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This study investigates the phytochemical composition of Panicum maximum leaves and its brown liquid extract, emphasizing their potential in bioremediation. The leaves were processed by chopping, washing, grinding, filtering, and boiling to extract the brown liquid. Quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed the concentration of bioactive compounds in the leaf extract, including flavonoids (5.34 mg/g), phenolics (12.78 mg/g), saponins (8.23 mg/g), tannins (3.65 mg/g), oxalates (1.45 mg/g), phytates (0.98 mg/g), and alkaloids (6.12 mg/g). The brown liquid showed phenolics (10.45 mg/g) and flavonoids (4.87 mg/g) as dominant compounds. Qualitative screening confirmed the presence of saponins, phenolics, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and tannins in both samples. The abundance of saponins and phenolics, known for their emulsifying and antimicrobial properties, suggests that Panicum maximum and its brown liquid can enhance microbial degradation of hydrocarbons in contaminated soils, positioning it as a valuable resource for eco-friendly bioremediation strategies.

Decolonization is a fundamental historical process through which formerly colonized nations attain political independence and sovereignty. Nigeria, as a British colony until October 1, 1960, experienced a unique decolonization process shaped by nationalist movements, colonial administrative policies, and geopolitical influences. The transition to independence was peaceful but marked by ethnic tensions and political restructuring.¹ The process of decolonization in Nigeria marks a critical period in the country's history, during which colonial rule gave way to self-governance and the formation of a sovereign nation. This chapter introduces the study by providing the necessary background, defining its objectives, and establishing its academic relevance. The decolonization of Nigeria represents one of the most significant historical developments of the 20th century in West Africa. This chapter introduces the study by exploring the complex and multi faceted process through which Nigeria transitioned from colonial rule to an independent sovereign state. Decolonization is not merely the formal act of gaining independence; it encompasses a broader political, economic, social, and psychological transformation that involves dismantling the structures and legacies of colonialism and constructing new systems grounded in indigenous authority, identity, and aspirations. British colonialism profoundly affected Nigeria's political, economic, and social structures. From the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914 to the implementation of indirect rule and the development of Western-style education, colonial rule shaped the framework within which Nigerians later demanded self-governance. The 1940s and 1950s witnessed the rise of political parties such as the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM), the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), the Action Group (AG), and the Northern People's Congress (NPC), which played crucial roles in mobilizing the populace and negotiating Nigeria's path to independence. Although Nigeria's independence on October 1, 1960, marked the official end of colonial
rule, the decolonization process did not conclude with the lowering of the Union Jack. The post-independence period exposed unresolved colonial legacies and challenges, such as regionalism, ethnic tensions, and uneven development. Thus, a historical analysis of Nigeria's decolonization must also consider the continuity of colonial structures and the extent to which Nigerians were truly free to shape their own destiny.

This research critically examines the plight of the girl child under patriarchal domination as portrayed in Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Kaine Agary’s Yellow-Yellow. Using African feminist and womanist theoretical frameworks, the study explores how bothauthors reveal the interconnected forces of patriarchy, racial prejudice, and social deprivation that silence, exploit, and devalue women. Through textual analysis, the research exposes the emotional and physical traumas inflicted by patriarchal structures, maternal complicity, and community indifference. It also highlights how both writers employ female solidarity, education, and self-awareness as tools for liberation and social transformation. Ultimately, the study calls for a reconstruction of cultural values rooted in empathy, gender equity, and the affirmation of the girl child’s humanity

Queuing theory is essentially the study of waiting in line, including how people behave when they must queue up to make a purchase or receive a service, what types of queue organization move people through a line most efficiently, and how many people can a specific queuing arrangement process through the line within a given time frame. Operational efficiency has a major bearing on profitability, customer satisfaction, and business viability in the competitive dining industry. Queue theory, being a discipline of operations research that addresses mathematical waiting queue analysis, comes in handy here to offer mathematical models to help optimize restaurant delivery systems (Hwang and Lambert, 2009).Queuing theory was developed by A.K. Erlang in 1909 to study telephone network congestion but has since been used to manage complex service systems in various industries (Sztrik, 2012).

