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

Coping with criminal victimization and livelihood sustainability for women in trading in Nigeria

Salamat Atinuke AJEDE, S. F. Ogundare — ረቡዕ, 30 ኦክተ 2024 10:13:13 +0100

The study examined the main influence of the upsurge of criminal activities on highways on the livelihood sustainability of women in trading in Nigeria. Criminality and the upsurge of insecurity have become so enshrined in Nigeria. The level of criminality perpetrated by criminal elements such as armed robbers, bandits, Boko Haram terrorists, Fulani herdsmen and kidnappers has further worsened the problem of insecurity in Nigeria with attendant negative effects ranging from economic crises, fall in livelihood activities, loss of lives and properties, wanton destruction of farmlands leading to high cost of both food crops and cash crops and fear of been molested, killed or manhandled, etc. Nigeria has recently been included among the countries with less peace in the world. It is ranked as the 18th less peaceful country in the world and the 6th country most affected by terrorism by Global Terrorism Index coupled with serious threats of mass killings/genocide, ranking 2nd in Africa with highest rate of genocide, 6th in the world with battle â€“related deaths and ethnic killings as much as 34,663 in 2017 from every 100,000 deaths. Just within the first five Months of 2022, there were over 35 thousand deaths in Borno State, North/East, Nigeria alone (Sasu, 2022). A rating of Level of worry about being attacked on a scale of 0-100 stood at 66.4points, being mugged or robed mostly on the highway stood at 67.04points, home broken and things stolen stood at 61.39points etc. Unfortunately, a large number of women remain major victims of these hideous crimes. Specifically, the study discovered the types of criminal activities that women in long-distance experience, determined how the upsurge in criminal activities influence the total business livelihood of women in long-distance trading, find out the strategies that women in long-distance trading have adopted to sustain their businesses and finally, the relationship between the frequency of attack and the level of loss to the business activities of women in long-distance trading was discovered. Qualitative and quantitative research designs were both utilized for the study. The qualitative component of the data was solicited via in-depth Interview IDI, Focus Group Discussion FGD while data for the quantitative component was generated via a structured questionnaire. Simple Random Sampling, multistage and Purposive Sampling techniques were utilized to select samples for the study. Results from the study showed how women in long-distance trading have formulated strategies to cope in order to maintain their livelihood in spite of increasing criminal activities on the highways, the challenges encountered and casualties recorded as a result of attacks. Recommendations are proffered to all stakeholders particularly government on how to intensify efforts at reducing criminal activities and insecurity that has become a bane to economic development in Nigeria.

Keywords Criminality: Victimization, Upsurge, Women, Traders

Exploring the capacity of Nigerian undergraduates in academic writing

ረቡዕ, 30 ኦክተ 2024 10:40:11 +0100

The study examines the capacity of Nigerian undergraduates in academic writing and its attendant impact on their capability to be future scholarly publishers of research findings. It explores the factors that hinder students from engaging in academic writing such as their degree of motivation, ability to research and apply knowledge across several contexts of perception on academic writing, self-efficacy and ability to write. It focuses on finding out the level at which students are versed in academic writing, possible ways of motivating undergraduates to be involved in academic writing in order to strengthen their interest to become scholarly publishers of research findings that will expand the frontiers of knowledge. Four research questions were raised to guide the study. A purposive sampling technique was adopted to select 500 respondents across tertiary institutions in Nigeria through a self-structured questionnaire titled ETCOUIAW with the co-efficient alpha level of .75. A 4-point likert scale was used to elicit data from the respondents. The findings revealed that students are not fully aware of international standards in academic writing. Few of the students can discern academic articles. However, most students who have once engaged in academic writing do not bother to continue their research work after a rigorous peer review which is very likely based on their level of perception, literacy, degree of motivation and self-efficacy. It is therefore recommended that students should be motivated to attend conferences, workshops, seminars on academic writing as well as network with other academia with the help of improving interest in research exercise, critical and analytical thinking; intellectual development; good communication and writing skills and for the benefit of the society at large.

Keywords: Academic writing* Undergraduates* Research* Peer review* Tertiary institutions

Documentation and design development of a multipurpose maternity collection based on Southeastern Ethiopian costume

Kalkidan Akale, Tamrat Tesfaye Yimer

This study explores the documentation and design development of a multipurpose maternity collection inspired by Southeastern Ethiopian costume. Through extensive research on the cultural and traditional attire of the region, with a focus on garments for pregnant women, the author aims to create a collection that honors the cultural heritage of Southeastern Ethiopia while meeting the practical needs and comfort of expectant mothers. Key elements of Southeastern Ethiopian costume are identified and integrated into modern maternity wear designs, blending tradition with modernity. The design process includes sketching, pattern-making, fabric selection, and garment construction to bring the collection to life. This work contributes to the preservation and promotion of Southeastern Ethiopian costume through innovative design solutions for maternity wear, providing pregnant women with stylish and comfortable clothing options.

