2026

This study evaluated social media as a communication tool for promoting effective public relations among organisations in Benin City. The study was guided by the Uses and Gratifications Theory and the Social Media Engagement Theory. The Objectives of the study were to: Identify the social media platforms most commonly used by organisations for public relations, ascertain how organisations use social media to communicate with the public, investigate the effectiveness of social media in improving PR outcomes and identify the challenges organisations face when using social media for public relations. The study used a survey research design and administered 258 questionnaires to undergraduate mass communication students at the University of Benin. The data was collected and analysed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that Facebook and X are the most commonly used platforms for public relations in Benin City. Organisations primarily use social media for oneway communication, such as product information, customer service, and press releases, with the most common posting frequency being daily or weekly. Social media was thought to be generally effective in increasing visibility, audience reach and cost-effectiveness, but its effectiveness in crisis management was moderate. The main challenges were identified as an unreliable power supply, poor internet connectivity, and a lack of professional expertise. The study concludes that, while social media adoption for public relations is high in Benin City, organizations must embrace interactive engagement, invest in professional training, and address infrastructure challenges to achieve the best PR results.

This Study examined the influence of digital learning apps on the academic performance of students in University of Benin. The widespread in adoption and use of digital technologies for teaching and learning informed the study, emphasizing the need to understand how digital learning apps impact academic performance as measured by grades, GPA and other indicators of academic success. The study was guided by four objectives: To identify the level of exposure of students at the University of Benin to digital learning apps, to determine the frequency of usage of
digital learning apps for academic purposes, to examine the influence of digital learning apps on the academic performance of University of Benin students, and to identify the challenges faced by University of Benin students while using digital learning apps. In terms of theoretical framework, the Constructivist Learning Theory and Diffusion of Innovation was adopted. Using a survey design, a sample size of 287 undergraduate full-time students was selected through stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using simple percentages and frequency tables. Findings revealed that there is a high level of digital learning apps awareness among University of Benin students. Digital learning apps was also found to significantly enhance students' retention and grades. However, challenges such as poor internet connection, high cost of data, digital distraction and little training on the use of digital learning apps were identified. The study concludes that digital learning apps positively influences students' academic performance despite certain obstacles. The researcher therefore recommends that the University should implement digital literacy programs that will help students learn how to effectively use digital learning apps, also call for the provision of free Internet (WiFi) within the University.

This Study examined the influence of digital learning apps on the academic performance of students in University of Benin. The widespread in adoption and use of digital technologies for teaching and learning informed the study, emphasizing the need to understand how digital learning apps impact academic performance as measured by grades, GPA and other indicators of academic success. The study was guided by four objectives: To identify the level of exposure of students of the University of Benin to digital learning apps, to determine the frequency of usage of digital learning apps for academic purposes, to examine the influence of digital learning apps on the academic performance of university of Benin students, and to identify the challenges faced by university of Benin students while using digital learning apps. In terms of theoretical framework, the Constructivist Learning Theory and Diffusion of Innovation was adopted. Using a survey design, a sample size of 287 undergraduate full-time students was selected through stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analysed using simple percentages and frequency tables. Findings revealed that there is a high level of digital learning apps awareness among university of Benin students. Digital learning apps was also found to significantly enhance students retention and grades. However, challenges such as poor internet connection, high cost of data, digital distraction and little training on the use of digital learning apps were identified. The study concludes that digital learning apps positively influences students academic performance despite certain obstacles. The researcher therefore recommends that the University should implement digital literacy programs that will help students learn how to effectively use digital learning apps, also call for the provision of free Internet (WiFi) within the University.

