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Roller compacted concrete (RCC) pavement is used in areas subjected to heavy impact loads; therefore, higher impact resistance is a desirable property of consideration. This study aims to investigate the effect of partial replacement of fine aggregate with crumb rubber (CR) and the addition of nanosilica (NS) by weight of cementitious materials on the impact resistance of roller compacted rubbercrete (RCR).

Four replacement levels of CR (0, 10, 20 and 30 per cent) and four addition levels of NS (0, 1, 2 and 3 per cent) were considered. The impact resistance test was carried out using the drop weight test recommended by ACI 544.

The results showed that the impact resistance of RCR increases with an increase in both CR and NS addition, though for CR above 20 per cent, sudden drop in impact resistance was observed. However, NS reduces the ductility of RCR by decreasing the post-cracking impact resistance. Response surface methodology was used to develop models for predicting the impact resistance of RCR, and the developed models showed a high degree of correlation. As a result of wide variations in the impact drop test data, two-parameter Weibull distribution function was used for the data analysis, and it was found that the probabilistic distributions of the first crack and ultimate failure impact resistance follow the two-parameter Weibull distribution function.

In this work, the effect of partial replacement of fine aggregate with CR and the addition of NS by weight of cementitious materials on the impact resistance of RCC pavement has been investigated. CR has been used to increase the impact resistance of RCC Pavement.

Calyx of okra pods is usually cut off and discarded as a waste during processing, whereas the pulp and seeds are being used. This study aims to investigate the nutrient composition and anti-nutritional properties of okra calyx flour.

Calyces from four varieties (Ex-kwadon, Solar, Chalawa and Syria) of okra pods were processed into flour. The proximate composition, mineral content, vitamin content and anti-nutritional composition of the flour samples were analysed by using standard methods.

There were significant differences in moisture content (p = 0.012), crude fat (p = 0.001), crude fibre (p = 0.002), carbohydrate (p = 0.002), sodium (p < 0.001), magnesium (p < 0.001), iron (p < 0.001), zinc (p = 0.006), vitamin A (p < 0.001) and vitamin C (p = 0.001) contents of okra calyx flour. The values of proximate composition ranged 8.1-8.9%, 8.4-9.0%, 14.3-15.3%, 1.4-2.1%, 16.9-18.2% and 47.1-49.4% for moisture content, ash, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre and carbohydrate, respectively, whereas the values of mineral contents ranged 7.6-8.7 mg/100g, 35.7-41.2 mg/100g, 26.5-28.1 mg/100g, 93.2-95.8 mg/100g, 1.6-1.8 mg/100g and 5.2-5.7 mg/100g for sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron and zinc, respectively. The values of vitamin contents of okra calyx flour ranged 0.2-0.3 µg/100g, 7.1-8.9 mg/100g and 0.1-0.2 mg/100g for vitamin A, vitamin C and thiamine contents respectively. Also, there were significant differences in the values of phytate (p = 0.023), oxalate (p = 0.011) and saponin (p < 0.001) contents with the values of anti-nutritional properties ranging 1.3-1.5 mg/100g, 2.5-3.3 mg/100g, 7.4-9.7 mg/100g and 2.3-3.6 mg/100g for tannin, phytate, oxalate and saponin contents, respectively.

There are scanty published works/information on proximate composition, mineral content, vitamin content and anti-nutritional composition of okra calyx flour.

The study showed that okra calyx flour could be useful in fortification/supplement of carbohydrate-based foods in food system.

Okra calyx flour comprises high crude fibre, crude protein, ash and vitamin C contents. Also, calcium is the major mineral content of okra calyx flour followed by magnesium and potassium. However, the tannin content reported higher in okra leaf flour, and okra flour is low in okra calyx flour.

Islamic banking and microfinance institutions (MFIs) share the core objective of serving the underprivileged. This study aims to investigate whether Islamic banking development facilitates (greases) or hinders (sands) the social mission of MFIs.

Data for 19 countries covering the period 2010–2018 were collected from the World Bank, Bank Focus and International Monetary Funds and analyzed using conventional econometric methods. Endogeneity-corrected techniques and alternative proxies were employed to ensure robust results.

