FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

The study examines the relative impact of government expenditure and external reserves on economic growth in Nigeria within the period 1986-2023, using vector autoregressive methodology. The results revealed that government expenditure on health sector impacts negatively on economic growth while that of education, defence and external reserves impact positively on economic growth. The study recommends that government should increase budgetary allocation and stimulate more funding channels to education and health sectors of the economy. Also, government should allocate more to capital expenditures of education and health than to recurrent expenditures of same in order improve the quality of facilities, materials and equipment in the education and health sectors.

This study accesses the socio-economic effects of rural-urban migration on selected peri-urban and rural settlements in Ovia North-East Local Government Area. The objectives of the study were to identify the causes of rural-urban migration in the
selected rural and peri-urban community, highlight the effects of rural-urban migration and suggest ways of controlling rural-urban migration in the study area. The study was carried out through the use of cross-sectional survey design, which essentially
involves the collection of data from sampled population at one point in time to be used to draw inferences for the entire population. Structured questionnaire was administered to obtain information through field survey conducted in the study area. The method of data collection was through questionnaire. The questions were structured in a way that it consists of tructured/close–ended questions and unstructured/open-ended questions, to collect information on the socio-economic and
demographic characteristics of the respondents, the causes and effects of rural-urban migration in the study area as well as the possible ways to checkmate the increasing rate of rural-urban migration. The questions also elicit response for the purpose of
analysing the socio-economic effects of rural-urban migration on selected peri-urban rural settlements in Ekiadolor and Ugbogiobo. From the analysis of data the study showed that the out-migration of people to urban areas from the study area has had significant impacts on Ekiadolor and Ugbogiobo Communities as affirmed by 70.78% of the sampled population, unemployment and lack of basic amenities are major 12 factors responsible for the migration of people from the study area to urban areas. The study recommends that government should put appropriate structures in place to create a conducive and enabling environment for rural businesses in Ekiadolor and Ugbogiobo to thrive and also create skill acquisition centres in the study area aimed to complement employment opportunities by enabling the youth to be trained within their rural domain while still having the opportunity to participate in agricultural activities such as farming.

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 examines the relative impact of government expenditure and external reserves on economic growth in Nigeria within the period 1986-2023, using vector autoregressive methodology. The results revealed that government expenditure on health sector impacts negatively on economic growth while that of education, defence and external reserves impact positively on economic growth. The study recommends that government should increase budgetary allocation and stimulate more funding channels to education and health sectors of the economy. Also, government should allocate more to capital expenditures of education and health than to recurrent expenditures of same in order improve the quality of facilities, materials and equipment in the education and health sectors.

This study examines the effect of staff training on workers performance: a case study of Ifo local government secretariat. To carryout the study ,five objectives and four research questions were derived from the statement of the problems. The simple random sampling method was used to select sample size of 300 (three hundred) respondents. To test the research questions, data were collected with the aid of questionnaires and other relevant documents and literature. The data generated through the instrument were analyzed using the chi-square. The study revealed that the study revealed that staff training and development in organisation leads to increase in workers’ productivity and performance and also that staff development in an organisation enhances employee’s effectiveness and efficiency. The study also revealed that the acquisition of new skills by workers help in boosting their moral. Furthermore, the study also shows that staff training and development in organisation helps to motivate workers to put in their best at work. The study recommends that Ifo Local government should adopt modern practices toenhance their productivity. A permanent autonomous body should be established or contracted by the authority of the Ifo L. G. A. to induct and update knowledge of new and old staff on their job and to co-ordinate the activities of training and development on continuous basis

This study investigated the mental health challenges affecting residents in Uselu Community, Egor Local Government Area, Benin City, Edo State. To achieve the purpose of the study, fifteen (15) research questions subdivided into five (5) thematic parts were raised and answered. The population of the study consisted of residents living within key areas of Uselu Community. Available data from the National Population Census (NPC, 2025) indicates that Uselu Community forms part of the estimated 404,218 residents in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The sample size for this study consisted of sixty (60) respondents. The data collected was analyzed using frequency count and simple percentage. The study revealed that there is a significant presence of mental health challenges in Uselu Community, particularly stress, depression, anxiety, substance-related issues, and emotional strain. It was concluded that these challenges are driven by socio-economic difficulties, stigma, limited awareness of mental health, cultural beliefs, and poor access to professional care. The findings further showed that while some residents possess basic knowledge of mental health, many still avoid seeking help due to fear of discrimination. The study also revealed that social workers contribute through counselling, advocacy, community sensitization, referral services, and direct support to vulnerable individuals, although their efforts are often hindered by inadequate resources. The study recommended among others that the government, health agencies, and community leaders should intensify mental health awareness campaigns and strengthen access to community-based mental health services. Social workers should be provided with adequate tools to implement effective intervention strategies. Local authorities must also create mechanisms to monitor mental health risks and encourage early reporting and treatment of affected persons

Access to higher education is universally acknowledged as a critical driver of individual empowerment and national development. In Nigeria, however, the pathway to tertiary education is often obstructed by financial barriers that prevent many deserving students from pursuing their academic aspirations. This financial exclusion not only hampers human capital development but also reinforces the cycle of poverty and inequality (Odia & Omofonmwan, 2007). Over the years, the demand for university education in Nigeria has risen significantly due to population growth, increased awareness of the importance of education, and a youthful demographic. However, this surge in demand has not been matched by a corresponding increase in public funding. Government subventions to public universities have remained relatively stagnant, leading to overcrowded classrooms, decaying infrastructure, and underfunded student support systems. Consequently, many students find themselves unable to afford tuition and associated costs, resulting in either non-enrollment or premature dropout. 8 Recognizing these systemic challenges, the Federal Government of Nigeria introduced the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) in 2023, as a bold and transformative step toward democratizing access to higher education. Enacted under the Nigeria Student Loan Act and signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, NELFUND aims to provide interest-free loans to undergraduates in public tertiary institutions, thus removing financial hardship as a barrier to educational attainment (Edugist, 2023; Premium Times, 2023)

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.

This study examined the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on knowledge acquisitionamongstudents of the University of Benin. The study was guided by four specific objectives, whichsought to determine the extent of students’ awareness and utilization of AI tools, assess theimpact of AI on students’ learning outcomes, identify the challenges associated with AI useinacademic activities, and explore students’ perceptions of AI as a tool for enhancing knowledgeacquisition. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A total of 200 respondentswere selected from various faculties within the University of Benin through a stratifiedrandomsampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzedusingdescriptive and inferential statistical tools. Findings revealed that a majority of the studentswere aware of and frequently used AI tools such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, and Google Bardforlearning and research purposes. The results further indicated that AI significantly enhancesstudents’ ability to access information, improve comprehension, and develop critical thinkingskills. However, challenges such as limited technical skills, unreliable internet access, andfearof academic dishonesty were identified as barriers to ef ective AI integration. The studyconcluded that AI serves as a powerful catalyst for knowledge acquisition when properly utilizedand recommended that the university provide training programs, stable internet facilities, andclear policies to guide the ethical use of AI in learning