FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE

The rapid evolution of the digital economy presents both opportunities and challenges for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. Despite the growing significance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in business operations, many SMEs struggle with inadequate digital infrastructure, limited ICT skills, security concerns, and restricted access to digital markets. This study develops an ICT-Readiness Framework tailored to the Nigerian SME landscape, addressing these challenges and providing a structured approach for digital adoption. The framework consists of six key components: Infrastructure Development, Digital Literacy, and Access to Digital Markets, Policy & Regulatory Support, Innovation & Sustainability, and Monitoring & Evaluation. To ensure its practicality, the framework was implemented as a C program, enabling SMEs to assess their ICT readiness, identify gaps, and receive actionable recommendations. The system was successfully executed, providing accurate evaluations based on SME-specific inputs. Findings from the implementation demonstrate that the framework can effectively guide SMEs in enhancing their ICT adoption by improving connectivity, promoting digital skills, expanding market reach, ensuring policy compliance, and fostering innovation. By adopting this structured approach, Nigerian SMEs can better position themselves for growth in the digital economy. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on SME digital transformation by offering a practical, data-driven solution for ICT readiness. Future research can focus on expanding the framework to include artificial intelligence-driven assessments and cloud-based integration for broader accessibility.

The growing demand for efficient, low-cost semiconductor materials for optoelectronic applications has driven significant interest in copper sulfide (CuS) thin films. This project successfully demonstrates the fabrication of CuS nanothin films on glass substrates using a simple and cost-effective Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD) technique, with a specific focus on investigating the influence of extended deposition times on their optical properties. Two sets of films were deposited using an aqueous solution of copper sulfate and thiourea, with deposition times of 20 hours and 24 hours, while maintaining all other parameters constant. The primary characterization technique employed was Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectroscopy, which provided a detailed analysis of the films' light-matter interactions. The collected absorbance spectra, obtained with a high-resolution sampling interval of 1 nm and a measuring bandwidth of 2 nm, were used to determine key optical parameters. The results revealed that the extended deposition time significantly enhanced the optical performance of the CuS films. The film deposited for 24 hours exhibited a higher absorption coefficient across the UV-Vis-NIR spectrum and a more intense Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) peak in the near-infrared region (~1050 nm), confirming the formation of the covellite phase with a high density of free charge carriers. Tauc plot analysis derived from the absorbance data showed a narrowing of the direct optical band gap from 2.38 eV for the 20-hour film to 2.32 eV for the 24-hour film, attributed to increased crystallite size and reduced quantum confinement effects. In conclusion, this project establishes that a CBD deposition time of 24 hours is optimal for producing high-quality CuS thin films with superior light-harvesting capabilities and tailored optoelectronic properties. These findings provide valuable insights for the application of CBD-synthesized CuS films in devices such as solar cells, photothermal converters, and near-infrared sensors.

This study presents a comparative analysis of three major frontend frameworks—React, Vue, and Angular—with the goal of identifying their strengths, weaknesses, and suitability for different types of web development projects. The research adopted a mixed-method approach that combined experimental performance testing with a developer survey. The experimental analysis focused on key performance metrics such as rendering speed, memory usage, CPU utilization, and bundle size, while the survey gathered developers’ perceptions on usability, learning curve, community support, and development efficiency. Findings revealed that no single framework is superior in all aspects. React recorded the fastest initial load time and the highest overall performance score, making it ideal for applications that prioritize quick content delivery. Vue demonstrated the best runtime efficiency, smallest bundle size, and lowest resource consumption, proving effective for lightweight and performance- sensitive projects. Angular, although heavier in resource usage, stood out for its comprehensive structure, built-in tools, and scalability—features that make it highly suitable for large enterprise systems. Survey results showed strong developer satisfaction across all three frameworks, with most respondents acknowledging their active communities, extensive learning resources, and productivity benefits. The study concludes that framework selection should depend on project requirements and team expertise rather than popularity. It recommends React for performancefocused projects, Vue for resource-efficient and adaptable applications, and Angular for large- scale, structured enterprise solutions.

