This study investigated the effectiveness of school leadership styles in promoting learning outcomes: a case study of public secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. To achieve the purpose of the study, four research questions were raised and examined. The sample size was made up of 120 respondents. The questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. An analysis of data was done using mean and standard deviation. The findings from the study include that transformational, charismatic, transactional school leadership style significantly promotes learning outcomes in public secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. It was concluded that there is a significant relationship between school leadership styles and students’ learning outcomes in public secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The study recommended among others that secondary school principals should avoid the use of autocratic leadership and embrace transformational and charismatic leadership style.

The study investigated teacher's perception on the Causes of Failure of Students in Biology in Secondary Schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, two research questions and one null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Descriptive survey study research design was adopted by the study. The population of this study consisted of all Biology teachers in the thirteen (13) public secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The number of teachers for this study is made up of thirty (30). The sample for the study was 30 Biology teachers from ten (13) randomly selected public secondary schools. The purposive sampling technique was adopted by the study to select the entire thirty (30) Biology teachers to make up the sample for the study. A structured questionnaire titled: "Teachers' Perception of the Causes of Failure of Students in Biology Questionnaire" (POTBQ) was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts, the researchers' supervisor and two experts in Department of Curriculum and Instructional Technology, University of Benin, Benin City. Their opinions, suggestions and recommendations of these experts was used to produce the final instrument. The questionnaire were personally administered to all the respondents in the various schools after due permission was obtained from the principals. This was done in collaboration with the help of the subject teachers in the school who assisted with the distribution and collection of the questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency, mean (x), and standard deviation (SD). Frequency, mean and standard deviation was used to answer the research questions. The study found that Inadequate training of teachers affects students' performance and there are no adequate instructional materials for the teaching and learning of Biology and in most school the teachers do not make use of instructional materials. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended amongst others: The government should put into consideration professional training and qualifications of teachers during employment to ensure better outcomes during examinations. With this, only teachers with professional qualifications should be employed to teach Biology in our Secondary Schools.

The integration of renewable energy systems, particularly photovoltaic (PV) technology, has become increasingly essential in addressing global energy demands and environmental concerns. However, the nonlinear and time-varying characteristics of solar irradiation and temperature significantly affect the efficiency of PV systems. Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques are employed to ensure that PV modules operate at their optimal power point under varying conditions. Traditional MPPT methods such as Perturb and Observe (P&O) and Incremental Conductance (IncCond) offer simplicity but often suffer from oscillations, slow convergence, and reduced performance under dynamic conditions.
This research investigates the application of reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms for MPPT control in PV systems, aiming to enhance tracking speed, stability, and adaptability. By formulating the MPPT problem as a sequential decision-making process, RL agents learn optimal control policies through continuous interaction with the PV environment without requiring explicit system modeling.
Various RL approaches—such as Q-learning, Deep Q-Networks (DQN), and Policy Gradient methods—are analyzed and compared with conventional techniques through simulation studies. The results demonstrate that RL-based MPPT controllers can effectively handle rapidly changing environmental conditions, minimize steady-state oscillations, and achieve superior energy harvesting efficiency. This study highlights the potential of reinforcement learning as a robust and intelligent solution for real-time PV power optimization

The Sahel region is a semi-arid belt stretching across Africa south of the Sahara Desert, and has in recent decades become one of the world’s most volatile and insecure regions. It comprises states such as Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, and parts of Nigeria. Between 2005 and 2025, the Sahel has witnessed a rapid escalation of terrorist activities and violent extremism, primarily linked to the spread of jihadist ideologies and the collapse of effective governance structures in key states. The increasing fragility of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso has created a fertile environment for extremist movements such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), and several local militias to thrive.¹

Background: Poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices remain a major public health concern in Nigeria and contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality among children under five years of age. Nursing mothers play a critical role in preventing infections such as diarrhea and acute respiratory infections through appropriate hygiene behaviours. Despite the importance of immunization clinics as contact points for maternal and child health education, limited data exist on the WASH practices of nursing mothers attending these facilities. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding WASH among nursing mothers attending immunization clinics at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional design was be employed. The study population were nursing mothers with children aged 0–24 months attending the immunization clinic during the study period. A sample size of 229 participants was determined using Cochran’s formula, with adjustment for non￾response. Systematic random sampling was used to select respondents. Data was collected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from validated WASH assessment tools. The instrument assessed sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of WASH, attitudes toward hygiene practices, household WASH behaviours, influencing factors, infant feeding practices, and history of diarrhea. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 27.0. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests was used to examine associations between variables, with significance set at p < 0.05. The findings provided evidence on existing WASH practices and associated factors among nursing mothers, and informed targeted interventions aimed at reducing hygiene-related infections and improving child health outcomes in the study setting. Results: Mean age of respondents was 27.70 ± 2.72 years. Overall, 48 (20.9%) had good knowledge, while 182 (79.1%) had poor knowledge of WASH. Attitude was positive in 160 (69.6%) and negative in 70 (30.4%). 162 (70.4%) had good WASH practice, while 68 (29.6%) had poor WASH practice. Satisfactory water-related practice was observed in more than three-fifths of respondents, satisfactory sanitation practice in about three-quarters, and satisfactory hygiene practice in three-fifths. Major x factors influencing WASH practice included household support, affordability of hygiene products, cultural practices, and health education from health workers. Logistic regression showed affordability of hygiene products as the only independent predictor of good WASH practice (OR = 0.429; 95% CI = 0.219–0.841; p = 0.014). Conclusion: Good WASH practice was high among nursing mothers attending immunization clinic in UBTH, despite poor knowledge among most respondents. Affordability of hygiene products significantly influenced practice, highlighting the need for continuous health education and economically sensitive WASH interventions. Keywords: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); Nursing Mothers; Immunization Clinic; Diarrhea; Child Health

