FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

The study focused on the characterizing, classifying and identify the soil-forming processes in a waterlogged soil in Ovia north East Local Government Area, Edo State for the purpose of providing an understanding of the ecosystem and land-use sustainability. A soil profile of up to 180 cm was dug in the Area, and six soil samples were drawn from the each of the horizons in the profile for laboratory analysis. The morphological properties of these soils: colour, soil structure, soil consistence, drainage, boundaries and root inclusions were recorded in the field. The soil samples collected were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. The treatments were non- eplicated and the data was analysed using different weathering indices. The results showed that the soil in the study area has a moderate, medium, sub-angular blocky structure in the topsoil, with colours ranging from dark reddish brown to red. The bulk density of the soil was found to be within acceptable limits. The water holding capacity (WHC) was highest in the subsurface horizon and lowest in the surface horizons, with the highest values found at the Bt2 horizon and the lowest at the AB horizon. The pH of the soil was slightly acid to neutral and did not show a clear pattern throughout the profile. available phosphorus was very low and not sufficient for crop production. The levels of micronutrients in the soil, including manganese, copper, zinc, and iron, were higher than necessary for crop plant growth, and crops sensitive to these micronutrients should not be planted. The soil contained high levels of heterogeneous bacteria and fungi, with microbial activity being particularly high at the topsoil. However, microbial activity decreased with soil depth. There is evidence of transformation, translocation of clay, eluviation, illuviation, and leaching. The soils were classified according to the USDA Soil Taxonomy as Typic Kandiudults. These findings provide important information for understanding the suitability of the soil for crop production and identifying potential management strategies. To improve the productivity of the soil in the study area, the study recommends putting in place a well-functioning drainage system and water management facilities, engaging in good organic matter management practices, including the use of farmyard manure, and periodically applying lime to the soil.

This study investigated the influence of grinding fineness on heavy metal leaching across seven common food matrices—melon, tomatoes, pepper, white and yellow corn, beans, groundnut, and crayfish—using both household and industrial tools. Samples were processed at two fineness levels (coarse and smooth), and analyzed for iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb). Results showed that smooth grinding consistently produced higher Fe and Zn concentrations than coarse grinding, indicating that finer particle exposure and increased friction enhance metal transfer from processing tools. Iron levels were highest in beans (10.97 mg/kg), followed by crayfish (6.47 mg/kg) and white corn (4.64 mg/kg), while zinc peaked in crayfish (1.15 mg/kg) and groundnut (0.82 mg/kg). Manganese levels were moderate, with the highest concentrations in pepper (0.71 mg/kg) and melon (0.58 mg/kg). Nickel appeared only in isolated smooth-ground samples, while cadmium and lead were largely undetected, except for trace levels in melon (0.015 mg/kg) and tomatoes (0.00008 mg/kg). Blenders, hand crank grinders, and aged milling machines contributed most to metal leaching, whereas traditional tools such as mortars and grinding stones showed comparatively lower contamination. Although detected metal levels generally fell within international food safety limits, cumulative exposure may pose long-term health risks. The study concludes that grinding fineness, tool type, and equipment age are key factors influencing heavy metal migration during food processing, and recommends routine equipment maintenance, use of food-grade materials, and increased public awareness to minimize contamination and ensure safer household and industrial food processing practices.

his study investigates the effects of gender dynamics and sexual harassment on students at the University of Benin, with a specific focus on the impact these issues have on academic performance. Gender-related challenges, including sexual harassment, continue to affect university students, influencing their overall educational experiences. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted with 100 students to explore the relationship between gender dynamics, sexual harassment, and academic outcomes. The findings reveal a significant negative correlation, with students who experience sexual harassment or encounter gender Based discrimination showing lower academic performance compared to their peers. The study identifies stress, fear of retaliation, and lack of institutional support as major contributors to the detrimental effects of these issues. Based on the findings, the research recommends the establishment of robust counseling services, awareness programs, and stronger institutional policies to address gender-based violence and harassment. This research highlights the need for comprehensive interventions to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.

