Ethiopian e-Journal for Research and Innovation Foresight (Ee-JRIF)

Fostering Local Healthcare Entrepreneurship: A Market-Driven Strategy for Improved Health Outcomes in Nigeria’s Education Sector Post-Subsidy Removal

2025-08-11T14:46:10+02:00

This study investigates the potential of healthcare entrepreneurship as a market-driven strategy for improving healthcare access within Nigeria’s education sector in the wake of fuel subsidy removal. Anchored in both economic and public health perspectives, the research examines patterns of awareness, participation, treatment access, and the perceived impact of various entrepreneurial health models among staff of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED). Using structured questionnaire data and employing descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, logistic regression, and factor analysis, the study uncovers significant insights. Awareness of healthcare entrepreneurship initiatives stood at 68%, with 42% participation—both shaped by gender and income but not academic rank. Participation was significantly associated with reduced instances of missed medical visits due to financial constraints, with engaged individuals 71.5% less likely to skip treatment. Among the types of health innovations adopted, cooperatives, mobile clinics, and telemedicine were most prevalent, valued for reducing costs, enhancing access, and fostering user empowerment. Economically, these models serve as adaptive risk-mitigation mechanisms, redistributing healthcare access through cost-sharing, technology, and decentralization. The study concludes that health-related small enterprises hold strong economic potential to stabilize healthcare access in periods of subsidy reform and fiscal austerity. It recommends broadening financial support structures and integrating entrepreneurial health solutions into national strategies for resilience-building in the education-health nexus.

Reducing Lean Wastes of the Leather Industry through the Application of Enhanced Value Stream Mapping

2025-08-11T14:46:11+02:00

Numerous scholars have used classical value stream mapping to reduce waste of manufacturing sector in general and automotive company in particular. However, it provides low level of details for value streams. Additionally, it is applicable for linear production system. The aim of this research is therefore to address these research void and reduce waste of leather industry through the application of enhanced value stream mapping. The research is done in the case of leather industry. Besides extant literature, Gemba-walk, interview and company’s report are used to collect relevant data from the case company. Product matrix is used to categorize the leather products into product families and select a product. The enhanced current state value stream mapping (ECSVSM) is developed by using data collected from the shop floor. The numerical results of the ECSVSM in terms of total production lead time (TPLT), value-added time (VA), non-value-added time (NVA), and VA ratio are 14.67days, 2198.244 seconds, 14.59 days, 0.54%, respectively. Using equivalent time, waiting and inventory wastes are found as major wastes of the shop floor. To reduce the identified waste, combining workstations, 5S, supermarket and layout modification are proposed. These proposed lean waste reduction techniques have been evaluated and approved by experts, including production manager, shift leaders, quality officers, of the company. A future state (FS) VSM is developed by incorporating the proposed solutions into the ECSVSM. Results of the research depict major waste reduction, including reductions in NVA by 41.95%, TPLT by 41.31%, alongside increase VA ratio by 29.63%.

The Political Economy of Terrorism in Nigeria: An Examination of Money Laundering And Terrorist Financing Mechanism

2025-08-11T14:46:11+02:00

Terrorism in Nigeria has developed into a multifaceted sociopolitical and economic phenomenon supported by sophistry of financial mechanisms that enable its expansion and sustainability, with an emphasis on money laundering and terrorist financing methods, this paper critically investigates the political economics of terrorism in Nigeria. The study examines how corruption, informal financial networks, poor governance systems, and international illegal financial flows play a role in funding terrorist actions, drawing on both Nigerian and international viewpoints. It draws attention to the ways that terrorist organisations like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) capitalize on the weaknesses in Nigeria's institutional frameworks, border controls, and financial system in order to finance their activities and launder money. The study examines how political complicity, economic suffering, and the continuation of terrorism interact using qualitative data from government reports, journal articles, and case studies. Additionally, it looks at the institutional and legal responses to counterterrorism finance, pointing out important weaknesses in regulatory oversight, interagency collaboration, and enforcement. The study concludes that a multifaceted strategy is needed to combat terrorist financing in Nigeria, including enhanced financial intelligence, stronger anti-money laundering frameworks, cross-border cooperation, and the political will to impose accountability and transparency. The economic undercurrents that support terrorism are highlighted in this study, which advances our understanding of the phenomenon beyond its ideological dimensions and provides policy insights for development and national security.

