Knowledgebase & Articles

The development of good quality human resources and utilization of their potential ensures the development of a nation. Therefore, the Human Development Index (HDI) emphasizes that people and their capabilities are the key criteria to assess the development of a country, not alone GNP/capita. An upper trend of HDI ensures that the fruits of economic growth are reaching the common citizenry, instead of being parked in a few pockets. If two countries with the same level of GNI/capita, end up with different HDI, it indicates either wrong policy choices or its implementation by the government of the nation.  HDI consists of three key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and having a decent standard of living. It is the geometric mean of normalized indices for each of these three dimensions. A careful look at these three variables boils down to the sense of a commoner as to the availability of the quality of education, health, and living enjoyed by the citizens of a nation, which then cuts into a good figure in the index. If the value is closer to 1.0 on the index, the better it’s standing in regard to human development. In the year 2022, Nigeria has an HDI of 0.534, indicating somewhere in the middle in a global scenario.  Unfortunately, Nigeria is the home of the global highest number of kids (at least 10.5 million) out of formal schooling, though formal primary education is officially free and compulsory. One in five out-of-school children in the world is Nigerian. This grim situation has been acknowledged by the Federal Government which has pledged to increase Nigeria’s annual domestic education expenditure by 50 percent over the next two years and by 100 percent by 2025. This increase will reach 7.2% of the allocation of the national budget; though the internationally expected benchmark of spending in education is 15-20% of the national budget.  Nationally, only 61% of 6-11 year-olds regularly attend primary school, but in the northern part of the country, this figure drops down to 53%, a sharp decrease of 9%. Therefore, the picture is grimier in northern Nigeria. This even further drops down to around 47% for the girl child in northern parts. Various factors like financial affordability, insurgency, social instability, socio-cultural norms, and religious practices discourage participation in formal education and especially for girl children. In the health sector, there are several avenues, which vary from one place to another, available in seeking remedial treatment once a person gets a disease. Like in the case of Nigeria, there are mainly two types of resources viz., formal medicines (allopathic) and traditional African medicine (TAM). Allopathic medicines are synthetic or semi-synthetic chemicals, traditional medicines are also chemicals but made from natural sources. In the population, sometimes a division is observed in choosing which one is better for health. To my observation, TAM sides have an allegation of deprivation of proper attention or promotion in the usage of their products and as a result, allopathic medicines have become dominant. Personally, I have observed the other way round, allopathic practitioners recommend taking traditional medicines if found suitable. TAM practices depend on faith, not on clinical evidence. Nigeria and other African countries possess tremendous amounts of repositories of TAM, which claims to be effective against the disease but has not passed through clinical trials. Both World Health Organization and African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have discouraged to use of these medicines as the clinical trial has not taken place for these natural chemicals.  To this end, all these right decisions will expedite the development of Nigerians as people, and as a nation, and are expected to fetch higher HDI globally.  Reference: https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/education#:~:text=One%20in%20every%20five%20of,years%20are%20not%20in%20school. https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/press-releases/unicef-warns-nigerian-education-crisis-world-celebrates-international-day-education https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0033350620304170   Dr. Susanta Pahari is a Professor in The Department of Biochemistry, Skyline University, Nigeria. He has a PhD in Biochemistry, MSc in Biochemistry from University of Calcutta, India. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

