PERFORMANCE

Comparative Performance analysis of Selected Working Fluids in a low temperature organic RankineCycle forWasteHeatrecoveryApplication. The global imperative to improve energy efficiency necessitates the effective recovery of low- gradewast heat,achallengeperfectlyaddressedbytheorganicRankineCycle (ORC)technology. This project undertakes a comprehensive comparative analysis of selected candidate organic
working fluids – including Ethanol, Toluene, Cyclopentane, R245fa, R1233zd(E) and R152a, drawn fromthe categories ofdry,wet andisentropic fluids,withina low temperatureORCsystem designed for industrial waste heat recovery. The primary goal isto identify the optimal fluid that maximizesthermodynamic performance under a specified heatsource temperature (e.g 206 0Cto 123.70C). A thermodynamic model was developed to simulate the cycle’s performance. The selected fluids areevaluatedagainstkeymetricssuchasnetworkandthermal efficiency. Initial simulation results reveal significant variability in cycle performance, depending on the fluid’s criticaltemperature,boilingpointandcondensationtemperatures andpressures. The findings provide a data driven basisforselecting aworking fluid that not only achieves higher power generation but also minimizes system’s complexity and investment cost, thereby acceleratingthedeploymentofsustainablelowtemperaturewasteheatrecoverysystems

This study aimed to evaluate and enhance the efficiency of a tile production facility in Benin City, Nigeria through MATLAB-based simulation and optimization. The research was conducted in response to persistent challenges in local tile manufacturing, including high energy consumption, low throughput, and significant defect rates. The study sought to develop a robust simulation model capable of analyzing the plant’s operational performance, identifying critical inefficiencies, and proposing optimization strategies that align with real-world production constraints. The methodology involved systematic data collection on machine utilization, downtime, energy consumption, and defect levels from the facility. These data were used to design a MATLAB simulation model that replicated the major stages of tile manufacturing mixing, pressing, drying, glazing, and firing. The model evaluated baseline performance conditions and tested multiple optimization scenarios such as load balancing, batch size adjustment, and preventive maintenance scheduling. The simulation outputs were analyzed to determine their operational feasibility within existing equipment and workforce limitations. The results showed substantial improvements across key production metrics. Daily output increased by approximately 20%, machine utilization rose from 85% to 92%, and defect rates decreased from 6.0% to 3.5%. Energy consumption per tile dropped by 7%, contributing to a 4.8% reduction in production cost. Financial projections indicated a 37% increase in monthly gross profit following optimization. These findings confirm that MATLAB simulation provides a cost-effective and practical approach for improving efficiency, product quality, and profitability in Nigeria’s tile manufacturing sector

The study was carried out to determine “influence of cultism on the academic performance of undergraduate students: university of benin”. The research questions raised for this study are; What is the prevalence of cultism among students. Does cultism have any significant negative and positive effect on student academic performance. How does involvement in cultism affect the academic performance of students. What measures can be implemented to mitigate the negative effects of cultism on the academic performance of students. The population of this study comprised all the 15 faculties in the University of Benin, 2022/2023 Academic session. The population of forty three thousand four hundred and seventy (43,470) students were the respondents. The sample size selected for this study is one hundred (100) undergraduate students, selected randomly from the 15 faculties of University of Benin using simple random sampling technique. This study was conducted to assess the influence of cultism on the academic performance of undergraduate. a case study of university of Benin. Four research questions were raised. This study made use of the descriptive survey research design. The population of this study comprised all the 15 faculties in the University of Benin, 2022/2023 Academic session. The population of forty three thousand four hundred and seventy (43,470) students were the respondents. The sample size selected for this study is one hundred (100) undergraduate students, selected randomly from the 15 faculties of University of Benin using simple random sampling technique. In order to elicit information from the respondents, a structured questionnaire named "Influence of Cultism on the Academic Performance of University Students Questionnaire (ICAPUQ) was distributed to the respondents. The questionnaire was divided into two sections. Section A was designed to generate information about the school and respondents. Section B consists of questions drawn from the research questions. The scale used was "Yes" or "No".The test-retest reliability method was used to determine the reliability of the instrument and the process yielded an index of 0.81 Data obtained from the study were analysed using mean and standard deviation.. The following recommendation were made: There should be increased security measures and surveillance on campus to identify and prevent cult activities, ensuring the safety and well-being of all students at the University of Benin.There should be regular workshops and seminars organized by the university to educate students on the dangers and consequences of cultism, as well as provide support resources for those who may be at risk of joining a cult. There should be a zero-tolerance policy towards cultism, with strict disciplinary actions in place for students found to be involved in such activities, to deter others from engaging in similar behavior.There should be more access to mental health support services for students experiencing the pressures

