Faculty and Staff Publications

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Dissemination of information in the COVID-19 era in university libraries in Nigeria
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, 2022) Omeluzor, Saturday U.; Dr. Nwaomah, Angela E.; Molokwu, Ugochi Esther
In Nigeria, the first case of coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported on 27 February 2020 and as at date, there are about 13,000 confirmed cases across Nigeria. The spread of COVID-19 forced the lockdown of libraries. This study investigated the dissemination of information in meeting the information needs of library patrons during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown of university libraries in Nigeria. Using a descriptive survey design, a sample population of 178 librarians from federal, state and private universities in Nigeria was questioned. The findings show that libraries disseminated information on personal hygiene to their patrons (hand-washing, cleanliness and the use of hand sanitizers) and sensitized the general public to COVID-19 by using posters and flyers. The findings also reveal that libraries disseminated information and links to e-resources to support patrons’ ongoing research. Moreover, It was revealed in the findings that lack of coordination, strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and none subscription for data for librarians to work from home were challenges.
Perceptions and Challenges of Church Records Management among Seventh-day Adventist Pastors in Africa
(Asia-Africa Journal of Mission and Ministry, 2021-02-28) Dr. Nwaomah, Angela E.; Prof. Nwaomah, Sampson M.
The membership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Africa is estimated to constitute the highest as compared to other regions of the world. This may have been enhanced by factors such as the high receptibility of its message on the continent. The amount of membership that the church holds in Africa has corresponding implication on the volume of records that its clergy and other record managers’ process. However, there are concerns about the dependability of some of these records and how they impact the global church statistics and decisions. The reliability of church records could be influenced by the perceptions and certain challenges of the records creators and managers. Therefore, this paper, using an empirical research method, investigated the perceptions and challenges of church records management among pastors of the church on the continent. The return rate of the survey was 56.22 percent. The study found that the respondents have good perception of records and the role they play in organizational efficiency. Some challenges such as lack of disaster-preparedness, inadequate funding, lack of personnel training, unavailability and or/or inadequate organizational policies on records, and inadequacy of storage facilities were identified. Therefore, it was recommended that the organizations of the respondents should address these issues for effective and efficient records management.
Managing Students’ Records as Corporate Social Responsibility: The Demand for Accessibility and Confidentiality
(American Journal of Humanities and Social Science (AJHSS), 2020) Dr. Nwaomah, Angela E.
Students’ records are a very important asset to any educational institution since they document and preserve a students’ academic journey and his interface with the institution. They are also vital because provide information about a student’s competencies, skills, and aptitude; thus serving as a vital link to even assess a student’s suitability for work and life. Hence, these records require best practices in managing them. However, a conflict exists between the rights of students to privacy and the needs of the university and/or others to obtain information about them. This conflict is prevalent in institutions of higher learning, and centers on the following issues: what information is obtained? Where it is obtained? Where and how it is kept? Who requests what information to be given? The demand for the disclosure of students’ records by stakeholders and the ethical imperative of confidentiality by record managers sometimes come in conflict. This is even compounded by the legal implications that may arise when privacy is violated. The paper, therefore, design and method of discuss arefocused on the types, description, and location of student’s records, the value of students’ records, some guiding principles of caring for student’s records with a consideration of its level of sensitivity with reviewed literature of university/ government policy governing privacy and disclosure of student information/records. This paper endswith some guidelines in regard to cooperatesocial responsibility in caring and safeguarding the privacy of information and records entrusted to all who handles student’s records. And further conclusion and recommendations by author.
Records Information Management Practices: A Study on a Faith Based University
(International Journal for Innovation Education and Research, 2017-11-30) Dr. Nwaomah, Angela E.
Records information management is regarded as one of the pillars of any organization because organization’s activities are based on access to information contained in records. This article evaluates the practice of effective records management at Valley View University in Ghana. The targeted population for the research was centered on employees who handle students’ academic records in Valley View University. The university has a total of thirty- two (32) personnel who deals with students records on a daily basis. A simple random technique was used to select a sample size of 25 records officers. Data was collected with a self-structured questionnaire. A total of 24 copies of the questionnaire were validly completed and returned making it 96% return rate. Percentage frequency tables and simple pie chart and bar graph were used to present the data from the field. The key findings of the study revealed that there is a positive level (64%) of effective students’ records information management practices in the university. The study also revealed that only 43.75 percentage of the records officers have professional qualifications and in-service training relating to information and records management. There were some challenges that hinder the records managers from an excellent achievement of records information management effectiveness. The paper concluded with some recommendations that will help the university management and the records officers deal with those challenges.
