FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

Nigeria’s economy has been characterized by persistent macroeconomic instability, evident in its high and often volatile inflation rates and alarming unemployment figures. Misery Index in Nigeria, with an empirical focus on Hanke’s Misery Index, over the period 1992–2024. Grounded in the Quantity Theory of Money and the Phillips Curve, the study investigates how changes in money supply, exchange rate volatility, government expenditure, and oil prices influence economic distress. Using annual time series data, the research applies unit root tests to assess stationarity, correlation analysis to explore inter-variable relationships, and the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach to capture both short- and long-run dynamics. The ARDL bounds test indicates no evidence of long-run cointegration among the variables. Empirical findings reveal that increases in money supply significantly elevate the Misery Index, while exchange rate volatility does not have a significant impact. Lagged government expenditure reduces economic distress, and increase in oil price have a negative but marginally insignificant effect on the Misery Index. The study concludes that coordinated monetary and fiscal policies, informed by both inflation-output trade-offs and money supply considerations, are essential for stabilizing economic welfare in Nigeria.

Revenue generation in the nucleus and the path to modern development. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the impact of revenue generation on the development of local Government Areas. The researcher used primary and secondary methods of data collection to generate the needed data. The data obtained through questionnaire was presented in tables and expressed in simple percentages. The following were some of the findings which included poor development of the areas, lack of basic social amenities to the rural people and lack of revenue to maintain the existing infrastructures. The researcher therefore recommended that the local government should provide basic amenities of high quality. By doing so, the people's interest would be geared towards giving their maximum support to the local government which would lead to the development of the rural area.

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

The study examined the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on manpower development in Nigeria; A case study of Enugu North Local Government area. Enugu state. The existence of life in the universe is to expand in all ramification of human endeavors both in the management of existing resources as well as creation of new ones. Man by nature is adventurous and as such, will always thrive to succeed.

This study investigated the correlation between social media and the mental health of students in the University of Benin. A total of 353 undergraduate students participated in the research. The investigation focused on the influence of social media on emotional well-being, social well-being, cognitive functioning, and resilience. A detailed literature review provided the foundation for exploring these areas. Data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires and analysed using mean and standard deviation tables. The stratified random sampling technique was employed to ensure a representative selection of participants for the study. The findings revealed that social media significantly influences students' emotional well-being by shaping their self-perception, daily outlook, and emotional experiences based on their online interactions and the content they consume. It positively impacts social well-being by fostering connections and creating a sense of belonging through meaningful engagements. Social media usage also affects cognitive functioning, influencing learning habits, concentration, and critical thinking. However, excessive use disrupts essential cognitive processes necessary for academic success. Additionally, social media enhances resilience by offering support, shared experiences, and a platform to cope with challenges, though mindful engagement is required to avoid adverse effects. The research concludes that social media profoundly impacts various aspects of students' mental health, serving as both a tool for learning and a source of emotional and social support. To address these findings, schools are encouraged to implement workshops on managing social media use, promote community-focused online activities, and introduce programs that foster critical evaluation of online content

This study examined the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the challenges associated with monitoring political party campaign financing in Nigeria. Campaign financing has become a major issue in democratic governance due to the increasing influence of money in electoral processes, which often affects transparency, accountability, and fairness during elections. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of INEC in regulating and monitoring political party finances, identify the major challenges confronting the commission, and examine the implications of poor monitoring on democratic development in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Data were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected through questionnaires administered to selected respondents, while secondary data were gathered from textbooks, journals, official reports, and relevant publications. The findings revealed that INEC faces numerous challenges in monitoring political party campaign financing, including inadequate manpower, insufficient funding, weak enforcement mechanisms, corruption, lack of transparency by political parties, and political interference. The study also found that excessive campaign spending and poor financial disclosure by political parties undermine free and fair elections in Nigeria. The study concluded that although INEC has the constitutional responsibility to regulate campaign financing, several institutional and political challenges limit its effectiveness. The study therefore recommended that the Nigerian government should strengthen electoral laws, provide adequate funding and independence for INEC, enforce strict penalties against defaulters, and promote transparency and accountability in political party financing. These measures would enhance credible elections and strengthen democratic governance in Nigeria.

