This book furnishes a detailed description of the mineral deposits of metallic, non-metallic, solid energy, gemstones and industrial minerals in Nigeria, West Africa with emphasis on their location, geological setting, mode of occurrence, physical and chemical characteristics, ore reserve estimates and metallogeny. It also provides a geoscientific analysis of the solid mineral sector, mineral production statistics, mining, and potential targets for mineral exploration. There are twenty chapters in the book, divided into five parts: Part 1 (geological setting), Part 2 (metallic minerals), Part 3 (energy minerals), Part 4 (industrial minerals & gemstones), and Part 5 (metallogeny, mining & exploration). This book is an invaluable source of information, not only for geology and mining students, but also for practicing geoscientists, exploration and mining professionals and administrators in government and private companies who are interested or involved in economic geology, mineral exploration, and mineral resource development in Nigeria.

Materials possessing properties superior to the traditional material are known as new and advanced materials. They impart different value added characteristics like weight, strength, roughness, resistance etc. to the traditional materials. Advanced materials and associated technologies are of great significance for the industrial growth and resultant economic development of any country. New initiatives in Materials Science have traversed almost all the sectors of the economy of the nations, developing or developed, be it agriculture, civil infrastructure, transportation, energy, environmental protection, manufacturing, medicine and health, IT or aerospace. Developing countries are replete with mineral resources. However, there is an emergent need to find means for value addition to this wealth by converting them to novel and advanced materials as well as exploit them in manufacturing processes by using advanced technologies. In present day scenario, any nation that does not develop its inherent capabilities and potentials towards production and utilisation of new and advanced materials and the attendant technological advancements stands the risk of technological marginalisation. In order to share ideas, views and information on this subject, the Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre) jointly with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Nigeria organised a 4-day International Conference on 'Harnessing the Potentials of New and Advanced materials for Developing Economies' at Abuja, Nigeria during 9-12 August 2011. The present publication is a follow up of the Abuja Conference and includes 17 scientific papers of the researchers from around the globe. The book gives an insight on how many of the advanced materials acquire their extraordinary properties via molecular and atomic-scale structural precision. It also speaks about the areas in which research on advanced materials is being carried out like material processing and characterization, biomaterials and biomechanics, automotive, aerospace, wind energy and medicine so as to harness raw materials in their full capacity to design and develop new advanced materials. This book is likely to serve as a valuable reference material for scientists, technologists, industry specialists and policy makers to gain knowledge on the novel methods, materials and technology innovations already developed, or in the developing phase, on new and advanced materials.

This book seeks to fill knowledge gaps on migration, remittances and diaspora in Africa.

Africa is endowed with rich land and water resources, which significantly contribute to the development of many economies on the continent. However, land degradation and water pollution remain major challenges facing many African countries. Harnessing Land and Water Resources for Improved Food Security and Ecosystem Services in Africa examines challenges facing land and water resources management in Africa and explores possible measures to improve food security and reduce poverty on the continent. The book is a compilation of research papers, written by eminent researchers and scientists from renowned Universities and reputable organisations in Ghana, Ethiopia, USA, South Africa, Nigeria, the Netherlands and Indonesia. Its main objective is to draw attention to the impact of human activities on land and water resources and the need for the sustainable management of Africa's ecosystem services to improve livelihoods. The individual chapters present relevant case studies on the effects of water and land management practices including urban waste water uses, land grabbing and climate change issues, so as to draw lessons from best practices that can be adopted to mitigate their efforts on food security and the well-being of the African population. The monograph concludes with recommendations on the appropriate strategies for managing wastelands to meet Africa's green energy needs.