An assessment of the effectiveness of records management practices in Adventist Health Institution in Ghana
(GE-International Journal of Management Research, 2016-08) Dr. Nwaomah, Angela E.
This paper is a report of a study that evaluated the practice of effective records management in the Seventh-Day Adventist Hospital in Kwadaso-Kumasi, Ghana. The study revealed that only 46.7 percentage of the records managers have professional qualifications/specialized training in records management. The findings also revealed that there is a positive level (51.1%) of effective records management practices in the hospital. However, those with the job title records manager faced some specific constrains that hinders the maximum achievement of records management effectiveness. The conclusion drawn is that, certain factors are responsible for the challenges. The paper then offers some recommendations that will help the hospital management and Ghana government deal with those challenges.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) usage on students records management effectiveness in the Nigerian Universities
(International Journal of Social Relevance & Concern (IJSRC), 2015-06) Dr. Nwaomah, Angela E.
Effective management of students‟ records underpins decision making, protects rights of students and helps universities conduct business and services in a consistent and equitable manner. Thus, this study investigated the influence of information and communication technology (ICT) on students‟ records management effectiveness in Nigerian universities. A survey design was employed for the study. The population consisted of 1,123 students‟ records officers and 470 university administrators from randomly selected federal, state and private universities in south-south geo-political zone of Nigeria. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select the sample for the study consisting of 564 records officers and 237 administrators giving a sum of 801. A total of 531 copies of the questionnaire were validly completed and returned making it 66.3% successful. Data was collected with a self- structured questionnaire validated with overall Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient =0.81. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were employed to analyze data processed from responses of the survey. The results revealed that at the 0.05 level of significance, the p-values of (0.9324, 0.8478 and 0.0004) indicated information and communication technology (ICT) had negative and insignificant influence on students‟ records management effectiveness in the federal and state universities, but had significant and positive influence on in the private universities. Since this study has established that the Nigerian Universities operate both paper and electronic records management system, the researcher recommended that government should come up with a model for the effective combination of electronic and manual records management procedure for students‟ records that will suit the Nigerian environment.
Political factors' influence on student's records management effectiveness in the Nigerian University system
(European Journal of Research and Reflection in Management Sciences, 2015) Dr. Nwaomah, Angela E.
European Journal of Research and Reflection in Management Sciences Vol. 3 No. 2, 2015 ISSN 2056-5992 Progressive Academic Publishing, UK Page 29 www.idpublications.org POLITICAL FACTORS’ INFLUENCE ON STUDENTS’ RECORDS MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS IN THE NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM ANGELA E. NWAOMAH, PhD University Registrar Adventist University of Africa Private Bag Mbagathi 00503, Nairobi KENYA ABSTRACT Students’ records are critical in achieving university’s goals and objectives. This study therefore examined the political factors that influence students’ records management effectiveness in Nigerian universities. A survey design was employed for the study. The population consisted of 1,123 students’ records officers and 470 university administrators from randomly selected three federal, three state and three private universities in south-south geo-political zone of Nigeria. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select the sample for the study consisting of 564 records officers and 237 administrators giving a sum of 801. A total of 531 copies of the questionnaire were validly completed and returned making it 66.3% successful. Data was collected with a self-structured questionnaire validated with overall Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient =0.81. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were employed to analyze data processed from responses of the survey. The results revealed that at the 0.05 level of significance, the p-values of (0.0116, 0.3237 and 0.4038) indicated political factors had significant influence on students’ records management effectiveness in the federal universities, but not in the state and private universities. Findings of this research will provide the university administrators and records officers with better understanding of political factors influencing effective management of students’ records in the Nigerian universities.
Influence of Job Suitability on the Effectiveness of Students’ Records Management in South-South Nigerian Universities
(Online International Journal of Arts and Humanities, 2014-12) Dr. Nwaomah, Angela E.; Prof. Okoro, Clara C.
