2025

This study examines China and infrastructural development in Nigeria between 1999 and 2023, with particular attention to the evolution, nature, and impacts of Chinese involvement in key infrastructure sectors such as railways, roads, ports, and energy. It situates the analysis within the broader framework of Nigeria–China relations and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has significantly expanded China’s infrastructural footprint in Nigeria since 2013. The study adopts a qualitative, descriptive approach relying on secondary sources, including journal articles, policy reports, and official documents. Findings reveal that China has become a dominant external partner in Nigeria’s infrastructure financing and construction, particularly through loans from the China Exim Bank and China Development Bank. Major projects such as the Lagos–Ibadan railway, Abuja–Kaduna rail line, and several highway and port developments demonstrate China’s central role in addressing Nigeria’s longstanding infrastructure deficit. Evidence suggests that these projects have improved connectivity, reduced transportation costs, enhanced trade facilitation, and contributed to job creation and technology transfer. However, the study also identifies significant challenges, including rising external debt exposure, concerns about project sustainability, delayed project execution in some cases, and debates over sovereignty and dependency. Critics argue that while infrastructural gains are visible, Nigeria’s heavy reliance on Chinese loans raises long-term fiscal and policy risks. The study concludes that China’s infrastructural engagement in Nigeria between 1999 and 2023 has been both transformative and contentious: transformative in addressing critical infrastructure gaps, yet contentious due to financial and governance implications. It recommends stronger contractual transparency, improved domestic capacity, and diversified funding sources to ensure sustainable infrastructural development in Nigeria.

This study examines the role of Yoruba-language music in the preservation and revitalization of the Yoruba language within Nigeria’s contemporary music industry. With increasing globalization and the dominance of English and Pidgin in urban communication, the Yoruba language faces a decline in daily usage among younger generations. However, Yoruba music, particularly in genres such as Afrobeat, Fuji, and Highlife, continues to serve as a medium for cultural expression and language transmission. This research explores how Yoruba musicians integrate their native language into their lyrics, the extent to which music influences language retention, and the implications of code-switching and linguistic mixing on language preservation. The study adopts a qualitative research approach, utilizing Dell Hymes’ Ethnography of Communication Theory as a theoretical framework. Data collection involves content analysis of selected Yoruba songs and interviews with musicians and audiences. The findings reveal that Yoruba music remains a powerful tool for language sustainability, reinforcing linguistic identity and cultural values. Additionally, the study highlights how music provides an alternative domain for language use, ensuring its relevance in modern social contexts. Code-switching between Yoruba and English/Pidgin enhances audience accessibility while maintaining Yoruba’s presence in mainstream music. The study concludes that Yoruba music significantly contributes to language preservation by promoting linguistic awareness and engagement among younger audiences. It recommends further research on audience perception of Yoruba-language music and its long-term impact on language retention. Additionally, it suggests that digital media platforms be leveraged to enhance the visibility and global appreciation of Yoruba-language music, strengthening its role in sustaining indigenous linguistic heritage.

Geophagy, the deliberate consumption of clay or soil, is a common cultural practice in many
parts of the world, including Nigeria. Although often believed to have therapeutic benefits, some
geophagic clays may contain toxic elements that pose health risks. This study assessed the
toxicity potential of Uzalla geophagic clay by exposing Drosophila melanogaster to varying
concentrations of the clay and assessing their survival rate, locomotor performance, and
neurotoxic gene expression. Flies were exposed to different concentrations of the clay (0.025
g/mL, 0.05 g/mL, and 0.1 g/mL) for five days, and assessments were made on survival rate,
locomotor performance (negative geotaxis), and neurotoxic gene expression. The results revealed
a concentration-dependent decline in survival, with the highest mortality recorded at 0.1 g/mL.
However, negative geotaxis assays indicated improved locomotor performance across all
exposed groups in contrast to the control group, suggesting a possible stimulatory effect. Gene
expression analysis showed upregulation of Spitz, Eiger, and Hedgehog, reflecting activation of
stress and neuroprotective pathways, while Wingless and Keap1 were downregulated, indicating
oxidative imbalance and neuronal disruption. This study shows that Uzalla geophagic clay
exhibited neurotoxic potential at higher concentrations, evidenced by reduced survival, altered
locomotor performance, and disrupted gene expression associated with neural stress.

This study investigated the Sustainability Reporting on Corporate Financial Performance of listed Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. The study adopted ex-post facto research design. The population of the study was the thirteen DMBs listed on Nigerian Exchange Group of which five (5) were sampled out using purposive sampling technique. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the effect of environmental, economic, social sustainability reporting using return on assets (ROA) as a measure of corporate financial performance. Panel data collected from sampled sourced from their annual report of sampled banks from 2013 to 2022. Using the panel least squares regression technique, the study found that environmental and economic sustainability reporting has a positive and negative insignificant effect on the performance respectively. However, social sustainability reporting was found to be negative and statistically significant. Based on the findings, the study recommends amongst others that enabling legislation should be put in place to mandate enhanced sustainability practices among all deposit money banks in Nigeria as well as facilitate meaningful evaluation and measurement of environmental, economic and social impacts in all areas of bank operations in Nigeria.

