DEPAR TMENT OF SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY

This project work looks into how higher education promotes social mobility and reduces inequality by equipping individuals with skills, knowledge, and social capital for economic and social advancement. However, this potential is limited by systemic barriers like financial constraints, geographic disparities, and the digital divide, which disproportionately affect disadvantaged groups. Overcoming these obstacles through equitable access and supportive policies is essential to ensuring higher education functions as a true pathway to upward mobility and a more just society.

This study investigates the effect of examination stress on students of the University of Benin, with particular focus on its causes, manifestations, and influence on academic performance and general well-being. The research aims to identify the major sources of examination-related stress, assess its impact on students’ academic outcomes, and examine the coping strategies employed by students in managing such stress. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Data were collected through the use of a structured questionnaire administered to a representative sample of students in the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Benin. The data obtained were analyzed using simple percentages and frequency distributions for clarity and easy interpretation. Findings revealed that factors such as inadequate preparation, fear of failure, pressure to achieve high grades, and poor time management significantly contribute to students’ stress during examinations. The study further discovered that examination stress leads to anxiety, emotional instability, poor concentration, and a decline in academic performance among students. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the university management should organize regular counseling sessions and stress management seminars to assist students in handling examination-related pressure. Lecturers are also encouraged to create supportive learning environments, while students should adopt effective study habits and time management skills. In conclusion, the study affirms that examination stress, though an inevitable part of academic life, can be effectively managed through institutional support, personal discipline, and proper preparation, thereby improving students’ academic performance and overall well-being

This study examined the link between social isolation and deviant behaviour among undergraduate students at the University of Benin (UNIBEN). The primary goal was to empirically understand if feelings of loneliness and social disconnection directly led students to engage in harmful, rule-breaking acts, thereby validating existing psychosocial theories in a Nigerian university context. A descriptive survey design was employed, and a structured questionnaire was administered to 148 students who provided valid responses. The results revealed that social isolation was a pervasive issue, showing that the majority of students (81%) felt moderately to highly isolated from the campus community and their peers. The most common form of self-reported deviant behaviour was skipping classes (truancy), reported by 49% of the respondents, followed by general rule-breaking. Crucially, the study found a strong, positive, and statistically significant relationship between the two variables (r = 0.612, p < 0.001), indicating that the more isolated a student felt, the more likely they were to engage in deviant acts. Isolation was confirmed as a major predictive factor for truancy, breaking rules, and substance use. The study recommends that the university should immediately implement structural and social interventions, including creating better welcome programs for new students, starting a mandatory peer mentorship system, improving accessible counselling services, and organizing more frequent social events to help students achieve adequate social integration.

The study was carried out to investigate Human trafficking in Nigeria: A study of Ovia North East L.G.A in Edo State. It used Ovia North East as the Area of study. The study used a sample of 20 respondents and five objectives. The study's findings underscore the critical role poverty plays in facilitating human trafficking in Ovia North East Local Government, Edo State. Poverty creates a vulnerable population that traffickers exploit, perpetuating a cycle of exploitation and poverty. The underdevelopment of Benin City, Nigeria, and Africa at large, drives migration through illegal routes, aligning with the push-and-pull theory. This highlights the need for sustainable development and economic opportunities to reduce the allure of illegal migration. Notably, NGOs and NAPTIP are actively engaged in rehabilitating returnees, providing psychological and economic support. However, the study reveals a concerning trend: some returnees, despite rehabilitation, choose to reengage in trafficking. This underscores the complexity of the issue and the need for comprehensive, long-term solutions. The study recommends the Implementation of policies to reduce poverty and unemployment, particularly among young people, to reduce their vulnerability to trafficking, the strengthening of law enforcement to enhance law enforcement capabilities to combat trafficking, including training for officials and increased resources for investigations and prosecutions and provision of support services that will establish and fund support services for victims of trafficking, including counseling, healthcare, and economic empowerment programs.

This study investigates the public perception of the Nigerian police force in Egor LocalGovernment Area of Edo State. Guided by the system theory, it explores how residentsassess the performance, behavior and relationship of the police with the community. Using adescriptive survey design, data were collected from 100 randomly selected respondents fromthe age range of 18 years to 46 years and above through structured questionnaire andanalyzed using simple percentages and frequency tables. Findings shows that while the police force holds a vital role in the maintenance order, public-perception remains largely negative due to corruption, bribery, poor response to distresscalls and police brutality. Respondents also identified inadequate training and lowmotivation as factors affecting police effectiveness. This study concluded that bridging thegap between police force and the community requires improved welfare, accountability andenhanced community policing initiatives to restore trust and credibility in the NigerianPolice Force

Drug abuse is a serious problem among university students. Many young people use drugs like marijuana and methamphetamine because of peer pressure, stress, or the desire to feel good. This study looks at how people view drug abuse among students at the University of Benin, Nigeria. It explores the types of drugs students’ use, why they use them, and how society reacts to the issue. The research was done through surveys and interviews with students and university staff. The results show that drug abuse is common, and many students use drugs to cope with school pressure or to fit in with friends. However, many people misunderstand the issue, and the stigma around drug use makes it harder for students to seek help. The study suggests that universities should provide more drug education programs, better counseling services, and focus on helping students recover rather than punishing them. This research will help create better ways to prevent and reduce drug abuse among students