This study assessed the impact of the EdoJobs Programme on youth employment and economic empowerment in Benin City, Edo State. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 120 beneficiaries of the programme and analysed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings show that the programme has moderately reduced youth unemployment in Benin City, with evidence of a drop in unemployment rates over recent years. About 62.5 % of respondents reported improved income levels after participation, while 37.5 % saw no change, suggesting uneven income benefits. Skill acquisition was a major success, as 87.5 % gained useful vocational, ICT, entrepreneurship skills, and 50 % started their own businesses. Training quality was rated high, with 91.7 % agreeing that content was relevant and 88.3 % affirming the competence of facilitators. However, only 41.7 % confirmed receiving adequate post-training support, indicating weak follow-up mechanisms. The main challenges identified were lack of start-up capital (41.7 %), short training duration (25 %), limited job placement (20.8 %), and low programme awareness (12.5 %). The study concludes that EdoJobs has improved youth employability and self-reliance but remains constrained by funding gaps and inadequate post-training support. It recommends stronger government–private sector collaboration, improved access to finance, and continuous mentoring to achieve sustainable youth empowerment in Edo State.

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 study investigated democratic institutions and national development in Nigeria with Edo State as the focal point. The persistent challenge of weak institutional frameworks, corruption, and governance deficits continues to undermine Nigeria’s democratic
consolidation and developmental progress. As a result, key institutions such as the legislature, judiciary, and electoral bodies often struggle to fulfil their mandates effectively, thereby limiting their ability to drive socio-economic and political development in the country. Pertinent questions were raised such as, how have democratic institutions contributed to the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria since the return to democratic rule? to give the research a focus. The study adopted descriptive research survey design to address issue in the subject matter. The sample size was made up of 100 respondents. The data collected was analyzed using frequency count and simple percentage. The study was anchored on the Modernization Theory, which emphasizes the role of stable, transparent, and accountable institutions in sustaining democracy and national development. The study revealed that democratic institutions have contributed to Nigeria’s socio- economic and political development since the return to democratic governance, particularly through law-making, electoral reforms, and the promotion of civic
participation. However, the findings equally showed that the influence of these institutions on good governance, transparency, and accountability remains limited due to political interference, corruption, inadequate funding, and poor institutional capacity. The study concluded that strengthening democratic institutions is essential for enhancing national development in Nigeria. Reforms such as improved institutional autonomy, stronger anti-corruption mechanisms, adequate funding, capacity building, and the
enforcement of constitutional provisions were identified as necessary for revitalising democratic institutions. The study recommended, among others, that government at all levels should priorities institutional reforms, promote transparency, and ensure strict
adherence to democratic principles to achieve sustainable national development in Edo State and Nigeria at large.

The fundamental purpose of local government is to bring government closer to the people
at the grass root level in a federal heterogeneous state. It impact embraces the
continuous provision of basic public amenities and promoting economic and social
development amongst it citizenry and in its environ. Thus, this research examines the
impact of local government administration on economic and social development
strategies in Iyanomo community of Ikpoba-Okha local government Area of Edo State.
The study adopted survey research design; questionnaires were used as instrument of
data collection and simple percentage was used to analyze the data. The study found
amongst others that, local government weak financial base hinders them from meeting
their developmental goals which explains the lack of stable electricity, amenities,
dilapidated roads, weak institutions, ill equipped health care centers and lack of other
basic amenities across Nigeria particular Iyanomo Community. Furthermore, policy
recommendations were adopted; they include that, local government statutory allocation
should be upwardly reviewed from 52.68%, 26.72% and 20.6% to 52.1%, 25.9% and
22.0% at the federal, state and local governments respectively. Local government should
be allowed to function without the control of federal and state government. Federal
allocation meant for local government should be sent directly to local government and
not through state -local government joint account. Finally the local government
leadership should be constantly engage in the strategic developmental project devoid of
corrupt practices using federal allocation and internally generated revenue within its
local government.