FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

This study was conducted to examine the impact of child abuse and neglect in Etsako East Local Government Area. The objectives of this study were to; examine the impact of child abuse and neglect on the physical health of children in Etsako East Local Government Area, examine the impact of child abuse and neglect on the education of children in Etsako East Local Government Area, examine the impact of child abuse and neglect on the emotional health of children in Etsako East Local Government Area and to examine the impact of child abuse and neglect on the medical well-being of children in Etsako East Local Government Area. The descriptive research design was adopted and used in carrying out the study and the population consisted of all the students in secondary schools in Etsako LGA, with a sample size of 250 respondents. The instrument used for data collection was a self-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was validated by the project supervisor and two other lecturers in the Department of Social Works. The split half reliability method was used to establish the reliability of the questionnaire. A total of two hundred and fifty (250) questionnaires were administered to the sample respondents and data collected was analyzed using frequency count and percentage. The findings of the study revealed that; child abuse and neglect has a bad impact on the physical health of children in Etsako East Local Government Area. Also, findings from the study further revealed that child abuse and neglect has a negative impact on the education of children in Etsako East Local Government Area. It was also revealed that child abuse and neglect has a bad impact on the emotional health of children in Etsako East Local Government Area. Lastly, findings from this study also revealed that there is no negative impact on the medical well being of children in Etsako East Local Government Area due to child abuse and neglect. Based on the findings of the study on the impact of child abuse and neglect in Etsako East Local Government Area (LGA), it was thus recommended that; community sensitization programs should be organized to educate parents, caregivers, and community members about the forms, signs, and consequences of child abuse and neglect, advocate for the strict enforcement of child protection laws, including the Child Rights Act, to ensure perpetrators of abuse face appropriate penalties, establishment of child-friendly reporting mechanisms that allow victims and concerned individuals to report cases of abuse confidentially and without fear of retribution. Training of social workers, teachers, healthcare providers, and law 12 enforcement officials to identify and respond effectively to cases of child abuse and neglect.

This study investigates the socio-cultural factors influencing domestic violence against women in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The research seeks to identify how traditional beliefs, cultural norms, gender roles, and social expectations contribute to the prevalence and acceptance of domestic violence within the community. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were collected through questionnaires administered to a representative sample of women in the study area. The findings revealed that factors such as patriarchy, economic dependency, cultural silence, and societal stigma play significant roles in perpetuating domestic violence. The study further discovered that most victims are reluctant to report abuse due to fear of social rejection, economic insecurity, and lack of institutional support. It concludes that addressing domestic violence requires not only legal interventions but also cultural reorientation and community-based awareness programs aimed at promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. The study recommends that government agencies, traditional institutions, and civil society organizations collaborate to challenge harmful cultural practices and strengthen support systems for victims of domestic violence in Egor Local Government Area.

The global economic and financial crisis/ meltdown which the whole world witnessed in the past few years, took a toll on Nigerian and African economies. This project research work examines its impacts and implications. In the course of doing this, the paper looks at its origin/causes, global spread factors), polices responses and of course some possible recommendations for more effective and positive results, in order to insulate African's and Nigerian's economies from possible future occurrence of the financial crises. Consequently, in exploring this subject matter, this paper examins the impact and policy responses starting with Western economy of Europe and America, it then trickles down to the African gradual economic integration to the global economy, right from the colonial era, and the ripple effects of the global financial doom on the economic sectors of African which are; real sector, financial sector, fiscal sector and external sector, focussing on foreign exchange market.
Furthermore, it moves down to Nigerian political economy, highlighting the impact and the recovery prospects from the oil sector. Finally, the research carried out, examined and interpreted a survey finding which was undertaken by the researcher to ascertain and substantiates the causes, spread, impact of the financial crunch/ downturn and the level of the potency of policy responses to ameliorate the negative impact. The result of the survey shows that, corruption, sharp practices, greed, inadequate financial managerial skill and knowledge by the financial regulators and institutions among others caused the global liquidity squeeze and economic integration (globalization) as being responsible for its global spread and also that there is a fair awareness of the impact among Nigerians. Some viable policy prescriptions and recommendations were therefore proffered, like, building a virile economy through indiginization of financial and economic reforms, increasing measures to deter and checkmate greed and sharp practices by financial institutions and regulators, employment of professionals and experts in economic and financial sectors together with regular and periodic training on latest operation techniques, taking the issue of economic diversification and fiscal discipline seriously to ensure resilient self reliant economy, among others.

