2025

The study examines the legal and institutional frameworks for combating public corruption in Nigeria and proposes reforms to enhance accountability and governance. The objectives are twofold: to examine the existing legal framework for anti-corruption efforts and to recommend measures for reducing corruption in the public sector. The study adopted a doctrinal research methodology, case method, providing a historical overview of Nigeria’s anti- corruption institutions and their successes and limitations. Findings indicate that despite the implementation of various preventive and punitive measures, corruption remains widespread due to weak enforcement, limited transparency, and institutional inefficiencies. The analysis demonstrates that strengthening accountability mechanisms through both answerability and enforceability of public officials can improve the efficiency of the public sector and ensure national resources are directed toward development initiatives. The study contributes to knowledge proposing for a holistic and proactive legal framework to make public institutions in the country to be independent in order to be able to drive the policy of the country rather than being built around individuals. Based on the findings, the study recommends enhancing institutional capacity, improving enforcement of anti-corruption laws, promoting transparency, and cultivating a culture of integrity among public officials. Overall, the research underscores that legal and institutional reforms are essential for reducing corruption, improving governance, and ensuring that public resources are effectively managed to achieve sustainable national development

This study analysed the tragic heroes in JP Clark's, and Ola Rotimi's plays "Song of A Goat", and "The Gods Are Not To Blame", respectively. Using close-reading and the qualitative research method, the components that make up these tragic heroes are revealed, with emphasis on how human agency and fate intertwine. It also compared and contrasted the tragic heroes of the plays, drawing from instances in the play. In addition, the study highlighted tragic heroes in an African setting, showing how the playwrights adhered to, and differed the Aristotelian theory of tragedy

This study investigates the value relevance of accounting information and the moderating role of board characteristics in the Nigerian banking sector. Using panel data from twelve banks listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) over the period 2018 to 2023, the study examines how earnings per share (EPS), book value per share (BVPS), cash flow from operations per share (CFOPS), and dividend per share (DPS) influence market valuation, proxied by share price, while considering the moderating effects of board size and board independence. Descriptive statistics reveal significant variation in accounting metrics across banks, while correlation analysis indicates strong positive relationships between share price and key accounting variables. Fixed effects panel regression results confirm that EPS, BVPS, CFOPS, and DPS are significant determinants of share price, affirming their value relevance. The moderated regression analysis further demonstrates that board independence significantly strengthens the relationship between EPS and share price, while board size exhibits a more nuanced moderating effect limited to earnings. These findings underscore the critical role of independent governance in enhancing the credibility of financial reporting and its usefulness for investors. The study contributes to the literature by highlighting the interplay between accounting information and corporate governance in emerging markets and offers practical implications for regulators, bank management, and investors seeking to improve market valuation and financial transparency

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is widely known for its medicinal and antimicrobial properties, with its extracts being used in traditional and modern medicine. Due to the increasing resistance of bacteria to conventional antibiotics, plant-based antimicrobials have gained attention as alternative therapeutic agents. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of hot and cold water extracts of Lemongrass leaves against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas sp. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, and glycosides in both extracts, with glycosides being more prominent in the hot extract. Saponins, steroids, and terpenoids were absent. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion method, where the hot extract showed higher zones of inhibition at 100% concentration: S. aureus (13.00 ± 0.00 mm), E. coli (16.00 ± 0.00 mm), and Pseudomonas sp. (18.20 ± 0.00 mm), compared to the cold extract: S. aureus (9.0 ± 0.50 mm), E. coli (11.20 ± 0.20 mm), and Pseudomonas sp. (12.00 ± 0.00 mm). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) revealed that the hot extract inhibited E. coli at 25 mg/ml, Pseudomonas sp. at 50 mg/ml, and S. aureus at 25 mg/ml, while the cold extract only inhibited Pseudomonas sp. at 100 mg/ml and S. aureus at 25 mg/ml. Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) results showed that the hot extract was bactericidal against S. aureus and bacteriostatic against E. coli and Pseudomonas sp., while the cold extract was bactericidal against Pseudomonas sp. and bacteriostatic against the other isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility testing indicated that Gram-positive bacteria were highly susceptible to ciprofloxacin, while Gram-negative bacteria were sensitive to azithromycin. These results highlight the potential application of Cymbopogon citratus as an alternative treatment for bacterial infections, particularly in combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens

