Undergraduate Project

This study examines the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) marketing on students’ patronage of products, using the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Benin City, as a case study. The research focused on assessing how five key dimensions of AI marketing—Human-Centered Design (HCD), Perceived Safety (PS), Reliability (REL), Transparency (TR), and Security (SEC)—affect students’ purchasing decisions. Data were obtained through a structured questionnaire distributed among undergraduate students, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression techniques to determine the predictive effect of each variable on product patronage. The findings revealed that all five dimensions of AI marketing significantly and positively influence students’ patronage, with Human-Centered Design emerging as the most impactful factor. The study further established that students are more inclined to engage with AI- driven marketing platforms when they perceive them as user-friendly, transparent, secure, and trustworthy in their recommendations. In light of these findings, the study recommends that marketers, businesses, and e-commerce platforms adopt AI systems that emphasize user experience, security, and data transparency. Regular algorithm updates, clear communication on data usage, and strong protection measures are encouraged to enhance students’ confidence and sustained engagement. Overall, this research enriches existing knowledge on AI-driven marketing and provides practical insights for developing effective, reliable, and customer- centered AI marketing strategies within the Nigerian higher education context.

Here is an abstract based on your title, using Trade, Religion, and Intergroup relations as the core keywords to structure the study's scope, methodology, and findings.

Abstract
This study examines the intersection of economic activities and religious dynamics in shaping intergroup relations in Nigeria, using a historical case study of Auchi before 1894. Prior to British colonial imposition, indigenous communities in the Niger-Benue confluence and the northern fringes of Edoland engaged in complex socio-political and economic interactions. Adopting a historical and analytical methodology—drawing on qualitative primary sources, including oral traditions, and secondary historical literature—this research explores how commerce and belief systems served as dual engines of integration and friction.

The findings reveal that trade functioned as a primary vehicle for initial intergroup contact, establishing vibrant market networks that linked Auchi with neighboring Nupe, Hausa, and various Etsako communities. Concurrently, the introduction and expansion of Islam during the nineteenth century fundamentally altered the socio-cultural landscape, redefining local identities and restructuring external diplomatic ties.

The study demonstrates that rather than acting in isolation, trade and religion mutually reinforced one another; trade routes facilitated religious diffusion, while shared religious networks subsequently secured and expanded commercial frontiers. Ultimately, this work underscores that pre-colonial intergroup relations in Auchi were characterized by a sophisticated degree of interdependence, offering vital historical insights into the peaceful coexistence and structural adaptations of pre-colonial Nigerian societies.

This study examines the impact of fintech innovation on financial development in Nigeria, with a focus on the mediating role of green finance. Fintech innovations, such as digital payments, mobile banking, and peer-to-peer lending, have revolutionized the financial sector, enhancing financial inclusion and market efficiency. Meanwhile, green finance, a relatively emerging concept in Nigeria, seeks to channel financial resources toward environmentally sustainable projects. This study aims to assess the interplay between these variables and their collective influence on the country's financial ecosystem. Using a structured questionnaire distributed to 88 respondents, data was collected from fintech operators, financial institution employees, and stakeholders in green finance. The analysis employed descriptive statistics, regression models, and mediation analysis to evaluate the relationships among fintech innovation, financial development, and green finance. The findings reveal that fintech innovation significantly contributes to financial development in Nigeria, primarily by improving access to financial services and reducing transaction costs. Green finance, while still in its nascent stage, positively influences financial development by promoting sustainable investments. Additionally, the study confirms that green finance partially mediates the relationship between fintech innovation and financial development, amplifying the impact of fintech on sustainability-oriented financial initiatives. However, challenges such as limited data availability, regulatory gaps, and low public awareness of green finance hinder its full potential. The study concludes by recommending stronger regulatory frameworks, increased public education on green finance, and greater collaboration between fintech companies and policymakers to foster sustainable financial growth in Nigeria.

The construction industry in Nigeria faces significant challenges in balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability. This study compares traditional and modern building materials in Nigeria, focusing on their sustainability and environmental impact. Traditional material (mud, thatch, bamboo). Are evaluated alongside modern materials (e.g., concrete, steel, glass) using Life cycle Assessment (LCA) and case studies. The research investigates the environmental implication of material extraction, processing, construction, and disposal. Factors such as energy consumption, greenhouse gas emission, and indoor air quality are assessed. The study reveal that traditional materials exhibits superior sustainability characteristics, including lower carbon footprints, reduced waste generation, and enhanced thermal performance. However modern materials offer improved durability and structural integrity. Policy and regulatory frameworks analyzed to identify barriers to sustainable building practices.

