RHEMA UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Cassava (Manihot spp.) is a very important and ubiquitous staple crop that plays a vital role in the food security of rural Nigeria. The youths in Anambra State are not willing to take cassava production as a means of livelihood because it is considered a non-profitable enterprise. This study estimated the gross margin of cassava farming in Anambra State as a second-best approach to determine the profit level of the enterprise. The specific objectives were to determine the expected input and output values of an average cassava farmer and apply Simulation technique to estimate the expected minimum, maximum and average gross margin of a typical cassava farmer in the state. Knowledge of the profitability of cassava production will assist the youths and prospective entrepreneurs in ranking cassava production properly among other candidate enterprises (for selection) for undertaking as a means of livelihood. The study used secondary cross-sectional data. The survey design was a multistage stratified sampling design. From the 21 LGAs of the state, 8 LGAs were selected for further sampling. The sample size of 543 was apportioned to the selected LGAs in proportionality to their sizes. In each of the selected LGA, systematic sampling was used to select the desired number of farmers from the sampling frame which was constructed by updating the listing of all VCDP beneficiary farmers in the LGA. The cassava producers in the sample were 244 farmers located in 7 LGAs. The data was collated and managed with Microsoft excel spread sheet and statistical analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). This study estimated the gross margin (GM) as total revenue (TR) minus total variable costs (TVC) that is GM = TR – TVC. Total revenue was calculated as the value of cassava sold plus the value of cassava consumed at home or given out as gifts. The variable costs in this study included values of: cassava cuttings, fertilizers applied, agrochemicals applied and aggregated labour. The cost of packaging and transportation were imputed because they were not captured in survey. The prices used were current market prices obtained during the survey. After 2000 iterations the resultant expected gross margin was estimated at N 1,976,559.78 only with an average of the expected gross margins at N1,715,734.49; Simulation of the gross margin enabled important decisions namely; despite the fluctuations in yield and prices, the expected gross margin showed that the variable cost was fully covered in the cropping enterprise; since the average expected gross margin was N1,715,734.49, it indicated that the cassava production enterprise was profitable in Anambra state; the estimation of the expected minimum and the maximum values of the gross margin enabled visual presentation of the distribution; and enabled comparison of any amount with the classes of the distribution of the expected gross margin. Cassava production in the State was constrained by: advanced age of the farmers; the limited number of extension visits; very exorbitant cost of fertilizers, agrochemicals and labor; and nonavailability of farming loans. The study recommended that government should formulate policies that will attract youths into cassava farming and increase extension to farmer ratio, to improve the number of extension visits to cassava farmers in Anambra State.

This paper examines morphological patterns of selected feminine gender words in the English language with the view to identify the morphological processes involved in the formation of feminine gender nouns in English, examine the role of derivational suffixation (such as -ess, -ine, -a, -ina, -trix) in marking feminine gender, analyze alternative processes of forming feminine gender without the suffix -ess, including suppletion, compounding, and syntactic marking. The study was anchored on gender neutrality theory. The population for this study comprises English words that denote female referents or are marked as feminine in contemporary English. The study found that derivational suffixation has historically been a central strategy in the formation of feminine gender nouns. Suffixes such as -ess, -ine, -a, -ina, and -trix were widely used to derive feminine counterparts from masculine based nouns. hero → heroine and executor → executrix illustrate how bound morphemes attach to a lexical root to encode the semantic feature [+female]. The paper also confirms that suppletion plays a significant role in feminine formation. Word pairs such as those formed through completely different lexical roots demonstrate that gender distinction in English is often lexical rather than morphologically predictable. Such forms must be learned individually, emphasizing the irregular nature of gender marking in the language.

Achieving optimum property values through urban slum clearance is the research topic, taking Mango Estate in Elelenwo, Port Harcourt as the case study. The study aimed at maximizing profit on real estate investment especially residential housing with good location and better environmental standards.  The researchers utilized both primary and secondary methods of data collection with structured questionnaire distributed to four categories of respondents which include Landlords, tenants, Town planners and Estate Surveyors and valuers. Current journal publications, published books, and other relevant materials were also consulted.  The retrieved questionnaire were collated and analyzed using the tabulated method, percentages and chi-square  to test the hypothesis therein.  One of the key findings is that after the area has been cleared of slum property values is now increasing and the place is well secured and concluded that the area is attracting more developments and investors.

This study investigated the level of adherence to academic integrity principles in research and publishing among students and lecturers in universities in Bayelsa State, as well as the influence of academic integrity on research quality and excellence. A descriptive survey design was adopted, involving a sample of 350 respondents, comprising 220 students and 130 lecturers. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and independent samples t-test. Findings revealed that both students and lecturers generally perceived a high level of adherence to academic integrity within their institutions, although lecturers reported significantly higher mean ratings than students. Furthermore, both groups agreed that academic integrity positively influences the credibility, originality, and quality of research outputs. T-test analyses showed statistically significant differences in perceptions between students and lecturers on both the level of adherence and the influence of academic integrity on research quality (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, the study recommends enhanced academic integrity education, stricter enforcement of policies, and increased institutional efforts to promote a culture of ethical research. The study concludes that fostering academic integrity is essential for improving the overall quality and reputation of research outputs in higher education institutions in Bayelsa State.

This study examined gendered participation in indigenous dispute resolution mechanisms in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, focusing on how men and women experience and engage differently in traditional conflict resolution processes. The study was anchored on Social Role Theory (Eagly, 1987), which posits that societal expectations and culturally prescribed roles shape individuals’ behaviors and opportunities, including participation in decision-making and dispute management. Recognizing that cultural norms and socio-cultural expectations influence gendered engagement, the study adopted a qualitative research approach, employing in-depth interviews with purposively selected key informants, including male and female elders, community leaders, and individuals previously involved in customary dispute resolution. Secondary sources, including scholarly articles, books, and institutional reports, were also used to provide historical and contextual insights. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, identifying themes related to gender roles, participation levels, decision-making influence, and perceptions of fairness and effectiveness. Findings revealed that men dominate formal decision-making processes, while women contribute through informal roles such as advising, mediating, and maintaining community cohesion. Socio-cultural factors, including patriarchal norms, family hierarchy, and societal expectations, significantly shape these participation patterns. The study concluded that gender disparities persist, limiting fully inclusive and effective conflict resolution. Consequently, it recommends gender-inclusive awareness programs, institutionalization of women’s roles in traditional councils, integration of modern governance principles with cultural practices, and community mentorship initiatives to enhance equitable participation, strengthen legitimacy, and sustain indigenous dispute resolution systems in Emohua communities.