NIL

This study investigated school facilities maintenance and principals' administrative effectiveness in public secondary schools in Edo State. Nine research questions were raised and seven hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The design of the study was descriptive survey based on correlational method. The population of the study constituted the 308 principals in the 308 public secondary schools and 495 teachers who served as respondents in the three senatorial districts of Edo State. The sample size of the study was 64 principals in the 64 public secondary schools in the three senatorial districts of Edo State, constituting 20% of the population. Eight teachers per sampled school were purposefully selected to serve as respondents. The proportional random sampling technique, using the multi stage sampling procedure was used for the selection. Two validated research instruments titled “School Facilities Maintenance Questionnaire” (SFMQ) and “Principals’ Administrative Effectiveness Questionnaire” (PAEQ) with a reliability coefficient of 0.88 and 0.74 respectively were used for the study. The Mean and Standard Deviation, Pearson r and Fisher’s Z statistics were used to analyze the data. Findings from the study revealed that the level of facilities maintenance and principals’ administrative effectiveness in public secondary schools in Edo State was low. The study also revealed a significant relationship between school facilities maintenance and principals’ administrative effectiveness in public secondary schools in Edo State. The sex and experience of the principals were also found to be significant, in that male principals and more experienced principals carried out maintenance practices than female and less experienced principals. However, there was no significant relationship between facilities maintenance and principals’ administrative effectiveness based on school type, location and size. It was therefore recommended that the Ministry of Education should organize training workshops and seminars for principals on facilities maintenance and administrative effectiveness as well as provide all necessary tools and resources they require in a bid to improve their knowledge and skills in maintenance practices. Sex and experience should be considered when appointing principals. However, principals, irrespective of their qualification, school type, size and location should be encouraged to make maintenance of facilities a top priority to create a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.

Narrative Devices are writers tools used in creating stories, events which may be fictional or non-fictional with the aim of teaching and revealing lessons of life and events which are the product of human actions and reactions. In doing this, writers employ various techniques like characterization, themes, tropes and schemes to laugh at and scorn human activities. Thus, it is in view of this The Beauty of Madness and Other Stories is discussed so as to show how the various narrative techniques is deployed in x-raying the themes of jealousy, love, betrayal, forgiveness and superstition in the narrative. Keywords: Narrative Devices, New formalism, tropes, themes, schemes

The study investigated the relationship effects between class size and students'academic performance in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State. To achieve the purpose of
the study, four (4) research questions were raised to guide the study. The design adopted for this study is thedescriptive survey method. The population for the study comprised the 213 teachers in the 15 public secondary schools in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State. A total 50 teachers from six public secondary senior secondary schools in the LGA. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from respondents. The research instrument was validated by lecturer of the Department of Educational Management. Data collected from the survey was statistically analyzed. After analysis, results were displayed on tables showing frequencies and percentages of responses, including the decision made. Based on the findings, there is large class size in the public senior secondary schools in Ovia North East of Edo State, large class size inhibits the Level of students' academic performance, large class sizes not only affect students in negative ways but the teachers also, and there is a significant relationship between class size and secondary school students' academic performance. It was recommended that increased funding for secondary school education in Nigeria should be a top priority for policymakers in the LGA, inspectors, and school principals should focus more on the number of students in each class, government should construct more classrooms in schools with large student populations, and the authorized teacher-to-school ratio of 1:40 should be appropriately applied when allocating teachers to schools, etc.