The key aspects required to develop a game app include passion, unique app concept, modern app development technology. The following are the simple steps to be followed while developing a unique game app. Do Market study to identify goal, objectives and user personas Defining the goals and objectives is an essential part of building a game requirements document for a game app. Understanding the gaming app idea will help to define an effective set of functions for the solution. We can use one or a combination of the following monetization policies Ad Revenue, In-app purchases, Premium Purchase, One-time Purchase User personas and stories should serve as a confirmation or refutation of any assumptions made about the users. Defining Gaming App features and requirements The gaming should contain a detailed description of application and features of the game. It should also contain descriptions of non-functional requirements like security, performance, adaptability etc. Develop App UX, User Flow and Technologies This will help in getting a overall idea of a game flow in help us to sort between the feasible and non-feasible ideas. Defining the environment of app is very important as android and IOS has different requirements and technologies for the same app development. Develop a prototype for your game Your prototype needs to be extremely simple as it is not the complete game.  The assets, levels, power-ups, and enemies you have planned   need not be included in this. It simply   requires a simple version of your actual game that shows you have a feasible idea. This can be used as a test to your ideas, to attract investors. Market your app Even before the   release of the gaming app, it needs to be marketed, to create an expectation on the game. Develop a website along with a promotional video for your gaming app.  Give a clear idea to the potential users of what can be expected in the gaming app. Advertise your product to gaming journalists and publications, for an ideal marketing of the game. REFERENCES: https://nix-united.com/blog/how-to-write-a-proper-mobile-app-requirements-document-in-5-steps/ https://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Gaming-App   Dr. Vijay Arputharaj is a lecturer at Skyline University Nigeria. He has completed his PhD in Computer Science, from Bharathiar University, India. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

The desire of every woman is to deliver her baby without a hitch. Many decades ago, the most preferred delivery option for most women was vaginal delivery (VD). During this period, a number of women had their babies at home with traditional birth attendants, but quite often with difficult or prolonged labor and sometimes maternal death.  In recent years, a lot of babies have been delivered successfully through caesarean section.  Some women in developing countries still perceive the caesarean section as a curse of an unfaithful woman (Adeoye & Kalu, 2011). It was also seen as the fate of weak women. A caesarean section (CS) is a surgical procedure, that is performed whenever abnormal conditions complicate labor and vaginal delivery, threatening the life of the mother or the baby. It is a form of abdominal surgery that is performed to deliver a baby through an incision made in the abdomen. A caesarean section may be planned in cases where it becomes evident during pregnancy that the procedure will be necessary or it may be performed as an emergency intervention. In the work of Smith et al. (2008), caesarean section (CS) is conceived as a form of birth that is not natural’, a major abdominal surgery requiring an operating theatre. Caesarean deliveries were initially performed to save the fetus of a moribund patient. This operation later developed into a surgical procedure to resolve maternal or fetal complications not amenable to vaginal delivery. Caesarean delivery has evolved from a vain attempt performed to save the fetus to one in which physician and patient both participate in the decision-making process for the benefit of a mother and her unborn child. Series of conditions such as cephalopelvic disproportion, fetal distress, previous Caesarean section, failed induction, previous reconstructive vaginal surgery, abnormal presentation, multiple gestation, macrosomic baby, fetal abnormality, obstructive pelvic tumour, vulva herpes, several preeclampsia with unfavourable cervix, major placenta praevia and so on necessitates caesarean section according to Jaiyesimi and Ojo (2003). Benefits of Caesarian Section The benefits of caesarian section for the mother and the baby include the following: Low risk of severe bleeding after the delivery Reduced risk of urinary stress and no injury to the vagina Less painful delivery process due to the influence of anaesthetic. Reduced risk of physical and psychological injury to the baby. It is a rescue operation for the baby where vagina delivery is not possible. Caesarean section allows a woman and her husband to know the date and time of delivery. They can as well choose a preferable date of delivery of their baby.   Avoidable Challenges of Caesarian Section Women who have a caesarean section can avoid the following challenges provided they patronize qualified professionals: Accidental surgical cuts to internal organs especially with inexperienced health professionals Infection Emergency hysterectomy Complications from anesthesia Negative psychological consequences of an unplanned caesarean section. According to Berghella (2021), Infants delivered through caesarean section may be exposed to temporary respiratory problems because the baby is not squeezed through the birth canal. In addition, such babies are not exposed to the normal bacteria in the mother’s vagina which may be beneficial in a number of ways. Conclusion Caesarian section saves the life of the mother and baby in most cases, but it is also known to have complications similar to other