The study investigated the debt-equity mix and performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria. Panel data analysis technique was adopted using both preliminary analysis and multiple least square regressions to estimate the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. A sample of five deposit money banks from the Nigerian stock exchange was selected between the period of 2010-2017 based on available data. Based on the analysis carried out the study recommends amongst others that management should try as much as possible to finance their operations using equity and reduce their debt uptake in order to improve their performance.

This study examined The Impact of Employee Training and Development on Employee Performance. The survey research design was adopted for this study because data was collected from a sample population with specific characteristics. Four research questions were asked and answered during the study using simple percentage analysis. The population of the study covered the entire employees (both male and female) in selected organizations within the area of study. Out of this population, a total of 100 employees were selected as the sample using a random sampling technique. The instrument used to collect data for the study was a twenty-item self-structured questionnaire. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that training and development play a significant role in improving employee productivity, enhancing skills, boosting motivation, and supporting organizational growth. However, challenges such as inadequate training opportunities, mismatch between training content and job requirements, and lack of follow-up after training were identified as factors limiting its effectiveness. The study further revealed that employees perceive training and development as vital for career advancement, but its success depends largely on relevance, consistency, and alignment with organizational objectives. Consequently, the implication of this study to practice highlights the need for organizations to adopt well-structured training and development programs that focus on employee growth, fairness, and organizational competitiveness. The results also indicated that organizations that actively invest in training and development for their workforce tend to record higher levels of productivity, improved job satisfaction, and better employee retention. The study recommends that organizations should provide continuous training opportunities, ensure that training programs are tailored to employee and organizational needs, and evaluate the outcomes of training to measure effectiveness. In addition, managers should give constructive feedback and create supportive learning environments to enhance employee performance and overall organizational success.

This study examined the effect of capital structure on the financial performance of deposit
money banks with international authorization listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX).
The study covered seven banks over a six-year period (2018–2023), yielding a total of 42
bank-year observations. Secondary data were extracted from audited annual financial
statements, while financial performance was proxied by Return on Assets (ROA). The capital
structure variables included Total Debt Ratio (TDR), Equity Ratio (ER), Long-Term Debt
(LTD), and Short-Term Debt (STD). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics,
correlation analysis, diagnostic tests, and multiple regression techniques through SPSS 25.
The descriptive statistics revealed that Nigerian deposit money banks rely heavily on debt
financing, particularly short-term debt. Correlation results showed no significant linear
relationship between ROA and the capital structure variables, although strong internal
correlations existed among TDR, ER, and STD. Diagnostic tests confirmed the absence of
multicollinearity, heteroskedasticity, autocorrelation, and non-normality. Due to perfect
multicollinearity between TDR and ER, both variables were excluded from the regression
model, leaving LTD and STD as the final predictors.
The regression results showed that Long-Term Debt (LTD) had a positive but statistically
insignificant effect on financial performance, while Short-Term Debt (STD) exerted a
negative and insignificant effect. The model’s explanatory power was weak (R² = 0.070),
indicating that capital structure accounts for only 7% of variations in bank profitability.
Based on the 5% significance threshold, all hypotheses were accepted, showing that none of
the capital structure variables significantly predicted financial performance during the
period under review.
The study concludes that capital structure does not have a significant effect on the financial
performance of internationally active Nigerian banks, suggesting that profitability in the
banking sector is driven more by operational efficiency, asset quality, regulatory compliance,
and macroeconomic factors than by leverage decisions. The study recommends that bank
managers adopt balanced financing strategies while regulators strengthen policies that
promote sustainable liquidity and risk management.