The study revealed that Islamic banking development (proxied by the size of the Islamic banking assets) weakens the depth of outreach of MFIs (measured by average loan size). In countries with growing Islamic banking, MFIs appear to shift their focus toward wealthier clients, potentially due to market saturation among the poor. This is evidenced by MFIs offering larger loans, suggesting a mission drift toward profit maximization. Therefore, it can be inferred that competition from Islamic banks, to some extent, erodes the social mission of MFIs.

This study is among the few to examine the recent and comprehensive relationship between Islamic banking development and the social mission of MFIs.

The literature about the dynamics of Muslims' awareness and perception of waqf has been generally scarce,especially in Nigeria. As renewed efforts are emerging to develop a new waqf regime in the country, this study examines this aspect in Gombe metropolis, Nigeria, with a view to identifying the key factors shaping people's perception and awareness towards waqf.

To achieve the objective of this study, primary data were collected through a survey among 494 business owners in the Gombe metropolis. The data were then analysed using probit and Tobit regression models.

The study found that altruistic behaviour, religiosity level, educational level and young age are among the factors that determine people's perception and awareness towards donating to waqf among business owners in Gombe. Altruism and young age embolden businesspersons to recognise the effectiveness of waqf institutions in solving socioeconomic challenges.

The findings of this study imply that waqf has huge potential in the study area and that with well-structured, organized waqf education programmes within the business community using diverse avenues, a robust waqf sector can be developed.

As far as the study area and the entire Nigerian Islamic economics and finance landscape is concerned, the study has explored a novel research area. Given the infant stage of empirical studies on waqf in Nigeria, there are virtually no previous attempts to examine the awareness and perception of businesspersons towards waqf; variables that are key to the development of an effective sector.

This paper aims to provide an understanding of agripreneurs motivation from the Islamic perspective. The objective of this paper is to explore the proposition that motivations to become agripreneurs is directly influenced by religious intentions and Islamic values, which would indirectly have an effect on entrepreneurial behaviour.

An exploratory qualitative approach was used to capture the respondents’ Islamic values and intentions, which motivate them to become agripreneurs. In-depth face-to-face interviewing technique was adopted whereby the respondents were asked to share their thoughts, views and understanding of the issues presented. A sample of five Muslim agripreneurs were interviewed for this study.

The study found that Islam plays a significant role in influencing the agripreneurs entrepreneurial motivation. Their entrepreneurial behaviour is also underpinned by some Islamic values, which have a positive impact on their mindsets and the growth of their businesses; such as having utmost faith in Allah (taqwa) and believing that Allah is the sole provider, makes them fearless in the business environment and results in a healthy competition amongst agripreneurs.

The study has several limitations. Firstly, the study is based on a small sample of five Muslim agripreneurs who are willing to be interviewed in a specific Islamic environment such as Brunei. Thus, the findings cannot be generalised and may not be a true reflection of all Islamic countries and to Muslims residing in countries in which they are not the majority. Secondly, cultural differences within a country may influence the attitude towards entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship intentions. As this study focusses on Brunei, which is based on Malay Islamic Monarchy, the motivations might be different in other countries because of the cultural differences. Thirdly, agriculture types in this study are limited. Finally, the methodology is purely qualitative.

The findings may assist the government to devise strategies and policies to attract more youth into agriculture particularly in creating a supportive environment for the farmers.

The findings of this paper have shown that their Islamic motivations and values result in a more socially responsible entrepreneur in shaping the economy and community at large and more importantly, it also brings them closer to Allah.

This paper highlights the role of Islam in influencing and motivating the respondents to become agripreneurs and persevere in the challenging business environment.

This paper aims to present the continuous Nigerian Government’s failure to protect the lives and property of its citizens against the incessant itinerant herders’ violence, despite its numerous programs in attempts to end the carnage. It sought also to examine the relationship between this government’s failure to meet its responsibility and the ineluctable self-defense mechanisms adopted by the people of Plateau State, Nigeria.