surgery when an expectant mother fails to seek healthcare in a standard hospital or maternity center. Advances in healthcare, antimicrobial and antithrombotic prophylaxis has greatly improved the safety of caeserian section. Therefore, caesarian section is indeed a blessing, not a curse. References Adeoye A and Kalu. D. T (2011). Short History of Medicine, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. Berghella, V. (2021) Patient education: C-section (cesarean delivery): Beyond the Basics. Available at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/c-section-cesarean-delivery-beyond-the-basics/print Jaiyesimi, R. A., and Ojo, O. E. (2003). Caesarean section. In contemporary Obstetrics and Gynecology for developing countries. Okonufua, E. F, and Kunle, O., editor. Nigeria: Women’s Health and Action Research Centre; Benin City, 592-619. Smith, J., F. Plaat, Fisk N.M. (2008). The natural caesarean: a woman-centred technique. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 115, 1037-42.   Dr. Ajayi is a Lecturer I at the School of Art, Management and Social Science, Skyline University Nigeria. He bagged a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in Sociology at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

Introduction The goldfields in Nigeria have undergone severe artisanal workings that target both of the primary quartz-gold reefs and their related occurrences of alluvial in the absence of any systematic exploration and development. Nigeria’s officially documented gold production began in 1913 and reached its peak between 1933 and 1943, when roughly 1.4t of gold was produced. Due to abandoned of mines by largely colonial businesses, gold production dropped as the Second World War was ongoing and never recovered. The Nigerian Mining Corporation started prospecting for gold there in the early 1980s, but due to a lack of funding, it was unable to continue. Despite the vast potential, gold exploration received little attention due to petroleum’s discovery and subsequent economic domination in Nigeria. Occurrence, Geological setting and Mineralization Gold is found in Nigeria in primary veins, alluvial and eluvial placer deposits, and in various locations along schist belts in the northwest and southwest of the nation. The schist belts in northwest and southwest Nigeria’s Maru, Anka, Malele, Tsohon Birnin Gwari-Kwaga, Gurmana, Bin Yauri, and Iperindo regions are all connected, have the most significant occurrences (Beyond these big places, there are a number of smaller occurrences). The upper Proterozoic fine-grained clastic, politic schists, phyllites, banded iron formations, marble, and amphibolites with imprints of the Kibaran and Pan-African tectonic processes make up the lithologies of the contained schist belts. With fewer quantities of volcanic rocks, the metamorphism within the belt is characterised by green schist facies grading into amphibolite, particularly in the older gneiss-migmatite-quartzite complex. Primary gold mineralization frequently occurs in quartz veins of various lithologies in the schist belt; these veins can have a variety of morphologies, such as bedding concordant veins or discordant vein systems. It is typical to find mineralized wall rocks next to well-known veins, and these rocks could include fine-grained sulphide minerals. The Maru schist belt has the most significant two historic gold mines. The schistosity planes are frequently exploited by the shear zone that spans a quartzite-schist series and hosts Duki Mine. Past miners reportedly mined the mineralization, which appears to consist of gold-quartz veins, with a striking length of more than 1 km, leaving behind a sequence of collapsed N-S-trending workings with no mineralization exposed on the surface. Recent drilling by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) has demonstrated the persistence of the quartz-gold-sulfide veins beneath the historic workings. A two-subparallel quartz vein system makes up Maraba, the other historic gold mine in Maru. Because of the severity of past mining, there are no in situ exposures, the only remnants of mineralization are tourmaline and chlorite in altered wall rocks and quartz floats. The Malele area is in the Maru schist belt’s most southern region. An N-E trending line of gold-quartz veins that cut through both chlorite schist and biotite-gneiss is where gold mineralization occurs (Garba 2013). Today, a number of sub-parallel surface workings represents the series of veins, with the vein exposures being infrequently seen.  