This study focuses on the impact of stress on students’ academic performance in the University of Benin. A descriptive survey was adopted for this study. This study was conducted at the University of Benin. The theoretical framework used in this research is the Lazarus stress theory. The population of this study consists of students of the University of Benin. The sample size was limited to students in the department of social work of the University of Benin. The method of data collection that was adopted for this study was a two-time survey method using the face-to-face method. The research instrument used for this study is the questionnaire. This research identifies key source of stress, examines their impact on students’ academic performance and evaluates the coping mechanisms utilized by these students. The results of the study, among other things, show that stress management is significantly dependent on the sources of stress. Stress significantly affects the academic performance of students at the University of Benin. Learning is possible only when stressors are properly dealt with. Stress can be managed if students adopt appropriate coping mechanisms. Based on the results of the study, it is found that students suffer from the stress that comes from various causes such as financial difficulties, academic workload and social relationships. This stress affects the academic performance of students at the University of Benin. The study also made these recommendations: there should be frequent interaction between academic staff and students on how best to plan intensive courses during the semester, school management should ensure that there's proper break in between lecture hours and students are advised to create time out of the busy schedule to rest as it has a great impact on their health.

The1 increasing1 adoption1 of1 Internet1 of1 Things1 (IoT)1 devices1 has1 resulted1 in1 an1 expanded1 attack1 surface,1 making1 IoT1 networks1 highly1 vulnerable1 to1 cyber1 threats.1 Traditional1 intrusion1 detection1 systems1 (IDS)1 often1 struggle1 to1 cope1 with1 the1 high-dimensional,1 dynamic,1 and1 heterogeneous1 nature1 of1 IoT1 traffic.1 This1 creates1 a1 pressing1 need1 for1 intelligent,1 adaptive,1 and1 highly1 efficient1 detection1 models1 capable1 of1 identifying1 complex1 attack1 behaviours1 with1 minimal1 false1 alarms.1 Motivated1 by1 these1 challenges,1 this1 study1 proposes1 a1 hybrid1 Convolutional1 Neural1 Network–Long1 Short-Term1 Memory1 (CNN–LSTM)1 model1 designed1 to1 improve1 the1 accuracy,1 reliability,1 and1 responsiveness1 of1 intrusion1 detection1 in1 IoT1 environments.1 The1 main1 aim1 and1 objective1 of1 this1 research1 is1 to1 develop1 a1 robust1 hybrid1 IDS1 capable1 of1 accurately1 classifying1 IoT1 network1 traffic1 as1 normal1 or1 malicious.1
The1 methodology1 adopted1 involved1 dataset1 preprocessing,1 feature1 selection,1 normalization,1 and1 reshaping1 for1 sequential1 learning.1 A1 CNN1 layer1 was1 used1 to1 extract1 spatial1 patterns1 from1 network1 traffic1 features,1 while1 an1 LSTM1 layer1 captured1 temporal1 dependencies.1 The1 combined1 architecture1 was1 trained1 using1 supervised1 learning,1 with1 performance1 evaluated1 using1 accuracy,1 precision,1 recall,1 F1-score,1 confusion1 matrix1 analysis,1 and1 the1 ROC–AUC1 curve.
The1 results1 shows1 the1 high1 effectiveness1 of1 the1 hybrid1 approach.1 The1 model1 achieved1 an1 overall1 accuracy1 of1 99.91%,1 indicating1 its1 ability1 to1 correctly1 classify1 most1 network1 traffic1 samples.1 A1 precision1 of1 98.4%1 shows1 a1 low1 false-positive1 rate,1 while1 a1 recall1 of1 97.9%1 confirms1 that1 the1 model1 successfully1 detected1 nearly1 all1 attack1 attempts.1 The1 F1-score1 of1 98.1%1 reflects1 a1 strong1 balance1 between1 precision1 and1 recall.1 Confusion1 matrix1 analysis1 revealed1 9,8301 true1 normal1 detections1 and1 9,6701 true1 attack1 detections,1 with1 only1 1201 false1 positives1 and1 801 false1 negatives.1 The1 model1 also1 achieved1 an1 AUC1 of1 0.992,1 demonstrating1 excellent1 discriminatory1 power1 and1 overall1 robustness1 in1 distinguishing1 between1 benign1 and1 malicious1 IoT1 traffic.
Despite1 its1 strong1 performance,1 the1 model1 has1 some1 limitations.1 It1 relies1 heavily1 on1 the1 quality1 and1 diversity1 of1 the1 training1 dataset,1 which1 may1 affect1 generalization1 to1 unseen1 or1 evolving1 attack1 patterns.1 Additionally,1 the1 computational1 cost1 of1 training1 hybrid1 deep1 learning1 models1 may1 limit1 deployment1 on1 resource-constrained1 IoT1 devices,1 suggesting1 the1 need1 for1 future1 optimization1 techniques1 and1 lightweight1 architectures.