This study examined the influence of job suitability on the effectiveness of students’ records management in South-South Nigerian Universities. A descriptive survey research design was employed for the study. The population for the study was fifteen universities that have graduated students out of the twenty-one federal, state and private universities in South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria. Based on equal representation, three each of the three types of universities were randomly selected as the sample population consisting of 1,123 officers managing students’ records and 470 university administrators. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 564 records students’, records management officers and 237 administrators giving a sum of 801. Data were collected with a self-structured questionnaire validated with overall Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of 0.81. A total of 531 copies of the questionnaire were validly completed and returned making it 66.3% return rate. Descriptive statistics, simple correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that at the 0.05 level of significance, job suitability significantly influenced students’ records management effectiveness in the Universities as evidenced by the p-values of (0.0005, 0.0032 and 0.0143). The study concluded that job suitability is important towards achieving the effective management of students’ records in the universities. Consequently, the study recommended that University Administrators should consider recruiting personnel based on merit. Possession of requisite skills and behavioural competencies should be the focus of appointments to avoid employment of unqualified staff based on family ties, ethnicism and tribalism. Records management should be professionalized to enhance job suitability of records managers. Administrators should support adequate training/re-training of existing records officers and the National University Commission (NUC) should come up with a policy that will enable the establishment of a functional records management programme as a benchmark for program accreditation in the universities.
Effects of Job satisfaction on the effectiveness of students' records management in South-South Nigerian Universities
(International Journal of Liberal Arts and Social Science, 2014-12) Dr. Nwaomah, Angela E.
This study provides empirical evidence regarding the effects of job satisfaction on the effectiveness of students’ records management in South-South Nigerian universities. A survey research design was employed for the study. Based on equal representation, three each of the three types of universities were randomly selected as the sample population. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 564 from 1,123 officers managing students’ records. . Data was collected with a self-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that at 0.05 level of significance, p-value of (0.0000, 0.1219 and 0.2639) job satisfaction significantly influenced students’ records management effectiveness in federal universities but not in state and private universities. Findings of this research provides university administrators and records managers with better understanding on how job satisfaction influences the effectiveness of students’ records management in the different types of university in South-South, Nigeria.
Providing quality information services in the Nigerian private university system registry : a competitive intelligence approach
(Journal of Communication and Culture: International Perspective, 2011-12) Dr. Nwaomah, Angela E.
Quality information delivery is vital to the success of an organization. This becomes most significant in the era where organizations, whether manufacturing or educational are daily engaged in competition to gain and retain a significant pool of customers. One concept that has played key role on assisting organizations to gain advantage over their competitors is the Competitive Intelligence (CI) approach. This study, using the Gaps Model of Service Quality Theory and Keiser (2002) ten steps of competitive intelligence process to argue that Nigerian Private University System Registry (NPUSR), in the midst of competitors and the desire to provide quality information service could make use of the CI approach to determine its weaknesses and potentials and subsequently employ strategies in human and materials resources to significantly improve its information service delivery to all its stakeholders. It thus proposes steps such as effective marketing of Information Services, quality staff-customer relationship, optimum and efficient use of Information Technology in quality information service delivery that could be taken by NPUSR to enhance their services delivery to reposition them in the emerging competitive market of student admission.
Telecommuting Practices and Trends in the Digital Transformation
(International Journal of Interactive Communication Systems and Technologies, 2023) Elisha Ondieki Makori; Norah Osebe Mauti
The paper investigated insights of telecommuting practices and trends in the digital transformation. Critical objectives were to find the priorities behind telecommuting developments, examine disruption technologies and trends to transform and advance virtual teleworking practices, determine sustainable strategies and programmes for telecommuting arrangements, and explore lessons learned for future prospects from remote working practices. Teleworking practices have opened and expanded economies and business opportunities in organizations worldwide. Trending digital innovations advancing telecommuting in the knowledge economy include internet of things, enterprise mobility, cloud solutions, and blockchain. Robust technological infrastructure, management, communication, and cultural trust are among the top strategies for sustaining telecommuting programmes. In the post- COVID-19 world, telecommuting is fundamental and mandatory, and therefore, leaders, people, organizations, professionals, and communities have a lot to gain from the practice.
Evaluating Access and Use of Information Resources by Postgraduate Students at Adventist University of Africa Library in Kenya
(International Journal of Humanities & Social Science Studies(IJHSSS), 2018-01) Norah Mauti; Dr. Andrew Chege; Prof Joseph Kiplagat
At Adventist University of Africa (AUA) library, observation and statistical reports depict a regressive pattern in the access and use of information resources. For example, in the year 2012, 400 students accessed information resources, while in 2013 the number dropped to 362. In 2014 the number further dropped to 304. The aim of this study was to evaluate access and use of information resources by post-graduate students at AUA library and to suggest ways in which access and use can be enhanced. The objectives of the study were: to identify the information resources in the library; establish how the information resources are accessed by the students; establish how the information resources are used; identify challenges post-graduate students face while accessing and using the information resources; and establish ways of enhancing access and use of the information resources. The study population was 473 postgraduate students with a sample study of 142. Stratified and purposive sampling techniques were used. Data collection methods included distribution of questionnaires. The major findings were that users need to be well equipped with information retrieval skills to access and use information resources effectively. The study also established challenges users faced and these included, lack of the necessary skills to access electronic resources, language barrier and lack of awareness of available information resources. The study recommended that measures should be put in place to ensure that the students use the information resources effectively, and that the resources should be regularly updated.