The schists, quartzites and phyllites of the schist belt are the hosts of several historic gold mines in the Anka area. According to the extent of previous workings, individual veins or reefs rarely have a strike length more than 0.5 km and are consistent with the foliation of the host rock. The Kushaka schist belt contains the Kwaga and Tsohon Birnin Gwari gold sites. Pyrite is primarily present there, with lesser amounts of galena, magnetite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite. Gold-quartz reefs and their altered wall rocks have been sampled relatively recently through recent core drilling and mining exposures close to the surface. The Kushaka schist belt’s furthest southernmost region contains the Gurmana area of gold mineralization. Quartz-sulfide veins and gneisses are the two main types of gold mineralization. The gold-quartz-sulphide veins rarely run deeper than a few tens of metres. At the intersection of a pan-African granodiorite batholith invading phyllites and tourmalinites of the Zuru schist belt in Bin Yauri, Northwestern Nigeria, a brittle fault zone is cutting through hornfels, produces a gold-sulphide-carbonate quartz vein. The schist belt of Egbe-Isanlu in southwest Nigeria contains the gold-mining region of Okolom-Dogondaji. N-S and N-E- shear zones that are trending and cut gneisses, schists, and amphibolites, are the host of a number of gold-quartz veins. Southwest Nigeria’s Ilesha schist belt is home to the Old Gold Mine at Iperindo. The Iperindo mineralization is currently characterised by parallel old working that extends 900 metres or so in an N-E direction, and it consists of a succession comprises carbonate-quartz veins that are auriferous confined by a secondary fault within mica schist and biotite gneiss. Refreences Garba, I., (2003) Geochemical characteristics of mesothermal gold mineralisation in the Pan-African (600 ± 150 Ma) basement of Nigeria, Applied Earth Science, 112:3, 319-325, DOI: 10.1179/037174503225003143 Gbadebo, A.M., Ekwue, Y.A. (2014) Heavy metal contamination in tailings and rocksamples from an abandoned goldminein southwestern Nigeria. Environ Monit Assess 186, 165–174 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3363-4   Mr. Aliyu Mohammed Lawan is a Lecturer II in the Department of Geology, Skyline University Nigeria. He holds a Master’s degree in Applied Geophysics from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of Maiduguri. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

Introduction The advent of new media has brought about so many changes in the society. In the communication sector, it has democratized content production and distribution as well as broken the hegemony of the traditional mass media of communication (Sule & Ridwanullah, 2021; Ridwanullah & Bala, 2022). The social media platforms have also helped in engendering democratic tenets and provide platforms for fulfilling some important principles of democracy – freedom of expression, public participation, plurality and inclusion. Public discourse and public opinion formulation have now transmogrified from its traditionally gate-kept, professionally mediated, ethically defined, morally curated, and horizontally formatted to more audience-centric, people generated, and often times, obnoxious, riddle with fake news, hate speech and misinformation. This is the reality in today’s world. This reality prompted the UNESCO to declare in 2017 that we are in a critical time which requires critical mind. There can be no better time to regulate the social media than now when media access is at an accelerated rate. On daily basis, digital penetration kept increasing, number of mobile phone users skyrocket and bandwidth subscription on the rise. Conscious efforts must be made to regulate social media platforms and combat the rise of fake news and misinformation on the social media space. Which direction should the regulation take – internal or external regulation?       Social Media and Self-Regulation The constant rise of fake news and misinformation is not unrelated with the level of freedom of speech in the society. This scenario has played out in the past. The libertarian tendency of the media space in western democracies set the stage for the current abuse of freedom available in the society. History has shown that social responsibility theory wouldn’t have been propounded if the supposition of John Milton on ‘free market place of idea’ had not failed the test of time. The Hutchen’s Commission report that gave birth to the social responsibility theory, an effort to salvage the media industry from returning to the era of government regulation – authoritarianism (Baran & Davis, 2014). No doubt, the priority of any media is to break news or provide information. Providing consumers with what they want is a specialty of the new media industries, even when doing so could have unfavourable long-term effects. Baran and Davis (2014) argued that this trend is evident in the ongoing debates around offensive and hateful online communication. The connections to other traditional social institutions that foster or demand social responsibility do not exist in new media, in contrast to the “established” conventional media. These new media technologies and the companies that built up around them to provide reliable supplies of appealing content had to replace earlier businesses and modes of communication as each of them developed. As individuals adapted to social media and its content, social roles and relationships frequently underwent significant disruption. The majority of these issues seemed difficult to foresee. One of the earliest comprehensive sociological studies of television’s effect on American life, for instance, revealed meagre evidence of disruption in the 1950s. One of the most significant changes brought about by television, according