FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

This paper demonstrates the use of linear programming methods as applicable in the manufacturing industry. Primary data was used for this study and were collected from the Quality Control of Nadia Bakery Company, Benin City, Nigeria, on the three types of bakery products which includes Family size bread, Sardine bread and Banana bread. Information on profit of the already produced products as well as quantity of each of the raw material held in stock per month for the production of each of the products were available in the records of the company. The analysis was carried out with an optimization software GAMS (General Algebraic Modeling System. Based on the profit of the products, the maximum profit that would accrue to the company given the optimal product mix was determined. The results showed that the company would attain optimal daily profit level of about #309,045 if she concentrates mainly on the unit production of Family sized bread 3.26, Sardine bread 1.89 units, Banana bread of 1.88 units. The research recommends that the company should produce within this optimal mix, review allocations of raw materials as they were many non-binding constraints and employ more resource on the binding constraints to improve the optimal value

This study examines the relationship between exchange rate and inflation in Nigeria from 1980 to 2022. Using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, the result shows that there is no long run relationship between exchange rate and inflation in Nigeria. However, exchange rate has significant positive impact on inflation in Nigeria in the short run. In light of the findings, the study recommends that policymakers in Nigeria should implement policies aimed at stabilizing the exchange rate and reducing inflation to promote economic growth and stability

This study examined the role of local government administration in promoting socioeconomic development in Nigeria, using Egor Local Government Area as a case study. The research specifically investigated how policy implementation effectiveness, provision of social amenities, and infrastructure development influence socioeconomic outcomes within the area. A descriptive and explanatory survey research design was adopted. Data were collected from 200 respondents, including residents, local government officials, and community leaders, through structured questionnaires and interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The results revealed a strong positive relationship between local government administrative functions and socioeconomic development (R = 0.894, R² = 0.799, p < 0.05). Specifically, policy implementation (β = 0.364, p = 0.000), provision of social amenities (β = 0.342, p = 0.000), and infrastructure development (β = 0.328, p = 0.000) each had significant effects on socioeconomic development in Egor Local Government. The findings indicate that effective policy execution, adequate provision of social services, and sustainable infrastructural projects collectively account for approximately 79.9% of the variation in the area’s socioeconomic growth. The study concludes that efficient and transparent local government administration is vital for enhancing living standards, promoting economic productivity, and achieving grassroots development. It recommends that Egor Local Government strengthen policy implementation mechanisms, increase investment in social amenities, promote infrastructural sustainability, and enhance transparency and community participation to foster inclusive and sustainable socioeconomic development.

This study examined the whistle blower protection in the reduction of corruption in the Edo State Ministry Works. The study objectives among others were to investigate the whistle blowing mechanism, examine the whistle blower protection in Nigeria and Edo state as well as a look into whistle blower protection effectiveness in reducing corruption in Edo state Ministry of Works. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design, which is a non-experimental method. The purpose of descriptive research is to describe that which exists as accurately and clearly as possible. The study found out that whistleblower is one who engaged in exposing corruption in public and private sector institutions. The study found out that whistle blower does not enjoy any legal protection in Nigeria and Edo state. The study found out that whistle blowing protection has not been effective in reducing corruption in Edo state Ministry of Work. The study concluded that the absent of legal protection of whistle blower in Nigeria and Edo state is encouraging corruption. The study recommended that the Edo state government and Nigeria parliaments should pass a bill effectively protecting and regulating whistle blowing in Nigeria. There is still opportunity to fine-tune the provisions, especially those surrounding reporting mechanisms and protecting the whistleblower’s identity. The study also recommended that the government should reconsider its policy of excluding private contracts related to fraud. The term voluntary return of funds by the wrongdoer should be removed from compensation claims for whistleblowers.

This study is to investigate the issues and prospect in federal character principle and national integration. The study objectives includes federal character principle impacted the different aspects of the Nigeria polity,the issues with the federal character principle in University of Benin, the challenges of the federal character principle in University of Benin, and the prospects of the federal character principle in University of Benin. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design, which is a non-experimental method. This study used stratified sampling technique to select 13 respondents from the fifteen (15) faculties in the University of Benin resulting in a total sample size of 195 respondents. The study find out that Nigeria is a plural society with different cleavages; ethnic, religious, cultural, linguistic, as well as geo-political, social and economic challenges. Ethnic heterogeneity is inarguably, the most pervasive of them all. The study find out that there is mutual suspicion existing among the various social groups.The finding from the study indicated that the method of application of federal character principle is very doubtful. The study finds out that the application of the federal character principle in Nigeria has encountered several difficulties. The finding showed that the University of Benin has a mechanism put in place for promoting ethnic balancing. However, the mechanism put in place by the University of Benin for promoting ethnic balancing is not working. Finding showed that the lack of application of federal character principles is one of the challenges of the principle. The study recommends that the federal character principle should not be applied in employment processes into government established institutions. Everything regarding employment should be on merit and not sentiment. A constitutional amendment is recommended to establish true federalism, allowing Universities to control 50% of their resources.

