DSpace Community: SET

African urbanization in the urban century: The roles of participatory planning and management

2025-05-20T00:00:00Z

Title: African urbanization in the urban century: The roles of participatory planning and management Authors: Kawu, Aliyu Mohammed Abstract: The 21st century urbanization emerged with opportunities and challenges for urban planning and management alike. However, due to the importance of public participation in planning and the management of urban infrastructures, prospective beneficiaries’ involvement is usually encouraged. This has necessitated the need to extend the review of the increasing avenues in which participatory planning has expressed or is expressing greater acceptance and application. With literatures short of expressing the diversity inherent in this all-encompassing input to present urban phenomenon particularly in the less developed countries like Nigeria; this work enlisted scenarios in which researchers, urban managers, and policy makers and implementors can assess current trends of participation in effective and efficient urban infrastructure provision and management in a fast-urbanizing world. Most often hindrances like individual and communal poverty levels are overrated thereby denying assessors the full grasp of existing and potential inputs to urban development from environments easily categorized as low-income slums of despair. Hence, concerted efforts should be on the peculiarities of joint efforts that sees beneficiaries as viable stakeholders that can keep cities working, and whose participatory input in planning and management, as evident in Asia and southern America, can aid in achieving present and future Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Influence of Social and Cognitive Constructivist Instructional Approaches on learning outcomes of Technical Drawing Students in Technical Colleges in Niger State, Nigeria.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Influence of Social and Cognitive Constructivist Instructional Approaches on learning outcomes of Technical Drawing Students in Technical Colleges in Niger State, Nigeria. Authors: Alfa, A.S, Abstract: This study examined the effect of social and cognitive constructivist instructional techniques on students’ learning outcomes in Technical Drawing in technical colleges in Niger State, Nigeria. Three objectives and three corresponding research questions were formulated to guide the study. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted. The study was conducted in all 7 the NBTE-accredited technical colleges offering Technical Drawing in Niger State. The target population comprised 220 NTC II students (163 males and 57 females). Due to the manageable size of the population, no sampling technique was employed, as the entire population was used. Data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, were used to answer the research questions, while inferential statistics were applied using the General Linear Model for Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). All null hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that students taught using cognitive constructivist instructional techniques achieved higher academic performance than those taught using social constructivist techniques, with a mean gain score of 15.96. Similarly, the cognitive constructivist group demonstrated higher interest in Technical Drawing, with a mean score of 83.40. In terms of retention, the cognitive constructivist group also performed better, with a mean difference score of 0.47. The study further revealed a significant difference in academic achievement between the two groups (p = 0.01 < 0.05), while no significant difference was observed in another achievement measure (p = 0.58 > 0.05). However, a significant difference was found in retention scores (p = 0.002 < 0.05). The study recommended that Technical Drawing teachers adopt cognitive constructivist instructional techniques to enhance students’ academic achievement, interest, and retention, and to promote effective skill acquisition in technical colleges.

). Passive cooling and Indigenous Identity: Towards a Climate-Responsive Recreational Centre for Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: ). Passive cooling and Indigenous Identity: Towards a Climate-Responsive Recreational Centre for Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria Authors: Halima, J.M; Julius, O.O; Alfa, A.S Abstract: Buildings account for nearly 40 percent of global energy consumption, with mechanical cooling among the fastest-growing contributors across sub-Saharan Africa's rapidly urbanising cities. In Nigeria's Guinea savanna zone, public recreational facilities remain insufficient and heavily reliant on-air conditioning despite passive design strategies embedded in indigenous architecture. This paper proposes a climate-responsive recreational centre at the Adeta Baseball Court, Ilorin, Kwara State, achieving year-round thermal comfort through passive design. A mixed-method approach combined quantitative psychrometric analysis of ten-year NIMET data (2016–2026) processed through Climate Consultant 6.0 with qualitative review of Ilorin's Yoruba-Islamic built heritage and six case studies in comparable tropical climates. Findings identify six indigenous passive strategies — courtyard compound organisation, laterite thermal mass walls, deep eave overhangs, ode-ile transitional veranda, Islamic geometric brise-soleil screens, and indigenous canopy tree planting — collectively addressing Ilorin's dual-season thermal challenge without mechanical cooling dependency. The study recommends broader passive-first design adoption for public buildings across Nigeria's Guinea savanna zone.

).Exploring Indigenous Art Forms and Cultural Expressions: a Study of Fine Art Practice in Niger State, Nigeria. Proceedings of the 38th Annual National Conference of Technology Education Practitioners Association of Nigeria. Held at Dr. Gambo Hamza Hall, Permanent Site, FCT COE, Zuba, Abuja, Nigeria

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: ).Exploring Indigenous Art Forms and Cultural Expressions: a Study of Fine Art Practice in Niger State, Nigeria. Proceedings of the 38th Annual National Conference of Technology Education Practitioners Association of Nigeria. Held at Dr. Gambo Hamza Hall, Permanent Site, FCT COE, Zuba, Abuja, Nigeria Authors: Alfa, A.S Abstract: This study examines indigenous art forms and cultural expressions in the Fine Art landscape of Niger State, Nigeria. Its aim is to document traditional visual practices, analyze their influence on contemporary artistic creativity, and identify challenges to their sustainability. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 120 practicing artists, art educators, and cultural custodians through questionnaires and interviews. Results show that indigenous practices such as pottery, weaving, and woodcarving are culturally significant, positively influence contemporary creativity, and face systemic challenges like lack of documentation and institutional support. The findings affirm that indigenous art remains vital for cultural identity and heritage preservation, but require deliberate integration into formal art education and cultural policy frameworks.