2021

Sub-saharan Africa is home to many of the world's longest-ruling political leaders. Not less than seventeen heads of government have tried with varying degrees of success to secure longer terms in office through "constitutional coups". This is done by proposing constitutional amendments for approval by the Legislature or Judiciary or in national referenda, so that by early 2021, at least, three sub-saharan African rulers had held on to power for more than thirty years each. The aims of this study, though limited to presidential systems, is to analyze comparatively, the concept of constitutional coups in sub-saharan Africa; to examine reasons for its prevalence; to show its impact on development and security in the region with a view to proffering solutions and recommendations for wholesome reforms which, it is sincerely hoped will curb the trend. This study found that constitutional coups threaten the continuance and survival of true democracy. Democracy is dependent on the existence of strong and independent institutions able to counterbalance the enormous powers vested on the executive arm of government. These powers enable the executive to wield enormous influence over other arms of government, coercing them to do its bidding. It also finds that the most meaningful approach to curb the spate of constitutional coups is an intellectual revolution geared towards establishing an ideological order that replaces the old regime of holding on to power through constitutional coups.

Online Blood Bank Management System(BBMS) is a web-based system that registers users who could be blood donors , requesters, hospitals or organizations who have the common interest of blood availability for safe transfusion. The blood bank helps in the overall management of the system in the form of recording blood related data collection, analyzing, processing and general management of blood for safe transfusion to those in need. The goal of this Online Blood Bank Management System is to automate the present manual system using computerized equipment and full-featured computer software to meet their needs, so that their vital data/information may be preserved for a longer period of time with easy access and manipulation. A well managed Blood Bank Management System can lead to an error-free, high-quality blood supply management system that is safe, dependable, and quick. However, blood bank management in Nigeria is still paper based, slow and prone to error. There is also information gap amongst blood donors, those in need of blood and hospitals and organizations in charge of blood management. The goal of this project is to automate the process of blood management using computerized equipment and full-fledged
computer software to enable donors make blood donations and to help requesters and hospitals to have access to information regarding blood availability in order to make requests for blood. It also gives room for health practitioners to make health and blood related posts about blood donations and gives room for organizations to manage campaign activities to provide proper enlightenment to ensure safe, fast and reliable blood transfusion and blood management system. The project will be implemented using React for the frontend to develop the user interface while Javascript and NodeJs were used for the backend. The database used to store data will be Mysql

Stimulants are a major constituent of psychoactive substances. They cause several untoward effects; including academic difficulty which can lead to untoward consequences for students. The understanding of the knowledge and pattern of use of stimulant will help in its prevention and control. Thus, this study intended to investigate theknowledge and practice and current prevalence rates of stimulant use, using the undergraduate students in the university of Benin as case study, age and gender of students as well monthly income and how they got to know about stimulants, specific type of stimulant used and reason for using stimulants. The instrument consisted of sociodemographic variables and the stimulant knowledge section, benefits, health effects and effects section of questionnaire for Student Drug Use Survey. It was administered on 100 undergraduate students of University of Benin selected by random technique. The current prevalence rates of stimulant use were 61%, 54% and 50% respectively for the use caffeine, alcohol and cannabis. The majority (77%) of our respondents were in the age range of 21-25. Only 2% of our respondents were married. Therefore, efforts at curtailing the use of stimulants must start early; incorporating such strategy into primary school curriculum will be worthwhile. There is need to focus more on common stimulants like coffee, Kola nut, caffeinated energy drinks. Students need to study without using stimulants.

This study examined the use of Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) to investigate the subsurface lithology in Ugbogiobo, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. The research aimed to determine the variation in subsurface materials and identify geological structures that may influence groundwater potential, engineering suitability, and environmental conditions in the study area. The study adopted a geophysical survey approach using the ERT method, where resistivity measurements were taken along selected profiles to generate two-dimensional subsurface images. Data obtained were processed and interpreted using standard inversion software to produce resistivity models that reveal variations in lithological units. The results showed distinct subsurface layers characterized by varying resistivity values, indicating differences in soil composition, moisture content, and degree of weathering. The near-surface layer was generally composed of lateritic and sandy materials with relatively high resistivity values, while deeper zones exhibited lower resistivity indicative of clayey formations and possible water-bearing zones. The study also identified potential fracture zones and areas of structural weakness, which are important for groundwater accumulation and civil engineering planning. The study concludes that Electrical Resistivity Tomography is an effective non-invasive geophysical tool for subsurface investigation in Ugbogiobo. It provides reliable information on lithological variations and groundwater potential. The research recommends the integration of ERT surveys in site investigation studies before construction and borehole drilling to improve decision-making, reduce failure rates, and enhance sustainable groundwater development in the area.