This study examines the pragmatic aspects of Yoruba taboo folktales, with special focus on selected tales from Ogbomoso. While Yoruba folktales have often been explored for their literary and artistic merits, their pragmatic roles, particularly as acts of communication, have received less attention. The aim of this research is to investigate how taboo folktales function as speech acts and employ politeness strategies that uphold social, moral, and spiritual order in Yoruba society. The study relied on eight taboo folktales, which were collected through oral interviews with competent Yoruba speakers and later translated into English. The data were analyzed using Speech Act Theory (Austin, 1962; Searle, 1969) and Leech’s Politeness Principle (1983). Direct and reported utterances from the folktales were examined at the locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary levels, and further classified according to Austin’s and Searle’s categories of speech acts. The politeness analysis assessed the cultural purposes of the utterances, as well as the ways in which they conformed to or violated conversational maxims. Findings reveal that Yoruba taboo folktales are not merely entertaining stories, but performative acts that sustain cultural values. They preserve spiritual balance, instill discipline, and transmit ancestral wisdom across generations. Further research can focus on the linguistic philosophy underlying Yoruba taboo folktales, with attention to the deeper cultural beliefs and worldviews they embody

International law plays a crucial role in governing relations between states, addressing issues such as human rights, conflict resolution, trade, and environmental protection. However, its efficacy remains a subject of contention due to significant challenges in implementation and institutional limitations. While international law is designed to promote global order and cooperation, its enforcement is often inconsistent, primarily due to the principle of state sovereignty, which allows nations to selectively comply with legal obligations. This lack of a centralized enforcement mechanism weakens the authority of international legal norms and limits their effectiveness in resolving global disputes. One of the key challenges of implementation lies in the voluntary nature of compliance. Unlike domestic legal systems, international law lacks a supranational authority capable of enforcing rulings and ensuring uniform adherence. Powerful states often disregard international legal decisions, while weaker states are pressured into compliance, leading to a disparity in enforcement. Additionally, international institutions such as the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, and the International Court of Justice face political interference, funding constraints, and bureaucratic inefficiencies that hinder their ability to uphold international legal standards effectively. Furthermore, the ambiguity and inconsistencies in international legal provisions create challenges in interpretation and application. Conflicts between national legal systems and international obligations further complicate enforcement, as states prioritize domestic laws over international commitments. Moreover, international law has been slow to adapt to emerging global challenges, such as cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, and transnational terrorism, limiting its ability to address contemporary issues effectively. This study critically examines these flaws, focusing on mainstream international law rather than specialized areas. It provides a broad overview of the systemic weaknesses affecting the implementation and enforcement of international legal norms. By highlighting these challenges, the study contributes to ongoing discussions on legal reform, institutional restructuring, and the need for stronger mechanisms to enhance the effectiveness of international law in the modern world

Introduction: Household air pollution (HAP) remains a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Nigeria where biomass fuel use is still common. Under-five children are especially vulnerable due to their developing respiratory systems and increased exposure within household environments. Despite existing global data, there is limited community-specific evidence in peri-urban areas such as Ekosodin, Benin City. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of household air pollution and respiratory symptoms among under-five children in Ekosodin, Benin City, Edo State. It also sought to identify common sources of HAP and assess the association between exposure and respiratory symptoms. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among caregivers of under￾five children using a multistage sampling technique. A minimum sample size of 298 was calculated, with 280 respondents participating. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 27. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to assess associations at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The majority of households used cleaner fuels, with gas (61.1%) and electricity (14.6%) being the most common, although some still used firewood (12.9%) and kerosene (7.5%). Most households had ventilation (94.6%), but only 18.6% had smoke outlets. Cough was the most prevalent respiratory symptom (31.4%), while wheezing (8.6%) and shortness of breath (3.2%) were less common. Diagnosed respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia (2.9%) and bronchitis (2.9%) were relatively low. Significant associations were found between respiratory symptoms and use of unclean fuels (p = 0.018), child proximity to cooking areas (p < 0.001), indoor pollution sources such as mosquito coils (p = 0.001), place of cooking (p < 0.001), and indoor tobacco smoking (p = 0.002). xi Conclusion: Despite the predominant use of cleaner fuels, household air pollution exposure remains prevalent due to other contributing factors such as cooking location, poor smoke outlet availability, and indoor pollution sources. These factors significantly influence the occurrence of respiratory symptoms among under-five children. Interventions should focus on improving household environmental practices alongside promoting clean energy use

