Examination of the Adequacy of Social Infrastructure in Urban Centres Facing Rapid Population Growth in Anambra State Nigeria (Published)
Taking into account the rapid urbanization and fast growing urban population in Anambra State Nigeria and the consequent effects on the social infrastructure; this study examined the adequacy of the social infrastructure in the urban centres of Anambra State. The Study concentrated on the three major urban centres of Anambra State (Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka) and utilized the survey research design with questionnaire being the main instrument of data collection. By applying Taro Yammaine formular, the target population was reduced to 399.8820 which is approximately 400. The researcher thus decided to sample 405persons, 135 each from Awka, Nnewi, and Onitsha. Stratified Random Sampling technique was employed in distributing the questionnaires. The researcher purposively chooses 20 professionals from among population and planning experts, teachers/lecturers, medical practitioners and other professionals with at least 6 professionals responding from each of the three urban areas studied to ensure fair response. From the questionnaire survey and interview, it was found that the social infrastructure in the three selected urban centres were significantly inadequate. The study therefore recommended that the government should provide more social infrastructure in the urban centres to contain their rapidly growing population, high quality/durable materials should be used for social infrastructure construction and there is need for the expansion of existing social infrastructures and the construction of new ones. Also it was recommended that more social infrastructures should be initiated in the rural areas and service delivery should be improved in rural areas to reduce the rate of rural to urban migration.
Keywords: Anambra State, Examination, Nigeria, adequacy of social infrastructure, rapid population growth, urban centres
Assessing the Relationship Between Infrastructural Development and Tourism Destination Competitiveness: Evidence from Nigeria (Published)
The travel and tourism industry is considered one of the growth sectors of the Nigerian economy. As a result, the government is looking to diversify the economy that is currently dependent on crude oil by harnessing the tourism potential in the country. That said, many factors lead to tourism development and destination competitiveness. One such factor is infrastructural development. This study, therefore, focuses on the effect of infrastructural development on destination competitiveness using Nigeria as a case study. The study made use of secondary data from various publications of the World Bank, World Economic Forum and United Nations World Tourism Organisation. Regression analysis was applied to assess the effect of infrastructure on international tourist arrivals, while Pearson Correlation was applied to understand the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The findings show that various forms of infrastructural development in Nigeria had negative effects on the number of international tourists visiting the country. Visitors expect easy access to destinations either by road, air or sea, as well as information communication technology. When a country lacks infrastructure, it affects the number of visitors arriving in the country negatively. The study concludes that the findings can contribute to the limited literature on destination competitiveness and help to guide policymaking in the future.
Keywords: Infrastructure, Nigeria, Tourism, destination competitiveness
The COVID 19 Global Pandemic: A Panacea for Diversifying to Hospitality and Tourism in Nigeria (Published)
The COVID 19 global pandemic has provided Nations another opportunity to look inwards on the development and expansion of its economic activities and growth! The hospitality and tourism industry has proven to be one of the most valid sectors for diversification of economic activities in Nigeria, considering the continuous dropping of crude price in the international market, and the fast growing demand on the bio-fuel products in the world today! The researchers are of the opinion that developing the hospitality and tourism in Nigeria is one of the most viable options to continuously increase the Nations GDP! The realistic test and interviews were conducted and presented in simple percentage table, and graphs were also deployed to show the reliability of the test! It was concluded that hospitality and tourism still remain the most viable economic activity and sector that will always stand the challenges of time, if properly developed! And was recommended that the government and agencies in charge of tourism and hospitality should fully divert its attention to the development of the hospitality and tourism sector in Nigeria
Keywords: Diversification, Hospitality, Nigeria, Tourism, global pandemic
Tourism Potential of Onicha Igboeze Community New Yam Festival, Ebonyi State, Nigeria (Published)
The study was carried out to assess tourism potential of Onicha Igboeze community New Yam Festival. Six (6) villages, 12 key informants and 60 ordinary residents were selected for the study through multi-stage stratified random sampling technique. Primary data were collected through the use of semi-structured questionnaire, interview schedules and Focus Group Discussions. Secondary information was sourced from historic records and documentaries on the subject matter. Data were analyzed using mean scores from 4-point Likert-Type scale and Explanatory Factor Analysis. Historical and other descriptive information were presented in documentary form. Results showed that the interplay of the rural ambience of Onitcha Igboeze community, the recreational content and structure of her New Yam Festival, and the community’s positive socio-cultural values provide adequate response to recreational needs of a modern urbanized society. It was recommended that community leadership in conjunction with the State ministry of tourism should work to promote the festival as a premium tourism product.
Keywords: Ebonyi State, New Yam Festival, Nigeria, Onitcha Igboeze Community, Rural tourism, Tourism potential
Tourism Potential of Onicha Igboeze Community New Yam Festival, Ebonyi State, Nigeria (Published)
The study was carried out to assess tourism potential of Onicha Igboeze community New Yam Festival. Six (6) villages, 12 key informants and 60 ordinary residents were selected for the study through multi-stage stratified random sampling technique. Primary data were collected through the use of semi-structured questionnaire, interview schedules and Focus Group Discussions. Secondary information was sourced from historic records and documentaries on the subject matter. Data were analyzed using mean scores from 4-point Likert-Type scale and Explanatory Factor Analysis. Historical and other descriptive information were presented in documentary form. Results showed that the interplay of the rural ambience of Onitcha Igboeze community, the recreational content and structure of her New Yam Festival, and the community’s positive socio-cultural values provide adequate response to recreational needs of a modern urbanized society. It was recommended that community leadership in conjunction with the State ministry of tourism should work to promote the festival as a premium tourism product.
Keywords: Ebonyi State, New Yam Festival, Nigeria, Onitcha Igboeze Community, Rural tourism, Tourism potential
Importance of Nutrition Education in Catering and Fast Food Business (Case Study of Sweet Savour Eatery and Royal Birds Motel, Akure Ondo State, Nigeria). (Published)
This paper examined the importance of Nutrition Education in Catering and Fast Food Businesses. People prefer eat out day –by-day as they have taken it to be a part of life. Everyone is getting busier in order to find means for survival and so hardly have time to prepare nutritious meals with appropriate calories. Secondary sources of data collection were employed to get relevant information. The result revealed that many live on fast food and catering products, hence the need for Nutrition Education, to help in the dietary intake. Various recommendations on how to achieve the objective of this research work were also highlighted.
Keywords: Catering, Education, Food, Health, Nigeria, Nutrition Education
Spatial Variation and Determinants of Interaction among Urban Centres in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria (Published)
The aim of the study was to determine the volume of interaction among the urban centers in the study region and to assess the relationship between the observed volume of interaction and the expected volume of interaction in the study region. Six urban centres were selected from the thirty-one urban centres in the study region using random number table. Data collection was by travel survey conducted from Monday – Saturday simultaneously in the six urban public motor parks between the hours of 7 – 9 am, 12 – 2 pm and 4 – 6 pm. The Chi-square technique ‘goodness of fit’ test was used to analyze the difference between the observed volume of interaction and the expected volume of interaction among the urban centers. The study revealed a significant difference between the observed volume of interaction and the expected volume of interaction in the region. The conclusion was that the determinants of inter – urban interaction in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria are not just population and distance as postulated in the gravity model, other socio-economic variables such as number of industries, number of tertiary educational institutions, number of major markets, number of tourism sites and number of hospitals also contribute to inter-urban interaction in the region. This is a contribution to modifying gravity model for wider use. These findings will assist in the urban transportation planning of the region.
Keywords: Akwa Ibom State, Gravity model, Inter-urban interaction, Nigeria, Spatial variation