2-D survey of a part of Ugbogiobo community and its environs has been carried out successfully and this research has helped in providing information about the subsurface of the study area. This information is of utmost importance as it gives the necessary constituents of the profile of the study area. The subsurface of a study area is related to various geological parameters such as mineral and fluid content, porosity and degree of water saturation in the rock. Major resistivity structures were delineated in both profile which is seen to be generally characterized by moderate resistivity values, at the top layers we can inferred from the low resistivity that is characterize by Clayey and Alluvium soil having a resistivity range between 200 Ωm– 800 Ωm profile 7 and 8 respectively. The major mineral occurrence in profile 7 and 8 are majorly compose of sedimentary Rocks ranging from Limestone, Shale and Sandstone with a resistivity range for Limestone between 2000 Ωm– 3000 Ωm, Shale with a resistivity range 3200 Ωm– 4000 Ωm Sandstone between resistivity range 4000 Ωm– 5000 Ωm, it will be noticed from the profiled line that all inferred mineral types fall between a depth of 2 m to 39 m. which form the lithological mineral occurrence of the both profiles. The development of two dimensional inversion resistivity algorithms has aided the processing and interpretation of complex data. Due to the inferred rock types and mineral occurences (Alluvium, Clayey soil, limestone, sandstone, and clay) gotten from the lithological interpretation of the 2-D data inversion, it can be concluded that the lithology of the study area is good for engineering purpose and construction work.

Termite mounds are good examples of a well regulated ecosystem structure. These social insects are ecosystem engineers that are capable of building mounds of various sizes. Macrotermes mounds are equipped with several openings at various positions to mitigate thermoregulation and ventilation. One possible means of understanding the thermoregulatory pattern and ventilation strategies within a Macrotermes mound is to assess the relationships between its respiratory structures and geometry. Here, correlation test were done to test the level of significant relationships between the mound geometry and ventilatory structures. Results showed that the ventilatory structures above the base of Macrotermes mound is significantly (p<0.05) related to Its overall size (height, column, width) with correlation coefficient of 0.7323142, 0.668158 and 0.6531674 but had no relationship with the depth and perimeter of a Macrotermes mound. However, the ventilatory structure at the basal portion was significantly related to the depth with correlation coefficient of 0.7428268 and not necessarily the size of a mound. The temperature of a mound surrounding is also related to the internal temperature R=0.7074602, p=0.0004, R2=0.5005), and also deterministic factor in assessing the temperature flow within a Macrotermes mound. This ventilatory structures coupled with temperature are typical strategies used by termites to create a well thermoregulated and ventilated structures. The implications of these findings are that Macrotermes bellicossus mounds can be employed by humans in the construction of buildings, such that a time we come where there will be little or no need for
artificial ventilators like Air conditioners.