This study examined the ROLES OF DIFFERENT COACHING STYLES ON THE IMPACT OF TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES PERFORMANCE, The research specifically explored the most commonly used coaching styles, how these styles influence team dynamics, the impact on individual athletes, athletes’ perceptions of their coaches’ behaviour, and the coaching styles considered most effective for improving overall performance. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected from 108 student-athletes using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, weighted means, and standard deviations. The findings revealed that transformational, democratic, transactional, and athlete-centered coaching styles were the most commonly practiced, while autocratic and laissez-faire styles were used moderately. The results further showed that coaching styles significantly influence team performance by enhancing communication, cooperation, unity, and conflict management. Individual performance was also positively affected, as respondents agreed that supportive coaching methods improved motivation, discipline, confidence, skill development, and concentration. Athletes expressed more positive perceptions toward coaching styles characterized by open communication, encouragement, and emotional support. The study identified transformational, democratic, and athlete-centered coaching styles as the most effective for improving both team and individual performance.

This study investigates auditors influence on performance and accountability in business organizations in Nigeria. The main purpose of this study was to specifically find out the impact of influence of auditors’ professionalism, auditors’ level of education, auditor’s work experience and auditors’ evidence-based approach on the performance and accountability of business organization in Nigeria. The design of the study was a survey research design. The population target of this study comprised of 376 small and medium-sized enterprises operating across various sectors within Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The research instruments used in gathering data was the questionnaire, which were administered to small and medium- sized enterprises operating across various sectors within Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The instrument was validated by the research supervisor and other lecturers in the Department of Accounting. Mean, standard deviation, percentages, regression and Pearson correlation analysis were used analyze the research questions and hypotheses. The findings reveals that auditors’ professionalism influenced, level of education, work experience and evidence-based approach significantly influenced performance and accountability in business organization in Nigeria (P<0.05). It was also revealed that the most the most important factors that resulted to performance and accountability in business organization in Nigeria are auditors’ work experience (0.233), professionalism (0.225), level of education (0.220) and evidence-based approach (0.189) respectively. Therefore they are considered indispensable for business organization growth in the study area. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended that small and medium enterprises in Edo State are to adopt hiring competent auditors as a strategy of improving accountability and performance while auditing firms should adhere strictly to international auditing standards (ISA) and financial reporting frameworks such as IFRS to improve audit reliability and accountability in Nigerian businesses

The study was designed to investigate the Influence of Literacy on
Pupils Performance in Primary Schools in Ovia North-East Local
Government Area of Edo State. Three research questions and three research
hypothesis were also generated. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. The population of this study consisted of the primary school pupils in the ninetyfive (95) public primary schools in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State where two hundred and fifty (250) primary school pupils were randomly selected from five (5) schools through the purposive sampling techniques. The YES or NO questionnaire was used while tables and simple percentages were used as method of data analysis. The findings of the study revealed that pupils in primary schools in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State are non-literates, that the ability of pupils to read and write significantly influence their academic performance in primary
schools in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State and that the total number of primary school pupils in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State who can read and write are not more than pupils who cannot read and write. Based on the above findings, recommendations were made.

This research work was carried out to understand the impact of climate on asphalt pavement. Climate, changes due to the activities of the human kind as technology advances it leads to the emission of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere, thereby in the long term altering with the climate. It is paramount to always factor in the future climate projection when designing pavement due to the impact climate parameters such as temperature and precipitation have on the performance of the pavement. The methods used for the determination of the performance of the pavement due to the climate is the pavement temperature model and the rutting depth of the pavement over time. The pavement temperature is determined using the historic temperature data and future projected temperature data of the study area. The data used for the determination of the historic pavement temperature of the road was that of January 2025 using the Viljoen pavement temperature. The future projection of the pavement temperature for the year 2021 to the year 2040 is that gotten from the CMIP6 temperature model used by the world bank for world climate research program. The rutting depth throughout the design life of the pavement is gotten from the MEPDG workbook. The result of the maximum pavement temperature gave a standard deviation of ±1.6 ̊C with the coefficient of variation equal to 2.86% with the minimum pavement temperature giving a standard deviation of ±1.89 ̊C with the coefficient of variation equal to 7.34%.The rutting depth of the pavement in study location was predicted to reach the depth of 11.53mm by the end of the design life.