NIL(1971)

This study examines the role and impact of the Office of the First Lady in Nigeria through a case study of Maryam Babangida during the administration of Ibrahim Babangida. The research investigates how Maryam Babangida transformed the traditionally ceremonial position of the First Lady into a platform for social mobilization, women’s empowerment, and national development. Particular attention is given to her establishment of the Better Life Programme for Rural Women, which sought to improve the socio-economic conditions of women through education, healthcare, agricultural support, and skills acquisition initiatives.
The study adopts a historical and descriptive research approach, utilizing both primary and secondary sources, including government publications, books, journal articles, newspapers, and archival materials. Findings reveal that Maryam Babangida redefined the Office of the First Lady by expanding its influence beyond ceremonial functions and creating a model of leadership that attracted national and international recognition. Her initiatives contributed significantly to raising awareness of rural women's challenges and promoting their participation in development processes. However, the study also highlights criticisms surrounding the constitutional ambiguity of the Office of the First Lady, concerns about accountability, and the politicization of the position.
The study concludes that Maryam Babangida's tenure marked a turning point in the evolution of the Office of the First Lady in Nigeria, demonstrating its potential as an instrument for social change and public advocacy. It recommends the establishment of clearer institutional frameworks to enhance transparency, accountability, and sustainability in the activities of future First Ladies. The research contributes to the understanding of gender, leadership, and governance in Nigeria's contemporary political history.

Managing contracts and procurement effectively relies on clear processes, skilled staff, andcontinuous oversight to ensure efficiency, accountability, and value delivery. Whentheseelements are weak, projects suffer delays, costs escalate, and disputes arise. Even withreformsintroduced globally and across Africa, poor contract execution, bureaucracy, and corruptionstill
hamper procurement and erode public trust. This research explores contract and procurement
practices in Egor Local Government Area, aiming to identify obstacles and suggest waystoimprove them. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study focused onsmall
construction firms in Egor LGA, Edo State. Thirty participants were carefully chosen fromthreefirms, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The information was analysedthematically, highlighting challenges and solutions while maintaining credibility andethical
standards. Findings showed that Nigerian firms generally follow procurement rules designedtoensure fairness and accountability, yet projects often face delays due to corruption, governancegaps, and limited technological adoption. The research also revealed that Egor firms strugglewith implementing fair contracts, largely because of weak oversight and corrupt practices, withimprovements possible through staff involvement, external benchmarking, and independent
monitoring. Strengthening transparency, accountability, and governance through digital tools, compliance measures, and collaboration among stakeholders emerged as critical, althoughweakenforcement remains a barrier. Finally, reforms need to combine digital solutions withrobust
governance, accountability, and strategies tailored to local contexts. Overall, procurement inEgor Local Government companies is hindered by bureaucracy, corruption, and governanceweaknesses. Enhancing efficiency and transparency requires better governance, stakeholderengagement, and digital tools. Recommended actions include stronger enforcement, adoptionofdigital systems, staff training, and increased collaboration among stakeholders toboost
transparency, accountability, and operational effectiveness

This study examines intergroup relations in Ekpoma before 1897, with a focus on the political, economic, social, and cultural interactions among the various communities that inhabited the area prior to the establishment of British colonial rule. The research investigates the nature of relationships that existed among neighboring groups, the factors that promoted cooperation, and the sources of conflict and rivalry within the region. The study adopts a historical research methodology, utilizing both primary and secondary sources, including oral traditions, archival materials, historical records, and relevant scholarly literature.
Findings reveal that intergroup relations in Ekpoma were largely characterized by peaceful coexistence, trade, intermarriage, cultural exchanges, and mutual assistance among communities. Economic activities such as agriculture, local commerce, and craft production served as important avenues for interaction and cooperation. The study also identifies traditional institutions, kinship ties, festivals, and religious practices as significant factors that strengthened social cohesion and promoted harmonious relationships among different groups.
However, the research further shows that disputes over land ownership, political authority, resource control, and boundary issues occasionally led to conflicts between neighboring communities. Despite these challenges, indigenous conflict-resolution mechanisms, including the intervention of elders, traditional rulers, and community assemblies, played a crucial role in maintaining peace and stability. The study concludes that intergroup relations in Ekpoma before 1897 were shaped by a dynamic combination of cooperation and competition, which contributed significantly to the social, economic, and political development of the area. Understanding these historical interactions provides valuable insight into the foundations of contemporary social relations and community development in Ekpoma.