to the study, was that people no longer spent as much time playing cards with friends or extended family. Contrarily, nuclear families actually spent more time together, engrossed in the spectral shadows of small televisions. They conversed with friends and neighbors less frequently (Baran & Davis, 2014). According to research conducted by Wilbur Schramm, Jack Lyle, and Edwin Parker (1961), towns with television actually had higher rates of library use and lower sales of comic books than those with only radio. These results suggested that television would be a good thing, given the enormous mistrust that the public had of comic books in the 1950s. This tendency is still evident today, as proponents of the idea that the Internet will ultimately result in a return to more participatory democracy confront detractors of contentious internet. While supporters of the Internet applaud the ability of social networking sites and instant messaging to keep people linked, some Internet cynics fear that it may promote social isolation. As media enterprises develop, they frequently grow more socially conscious, more prepared to regulate or restrict the dissemination of contentious material, and more interested in meeting long-term societal demands than in stoking momentary popular passions. According to cynics, accountability is only achieved when it will increase rather than hinder profit-making; in other words, accountability is only possible when fierce competition gives way to oligopoly—a small number of surviving businesses agree to stop competing and carve up the market and the profits. In this case, businesses can focus on public relations and stop using the most inflammatory content generation techniques (and, incidentally, ward off formal regulation) (Baran & Davis, 2014). This paper argues that social media platforms can self-regulate and redeem their image. Historically, two of the most influential yellow journalists in the 1920s succeeded in doing just that, changing so drastically that their names came to be associated with good journalism rather than dishonest reporting. The professionalization of journalism and the upgrading of the industry’s ethical standards are often linked (and rightfully so) to the Pulitzer Prize and the Hearst Foundation’s work (Baran & Davis, 2014). The American Society of Newspaper Editors was established during this decade as well, and its renowned Canons of Journalism included a commitment to “tell the truth about the news” (Schramm, 1960, pp. 623–625). A careless new media sector has matured and changed. Once more, this procedure is still in use today. The majority of the main Internet content providers proudly declare their commitment to assuaging public concerns about privacy and decency while voluntarily submitting their websites to evaluation and coding related to well-known and publicly distributed content-rating software. After being acquired by Google, YouTube started to carefully monitor content submitted to its website and has significantly increased the quantity of information it eliminates or to which it restricts access, thus becoming less “guerilla” and more legitimate (Baran & Davis, 2014). Twitter and Facebook have also put in

The hardest part of bodybuilding is often getting started, as it is also very easy to make a fitness plan than to actually keep them. What seemed so feasible in our mind, like running a half marathon or making that gym appointment can somehow morph into something impossible. Everyone wants to have that perfect body and improve health, hence the need for specific exercise strategies to keep us going. Vicki Conn, a Professor and Associate Dean of research in the University of Sinclair School of Nursing, for example, wrote, “Simple action oriented exercise strategies are the way to get exercising that can change your life. Here are some simple specific exercise strategy that can change your life for the better. Seek advice from a professional Prior to beginning any exercise or fitness Programmeme or you aren’t seeing any results with your current routine, a personal trainer or healthcare professionals such as physical therapists, chiropractors, and rehabilitators can be contacted for their expertise in the areas one is interested in developing or keeping fit. Knowing how you can benefit and whether it will be worth the expense can help you decide whether this is a good choice for you. Set specific goals and schedule your exercise plan Knowing where to start for a new exerciser or one trying to get back to exercise is often a challenge. The right workout schedule will depend on a variety of factors like your age, fitness level, goals, and any physical issues you may have. You can plan to exercise for 20 minutes, three times a week but without a schedule to track your progress, you may not really make anything meaningful. Like any other appointment, you can schedule your exercise session on your calendar and leave something that can remind you. Go with whatever gets you going If you enjoy working out with an mp3 player, it is a big hit. Listening to music while exercising doesn’t just relieve boredom — it can help improve the quality of your workout by increasing your