This study was conducted to determine and compare some of the mineral composition of Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) leaf meal obtained from three locations within Benin City, Nigeria, and to evaluate the subsequent implications for livestock nutrition and feed safety. Fresh Guinea grass leaves were collected from Ekenwan, Ekosodin and Uniben, representing a gradient of land use intensity. The samples were processed, sun-dried, and milled into a fine powder. Subsequent laboratory analysis utilized Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), Flame Photometry, and spectrophotometric methods to quantify the concentrations of macro-minerals (Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Phosphorus), essential trace minerals (Iron, Zinc, Manganese), and heavy metals (Chromium, Lead). The results revealed statistically significant variations (p < 0.05) in the mineral content across the three locations. The Uniben location exhibited the highest concentrations of Potassium (331.3 mg/kg), Magnesium (115.2 mg/kg), and Iron (28.1 mg/kg), while Ekehuan recorded the highest Phosphorus content (345.0 mg/kg). However, Uniben and Ekosodin locations also showed elevated levels of heavy metals, with Lead concentrations of 0.30 mg/kg and 0.25 mg/kg respectively, and Chromium levels of 0.50 mg/kg and 0.40 mg/kg respectively. Ekehuan location had the lowest heavy metal contamination but showed deficiencies in some essential minerals. Research indicates that the mineral content of Guinea grass in Benin City varies significantly by location. This means forage from some sites offers nutritional benefits but also carries a risk of heavy metal contamination for grazing animals. Consequently, the study advises avoiding harvests in urban and high-traffic zones and calls for feeding strategies that include location-specific mineral supplementation to safeguard livestock.

This study evaluated the in-vitro antioxidant, in-vitro antidiabetic and phytochemical constituents of the methanolic leaves extract of Andrographis paniculata leaves. Fresh A. paniculata leaves were harvested from a local community, air-dried and extracted with methanol and fractionated. Phytochemical constituents, mineral and proximate composition, antioxidant activities, and α-amylase enzyme inhibitory potentials of the crude extract and fractions were determined using standard method. The crude extract and fractions of A. paniculata concentration-dependently scavenges 2,2-Diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) with IC50 range of 45.23 - 93.26 μg/mL compared to 1.02 μg/mL of standard ascorbic acid and a range of 22.4 – 22.7 mMFeS/g for the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The crude extract and fractions also inhibited α -Amylase activity in a concentration-dependent manner within a range of 23.41– 48.85% against 30.79–45.63% for the standard (acarbose). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of various phytochemicals in the crude extract. Further analysis of the crude extract with gas-chromatography revealed the presence of about 33 compounds. The total phenolics content was found to be within range of 26.63mg GAE/g to 50mg GAE/g, and total flavonoid between 31.96 mg QE/g to 46.15 mg QE/g. Proximate analysis revealed the moisture content, crude protein, crude fat, total ash, crude fiber, and nitrogen free extract to be 6.97%, 8.62%, 4.03%, 6.33%, 27.67%, and 46.38% respectively. The anti- diabetic and antioxidant potentials of the plant and presence of phytochemicals infers that the effectiveness of A. paniculata as a medicinal plant could be due to the presence of various phenolics, antihyperglycemic and antioxidant compounds in the plant.

This study was embarked upon to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice towards the daily recommended water intake among female undergraduate students of the university of Benin. To guide this study, four (4) research questions where raised and answered. The purpose of the study was to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice towards the daily recommended water intake among female undergraduate students of the university of Benin. The knowledge, attitude and practice towards the daily recommended water intake were reviewed in the important literature that was reviewed for the research study. The instrument that wass used to collect responses from the study's respondents was a self-structured questionnaire, and the survey research design was the one adopted for this study. The data collected was tabulated and analyzed properly. The findings revealed that the level of knowledge on the daily recommended water intake among the respondents is low, also that the respondents have inadequate attitudes towards the daily recommended water intake and the practice towards the daily recommended water intake among the respondents includes; drinking water during school days, only a few carry their water cans daily, respondents drink water as soon as they get thirsty, majority do not drink water before eating and respondents drink water after eating. It was also revealed that cultural practices does have an influence on the attitudes towards the daily recommended water intake among the respondents. It was thus concluded that there are significant discrepancies in female undergraduate students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the daily required water intake have been brought to light by this study. The results show that there is a general lack of information on the topic, which leads to unsatisfactory attitudes regarding optimal hydration. In light of these results, it was recommended that focused health education initiatives are required to raise awareness and encourage constructive attitudes and behaviors around drinking enough water. Encouraging practical water drinking techniques and addressing cultural pressures can assist female undergraduates develop healthier habits, which will ultimately improve their general wellbeing