This study examines the historical relationship between the Afemai and Nupe peoples of North-Central Nigeria up to the year 1900. The research explores the nature of political, economic, social, and cultural interactions between the two groups, with particular emphasis on the influence of Nupe expansion on Afemai communities. Using historical research methodology, data were obtained from both primary and secondary sources, including oral traditions, archival records, historical texts, and scholarly publications.
The study reveals that contacts between the Afemai and Nupe were facilitated by geographical proximity, trade networks, migration, and military expeditions. The Nupe Kingdom exerted considerable political and economic influence over several Afemai communities through tributary arrangements, administrative control, and commercial exchanges. Trade in agricultural products, crafts, and other commodities strengthened intergroup relations and contributed to regional economic development. The study also highlights the cultural exchanges that occurred between the two groups, including the diffusion of language, religious practices, political institutions, and social customs.
Furthermore, the research finds that while Nupe dominance brought certain administrative and economic advantages, it also generated resistance among some Afemai communities seeking to preserve their autonomy. These interactions significantly shaped the political organization, socio-cultural development, and historical experiences of the Afemai people before the advent of colonial rule. The study concludes that the Afemai–Nupe relationship was characterized by a complex mixture of cooperation, conflict, and mutual influence, which played an important role in the historical development of the region up to 1900.

Sex education plays a vital role in equipping adolescents with accurate information and life skills necessary for making informed decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health. This study examined the knowledge and attitude towards the teaching of sex education among secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to assess students’ level of knowledge of sex education, determine their attitudes towards its teaching in schools, and identify factors influencing their perceptions.
A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Data were collected from selected secondary school students using a structured questionnaire designed to obtain information on demographic characteristics, knowledge of sex education, and attitudes towards its teaching. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations.
The findings revealed that a majority of the students possessed a moderate to high level of knowledge regarding sex education and recognized its importance in promoting healthy lifestyles, preventing sexually transmitted infections, reducing teenage pregnancy, and fostering responsible sexual behavior. The study also found that most respondents exhibited a positive attitude towards the inclusion and teaching of sex education in secondary schools. However, cultural beliefs, religious values, parental influence, and societal perceptions were identified as factors affecting students’ acceptance and understanding of sex education.
The study concluded that effective sex education is essential for enhancing adolescents’ awareness of reproductive health issues and encouraging responsible decision-making. It recommends that sex education be adequately incorporated into the secondary school curriculum and delivered by trained educators using age-appropriate and culturally sensitive approaches. Increased collaboration among schools, parents, health professionals, and policymakers is also recommended to improve the effectiveness of sex education programs among adolescents.

Ionizing radiation from diagnostic imaging procedures has raised concerns regarding its potential biological effects, even at low doses. This study investigated the impact of diagnostic radiation exposure on mRNA expression of p53 and DIAP1 in Drosophila melanogaster. Healthy laboratory-reared flies (Harwich strain) were divided into five groups (n=100 per group): a control group (Group A), two X-ray–exposed groups (Group B, 0.1 Gy daily for 7 days; Group C, 0.1 Gy daily for 14 days), and two CT-exposed groups (Group D, 0.1 Gy daily for 7 days; Group E, 0.1 Gy daily for 14 days). Radiation exposure was performed under standardized laboratory conditions at the Biomedical Toxicology Chemicals Safety (BIOTOXCS) Research Laboratory, University of Benin. After exposure, flies were preserved in Trizol reagent for RNA extraction, followed by cDNA synthesis and semi-quantitative PCR analysis. Results showed a significant upregulation of p53 and DIAP1 mRNA expression in radiation-exposed groups compared to the control (p<0.05). Expression levels were dose- and duration-dependent, with Groups C and E (14-day exposures) exhibiting the highest increases. Gel electrophoresis and bar chart analyses further confirmed these findings, demonstrating progressive changes consistent with prolonged radiation stress. These results indicate that even low-dose diagnostic radiation can induce molecular alterations in stress- and apoptosis-related genes in Drosophila melanogaster. The study underscores the utility of Drosophila as a model organism for assessing radiation-induced genetic responses and highlights the need for further research into the implications of cumulative diagnostic radiation exposure.