This study focuses on the mathematical modeling of automation systems and their application in healthcare, transportation, and energy. Automation, first introduced by George Devol in the 1950s through his invention of the industrial robot Unimate, allows machines to perform tasks automatically without human effort. The aim of this study is to show how mathematical models can be used to represent and control automated processes. Mathematical models were developed for patient temperature control, traffic flow analysis, and solar energy management. The results show that modeling improves the efficiency, accuracy, and reliability of automation systems. Automation supported by mathematics reduces human error, saves time, and enhances decision making. This research proves that mathematical modeling is the foundation of automation technology. It also contributes to national growth through better healthcare, transportation, and energy systems. Overall, automation driven by mathematics supports innovation and technological advancement in society

Attendance management is a key part of academic administration, yet many Nigerian universities still rely on manual methods prone to errors and impersonation. This study, titled “An Assessment of User Acceptance of Biometric Fingerprint Attendance Systems in Educational Institutions,” examined how students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) perceive and are willing to adopt biometric fingerprint technology as a modern attendance tool. Using a descriptive survey design, data were gathered from 85 students across different faculties. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the study analyzed factors such as awareness, ease of use, trust, and data security. Results showed high awareness and positive attitudes toward the technology, though concerns about privacy and technical support persisted. The study recommends improved infrastructure, training, and clear data protection measures to enhance user trust and successful adoption of biometric systems in universities.

Attendance management is a key part of academic administration, yet many Nigerian universities
still rely on manual methods prone to errors and impersonation. This study, titled “An
Assessment of User Acceptance of Biometric Fingerprint Attendance Systems in Educational
Institutions,” examined how students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) perceive and are
willing to adopt biometric fingerprint technology as a modern attendance tool. Using a
descriptive survey design, data were gathered from 85 students across different faculties. Guided
by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of
Technology (UTAUT), the study analyzed factors such as awareness, ease of use, trust, and data
security. Results showed high awareness and positive attitudes toward the technology, though
concerns about privacy and technical support persisted. The study recommends improved
infrastructure, training, and clear data protection measures to enhance user trust and successful
adoption of biometric systems in universities.

This study examines how important geotechnical properties of soil affect the stability, safety, and overall performance of engineering structures. Soil samples were taken from depths of 1.0 m, 2.0 m, 3.0 m, and 4.0 m, and tested for moisture content, grain size distribution, Atterberg limits, specific gravity, compaction behaviour, and triaxial shear strength. These tests helped to determine the soil’s physical and mechanical characteristics and how they respond to different loading and environmental conditions. Grain size results showed that the soil is mainly sandy, which explains its high permeability and low tendency to compress. The Atterberg limits indicated low to moderate plasticity, meaning the soil has limited swelling and shrinking capability. Specific gravity values suggested the presence of quartz-rich materials, while compaction tests provided the optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry density (MDD) needed for proper construction. The triaxial test also gave the shear strength values required for evaluating bearing capacity and slope stability. The results shows that the soil has good engineering qualities when properly compacted, making it suitable for foundations, road bases, embankments, and similar structures. The study highlights the need for thorough geotechnical investigation before construction to avoid structural failures and recommends continuous monitoring and soil improvement methods where weaker layers occur.

Atrazine is a widely used triazine herbicide employed for the control of broadleaf weeds in maize cultivation. However, its persistence, toxicity, and mobility in aquatic environments have made it a serious environmental and public health concern. Conventional water treatment methods such as coagulation and chlorination are often ineffective for atrazine removal due to its high stability and low reactivity. In this study, a zinc–aluminum layered double hydroxide (Zn–Al LDH) with a metal composition ratio of 3:1 was synthesized by the co-precipitation method and subsequently modified with disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) to enhance its surface and structural properties for the adsorption of atrazine from aqueous solution. Adsorption experiments were carried out using a constant atrazine concentration of 100 mg/L and a fixed contact time of 120 minutes, while varying the adsorbent dosage between 0.1 g and 1.0 g. Results showed that the modification of Zn–Al–Cl LDH with disodium EDTA led to an increase in surface area and thermal stability, as evidenced by broadened XRD peaks, new carboxylate and amine bands in FTIR spectra, and improved decomposition temperature in TGA analysis. The modified LDH exhibited higher atrazine uptake compared to the unmodified sample, demonstrating the beneficial effect of EDTA in enhancing surface reactivity and active site availability. This study demonstrates that EDTA-modified Zn–Al LDH is an efficient, low-cost, and thermally stable material for the removal of atrazine from contaminated water. The findings
highlight the potential of modified LDHs as promising adsorbents for environmental remediation and sustainable water treatment applications.