This project presents the design, development, and testing of a solar-powered yam pounding machine, aimed at reducing manual labor and promoting sustainable energy utilization in traditional yam processing. The machine combines a solar photovoltaic (PV) system with an electric motor to power a mechanical pounding mechanism, efficiently processing yams into a smooth, consistent paste. The solar-powered system ensures energy efficiency, reduces operational costs, and minimizes environmental impact compared to conventional fuel-based or electric grid-dependent systems. The design incorporates user-friendly features and adjustable settings to accommodate varying yam quantities and desired paste consistencies. This innovation addresses the challenges faced by small-scale yam processors and rural communities, enhancing productivity while promoting eco-friendly practices in food processing. The machine's performance was evaluated based on efficiency, output quality, and energy consumption, demonstrating its potential to transform yam processing and contribute to sustainable agricultural
practices.

Gully erosion is one of the most severe environmental challenges in Nigeria, especially in southeastern regions where it causes extensive land degradation, destruction of infrastructure, and disruption of livelihoods. The study examined the impact of simple field trips on students’ knowledge and attitudes toward gully erosion. It was motivated by the need to integrate experiential learning into environmental education as a means of improving understanding and awareness of erosion control. The research sought to determine whether a simple field trip could enhance students’ comprehension and disposition toward environmental issues, particularly gully erosion. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design involving fifty undergraduate students from the Department of Health, Safety, and Environmental Education, University of Benin. The participants were divided equally into experimental and control groups. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire divided into three sections that assessed demographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitude. The validity of the instrument was ensured through expert review, and reliability was confirmed using the test–retestmethod. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for summarization and independent samples t-tests to test hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance.Findings revealed that students in the experimental group who participated in the field trip demonstrated significantly higher knowledge and more positive attitudes toward gully erosion than those in the control group. The study concluded that field trips are highly effective in improving students’ environmental knowledge and fostering proenvironmental attitudes. It recommended that field-based learning be incorporated into environmental education curricula and teacher training programs to promoteexperiential learning, community involvement, and sustainable environmental management.

Background: Chronic low back pain is typically characterized by persistent low back pain exceeding 12 weeks, it places a substantial burden on individuals, society, and the economy, affecting daily life, productivity, and overall well-being. Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is influenced by physical, psychological, and social factors. A major psychological factor is kinesiophobia an excessive fear of movement due to the belief that activity may worsen symptoms, which contributes to disability, and a decline in overall quality of life. However there is little studies on the relationship between kinesiophobia, pain, disability and quality of life among patients with chronic low back pain. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between kinesiophobia, pain, disability and quality of life among patients with chronic low back pain in UBTH. Methods: This was a cross sectional design study where 57 participants were recruited via purposive sampling technique from patients with chronic low back pain in university of Benin teaching hospital. Questionnaires used in this study included Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK),Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF), Data was summarized using interferential statistics such as Spearman’s rank correlation test to check for the association between the variables. The level of significance was set at p=0.05 Results: Majority of the participants 29 (51.0%) had moderate pain intensity, 48(84%) of participants had a greater level of fear of movement, the greater degree of functional disability waoderate accounting for 37 (65%) and majority of the participants overall quality of life was moderate of 31 (57.4%), 31 (57.4%) reported a moderate overall quality of life. Furthermore, the result shows there is a significant relationship between kinesiophobia, pain intensity, disability and quality of life.( p=0.05) Conclusion: This study shows that there are significant interrelationships among pain, kinesiophobia, and disability among patients with chronic low back pain at UBTH. Key words: Chronic low back pain, kinesiophobia, disability, quality of life.

The process of enzymatic hydrolysis of cassava bagasse is a potentially effective method of producing biofuel, as cellulase and pectinase are essential for the conversion of biomass. The goal of this work was to compare the hydrolysis effectiveness of cellulase in isolation and in combination with pectinase over a range of time periods (6 and 24 hours). Separately, under controlled conditions, cassava bagasse was used to incubate both cellulase alone and the cellulasepectinase combo. The yield of fermentable sugars was determined by analyzing the resultant hydrolysates, which gave information about how well each combination of enzymes worked. In the first six hours, the yields of cellulase by itself were higher than those of the cellulasepectinase combination. This is explained by the greater starting activity of cellulase in hydrolyzing cellulose, the main ingredient in cassava bagasse. But compared to cellulase alone, the cellulasepectinase combination showed better hydrolysis efficiency over the longer 24-hour period, producing more fermentable sugars. Pectinase was added to help break down pectin barriers, which improved cellulase access to cellulose fibers and eventually raised hydrolysis efficiency. These findings emphasize the significance of reaction time and enzyme synergy in biomass conversion processes. The combination of pectinase and cellulase maximizes the yield of fermentable sugars from cassava bagasse over extended periods of time, despite the fact that cellulase alone may produce larger initial yields. By providing insightful information on how to best utilize enzymatic hydrolysis processes for producing biofuel, this work advances the creation of efficient and sustainable bioenergy technology.

This research examines historical sources as subject matter for playwriting: The
example of “Queen Iden”. Qualitative methods as well as review of relevant literatures
were applied to gather necessary data. The research concluded that history when used
as subject matter for playwriting not only records the past but serve as a living source
that can be reshaped into meaningful dramatic plays. The research recommends history
as a building block and foundation for playwriting so as to promote and preserve the
rich history and cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom and it’s people.