The research was both quantitative and qualitative. The study was conducted in four of the 17 Local Government Areas of the state: Bassa, Jos-south, Riyom and Barkin Ladi. A sample size of 400 was determined using Yamane Taro’s sampling size formula. Four hundred respondents were interviewed using a Google questionnaire (found at this link: https://forms.gle/tu96ZDwP85e8JsGu8). In this study, a total of seven key informant interviews and nine focus group discussions were conducted.

The finding revealed that most indigenous ethnic groups were dissatisfied with the government’s handling of the nomadic herders’ aggression. Therefore, 99.1% of Berom, 99.0% of Irigwe and 92.9% of other ethnicities argued that the government’s failure to protect them is a tacit permission for self-defense. On the contrary, 60.0% of the Fulani were satisfied with the government’s strategies in ending the aggression and 95.0% of them argued that the government’s failure to protect its citizens is not an implied permission for self-defense. It was also found that a relationship exists between the government’s lack of capacity to end the nomadic herders’ aggression and implied consent for self-defense in Plateau State, Nigeria.

This is a research paper that uses primary data. The findings are germane to ending the challenge of recurrent aggression of nomadic herders on other Nigerians. The study concludes that the government must live up to its responsibility of the protection of its citizens’ lives and property, failure to do so is an implicit permission to the citizens to defend themselves. It also recommended that the government should return displaced people to their communities.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the prevalence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Maiduguri.

The study was a cross-sectional study that took place among the six IDP camps located in Maiduguri metropolis in Borno State. A non-randomized technique was used to sample 1,200 respondents. Face-to-face interviews with selected members of households were carried out confidentially. The study used the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Impact of Event Scale-6 which were translated to Kanuri. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed using SPSS version 21.

The response rate was 100 percent. In total, 96.1 percent (1,153) of the respondents were depressed, while 78 percent (936) of the respondents were symptomatic for PTSD. The prevalence rate of comorbid PTSD with depression was 68.1 percent (817). About one-third of the respondents had moderately severe depression (29.6 percent, n=355) while about one in ten of them were severely depressed (11.3 percent, n=136). The odds of being depressed was 3.308 higher in people aged 51–60 years compared to people between 18 and 20 years. Significant predictors of depression in the sampled population were screening positive for PTSD and being unemployed.

The high prevalence of depression and PTSD among the sampled population calls for structured interventions to deal with mental health problems. The study findings suggest the need for more research (preferably qualitative) on the mental health issues in this population.

This study contributes to the sparse available literature on the mental health of IDPs in Nigeria.

Understanding the thermal performance of sandcrete hollow block walls in the tropic is very essential for occupants' well-being, productivity and efficiency, due to its widespread application in buildings in the study area. Lokoja, in Nigeria, lies in the warm humid zone with its attendant's high temperatures all year round. Thus, providing an acceptable walling material that will control the high indoor air temperature becomes imperative. This paper assessed sandcrete hollow blocks as a walling material used in Lokoja, to determine the thermal performances for effective thermal comfort of the residents.

It involves the construction of a habitable model building with the commonly available sandcrete hollow blocks in the area. One unit of Cryopak iMINI Temperature and Relative Humidity Data Logger called new generation intelligent iMINI with Serial Number and Product Code MX-CI-145–0009 and MX-HE-S-16-L was installed, to record the indoor air temperature and relative humidity data at an interval of one hour, for 12 months covering dry and wet seasons. The results of the recorded data were downloaded to an excel spread sheet for assessment and analysis throughout the seasons. The values were computed using the temperature–humidity index (THI) equation, with a view to determine the indoor thermal comfort level category.

The study revealed that sandcrete hollow block walls provide thermal discomfort of the indoor environment for both seasons, with attendant adverse effects in the comfort of the occupants. The paper concludes that proper orientation of buildings, planting of trees, use of low absorbing or reflective surface materials, application of cavity walls to receive insulation materials in between the hollow spaces provided, instead of the single walling as well as providing shading device elements, can improve users' comfort and also ameliorate the heat effect on the external surface of building transferred into the interior by conduction, radiation or convection within the area and in the tropics at large. Other thermally eco-friendly wall materials available in Lokoja includes timber, stabilized laterite–cement blocks, burnt bricks and earth-mud bricks which can be used to replace sandcrete hollow block walls. These alternative wall materials are used for construction of residential and office buildings by the colonial government of Sir Fredrick Lugard in the study area.

