Problems facing research in Nigeria

PROBLEMS FACING RESEARCH IN NIGERIA
Many problems bedevil research in developing countries in which Nigeria is one. There are one thousand and one problems militating against conducting purposeful research in Nigeria in particular and in all developed Countries. Some of these problems are examined below:

What is observational research

OBSERVATIONAL RESEARCH
Observational research is based on things seen. It is the classic method of scientific inquiry. It involves not only the ability to perceive events as they occur but also to nose for fine
details that others may take for granted. According to Sctizet et al (1976) citied in Des Wildon,
Esiri and Onwubere (2008), the basic principle of observational research is that it is an attempt to
summarize, systematize and simplify the representation of an event rather than provide an exact representative of it.
Observational research is commonly applied in the behavioural sciences and is also regarded as the gathering of primary data by the researcher’s own direct experience (observation)
of relevant people, actions and situations without necessarily asking from the respondents.

Research methodology

Research: The Definition
In the broadest sense of the word, the definition of research includes any gathering of data, information and facts for the advancement of knowledge.
Reading a factual book of any sort is a kind of research. Surfing the internet or watching the news is also a type of research.
Science does not use this word in the same way, preferring to restrict it to certain narrowly defined areas. The word ‘review’ is more often used to describe the learning process which is one of the underlying tenets of the rigid structures defining scientific research.

The Scientific Definition
The strict definition of scientific research is performing a methodical study in order to prove a hypothesis or answer a specific question. Finding a definitive answer is the central goal of any experimental process.
Research must be systematic and follow a series of steps and a rigid standard protocol. These rules are broadly similar but may vary slightly between the different fields of science.
Scientific research must be organized and undergo planning, including performing literature reviews of past research and evaluating what questions need to be answered.
Any type of ‘real’ research, whether scientific, economic or historical, requires some kind of interpretation and an opinion from the researcher. This opinion is the underlying principle, or question, that establishes the nature and type of experiment.
The scientific definition of research generally states that a variable must be manipulated, although case studies and purely observational science do not always comply with this norm.

Steps involved in a scientific process

STEPS INVOLVED IN A SCIENTIFIC PROCESS








The purpose of the scientific method of research is to provide an objective, unbiased, evaluation of data. To investigate research questions and hypotheses systematically, both academic and private-sector researchers follow a basic eight-step procedure. However, merely following the eight research steps does not guarantee that the research is good, valid, reliable or useful. An almost countless number of intervening variables (influences) can destroy even the best planned research project.  The situation is similar to someone assuming he or she can bake a cake by just following the recipe. The cake may be made by an oven that does not work properly, spoiled ingredient, altitude, or numerous other problems. The process of carrying out a research endeavour cannot be haphazard or ‘on the spur of the moment’. The typical research questions consist of these eight steps:

Select a problem
Review existing research and theory (when relevant)
Develop hypotheses or research questions
Determine an appropriate methodology/research design
Collect relevant data
Analyze and interpret the results.
Present the results in an appropriate form.
Replicate the study (when necessary)

Challenges and prospects of ICT development in Nigeria

INTRODUCTION
Today’s world and society is changing very fast with the help of ICT (Information Communication Technology). Everyday new technologies were developed to simplify the every days work, but there is a resistance e to accept these new technologies.
In time past, the system of communication used in Nigeria was the traditional media, this was considered the best form of communication then, it involves the use of town criers, gong, ivory horn etc. to pass information across to the people.
Information Communication Technology according to Weigel and Wald Burger, (2004) “ICT refers to technologies designed to access, process and transmit information”. Information and communication Technology have provided societies with a vast array of new communication capability.
ICT tools have helped people find, explore analyse, exchange and present information but still there are series of challenges confronting the sector which is an obstacle to the advancement of ICT. Nigeria has a long way to go considering such prevailing factor like the limited access to ICT infrastructure, including fixed and mobile telephony services radio, internet and broadband service penetration. It is essential to note that ICT growth far exceeds the mass importation and presence of telephones, computers and other ICT devices.
Despite all these knowledge and advantages of ICT, the sector is been faced by so many challenges that are standing on the way against its development. Though Nigeria despite its state as a developing country is really trying hard to fight these setbacks through lines of actions which so far have been working out in the development of ICT.                                                                                                  
REVIEW OF CONCEPTS
Information Communication Technology as a tool has helped national development but has challenges hindering its proper development in Nigeria, for better of ICT; it will be reviewed under the following headings:
Challenges
Prospects
Development
Information Communication Technology. Challenges: This is the situation of being faced with something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore test a person’s ability in ICT from our topic has challenges, for the purpose of this work challenges are defined as problems hindering ICT’s development in Nigeria.
Prospects: It’s from the Latin word ‘Prospectus’. It’s defined as a hope or potential thing that may come to pass, often favorable. Prospect for the purpose of this work will be defined as the hope of ICT in Nigeria, the state of ICT in Nigeria as well as the various lines of actions taken so far to enable the development of ICT in Nigeria.
Development: it’s the systematic use of scientific and technical knowledge to meet specific objectives or requirements. When a sector or thing is developing, it is said to be experiencing growth or a change either negatively or positively. The factors that have been hindering ICT’s growth or positive change in Nigeria will be discussed in this work.
Information Communication Technology: it’s the amalgamation of three different words, which are information; meaning message, communication; meaning connection or passage and technology; which means a device or material with electronic instructions created by a person’s mind and assembled in a way that it does not look natural. ICT from these break down can be defined as the required technology ore devices needed to pass information i.e. computers, e-books, radio, books etc.
According to Ifueko Omoigui Okauru(2011). ICT is defined as the digital processing and utilization of inform by the use of electronic computers. It comprises the storage, retrieval, conversion and transmission of information. In the work ICT i.e. the advantages of ICT and the challenges of ICT development in Nigeria will be discussed.

