FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Cultism remains a persistent challenge in Nigeria universities, contributing to violence, substance abuse, and disruption in academic environments. Despite numerous anti- cultism campaigns, many students continue to engage in cult-related activities. This study explores the use of cartoon characters as an illustrative medium to raise awareness about the dangers of cultism. Through engaging visuals narrative, cartoons have the potential to communicate complex social issues effectively, especially to young audience. The study employs a mixed method approach, combining survey and interviews with university students to accesses their perceptions of cultism and the impact of cartoon –based messaging. Findings suggest that cartoons can serve as an effective alternative to traditional anti-cultism strategies, offering relatable and visually compelling messages that resonate with students. The concludes that incorporation cartoons into awareness campaign could enhance student engagement and contribute to reducing cultism in Nigeria universities.

Public markets in Edo State serve as vital economic engines and social hubs, yet their functional sustainability is increasingly compromised by the systematic failure of auxiliary infrastructure. This study investigates the "Relevance of Toilet Facilities on the Performance of Urban Market in Edo State: An Architectural Evaluation." The research addresses the problem of existing sanitation facilities failing to meet architectural design and accessibility standards, which leads to structural deterioration, environmental hazards, and reduced public confidence. The primary aim is to evaluate the design adequacy, spatial integration, and inclusivity of these facilities and to determine their direct impact on market performance indicators such as user satisfaction and spatial efficiency. The study adopts a qualitative research approach based on architectural observation, field documentation, and semi-structured interviews with market users and management officials. Direct assessment of toilet facilities was carried out to evaluate accessibility, spatial location, ventilation, water supply, material conditions, and maintenance
practices. Photographic documentation and field notes were used to support physical and spatial analysis of sanitation facilities within New Benin, Uselu, and Jattu markets. The research argues that architectural deficiencies, including poor natural ventilation and non-durable materiality, trigger user avoidance behavior, thereby reducing "dwell time" and overall market productivity. The study concludes that well-designed, inclusive sanitation infrastructure acts as a performance multiplier for urban markets. The findings contribute to sustainable urban design by proposing a context-specific architectural template for market sanitation, providing an evidence-based roadmap for town planners, architects, and policymakers to enhance the hygiene, dignity, and economic viability of public markets in Edo State.

The increasing environmental challenges and housing demand in tropical regions like Benin City necessitate the adoption of sustainable building practices. This project explores the integration of sustainable design principles in residential housing provision specific to tropical climates. It examines passive cooling strategies, climate-r sponsive materials, and energy-efficient layouts tailored to the environmental co text of Benin City. Through field observations, interviews, and case studies, the research identifies key barriers to sustainable implementation and proposes practical design solutions. The study highlightshow locally available resources and traditional knowl edge can be harnessed to enhance building performance, thermal comfort, and affordability. Ultimately, the project advocates for policy support, public awareness, and stakeholder collaboration in creating sustainable housing systems for tropical regions.

This study examined the level of involvement of occupants of the ilamijanla community of Lagos state on the private acquisition process of land, the satisfaction level of the occupants and the factors influencing the occupants’ satisfaction level. The study selected 155 houses systematically from the 310 houses in the community. Data centered on the objectives of the study were collected using self-administered questionnaire. The results were analyzed with the aid of simple descriptive statistics. The result shows that the occupants are rarely involved in most of the acquisition process. The community heads are at the center of the dealings with private investors who acquire lands and these results in low level of satisfaction of the respondents on the acquisition process.
The primary influencing factors on occupants’ satisfaction include minimization of delays, demonstration of credibility in the acquisition process and clarity and fairness of laws guiding the acquisition process. The study advocates improved community participation in land acquisition process to foster smooth transfer of interests.

This study assesses the impact of government policies on real estate development in Edo State, specifically in Benin City. With the growing demand for housing and commercial properties in urban areas, real estate development has become a critical sector in the economic growth of the state. The research aims to examine how various government policies, including land use regulations, zoning laws, taxation, infrastructure development, and housing schemes, influence the pace and nature of real estate activities
in the region. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including surveys, interviews with stakeholders, and analysis of policy documents, the study identifies the key policies affecting real estate development. The findings suggest that while certain policies have positively impacted the sector by providing a more structured framework for development, others have posed challenges such as bureaucratic delays, inconsistencies in enforcement, and high cost of land acquisition. The study concludes that a more effective and transparent policy framework is essential for stimulating sustainable growth in the real estate sector. It also recommends specific policy adjustments to improve access to land, ease the development approval process,
and create an enabling environment for private sector investment in real estate in Edo State, particularly in Benin City.

