Libraries of the  21st century are operating in a completely different environment. This is because the 21st century is information-driven and  highly digitized. Library patrons appear to have also responded to the changing realities, thus  placing new demands on library professionals. To meet up with such demands, library professionals need to acquire digital literacy skills. This is particularly important for academic libraries because of their critical roles in supporting learning. Despite the importance of digital literacy skills in the delivery of libraries services, studies on the subject matters, especially from developing countries are still emerging. The objective of this study was to ascertain the level of digital literacy skills among library professionals from South-South Nigeria. The researchers raised four specific objectives to address this issue. The survey research design was used to conduct the study. The sample size was made up of 100 library professionals of federal university from South-South Nigeria.  The questionnaire served as the instrument for data collection. In the analysis of data for the study, descriptive statistics like simple percentages, mean and standard deviation were used.   The result of the study revealed, among others that there is low level of digital literacy skills among the sample studied. The researchers also found that digital literacy skills are essential for the delivery of library services in the 21st century. Also, the result of the study showed that challenges that range from finance, to lack of interest on the part of library professionals limit the acquisition of digital literacy skills. Based on this results, it was recommended, among others that policy makers should take practice steps aimed at encouraging digital literacy skill acquisition among library professionals in Nigeria. Further studies are also recommended to be conducted in other areas for deeper understanding.

Successful breast feeding is crucial to the curbing of infant malnutrition and achieving the millennium development and sustainable development goals for reducing child mortality. It was observed by the researchers that there is high increase in mortality rate due to lack of exclusive breastfeeding, as a result of the socio-economic status of the parents. The study investigated socio-economic factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers in Ekiti state, Nigeria. Descriptive type of research design was used for the study. The population of this study comprises of nursing mothers attending public health institutions in the four (4) local selected for the study. The sample size of four hundred (400) respondents was used for the study. Multi-staged sampling technique was used, the data gathered from the administered questionnaire was analysed using inferential statistics of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The reliability of the study was ascertained with the coefficient (r) of 1 at 0.05 level of significance. The researchers concluded that level of education, income level and health status after birth are factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers in Ekiti State. The researchers recommended that nursing mothers should see value in education by creating willingness in the acquisition of information and knowledge that will enable them to practice exclusive breastfeeding effectively, immediate needs and quality care should be acquired within the limit of income of individual nursing mothers at a particular time to encourage mothers, child growth and development, order than running into bankruptcy after birth.

Adequacy of PMTCT facilities is paramount for quality PMTCT service delivery. This study was designed and undertaken to determine the adequacy of equipment and materials in the facilities that provide PMTCT services in Abia State. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed for the study. The study targeted the health facilities supported by the Abia State Agency for the Control of AIDS. Out of seventeen (17) Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Abia state, four (4) LGAs were randomly selected for the study and all eighty-one (81) health facilities which provided PMTCT services in the selected LGAs were studied.  The facilities constitute 66(74%) primary health facilities, 14(17.3%) secondary health facilities, and only 1(8.6%) tertiary health facility.Instrument for data collection was the checklist which elicited information on the adequacy of the health facilities in relation to health workers, equipment and materials to render PMTCT services. Analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that only 10(12.3%) health facilities out of the 81 health facilities carry out Caesarean Section. The overall assessment showed that PMTCT service providers in Abia state are not adequate. Only 2(2.5%) of the health facilities had an adequate number of medical doctors and pharmacists. None of the health facilities studied (0%) had the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine which is a major requirement for PMTCT service delivery. More facilities 72(88.9%) had adequate supply of HIV test kits and 60(74.1%) had adequate supply of Anti-retroviral drugs. Poor PMTCT service delivery previously reported in Abia State could likely be as a result of the nonavailability of adequate personnel, required, equipment, and materials for optimum PMTCT service delivery. There is a need to give priority attention to this important component of PMTCT service delivery in the state if the desired reduction in mother -to-child transmission of HIV has to be achieved on target. 

A Wenner array electrode configuration was employed to collect apparent resistivity data over a profile line of length 24m in order to characterize the depth to the weathered basement rock for geotechnical assessment and groundwater investigation at a location in Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State. To ensure accuracy in the resistivity model interpretation, high resistive materials and low resistive materials were buried at pre-determined locations along the profile line. A multi-electrode Wenner array configuration was adopted using 49 electrodes, for a minimum electrode spacing of 0.5m covering 8 datum levels and 176 sounding points. The RES2DInv program was used to invert the apparent resistivity data and the resistivity model interpreted show that while the location and depth of the buried materials are accurately mapped, the depth to the weathered layer is averagely 1m thick from about 2.6m deep to a depth of 3.6m with resistivity of 362 Ω.m. The water table is encountered at a depth of 3.69m which is the surface of the saturated weathered layer. The highest resistivity of 1283 Ω.m which accurately mapped the buried empty kegs confirms that the resistivity of enclosed air is higher than that of the soil layers and weathered rocks. The overburden thickness of the section is approximately 3.70m. The subsurface structures that can support construction works at the location fall within 0 to 18 horizontal position to a depth of 3.6m.

The effectiveness of monetary interventions in controlling the supply of money to the micro, small and medium enterprises is acknowledged by scholars and practitioners. However, the mechanism by which such interventions improve access to credit by micro, small and medium enterprises is not fully understood. This study fills this research gap by investigating the relationship between monetary interventions and access to credit by micro, small and medium enterprises in Kisumu County, Kenya. The specific objectivewas to assess the relationship between cash reserve ratio and access to credit. The target population consisted of all the 1,472 micro, small and medium enterprise groups registered at the department of Social Services in Kisumu County, Kenya. A confidence level of 95% was adopted to obtain a representative sample based on the formula by Yamane Taro. A closed ended survey instrument was administered to a stratified sample of finance managers of the sampled 380 micro, small and medium enterprises. A Cronbach’s alpha of 0.801 confirmed the reliability of the instrument while its validity was assessed by expert opinion of finance professionals. Data diagnostic tests and descriptive analysis provided a basis for the inferential analysis, based on correlation and regression analysis. Results show cash reserve ratio has a statistically significant influence on access to credit. These findings have significant implications for the theory, policy and practice of microfinance and central banking in Kenya and beyond.

The origin, spread and impact of COVID-19 has had a far-reaching effect on the cultural practices of the Luo community of western Kenya. The research findings seek to establish the prevalent rate of COVID-19 amongst the Luo community and also to bring into focus the far-reaching effects of the pandemic on Luo cultural practices. In this paper there are critical observations that I will bring into focus in establishing the ripple effect of the pandemic on some of the practices which for a long time had been defining the Luo identity: greetings through handshake, sharing of meal from the same plate, feasting at funerals, impromptu visits to relatives, overnight stay in funeral places and wailing during funerals or whenever death occurs.

Technology and innovation are essential enablers for growth and sustainable development.  Over the years, there have been conscious efforts by Africans in the area of innovation and technology enhancement as evident in Remitta and M-Pesa for financial services, Way-C tablet in communications, M-Kopa in Energy, and Twiga in Agriculture and Food inclusion just to mention but a few.  However, even with these efforts, Africa is still ranked low in global innovation index (GII).  In fact, the highest ranked African countries namely Mauritius, South Africa, Tunisia and Kenya are placed 52, 60, 65 and 86 respectively out of 131 countries.  This research was designed to investigate the factors responsible for the low GII as well as recommend ways of enhancing it.   Based on the research findings, Innovation and Technology Transformational Model is presented as a veritable tool for enhancing Africa’s innovation and technology capacities to ensure growth and sustainable development.