This study examined the effects of gambling on the lifestyle of undergraduate students in the University of Benin. The research was motivated by the increasing popularity of online betting platforms and the rising involvement of youths in gambling activities across tertiary institutions in Nigeria. A total of 150 respondents were randomly selected from various faculties within the university, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Simple descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were employed to analyze the responses. Findings revealed that gambling is a prevalent activity among undergraduate students in the University of Benin, with many students spending a significant portion of their financial resources on betting activities. The study identified peer influence, economic hardship, the desire for quick money, and promotional incentives by betting companies as major factors motivating students to engage in gambling. Furthermore, results showed that gambling negatively affects students’ academic performance, leading to poor concentration, reduced study time, and declining grades. The study also established that excessive gambling contributes to psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, and emotional distress, while also straining interpersonal relationships and promoting social isolation. Financial consequences such as debt, mismanagement of funds, and increased dependence on external support were also reported among frequent gamblers. The study concludes that gambling poses significant social, psychological, academic, and financial risks to undergraduates, despite being perceived by any as a harmless recreational or income-generating activity. It recommends that the university establish more awareness campaigns and counselling programs to address gambling addiction, enforce stricter campus policies regulating gambling activities, and introduce skill acquisition programmers to provide sustainable financial alternatives for students. Parents and guardians are also encouraged to monitor their wards’ financial habits and provide adequate support to reduce reliance on gambling income.

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of cultism on the academic performance of students in the University of Benin. The researcher gathered the primary data through the distribution of questionnaire. A total of 100 respondents were analyzed. The scope of the study for this work was based on the University of Benin. The result of the findings shows that students academic are highly affected by cultism. It was strongly recommended that students engagement in positive activities should be promoted as many students join cults because of peer pressure, boredom, or the search for belonging. Stronger Orientation and Awareness Programs should be introduced. Parental and Community should take an active role in monitoring and guiding their children’s academic and social lives. Strict Disciplinary Measures should be enforced and The government should introduce policies that provide continuous support for the fight against cultism

Students in university communities often face economic, academic, and social challenges that compel them to adopt alternative survival strategies. This study therefore explored students’ risk-taking behaviour (RTB) as survival strategies in Ekosodin community, focusing on the dominant forms, underlying factors, and institutional responses to such behaviours. The study was anchored on strain theory and rational choice theory, which together explains how financial pressure and peer pressures influences a students’ engagement in Risk-Taking Behaviour . A descriptive survey design was adopted, and a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to a total of 140 students, (but only 120 were recovered) residing in Ekosodin community. Data was analysed using the frequency tables, percentages and charts. The findings revealed that gambling, exam malpractice , unsafe sex and substance abuse were the common RTBs. Although, adaptive forms of RTB, such as part-time jobs and night class, were reported more frequently than maladaptive ones. Peer influence and economic strain emerged as the main drivers of RTB. Institutional support was widely reported as not existing or very weak. The study concludes that the risks students engage in daily can both serve as positive and negative coping mechanisms. It recommends that the University strengthen support and welfare policies and also redesign awareness programmes to be more interactive and student friendly

Traditional medicine has played a key role in world health in spite of great advances observed in orthodox medicine in recent decades, traditional medicine still makes an important contribution to health care delivery system. These societies thus developed indigenous medical systems through interactions with their environment to ensure the health needs of the people were met. The World Health Organization estimated that 80% of the developing countries depend on traditional medicine to meet their healthcare needs. Due to the increased use of herbal medicine, there is an urgent need for the appropriate systems of quality control in the practice as well as in the production and use of the medicines. The main objective of this study is to find out the perception and utilization of traditional medicine among residents of Benin city in Edo-State. The specific objectives of this study were: to ascertain the factors influencing the utilization of traditional medicine as perceived by Benin city residents; Ascertain how Benin city residents perceived the efficiency and effectiveness of traditional medicine in Benin city; to find out
the challenges hindering the utilization of traditional medicine; and to measure the extent of utilization of traditional medicine among residents of Benin city. With the one-time cross-sectional study designed as a subsumed survey research design both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 400 respondents 5 interviewees respectively; they were analyzed using frequency and percentages tables, chat and the Spearman’s rho correlation statistical tools. A significant proportion of the population still patronizes traditional medicine due to its ability to explain the hidden cause of illness and consequently cure the illness. There is a significant relationship (p-value=0.00 <0.05) between affordability, cheapness and traditional medicine has stood the test of time and lower level of education, income status and certain age group of traditional medicine. The Functionalist theory and the Health Belief Model were used as a theoretical guide to examine the people’s perceptions towards the utilization of traditional medicine, the study further recommend that Effective and safe use of traditional medicine should be promoted to recognize traditional practitioners, as well as to train them to produce refined herbal medicines. Hence Traditional Medicine Practitioners should be properly trained to keep them updated with contemporary trends in the world of health and epidemiology.