Antibiotics resistance is an emerging problem worldwide which can develop as a result of antibiotics misuse by humans or overuse in animal feeding and treatment. This study was aimed at investigating the prevalence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. and study the antibiotic resistance pattern of isolates. a total of 40 samples were collected from four different markets namely; Okha, Santana, Oba and Ekiosa markets in Benin City and were analysed using standard microbiological methods for the investigation. Results from the investigation showed that E. coli and Salmonella spp were present in almost all of the samples. The Total Aerobic Count showed that Santana market (5.97±0.53 cfu/g) had the highest average count whereas the lowest average count was observed in Ekiosa market
(4.29±0.49cfu/g). The total E. coli count on Eosin-Methylene Blue Agar showed that the highest E. coli count was observed in samples taken from Ekiosa market (1.93±0.38 cfu/g), whereas, the lowest was observed in samples collected from Oba market (1.69±0.40 cfu/g). The Total Salmonella count on Salmonella-Shigella Agar showed that Oba market (2.502±0.32 cfu/g) had the highest count while Ekiosa market (1.073±0.22 cfu/g) had the lowest count. Based on the number of samples collected from each market the prevalence rate shows that E. coli was isolated from 25% of the samples collected while Salmonella was isolated from 45% of the samples collected. The antibiotics resistance pattern showed that all E. coli isolates were resistant to cefixime, augumentin, nitrofurantion and cefuroxime, while all Salmonella isolates were resistant to cefixime, augumentin, ceftazidime and cefuroxime. Monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in E. coli and Salmonella spp. isolates is valuable for epidemiological uses and for monitoring the increase of antimicrobial resistance among different microbial species.

This research work seeks to examine the international response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa with reference to the Nigeria containment of Ebola Virus. The largest Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in history exploded across West Africa.1 The World Health Organization reported a total of 21,296 Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases, including 13,427 laboratory confirmed EVD cases reported from the three most affected countries Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone in 2014. Nigeria’s first case of EVD was officially announced in July, 2014. In an effort to tackle the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, the Federal Government, drawing on the experience of the Emergency Operation Centre’s work with polio, declared Ebola a public health emergency and mobilized human, financial and material resources to contain the epidemic. Nigeria was officially declared Ebola free on 20th October 2014.

The study was conducted to assess the adherence to aemodialysis and associated factors among end stage renal disease patients in Nephrology unit in a tertiary facility in Benin. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the knowledge of the importance of haemodialysis among ESRD patients, to ascertain the level of adherence to haemodialysis and associated factors by ESRD patients. A descriptive cross sectional survey design was used for the study. The sample of the study consisted of the two hundred patients attending a nephrology unit in tertiary hospital in Benin. The researcher used a standardized instrument known as the End stage renal disease adherence questiinaire (ESRD-AQ) by Kim et al 2010, was administered to the patients and all (200) questionnaires were retrieved. Demographic data was analyzed using descriptive statistics – frequency and percentage, chi-square were used to test for relationship between level of adherence to haemodialysis and level of knowledge, independent samples t-test was used to test the significant difference been level of adherence and gender, multiple logistic regression was used to predict the association between the level of adherence and socio-demographic variables. Majority of the respondents have low knowledge on the importance of haemodialysis. The study showed that most of the respondents 73.5% have low level of adherence to haemodialsys, 20% have moderate level of adherence while 6% of the respondents have high level of adherence to haemodialysis. Factors associated with adherence to aemodialysis is lack of transportation, financial constraint,forgetfulness etc. There is an association (p<0.05) between the level of adherence and level of knowledge. There is no significant difference (p<0.5) between the level of adherence and gender. There is an association (p<0.5) between the level of adherence and socio-demographic characteristics. The study recommended that there is the need for structured teaching programme that will improve the knowledge of patients undergoing hemodialysis regarding dietary management and skin care in renal failure thereby preventing life threatening complication and prolonging their life.

The revolt against patriarchy is not a recent development. It can be traced to the hallowed days of the Holy Bible (Numbers 27). Where the Zelophead daughters made agitation against being ousted from their deceased father’s inheritance. The creator took the time to make clear what is now incorporated in the constitutions and legal instruments of civilized nations as well as international conventions, which is that sex is not a base to determine propertiary rights. All human beings are born equal into a free world with equal opportunities, until culture, race and traditions begins to separate us. Thus, the focus of this paper will be an analysis of the position of the law with regards to women inheritance in Nigeria, with the customary practices in Eastern Nigeria as a case study, the rights of spouses to the estate of their husbands, while alive and upon demise. The unfairness in the proprietary customary practices in the eastern Nigeria will be exposed and a plea will be made for enforcement of more favorable practices to women proprietary rights. We will also be looking at the impediments to women’s rights in Nigeria. As well as the possible remedies and recommendations for a change in the social-cultural climate in the Eastern Nigeria.