FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Sovereignty and free trade agreements continue to be key concerns in modern political economy, especially for developing countries striving for economic integration while preserving national autonomy. This study investigates the interplay between state sovereignty and Nigeria’s involvement in African free trade initiatives, focusing on regional and continental mechanisms such as the African Free Trade Area (AFTA). It examines how Nigeria navigates the balance between maintaining control over its economic policies, borders, and domestic industries, and meeting the obligations imposed by trade liberalization
and regional cooperation. Employing a qualitative and analytical methodology, the study evaluates the effects of free trade agreements on Nigeria’s policy space, economic decision- making, and regulatory authority. The results indicate that participation in African free trade areas provides opportunities for market expansion, industrial development, and enhanced regional competitiveness, but also presents risks such as reduced policy autonomy, increased competition for local industries, and challenges in protecting national interests. The study concludes that Nigeria’s engagement in African free trade agreements does not inherently compromise sovereignty; instead, it transforms it, requiring careful policy planning, strong institutional frameworks, and targeted protective measures to ensure that economic
integration supports national development goals.

This study examines the impact of stock market on the Nigeria economy from 1990 to 2023. The research investigates the relationships between key stock market indicators; market capitalization, all share index, monetary policy rate, inflation rate, and gross fixed capital formation and economic growth, measured by GDP. Using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, the study explores both the short-run and long-run dynamics among these variables. Empirical findings reveal a significant long-run relationship between stock market performance and economic growth in Nigeria. Market capitalization and the all-share index exhibit strong positive effects on GDP, indicating that stock market expansion fosters capital mobilization, investment, and overall productivity. Institutional quality variables, such as civil and political rights, also influence growth by promoting governance stability and investor confidence. Inflation demonstrates a mild positive effect, while the monetary policy rate shows an insignificant impact on growth. The short-run results indicate that moderate inflation and improvements in institutional conditions support temporary economic expansion, while persistent inflation constrains growth. Diagnostic tests confirm the robustness and reliability of the model, showing no issues of serial correlation or heteroskedasticity. The study concludes that stock market development is a critical catalyst for Nigeria’s economic growth and recommends policy reforms that enhance market efficiency, strengthen institutional frameworks, and encourage long-term investment participation.

This study was carried out to examine the effect of manpower training and development in employee morale using Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State as a case study. The study was specifically carried out to determine whether there is a significant relationship between manpower training/development and employee morale, ascertain whether the implementation of manpower training/development programme enhances employees’ job satisfaction, ascertain whether the implementation of manpower training/development programme improves employees commitment and productivity, and find whether there is an adequate implementation of manpower training/development programme in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprise of civil servant of Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. In determining the sample size, the researcher conveniently selected 57 respondents and 50 were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency tables and mean scores. While the hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation square statistical tool, SPSS v23. The result of the findings reveals that the implementation of manpowertraining/development programme improves employees commitment and productivity. The study also revealed that there is no adequate implementation of manpower training/development programme in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.Therefore, it is recommended that authorities in government should ensure that there is a bearing between manpower training and development with national objectives and policy because this is the only way government could have a pool of competent employees to drive and implement its development policies and programmes. To mention but few

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.