This study explores the intersection of social work, gender equality, and women's empowerment in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. It examines the role of social work in promoting gender equality and empowering women, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in this context. The study employs a Survey Research Design method of data collection. The findings reveal that social work interventions can significantly impact women's empowerment and gender equality, but face challenges such as cultural and societal norms, limited resources, and inadequate policy implementation. The study concludes that social work can play a vital role in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment in Benin City, and recommends increased investment in social work programs, policy reforms, and community engagement.

This study was conducted to examine the impact of child abuse and neglect in Etsako East Local Government Area. The objectives of this study were to; examine the impact of child abuse and neglect on the physical health of children in Etsako East Local Government Area, examine the impact of child abuse and neglect on the education of children in Etsako East Local Government Area, examine the impact of child abuse and neglect on the emotional health of children in Etsako East Local Government Area and to examine the impact of child abuse and neglect on the medical well-being of children in Etsako East Local Government Area. The descriptive research design was adopted and used in carrying out the study and the population consisted of all the students in secondary schools in Etsako LGA, with a sample size of 250 respondents. The instrument used for data collection was a self-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was validated by the project supervisor and two other lecturers in the Department of Social Works. The split half reliability method was used to establish the reliability of the questionnaire. A total of two hundred and fifty (250) questionnaires were administered to the sample respondents and data collected was analyzed using frequency count and percentage. The findings of the study revealed that; child abuse and neglect has a bad impact on the physical health of children in Etsako East Local Government Area. Also, findings from the study further revealed that child abuse and neglect has a negative impact on the education of children in Etsako East Local Government Area. It was also revealed that child abuse and neglect has a bad impact on the emotional health of children in Etsako East Local Government Area. Lastly, findings from this study also revealed that there is no negative impact on the medical well being of children in Etsako East Local Government Area due to child abuse and neglect.

This study examines the impact of urbanization on economic growth in Nigeria. The
objectives here are to assess the predictive relationship between urban population growth and Nigeria’s real GDP from 1990 to 2024, to examine the short-run and long-run effects of urbanization on Nigeria’s industrial output using econometric models, to investigate how urban infrastructure factors (e.g., electricity access, road density) mediate the impact of urbanization on economic performance across major Nigerian cities.This study employs the auto regressive distribution lag (ARDL) model to analyze the impact of urbanization quantity, urbanization concentration, infrastructure, human capital and unemployment rate on urbanization and its effect on economic growth in Nigeria. The study made use of time series data from 1990 to 2024 with data sourced from the world bank world development indicator.From the findings of this study, it shows that there is a long run equilibrium relationship between economic growth and its explanatory variables, while excessive concentration in the cities negatively affect growth in the long run, education shows a negative short run effect but is insignificant in the long run while infrastructure when combined with urbanization especially in large cities enhances growth.Overall, the results highlight urbanization as a key driver of growth, with infrastructure, education, and labour market conditions shaping its effectiveness.

This study investigates the impact of depression on adolescents and explores the role of school social workers in addressing this mental health issue in secondary schools within Egor Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State, Nigeria. Depression among adolescents has become a growing concern due to its adverse effects on academic performance, behavior, and social relationships. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of depression among adolescents, identify its major causes, and examine the availability and effectiveness of school social workers in managing students' mental health challenges. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire which included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess depression levels. A total of 370 students from selected secondary schools in Egor LGA participated in the study. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, and the Chi-square statistical tool to test for significant differences. Findings revealed that 63.5% ofrespondents experienced symptoms of depression ranging from mild to severe. The leading causes of depression included academic pressure, family conflicts, social isolation, and financial difficulties. Female students were found to exhibit higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to male students. Furthermore, the study found that the presence of school social workers was limited, and their role in managing adolescent depression was underutilized due to staffing shortages and lack of awareness. The study concludes that depression significantly affects adolescents in secondary schools, and that there is a pressing need to strengthen mental health support systems, particularly by increasing the presence and functionality of school social workers