Sustainable design as a building design philosophy is at a critical era in the world, and the widespread adoption of this philosophy is essential. This research investigates the underlying impact of this phenomenon in the faculty buildings in respect of energy consumption. This study follows standard research techniques that include surveys and in-depth interviews with both designers and users. This study suggests the need for sustainable design criteria into the design of faculty buildings, and the incorporation of clean energy. This research exposes the risks of not implementing sustainable building design in university building facilities and emphasizes the utilization of sustainable design concepts to achieve a comfortable built environment.

Sustainable design as a building design philosophy is at a critical era in the world, and the widespread adoption of this philosophy is essential. This research investigates the underlying impact of this phenomenon in the faculty buildings in respect of energy consumption. This study follows standard research techniques that include surveys and in-depth interviews with both designers and users. This study suggests the need for sustainable design criteria into the design of faculty buildings, and the incorporation of clean energy. This research exposes the risks of not implementing sustainable building design in university uilding facilities and emphasizes the utilization of sustainable design concepts to achieve a comfortable built environment.

Water distribution plays a vital role in ensuring the sustainability and functionality of institutional environments. The University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ugbowo Campus, has experienced increasing water supply challenges over the years due to population growth, uneven distribution, leakages, and aging infrastructure. This project focused on the application of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to analyze and manage the existing water distribution network of the campus with the aim of improving efficiency, monitoring, and future planning. Both spatial and non-spatial data were obtained through field surveys, and records from the UNIBEN Works Department. The data were processed and integrated into a geospatial database using ArcGIS 10.8 and Google Earth. The study involved the generation of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and 3D terrain analysis to determine the relationship between topography and water flow. Population projection and water demand analysis were carried out using the compound growth rate method and standard per capita consumption rate of 150 litres per person per day. The results showed that the campus terrain ranges from 74 to 121 metres above mean sea level, with the UNIBEN Water Scheme strategically located at the highest elevation to support a gravity-fed distribution system. The projected population increased from 40,320 in 2015 to 76,576 in 2040, representing an 89.9% rise over the 25-year design period. Consequently, the maximum daily water demand was estimated to increase from approximately 10.89 million litres in 2015 to 20.68 million litres in 2040. The pipeline network mapping revealed a well-structured system composed mainly of Asbestos Cement (AC) and PVC pipes, though aging sections require replacement. iv In conclusion, the integration of GIS technology proved to be an effective tool for analyzing, managing, and visualizing water distribution systems. The study provides a comprehensive spatial database that can assist the University in maintenance planning, leak detection, infrastructure upgrading, and sustainable water management. It also demonstrates that GIS-based approaches can significantly improve decision-making in institutional water supply systems and serve as a model for similar environments across Nigeria.

The design and quality of campus infrastructure plays a significant role in influencing student learning and academic performance. At the University of Benin, facilities such as classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and recreational spaces form an essential part of the learning environment. However, issues including inadequate maintenance, outdated facilities, and overcrowding have been observed to negatively affect students’ comfort, concentration, and academic productivity. This study adopts a case study approach, using physical observation of facilities and a questionnaire survey administered to students of the University of Benin to assess the impact of campus infrastructure on learning outcomes. The findings reveal that well-designed and
properly maintained learning spaces enhance students’ concentration, motivation, and academic performance, while poor ventilation, insufficient space, and deteriorating facilities hinder effective learning. The study emphasizes the need for regular maintenance, infrastructural upgrades, and userfocused design strategies to improve the quality of the campus environment and support better academic outcomes at the University of Benin.

This research investigates the Impact of inflation on rental value of residential properties, and the measures undertaken by estate surveyors and valuers in ensuring that residential real estate are adequately able to provide a hedging characteristic against inflation. The study examines the relationship between inflation and rental value of residential properties in Benin, and it also examines various other factors that influences rental value of residential real estate such as location, building material cost etc, and other inflation related factors which affect rental rate. The research adopts the survey research design method, thereby employing the use of questionnaire as means of primary data collection, it also adopts the secondary data collection model from the NBS(Nigeria Beareau of statistics). All data collected in this research were analyzed through the use of the multiple regression analysis and the pearson correlation model. The findings from this research study reveals that rental value over the years has been significantly increased to keep pace with inflation, thereby providing a hedge and also accounting for landlords income. The study also reveals that there is a significant relationship between various property type, inflation and non- inflation related factor in the determination of residential rental value as change in one variable factor is likely to cause a significant change in other factors.