EFFECT

This research investigates the suitability of cow bone ash (CBA) as a partial replacement for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in concrete production, with the aim of reducing cement consumption, lowering environmental impact, and promoting sustainable waste management practices in Nigeria. Cow bones, which constitute a major agricultural waste product, were processed into ash through controlled calcination and evaluated for their potential pozzolanic contribution in concrete. The study focused on assessing the effects of varying percentages of CBA on the fresh and hardened properties of concrete, particularly particle size distribution, workability, strength development, and durability. To achieve the objectives of the study, concrete mixes were prepared using a nominal mix ratio of 1:2:4 and a constant water–cement ratio of 0.50. Cow bone ash was used to partially replace cement at replacement levels of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% by weight. Laboratory tests were conducted in accordance with relevant British and ASTM standards. These tests included sieve analysis to determine particle size distribution, slump test to assess workability, compressive and flexural strength tests at curing ages of 7, 14, and 28 days, and water absorption tests to evaluate durability characteristics. The results showed that concrete containing 5–10% cow bone ash exhibited improved performance compared to the control mix. At these replacement levels, improved particle packing and additional calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H) formation led to enhanced strength and reduced water absorption. However, workability decreased with increasing CBA content due to higher water demand, and replacement levels above 15% resulted in reduced strength and increased water absorption caused by higher porosity and unreacted ash particles. In conclusion, cow bone ash can be effectively used as a supplementary cementitious material at replacement levels of up to 10–15%, offering an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to conventional cement in concrete production.

The study is aimed at determining the effects of some selected drying method on the nutritional quality of Apple Watersnail (Lanistis libycus) purchased at Ikpoba hill market One hundred and Fifty (150) Apple snail (Lanistis libycus) specimen was obtained from a fish seller and taken to the Faculty of Agriculture processing unit where processing was carried out using some selected methods. They were slaughtered, removed from the shell to collect the meat and discard the shell. They were weighed before been spiced and then dried using the different processing method (sun drying, smoked drying and oven drying).They were then taken to the lab for analysis. Statistical analysis using Genstat computersoftware was used to compute the result for proximate composition. The result from this study will assist in determining the most appropriate method of processing with regards to nutrient availability and amount of moisture content hence the method that has the best rate of preservation.

The aim of this project is to determine the effects metakaolin powder has on the mechanical properties of concrete when partially replaced at various percentages (15%, 20% and 25%). The idea behind this study is to assess if metakaolin powder can serve as a suitable substitute for sand as a fine aggregate in terms of responses to various tests. This study seeks to serve as a guide for future research in this field. It also serves to answer the question of why seek substitutes for fine aggregate at all.The tests required for accomplishing this experiment’s objectives are the compressive, flexural, slump and density tests, to determine the compressive strengths, flexural strengths, workability and density, respectively, of various samples been tested. Conventional concrete samples are cast and compared to partially replaced concrete to analyze the effects on concrete. The results for various tests differ showing rises and falls in strengths, slumps and densities. These results are then compared using tables and charts, from which a conclusion is drawn. The conclusion drawn for workability is that it has a low workability due to the pozzolanic nature of metakaolin powder and its reaction to cement and for the strengths, it is ascertained that concrete samples experience an increase in strength at 15% of partial replacement followed by a decrease at 20% and an increase at 25% indicating a possibility of later strengths at higher percentages but more so at longer periods of curing.

The study investigated the effect of outsourcing on business performance. To achieve the purpose of the study, three research questions were raised and answered. The research design adopted for this study is the cross-sectional research design. The population for this study comprises all the 4,877 registered small-scale businesses in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The sample for this study consisted of 196 small- scale business owners. The data collected for this study were analyzed using linear regression analysis. Furthermore, descriptive statistics, such as frequency distributions and percentages, were employed to provide a preliminary summary of the respondents’ demographic characteristics and response patterns. Findings from the study revealed that outsourcing serves as a strategic tool for businesses seeking to streamline their operations and focus on core competencies. It was concluded that outsourcing, when strategically implemented, not only enhances business performance but also positions firms to adapt to market dynamics. Based on the findings, it was recommended that businesses should adopt outsourcing strategically by focusing
on non-core activities, allowing internal resources to concentrate on core competencies that directly enhance competitiveness.