Challenges book publishing industries face in Nigeria

INTRODUCTION
Books play a vital role in the development of a society and an individual. For a country to fully utilize its potential and revolutionize itself , the society must promote book development and publishing. In Nigeria, millions are spent on publishing books without profit due to piracy. Paying royalties to authors despite not making profit has remained an impossibility to run an independent publishing house in Nigeria. The quest for qualitative publishing has driven so many creative minds abroad to get their books published. With a country that has produced the likes of renowned world authors such as late Professor Chinua Chebe and Professor Wole, Soyinka Chimamanda Adichie, among others, still trying to find its feet in the publishing sector is giving great concerns to most publishers.
Indigenous book publishing industry in Nigeria actually began as a fall-out of the economic crisis of the early ‘90s. The formal, more establised publishing firms were before then mostly foreign owned, like Longmans and Heinemann or those aligned to foreign ones, such as Hudahuda in Zaria. But of course there were some university presses that offered publishing services. That economic crisis, which was occasioned by the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), made life difficult for most businesses, including the book publishing ones. The publishers in particular devised ways of surviving, such as focusing more on publishing textbooks for schools and spurning new creative works except those in the exam syllabus.
The  process frustrated authors, especially those who had written literary books, to set up their own publishing outfits to supply their works to the market. Some of them, as well as some business-minded folks, offered the service to other would-be authors.

The relevance of reporting on education sector on the development of the Nigerian society

INTRODUCTION
Education is the best legacy a country can give to her citizens. Igbuzor (2006) in stressing the importance of education stated that education is a human right that should be accorded to all human beings solely by reason of being human.
Because education employs the largest number of staff in the Nigerian public sector, the development of the Nigerian society is largely dependent on it.
Education is a crucial sector in any nation. Being a major investment in human capital development, it plays a critical role in long-term productivity and growth at both micro and macro levels. This explains why the state of education in Nigeria continues to be our national discourse at all levels. Consequently, the implication of the declining quality of education at all levels has far reaching negative impact on a nation’s moral, civic, cultural and economic sustainability. At this point, it is important to realize that discussions on education and its reforms to make it contribute meaningfully to national development should gradually and systematically move away from a politicized to a more analytical approach that appreciates the complexities inherent in proffering genuine and workable solutions for revamping our educational system.
The education beat is a wide umbrella, covering everything from preschool through higher education, and from school funding to learning outcomes. The beat has become even broader and more complex in recent years in part because of the expansion of charter schools, the increasing popularity of homeschooling, and federal achievement standards. These days, education stories are often political stories as well, and reporters on the beat frequently have to navigate overlapping layers of authority to get the information they need to understand what’s really happening in the schools.
Irrespective of the above observation, the main focus of this assignment remains the influence and importance of the educational sector to development of the Nigerian society. Hence, viewing from the angle of the reporter.

THE IMPORTANCE OF REPORTING ON EDUCATION; BRINGING ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NIGERIAN SOCIETY

A letter from an average student

"Academic excellence is overrated! Did he just say that? Oh, yes, he said it.

Being top of your class does not necessarily guarantee that you will be at the top of life. You could graduate as the best student in Finance but it doesn't mean you will make more money than everybody else. The best graduating Law student does not necessarily become the best lawyer. The fact is life requires more than the ability to understand a concept, memorise it and reproduce it in an exam. School rewards people for their memory. Life rewards people for their imagination. School rewards caution, life  daring. School hails those who live by the rules. Life exalts those who break the rules and set new ones. So do I mean people shouldn't study hard in school? Oh, no, you should. But don't sacrifice every other thing on the altar of First Class.