Chemical industries increasingly rely on catalytic processes, and more than 90% of large scale chemical transformations depend on catalysts. Some of the commonly used homogeneous catalysts in Fridel Crafts alkylation reaction are; BF3, H2SO4, HF, AlCl3. Though, readily available at low cost, they have several limitations and these include toxicity, difficulty in separation and recovery and disposal problems. These limitations have intensified the demand for sustainable, efficient, and environmentally benign heterogeneous catalysts. This study focuses on the development of metal-doped coconut-shell biochars as robust heterogeneous catalysts for the Friedel Crafts benzylation of toluene. Biochars derived from the coconut shell produced at different pyrolysis temperatures (350, 400, 450, 500, 600 and 700 °C) were characterized in terms of their physicochemical and textural properties, surface oxygen functional groups and surface morphology using standard methods. The coconut shell biochar (CSB) sample with the optimal textural properties (CSB450) was then co-pyrolysed with Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺, and Fe³⁺/Zn²⁺ ions to produce metal doped biochars (Fe³⁺ - doped, Zn²⁺- doped, and Fe³⁺/Zn²⁺-doped biochar). Central Composite Design (CCD) of the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the process variables (metal loading, pyrolysis temperature and pyrolysis time) for the co-pyrolysis reaction. Similarly, RSM was used to optimized the process variables (mole ratio of toluene: benzyl chloride (T:BC), reaction temperature and reaction time) on benzyl chloride conversion to benzylated toluenes with the metal doped biochars. RSM-derived optimal conditions resulted in enhanced specific surface areas of 2098.04 m2 .g-1 for the Fe³⁺-doped biochar, 1721.40 m2 .g-1 for the Zn²⁺-doped biochar, and 2124.5 m2 .g-1 for the Fe³⁺/Zn²⁺-doped biochar. Compared with the pristine biochar (CSB450), the metal doped biochars (MBCs) showed improved physicochemical properties and textural properties. In addition, surface elemental analysis confirmed the successful incorporation of the Fe (10.09%), Zn (5.17%) and Fe/Zn (9.44/6.51%) on the MBCs. The results of the conversion process showed that the reaction temperature, mole ratio, and reaction time significantly affected benzyl chloride conversion with the metal doped biochar. Three novel models were developed for benzyl chloride conversion process. From the models, we predicted optimized process conditions; optimum benzyl chloride conversion of 93% was found for Fe3+/Zn2+ - doped biochar, with values of 87 and 81% for the Fe3+ - and Zn2+ - doped biochar respectively. This research established metal doped coconut shell biochar as an effective, low-cost, and environmentally friendly heterogeneous catalysts for organic transformations, presenting a viable alternative to conventional corrosive and non-recyclable catalysts in industrial alkylation processes.

This study delves into the Gompertz distribution, a versatile probability distribution with applications in survival analysis, population dynamics, and reliability modeling. The research explores how its behavior is influenced by two crucial parameters, 'a' and "b,' and how variations in these parameters impact statistical properties. The analysis covers theoretical and sample-based metrics, providing insights into central tendency, spread, shape, and more through tables, graphs, and histograms. The results indicate that changes in 'a' and 'b' parameters systematically alter the distribution's characteristics, while sample size affects parameter estimations. This work equips readers with a deep understanding of the Gompertz distribution's dynamics, aiding informed decisions in practical applications across diverse fields.