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This article examined the leadership styles of education administrators and the work performance of the academic workforce in public universities. Specifically, the article sought to explore how education administrators’ leadership styles like autocratic, democratic, and transformational influenced the work performance of the academic workforce. Three hypotheses underlay this article. An ex post facto research design was adopted, while the lecturers in the public universities in Cross River State, Nigeria, constitute the population. A sample of 450 lecturers was randomly selected through a simple random sampling technique from the two public universities in Cross River State. Data was retrieved using a questionnaire titled: “Higher Education Administrators’ Leadership Styles and Academic Workforce Work Performance Questionnaire (HEALSAWWPQ).” The reliability coefficient of the instruments was established using Cronbach alpha, and the sub-scales ranged from.78 to.89. The data gathered was analyzed using inferential statistics of simple linear regression analysis. The results of the data analysis indicate that transformative, democratic, and authoritarian leadership styles have a relatively significant influence on work performance of the academic workforce. It was concluded that higher education administrators’ leadership styles (such as autocratic, democratic, and transformational) are important determinants of academic workforce work performance in public universities. This article contributes to the understanding of the important role of higher education administrators’ leadership styles in achieving higher academic workforce work performance in public universities and other higher education environments.

A popular paradigm among developing countries pursuing the goal of economic growth is the growth-enhancing potency of foreign direct investment (FDI) in underdeveloped countries. A favourable interest rate regime is one of the policy measures attracting FDI to these countries. This study re-evaluated the relationship between interest rate, FDI, and economic growth amidst the fluctuation of key macroeconomic variables in Nigeria from 1980 to 2022. The objective was to examine the impact of interest rate and FDI individually on economic growth and the duo’s joint interaction impact on economic growth. The study adopted the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model in the analysis. The findings showed that interest rate exerted a negative and insignificant impact on economic growth in the long run and a positive and insignificant impact on growth in the short run. FDI insignificantly impacted economic growth in Nigeria. The interaction between interest rate and FDI jointly impacted economic growth significantly in the short run. Gross domestic investment, index of openness, and labour force participation rate also exerted a significant impact on economic growth in Nigeria. Based on the findings, the paper recommended that policies that attract FDI inflow should be implemented for more interest rate-FDI interaction to stimulate economic growth, among others.

This research aimed to evaluate the impact of mass tourism on the hospitality industry and tourism destination development in Cross River State, Nigeria. Primary and secondary data were collected through a checklist and questionnaire, and subsequently analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The findings indicated that Transcorp Hotel and Azari had the highest number of visitor arrivals, with Cuba contributing the largest percentage of tourists in the region. Moreover, the study identified overcrowding and an increase in crime rates as the primary challenges associated with mass tourism in the area. Consequently, the results emphasize the necessity of implementing effective measures to alleviate the negative impacts of overcrowding and address the challenges arising from mass tourism.

Effective land administration is essential for sustainable development. It fosters transparent transactions, protects ownership rights, and provides security for investors. This study's goal is to look at how the laws in Nigeria and Uganda handle land transactions and compare them. The study will concentrate on matters such as land ownership, deal-making processes, and investor protection measures. This study uses a doctrinal research method to look at primary legal sources like Nigeria's Land Use Act of 1978 and Uganda's Land Act of 1998, as well as relevant constitutional provisions and court rulings. It also looks at secondary sources like academic articles and reports. Key findings reveal that Nigeria’s centralised model has led to frequent abuse of authority and created barriers to efficient land investment. In contrast, Uganda’s Constitution vests land ownership in its citizens and recognises multiple tenure systems that promote individual rights, spousal consent, and public access to land registry information, thereby enhancing land transaction security. The study concludes that Uganda’s approach aligns more closely with global best practices, offering clearer protections for landholders and investors. It recommends that Nigeria consider reforming its Land Use Act, adopting provisions for spousal consent, boundary confirmation by neighbouring landowners, and stiffer penalties for fraudulent transactions to improve investor confidence and reduce litigation risks. These reforms would enhance Nigeria’s legal framework for sustainable land management and investment.

Xenophobia presents a significant obstacle to the African Union's (AU) vision of a united and integrated continent. Xenophobia in Africa refers to negative feelings and discriminatory behaviour towards outsiders, particularly immigrants, refugees, or non-nationals. Despite the AU’s efforts to promote unity, xenophobic sentiments and violence persist across several African countries, undermining socio-economic stability, social cohesion, and continental integration. This article examines the challenges xenophobia poses to African unity and regional integration while exploring the AU’s response and proposing strategies to address these issues. The findings reveal that xenophobia affects various socio-economic dimensions, including employment, education, and access to resources for African migrants and host communities. Migrants, often viewed as economic threats, face exclusion from job opportunities and essential services, leading to disrupted livelihoods and perpetuated cycles of poverty. Moreover, xenophobia undermines Agenda 2063’s goals by hindering intra-African mobility, damaging social cohesion, and weakening the foundations of a unified Africa (Paalo, Adu-Gyamfi & Arthur, 2022). Although the AU has publicly condemned xenophobic violence and encouraged protective policies, critics argue that its responses lack enforcement and proactive strategies to curb xenophobia at its roots. The study concludes that xenophobia remains a significant barrier to achieving the AU’s aspirations for a prosperous and integrated Africa. The AU must reinforce its commitment to inclusivity and cooperation among member states to foster lasting unity (Delaila, 2019). Therefore, we recommend that the AU and its member states conduct educational campaigns that promote Pan-Africanism and the economic contributions of migrants. This would change how people think about these issues, make anti-discrimination laws stronger, and improve border and migration policies. All of these changes would make integration easier and lower tensions between communities.