This study examined the mineral composition and phytochemical profile of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit pods. The fruit pod was purchased from Uselu market, dried and extracted by maceration method using aqueous, methanol and hexane solvents. The elemental composition was analyzed with a portion of the powdered sample using g X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) while phytochemical screening of the three extracts was done via standard methods. Mineral analysis revealed potassium (28.317%) as the most abundant element, followed by calcium (12.962%), magnesium (7.656%), and aluminum (6.413%). Moderate amounts of
Sulphur (1.652%) and chlorine (2.412%) were also detected, while iron was present at a relatively low concentration (1.502%). The dominance of potassium and calcium highlights the fruit’s nutritional potential for maintaining electrolyte balance, bone development, and muscle function. Magnesium and aluminum further contribute to enzymatic activities and possible medicinal value, though the low iron content indicates limited benefit for hemoglobin synthesis and oxygen transport. Phytochemical screening showed that alkaloids, eugenol, and reducing sugars were present across all extracts. Glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, phenolics, and terpenoids were prominent in methanol and aqueous extracts, while hexane extracts yielded fewer polar compounds. Steroids were absent in all extracts. These results confirm that solvent polarity strongly influences phytochemical extraction, with polar solvents yielding a broader spectrum of bioactive constituents

The increasing demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly construction materials has prompted the exploration of alternative waste materials for use in concrete production. This study investigates the partial replacement of fine aggregate with periwinkle shell in concrete as a means of reducing construction costs, conserving natural resources, and promoting waste utilization. The research evaluates the effects of incorporating varying percentages of processed periwinkle shell as a substitute for fine aggregate on the properties of concrete.
Concrete mixes were prepared with different replacement levels of fine aggregate using periwinkle shell, while a control mix containing conventional materials was also produced. Standard laboratory tests were conducted to determine the workability, density, compressive strength, and durability characteristics of the concrete specimens. The results indicate that the inclusion of periwinkle shell influences the fresh and hardened properties of concrete. Workability generally decreased with increasing replacement levels, while compressive strength showed acceptable performance at lower replacement percentages. The density of the concrete also reduced, suggesting the potential for producing lightweight concrete.
The findings reveal that periwinkle shell can be effectively utilized as a partial replacement for fine aggregate in concrete production without significantly compromising structural performance when used within optimal replacement limits. The study concludes that the use of periwinkle shell contributes to sustainable construction practices by reducing environmental waste and the dependence on natural sand resources. It is recommended that partial replacement levels within the optimum range be adopted for non-critical and selected structural applications

A Battery Management System (BMS) is an electronic control system that monitors and manages rechargeable battery packs. Secondary batteries are commonly used as the storage of energy produced by solar panels. However, the utilization of a battery without proper management can cause damage due to overcharging and over-discharging.
The BMS continuously monitors cell voltages, current, temperature, and state of charge while protecting potentially damaging conditions such as overcharging, over-discharging, excessive current, and temperature extremes. Advanced systems incorporate cell balancing to maintain uniform charge distribution across multiple cells, thermal management to regulate operating temperatures, and sophisticated algorithms to estimate battery state of health and remaining useful life.
This study aims to design a battery management system (BMS) on a Valve Regulated LeadAcid (VRLA) battery. The method used was the battery State of Charge (SOC) estimation using Coulomb Counting (CC) method. The results showed that the BMS was successfully designed and implemented to automatically cut-off the current when the SOC value is 100% (charging limit) and 20% (discharging limit)

This study examines the effect of audit committee effectiveness on corporate tunnelling among listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria, with a particular focus on audit committee size, independence, and financial expertise. This study examines the effect of audit committee effectiveness on corporate tunnelling in listed firms, with specific focus on audit committee size, audit committee independence, and audit committee expertise as key dimensions of audit committee effectiveness.
The study adopts an ex-post facto research design and utilizes secondary data obtained from the annual reports of selected listed firms over a specified period. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression techniques are employed to analyze the relationship between audit committee characteristics and corporate tunnelling. Audit committee size is measured by the number of members in the committee, audit committee independence by the proportion of independent non-executive directors, and audit ommittee
expertise by the financial and accounting knowledge possessed by committee members. The findings reveal that audit committee independence and audit committee expertise have significant negative effects on corporate tunnelling, indicating that independent and financially knowledgeable audit committees are more effective in reducing opportunistic managerial activities and protecting shareholders’ interests. However, audit committee size shows a mixed relationship with corporate tunnelling, suggesting that merely increasing committee membership does not necessarily enhance monitoring effectiveness.
The study concludes that effective audit committees play a critical role in curbing corporate tunnelling and improving corporate governance practices. The study therefore recommends that firms should strengthen the independence and professional competence of audit committee members to enhance oversight functions and reduce the likelihood of resource expropriation within organizations