Access to reliable and sustainable electricity remains a significant challenge in many rural areas worldwide. In addressing this issue, off-grid photovoltaic (PV) systems have emerged as a promising solution due to their environmental friendliness, scalability, and decreasing costs. This paper presents the design and implementation of an off-grid PV system tailored for optimal utilization in rural areas. With the aim of addressing the energy needs of a modern 2-bedroom apartment located in a rural community, this study emphasizes the development of a self-sustaining PV system capable of providing reliable electricity access independent of the traditional grid infrastructure. The design process begins with a comprehensive assessment of the energy needs and resource availability of the target rural community and in this case a 2-bedroom apartment. This assessment includes factors such as household electricity consumption patterns, local climate conditions, solar irradiance data, and geographical characteristics. Utilizing this data, the system's components are sized appropriately to meet the community's energy demands reliably. Since, our system will be independent of the traditional grid infrastructure, we made sure that our system will be able to sustain the energy requirement of the two-bedroom residential for an average of 19 hours, this led us to the following system requirement of 15,975W solar panel capacity, 915.2Ah battery capacity and a 4KVA inverter capacity, this translates to using 32 solar panels with each rated 500W, 16 batteries each 12V. The core components of the PV system include photovoltaic panels, charge controllers, batteries, inverters, and distribution systems. Each component is carefully selected based on efficiency, durability, and compatibility to ensure maximum system performance and longevity in rural settings. Furthermore, the implementation phase involves the installation and integration of the PV system into the 2-bedroom apartment. Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms were established to track the performance and impact of the PV system over time. In line with our study, we came to discover that the optimal tilt angle of solar panel in the University of Benin, Ugbowo campus (test location) was 20° which is in line with the reference angle of 0o to 42˚. A DC load test was carried out on the implemented PV system, resulting in a short circuit current of 1.45A and an open circuit voltage of 13.75V. Additionally, a charging test revealed that it took 6.86 hours to charge a 100Ah, 12V battery using a 200W solar panel operating at a voltage of 13.72V. Simulation of the proposed PV system was obtained using the PVSYST simulation software, from the simulation we discovered that the system produces an annual energy of 14,341kWh/year with a performance ratio of 0.515, the daily input/output graph also show variability which is connected to the irradiance and seasonal variations.

This project focused on the structural design of a 100 m³ elevated reinforced concrete (RC) water tank supported by a 20-meter-high tower. The objective was to ensure the structural safety, stability, and serviceability of all components including the raft foundation, tank base slab, beams, columns, and tank walls under combined actions of dead load, live load, hydrostatic pressure, wind, and seismic forces in compliance with BS 8110 and Eurocode 2 standards. The methodology involved manual structural design calculations for preliminary sizing and load estimation, followed by detailed structural analysis and modelling using ProtaStructure software. The structure consists of 300 mm × 300 mm reinforced concrete columns, 300 mm × 450 mm reinforced concrete beams, a 150 mm reinforced concrete raft foundation at ground level, and a 300 mm reinforced concrete tank base slab positioned at the top of the stanchions to safely support the water tank. The tank walls, which serve as the primary water-retaining elements, were designed as 250 mm thick reinforced concrete walls reinforced with high-yield steel bars (Grade 500) using 12 mm diameter bars spaced at 250 mm centres in both vertical and horizontal directions (H12-250) on both faces of the wall. The tank base slab was reinforced in orthogonal directions to resist bending moments and shear forces caused by hydrostatic pressure, self-weight, and wind effects. Beams supporting the platform and tank were subjected to maximum moments of 230.6 kN·m and axial loads of 191.1 kN, and were reinforced using T20 and T25 longitudinal bars together with T10 shear links. Columns carried maximum axial loads of 1443.6 kN and were reinforced with up to 4Y25 bars. The structural analysis revealed that the maximum lateral displacement of the structure was 9.87 mm at the top storey, which is within the allowable serviceability limit of H/500 according to Eurocode EN 1991-1-4 for a 20 m high structure. The slab deflections, beam moments, shear forces, and column forces were all within codespecified limits, indicating an efficient and stable structural system. The Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) estimated the total construction cost of the proposed elevated water tank and tower structure at approximately ₦19,114,573. The project concludes that the elevated reinforced concrete water tank and supporting tower satisfy all structural and serviceability requirements and that the integration of manual calculations with software analysis produced a safe, durable, and economical water storage structure suitable for practical implementation.