This study examined social perception of stigmatization and alienation of single
motherhood in Ogbadigbo Community. This study is a survey design which was used to administer questionnaire to gather data from targeted respondents. The data was analysed using simple percentages and frequency tables. The study showed that there is high level of stigmatization and alienation on single mothers in Ogbadigbo Community area of Benue State. The study also showed that there are different coping strategies utilized by single mothers in Ogbadigbo Community area of Benue State. The study recommended that communities where single mothers should be made to accommodate single mothers since many of them just find themselves in the condition in Ogbadigbo Community area of Benue State. Single mothers should try to find comfortable level of personality as to help them out of low self-esteem in Ogbadigbo Community area of Benue State.

This project examined Domestic violence in Benin: A study of Ekosodin community in Benin City, Edo State. The objectives of the study are to identify the concept of domestic violence in Ekosodin, with a focus on understanding the scope and nature of the problem, examine the social, cultural, and economic factors that contribute to domestic violence in the area, and how they impact victims, perpetrators, and the community, assess the effectiveness of existing interventions, policies, and programs aimed at preventing and responding to domestic violence in Ekosodin, develop evidence-based recommendations for improving prevention and response strategies, and enhancing support services for survivors of domestic violence in the area, as well as find out the role of social workers in domestic violence in Ekosodin. The survey research method was used which consist of frequency, percentage means and a cross-abulation method was also used to test the structured hypothesis in the study. A total number of 400 questionnaires was distributed to women ranging from those who are single to those in relationships, to the married, separated, divorced and widowers. The statistical analysis was used with the goal of performing the empirical analysis and obtaining estimated coefficients, SPSS was used as statistical package in this study. From the findings, it was revealed that domestic violence is a widespread issue in Ekosodin that significantly impacts families and communities, often leading to long-term physical and psychological consequences. The study also, revealed that the nature of domestic violence in Ekosodin primarily involves physical abuse, with emotional and psychological abuse being less common. It was also revealed that patriarchal social norms and gender inequality significantly contributes to the persistence of domestic violence. It can be concluded that domestic violence is a widespread issue in Ekosodin that significantly impact families and communities, often leading to long-term physical and psychological consequences. Also, victims of domestic violence in Ekosodin often faces challenges in reporting the abuse dues to cultural and stigma and fear of social judgement. Also, the economic dependence on an abusive partner is one of the main reasons victims of domestic violence in Ekosodin are unable to leave their abusers. Substance abuse (e.g., alcohol or drugs) is often a major factor contributing to violent behavior in domestic relationships. And also the current legal frameworks in Ekosodin, such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP), are effectively enforced to address domestic violence. It can also be concluded that providing economic empowerment programs for women in Ekosodin, such as job training and microfinance initiatives, will help reduce their dependency on abusive partners. It was recommended that there is a need to enhance community education and awareness campaigns to address cultural stigma and encourage victims to report abuse. Public education should focus on challenging patriarchal norms and informing people about available support services. There is a need to promote economic empowerment for women through job training programs and microfinance initiatives. This will reduce women’s financial dependence on abusive partners and give them the means to leave violent situations. There is a need to strengthen law enforcement training to improve their response to domestic violence cases. Officers should be trained to handle such cases with sensitivity and ensure that victims feel safe when reporting abuse. And also there is a need to increase access to legal support services for victims of domestic violence. with sensitivity and ensure that victims feel safe when reporting abuse. And also there is a need to increase access to legal support services for victims of domestic violence.

This study investigated gender inequality and women employment opportunities in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The sample size was made up of 90 respondents. The data collected was analyzed using frequency count and simple percentage. The study revealed that societal norms, lack of access to education, lack of governmental support, gender stereotype and limited access to finance are the factors responsible for gender discrimination on employment opportunities for women in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. It was concluded that there is high level of gender inequality in employment opportunities among women in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The study recommends that government should make concerted efforts towards ensuring women have access to credit loans which they could use to start up their own businesses. It was also recommended that the Senate and House of Representatives should consider the adoption of a bill that constitutes strategies to fight against discrimination in Nigeria.

Social vices among youths pose a significant challenge in communities worldwide, and Oluku in Edo State, Nigeria, is no exception. This study investigates the social control mechanisms aimed at correcting such behaviors in Oluku community. Drawing on a survey methods approach, the research explored the effectiveness of various social systems, including education, family, mass media, religion, civil society and government, in mitigating youth deviance. Convenience and purposive sampling techniques were used for selecting data and SPSS was used for the data analysis. Findings from the study revealed a nuanced understanding of social control mechanisms and highlighted persistent challenges, such as unemployment and family breakdown, hindering their efficacy. Recommendations for enhancing social control strategies and fostering positive youth development were discussed, aiming to contribute to the formulation of evidence- based policies tailored to the specific needs of Oluku community.

The issue of national security is contentious and indeed, a subject of immense concern to every Nigeria and Government which has ruled from independence to the present day. It is a subject that concerns the survival of a nation in the international system. However, there is a correlation between national security and pursuit of a foreign policy. In the past, there was demarcation between foreign policy and national defence policy. The truth remains that no nation can play meaningful role in the international system, if the state does not have dynamic foreign policy linked up with her defence policy.

This study examines the spatial distribution and utilization of fire services in Benin City. The aim of this study is to examine the way fire services are spatially distributed across space, if they are evenly distributed or sparsely distributed. Are fire services in Benin City enough to cover and attend to the needs of all the people in Benin City and where the fire services are located can they reach the people on time to avoid casualties; to examine the usefulness and utilization of fire services in Benin City, are fire services efficient in the sense of executing maximum productivity when performing their duties; to examine the efficiency and availability of firefighting equipment in fire services in cases of fire outbreak, are there enough equipment to combat the fire and how useful are this equipment and to evaluate the causes of fire services in Benin City and how it should be prevented. It will also discuss the challenges faced by fire services and the solutions to resolve these challenges. A total of 409 questionnaires were administered to respondents and coordinates of fire service stations were also collected for spatial analysis. It was discovered that fire service stations in the study area are clustered. The stations were also affirmed to be understaffed and ill-equipped especially in Ovia North East Local Government Area where there is only one fire service station. It was severally suggested that the government should adequately equip fire stations as this will ensure their optimal operation. Adequate education and sensitization on fire safety was also suggested as an
action plan to combat fire hazards in Benin Metropolis.

This study investigates the efficiency of monetary policies in controlling inflation in Nigeria using annual data from 2000 to 2023 and applying the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach. The analysis incorporates inflation as the dependent variable and Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), broad money supply (M2), exchange rate (EXR), gross domestic product (GDP), and foreign direct investment (FDI) as explanatory variables. The results reveal a stable long-run relationship among the variables, supported by a significantly negative error correction term that indicates rapid adjustment toward equilibrium after short-run shocks.
The findings show that exchange rate movements exert a strong positive and significant influence on inflation in both the short and long run, confirming that currency depreciation remains a major driver of price increases. Conversely, the monetary policy rate exhibits no significant impact on inflation, suggesting weaknesses in Nigeria’s monetary transmission mechanism. Broad money supply demonstrates a negative and significant relationship with inflation, implying that liquidity growth does not immediately fuel inflation and may be absorbed productively in the economy. GDP and FDI display mixed and lagged effects, with long-run impacts that highlight the importance of economic activity and investment in shaping long-term inflation dynamics.
The study concludes that while monetary policy is essential for managing inflation, its effectiveness in Nigeria is constrained by exchange rate instability, structural rigidities, and weak policy transmission. Strengthening monetary fiscal coordination, improving exchange rate management, enhancing financial sector depth, and promoting productive investment are crucial for achieving sustainable price stability.