PGD Project

The purpose of this study was to examine the performance of five model-fitting estimation techniques; Likelihood Ratio Test (LRT), Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC), Deviance Information Criterion (DIC) and Cross- Validation Log-Likelihood (CVLL) techniques that effectively selected an IRT dichotomous model which fitted NABTCE 2018 May/June Mathematics multiple choice test. This was carried out by comparing the performances of the five techniques used based on relative fit. Four research questions guided the study. No hypothesis was formulated and tested, due to the fact that the techniques used in this study were non-significant statistics. The research design employed was the descriptive survey of the ex-post facto method. The population of the study consisted of 49,581 candidates who sat for the National Business and Technical Certificate Examinations in 2018 in the six Geo-Political Zones in Nigeria. The sample size comprised 4,948 candidates and a statistical sample of 50 items. The Multistage simple random sampling technique was employed for randomly selecting the sample for the study. The instrument used to collect data was 50-item Mathematics multiple choice test from NBTCE May/June 2018. The instrument was a standardized instrument and as such it was valid and reliable. Item parameters were estimated from the examinees’ responses to the items using the computer programme BILOG-MG3. For the five estimation techniques BILOG-MG3 was used for LR, AIC and BIC. WinBUGS 1.4 was used for DIC, while MATLAB was used for CVLL which answered the research questions

The co-infection of malaria parasites and helminths is common in the tropics. Their pathogenicity lies in the infectivity of parasites and their modulation of the host immune system. This study aimed to generate epidemiological data of malaria and helminths in apparently healthy humans in a rural population in Bayelsa State; determine the serum concentration of Interleukin-4, Interferon-gamma -IFN-γ, Macrophage Inflammatory protein-MIP-β/CCL-4 and Eotaxin-3 /CCL 26 in healthy volunteers infected with malaria and helminths and their values after treatment. Two sets of data; malaria and helminths were generated from school and community based study, carried out between May 2016 and July 2018 in four rural communities- Otuegela, Immiringi, Otuesega and Ibelebiri in which there was ongoing mass deworming and anti-malaria administration. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Committee, College of Medicine, University of Benin, Nigeria (CMS/REC/2017/016). From every participant, blood and stool samples were collected; from 1441 volunteers, age-range 4 – 80 years. Diagnosis of helminths, malaria parasites were by standard procedures. The body mass index (BMI) of children was determined. Measurement of haemoglobin concentration and blood cells was automated (ABX Micros 60). Infected volunteers were treated specifically and after 18 days the second round of blood and stool samples were collected from treated participants only and analyzed. Immune molecules were measured by ELISA (PeproTech, USA) protocols. Data were analysed with the "R" Programme (version 2016) and a P-value of < 0.001 was considered significant.  The prevalence of helminths was: community-based, 26.0% and school children, 30.3%. Helminths identified in communities were Schistosoma intercalatum (10.4%), Schistosoma mansoni (4.2%), and a variant of Schistosoma intercalatum (0.2%); Ascaris lumbricodes (6.5%),), Trichuris trichiura (2.5%), hookworm (2.0%) and Taenia spp (0.2%). In school-based, Ascaris lumbricoides had 10.5%, Schistosoma mansoni 8.0 %, Schistosoma intercalatum 5.0% and Strongyloides 1.0% ; Trichuris trichiuria 1.8%, hookworm 1.6%, Taenia species 1.3%. In co-infection, 18.0% prevalence was obtained in the community and 10.5% in schools. The prevalence of malaria parasites in community study was 2742.0%. In a School-based study, the prevalence of malaria disease was 53.0% and 32.1% for first and second school-based study, respectively. Using Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Plasmodium falciparum was identified at 205 bp and Plasmodium ovale at 787 bp. The mean values, before and after treatment for Eotaxin (5718pg/ml/ 5725pg/ml) and MIP-β (344.1pg/ml/642.6pg/ml) were close and had numerous outlines. The concentration of IFN-γ and IL-4 were higher in all categories of infection than after treatment but with no significant difference. IFN-γ had the highest mean expression (135.6pg/ml) in the coinfection group and least (59.8pg/ml) in the population infected by intestinal helminths only. The value for Plasmodium falciparum was 84.0pg/ml. Similarly, the expression of IL-4 was highest (68.8pg/ml) in co-infection and lowest (40.3 pg/ml) in helminths infected group. The value of IL-4 for those infected by Plasmodium falciparum only was 61.0pg/ml. There In all study groups, IFN-γ and IL-4 were positively correlated before and after treatment; which was significant (r = 0.60) in those infected by P. falciparum only. After treatment, the correlation between IFN-γ and IL-4 was significant in those who were treated for malaria infection (r = 0.7) and those who were treated for co-infection of P. falciparum and helminths (r = 0.6). There was a decrease in values of platelets, White Blood Cells and granulocytes during infection but platelet count was reduced after anthelminthic treatment and increased after anti-malaria administration. The ova of 7 species of helminths were diagnosed in this study. Treatment lowered the concentration of IFN-γ and IL-4 immune molecules in serum, which is of clinical relevance. This study proves that sub-clinical infection brought about a low concentration of IL-4/IFN-γ, altering their counter-inflammatory properties. They rather depended on each other positively. The clinical consequence of IL-4 suppression is the disability in class switch: antibody production is suppressed, resulting in susceptibility to infectious diseases. The presence of P.ovale in co-infection with P. falciparum is significant for the epidemiology and control of malaria disease in the Niger Delta.