The application of sandcrete hollow blocks as a wall material is in vogue, not minding its thermal discomfort to the users and the environment; this is due to its availability and ease of production. The acceptability of this walling material requires holistic study to unravel the best way to reduce the thermal discomfort inherent in its application.

The author succeeded in revealing the thermal performance of sandcrete hollow blocks as walling material in Lokoja, the study area. It is a first attempt at understanding the performance for human comfort in the area. This will greatly assist the resident and other researchers to improve on the application of sandcrete hollow blocks as walling material towards ensuring that maximum indoor thermal comfort is achieved.

The purpose of this paper is to identify and assess the perceptions of constructional professionals on barriers to implementation of building information modeling (BIM) within the Nigerian construction industry.

A scoping literature review was conducted to identify the fourteen barriers to implementation of BIM, which were employed to design a questionnaire survey. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, mean score, Kruskal–Wallis test, analysis of variance and multivariate techniques such as factor analysis.

The descriptive and empirical analysis demonstrated a disparity of ranking of the 14 barriers factors among the groups; however no statistically significant differences among the 14 barriers to BIM. Based on the mean score ranking results, only three (out of 14) barriers are identified as critical (mean score greater than 3.5): few studies available on BIM and lack of knowledge, inexistence or inadequate government policies, and high cost of implementation. The results of the one-sample t-tests show that they were statistically significant differences in 10 out of 14 barriers as follows: few studies available on BIM and lack of knowledge, lack of demand for use and acceptance of BIM, inadequate contractual coordination, lack of specified standards, cost of data and information sharing, technological availability issues, reluctance of other stakeholders, business and cultural changes, data and intellectual property issues, and interoperability issues. The study, through factor analysis, categorized the fourteen barriers to BIM implementation into four principal factors. The factors are: technology and business-related barriers; training and people-related barriers; cost and standards-related barriers; and process and economic-related barriers.

The identification and assessment of the key barriers to BIM implementation would be useful for the construction professionals and other stakeholder of the construction industry with the view to advance BIM adoption in Nigeria. This could also be extended to other developing countries through considerations of the local economic conditions, given the status of BIM as being in the germinating stage of development in Africa.

The study provides insights on the barriers to BIM implementation across the Nigerian construction sector environments. The innovative aspect of the study is the identification of the ordered and grouped (composite) set of barriers to BIM which could be used to developing appropriate mitigating solutions.

This study aims to examine various factors influencing the inclination of students toward Green Entrepreneurial Intention (GEI), including University Support (USP), Family Support (FSP), Religiosity (REL), Commitment to Environment (CEN) and Green Entrepreneurial Motivation (GEM), as well as Attitude towards Green Entrepreneurship (AGM).

Data were collected through an online survey of Muslim students at Indonesian Islamic universities. A five-point Likert scale was used in the online questionnaire, with 419 processed data. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data and test the relationship between the variables.

The results showed that AGM, CEN and REL impacted GEM. AGM was influenced by FSP but not by USP while GEI was significantly influenced by AGM, FSP and USP.

The limitation of the study is the composition of the sample, consisting solely of Islamic university students. Another limitation is the variables used. Future studies should analyze other factors, such as role models, green knowledge or family background.

This study provided fresh perspectives by empirically establishing a framework for assessing GEI, considering REL variables, an unexplored area conceptually. Practically, it helped to advance sustainable entrepreneurship education, particularly in Islamic universities. Accordingly, it provided several practical contributions for universities to develop curricula that better support green entrepreneurship among students.

This study represented the first investigation into the influence of REL on GEI, specifically among university students. Furthermore, Stimuli, Organism and Response theory was used as a foundation for the development of the diverse variables under investigation.