education programme

This study investigated the influence of the student industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) on the acquisition of entrepreneurial and employability skills among business education students in Edo State. Specifically, the study examined how SIWES contributes to entrepreneurial skills, the extent to which it influences employability, the challenges students face during their placements, and the alignment of industrial training with the business education curriculum. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and the population of the study comprised all Business Education students in selected universities in Edo State, from which a sample of 39 respondents were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire based on a four-point rating scale was the main instrument for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach Alpha, which yielded a coefficient of 0.82, indicating that the instrument was reliable. The data collected were analyzed using mean (x) and standard deviation (SD). The findings generally showed that SIWES significantly contributes to the acquisition of entrepreneurial and employability skills, though students face challenges such as inadequate placement opportunities, poor supervision, and mismatch between tasks and curriculum content. The study concluded that SIWES plays a vital role in bridging the gap between classroom learning and workplace practice. It was recommended that government, universities, and industries strengthen collaboration to improve placement quality, supervision, and alignment with the curriculum to maximize the benefits of SIWES for Business Education students to a high extent. It was concluded that SIWES influence the acquisition of entrepreneurial and employability skills among business education students in Edo State. Based on the findings, it was recommended that a more robust monitoring and evaluation framework should be implemented by SIWES supervisors to ensure students are actively engaged and properly supervised throughout their attachment, moving beyond mere observation to active participation.

Cyanide poisoning poses a significant threat to cardiovascular health, leading to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors such as dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. Ocimum gratissimum (OG), commonly known as scent leaf, is a medicinal plant with potential cardioprotective properties. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the ethanol extract of OG on CVD risk factors in cyanide-induced rabbits. Fifteen rabbits were randomly divided into five groups: group one(drug), group two(ethanol extract), group three(ethanol extract), group four (cyanide), group five(control). Cyanide-induced rabbits were orally administered OG extract and drug (Sylimarin) for 21 days. Blood samples and organs(heart) were collected for biochemical analysis of CVD risk factors, including total protein profile, cholesterol levels, arterogenic coefficient, cardiac risk ratio, vitamin, and nitric oxides concentration. Certain experimental groups displayed promising changes, such as elevated HDL- C levels, improved endothelial function, and enhanced cardiac muscle function, others exhibited adverse alterations in lipid profile and endothelial function. These findings underscore the complex nature of herbal remedies and emphasize the importance of empirical validation to ensure their safety and efficacy in treating cardiovascular diseases.