K.O. Ajadi’s scientific contributions

The study examines socio-economic implications of charcoal production for farmers of rural communities in Nigeria using selected communities in Ifedapo Region of Oyo State. From a total of 67 charcoal producing rural communities identified in the region, 16(30%) was proportionally selected using three sampling techniques (stratified, purposive and simple random sampling). A total of 32 colliers and 8 middle traders (wholesalers) were selected as respondents to form the representative sample of the studied population. A-25 item questionnaire was the instrument used for the study. The survey reveals that charcoal producers are mainly male, married adult farmers with little or no education. The charcoal enterprise has been on part-time basis, undertaken as a coping strategy, and the forest is depleting due to uncontrolled and indiscriminate exploitation of mature and nearly-mature trees. Its production would not stop because available alternatives are limited and expensive. Consequently, creating short-term employment during off-season period for farmers, subsidising agricultural inputs, an appropriate policy that delivers gas and kerosene to the end-users for domestic use at affordable price, community participation in forest management, researches into the use of wind and solar energies, law against cutting down of trees without replacement and implementation of the components of the national planning programmes, which pertain to afforestation, discourage farmers from charcoal production.

The rural areas of Africa are reported to be the worst malaria infested areas. This study attempts a multi-regression analysis of socio-economic factors underlying incidence of malaria in rural areas taking Akinyele Local Government area in Nigeria as a case study. Three hundred and eighty seven (387) respondents are interviewed through the administration of structured questionnaire. Regression indicated a significant correlation between malaria incidence and socio-economic characteristics of respondents R = 0.211 at P < 0.05. The regression model showed that household size · =0.114 at P < 0.05, gender · =0.101 at P< 0.05 and marital status · = 0.102 at P > 0.05. The study suggested intensification of awareness campaign on reproductive health and family planning and effective rural planning are strategies to keep malaria incidence at the barest minimum.

Worldwide, women organisations have contributed greatly to sustainable development, promoting development and encouraging progress, which help in reducing or eliminating poverty. The paper focuses on women in rural areas to examine the effort of women organisations (NGOs) in improving environmental education and economic empowerment of people in rural area sin Oyo State, Nigeria. Primary and secondary sources of data collection are used. This paper covers 50 rural settlements with 250 structured questionnaires distributed across same number of purposively-selected respondents in the study area. The result shows that 2% of respondents can read, write and understand Yoruba and English languages. They lack funds, special training to improve their practical indigenous expertise and talents in local economies. Nearly 47% have access to telephone but less than 25% have access to radio or television and none belongs to any registered governmental or non-governmental organisations. The study recommends the provision of viable infrastructure through government developmental assistance and funding from international partners to educate rural women on how to increase yield on their farms as well as undertake adult, community and environmental education, trainings in health and family planning. These are crucial to government’s drive to break the cycle of poverty and reverse environmental degradation.