2023

Since the discovery of oil in Nigeria's Niger-Delta region, it has experiencedadiresituation marked by corruption, environmental degradation, insurgency, militancy, oil smuggling, and other unfavorable circumstances. Chimeka Garricks' Tomorrow Died Yesterday andHelonHabila's Oil on Water are two remarkable novels that delve into the topics of insurgencyandenvironmental degradation in this region. This analysis explores how these issues are depictedinthese texts. Additionally, it sheds light on how the region's youths resort to kidnappingexpatriates, engaging in oil smuggling and militancy as responses to the government's corrupt practices regarding the uneven distribution of oil revenue and the polluted environment left behind by oil companies. Furthermore, this study conducts a comparative analysis of thetwonovels, highlighting both their similarities and differences.

This study is designed to find out the ef ects of socio economicbackground of senior secondary school students on their academicperformance in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. In carryout this study, six (6A) research questions were formulatedand tested. Twenty (20) secondary schools were surveyed the studentsweresampled from the secondary schools selected. The research instrument used in this study was questionnaire, forthestudents. The questionnaires were used in collecting data fromsampledsecondary schools. Simple percentage was used for the analysis of data. The result from the data collected were analyzed. Recommendations were made based on the results. It was observed that, family background is responsible for pooracademic performance of students in secondary school students. It was observed that physical abuse af ect the academic performanceof secondary school student. It was observed that, parent socio-economic status influencetheacademic performance of the students. Vital recommendations in line with the findings were madeinthisstudy. Government should provide adequate funds in other for the studentsto over came some of the problems observed. There should be a reasonable seminar or workshop to educateparentand other bodies for the benefit of good academic performance.

Rising incidences of benign and cancerous tumours, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)and prostate cancer, coupled with the unpleasant side effects of current therapy, suggest a needtosearch for new drug molecules. The stem bark of Lonchocarpus grif onianus G. Don(Fabaceae) is an important medicinal plant used in Nigeria to treat BPH and other tumourrelated ailments. No pharmacological study on the use of the plant for treating BPHhas beenreported. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of L. grif onianus (LG) on BPH. Two organs (stem and root barks) of LG were identified, collected, pulverized and extractedwithabsolute methanol (99 %) using a Soxhlet extractor. Comparative preliminary biological
evaluations were done on the L. grif onianus stem bark (LGSB) extract and root bark (LGRB)extracts using two benchtop assays (cytotoxic and antiproliferative). The acute toxicity of theLGstem bark extract was done using a modified Lorke's method. The extract was subjectedtoVacuum Liquid Chromatography (VLC) and Gravity Column Chromatography (GCC) toobtaintwo isolated compounds, LO1 and LO2. The compounds were subjected to MS and 1DNMRanalysis for identification. The isolated compounds (LO1 and LO2) were subjected to cytotoxicevaluation on human prostate (PC3) and uterine cervical cancer (Hela) cell lines using a 3-(4, 5-dimethyl thiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Anti-BPHevaluationwasdone on the extract and LO1 using testosterone-induced BPH in the rat model. BPHwas inducedby the administration of testosterone propionate (4 mg/kg, s.c., in olive oil) for 28 days. LGSBextract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), LO1 (5 mg/kg), LGSB extract (200 mg/kg)+finasteride(5mg/kg) and finasteride (5 mg/kg) were orally administered daily. On day 29, the rats weresacrificed under anaesthesia and blood was collected via the abdominal aorta. The collectedblood was centrifuged, and the serum was separated. The serum was analyzed for biochemical
parameters such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA), testosterone and estradiol. The prostatewasharvested for histological examination. The wet weight and volume of the prostate were taken. The prostate index (PI) was calculated. All data were expressed as mean ± SEM(standarderrorof the mean) and were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA), The result of preliminary evaluations indicated that the LGSB extract has a higher activity(100±0.00% mortality at 80 µg/mL) than the LGRB extract (3.33 ± 1.29%at 80 µg/mL). Acutetoxicity results revealed no mortality in both phases after oral administration with LD50>5000mg/kg. LO1 and LO2 significantly inhibited the multiplication of PC3 and Hela cells invitro.

This study examines Drug Abuse Among University Undergraduates in the University of Benin, Edo State. The population of the study consist of 300 and 400 level undergraduates in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Benin, BeninCity. The total population of students in the study area was about 2,940. In other todetermine the sample size, the researcher used a 5% level of significance. The samplesize was derived using Yaro Yamnane formula. The result that was gotten usingTamnane Yaro formula was 352 from the total population, and 150 was taken fromthepopulation size of the study. Data was analyzed by means of table and frequency. Thestudy conclude that drug abuse constitutes one of the major social problems in Nigeriabecause of the hazardous ef ect on the health of people and also psychologically, physically, socially, educationally etc. from the finding, the following conclusion weremade that drug abuse is a social problem basically associated with young people. Theseyoung people involve themselves in taking hard drugs and excessive taking of somedrugs which may alter the body system or may cause damage to the health. Drug abuseis very common among undergraduates. Drug is mostly abused by male undergraduates than female. The study therefore made the following recommendations that parents andschool authorities should advise the undergraduates to refrain from indulging in drugabuse. National Drug Law Enforcement Agency should organize its workshop andseminars on drug free education in various secondary schools and institution of higher learning in the country. Legislation should be enacted to penalize haulage companies especially transporters who do not implement and enforce procedure to prevent misuseof their facilities by drug traf ickers. The curriculum for drug education should bedeveloped and made to be taught at all level of the educational system.

