DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK

Divorce, a phenomenon that has become increasingly prevalent in many societies, has far-reaching implications, especially on the lives of children. This study investigates the implications of divorce on children in the Obe Community, located in Benin City, Edo State. The research focuses on understanding how parental separation affects children’s psychological, emotional, social, and educational development. Using a qualitative and descriptive methodology, data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions, and questionnaires administered to divorced parents, children from divorced homes, teachers, and community leaders. The findings reveal that divorce significantly disrupts the emotional stability of children in Obe Community, leading to feelings of abandonment, insecurity, and low self-esteem. Many children experience difficulty adjusting to new family structures, such as living with a single parent or a step-parent. Educationally, children from divorced homes were observed to perform less favorably in school due to divided attention, lack of parental guidance, and emotional distress. Socially, these children often exhibit behavioral issues such as aggression, withdrawal, or involvement in delinquent activities, stemming from the absence of a balanced parental model and inadequate supervision. The study further highlights the cultural and economic factors in Obe Community that exacerbate the negative effects of divorce. In many cases, single- parent households struggle financially, affecting the children’s access to quality education, healthcare, and other basic needs. Additionally, societal stigma and communal perceptions of broken homes contribute to the isolation and discrimination faced by children of divorced parents, thereby hindering their social integration and personal development.

This study investigates the effects of conflict on the academic performance of students at the University of Benin and explores the implications for social work interventions. Drawing on the Social-Ecological Model, the research examines how academic, personal, and social conflicts ranging from grading disputes and interpersonal tensions to financial stress impact students’ academic outcomes and mental well-being. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study analyzes students’ coping mechanisms, evaluates the effectiveness of existing conflict resolution structures within the university, and identifies gaps in institutional support. Findings reveal that unresolved conflicts contribute to decreased academic motivation, heightened anxiety, and lower performance metrics. While some students employ adaptive coping strategies, many rely on avoidance or peer support, which may not yield sustainable academic success. The study highlights the limited accessibility and perceived ineffectiveness of current university conflict resolution mechanisms. It underscores the critical role of social workers in educational settings, advocating for their integration into university systems to provide counseling, mediation, and psycho-social support. The research concludes with practical recommendations for social work-led interventions aimed at fostering a more supportive and resilient academic environment.

The study examined social work intervention strategies for victims of involuntary childlessness in Igarra community. The objectives of the study to ascertain the causes of childlessness among married couples in Igarra community, explore the effect of childlessness among married couples in Igarra community, ascertain the relationship between childlessness and socio-cultural impact in Igarra community and to examine the roles and strategy social workers employ to help victims of involuntary childlessness in Igarra community. The cross-sectional research design was adopted for this study. Three hundred(300)copies of the questionnaire were distributed to 300 respondents in the Igarra community. Data collected were analyzed using frequency count, percentages and mean, with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 24.0. The empirical result revealed that childlessness leads to denial of certain cultural rights and title in the Igarra community and that the inability to have children due to physical impediment or infertility lead to the unpleasant and absurd experiments of African women. Furthermore, the study revealed that the majority of childless women often have low coping ability when issues with respect to children are being discussed. The study recommends that a public health strategy is needed for proper prevention of infertility by reducing the risk factors to decrease the incidence of infertility and improve quality of life by avoiding the psychosocial consequences and that the role of social workers is important as well to help intervene in crises involving abuse, mental health emergencies, or trauma for childless couples.

Poverty is a pervasive social challenge affecting communities across the globe, with profound implications for the psychological well-being of young people. In many low-income settings, including Uselu in Benin City, poverty deprives adolescents of essential emotional, social, and psychological support, thereby undermining their mental health and overall development. This study was designed to assess the impact of poverty on the mental health of youths in Uselu, Benin City. Its primary objective was to contribute to existing knowledge by exploring how economic hardship influences emotional stability, self-esteem, and psychological resilience among young people in the area. Additionally, the study sought to generate empirical data that could inform teachers, social workers, counselors, psychologists, community leaders, and parents about the mental health challenges faced by youths living in poverty.
A sample size of 50 respondents was selected from the target population. The convenience sampling technique was employed to select youth participants, while purposive sampling was used to select key adult informants such as teachers and social workers who interact regularly with youths in the community. A structured questionnaire served as the main instrument for data collection. Data analysis was carried out using frequency counts and percentages, presented in tabular form for clarity and ease of interpretation. The key findings of the study revealed that a significant proportion of the respondents experience frequent feelings of anxiety, sadness, and low self-worth, which they directly

This study aims to assess the socio-economic effect of older adult neglect in Iguobhioba. The objectives of the study includes to identify the various forms of neglect experienced by older adults in Iguobhioba Community, assess the socio-economic conditions (income, housing, healthcare access, nutrition, etc.) of neglected older adults in the community, examine the impact of neglect on the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of older adults, explore the role of family members, caregivers, and the wider community in either contributing to or alleviating the neglect of the elderly, analyze the availability and effectiveness of social support systems, including government and non-governmental interventions, for older adults in Iguobhioba and to recommend social work strategies and policy measures that can reduce neglect. Situational theory was adopted in the study. A qualitative approach was applied in the thesis and content analysis was undertaken. five objectives were raised for the study. The population of the study comprised of older adults aged 60 years and above residing in Iguobhioba Community. The data generated from the survey were analyzed by means of tables and percentages. The result of the analysis was tested at 0.05 (5%) level of significance. The findings of the study show that older adults in Iguobhioba Community experience multiple and interconnected forms of neglect, with physical, emotional, and economic neglect emerging as the most prevalent. The study recommend among others that The government should take active and concrete measures towards implementing a viable social welfare programme for the elderly both at the federal, state and local government levels. This would ensure uniformity in implementation.