stamina and putting you in a better mood. In particular, music that is motivational or synchronized with your exercise is shown to have physical and psychological effects. Some of us need a little something extra to keep us exercising from week to week. The point is, use whatever gets you going. Start with a simple Walk One of the easiest ways for most people to engage in exercise is to walk. This works particularly well for people who have a sit-down job or live a generally sedentary lifestyle. Walking doesn’t require some fancy equipment to get a great workout. You can increase the intensity of your walks by walking with hand weights, increasing your walking speed gradually by including some quick walking and by walking for a longer period. Expect some initial discomfort Fitness training will likely cause some pains in the beginning. This pain is to be expected as a natural part of increasing activity. Fitness training activities stress the body no doubt and as a result, we enhance our strengths and endurance, and finally optimize our athletic performance. The discomfort discussed here is one not incurred by injury but as a result of increased exercise activities. Track your progress Keep a written record of progress made during the exercise and fitness Programme. Tracking progress is useful and could include a list of the specific exercises performed, number of sets and repetitions, duration of exercise, and sensations experienced during exercise. Monitoring progress may also help keep the athlete motivated to continue with the exercise and fitness Programme. Finally, Exercise can change your life, simply in that, it will make you feel better – both physically and mentally. The health benefits to exercise are undeniable. Exercise in and of itself may not be life-changing, but it may just be the catalyst you need to open yourself to new opportunities. Reference: 1. https://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/specific-exercise-strategies 2. https://www.self.com/story/mental-strategies-to-stick-with-exercise-routine Mr. Musa Muhammad is the Head of Sports, Skyline University Nigeria. He has a BSC Ed. in Physical and Health Education from Bayero University Kano (BUK), Nigeria. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

Introduction RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) which is a combination of radio-frequency-based technology and microchip technology is being hailed as one of the most important application inevery field nowadays including librarianship. RFID is a generic term for technologies that use radio waves to automatically identify people or objects (Singh, Brar & Fong 2006). The idea of this technology is to enhance library security for all and sundry. Even though RFID is relatively a new technology in libraries, the adoption of it has resulted in a solution that could make it possible to inventory hundreds of thousands of items in their collections in days instead of months. In addition, it allows patrons to check out and return library collection automatically at any time of the day. Besides speeding up checkouts, keeping collections in better order and alleviating repetitive strain injuries among librarians, RFID promises to provide better control on theft, non-returns and misfiling of a library’s assets. How RFID System works in the LibraryThe RFID technology works through flexible, paper-thin RFID tags, which can be placed inside the cover of each and every document. Complete information about each document is entered into the Library Management Software like KOHA. Whenever a user brings a document for issue-return purpose, the RFID reader from the tag reads the information pertaining to that book and transmits the data into the software and document is issued in a few seconds without the assistance of the library staff. As the user takes the document outside the library, the antenna placed at the exit gate automatically reads the information contained on the RFID tag to verify whether the document is properly issued or not. In case, it is not issued to the user as per library norms or it is being stolen from the library, the antenna senses it and gives an instant alert. Thus, it results in a successful theft reduction of documents. Equally, Narayanan, Sanjay & Somasekharan (2005) in their own classical thinking noted some advantages of RFID in libraries, which includes issuing multiple books at a time; simplified self-charging/discharging; reduction in queue at circulation desk /counter; more hours of circulation; saving time of the library staff while issue/return of document; allow library staff to provide other users’ centric service; reduction of staff at circulation desk; increased issue/return of library documents; security of library collection, etc. However, Skyline University Nigeria Library been the first International Private University in the Northern part of Nigeria implemented this current technology so as to go with the current trend of librarianship. CONCLUSIONLibrarians are always known as early adopters of technology and they have started using RFID to provide more effective and efficient library services as well as for the security of library collections. Although