The southeastern region of Nigeria has been grappling with a significant increase in violent activities attributed to unknown gunmen (UGM), resulting in widespread fear, social disruption, and economic decline. This study explores the potential of the Igbo language as a unifying tool to address the complex security challenges posed by UGM. It argues that the Igbo can be instrumental in mobilising collective action against insecurity. Factors such as unemployment, weak governance, erosion of traditional values, and ethnic tensions are identified as key drivers of UGM activities in the region. The study proposes strategies that include utilising the Igbo language for community sensitisation; promoting the revitalisation of traditional governance structures; and encouraging inclusive and effective security measures. By highlighting the power of cultural and linguistic unity, this research offers a pathway for southeastern Nigeria to not only confronts the immediate threat posed by UGM but also to foster long-term peace, stability, and socio-economic recovery. The findings underscore the importance of leveraging local cultural resources, such as language, in addressing complex social challenges and creating a more cohesive, resilient society.

Polystyrene waste was converted into an ecofriendly adhesive using a toluene–acetone solvent system and compared to that of toluene solvent. The bond strengths of the adhesives were determined. The adhesive with the maximum bond strength was tested for pH, water content, flow behavior, the effect of temperature on viscosity, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The influence of viscosity on the adhesive bond strength was checked. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to identify the functional groups in the adhesive, and the effect of toluene and acetone solvent mixing on the bond strength of the polystyrene waste adhesive (PSWA) was determined. An increase in polystyrene concentration increased the adhesive viscosity. Temperature changes did not influence the adhesive's pseudo-plasticity but influenced its viscosity, as temperature rise resulted in a viscosity decrease. The toluene–acetone PSWA sample with a viscosity of 615.01 cP provided the best bond strength and a further decrease or increase in viscosity reduced the bond strength. The bond strength of the toluene–acetone adhesive system was significantly lower than that of the toluene system. The toluene–acetone system, on the other hand, is more environmentally friendly than that of toluene, and its maximum bond strength value of 0.637 N/mm 2 is within the range of bond strength values for particleboard production. The eco-friendlier adhesive has a pH of 5.76 and a water content of 5.82% which are also within the range for particleboard adhesives. The eco-friendlier PSWA is more thermally stable with a slower thermal decomposition rate than that of the toluene (control) sample. Its pseudoplastic flow behavior is advantageous for adhesive applications.

Background: Healthcare workers were at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic. The acceptability and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers was an important strategy in halting the spread of the virus as well as the antecedent implications on global health and the world economy. Objectives: This study aims to determine the acceptability rate and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination of frontline healthcare workers in Awka, Nigeria. Design: This is an analytical cross-sectional study. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted from February 2022 to April 2022 to obtain the data for this study. One hundred healthcare workers were studied. Acceptability rate and barriers to uptake of COVID-19 vaccination were outcome measures. Results: The COVID-19 vaccination rate was 45.0% among healthcare workers in study area of Awka metropolis. Ages 30–39 years had the highest acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccination, 19 (47.5%; p = 0.262) with a more female preponderance of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance compared to males [26 (41.3%) vs 16 (42.2%), p = 0.721]. The place of residence of respondents (urban vs rural) and their marital status (married vs single) appeared not to influence the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination [(38 (42.2%) vs 3 (33.3%); p = 0.667; 25 (36.8% vs 17 (54.8%); p = 0.433)]. Years of work experience (<10 years vs >10 years) significantly affected COVID-19 vaccine acceptance [27 (45.8%) vs 12 (52.2%); p = 0.029]. Educational status and monthly income appeared not to influence vaccine uptake (p > 0.05, for both). A significant number of respondents were not sure why they should or should not take the COVID-19 vaccine [49 (92.5%) vs 35 (83.3%); p = 0.001]. Conclusion: The COVID-19 vaccination rate is still poor among healthcare workers in Awka metropolis. The majority of respondents do not know why they should or should not take COVID-19 vaccine. We therefore recommend robust awareness campaigns that will explain in clear terms the essence and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination in order to improve vaccine acceptance.

Background Arterial blood pressure tends to rise with growth and development. Elevated blood pressure (EBP) in children usually occurs during the first two decades of life, and the children with hypertension tend to grow into adulthood with the high level of blood pressure. The prevalence of hypertension in children is increasing, the causes likely to be of different combination of factors. In this study we ascertained the prevalence of EBP in pre-school children in Enugu metropolis, South-East Nigeria and also determined its association with some factors like the Body Mass Index (BMI), urinalysis finding, family history, gender, age and socioeconomic class. Method A Stratified method of sampling was used to select subjects from registered nursery schools (Pre- elementary school) within Enugu metropolis. Physical examination of the recruited pupils was done with emphasis on arterial blood pressure, anthropometric measurements and urinalysis. Result Six hundred and thirty children (630) were studied out of which 345 (54.8%) were males and 285 (45.2%) were females. Sustained EBP (mainly systolic) were recorded in 12 pupils (1.9%) giving a prevalence of 1.9% of the pre-school population. The twelve (1.9%) pupils were all 5 years of age (p value = 0.001) and 11 (1.72%) of them were of under-weight BMI. The prevalence of obesity is 0.5% and that of under-weight is 92% of the studied population. There is no association between EBP and obesity (p value = 0.679). All the pupils with EBP had protein-free urine and no hematuria. Conclusions EBP and under-weight malnutrition is common in children in 5 years age group. EBP in preschool children is not influenced by their body mass index, urinalysis finding, gender, family history of hypertension or socioeconomic class.