FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

The problems of Small and Medium Scale Industries (SMIs) in Nigerian cannot be understated
as a number of factors tend to limit their growth potentials. They’re still faced with the issue of
large capital outlay and to overcome this problem, external borrowing has become inevitable. Commercial banks appear to be the most likely source of funds. Thus, the overall objective of
this research is to identify ways and means by which the vibrancy of small and medium scale
industries will be sustained so that they can play the expected role as one of the engines for
growth in Nigeria’s economic development effort. While a descriptive statistics research design
was adopted in the investigation. Outcome of the study indicates that, there exists an inverse
relationship (though not statistically significant) between the amount of domestic credit made
available to SMI’s and the output of SMI’S in Nigeria. This trend has shown the poor attitude of
commercial banks towards the granting of loans to SMI’s in Nigeria. Conclusively, the inability
of our commercial banks to grant effective loans to SMI’s have translated to low level of output
of SMI’s to GDP. This in turn has impacted negatively on average capacity utilization. While
commercial banks are expected to come to the rescue of SMI’s, the truth must be said, that these
institutions are profit oriented and may not be in a vantage position to give long term loans with
depositor funds that are predominantly short tenured. Based on the findings of study, this paper
recommends that, the intervention programs put in place to reduce the problems of the SMI’s
should be strengthened. Lastly, the Bank of Industry (BOI) should be properly positioned in its
mandate of providing financial assistance for the establishment of large, medium and small
projects as well as the expansion, diversification and modernization of existing enterprises and to
rehabilitate the ailing ones.

The study was carried out to critically investigate corruption and insecurity in Benin City. It used Benin City as the Area of study. The study used a sample from the population of Benin City. It made use of five objectives. A 100% response rate was obtained from the questionnaires that were administered in the field. This study reveals that most residents in Benin City know what corruption is. This is because either they or someone they know have been experienced corruption. It reveals that the main forms of corruption in the city are Bribery, Nepotism, embezzlement and mismanagement of public funds. Most of the residents in Benin City also revealed that they do not feel secure in the city. The study discovered that corruption breeds insecurity and that the main causes of corruption are greed, low income salary and poverty. It recommends the Implementation of anti-corruption policies that will lengthen institutions and enforcement mechanisms to prevent corruption and ensure accountability. Increase transparency to Implement transparency measures, such as open budgeting and procurement processes, to reduce opportunities for corruption, Improve in public sector salaries: Increase salaries for public sector workers to reduce the incentive for corruption. And finally, enhance corruption investigation capabilities: Provide training and resources for law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute corruption cases effectively.

Despite the available body of research on the impact of socio-cultural
variables on marital stability in Nigeria, there remains a need for further
investigation, particularly in Benin, Edo state. Understanding comprehensively, the
impact of socio-cultural variables on marital stability is therefore essential for
promoting individual and familial well-being, and for identifying areas for
intervention and support that can help to strengthen marital unions. Educationally,
to some men it is very important that their wife should be less educated than
themselves if they are going to achieve marital stability. These men feel threatened in
their marital leadership role if their wives are better educated and this could lead to
conflict in the home and also create confusion between couples

Dependency describes a situation in which a country’s economy is vulnerable
because it depends on the growth and prosperity of another country. In the global
system while countries are able to expand while remaining self-sufficient, other
countries who dependent ones, like Nigeria have only been able to do so as a
reflection of expansion which may have either a negative or positive effect. It is
necessary to conduct this research since Nigeria’s heavy reliance on foreign aid
has led to significant gaps in the country’s growth. The goals of this research
were to better understand the dynamics at play in Nigeria’s development crisis, to
assess the factors that contribute to dependency which are apparent across Africa
and in Nigeria, to educate Nigerians on the complexities of these twin problem of
dependency and underdevelopment, and to suggest strategies for addressing them. These four questions were formulated specifically for the current investigation. Data was analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods in this study. The dependency theory served as the framework for the analysis, which was
based on both primary and secondary sources. The study found that a lack of
internal stability, such as a skewed value system and failing institutions, contributed to Nigeria’s dependence on other countries. This leads to a weak
government and a loss of political independence. Instead of looking inward for
measures to strengthen finances, governments frequently turn to borrowing
money in order to pay for ongoing capital expenditures. The study also observed
that dependency is responsible for the substantial disparity in Nigerian savings
and investment, worsening the country’s poverty, insecurity, and unequal
development. It was believed that moving away from a monoculture economy
would help the government break its reliance on a single commodity. The study
concluded that in order for the government to be effective in its fight against
social maladies that leads to underdevelopment, it must boost its efforts to
reorient the society by setting rigorous ethical standards that everyone is
obligated to follow. As an added measure, auditing and consulting organizations
can be brought in to investigate whether or not government projects and records
are being carried out in accordance with established protocols and all
institutional and structural loopholes within the government should be nipped in
the bud to foster true and even development.

Institutional based forestry is of primary interest because it provides numerous
ecosystem, goods and services which benefit humankind. On that premise, this study a
imed at deciphering people perceptions and levels of utilization of institutional -based
forestry using the university of Benin (ugbowo campus) as a case in point. Employing
mean Analyses and Frequency Analyses, the study revealed that the University commu
nity is aware of the existence of institutional -based forestry in the Ugbowo Campus. A
lso revealed is the fact that tree of different species are located almost everywhere in t
he Ugbowo Campus of the University of Benin, and are used for different purposes, vi
z. relaxation, aesthetic and shades for vehicles. Conversely, the study revealed that tre
es are poorly maintained. Similar to this is the finding that areas where there are trees
are often affected by storms where roofing sheets are blown -off by the wind. The stu
dy recommended amongst other things that, specialized personnel be employed to cart
er for the trees, funds be provided by the University authority, trees be treated regular
ly with pesticides and insecticide, and crucially areas currently lacking trees be provid
ed with such.