the use of RFID by libraries over the last few years has grown dramatically, yet the major barriers of RFID technology adoption by more libraries is its cost factor, non-availability of standards and user privacy. As far as the cost constraints are concerned, once the libraries implement such a technology, it’s benefits can be realized in terms of “Return On Investments” as it will speed up the circulation process and the staff can perform other user-centric services. It is also very important to protect user privacy, libraries should follow standard guidelines and store no personal information on RFID tags. Whether the libraries are using RFID technology today or not, they cannot avoid it as nowadays the book distributors have started selling books which are already tagged without any extra cost. ReferencesNarayanan A., Sanjay Singh, & Somasekharan M. (2005). Implementing RFID in Library: Methodologies, Advantages and Disadvantages. Paper presented at the Conference on Recent Advances in Information Technology, IGCAR – Kalpakkam, July 14-15, Kalpakkam. Retrieved from http://www.igcar.gov.in/igc2004/sird/readit2005.pdf#page=282 Sandhu, G., & Ukwoma, S. (2012). Awaking Stock taking practice in academic libraries; The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 12th annual conference on Nigerian Library Association @ 50: driving home the transformation agenda, Enugu, Nigeria. Retrieved from http://roar.u el.ac.uk/1771/1/Awaking%20Stocktaking%20practices.pdf Singh, J., Brar, N., & Fong, C. (2006). The State of RFID Applications in Libraries. Information Technology and Libraries, 25(1), 24-32. doi: 10.6017/ital.v25i1.3326. Vasishta, Seema (2009). Roadmap for RFID Implementation in Central library, PEC University of Technology. Paper presented in the International Conference on Academic Libraries, Delhi. Retrieved from http://eprints.rclis.org/17693/1/ical-49_196_414_1_RV.pdf Mr. Kabiru Danladi Garba, CLN, is a Librarian at Skyline University Nigeria. He has an MSc in Library and Information Sciences from Bayero University Kano, Nigeria. You can join the conversation on facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on twitter @SkylineUNigeria

Traditional and Alternative Medicine or Traditional African Medicine (TAM) is an indigenous form of healing modality that is commonly practiced all over Africa [1]. This therapeutic system has no connection with conventional medicine and is generally used as an alternative to mainstream medicine. Various approaches that are adopted in TAM to heal a patient includes botanical medicine; minerals, exercises, manual techniques, spiritual therapy, etc. TAM practitioners use all these approaches either singularly or in combination for the treatment of patients. A substantial focus is given to the early diagnosis of illness, its prevention, and overall maintenance of well-being. Published research studies have indicated that TAM is very popular in Nigeria [2]. Many patients suffering from various chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, epilepsy, asthma, sickle cell disease, etc., are found to be dependent on TAM.     Unlike conventional medicine, TAM is not taught in medical school and the accumulated knowledge and experience of the practitioners is passed from one generation to another by word-of-mouth. Because of this TAM is not well standardized like conventional medicine and is poorly regulated. As a result, the acceptance is not good among the scientific community. To many, it is simple quackery but to others living in marginalized conditions, TAM is a lifeline. Conventional medicine is good but it is out of reach for many living in economically challenging conditions. Despite TAM may not be the first choice but there is very less option available to people living in the developing world where the medical facilities are not adequate. Moreover, many are happy with TAM as it suits their cultural milieu and some still fear visiting a clinic.   Looking at the fact that an unprecedented number of people in Nigeria are trying TAM, the Federal government through the Ministry of Health has taken many steps to promote the practice of traditional medicine in the country [3]. National Policy on Traditional Medicine, Laws and Regulations was developed in 2004. In 2020, the Ministry of Health approved the establishment of a Council for Traditional, Alternative, and Complementary Medicine Practice in Nigeria. However, many issues have to be solved to promote TAM. There is no distinct legal framework created by the Federal government to monitor or control the practice of traditional medicine in Nigeria. Quality control of herbal medicine is very important as batch-to-batch variation is not very uncommon. Sometimes herbal medicine can also contain harmful substances because Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) were not followed. To promote TAM, it has to be properly researched and institutionalized. So far no university in Nigeria offers full-fledged courses on TAM or ‘Herbal Medicine.’  