This study seeks to determine the effect of social media, specifically Facebook, on youth involvement in politics during the 2024 Edo State Governorship election. With the recent increase in digital communication technologies, politics have been revolutionized especially among the youth who use social media for various political actions. The study evaluates the effects of exposure to political messages in Facebook on youths' engagement in political activities, their perception towards political figures, and their belief in political messages. Four main research objectives informed the study. These include determining the extent to which youth are exposed to political content in Facebook, assessing how this exposure affects their involvement in politics, analyzing the effect of peer influence on the development of political views, and determining the credibility of the information circulated politically via social media. A survey research method was utilized. Information was gathered through the use of questionnaires. From the findings of the research, it is evident that many youths are regularly exposed to political content via the social network, which has a positive effect on their political knowledge and involvement. Nevertheless, findings from the research indicate that misleading information and content play an important role in shaping perception of political messages and even inhibit political participation in some cases. Additionally, peer pressure has been established to be a key determinant of youths' political perspectives. Despite the potential benefits of using the social network in politics, issues such as misleading and unreliable political messages need to be addressed.

This study investigated the Application Of Information Communication Technology In The Teaching And Learning Process In Senior Secondary School In Egor Local Government Area Of Edo State. Four (4) research questions were raised that guided the study. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised few teachers from SS 1 - SS3 in Egor Local Government Area as at the period of the study. The purposive sampling technique was used to select few teachers teaching information communication technology in senior secondary school in Egor local government area of Edo state as sample for the study. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled "Application Of Information Communication Technology In The Teaching And Learning Process'' (QAICTTLP). It was validated by the researchers’ supervisor and two experts. Its reliability was established at 0.7 using Cronbach Alpha method. The data collected for the study was analyzed using frequency tables and simple percentages. The findings revealed that the information communication technology tools available for teaching and learning were relatively low, they were trained personnel to carry out information communication technology though it was rarely used and are aware of the usefulness of information communication technology and It was recommended that there should be trained personnel to effectively carry out information communication technology and awareness of information communication technology should be encouraged.

The study examined the role of Independent Television (ITV) and Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) in promoting civic education and community development among residents of Benin City. The objectives of the study, were to examine the extent to which Independent Television and Edo Broadcasting Service provide content that promotes civic education among residents of Benin City, assess the perception of Benin City residents regarding the effectiveness of ITV and EBS in enhancing their knowledge of civic duties, governance, and community development initiatives, compare the contributions of a private broadcast station and a state-owned station in promoting civic awareness and community engagement, and identify challenges faced by ITV and EBS in fulfilling their social responsibility mandate. The study was anchored on the Social Responsibility Theory, Agenda-Setting Theory, and Development Media Theory. The researcher adopted a survey research design, with data collected from 400 sampled residents of Benin City, drawn through stratified sampling across seven local government areas, using a structured questionnaire as the research instrument. Findings from the study revealed that ITV provides more consistent civic education content than EBS, with residents frequently encountering civic-related programmes on the station. Secondly, the study discovered that residents perceive ITV as more effective in improving their understanding of civic duties such as voting and civic participation, while EBS is perceived as more effective in improving knowledge of governance and public policies. Thirdly, the findings showed that ITV contributes more strongly to civic awareness and audience engagement, while EBS provides more detailed coverage of community development programmes, indicating that both stations possess distinct but complementary strengths. The study also found that inadequate funding and political influence remain major challenges limiting both stations’ ability to fulfil their social responsibility mandate, among others. Based on the findings, it is concluded that television broadcasting remains an important tool for civic education and community development in Benin City, and that sustained investment, editorial independence, and improved programming are needed for ITV and EBS to maximise their contributions. This study recommended that, both stations should increase the frequency and consistency of civic education programmes and combine them with interactive communication strategies such as phone-in sessions and public forums. ITV should improve its coverage of governance-related issues while EBS improves its programme appeal, and both stations should strengthen credibility and public trust through balanced, independent reporting that keeps civic content focused on public interest rather than political interests.