Women play a crucial role in agriculture in Nigeria, contributing significantly to food production and the economy, which is often undervalued. The main objective of this study is to assess the participation of women farmers in cassava farming and extension services, The specific objectives include;
1. To describe the socioeconomic characteristics of women cassava farmers. 2. To identify the farming activities performed by women cassava farmers. 3. To identify the respondent's awareness and access to extension services. 4. To analyse the perception of the benefits of extension services on farming activities. 5. To identify the challenges faced by women cassava farmers. A multistage sampling was carried out with a random selection of female farmers from four communities in the Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo state, Nigeria. Data were analysed using frequency, mean, median, mode, standard deviation, percentage and tables, and the hypothesis was tested using multiple regression. Results showed that the greater proportion 35.8% of female farmers were within 40- 49 years old, 75.8% were married, 85.8% are literate, 42.5% of persons had a household size of 2-4, 58.3% of persons primary occupation was farming, 62.5% of persons participated in cassava production, 54.2% persons had a farming experience of 1-5 years, 45.8% persons had a farm size of less than one hectare, 35.8% of persons had an annual income of 200,000-500,000 naira, 90.8 % of persons used farm labour, 52.5% persons never had contact with an extension agent and 58% of farmers used family labour. Farmers participated in Land clearing ( �ത = 3.72), Planting (�ത = 3.53), Weeding (�ത = 3.99), Harvesting (�ത = 3.98), Processing (�ത = 3.75), Transportation (Mean=3.55), Processing to garri (�ത = 3.48) and Storage (�ത = 3.57). Majority of farmers were aware and had access to profitable market (�ത = 3.46), loans, farm credit and other financial aids (�ത = 3.50) and ownership of land for farm use ( �ത = 3.08). The farmers found the following services beneficial, access to profitable market (�ത = 3.26), access to loans and financial aid (�ത = 3.11), access to information on government policies (�ത = 3.88) and access to ownership of land for farm use (�ത = 3.71). The farmers faced the following challenges mobility restrictions and transportation difficulties (�ത = 3.86), high cost of input and storage facilities (�ത = 3.18), insufficient finance (�ത = 3.33), inadequate infrastructure (�ത = 3.68), expensive and inadequate farm labour (Mean=3.98), insecurity (�ത = 3.55) and pest and disease attack ( �ത = 3.97). I recommend that targeted extension programs should be developed, that address the specific needs and challenges faced by women farmers, including training on modern agricultural techniques and financial literacy

Clays have been utilized for centuries across various cultures for their therapeutic and medicinal properties, ranging from wound healing to antibacterial applications, owing to their adsorptive and chemical properties that inhibit pathogens and support tissue regeneration. This study was aimed at investigating the physicochemical and antibacterial properties of Okpepe clay, Uzala black clay and the combined effect of both clays on clinical isolates against some clinical isolates. Clay samples were processed into suspensions, physicochemical analysis was carried out to determine the pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), heavy metal content and organic carbon. Uzala black clay had a higher pH (7.85), CEC (25.90 cmol/kg), and organic matter (2.80 %), while OKC was more acidic (pH 6.12) with higher EC and TDS. Antibacterial activity was tested against some clinical isolates such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus spp. using agar well diffusion at concentrations of 100 %, 75 %, 50 % and 25 %. Uzala black clay demonstrated superior antibacterial activity with larger zones of inhibition and lower MIC values (6.25 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus) compared to Okpekpe clay. Uzala black clay was bactericidal (MBC/MIC ≤ 2) against all isolates, while Okpekpe clay was often bacteriostatic. The clay combination (1:1) showed a remarkable synergistic effect, particularly at 75 % concentration, producing the largest zones of inhibition (42 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Uzala Black Clay is a potent, broad-spectrum bactericidal agent. The combination with Okpekpe Clay results in a significant synergistic enhancement of antibacterial efficacy. Its efficacy against clinical isolates, including those resistant to common antibiotics, highlights its potential as a source for developing new antimicrobial strategies against drug-resistant bacteria and its novel antimicrobial strategies.

This study assessed the knowledge, beliefs, and risk factors associated with Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) among female undergraduate nursing students at the University of Benin. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design and structured questionnaire, findings revealed a generally high level of BV knowledge, though gaps exist regarding its asymptomatic nature. ommon misconceptions included the belief that poor hygiene and sexual activity are primary causes. Key risk factors identified were recent antibiotic use, tight clothing, and improper hygiene Practices. Despite these issues, students demonstrated a Strong willingness to adopt educational strategies like seminars, curriculum integration, and peer education. The study underscores the importance of targeted interventions and improved reproductive health education to better prepare future nurses and reduce BV prevalence. Limitations include the Study’s restriction to one institution, limiting generalizability. Recommendations include incorporating BV education into nursing curricula, promoting peer-led discussions, and organizing regular health campaigns.

This study examined the use of Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) to investigate the subsurface lithology in Ugbogiobo, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. The research aimed to determine the variation in subsurface materials and identify geological structures that may influence groundwater potential, engineering suitability, and environmental conditions in the study area. The study adopted a geophysical survey approach using the ERT method, where resistivity measurements were taken along selected profiles to generate two-dimensional subsurface images. Data obtained were processed and interpreted using standard inversion software to produce resistivity models that reveal variations in lithological units. The results showed distinct subsurface layers characterized by varying resistivity values, indicating differences in soil composition, moisture content, and degree of weathering. The near-surface layer was generally composed of lateritic and sandy materials with relatively high resistivity values, while deeper zones exhibited lower resistivity indicative of clayey formations and possible water-bearing zones. The study also identified potential fracture zones and areas of structural weakness, which are important for groundwater accumulation and civil engineering planning. The study concludes that Electrical Resistivity Tomography is an effective non-invasive geophysical tool for subsurface investigation in Ugbogiobo. It provides reliable information on lithological variations and groundwater potential. The research recommends the integration of ERT surveys in site investigation studies before construction and borehole drilling to improve decision-making, reduce failure rates, and enhance sustainable groundwater development in the area.