This study evaluated the conceptual understanding of plant taxonomy and investigated the teaching methods employed among undergraduate students at the University of Benin, Benin City. It was guided by four research questions. The population of the study comprised 178 fourth-year undergraduate students from the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (PBB) and the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Technology (CIT) - Biology Education and the sample size of 118 students. A descriptive survey research design using a quantitative approach was adopted. Data were collected using a Plant Taxonomy Conceptual Understanding Diagnostic Test (PTCUDT) and a structured questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated that only 18.56% of the students had a strong conceptual understanding and 81.44% of the students scored below the 70% threshold. The only statistically significant correlation found with conceptual understanding was prior knowledge (r = 0.251, p = 0.013). Teaching approaches (r = 0.079, p = 0.444) and student interest (r = 0.124, p = 0.225) were not statistically significant. The most highly rated teaching method was experiential learning through field trips and the least highly rated was lecture based delivery. Students showed low interest in plant taxonomy with examination-driven motivation and rote memorization as the dominant learning orientations. The study recommends incorporating conceptual change strategies such as the 5E instructional model, systematizing field-based and herbarium activities as core curricular components, integrating AI-assisted plant identification tools and reforming assessment practices to measure conceptual reasoning over rote recall. Professional development for instructors in active learning pedagogies is also recommended.

This study is on elder abuse and social work intervention strategies in Ovbiogie Community, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. The study uses a research survey design to gather first-hand information about elder abuse among adults aged 18 and above in Ovbiogie Community, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. The sample size is 357 respondents, selected using the Krejcie and Morgan (1990) sample size table. The research instrument is a structured questionnaire divided into two sections, A and B, covering socio- demographic variables and objectives. The instrument undergoes content validity review by an expert to ensure it is structured and relevant to the study's purpose. The instrument is also subjected to internal consistency testing to ensure its reliability. The researcher assists two research assistants in administering and collecting the questionnaires, and the data is analyzed using SPSS version 27. The frequency distribution method and charts are used for easier interpretation and understanding for educated, partially educated, and non-educated residents or stakeholders in the community. The findings highlight the high prevalence of elderly abuse in the community with nearly half experiencing it due to cultural taboos, economic dependency, and limited access to healthcare and social services. Social workers can intervene and influence policy decisions.

Transhumanism is a philosophical movement that supports the use of modern technology to enhance human development and overcome limitations. Max More is a leading transhumanist philosopher who has made significant contributions to the field. The objective of this project is to evaluate transhumanism in the philosophy of Max More. Focusing on his extropian principles, the project examines how his vision of transcending biological limits via technologies like cryonics, genetic engineering, and artificial intelligence influences contemporary thought. Using the method of philosophical analysis, hermeneutic interpretation & conceptual clarification, the study analyzes More’s foundational ideas, including perpetual progress and morphological freedom, which advocate individual choice in self-transformation. This project investigates the ethical, technological, and social implications of Max More's philosophy, such as issues of access, safety, and societal pressures, alongside criticisms highlighting its over- optimism, libertarian bias, and speculative nature. This project also assesses Max More’s 21 st-century legacy, noting his impact on biotechnology, philosophy, and cultural movements like transhumanism advocacy. While More’s vision inspires innovation and personal empowerment, it faces challenges in ensuring equitable access, addressing safety risks, and embracing cultural diversity. This project underscores the transformative potential of transhumanism while advocating a balanced approach to ensure its benefits reach all of humanity, contributing to ongoing debates about technology’s role in our collective future..

Alcohol (ethanol) is a widely consumed psychoactive substance known to induce oxidative stress and gastrointestinal mucosal damage, particularly in the stomach. Chronic alcohol exposure generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disrupts mucosal integrity. M melatonin on alcohol-induced gastric toxicity in adult male Wistar rats. Forty adult male Wistar rats (150–180 g) were randomly divided into four groups (n=10): control, melatonin only (5 mg/kg), alcohol only and melatonin plus alcohol. All treatments were administered orally via gavage for 28 days. After the exposure period, a weight test was done, and gastric tissues were harvested for histopathological analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA with significance set at p<0.05. Alcohol induced ulceration in the mucosa of the stomach, and the ulcer induced was irregularly -shaped. The control group showed a normal gastric architecture, while the group given alcohol only exhibited disruption of the muscularis mucosa with the formation of a irregular-shaped ulcer. The group given alcohol and melatonin showed that melatonin attenuated the ulcerative lesion in the stomach, indicating that melatonin effectively resolved alcohol-induced gastric injury.