2023

Diversified tree-based system are practices that intentionally include functional biodiversity at multiple spatial and/or temporal scales in order to maintain ecosystem services that provide critical inputs to agriculture, such as soil fertility, pest and disease control and pollination. This system is a component of social-ecological systems that depend on certain combinations of traditional and contemporary knowledge, cultures and practices. As ecosystem services are generated and regenerated within a tree-based system, it was imperative to estimate carbon stock in a diversified tree-based system in an arboretum in Forest Resources and Wildlife Management Department, University of Benin. This study determined the tree biomass and predicted the carbon pool in the study area. The biomass carbon accumulation was evaluated using non-destructive method in a completely randomized design. A total of 87 trees were sampled from 8 sample plots measuring 15 x 15 m with an area of 0.22 ha in the study using two input variables (diameter and height). Mean tree height and diameter were pooled together and the best fit allometric regression model was used to estimate Aboveground biomass (AGB) in this study. The result showed that the largest DBH was 64.9 cm while the tallest tree was 26.79 m. In estimating the AGB in the diversified tree-based system, Ketterings et al., 2001 model (AGB=aDb (0.066D2.59) indicated the highest modelling efficiency (R2=1.000, AIC=-40.25, Std. error 1.34). Regression analysis also revealed that most of the carbon was stored in the aboveground biomass with an estimation of 137,216.81 kg ha-1 in the study area. Furthermore, the total carbon stock (AGB + BGB) and carbon sequestered were 77,390.28 and 284,022.3 Mg C ha-1 respectively. Furthermore, to predict the monetary values to be derived from Kyoto carbon credit scheme, the tons of CO2 sequestered in the tree based diversified system amounted to $8,520,669. This study concluded that for the Department to benefit from the carbon credits scheme (Kyoto protocol), it is recommended that an ecosystem services payment policy should be in
place in order to sustain the environmental benefits derivable from the tree-based systems.

This study investigates assessment of teacher's awareness and the use of modern and scientific tools in teaching Biology in senior secondary schools in Oredo local government area of Edo State. Descriptive survey research design was used in carrying out the study. The population consists of thirteen (13) secondary schools and twenty eight (28) Biology teachers from which a sample of sixteen (16) respondents were randomly selected from the population. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire designed by the researcher and the data collected from the instrument were analysed using frequencies and percentage. From the results of the findings, the study proved that there are inadequacy in the supply of modern and scientific tools in schools for Biology teachers. It also revealed that even though there were some available tools, they were not functional due to lack of electricity to power them, lack of time allocated to the subject and large class size. It was therefore recommended from the findings that: Biology teachers should be enlightened or given more orientation about the existence and use of modern and scientific tools; Government should provide sufficient and adequate modern and scientific tools to schools in the local government area for the efficient teaching and learning of Biology.

This research work seek to examine the impact of manpower development and public sector productivity; (A case study of Edo State Civil Service). The study made use of questionnaire to obtain data from respondent. Four objectives were raised for the study. The study found that that lack of technical know how to manage the equipment resulted to poor performance in the public sector and thus recommend that The local government needs to develop the employee manpower within the
framework of a comprehensive, ongoing, and consistent employee manpower development program. This quality of employee manpower program is essential to keep the staff motivated about learning new concepts and their departments profitable.

In order for Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) to achieve their strategic objectives and maintain financial stability, effective budgeting is essential. In the context of SMEs operating in Benin City, Nigeria, this case study investigates the importance of budgeting. This study attempts to emphasize the crucial role budgeting plays in setting clear objectives, managing resources effectively, and ultimately spurring business success by looking at the experiences of several SMEs in the area. To collect information from a varied sample of SMEs, the study uses both qualitative and quantitative research approaches, including surveys and interviews. It clarifies the difficulties and advantages of budgeting procedures in Benin City's SME sector through thorough examination. The results highlight the crucial
significance of budgeting as a foundational skill. A tool for SMEs to overcome financial difficulties, improve financial performance, and realize their long-term objectives. This study also offers helpful advice and suggestions for SMEs in Benin City and beyond, highlighting the importance of strategic budgeting as a cornerstone of long-term company growth.