The first attempt at the establishment of Christianity in Nigeria can be traced back to the fifteenth century, when the Portuguese priest from the diocese of Lisbon were sent by the king of Portugal along with Portuguese traders to evangelize the Benin kingdom. The period was seen as the age of exploration.1 However, this was a failure largely due to their method of evangelization. The second attempt covers the years 1788-1900 and was linked with the movement for the abolition of slave trade and European desire to trade with the African interior. During the last quarter of the eighteenth century, a new enlightenment swept through Europe and this enlightenment originated with Christian and humanitarian groups as well as American and French revolutions. They insisted on the “Rights of man” everywhere. This gave new life to the church of the day which resulted in the formation of missionary societies that founded the Christian missionary society (CMS) in 1799.3

Urinary tract pathogens are increasingly resistant to conventional antibiotics, prompting interest in plant-derived bioactive agents. This study evaluated the phytochemical profile and antibacterial potential of Cinnamomum tamala bark extracts against selected clinical isolates. Dried bark samples were subjected to aqueous and ethanolic extraction, followed by phytochemical screening using GC–MS analysis. Antimicrobial activity was carried out using ditch plate and agar well diffusion methods, while minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were determined via agar dilution techniques. The ethanolic extract demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition, with zones of inhibition ranging from 8.25 ± 4.8 mm at 50 µg/mL to 21.75 ± 2.93 mm at 800 µg/mL, showing significant differences across concentrations (p = 0.034). The aqueous extract exhibited no effect at low concentrations but was active at higher concentration, producing inhibition zones up to 6.50 ± 3.77 mm, significantly different across groups (p < 0.001). MIC results indicated stronger activity for the ethanolic extract, particularly against E. coli (12.5 µg/mL), compared to the aqueous extract, which required higher concentrations (100–200 µg/mL) across organisms. Similarly, ethanolic MBC values ranged between 25–100 µg/mL, significantly lower than the consistent 200 µg/mL required for the aqueous extract. Phytochemical screening revealed alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, and phenols in both extracts, while saponins and glycosides were exclusive to the aqueous extract, and steroids and resins were unique to the ethanolic extract. GC–MS analysis identified major constituents including Squalene (21.13%), 9-Octadecenoic acid (17.62%), and 13-Octadecenal (16.89%) in the ethanolic extract, while the aqueous extract was dominated by 9-Borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (28.24%) and Cyclopropane derivatives (17.04%). These findings highlight the potent antibacterial efficacy of C. tamala ethanolic extract, particularly against E. coli, with activity linked to its terpenoid and fatty acid constituents. The results suggest that C. tamala may serve as a promising source of natural antimicrobials.

The study investigated the relationship between socio-economic background of
parents and students’ academic performance in senior secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. To achieve the purpose of the study, four research questions were raised and answered. The population for this study was made up of all the 5,419 public senior secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The sample size for the study was made up of 70 respondents. Data collected from the respondents was analyzed using descriptive statistics, precisely mean and standard deviation. The instrument used for the data collection was a structured questionnaire titled “Relationship between Socio-Economic Background of Parents and Students’ Academic Performance Questionnaire (RSEBPSAPQ)”. The constructed questionnaire for the study was presented to the project supervisor to confirm for content validity. The Cronbanch Alpha method was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. The questionnaire was administered to a group of 20 respondents which were not part of the study but were part of the population. A Cronbach Alpha coefficient of .887 was obtained. This shows that the instrument is reliable. The findings from the study include that there is no significant relationship between parental socio-economic background and students’ academic performance based on sex. It was concluded that socio-economic background of parents such as education, occupation and cultural values significantly influence on students’ academic performance in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The study recommended among others that the government should introduce policies and scholarship schemes aimed at supporting students from low socio-economic backgrounds. Such initiatives would help to reduce financial barriers that limit students’ access to quality education and, consequently, improve their academic performance