rate can increase profits by 25% - 80%, depending on the industry

The consumer is faced with an infinite number of choices in his buying behavior. He makes a decision on whether to spend his money or save it. If he chooses to spend it, he has a wide range of product choices available to him. Even within the relatively narrow field of paint industries the consumer has, from five to ten different brands of paints from which to choose in the average paint shop or depot, obviously, no one brand is going to be sold for long if it stops giving the customer what he wants. Hence, it is a total error for a marketing manager to believe that the consumer must buy his product.

The consumer bestows his favor on those who give him what he wants in product, price, promotion and convenience. The penalty for disobeying his mandate is almost certain failure. There are numerous illustrations of firms that refused to obey “Key consumer”, thereby incurring his wrath. At one time, the Waltham Watch Company was held in high esteem by watch buyers decided that the wrist watch was preferable to the pocket watch and subsequently, the consumers changed their buying habit, Waltham was a stubborn until the consumer forced it to do so by refusing to buy pocket watches. Meanwhile, key consumer decided that he wishes his wrist watch to do more than ten times, he wanted a fashionably styled time piece. The majority of firm in that country immediately entered a competitive race on a fashion basis, but not Waltham. His refusal to produce a properly style watch eventually caused its failure.

Obviously, the consumer seldom directly commands a manufacturer.

 

 

EDITOR SOURCE:   Satisfaction And Retention:  A Key To Business Survival (A Case Study Of Berger Paints Nigeria Plc)

 

ENRICHING NIGERIA MENU WITH THE USE OF SOYA BEANS

 ENRICHING NIGERIA MENU WITH THE USE OF SOYA BEANS

 

INTRODUCTION

Soya beans have come to play a prominent role in our daily diet because of the nutritional value it contributes to various dishes.

Soya beans can be processed into many products such as milk, cheese which comes as an extract from soya milk and can also be used in making soya moin moin, soya beans Amala with soya Egusi/Ugwu soup.

Soya beans belong to the family edible seeds of the leguminous plants and the word is derived from the Latin word (legumes). It has been found that the biological value of its protein is known to be very high and much higher than those of other vegetable protein and from animal origin because it contains practically all the essential amino acids in fairly good amount for body needs.

Cereal proteins which constitute the major protein source for people in many developing countries are generally of a relatively low quality because they lack-adequate amounts of the essential amino acid especially lysine. How ever, they contain relatively low protein, and other sulphur amino acids.

Therefore, consuming a mixture of soya beans protein the nutritional quality of the protein from either source can upgrade the nutrition of the people who now subsist on protein deficient diets especially in Nigeria.

Realizing the importance of adequate consumption of high quality protein food is the maintenance of good health; effort should be made to utilize potentially good and cheap sources of proteins.

It is therefore necessary to investigate how soya beans could be put to use to complement the deficiency in the protein of our staple food like yam, cassava, maize e.t.c further more, with the difficult of obtaining imported food these days, the use of soya beans in enriching meal can break Nigerian menu monopoly and go a long way in saving substantial foreign exchange for Nigeria.

However, protein content is only one of the factors that make soyabeans a potential answer to inadequate nutrition. As with many food, soyabeans should not be considered as a  sole sources of nutrition, but when  combined with other  foods, soyabeans especially as a protein sources can go a  long way in upgrading the nutrition of million of people throughout the world.

Management of the hotel and catering industry can not deny that sales of food and beverages, which accounts for some percentage of income to the hotel has been declining due to exorbitant price which accounts from the meat prepared. Soyabeans products which are equally good nutritionally as those from animal origin  and  cheaper will go along  way  in  reducing  the cost  of the food thereby  increasing the patronage and profit  margin  of hotel  industry.

v    To show the quickest method of producing dishes   from soyabeans.

v    To promote the acceptability of soybeans supplement in strict vegetarian diet.

v    To make Nigeria be aware of the improved recipe made from maize 

v    To document and update the new products obtained from soya beans.

v    To produce cheap protein to the low income earner.

v    To increase sufficient food of protein origin to the masses

ABSTRACT

The aim of this project is to enrich Nigerian menu with the use of soyabeans. Using semovita as control for soyabeans flour for the production of Amala, and using corn flour as control for soyabeans flour for the production of moinmoin. It is hoped that the findings would make these dishes from the above food materials known, accepted and included in the Nigerian menu in such a place like homes.

Attempts were made to review relevant literatures to provide information in all areas covered by this work. Different measures that were used are 50/50, 100%. The taste panels were requested to evaluate such qualities which include appearance, taste, colour, flavour, texture.

It was discovered that the dishes made from taste, colour, flavour, texture. It was discovered that the dishes made from these food commodities had flavour, looked colourful, palatable and presentable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDITOR SOURCE:  Enriching Nigeria Menu With The Use Of Soya Beans

 

THE ROLE OF STOCK EXCHANGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CAPITAL MARKET

 

INTRODUCTION

The capital market is a market which  deals in long – term loans. It supplies industry with fixed  and working capital  and finances medium- term  and long term  borrowing  of the federal, state and local governments.

          The capital  market deals in ordinary  stocks and shares and debentures of corporations and bond and securities  of government and it should  be noted that the fund which flow into the capital market come from individuals  who have savings to invest.

          In another  sense the stock exchange plays an important  role in the economy, it determine the economic health of the country  and has a pivotal  role  in mobilizing  resources for the  development of capital market. It is  patient to know that the capital market functions through stock exchange market under the stock  exchange of every country.

           A case study of  Nigerian stock exchange, the contribution  of stock exchange in the banking sector  and in the economic will being  of the public

          In a nut shell, the tock exchange aims to provide an atmosphere when buyer and seller of securities must to buy and sell shoves (securities) the study on the role of stock exchange in the development of capital market will focus on:

(a)   the role  of stock  exchange  in Nigeria and the capital  market

(b)  history  of Nigeria stock exchange and it past operations

(c)    Effect and important of stock exchange as a unit of capital market on the industrial development.

(d)  Impact on the  investor and issues of the securities

(e)   Nature of the capital market and exchange in the capital market operations.

(f)     Participant in the capital market

(g)  Problem  of Nigeria stock  exchange in the capital  market operations

 

 

 

 

 

ABSTRACT

A case study of Nigeria, the contribution of stock  exchange  in the banking  sector and in economic  well being of the general public.

          In a nutshell, the stock exchange aims to provide an atmosphere where buyer and sellers of securities meet to buy and sells shares (securities)

          The importance of stock exchange  cannot  be over emphasized  in the banking  sector and even it performs prominent roles in Nigeria  economy at large. In developing our economy  in Nigeria in Banking sector, with  stock exchange  had came into being so as to perform this active part in  banking  and Nigeria  as well, in view of the above, the stock exchange  market aimed at motivating and encourage the Investor, Brokers as well  as the general public  to have improvement in their aims of buying and selling securities, through  proper usage of the instrument  used in the stock exchange market.          

 

 

EDITOR SOURCE;    The Role Of Stock Exchange In The Development Of Capital Market (A Case Study Of Nigeria Stock Exchange)