The study examined the knowledge of and attitude towards human trafficking among public secondary school students in Benin City. To guide the study, six (6) research questions were raised, two (2) was answered directly and four (4) were turned into hypotheses and tested at 0.05 alpha level. The study was a survey research design. The population of the study consists of all the thirty three thousand, four hundred and twelve (33, 412) students in the forty five (45) public secondary schools in Benin City of Edo State. A sample of three hundred and sixty (360) secondary school students from nine (9) public junior and senior secondary schools in Benin City using the Multistage Sampling procedure was employed. The instrument used was a questionnaire designed by the researcher. The instrument was validated by the researcher’s supervisor and two (2) test experts, one each in Measurement and Evaluation in the Department of Educational Evaluation and Counseling Psychology of the Faculty of Education, University of Benin. The internal consistency reliability of the instrument was determined through the Cronbach’s Alpha statistical procedure. Thus, Cronbach’s Alpha value of .85 and .72 were obtained for students’ knowledge scale and students’ attitude scale respectively. The analysis was done using percentage, mean, standard
deviation and the t – test of independent sample statistics. The findings of the study based on the research questions raised and hypotheses tested revealed that the students in Benin City have a moderate knowledge of human trafficking as well as negative attitude towards human trafficking. Sex and age of students have no significant influence on students’ knowledge and attitude towards human trafficking. It was therefore recommended among others that the moderate level of knowledge by students towards human trafficking should be improved and that the positive attitude of students towards human trafficking in Benin City should be condemned and that relevant authorities or agencies such as National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Counseling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) should consciously make effort to set programmes of awareness on the dangers of human trafficking in secondary schools

Background: The hamstring muscles are primarily the flexors of the knee and can also take part in the extension of the hip and require a good degree of flexibility to do so. The sit-and-reach test is a field test used to measure hamstring and low back flexibility.
Aim: This study was aimed at evaluating hamstring flexibility among undergraduates of the University of Benin. Method: This ex-post-facto study recruited 400 volunteers (200 males and 200 females) healthy undergraduates, aged between 17-30 years old. A tape measure and digital weighing scale were used to collect data for the selected anthropometric variables -Height, Weight, BMI, Upper limb length, Lower limb length, and Trunk length. Sit-and- Reach test was performed on a mat; agoniometer was used to assess for Active Hip range of motion. Data collected were summarized using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation, An Independent T-test was used to ascertain the difference between males and females for the Sit-and-Reach test and Active Hip range of motion, and A Pearson’s product-moment correlation was used to examine the relationship between some anthropometric variables on Sit-and-Reach test and Active Hip active range of motion. Level of significance was set at 0.05. Result: The findings revealed that there were no significant gender differences in Sit-and-Reach test scores (p=0.063) and Active Hip Range of Motion (p=0.096). There was positive significant
correlations between sit-and -reach test scores and Upper limb length (p=0.0001), lower limb length (p=0.0001) and trunk length (p=0.005), and between Active Hip Range of Motion and height (p=0.0001), lower limb length (p=0.0001) and trunk length (p=0.005), There was positive significant correlation between BMI (P=0.004) and active hip range of motion but no significant
correlation with Sit-and-Reach test (p=0.258), trunk length (p=0.143) showed no significant correlation with active hip range of motion. Height showed no significant correlation with both tests.
Conclusion: This study provided the average value of hamstring flexibility among male and female were within the normal range. Anthropometric factors such as upper limb length, lower limb length, BMI and trunk length correlated with hamstring flexibility among Nigeria adults. However, the pattern of correlation varies between sit and reach test and active hip range of motion. There was no significant correlation between height and both tests.

In this study, prevalence of enteric bacteria in ready to eat suya and antibacterial activity of Tetrapleura tetraptera pod extract was carried out. The aim of this research was to isolate enteric bacteria from suya meats and determine the antibacterial potential of T. tetraptera against enteric bacteria. Standard microbiological methods were used to determine the total heterotrophic bacteria and coliform count of the suya samples using pour plate methods. Ethanolic extraction of pod of Tetrapleura tetraptera was done. The result of this study showed the total heterotrophic bacteria count (Log10 Cfu/g) ranged between 3.00±3.00 to 5.455606±2.50 (Log10 Cfu/g) while Total Coliform Count ranged from 3.00±0.50 to 4.921686±1.00 (Log10 Cfu/g). The bacterial
isolates isolated were Morgenella sp, Enterobacter sp, Pseudomonas sp, E. coli, Klebsiella sp and Bacillus sp. Phytochemicals screening showed the presence of saponin, te penoids, phenol, glycoside and alkanoids. Antibacterial screening showed that Tetrapleura tetraptera pod extracts possessed antibacterial activities against the test isolates with Klebsiella sp. Having 33.67mm for 100mg/ml while the minimum zone was recorded in Escherichia coli with 6.33mm for 75mg/ml concentration of extract. This finding also suggests good antibacterial potential of the pod extracts of Gum tree