Identifying and exploiting market gaps has become essential for firms seeking sustainable growth and strategic advantage. This study, titled “Analytical Approaches to Identifying Market Gap,” explores how data-driven tools, analytical techniques, and customer insights can be used to uncover unserved or underserved areas within the market. This research emphasises the importance of integrating analytical approaches such as data mining, predictive analytics, customer behavior analysis, and market segmentation to provide organisations with actionable insights for decision-making. This study adopted a quantitative research design, relying on structured questionnaires administered to business owners, marketing managers, and data analysts. The data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, including regression analysis, to test hypotheses on the relationship between analytical tools, data-driven decision-making, customer data utilisation, and market gap identification. The findings revealed that analytical tools significantly enhance a firm’s ability to recognise unmet customer needs, while data-driven methods improve the precision of market forecasting and strategic planning. Additionally, the study established that effective use of customer data facilitates a deeper understanding of behavioural patterns that point to latent market opportunities. The results demonstrate that businesses which actively integrate analytical approaches into their strategic planning are more likely to achieve competitive advantage through innovation and responsiveness to emerging trends. By establishing a link between analytical competence and market opportunity identification, this research contributes to the growing body of literature on business analytics and market strategy, particularly within emerging economies. This study concludes that developing analytical capabilities is not only a technological necessity but also a strategic imperative for business sustainability.

This study examines the historical relationship between the Afemai and Nupe peoples of North-Central Nigeria up to the year 1900. The research explores the nature of political, economic, social, and cultural interactions between the two groups, with particular emphasis on the influence of Nupe expansion on Afemai communities. Using historical research methodology, data were obtained from both primary and secondary sources, including oral traditions, archival records, historical texts, and scholarly publications.
The study reveals that contacts between the Afemai and Nupe were facilitated by geographical proximity, trade networks, migration, and military expeditions. The Nupe Kingdom exerted considerable political and economic influence over several Afemai communities through tributary arrangements, administrative control, and commercial exchanges. Trade in agricultural products, crafts, and other commodities strengthened intergroup relations and contributed to regional economic development. The study also highlights the cultural exchanges that occurred between the two groups, including the diffusion of language, religious practices, political institutions, and social customs.
Furthermore, the research finds that while Nupe dominance brought certain administrative and economic advantages, it also generated resistance among some Afemai communities seeking to preserve their autonomy. These interactions significantly shaped the political organization, socio-cultural development, and historical experiences of the Afemai people before the advent of colonial rule. The study concludes that the Afemai–Nupe relationship was characterized by a complex mixture of cooperation, conflict, and mutual influence, which played an important role in the historical development of the region up to 1900.

Background: The adoption of telerehabilitation is increasingly recognized as a vital component of modern physiotherapy, yet its application for physical modalities remains underexplored, particularly in low-resource settings like Nigeria. Understanding the perspectives of physiotherapists is crucial for the successful integration of this technology into patient care. Aim: This study aimed to examine the perspectives of physiotherapists in the South-South region of Nigeria on the use of telerehabilitation for physical modalities. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 80 licensed physiotherapists (56 males, 24 females) practicing in South-South Nigeria. An online, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic, perspectives on telerehabilitation, perceived strengths and barriers, and the use and administration of physical modalities in telerehabilitation. Data was summarized using descriptive statistics. Chi-square test was used to determine associations between sociodemographic variables and respondents’ perspectives. Alpha level was set at p<0.05. Results: The respondents were predominantly male (70.0%), young (38.8% aged 23–30 years), and had less than five years of experience (38.8%). Most of them held positive perceptions, believing telerehabilitation improves patient care (92.5%). Key strengths identified were flexible timetables (70.0%) and easy access (67.5%). However, significant barriers were noted for pediatric and mentally handicapped populations (97.5%). The use of physical modalities showed a high use of self-administered modalities like cold packs (75.0%) and TENS (57.5%), and very limited use of equipment-dependent modalities like mechanical traction (3.8%). Significant associations were found between perspectives and age (p=0.030), gender (p=0.007), years of experience (p=0.020), level of education (p=0.002), and area of specialization (p=0.003). Conclusion: Physiotherapists in South-South Nigeria hold positive perceptions on using telerehabilitation for physical modalities. While they recognize its potential to improve access, significant ethical concerns exist. Targeted training and the development of national guidelines are recommended to support its broader implementation