Navigating the ChatGPT Theological Terrain: Considerations for Graduate Theology Students
(Pan-African Journal of Education and Social Sciences (PAJES), 2024) Dr. Mahlon Juma
With discussions across disciplines, AI technologies are here to stay. For both professors and students, academic debates raise ethical and moral questions. This study attempts to address the latter issue through these research questions: Can graduate theology scholars use ChatGPT for their publications? What are the advantages and drawbacks of using ChatGPT in scholarly publications for graduate Theology students? What are the implications for graduate Theology students? What guidelines should be followed when using ChatGPT? The literature shows that professors are already worried about potential scholastic perversions resulting in plagiarism and academic fraud. Originality, creativity, synthesis, and critical thinking, diligent editing are still necessary. AI technologies have theological ramifications for soteriology and ecclesiology. ChatGPT’s biblical knowledge is theologically unsound and prone to errors. It’s unreliable in translations of ancient Biblical texts and should not replace professional knowledge of languages, particularly when handling intricate linguistic problems. Thus, AI technology should be viewed as a supportive tool for missions. It should not replace spiritual discernment, the Holy Spirit’s guidance, theological understanding, or insights into the Christian experience.
International Students’ Relationship Formation in a Multicultural Setting: A Phenomenological Inquiry
(Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Science (JAHSS),Stecab Publishing, 2024-11-10) Dr. Mahlon Juma
International students who do not build meaningful friendships have psychological and social issues, as well as weak academic and decision- making skills. The study investigated international students' relationship formation in a multicultural setting in the Philippines, using psychoanalytic transference theory and the functional model of friendship formation. Using transcendental phenomenology, audio-recorded one-on-one interviews were conducted with 12 enrolled students from 12 nations. The data was transcribed and analyzed. According to the findings, co-national friendships were favored for psychological and emotional support, as well as the perpetuation of home cultures. Students who favored host-national friendships over multicultural home ties reported higher levels of life satisfaction, fewer social issues, and a greater appreciation for culture. Students who favored host-national connections overcame home ties and had more life satisfaction, fewer social issues, and a greater appreciation for culture and were more likely to marry and work in host nations. Furthermore, friendships enhance one's lifestyle and psychological well-being, provide enjoyment and satisfaction, enhance critical thinking, and reduce stress as well as criminal activity. The implications of the findings were examined.
The Role of the Big Five Personalities on Psychological Well-Being in Emerging Adulthood
(2021) Dieter Christopher; Fransisca Iriani Roesmala Dewi; Pamela Hendra Heng; Mahlon Juma; Bobby Kurnia Putrawan
Emerging adults have a relatively high risk of being exposed to psychological disorders, such as mood disorders and personality disorders, when they are unable to cope with the stressors that arise as a result of the transition from adolescence to adulthood. This of course can threaten the psychological well-being of emerging adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of the Big Five personality on psychological well-being in emerging adulthood. This study was followed by 200 subjects aged 18-25 years using a purposive sampling technique. The measuring tools used in this study were the Psychological Well-Beng Scale with reliability score 0.899 and the Five-Factor Model with reliability score 0.840. The results showed that there was a role of the Big Five personality on psychological well-being by 54.4%.
Biblical Narratives of Steadfast Grit: A Select Example in Cultivating Psychological Fortitude
(Pan-African Journal of Theology, 2024) Dr. Mahlon, Juma
Psychological grit is credited to Angela Duckworth. Psychologists have investigated grit as a personality trait, educators as a character trait, and economics as a non-cognitive competence or soft skill. Additionally, it has been translated into Russian, Japanese, German, Korean, Turkish, and Spanish. However, the attributes associated with grit, such as courage, conscientiousness, excellence, resilience, and optimism, are similar to Bible terminology. However, the literature is scarce, and there is a knowledge gap about these characteristics from a biblical standpoint. Critics have proposed that future studies look into the useful applications of grit in educational contexts and other languages. In response, the story investigated the following issues: (1) What words do the New and Old Testaments use to describe grit’s courage, conscientiousness, excellence, resilience, and optimism? (2) Who are the Biblical characters who demonstrated these virtues? The analysis revealed that grit is an abundant biblical attribute in both the New and Old Testaments. Countless Bible characters demonstrated grit. Distressing end-times call on Christians to display grit.