The purpose of this study was to find out influence of Psychological Ergogenic aids on the Sports Performance of University of Benin Athletes. The survey research design was adopted for this study. The population of the study comprised of the 504 registered athletes of the University of Benin. The simple size of this was 130 athletes of the University of Benin. The simple random sampling techniques was used for the selection of the sample. The instrument that was used for this study was a self-constructed questionnaire. The questionnaire is made up of three parts, namely section A, B and C. The face and content validity of the instrument was validated by three experts, these included; the researcher’s supervisor, one expert from the Department of Human Kinetics and Sports Science and one from the Department of Educational Evaluation and Counselling Psychology all from the University of Benin. Their criticisms, corrections, suggestions, modifications and recommendations served as the final draft of the instrument. The split-half method of reliability was used. The instrument was administered to 20 athletes of Igbinedion University Okada twice, who were not part of the study. This involves administering the instrument to the athletes, after an interval of two weeks, the instrument was re- administered to same sets of respondents. Data collected were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient statistics and a coefficient values of 0.82 was obtained an indication that the instrument was reliable for the study

This study examined the impact of motivation on employees’ productivity: first bank of Nigeria Plc, Benin Ikpoba Hill branch as a case study. The was a surbey research designed to source data from staffs of Benin Ikpoba Hill branch, using percentage and ordinary regression to analyse the hypotheses of the study. The result of the findings revealed that there is positive significant relationship between work environment motivation of the employees and organization productivity. There is negative significant relationship between the recognition of the employees and empowerment motivation and organization productivity. There is negative no significant relationship between the outcome of employees’ wages and benefits and organization productivity. The study recommends that more research need to done to find out ways to involve the part time employees. Organizations must understand the importance of employee involvement in decision making order to provide great customer services to get competitive age in the market. There is need of employee involvement programme to involve the employees in the decision making process of the organization. Organization must conduct regular survey to find out the employees views regarding different matters of the unit. There must be increase in the financial benefit to motivate the employee to take in the involvement process. The management needs to take necessary steps to motivate the employees to take part in the process. There is a certain ignorance regarding the real benefit of involvement among employees, the management must convince the employee and aware them about the benefits.

The study investigated the prospects and opportunities available to adult facilitators in-training in Benin Metropolis. Three research questions were raised and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The targeted population of the study included undergraduate students, post graduate students and lecturers of the Department of Adult and Non-Formal Education, Faculty of Education, University of Benin. A total of 120 respondents were used as sample of the study. They were selected using the stratified, proportionate and census techniques respectively. A structured questionnaire titled "Assessment of the Prospects and Opportunities for Adult Facilitators-in-Training" (APOAFTQ) was used as the research instrument. The instrument was validated by the project supervisor and two other lecturers in the Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin City. The reliability of the instrument was determined using the Cronbach alpha procedure of which an average weight of 0.70 was obtained. The data collected were analysed using the descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive statistics involved frequency count, percentages and mean score with a criterion mean of 2.50 while the inferential statistics involved the use of the Pearson's r to test the hypotheses formulated. After the analyses, it was found in the study that there are job prospects and opportunities available to adult facilitators-in-training upon completion of their training programmes. It was also revealed that there are professional development opportunities available to adult facilitators-in-training in order to enhance their job productivity and career advancement. The study therefore concluded that job prospects are available to adult facilitators-in-training in Benin Metropolis. On the
basis of the findings and conclusion reached in the study, it was recommended among others that adult facilitators-in-training should give themselves to professional development in order to advance in knowledge and skill; and that adult education as a course of study should be recognized as a profession among other professions without any form of discrimination