2026

This study examined the effect of social media on the academic performance of undergraduate students at the University of Benin. The increasing use of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X has significantly influenced students' academic and social lives, creating both opportunities for learning and challenges related to distraction and excessive usage. The study sought to determine the purposes for which students use social media, examine its relationship with academic performance, identify any gender differences in usage, and explore ways of reducing social media addiction among students. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaires administered to 100 undergraduate students selected through simple random sampling. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages.The findings revealed that WhatsApp is the most frequently used social media platform among students. It was also found that while some students use social media for academic purposes, the majority use it mainly for entertainment and communication. The study also demonstrated the detrimental effects of excessive social media use on students' focus, study habits, and general academic achievement. However, social media can improve students' academic performance when utilized sensibly for learning, knowledge sharing, and academic cooperation. According to the study's findings, students' academic performance can be impacted by social media in both positive and negative ways, depending on their usage habits and goals. As a result, it advised students to prioritize their academic work, use social media more for learning, and manage their time well. To encourage improved academic results, universities can also host awareness campaigns about safe social media use.

The study investigated the influence of corporate governance practices on academic staff morale in private universities in South-South, Nigeria. Seven research questions were raised to guide the study. Research questions 1 and 2 were answered, while questions 3 to 7 were formulated into hypotheses and tested at a 0.05 alpha level of significance. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study was 3,245 academic staff in the 26 private universities in South-South Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 356 academic staff from private universities in South-South Nigeria. Two sets of instruments, titled ‘Corporate Governance Practices Questionnaire (CGPQ)’ and ‘Academic Staff Morale Questionnaire (ASMQ)’ were used to collect data. The instruments were validated by the researcher through his supervisors and one other expert in the Department of Measurement and Evaluation, both in the Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin City. The questionnaires were found to be reliable, with a reliability index of 0.86 for CGPQ and 0.89 for ASMQ. The data collected were analysed using Mean and Standard Deviation for the research questions, while the hypotheses were tested using the Chi-Square statistic. Findings from the study showed that, transparency was the most predominant corporate governance practice in private universities in South-South Nigeria, and the level of academic staff morale was moderate. The study also established that there was a significant influence of corporate governance practices on academic staff morale. The study further established that there was no significant influence of corporate governance practices on academic staff morale based on age, sex, academic status, and marital status. It was, therefore, recommended, among others, that the corporate governance practice of transparency be strengthened, while ensuring accountability, upholding ethical standards, and demonstrating institutional responsibility.

Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is fundamental to public health, gender equity, and sustainable development and is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 and SDG 5. Despite sustained investments in Nigeria, persistent gender and social inclusion gaps continue to disproportionately affect women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and other vulnerable groups. This study assessed gender and social inclusion in WASH service delivery in selected communities in Edo State, Nigeria, by evaluating access levels and determinants of equitable access. A descriptive cross-sectional mixed-methods design was employed. Data were collected from 371 household respondents across 12 communities using structured questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions, and Key Informant Interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression, while qualitative data were analysed thematically, with WASH access assessed using a composite scoring system based on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme standards. Results showed universal access to basic water sources, but weak sanitation and hygiene: over 85% of facilities were basic or limited, and only 30% of households had functional handwashing facilities with water and soap. Fewer than 10% of communities had PWD- accessible facilities, and women’s participation was similarly low. Disability status, education level, and residence were significant determinants of equitable access (OR = 6.07; p = 0.025). The study concludes that strengthening gender-responsive planning, disability- sensitive infrastructure, and community participation is essential for equitable and sustainable WASH outcomes.

This study assessed the perception of University of Benin (UNIBEN) students on broadcast media reportage of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The study examined students’ level of exposure to broadcast media coverage, their engagement with such content, perceived credibility and reliability of broadcast information, and the extent to which media exposure influences their awareness and understanding of the policy agenda. The study was anchored on the Agenda Setting Theory and Uses and Gratifications Theory as its theoretical framework. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were collected from 387 validly retrieved questionnaires administered to UNIBEN students. Findings revealed that respondents are highly exposed to broadcast media coverage of the Renewed Hope Agenda, with television and radio identified as dominant sources of information. The study further showed frequent engagement with broadcast content, indicating that students regularly consume broadcast reports on government programmes. Results also indicated that broadcast media play a significant role in shaping students’ awareness of the Renewed Hope Agenda, as a majority of respondents acknowledged that their understanding of the policy is largely influenced by broadcast media reports. However, the influence of media exposure was found to be relatively uneven across respondents, suggesting variations in access, interpretation, and reliance on alternative information sources such as social media and interpersonal communication. The study concludes that broadcast media remain a major instrument of political communication and public enlightenment among UNIBEN students. The study recommends sustained and structured coverage of government programmes by broadcast media, strengthened collaboration between government communication units and media organisations, simplified presentation of policy information, and the introduction of media literacy programmes in universities to enhance critical understanding of broadcast content.