The study examined social work intervention strategies for victims of involuntary childlessness in Igarra community. The objectives of the study to ascertain the causes of childlessness among married couples in Igarra community, explore the effect of childlessness among married couples in Igarra community, ascertain the relationship between childlessness and socio-cultural impact in Igarra community and to examine the roles and strategy social workers employ to help victims of involuntary childlessness in Igarra community. The cross-sectional research design was adopted for this study. Three hundred(300)copies of the questionnaire were distributed to 300 respondents in the Igarra community. Data collected were analyzed using frequency count, percentages and mean, with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 24.0. The empirical result revealed that childlessness leads to denial of certain cultural rights and title in the Igarra community and that the inability to have children due to physical impediment or infertility lead to the unpleasant and absurd experiments of African women. Furthermore, the study revealed that the majority of childless women often have low coping ability when issues with respect to children are being discussed. The study recommends that a public health strategy is needed for proper prevention of infertility by reducing the risk factors to decrease the incidence of infertility and improve quality of life by avoiding the psychosocial consequences and that the role of social workers is important as well to help intervene in crises involving abuse, mental health emergencies, or trauma for childless couples.

This study examined sexual behavioural patterns and sexually transmitted infections among young adults in Edo South senatorial district of Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the age at first sexual intercourse of the young population ages 10-24 years, ascertain if any association exists between young population age at first sexual intercourse and religious belief, ascertain incidence of contract of sexually transmitted infections by the young adult population, observe the “health seeking’’ behavior of young adult population when infected with these sexually transmitted infections, and ascertain the extent of young adult population knowledge of HIV/AIDS’ transmission. A sample size of 800 was used for this study. The sample size were chosen bearing in mind the time, finance and feasibility of the study. Out of the 800 questionnaires that were sent out for the study, about 783 were fully completed. Information gathered from the questionnaire was coded and recorded on the spreadsheets. From here they were fielded into the computer for statistical analysis using the SPSS computer software. In all percentages and proportions, pie and bar charts were used for data interpretation. The
chi-square test of significance and F-ratio were used to test the hypotheses. Findings from the study reveals that a greater number of youth of ages (10-24) years of both sexes are engaged in schooling activities. The population of the youth increases with age. The youth comprises slightly more males than females. That they are more engaged at school indicates rising age at marriage. Thus there is reduced likelihood of early marriages and associated consequences. The full embrace of education by youth is of benefit to the individuals as well as to the Nation in thence of skilled man power development. The study then recommended that preventive programs should focus on developing positive attitude toward infected persons in a way that they are not discriminated against, reproductive health information, including STDs should be included in university curriculum in order to enhance student knowledge and attitude regarding STDs prevention, free HIV testing should be inculcated into the undergraduate students my management in order to be able to receive HIV testing without financial burden. This action may increase the rate of HIV testing among the student population and in turn reduce rates of transmission. It was also recommended that students’ sources of information should be increased in terms of mass media and health education regarding the spread of STDs on campus, and STDs prevention programme should be developed
and implemented by the university to promote changes in attitude in order to prevent the spread of STDs

This study investigated the impact of monetary policy on the growth of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, with a focus on determining the dynamic responses of each policy on SMEs growth in Nigeria. The model employed in this study is the Autoregressive Distributed lag model (ARDL model) due to the distinction in order of integration. The time frame for this study spanned the years 1981-2019. The study found that money supply has a positive and significant impact on growth of
SMEs at the 5% level of significance, as well as inflation and interest having a negative but significant impact, while exchange plays out not to be a significant factor determining the growth of SMEs. The implication is that the interplay of these variables is important to keep SMEs alive in Nigeria. In response to the dynamics of domestic and global economic events, the policy suggestion is that monetary policy should be designed in such a way that the goal it seeks to attain is clearly and transparently specified. Also, there is a need for a consistent monetary policy framework that should bring about a realistic exchange rate with emphasis on its role to directly promote output and productivity of the SMEs. Exchange rate measures should be considered as a long-term solution to the problem of rising foreign products demand.

This study investigates the impact of farmers–pastoralists conflict on the socioeconomic development of Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The research was motivated by the increasing frequency and severity of violent clashes between sedentary farmers and nomadic pastoralists, which have disrupted livelihoods and undermined development in Benue, the “Food Basket of the Nation.” Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 399 respondents through structured questionnaires, with 120 valid responses analyzed using SPSS. Findings reveal that the major causes of the conflict include environmental degradation, shrinking grazing land, population growth, destruction of farmland, and poorly defined land boundaries. The
conflict has significantly reduced agricultural productivity, disrupted food security, and negatively affected education, healthcare, and the local economy. Schools and health facilities have been destroyed or abandoned, while displacement and insecurity have eroded social cohesion and livelihoods. The study also found that conflict resolution strategies such as the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, community dialogue, peace building initiatives, NGO interventions, sensitization campaigns, and traditional leadership involvement have been employed with varying degrees of effectiveness. It concludes that while legislative frameworks are important, sustainable peace requires integrated approaches that combine policy, grassroots dialogue, and inclusive governance. The study recommends strengthening traditional and institutional conflict resolution mechanisms, promoting sustainable land-use practices, and enhancing government and community collaboration to mitigate the conflict and foster socioeconomic development in Gwer West.

The study investigated the crises between state and local government on autonomy in Edo State: Post Supreme Court judgement and its effect on service delivery. To achieve the purpose of the study, four (4) research questions were raised and answered. The sample size for the study was made up of 100 respondents. The data collected was analyzed using frequency count and simple percentage. The study revealed that financial control, staff appointments, constitutional ambiguities, political rivalry, and delayed fund releases were the major sources of conflict undermining local government autonomy in Edo State. It was concluded that the autonomy crisis between state and local government significantly hindered education, healthcare, sanitation, and local projects. The study recommended among others that the Edo State Government should as a matter of utmost urgency ensure full compliance with the July 11, 2024 Supreme Court judgment by granting local governments the constitutional autonomy required to function effectively.