This study investigated the challenges affecting the teaching and learning of Home Economics in secondary schools in Benin City. As a follow up, five research question were generated to guide the study. This study adopts a descriptive survey research design. The target population consists of all Home Economics teachers and students in public and private secondary schools in Benin
City. The sample was 190 respondents comprising teachers and students of Home Economics selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a two set-structured questionnaire comprising teachers and students’ questionnaire. The face and content validity of the research instrument (questionnaire) was ascertained by Home
Economics education experts and research supervisor. The internal consistency of the instruments was established with Cronbach’s alpha method which yields a reliability coefficient of 0.85 .The instrument was administered by the researcher and the data generated was analysed with Means and standard deviations utilizing SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) Version 22. The study revealed that the key challenges affecting the teaching and learning of home economics in secondary schools in Benin City include teaching-related, government-related and societal-related challenges. However, student related
challenges as perceived by the students do not constitute a challenge to the teaching and learning of home economics. Based on these findings, it was therefore recommended that the Nigerian governments including school owners should accord adequate support for Home Economics’ through provision of funds and infrastructures such as building Home Economics labouratory in all secondary schools offering the subject. Additionally, qualified teachers should be recruited and ensure only teachers trained in the subjects are allowed to teach it as well as sponsoring in services training for serving Home Economics teachers. Moreover, societal negative perception or stereotyping of the subject as women course should be dissuaded through public enlightenments

The presence of petroleum-derived compounds in the soil constitutes a significant threat to soil health and agricultural productivity. In the search for the environmentally friendly approach in the bioremediation strategies for restoration of soil health, cassava mill effluent (CME) provides an accessible, available and affordable nutrient-rich organic biowaste of cassava processing for the application of organic amendment and a sustainable biostimulant for restoration of soil health. This study investigated the efficiency of CME as a source of organic nutrients in the biorestoration of hydrocarbon degraded soil for a sustainable bioremediation strategy. This was achieved by polluting clean soil, collected and weighed into containers, with spent lubricating oil (SLO) as the source of petroleum hydrocarbon at 10% (w/w), amended with CME at 2.5% (v/w) at different frequency of daily, weekly, monthly and once for a period of six months but the control soil was not treated. The percentage changes in the quality of the amended soil were monitored at 3 and 6 months periods. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) were grown on the amended soils at the end of the treatment to evaluate recovery of soil quality and function. Baseline data were collected at the start of the study, and others at 3 and 6 months. For physicochemical changes in the soil, the following parameters were analysed: Soil texture, pH, cation exchange capacity (K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+), electrical conductivity (EC), total petroleum hydrocarbon (THC), and metals (Fe, Zn, Pb). Nitrogen (N2) and Phosphorus (P) contents, total organic carbon (TOC) and organic matter (OM) were also analysed. The biological activities assessed include the activities of soil enzymes (urease, phosphatase, dehydrogenase, fluorescein diacetate hydrolase and glucosidase), and microbial load