Development and Validation of Domain-Specific Grit Scale for Prisoners in Criminal Justice System in Kenya
(International Journal of Resaerch and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 2024-12-10) Dr. Mahlon, Juma
Grit – defined as perseverance and passion for long-term goals has been considered a prognosticator and requisite trait of success and achievement and has been utilizing the domain-general Grit-S - for its good internal consistency, and test-retest stability. The domain-specific aspects of grit are required and a valid tool has been an imperative need. This quantitative study introduced the Prison Grit Scale (P-GS) to recidivists (N =418) selected through purposive and systematic random sampling to ascertain the reliability and validity using the partial least squares structural equation modeling. The results demonstrate that P-GS possesses good psychometric properties. The factor loadings of courage, conscientiousness, excellence, resilience, and optimism were between 0.754 - 0.836, thus acceptable. P-GS’s composite reliability of 0.895 is acceptable; a value greater than the recommended 0.70, and the rho-a value of 0.857 falls between Cronbach’s Alpha (0.853) and composite reliability (0.895). The convergent validity’s average variance extract was 0.631; above the accepted threshold of 0.50. Lastly, discriminant validity using Fornell and Larcker indicator loadings scored 0.794 and fell between 0.65 and 0.85. The conclusion is that P-GS has good internal reliability and convergent and discriminant validity. This implies the support of domain-specific aspects of grit and can benefit positive psychology researchers in the criminal justice system. A convergent parallel design in a mixed method is recommended for future research, utilizing more women respondents
The spirit of Prophecy in the second temple: Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
(Perspective digest, 2022-10-01) Davidson Razafiarivony, PhD
The prophetic spirit or the spirit of prophecy is charged with the gift of prophecy. The phrase “spirit of prophecy” occurs only once in the entire New Testament, in several versions of Revelation 19:10. It appears to signify that the prophetic gift was still manifested in the time of the New Testament and in the latter days of the church. But 1 Maccabees 9:27 laments that in the second century B.C., when the book was written, prophets ceased from appearing among them. Other rabbinic tradition states that Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi were the last of the prophets, and after them, the Holy Spirit ceased. How can we understand from Jewish literature that prophecy ceased earlier? Can the understanding and use of “spirit of prophecy” within Judaism be of help to interpret and apply the term “spirit of prophecy” in the Book of Revelation?
The Apocrypha: Their relevance to biblical studies and pastoral ministry
(Ministry, International journal for Pastors, 2023-12) Davidson Razafiarivony, PhD
Many Christians, including clergy, may not know the Apocrypha—the writings of the Second Temple period. Even if they do, the writings are often brushed aside. This article assesses the value and use of the Apocrypha in biblical studies and pastoral ministry. New Testament scholar Craig A. Evans says: “If one is to do competent NT [New Testament] exegesis, one must know something of these writings [the Apocrypha] and of their relevance for the nt.” Rightly so, since “some of these writings are vital for understanding the NT.”1 Bruce D. Chilton, scholar of early Christianity and Judaism, argues that “Christian theology shares its origins with early Judaism. Therefore, it cannot be fully appreciated without reference to its matrix.”2 The New Testament was not born in a vacuum, and its writers should be placed within their Jewish milieu. By doing this, the one who knows “all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews” (Acts 26:3, NKJV) will certainly appreciate and understand better the New Testament and, as a Bible interpreter, will nd such knowledge useful in his/her task.
Two New Jerusalems
(Ministry, International journal for pastors, 2020) Davidson Razafiarivony, PhD
God’s promise in Isaiah 65:17–25 begins with the statement, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come to mind” (KJV). The promise is repeated in Isaiah 66:22–24. For some conservative evangelicals, this passage has been applied to the eschatological new heavens and new earth, especially because it is echoed by Revelation 21.1 For some other Christians, Isaiah 66:23 has become a favorite biblical text in defense of the Sabbath, often used in evangelistic sermons to highlight the perpetuity of the Sabbath, as it states, “from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD” (KJV). There is, however, a problem in applying these texts to the eschatological new heavens and new earth. Paul warned the Colossians, “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come” (Col. 2:16, 17, NKJV).2 Paul clearly implies that ceremonial laws are not binding anymore after the death of Jesus. So why observe a “new moon” now and thereafter? What kind of “new heavens and new earth” does the prophet Isaiah describe, and how should we reconcile them with the “new heaven and new earth” of Revelation 21:1–5?

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