Keywords: Southeastern Ethiopian costume, maternity wear, cultural heritage, design development, traditional attire, pregnant women, innovation, comfort, style, preservation

Roles of digital twins on material performances and resource utilization on upstream industry (the case of textile industry)

Alie Wube Damtew — ረቡዕ, 30 ኦክተ 2024 11:02:53 +0100

Supply chain processes are receiving considerable attention as a cutting-edge technology that will transform raw materials from material suppliers to the manufacturing and processing industries to fulfill customer requirements. However, the textile and apparel manufacturer industry faces many challenges on raw material and resource utilization scenario. To cope with those challenges, digital twin (DT) strategies have been a useful tool to visualize, realize, analyze, and utilize materials and integrate raw material accessibility, product quality, and delivery service systems into the production line or entire supply chain process. Nevertheless, the development and adoption of DTs is still infant and immature in most manufacturing industries. Mainly textile and apparel industries have weak practices in importance and roles of DT. This study aims to explore the role of DT technology impacts on raw material, design, production, lines in the textile and apparel industry and the entire their supply chain performance. Digital supply chain twinsâ€™ roles in material utilization, the production performance and the overall supply chain capabilities were investigated and studied in this paper. The investigations shows that digital supply chain twin have a positive and direct impacts on supply chain performance in supply chain visibility, raw material accessibility, real time decision making, process optimization, value chain optimization, resource utilization and visibility in a supply chain process of textile and apparel industries. Both the primary and secondary data have been analyzed and studied using descriptive analysis, and Fuzzy TOPSIS tools. The relation between digital twins with resilience of digital enablers on supply chain process for sustainable supply chain process needs further study and investigations.

Keywords: Digital Twin, Material Utilization, Cloud Computing, Textile and Apparel Industry, Physical Entities, Supply Chain, Performance

Socio-Environmentally sustainable framework to support South African fashion design entrepreneurs in the production of sustainable clothes

Nailejileji Mollel Matodzi, Anne Mastamet Mason, Nalini Moodley Diar — ረቡዕ, 30 ኦክተ 2024 11:16:22 +0100

There is an upsurge of socio-environmentally harmful fast-fashion clothes in South Africa. Sustainable systems can reduce socio-environmental harm and maintain socio-environmental equilibrium. The production of sustainable clothes through sustainable supply chain systems will decrease the textile and clothing industry contribution to socio-environmental harm. Fashion design entrepreneurs are often involved in every supply chain of their business. Yet, a small number of South African fashion designers produce sustainable clothes. This necessitates a framework that can aid them in transforming their current supply chain operations. Like fashion design entrepreneurs, customers have the responsibility to purchase clothes that have socio-environmental benefits. The study investigates fashion design entrepreneursâ€™ awareness of sustainable practices and their current practices at fabric sourcing, garment design and manufacturing stages. The study explores customers preferred sustainable clothes attributes and, the influence of sustainability literacy on their purchases. Qualitative approach by means of semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from six fashion design entrepreneurs and five sustainability practitioners. Quantitative approach by means of structured online questionnaire was employed to collect data from 305 customers. Qualitative results revealed that majority of the participants are aware of sustainable fabrics. Three of the participants produced sustainable clothes on a small scale due to the high price of the fabrics. All the participants showed minimal awareness of sustainable garment design methods. Quantitative results revealed that although durability (75%) was the highest-ranked attribute, it only influenced 46% of the participants purchases. This study recommends an in-depth knowledge and skills development hub as a socio-environmentally sustainable framework for South African fashion design entrepreneurs. The framework consists of education, private and public, the natural environment, fashion customer, and the textile and clothing industry substructures. Proceedings such as tradeshows, fashion shows, and exhibitions are suitable platforms to conduct the in-depth knowledge and skills development hub.

Keywords: Sustainable Supply Chain, Fashion Design Entrepreneurs, Sustainable Clothes, Clothing Attributes, Customer purchasing behavior

Processing and characterization of natural fiber (sisal plant fiber) reinforced polyester composites

Ejigayehu Desalegn, Asmare Tezera, Tesfa Nega, Desalegn Abera — ረቡዕ, 30 ኦክተ 2024 11:28:19 +0100

In recent years, natural fibers like sisal have garnered interest as potential reinforcements for polymer composites due to their environmentally friendly and biodegradable nature. The study focuses on exploring the processing methods and mechanical properties of sisal fiber-reinforced polyester composites. Mechanical extraction, followed by chemical treatment, yields superior fiber quality and quantity. Alkalization, utilizing different NaOH concentrations (2%, 6%, 10%) and varying soaking times (24, 48, 72 hours), investigates their impact on fiber properties. Optimal results manifest at 48 hours with 6% NaOH, significantly enhancing mechanical properties. Composites, formed by combining fibers and matrix, achieve peak efficiency at a 30:70 fiber-to-matrix ratio. Notably, the tensile and bending strength for this ratio are 44.003 MPa and 50.81 MPa, respectively. Furthermore, treated fiber composites exhibit reduced water absorption due to improved surface contact. FTIR spectroscopy analyzes raw fiber functional groups, facilitating chemical identification. In light of their cost-effectiveness, natural fiber composites emerge as viable alternatives to expensive and logistically challenging glass fibers.

Keywords: Sisal fiber, natural fiber reinforcement, sisal-polyester composites, mechanical properties

Application of linear programming model for machinery mix purchasing decision during the startup plan of garment companies

Amare Abuhay, Abrham Destaw — ረቡዕ, 30 ኦክተ 2024 11:37:18 +0100

The new business starter in the garment industry is facing great challenge with respect to improper resource utilization mainly budget and space. This is mostly due to traditional planning method of machinery allocation technique. Inconvenient production and productivity achievement also the result of improper investment plan during the startup phase. The aim of this is study is to propose an integer programming approach that considers the fluctuations of the resource demands for optimal and dependable allocation of production machines. At the heart of the approach there are techniques for optimally partitioning the time-horizon into intervals of re-structuring phase variable lengths and for reliably estimating the resource demands in each interval. Results shows that the proposed approach allocates garment production machines successfully in a linear programing mathematical modeling where the dependability requirement has been strictly considered.

Keywords: Linear programing; Startup plan; Resource allocation