Contamination of soils due to spent engine oil is an important environmental issue affecting soil characteristics and plant growth. This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of spent engine oil on growth parameters of Saccharum spontaneum L. for potential use in phytoremediation of oil polluted environments. Spent engine oil from a motor service garage was prepared in five concentrations of 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64ml/Kg. Tillers of S. spontaneum were planted in top garden soil and allowed to stabilize for four weeks before treatments were added. A control experiment in four replicates was also set up. The control had a significantly higher number of tillers compared to the different concentration treatment groups. The higher concentrations of 16, 32 and 64ml/Kg of spent engine oil contaminated soil did not produce any tillers at all. Total aliphatic hydrocarbon content was lowest in the control and highest in the 64ml/Kg treatment. Total polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon was highest in the 32ml/Kg treatment. Soil chemical parameters did not show a dose dependent response to increase in treatment with spent engine oil. This report demonstrated that lower concentrations of spent engine oil enhanced the number of leaves, plant height and leaf area of S. spontaneum. Results showed that S. spontaneum was tolerant to, and thrived at low concentrations of contamination with spent engine oil but declined in growth and development at high concentrations and for extended periods

Women have in diverse ways contributed to the development and growth of society. Their contribution leave every community where they are belong better than it was. This study, which is anchored on women’s empowerment theories, covers three plays of Ahmed Yerima: “The Wooden Pot”, “The Sick People” and “Erelu-Kuti”. The study examines the economic, political and cultural roles of women in these plays. Each play analyses the relevance of empowered women in society in the aspect of politics, economics and culture. These women have in no small way given to society what their male counterparts have. Their contributions are as relevant and elevating as that of men who have made their habitat and those around them better

Background: Inappropriate use of analgesics is becoming a serious public health problem in many
parts of the world with a number of factors contributing to this problem including unrestricted
access to drugs. Aim: To assess the pattern of analgesic use among motor vehicle mechanics in Egor L.G.A. Benin City, Edo State in order to contribute evidence for interventions/measures to curtail inappropriate practices.Methodology: This study was carried out among motor vehicle mechanics in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. A mixed method was employed-The quantitative part of the study
was Cross Sectional in nature to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice of analgesic use
while Focused Group Discussions was used to validate findings. Results: Three hundred and seventeen respondents were enrolled into the study. Knowledge of analgesic was good in 43.2% of respondents. Secondary level of education showed to be a strong predictor of positive knowledge of analgesic use. Up to 57.4 % had a poor attitude to analgesic use while 30.3 % and 12.3 % had good and fair attitude respectively. Apprentices had a significantly more positive attitude and good knowledge of analgesics was a strong predictor of good attitude towards analgesic use. There was a high (84.2%) occurrence of self-prescription and the commonest indications for self-prescription were body pain and headaches with paracetamol being the most common analgesic taken by self-prescription. Inappropriate dosing was observed in 77.9 % and their main sources were pharmacies and chemists. This study showed various forms of misuse, adverse effects and features of addition and dependence were also reported. Conclusion: Inappropriate use of analgesics is still a problem in Egor L.G.A of Edo State and Health education will go a long way to address this problem. Key words: Analgesic, Misuse, Abuse, Motor Mechanics