This study investigated social work mediation designs for the accidents of dependence on illegitimate wealth in Egor Local Government Area, Benin City. The study picked the survey design on the footing of that questionnaires was used to origin file from point or direct at a goal accused. The file was study utilizing unrefined portion. The study certain that best productive social work attacks in barring relapse and advancing inexact bettering are continuing giving advice, aftercare support, peer-support groups, and humankind-situated information campaigns. These procedures not only authorize sufferers to support frugality but again dilute shame inside the broader society. To solve reasonable impact, skillful is a need for upgraded aid accompanying participants, raised reserve distribution, and more effective blood relative date in the renovation process. The study approves that presidency or non-political plans endure help win conceiving task exemption for companionable merchants the individual will help in fighting the battle against drug addictions. Drug addicts bear be advise that drug and exciting use can
cause success additional continual syndromes in a way diabetes and heart attack. Social workers acknowledge chance gain facts to perceive and evaluate the needs of their clients further the outlook of their primary bestowing question. Social stockbrokers
continue design actions to design atmospheres and atmospheres that support behavioural
well-being and the substance of things to continue challenges.

The study examined the effects of youth unemployment in Egor LGA, Edo State. The study indicated that youth unemployment has many negative effects to the society, economy, family, and individuals. From the response got from the questionnaires revealed that youth unemployment leads to poverty, low productivity, losses in foreign direct investment, low revenue generation, rural urban migration, illicit activities which increases insecurity, anti-social activities such as armed robbery, prostitution, political thuggery, violence, kidnapping, restiveness and other social vices evident among the unemployed youths and this constitutes danger to the stability, growth and development of the state. The research concludes that, addressing the problems of youth unemployment, must involve all stakeholders. Suggestions from the analysis therefore, are that effective policy measures such as re-prioritization or revitalization of agricultural sector, reformation of educational system, provision of enabling environment and building of industries be pursued vigorously which will drastically reduce unemployment and poverty as well as eradicate the menace of youth unemployment in Egor LGA, Edo State and Nigeria as a whole.

The study assessed the impact of the community based mental health programme on youths development in Ekosodin Community, Benin City. The population of the study comprised four hundred (400) respondents who are youths between the ages of 18 to 35 years who have lived in Ekosodin community in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The research method/design
used for the study was survey research. The data collected from the respondents were used for data analysis through simple descriptive statistics namely, simple percentage, frequency count and mean rating. The findings of the research concluded that there are many factors that contribute to the incidence of mental health challenges among youths of Ekosodin community such as peer pressure, substance abuse, unemployment, financial problems, family challenges, lack of parental guidance etc. The community based mental health programme has a significant impact on youth development in Ekosodin community, Benin
City. There are many limitations to the community based mental health programme in Ekosodin Community such as lack of financing to sustain mental health programming, stigma and discrimination and lack of community awareness which impairs the effectiveness of the community based mental health programme. Social workers play a significant role in the successful implementation and effectiveness of mental health programming by helping to ascertain who needs special programmes, joining forces with other professionals in the implementation of mental health programming, bridging the gap between the community and mental health service providers and increasing effectiveness and sustainability of community based mental health programmes. Based on these findings, it was suggested that the government and other stakeholders increase funding and material resources for the community based mental health programme in Ekosodin. Increased financial resources will
support what is currently being done, allow for trained professionals to be hired, and create modern counselling and therapy spaces for the youths.

The study assessed the impact of the community based mental health programme on youths development in Ekosodin Community, Benin City. The population of the study comprised four hundred (400) respondents who are youths between the ages of 18 to 35 years who have lived in Ekosodin community in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The research method/design
used for the study was survey research. The data collected from the respondents were used for data analysis through simple descriptive statistics namely, simple percentage, frequency count and mean rating. The findings of the research concluded that there are many factors that contribute to the incidence of mental health challenges among youths of Ekosodin community such as peer pressure, substance abuse, unemployment, financial problems, family challenges, lack of parental guidance etc. The community based mental health programme has a significant impact on youth development in Ekosodin community, Benin
City. There are many limitations to the community based mental health programme in Ekosodin Community such as lack of financing to sustain mental health programming, stigma and discrimination and lack of community awareness which impairs the effectiveness of the community based mental health programme. Social workers play a significant role in the successful implementation and effectiveness of mental health programming by helping to ascertain who needs special programmes, joining forces with other professionals in the implementation of mental health programming, bridging the gap between the community and mental health service providers and increasing effectiveness and sustainability of community based mental health programmes. Based on these findings, it was suggested that the government and other stakeholders increase funding and material resources for the community based mental health programme in Ekosodin. Increased financial resources will
support what is currently being done, allow for trained professionals to be hired, and create modern counselling and therapy spaces for the youths.

Migration has been at the center of global discourses with Nigeria a much talk- about involved country. Generally, migration whether legal or illegal is a decision that impacts the welfare of households and societies in various ways which might be
positive or negative. To this end, this study examines the effects of youth illegal migration on family members. The study employed the review of literature on the concept of illegal migration and other works so as to understand the effects of illegal migration of youths on familymembers. The population for the study was drawn from Egor, Oredo and Ovia North- East local governments in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The paper revealed the causes of illegal migration, its effect on the family and the country as a whole and its implication for social work practice. This work made use of questionnaire in collecting data from the study area. In order to curb the issue of youth illegal migration in Nigeria, the researcher recommends that policymakers or legislators, and other stakeholders in government should make provision for infrastructural development, better social welfare policy and programmes, and economic succor. Also, social workers should be included in the mainstream of decision making body to help in the formulation and implementation of favourable policies and programmes to address the issue of poverty, insecurity and other precipitating factors causing youths to migrate illegall