The issue of managing solid waste in cities across Nigeria is becoming increasingly concerning. There has been a significant rise in the amount and variety of solid waste produced on a daily basis in the country, mainly due to population growth, urbanization, industrialization, and overall economic development. In order to evaluate the impact of solid waste management, a study was conducted using a cross-sectional design, focusing on the Lagos Municipal area.The study found that households primarily disposed of their solid waste in communal skip containers followed by dumpsites and private waste management firms. Additionally, it was discovered that residents expressed a desire to dispose of their waste properly but faced obstacles in doing so. The study's results suggest that it is crucial to address the solid waste management issue in Nigerian cities. This can be done by implementing measures such as educating residents, providing skip containers and dustbins, and enhancing the local authority's policies to ensure effective solid waste management

This study examined the level of involvement of occupants of the ilamijanla community of Lagos state on the private acquisition process of land, the satisfaction level of the occupants and the factors influencing the occupants’ satisfaction level. The study selected 155 houses systematically from the 310 houses in the community. Data centered on the objectives of the study were collected using self-administered questionnaire. The results were analyzed with the aid of simple descriptive statistics. The result shows that the occupants are rarely involved in most of the acquisition process. The community heads are at the center of the dealings with private investors who acquire lands and these results in low level of satisfaction of the respondents on the acquisition process.
The primary influencing factors on occupants’ satisfaction include minimization of delays, demonstration of credibility in the acquisition process and clarity and fairness of laws guiding the acquisition process. The study advocates improved community participation in land acquisition process to foster smooth transfer of interests.

This study examines the relationship between cultism and national insecurity in Nigeria, with a specific focus on Benin City, Edo State. Cultism, which has evolved from secret confraternities in higher institutions to violent, organized groups, has become a significant contributor to insecurity, manifesting in armed clashes, assassinations, kidnapping, and other criminal activities. The research investigates the causes, patterns, and impacts of cult-related violence on the socio-economic and political stability of the area.
Using a case study approach, the study draws on both primary and secondary data, including interviews, questionnaires, and existing literature. Findings reveal that factors such as unemployment, peer pressure, political manipulation, poverty, and weak law enforcement systems contribute significantly to the proliferation of cult groups. The study further establishes that cultism exacerbates national insecurity by undermining public safety, discouraging investment, and eroding trust in government institutions.
The paper concludes that cultism poses a serious threat to sustainable development and national cohesion. It recommends a multi-dimensional strategy involving government agencies, community leaders, and educational institutions to address the root causes. Measures such as youth empowerment, stricter law enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and policy reforms are suggested as essential steps toward curbing cultism and enhancing security in Benin City and Nigeria at large.

This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of lecturers towards the academic writing skills of undergraduate students. The sample size consisted of 50 lecturers from Education, Physical Science and Life Sciences in the University of Benin. The study utilized a questionnaire as a research instrument to gather data from the participants. The results revealed that the majority of the lecturers perceived undergraduate students' academic writing skills to be poor, with deficiencies in critical thinking, research, and organization. However, the study also showed that lecturers recognized the importance of academic writing skills and believed that they play a significant role in students' academic success. The study suggests that there is a need for increased emphasis on academic writing skills in undergraduate curricula and the provision of additional resources and support for students to improve their writing skills. The findings of this study have implications for teaching and learning practices in higher education, highlighting the importance of developing effective strategies to enhance
undergraduate students' academic writing skills.

This project centers on crafting a Parent-Teacher Communication Portal, acknowledging parents' pivotal role in supporting students' success. The focus is on developing an easy-to-use platform fostering real-time collaboration between parents and teachers for monitoring children's daily school performance. The study scrutinizes the current system, leading to the design of a new system poised to reduce parents' time accessing their children's reports significantly. This innovative system cultivates a community-like space where teachers and parents can engage in conversations based on students' school activities. The methodology adopted for this project is the Agile SDLC Methodology, employing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the frontend development and PHP for the backend development, with Xampp web server and MySQL database server for implementation. The goal is to create an efficient, user-friendly, and interactive tool that strengthens the vital connection between parents and teachers in supporting students' educational journeys.

In our pursuit of sustainable solutions to address environmental challenges, the treatment and reuse of wastewater have gained significant attention. The automobile industry, renowned for its substantial water consumption and discharge, has emerged as a focal point for exploring innovative approaches to wastewater management. This study investigates the potential applications, benefits, and challenges associated with utilizing automobile wastewater in construction activities. The scope of work involved collecting samples from car wash facilities, analyzing chemical and mineral properties, preparing concrete mixes, and conducting tests using both potable water and automobile wastewater. Laboratory tests on the automobile wastewater samples demonstrated that key parameters such as Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), chloride (Cl⁻), bicarbonate (HCO₃), and sulfate (SO₄) were within standard limits for concrete production. Notably, the setting time tests on cement molds revealed a significant 27.73% reduction in initial setting time and a 14.81% increase in final setting time using first wash compared to potable water. The use of second wash resulted in a more substantial 45.38% decrease in initial setting time and a modest 3.70% increase in final setting time. Slump tests correlated detergent concentration with higher values for the first wash. However, the compression tests on concrete indicated a decrease in strength, with a 35.96% reduction at 28 days against first wash and a more significant 54.75% reduction against second wash. In conclusion it is evident that for automobile waste water to be used for concrete production, it must undergo process of treatment. As recommendation, it is advised to implement effective treatment processes for automobile wastewater before incorporating it into concrete production, ensuring that the construction materials meet required standards and contribute to sustainable environmental practices in the automobile industry.