Microplastic (MP) contamination of freshwater ecosystems is a significant environmental and public health concern globally. The paucity of data on MP contamination in Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus from the Ikpoba River, Benin City, Nigeria, warranted this investigation. This study determined the levels, types, and estimated daily intake (EDI) of microplastics in C. nigrodigitatus from three stations along the river over three months (July-September), using visual identification and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy for polymer confirmation. The mean levels of MPs in fish ranged from 0.0113 in August at Station 3 to 0.0163 in September at Station 2, with no significant difference (p>0.05) between months at each station. The plastic load (particles/fish) ranged from 0.00103 in September at Station 1 to 0.00136 in September at Station 2, showing significant temporal variation (p<0.05) at Station 1. The frequency of occurrence (FO) of MPs ranged from 0.33 in July at Station 1 to 1.00 in September at Stations 1 and 3. Physical classification revealed that fragments were the most dominant MP type (39.29%). FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of polyethylene, identified by characteristic absorbance wave numbers at 2925 cm⁻¹, 2850 cm⁻¹, 1430 cm⁻¹, and 710 cm⁻¹.The estimated daily intake (EDI) of MPs for humans through the consumption of C. nigrodigitatus was calculated to be low. The findings confirm the prevalence of microplastics in Ikpoba River and their ingestion by a commercially important fish species. It is recommended that continuous monitoring, effective waste management policies, and public enlightenment campaigns be implemented to mitigate plastic pollution and protect the river's ecosystem and associated public health

The study investigated the effects of 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-Q) on the swimming performance of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings over a 28-day exposure period. Fish were exposed to nominal concentrations of 0 µg/L 6PPD-Q (positive control), 200 µg/L DMSO (negative control), and 500, 1000, and 1500 µg/L 6PPD-Q. Swimming speed showed a clear concentration and time dependent reduction across all treatment groups compared to the positive control. The mean swimming speeds (m/s) for the respective treatments were 2.115 ± 1.252, 0.8950 ± 0.2758, 0.8050 ± 0.0778, 0.1100 ± 0.0212, and 0.0250 ± 0.0071 on day 7; 4.110 ± 1.725, 0.4750 ± 0.1061, 0.0600 ± 0.0212, 0.0600 ± 0.0212, and 0.0150 ± 0.0071 on day 14; 0.8950 ± 0.2758, 0.6050 ± 0.0778, 0.1350 ± 0.0212, 0.0550 ± 0.0071, and 0.0350 ± 0.0071 on day 21; and 0.5800 ± 0.1838, 0.2500 ± 0.1556, 0.1650 ± 0.0495, and 0.0400 ± 0.0212 on day 28. Statistically significant differences (p <0.05) were observed between all 6PPD-Q-exposed groups and the positive control, except for the 200 µg/L and negative control groups on days 7, 21, and 28 (p > 0.05). Percentage reductions in swimming speed relative to the positive control were 57.7%, 61.9%, 94.8%, and 98.8% on day 7 for the negative control and 500, 1000, and 1500 µg/L groups, respectively. By day 21, reductions reached 32.4%, 84.9%, 93.9%, and 96.1%, and further deepened to 56.9%, 71.6%, 86.2%, and 93.1% by day 28. The observed decline in swimming performance indicates that 6PPD-Q impairs locomotor ability in C. gariepinus in a dose and duration dependent manner, potentially compromising survival and ecological fitness in contaminated aquatic environments

TherelationsbetweenIkotEkpeneandArochukwuareacomplexandmultifacetedphenomen on that has been shaped by their sharedhistory,culturalpractices,andeconomicties.Tounderstandthedynamicsoftheirrelationship,itisessentialtoexplorethehistoryofbothcommunities.IkotEkpene,locatedinAkwaIbomState,Nigeria,hasarichculturalheritageandalonghistoryoftradeandcommercewithneighboringcommunities.1Arochukwu,ontheotherhand,issituatedinAbiaState,Nigeria,andisknownforitssignificantroleintheprecolonialeraasamajorcommercialcenter.Thehistoryofbothcommunitiesdatesbacktotheprecolonialera,withevidenceofhumanhabitationintheregiontracingbackthousandsofyears.Theprecolonialerasawtheriseofvariouskingdomsandempiresintheregion,withIkotEkpeneandArochukwuplayingimportantrolesintheeconomicandculturallandscape.Thetwocommunitiesengagedintrade,exchanginggoodssuchaspalmoil,ivory,andcloth.TheireconomictieswerefurtherstrengthenedbythepresenceofEuropeantraders,whosoughttoexploittheregion'snaturalresources.