Dialogic Society Journal

This study examined the level of awareness and nature of perceptions regarding bio-digester toilet tech nology among residents of waterfront settlements in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Despite the severe sanitation crisis in these flood-prone communities and the proven suitability of bio-digester systems for such contexts, adoption rates remain negligible. A community-based cross-sectional design was employed, surveying 300 household heads across three waterfront communities (Bundu, Okrika waterfront, and Iwofe) using structured questionnaires, complemented by six focus group discussions with 50 residents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, mean scores, and chi-square tests. Findings revealed extremely low awareness levels, with only 9.3% having heard of bio-digester toilets and merely 1.7% having seen a working model. Knowledge of specific functions such as biogas production (5.0%) and fertilizer generation (3.3%) was virtually non-existent. Perception analysis demonstrated a striking duality: residents strongly acknowledged the technology's potential benefits regarding improved dignity (mean=3.45), household cleanliness (mean=3.60), health protection (mean=3.52), and economic savings (mean=3.10). However, equally strong negative perceptions emerged, including fear of explosion (mean=3.65), disgust regarding waste-to-energy conversion (mean=3.40), perceived technical complexity (mean=3.30), and cultural reservations (mean=2.95). Chi-square analysis confirmed a significant relationship between awareness level and willingness to adopt (χ²=25.48, df=1, p<0.05). The study concluded that the adoption bottleneck begins at the most fundamental level—complete unfamiliarity with the technology—and is compounded by negative perceptual filters that even positive benefit recognition cannot overcome. Recommendations include intensive community-based awareness campaigns utilizing local languages and trusted mes- sengers, establishment of visible demonstration units, and targeted messaging to address specific fears, particularly regarding explosion safety and cultural compatibility.

This reflective practice article proposes circular research and teaching model (CReTeaM) to enhance the enrichment of teaching and learning with research outputs, which in turns generates insights into new research themes or learning activities in a cyclic, impactful and continuously improving fashion. Case studies on how I demon strated the CReTeaM pedagogical approach was instantiated using an air engine project, Questelligence theory and domain-based systems thinking. CReTeaM proved very useful in formulating research and teaching activities and generating evidence to advance knowledge through recycling and reusing the research outputs. The proposed ap proach could improve the research and teaching efficiency of teachers as well as their career and professional devel opment whilst improving educational experiences of the students. Although this paper focused on engineering peda gogy, CReTeaM can be considered for research-informed teaching in other professional disciplines.

The escalation of global tariffs driven by the US–China trade war has fundamentally reconfigured global trade dynamics, exerting considerable pressure on developing economies, particularly Nigeria. This study interrogates two key issues: the extent to which rising global tariffs have undermined Nigeria’s export competitiveness in manufactured goods within the AfCFTA market, and whether persistent international trade disruptions have stimulated increased local sourcing among Nigerian manufacturing firms. Grounded in Dependency Theory, the study conceptualizes Nigeria’s susceptibility to external economic shocks within an asymmetric global economic order where policy shifts in dominant economies disproportionately affect peripheral states. The research adopts a documentary (secondary) methodology, drawing on datasets, AfCFTA Secretariat reports, international trade statistics, and peer reviewed scholarly literature. Using content analysis and trend synthesis, the study assesses the impact of tariff escalations and supply-chain disruptions between 2018 and 2026 on Nigeria’s trade performance and industrial sourcing behaviour. Findings indicate that heightened tariffs on steel, machinery, chemical inputs, and intermediate goods significantly eroded Nigeria’s manufacturing export competitiveness in AfCFTA markets by increasing production costs, restricting access to critical inputs, and weakening industrial output. Additionally, global trade disruptions accelerated a strategic shift toward local sourcing among major firms such as Dangote Group, Flour Mills of Nigeria, BUA, PZ Cussons, and NASCO as a response to external volatility. However, this transition is constrained by infrastructural deficits, high energy costs, weak industrial linkages, and quality limitations of domestic raw materials. The study concludes that 24 Nigeria’s exposure to tariff shocks reflects structural dependency and underscores the urgency of strengthening domestic industrial capacity through value-chain development, technological upgrading, and AfCFTA-aligned export support policies.

Psychological adjustment remains a critical yet under-integrated determinant of recovery among patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Neurosurgical interventions ex pose patients to complex psychological stressors, including fear of mortality, uncertainty regarding cognitive functioning, and disruption of identity and social roles. This study develops a culturally grounded counselling framework aimed at enhancing psychological adjustment across preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative phases of care. Anchored in the stress and coping model (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), cognitive-behavioural theory (Beck, 1976), and the biopsycho social model (Engel, 1977), the study adopts a mixed-method design involving 120 healthcare professionals. Findings reveal that preoperative anxiety significantly predicts postoperative outcomes (Mitchell, 2016), while psychoeducation, coping skills training, and family involvement enhance resilience and recovery. The study advances a contextually rel evant counselling framework for African healthcare systems and underscores the necessity of integrating psychological care into neurosurgical practice.

Teamwork and leadership are required whenever people work together to achieve complex engineering projects or operations. Consequently, teamwork and leadership will continue to be current themes for research in the foreseeable future of human civilisation. Here, we propose bio-inspired management approach to study how teamwork and leadership behaviours of animals might be relevant to engineering team configuration and functioning based on the attributes of Japanese bees and Queen ants. An online Questionnaire was designed to get responses of 155 engineers on the teamwork and leadership attributes of the subject animals in the light of theories and models for teamwork and leadership. The study focused on themes such as decentralisation, self-organisation, specialisation, followership and the impact of a leader's contributions, actions or inactions on the effectiveness of engineering teams. Interestingly, 81.9% of respondents indicated that adopting a flat organisation could improve productivity of engineering teams. 77.4% of the respondents indicated that one person contributing several vital team tasks can create high risk because it can reduce the resilience, adaptation and business continuity of engineering organisations. The findings from this study offer valuable insights on the strategies for advancing bio-inspired engineering management science as well as enriching teamwork and leadership beyond the field of engineering.