Advancing Sportswear Performance through Cutinase Enzymatic Surface Modification of Polyester Knitted Fabric

2025-08-11T14:46:12+02:00

This study investigates the thermo-physiological comfort properties of enzymatically modified knitted fabrics for sportswear. The cutinase enzymatically modified single jersey knitted fabric was made from 100% PET. And also, for enzymatic surface modification, Suson manufactured cutinase enzyme was used. Box-Behnken design was used as a statistical tool for investigating the effect of cutinase concentration and other factors. Thermo-physiological comfort properties of knitted fabric such as thermal conductivity, thermal resistance, fabric wettability, tensile strength, and fabric stiffness, weight-loss, pilling resistance of the treated and untreated fabric were tested and analyzed. The enzymatic treatment and structurally modified designed fabrics significantly enhances comfort property of knitted fabrics. SEM analysis shows slight surface morphological changes, while FTIR results indicate the introduction of new hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, suggesting improved surface hydrophilicity. Additionally, the tensile strength (0.27%) and weight loss (0.26%) are remained nearly unchanged by cutinase hydrolysis-treated polyester fabric. According to the fit statistics, the R2 values of air permeability, wickability, thermal conductivity, and resistance are 98.24%, 98.78%, 99.55%, and 99.11%, respectively. These findings demonstrate the potential of cutinase enzymatically modified knitted fabrics to improve the overall comfort properties and performance of sportswear, offering a promising approach for developing advanced functional textiles.

The Use of Mushroom Mycelia in the Textile Industry: A Sustainable Approach to Fabric Innovation

2025-08-11T14:46:12+02:00

The textile industry is continuously exploring sustainable and innovative materials to reduce environmental impacts while meeting consumer demands. Mushroom mycelia, the vegetative part of fungi, have emerged as a promising alternative for textile production due to their renewable, biodegradable, and eco-friendly nature. This study examines the potential of mushroom mycelia as a sustainable material for textile applications, focusing on its properties, production methods, and industrial feasibility. Key characteristics such as tensile strength, flexibility, breathability, and water resistance of mycelium-based fabrics were evaluated and compared with traditional textiles. The study highlights the adaptability of mycelium to grow on agricultural waste substrates, offering dual benefits of waste valorization and cost-effective production. Furthermore, mycelium-based textiles were tested for their dye absorption, antimicrobial properties, and durability, demonstrating their viability in various fashion and functional applications. The findings underscore the role of mushroom mycelia in reducing the carbon footprint and water usage associated with conventional textile manufacturing processes. However, challenges such as scalability, production consistency, and consumer acceptance remain critical areas for further exploration. This research provides a foundation for integrating mushroom mycelia into the textile industry, promoting circular economy practices and advancing sustainable development goals.

Reviving of Textile Industry in Nigeria

2025-08-11T14:46:12+02:00

This paper gives an overview of Nigeria Textile Industry, identifies the challenges and highlights possible solutions that will revive the industry. The Nigeria Textile Industry used to be the largest employer of labour, second to government and has always been major player in the manufacturing sector of the economy. However, today , the textile industry has ceased to be an important contributor to foreign exchange earnings and employment generation in Nigeria due to inadequate power supply, inconsistent government policies, rampant smuggling of foreign textile, insecurity, etc. Attempts at reviving the sector through fiscal policy and monetary intervention seem to go nowhere. This indicates that Nigeria operating environment is still very hostile to the textile sector . The challenges currently facing the industry are multifaceted and the need to revive the Nigeria textile sector in order to boost the economy cannot be overemphasized. Revival of the textile industry will require a strong political will, commitment and sincerity of purpose by the government. If all the problems affecting the industry can be tackled decidedly and holistically, the Nigerian Textile Industry will be resuscitated for sustainable development.

Indigenous Post-Harvest Technologies for Fruit Crops Evidence from Federal Institute Of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos

2025-08-11T14:46:12+02:00

Fruit crops spoil easily. This reduces their quantity and quality available for human and industrial consumption. Inadequate storage and processing facilities partly aggravate the challenge despite available technologies for post-harvest handling of agricultural products in Nigeria. The study therefore examined the indigenous post-harvest technologies for fruit crops handling by the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos (FIIRO). Nigeria established FIIRO in tandem with triple helix principle of the interrelationship between science, technology and innovation institutions, users of technologies and government. The study adopted interview of relevant FIIRO’s staff and content analysis of the institute’s documents and website to examine its fruit crops post-harvest technologies. Data are presented using pictorial graphics, slides and tables. FIIRO has developed post-harvest technologies for fruits crops. The technologies included metal silos, tomato grader sorting lines, ultrasonic washer, evaporator, fruit juice making machine, fruit washing machine and cabinet dryer. The technologies are easy to operate, specialists are available to repair them but they are costly for an average farmer and fruits marketer to afford. For effective usage of the technologies, the fruits should be assessed at maturity stage for ripening for harvesting. Injury of the fruit crop during harvest should be avoided to guide against loss. Storage area should be separated from the processing area and bruised fruit should be separated from the whole fruit. Government should promote awareness and support mass production of the post-harvest technologies to reduce unit cost and make them cheap to end users.