This study investigated the influence of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) practices on business performance among small-scale tailoring enterprises in Benin City, Nigeria. The objectives were to examine CRM adoption levels, assess its effects on customer retention and loyalty, evaluate the role of technology and record management, investigate the impact of personalized customer service on business growth, and identify implementation challenges. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to 395 tailoring enterprises, determined through Cochran's formula. A total of 321 valid responses were obtained, representing an 81.3% response rate. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation at 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed high CRM adoption among tailoring businesses, particularly in maintaining customer records, leveraging feedback to improve service quality, and engaging customers through digital platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram. The study established a significant positive relationship between CRM adoption, customer retention, and business performance. Technology and record management moderately enhanced operational efficiency and sales growth, while personalized service delivery significantly promoted customer satisfaction and repeat patronage. However, financial limitations, inadequate technological infrastructure, and insufficient employee training were identified as key implementation barriers. The study concludes that strategic CRM adoption is vital for enhancing competitiveness, profitability, and long-term sustainability. It recommends that tailoring enterprises invest in affordable technology-driven CRM systems, prioritize employee training, and strengthen customer-focused relationship strategies to achieve improved business outcomes in Nigeria's fashion industry.

Electric arc welding is a widely used metal joining process that employs electrical energy to generate heat for melting and fusing metallic components. During welding, an electric arc is established between the electrode and the workpiece, producing sufficient heat to create a molten weld pool that solidifies upon cooling, forming a strong bond. To protect the molten metal from atmospheric contamination and undesirable chemical reactions, shielding materials such as slag are utilized. Arc welding processes may use either consumable or non-consumable electrodes and can operate with alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power sources. The electrode functions as a conductor, transmitting electrical current to the workpiece and generating the heat necessary for fusion. Power sources for arc welding are generally classified as constant current (CC) or constant voltage (CV) systems. Current primarily influences heat input, while voltage affects arc length. Manual welding processes, including Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), commonly employ constant current power sources to maintain stable welding conditions despite fluctuations in voltage. Understanding the principles of arc welding and power source characteristics is essential for achieving high-quality welds and optimizing welding performance in industrial applications.

Elaeis Guineensis(Palm Kernel) oil, an ubiquitous ingredient in global cuisines, has long been recognized for its culinary and industrial applications. However, its nutritional profile remains understudied. This study investigates the chemical composition of Elaeis Guineensis oil, with a specific focus on its flavonoid and alkaloid content. Our rigorous qualitative and quantitative analysis revealed a rich flavonoid profile, with concentrations ranging from 15.20 to 17.10 mg/100g. Conversely, alkaloids were found to be absent in the oil. These findings have significant implications for the potential health benefits of Elaeis Guineensis oil, suggesting its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and overall health-promoting properties. Our research contributes meaningfully to the existing body of knowledge on Elaeis Guineensis oil, underscoring its value as a nutritious and versatile ingredient in a healthy diet. The outcomes of this study have far-reaching implications for the food industry, nutritionists, and consumers seeking to make informed choices about their dietary intake.

Air pollution in market environments poses significant public health risks, particularly in urban areas with high commercial activities. This study aims to determine the concentrations and health risks associated with ambient air pollutants in the Uwelu Spare Parts Market, Benin city, Nigeria. Air quality monitoring was carried out weekly from October to December 2024 at morning and evening intervals. Carbon monoxide (CO), PM2.5, and PM10 concentrations were measured via a Smart Sensor Model AS8700A, whereas temperature and relative humidity were recorded via an anemometer (BTMETER BT-100). A structured questionnaire was used to assess the respiratory health status of market users. The results revealed that CO concentrations ranged from 2.5–3.6 ppm in the morning and 2.3–3.2 ppm in the evening, remaining within the WHO (2021) limits. However, the PM2.5 and PM10 levels exceeded the WHO guidelines in the evening, indicating increased pollution due to commercial activities, generator use, and waste burning. Statistical analysis revealed significant variations (p<0.01) in the PM10 concentrations in the morning and in the PM2.5 and PM10 levels in the evening. Common respiratory symptoms reported among the respondents included cough (67%), phlegm (36%), and chest pain (20%). This study recommends improved waste management, regulated generator use, enhanced ventilation, and routine air quality monitoring to mitigate risks and protect public health. Implementing these measures can contribute to a safer market environment.