This project work has attempted to determine the extent to which shale (clays) and silt or siltstones affect porosity, formation water saturation and some other petrophysical properties obtained from data collected from five wells situated in the Brown fields along the coastal swamps in the western onshore region of the Niger -Delta (Brown field). It is established that porosity and permeability of sandstones depends on grain size, sorting, cementation and compaction and these parameters are significantly affected by significant presence of shale (clay) and silt in the formation. Shale formations are believed to be fine-grained, loose and flexible mixtures of clay-sized or colloidal particles. These fine-grained particles affect porosity, which is the percentage of void spaces in the overall rock volume. The work evaluated relevant well and reservoir parameters of interest with respect to the various depths of reservoir sands and correlated wells, using its findings to confirm trends conformable to Niger - Delta basin oil and gas reservoirs. The porosity of the different units of reservoir sands showed variation laterally with porosity values decreasing with a combination of increasing reservoir depth and average shale volume. Consequently, permeability was observed to decrease with increasing depth, though sand Z has high permeability values than sands X and Y lying several feet above it. The reservoir sands X, Y and Z have slightly reduced porosity and permeability due to high volume of clays (shales) and silts (siltstones) often associated with the environment. The porosities of the reservoir sands are good to very good; their permeability moderate to good with high and widespread oil and gas accumulation throughout the Brown field. The hydrocarbon resources are considered exploitable for profit.

Drilling fluids play a critical role in the success of oil and gas drilling operations, yet the Nigerian petroleum industry relies heavily on imported bentonite and additives for drilling mud formulation, leading to high operational costs and foreign exchange losses. This study evaluates the suitability of selected locally sourced clays from Iyi-Ogene, Okuaghe, and Ikpoba deposits in Delta and Edo States, Nigeria, for use in water-based drilling mud formulation. Laboratory-scale drilling muds were prepared using raw and chemically activated clays, with sodium carbonate employed as the activating agent and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) used as a viscosifier and fluid-loss control additive. Standard American Petroleum Institute (API) procedures were adopted to determine key drilling mud properties, including density, rheological parameters (plastic viscosity, apparent viscosity, yield point, and gel strength), filtrate loss, and pH. The results show that untreated local clays exhibited poor rheological behavior and excessive fluid loss, making them unsuitable for direct drilling applications. However, significant improvements were observed after chemical activation and polymer treatment, with several formulated mud samples meeting acceptable API performance criteria. The study demonstrates that locally sourced clays, when properly activated and enhanced with suitable additives, can serve as viable alternatives to imported bentonite for water-based drilling mud formulation. The findings highlight the potential for cost reduction, improved local resource utilization, and increased sustainability in Nigeria’s drilling operations.

This study presents an integrated production-optimization assessment of a mature, high-water-cut reservoir in the Niger Delta. The aim was to evaluate and compare artificial-lift strategies and system-level interventions to restore economic oil production and extend field life. A validated modeling workflow coupling MBAL (material-balance), PROSPER (well performance and artificial-lift design) and GAP (surface-network optimization) was developed and history-matched to 1987–2004 field data, revealing strong aquifer support and persistent water cuts (~80%). Scenarios examined natural flow, gas lift, and electric submersible pump (ESP) implementations with nodal and sensitivity analyses (IPR/VLP matching, PVT calibration, and network constraints). Results show natural flow is insufficient under present conditions; gas lift yields modest gains (≈720 STB/day total liquid, ~144–177 bbls oil/day) with moderate gas requirements, while ESPs can deliver substantially higher liquid and oil rates (pump-design rates up to ~3,800–4,300 RB/day and oil production improvements), albeit with higher power, gas-handling, and reliability considerations. Integrated GAP analysis highlights surface constraints and water-handling costs as decisive economic drivers. Recommendations include staged pilot deployment (ESP where power and conditions permit; gas lift where gas is abundant), targeted diagnostics and zonal shut-off, surface-network upgrades, and ongoing model re-calibration. The study demonstrates the value of coupled reservoir–well–surface workflows for optimizing mature, high-water-cut assets.