National University Commission still doesn’t have any courses on TAM enlisted in their course curriculum. To encourage the spread and reliability of TAM proper research and clinical studies must be done, only then the confidence of the public will be stronger. Like it had happened with Ayurveda in India and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in China. Global acceptance and popularity of both these alternative healing practices have skyrocketed in recent years. The same can happen with TAM provided it is properly taught, researched, and documented.         References: Chitindingu E, George G, Gow J. A review of the integration of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine into the curriculum of South African medical schools. BMC Med Educ 2014; 28; 14:40. Li S, Odedina S, Agwai I, Ojengbede O, Huo D, Olopade OI. Traditional medicine usage among adult women in Ibadan, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study. BMC Complement Med Ther 2020; 20(1): 93. Awodele O, Amagon KI, Wannang NW, Aguiyi JC. Traditional medicine policy and regulation in Nigeria: an index of herbal medicine safety. Curr Drug Safety 2014, 9(1): 16-22.   Dr. Sanjoy Kumar Pal is a Professor of Biology in Skyline University Nigeria. He has a PhD. in Animal Genetics from Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

If you are looking to improve your language proficiency, it is important to do your best to remove any accents that might exist in your native language. Accents are difficult for listeners to understand and can significantly detract from the quality of your conversation, whether you are speaking with business colleagues or just practicing with a friend. When it comes to language, an accent is a native speaker’s idiosyncratic pronunciation of a certain language. It is usually defined as either a socially or geographically determined variation in speech, although linguists are increasingly aware that accents may be determined by other, non-social factors such as level of education or proficiency with a language (Miley and Farmer, 2017). When talking about someone’s accent, it is important to remember that no two people speak alike; even people who grew up next door to each other will end up with different accents! The first step to good pronunciation is knowing how each sound is supposed to sound in a word. The idea behind mastering individual sounds is that once you know how these sounds are supposed to sound, you will be able to recognize them in spoken English. With enough practice, you will have learned what proper pronunciation feels like. Getting rid of your foreign intonation patterns is very important. When an American comes to Nigeria and does not change their accent or habits when speaking, it can cause confusion on behalf of listeners. It makes them unsure if they understood what was said correctly. Also, some words simply sound better with different accents than others but it does make a difference in how your message is interpreted. Moreover, most American English speech is spoken in a fairly neutral tone, intonation patterns in American English do have regional differences (Kim and Butler 2017). The differences may be hard to pick up for those with different accents, but if one is trying to learn how to speak better, here are a few things that you need to keep in mind. Any language is difficult to pronounce in its entirety. Luckily, there are several factors that contribute to difficulty when pronouncing a foreign language. Here are some tips that can help with improving pronunciation at all levels. Learn common spelling patterns of your target language. You should be able to recite words as you read them, understanding how each letter sounds in relation to others. This will make it easier for you to recognize words on paper or hear them spoken by another person. It will also make it easier for native speakers to understand what you are saying if they do not know what word you are trying to say. Pay attention while listening to native speakers speak their language. If possible, try recording conversations so that you can listen back later without distraction from other people or noises around you. Once you have time to reflect on what was said, write down any unfamiliar words or phrases and look up their meanings. Try practicing these new phrases until they become more familiar. Practice speaking out loud whenever possible. One may feel silly doing it in front of a mirror or talking to yourself, but practice makes perfect! The more an individual practices speaking out loud, whether it is reciting vocabulary lists aloud or simply having conversations with yourself, the better you will get at recognizing where mistakes occur and correcting them quickly. References Miley, Suzi Keller, and Aarek Farmer. “English Language Proficiency and Content Assessment Performance: A Comparison of English Learners and Native English Speakers Achievement.” English Language Teaching, vol. 10, no. 9, 2017, doi:10.5539/elt.v10n9p198. Wolf Mikyung Kim, and Yuko Goto Butler. English Language Proficiency Assessments for Young Learners. Routledge, 2017.   Mr. Adelokun Adetunji Oluwapelumi is a Lecturer II at the School of Art, Management and Social Science, Skyline University Nigeria. He has a Master of Arts Degree in English Literature from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria