FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

An increasing unemployment rate in Sub-SaharanAfrican economies presents amajor problem for the continent’s economies today. Since the early 1980s, economists and policymakers inNigeria have been deeply concerned about the issue of unemployment.Publicandprivatesectorsarepayingmoreattentiontothisphenomenondue tofinancialcrisis and this has exacerbated the country’s unemployment problem and, in turn, the country’s security issue. It is based on this premise that this study sought to examine the impact of unemployment on insecurity in Nigeria using the following research questions; how endemic is the unemployment situation in Nigeria? What is the relationship between unemployment and insecurity in Nigeria? How has unemployment brought about insecurity in Nigeria? To answer the aforementioned questions, the study employed the quantitativemethodology using the questionnaire as the primary mode of data collection. The major findings of the study were that; insecurity in all its forms has a negative impact on the unemployment situation in Nigeria which have further plunged the nation with increased hunger and instability. The general breakdown of law and order was said to have adversely affected the unemployment situation. Bad leadership was suggested as a possible reason for the rising insecurity situation across the country and that lack of Jobs drives youths to engage in all sorts of activities that cause insecurity. The study recommended that the administration of President Buhari must expand and improve upon its social intervention programmes to ensure the creation and provision of jobs to both skills and un-skills citizens of the country. This would go a long way in reducing poverty, and thereby minimizing the rate of crime in Nigeria and among Nigerians. Governance must therefore work to the benefit of its own citizens. Poverty and inequality should be eliminated if Nigeria is to be spared of violence. The government should create job opportunities for its unemployed youth. Without opportunity to work the people would feel that the society is against them and will wage war against them. Provision of employment has to be Nigerian priority.

This study investigated the impact of school social workers on students' academic performance in public senior secondary schools within Egor Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. The main objective were to With a sample size of 100 participants, including 70 students and 30 teachers selected through stratified random sampling, the research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to assess variables such as attendance rates, behavioral issues, and academic grades. The findings revealed a significant positive correlation between the presence of school social workers and improved academic outcomes. Specifically, 65% of students reported enhanced emotional support and reduced absenteeism due to interventions by social workers, leading to a 15% average increase in examination scores compared to schools without such services. Qualitative data highlighted that social workers effectively addressed socio-economic challenges, family issues, and mental health barriers, fostering a conducive learning environment. In conclusion, school social workers play a crucial role in enhancing students' academic performance by mitigating non-academic obstacles. The study recommends increased funding and integration of social work services in public schools to promote holistic student development. These insights underscore the need for policy reforms in Egor LGA to prioritize social worker roles for sustainable educational improvements.

This study investigates the role of social media in the political mobilization of youths in Edo State, Nigeria, focusing on the 2020 governorship election. It examines how platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were utilized to disseminate political information, organize campaigns, and influence voter behavior among young people. The research explores the extent to which social media facilitated political participation, shaped public opinion, and impacted the overall electoral process.
The methodology involves a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews. Surveys were administered to a sample of youths in Edo State to gather data on their social media usage, political engagement, and voting preferences. In-depth interviews were conducted with political actors, campaign strategists, and youth activists to gain insights into their experiences and perspectives on social media's influence.
The findings reveal that social media played a significant role in the 2020 Edo State governorship election. It served as a crucial tool for political campaigns to reach young voters, mobilize support, and counter opposing narratives. Social media platforms enabled youths to access political information, engage in discussions, and organize protests. However, the study also highlights the challenges associated with social media, such as the spread of misinformation, the polarization of political discourse, and the potential for manipulation. The conclusion emphasizes the transformative impact of social media on political mobilization in Edo State. It underscores the need for media literacy and critical thinking skills to navigate the complexities of the digital landscape. The study recommends that political actors and policymakers develop strategies to harness the potential of social media while mitigating its risks.

This study examines Drug Abuse Among University Undergraduates in the University of
Benin, Edo State. The population of the study consist of 300 and 400 level
undergraduates in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City. The total population of students in the study area was about 2,940. In other to determine the sample size, the researcher used a 5% level of significance. The sample size was derived using Yaro Yamnane formula. The result that was gotten using TamnaneYaro formula was 352 from the total population, and 150 was taken from the population size of the study. Data was analyzed by means of table and frequency. The study conclude that drug abuse constitutes one of the major social problems in Nigeria because of the hazardous effect on the health of people and also psychologically, physically, socially, educationally etc. from the finding, the following conclusion were made that drug abuse is a social problem basically associated with young people. These young people involve themselves in taking hard drugs and excessive taking of some drugs which may alter the body system or may cause damage to the health. Drug abuseis very common among undergraduates. Drug is mostly abused by male undergraduates
than female. The study therefore made the following recommendations that parents andschool authorities should advise the undergraduates to refrain from indulging in drugabuse. National Drug Law Enforcement Agency should organize its workshop and seminars on drug free education in various secondary schools and institution of higher
learning in the country. Legislation should be enacted to penalize haulage companies
especially transporters who do not implement and enforce procedure to prevent misuse of their facilities by drug trafickers. The curriculum for drug education should be developed and made to be taught at all level of the educational system.

The rapid evolution of digital technologies has transformed how businesses attract, engage, and retain customers, making digital marketing a vital tool for organisational growth. This study examined the relationship between digital marketing practices and the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Benin City, Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigated the effects of social media marketing, search engine optimisation, email marketing, and content marketing on SME growth. The research adopted a quantitative survey design, with data collected from selected SMEs operating within Benin City. Hypotheses were tested using statistical techniques to determine the significance of the relationships between the identified digital marketing practices and SME growth indicators. The findings revealed a positive and significant relationship between social media marketing and SME growth, as well as between search engine optimisation and SME growth. Similarly, content marketing demonstrated a positive and significant effect on SME growth. In contrast, email marketing showed a positive but insignificant relationship with SME growth, suggesting limited effectiveness in the studied context. These findings highlight the importance of leveraging social media, SEO, and content strategies to drive business expansion while recognising the need for improved email marketing adoption and practices. The study concludes that digital marketing practices are critical enablers of SME growth in Benin City, but their impact varies across different strategies. It recommends that SME owners and managers invest in capacity building, technology adoption, and tailored digital strategies to enhance xiv competitiveness. Policy makers are also encouraged to support SMEs with training, digital infrastructure, and enabling policies that foster sustainable growth in the digital economy

The influence of social media on youth behavior has become a major concern, particularly regarding its role in promoting drug abuse. This study investigates how social media contributes to drug use among youths in General Ovia North East, Edo State, focusing on the relationship between exposure to online content, peer interactions, and drug-related behaviors. The objectives were to determine the types of social media content that influence drug use, examine the role of peer pressure in online spaces, and assess youths’ awareness of the risks associated with substance abuse. A mixed-methods research design was employed, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to capture a holistic understanding of the phenomenon. Data were collected from youths aged 15–30 years, using structured questionnaires and semi-structured interview guides. Quantitative findings indicate a significant correlation between high social media usage and increased susceptibility to drug abuse, while qualitative insights reveal that peer influence, online trends, and social validation strongly affect youths’ attitudes toward drug experimentation. Additionally, many respondents perceive drug use as socially normalized within certain online communities.
The study concludes that social media plays a critical role in shaping youth behaviors, both directly through exposure to drug-related content and indirectly through peer influence. Recommendations include the implementation of targeted awareness campaigns, parental supervision, and policy interventions to mitigate the negative impact of social media on youths. This research provides valuable evidence for public health practitioners, educators, and community leaders in designing strategies to prevent and reduce drug abuse among youths in Edo State and similar communities

This study investigates the determinants of unemployment in Nigeria using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and data from 1999 to 2023. The empirical findings reveal that in the short run, population growth and real GDP have a significant
negative impact on unemployment while inflation and government expenditure exhibit a positive and significant effect on unemployment. In the long run, population growth continues to have a significant negative impact on unemployment, inflation remains positively related to unemployment, government expenditure maintains a positive relationship with unemployment
while real GDP has a negative effect on unemployment, underscoring the importance of sustained economic growth in fostering employment. Based on these findings, the study recommends policies aimed at tackling unemployment. Specifically, inflation control measures should be implemented to stabilize prices and support employment-friendly macroeconomic conditions and government expenditure should be efficiently allocated to high-impact sectors such as education, vocational training, and technology-driven industries to maximize job creation.

This study investigates the impact of agricultural funding on food production in Nigeria from 1990 to 2022, focusing on key variables including agricultural machinery, deposit money banks' loan to the agricultural sector, federal government's annual agriculture expenditure, and agricultural credit guarantee scheme. Using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis, the study provides valuable insights into the relationship between these factors and food production outcomes. The results reveal a significant positive influence of agricultural machinery on food production, highlighting the importance of mechanization in enhancing agricultural productivity. Additionally, higher government expenditure on agriculture is found to positively influence food production levels. However, the relationship between bank loans to the agricultural sector and food production is inconclusive, warranting further investigation. The presence of an agricultural credit guarantee scheme shows a significant but unexpected negative impact on food production, calling for deeper exploration. Based on these findings, policy recommendations are proposed, including prioritizing investments in agricultural machinery, increasing government expenditure on agriculture, and revamping
agricultural credit schemes. These measures aim to enhance agricultural productivity, ensure food security, and contribute to sustainable economic development in Nigeria.

The broad objective of this study is to examine impact of trade openness on manufacturing sector performance in Nigeria. This study investigates the intricate relationships among manufacturing value added (MAN), trade openness (TOP), exchange rate (LNEXR), interest rate (LNIR), imports (IMP), and exports (LNXPT) over a 41-year period from 1981 to 2021, employing various econometric techniques. Descriptive statistic was conducted to know the raw nature of all variables, the unit root test using the
Augmented Dicky-fuller test to check for stationarity of the variables. The co-integration analysis using the bounds test was used to check if there is a long run relationship between the variable and the ARDL-ECM approach was used to analyze the data for both the short run and long run analysis. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller test confirms that all variables are non-stationary at levels but stationary after first differencing, indicating they are integrated of order one, I(1). The ARDL Bound Test establishes a long-run
equilibrium relationship among the variables, with a computed F-statistic of 10.76345 exceeding the upper bound critical value, confirming co-integration. The Error Correction Model (ECM) indicates that approximately 17% of the previous period's disequilibrium is corrected in the current period. The Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model reveals that trade openness, interest rates, and exports significantly negatively impact manufacturing value added in the short run, while the exchange rate shows no immediate significant effect. However, past increases in the exchange rate positively influence manufacturing value added in the long run. The findings underscore the complex dynamics of trade and economic policy on domestic manufacturing, highlighting the need for strategic interventions to bolster the manufacturing sector amidst increasing trade openness and fluctuating economic conditions.

This research is focused on the Assessment of the factors influencing economic migration among Edo State youths. This study will examine the major factors and influence of migration. It also identified the challenges faced by Edo state deportees/returnees and the efficacy of social work intervention as well as potential ways in which social workers through them an date of social work can play a pivotal role in responding to these issues. The study through the data collected found out that diverse factors which from economic related to social factors such as household and peer pressure, including the growing impact of globalization on the Nigeria youth and strict immigration control by developed countries contribute as motivating factors and drivers of migration in Edo state. The results of the analysis shows that poverty, unemployment, influence of migrants' social networks, globalization and the problem of "get rich quick syndrome" as major factors of international migration. However, strategies and interventions, by way of an integrated approach, have been highlighted to combat it.