NIL

Flooding along the River Niger remains a persistent hydrological and humanitarian challenge, exacerbated by data scarcity, climate intensification, and rapid land-cover transformation. This study advances a sustainable framework for flood prediction and risk mapping by integrating geospatial technologies with deep learning in data-limited riparian environments. The study focused on the Agenebode–Idah corridor, delineated by a 20 km buffer on either side of the River Niger. The research aimed to design, train, and validate a hybrid Convolutional Neural Network–Long Short-Term Memory (CNN– LSTM) model capable of representing both the spatial complexity and temporal evolution of flood dynamics. The overarching purpose was to enhance anticipatory flood governance and inform climate-resilient development strategies across vulnerable communities of the lower Niger Basin. Methodologically, the study employed a multi-source geospatial architecture integrating CHIRPS rainfall, ERA5 soil moisture and temperature, SRTM topography, Sentinel-1 SAR inundation data, and Landsat-derived land-use/land-cover information. The CNN component extracted geomorphological and hydrological features, including elevation, slope, vegetation, and proximity to rivers, while the LSTM component learned the sequential dependencies of hydroclimatic variables over time. Model calibration and validation employed rigorous statistical and spatial metrics, including ROC–AUC, F1- score, RMSE, and confusion matrix analysis, alongside geospatial overlays between predicted and observed flood masks. The framework simulated both historical flood dynamics (2000–2024) and flood probabilities (2026–2035), allowing for a comprehensive spatiotemporal risk assessment. Results revealed that the hybrid CNN–LSTM achieved high predictive fidelity (ROC– AUC = 0.92; F1 = 0.86; RMSE = 0.081), outperforming baseline machine-learning and hydrodynamic models. Spatial analyses identified chronic flood hotspots in Agenebode, Anegbete, Ifeku Island, Ogurugu, and Idah. Forward projections indicated a 34% spatial expansion of high-risk zones by 2035, primarily across cropland and peri-urban settlements. The study concludes that coupling AI-driven deep learning with geospatial intelligence enhances flood forecasting capacity in data-scarce regions, providing a replicable, operational blueprint for early warning systems, spatial planning, and adaptive water governance in the face of accelerating climate variability.

The study investigated the chemical composition of chitin and chitosan fed diets, and their effects on goat’s neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility. Twelve (12) West African Dwarf goats were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments (control, chitin at 3% and 6%, chitosan at 0.5% and 1%, and 0.01% oxytetracycline), alongside guinea grass at a ratio of 50:50. Chitin and chitosan were extracted using chemical processes involving demineralization, deproteinization, and deacetylation, while diets chemical compositions were analyzed, The NDF value (%) range from 25.00 to 93% with control and 6% chitin having the least and highest values respectively and were significantly different (P<0.05) from each other. Results showed significant differences (P<0.05) in NDF intake and digestibility across treatments were not significantly different. The study concludes that chitin and chitosan from snail shells had no negative influence on NDF intake and digestibility. This approach offers a sustainable and value-added use of snail shell waste in animal nutrition

The study investigated the chemical composition of chitin and chitosan fed diets, and their effects on goat’s neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility. Twelve (12) West African Dwarf goats were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments (control, chitin at 3% and 6%, chitosan at 0.5% and 1%, and 0.01% oxytetracycline), alongside guinea grass at a ratio of 50:50. Chitin and chitosan were extracted using chemical processes involving demineralization, deproteinization, and deacetylation, while diets chemical compositions were analyzed, The NDF value (%) range from 25.00 to 93% with control and 6% chitin having the least and highest values respectively and were significantly different (P<0.05) from each other. Results showed significant differences (P<0.05) in NDF intake and digestibility across treatments were not significantly different. The study concludes that chitin and chitosan from snail shells had no negative influence on NDF intake and digestibility. This approach offers a sustainable and value-added use of snail shell waste in animal nutrition.

This study examine the relationship between financial sector development and income
distribution in Nigeria. Budget deficit financing, which involves borrowing to cover shortfall
between government expenditures and revenues, has been a common practice in Nigeria. This
research aims to analyse how different methods of deficit financing, including domestic and
external borrowing, impact key economic indicators such as GDP growth, inflation and
unemployment rate. The study employs econometric models to evaluate the relationship between
budget deficit financing and economic development. The findings reveal that while domestic
borrowing has a positive and significant effect on economic growth, external borrowing tends to
have a negative impact. Additionally, the study highlights that excessive deficit financing can
lead to higher inflation and increased unemployment rates, thereby hindering sustainable
economic development, For budget deficit financing to contribute positively to Nigeria’s
economic development, it must be managed prudently, with a focus on productive investments
and transparent fiscal policies. Recommendations include enhancing fiscal discipline, improving
revenue generation, and ensuring that borrowed funds are directed towards sectors that
stimulate economic growth and development.