Gas condensate is very important reservoir fluid because it is made up of a mixture of low density mixture of hydrocarbon in which during processing it yields other products like associated dry gas and also creates condensate oil after being extracted. A condensate reservoir exhibits a unique characteristic which make it special and at the same time difficult to recover due to liquid banking which is formed as a result of pressure and temperature change during production. In other to optimize production in a gas condensate reservoir proper attention must be paid to its phase behavior.The objective of this study is to model a gas condensate reservoir. The approach used in this study is the compositional analysis (the use of software) to determine the components of the gas condensate and compared with experimental approach which involve constant composition expansion (CCE) test and constant volume depletion (CVD) test. CCE provides information about the dew point, relative volume of fluid and condensate liquid while CVD provides information about condensate oil saturation and condensate oil and gas recovery. Finally the empirical method which is the equation of state model (EOS) using a simulation software to match the results gotten from the different approaches. The result of the study from compositional analysis simulation shows that the P-T diagram of critical pressure, temperature can be constructed and its results shows that composition significantly varies as a function of fluid phase behavior and also affects the producing sequence of a condensate reservoir. It as well pointed out the need to conduct more studies on characterization in other to be able to make the best recovery choice for optimal production from a gas condensate reservoir

The demand for healthcare services continue to increase as population increases, hence there is a high rate of demand for healthcare services globally. Nigeria is not immune to the high demand for healthcare services, which poses a significant challenge to tackle and it has resulted into having healthcare workers working overtime, longer and irregular hours in a bid to render satisfactory services to the citizens. This study investigated the relationship between flexible work initiatives and healthcare service delivery in five major public hospitals in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Anchored on a cross-sectional survey design, Data were gathered from healthcare professionals through structured questionnaire and in-depth interview to provide both quantitative and qualitative insights. Five hundred and forty one (541) healthcare workers were selected through stratified random
sampling from five public hospitals in Benin City. The study employed descriptive and inferential statistics, particularly the repeated measure Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Chi-Square Goodness of fit test, to test five hypotheses and examined key thematic areas. All five null hypotheses were rejected using Chi-square goodness-of-fit and ANOVA tests, confirming that flexible work initiatives significantly influence healthcare service delivery. The study revealed a significant positive relationship between flexible work initiatives and healthcare service delivery. Respondents strongly agreed that Flexible Work Initiatives (FWIs) positively influenced healthcare service quality (p < 0.05). Among the types of FWIs examined, shift work was the most widely practised and highly rated (mean = 3.47), followed by job sharing (mean = 3.00), while compressed work weeks received the lowest rating (mean = 2.53). Key enhancing factors included supportive organisational culture, clear policies, and effective communication, whereas the major challenges were acute staff shortages, high patient demand, and complex medical cases. Statistical value revealed that employee-centred strategies, stakeholder engagement, and teamwork are the most effective ways to overcome implementation barriers. It concluded that properly designed and supported flexible work initiatives—especially shift work—can enhance service quality and staff performance, in
resource-constrained public hospitals. The study recommendation included urgent recruitment of healthcare personnel, and adoption of employee-centred policies.

Despite various recruitment efforts and initiatives by the Edo state government, many public senior secondary schools in the state still experience teacher absenteeism in the classrooms during instruction hours, understaffing and inconsistent classroom instruction indicating persistent challenges with teacher retention. Understanding the factors contributing to teacher retention is essential for improving instructional quality and educational outcomes. Hence, the study investigated the correlates of teacher retention in public senior secondary schools in Edo State, Nigeria. Twelve research questions were raised. Research questions one
and two were answered directly, while questions three to twelve were formulated into hypotheses
and tested at a significance level of 0.05. The study was a descriptive survey that adopted a correlational design. The study population was all the 2,754 teachers from all the 297 public senior secondary schools across
Edo State, Nigeria. The study sample consisted of 338 teachers in 37 public senior secondary schools from the 3 senatorial districts in Edo State. The determination of the sample size was guided by the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) table for determining sample size. The sample represented 12.3% of the entire population. The use of proportionate stratified random sampling was considered appropriate for the study. Schools were randomly selected from each senatorial district and teachers were also purposively selected from the sampled schools based on age, sex school location and teachers on roll