BENIN CITY

This work studied women participation in community development with special emphasis on Egor Local Government Area, Edo State. The exercise was carried out due to the observed lag in women participation in community development all over the country. The work had four key objectives which it sought to realize. These include: to ascertain the barriers to women participation in agriculture within the local government, to ascertain the impact of low level of education on women participation in community development, to determine how to enhance women participation in the politics of Egor Local Government Area and finally to identify ways of empowering the women for optimal participation in the overall development of the communities. The researcher made use of both primary and secondary sources of data to generate data used for the study. These data were presented in tables and analysed using simple percentage. The researcher found out the various barriers to women participation in community development to include cultural practices, low level of women education, poverty among the rural women and violent that characterize the country’s politics. It is therefore recommended that cultural practices that deny women free access to community development should be abrogated; Government should provide modern farm implements to the rural women farmers and also educate them on how to use these implements to enhance productivity; girl child education should be made free and also compulsory at least at secondary school levels. The study also recommend that social workers should be ready to actively participate in the involvement of women participation in community
development.

Land reform remains a critical issue of great relevance in developing countries such as Nigeria. This study therefore examined the impact of land reform in Benin City; a comparative study of Obagie and Ogheghe community. The study used secondary dataobtained from physical observation and respondents in the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Rural Development. It was found that there is a spatial distribution and arrangement of different types of land uses within the study area. The study tends to show the implications of the land reform policy on land use pattern within the study area.

This study examined the influence of work-life balance initiatives on employee performance in selected banking institutions in Benin City. Focusing on personal characteristics, family responsibilities, and leave policies as key work-life balance variables, the study aimed to assess their impact on employee performance. A total of 200 valid responses were collected from employees out of a potential sample size of 268. The study adopted a quantitative research methodology, utilizing descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, and percentage) and inferential statistics (regression analysis) for data analysis. The findings revealed that personal characteristics significantly influence employee performance (B = 0.362, p < 0.001), while family responsibilities showed no significant effect (B = 0.024, p = 0.705). Additionally, leave policies were found to have a significant positive impact on employee performance (B = 0.204, p = 0.040). Based on these findings, the study recommends the implementation of tailored employee development programs that consider individual characteristics, the introduction of flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance, and the enhancement of leave policies to promote employee well-being and improve overall performance.

The rapid evolution of digital technologies has transformed how businesses attract, engage, and retain customers, making digital marketing a vital tool for organisational growth. This study examined the relationship between digital marketing practices and the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Benin City, Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigated the effects of social media marketing, search engine optimisation, email marketing, and content marketing on SME growth. The research adopted a quantitative survey design, with data collected from selected SMEs operating within Benin City. Hypotheses were tested using statistical techniques to determine the significance of the relationships between the identified digital marketing practices and SME growth indicators. The findings revealed a positive and significant relationship between social media marketing and SME growth, as well as between search engine optimisation and SME growth. Similarly, content marketing demonstrated a positive and significant effect on SME growth. In contrast, email marketing showed a positive but insignificant relationship with SME growth, suggesting limited effectiveness in the studied context. These findings highlight the importance of leveraging social media, SEO, and content strategies to drive business expansion while recognising the need for improved email marketing adoption and practices. The study concludes that digital marketing practices are critical enablers of SME growth in Benin City, but their impact varies across different strategies. It recommends that SME owners and managers invest in capacity building, technology adoption, and tailored digital strategies to enhance xiv competitiveness. Policy makers are also encouraged to support SMEs with training, digital infrastructure, and enabling policies that foster sustainable growth in the digital economy

This study examines impact of domestic violence against women in Egor local government area, Benin City, Edo state in conducting the study, a sample size of one hundred and fifty (150) respondents were randomly selected from the population. The survey design was adopted for this study. To collect the needed data and information, a questionnaire was designed in line with the research questions. The method of data collection included the questionnaire, in-depth interview and secondary records which essentially included documents relating to the impact of unemployment on youth restiveness. Data were analyzed by means of tables, frequency distribution and percentages. From the findings, it was revealed that inequality (superiority of male sex over females) is a cause of domestic violence. Also, it was revealed that domestic violence against women reduces the participation of women in the society. It was revealed that stereotyping (preference and dominance of the male sex over the female sex) which is present in some culture is a reason which exposes women to domestic violence while 62% of the respondents did not provide an answer to this question. Also, it was revealed that violence has a socio-economic impact on the women in Egor. From the findings, it was concludes that domestic violence is prevalent in various nations at an alarming rate. Women are the sufferers and are subjected to physical, psychological and sexual abuse in their home by partners, in-laws and in some circumstances by their brothers and parents. The study therefore made the following recommendations that There is a need of recognition at the national level of the issue and consistent follow -up should be made mandatory. There should be enough educational programs in all societies and cultures, both for women and men at the same levels. There should be enough opportunities of employments and participation in political parties along with security and safety for women and the seat allocation for recruitments of both genders should be considered on equality grounds. More funds should be allocated to women's development in the country. Government should to make sure that women have enough access to reach any political opportunity and there should be a training programme available for their capacity building on politics. There is also a need of reforms in the police departments and judicial processes which place constraints on women from accessing justice. Women police should be trained to deal with women facing domestic violence so that women could feel safe and protected.

Caregivers in crèche settings play a pivotal role in nurturing and educating children during their formative years. However, the demand of this profession can lead to emotional stress, burnout, and job dissatisfaction. Therefore, this study explores the occupational related challenge faced by caregivers in crèche settings, with a focus on the impacts of these challenges on caregiver well-being and the quality of care provided to young children. The study adopted a survey research design and the population comprised all the care givers in the 39 registered crèches in Benin City. The sample was 100 crèches care givers selected from 25 crèche settings through multi-stage sampling techniques. The instrument for data collection was a self-structured questionnaire designed after a careful study of related literature. The instrument was validated by the three experts including the researcher’s supervisor. The internal consistency of the instrument was calculated with the cronbach alpha which yields a value of 0.86. The data were analysed with frequency count, percentages and standard deviation. The findings revealed that caregivers in crèche settings encounter a range of occupational challenges. The most commonly reported challenges include caring for crying babies, feeling unsatisfied due to salary payment, lack of appreciation from parents, poor recognition and appreciation of work by crèche management, and poor working conditions of the crèche. Caregivers experience fair challenges associated with the job of caring for children. Additionally, occupational-related challenges posed moderate impact to their health although feeling ill due to job was not mainly ascribed to job demand hence; do not perceive it as impactful to their health. Consequently, it was recommended that government should institute policyframework for effective monitoring and supervision of crèches and Managements ofcaregiving centres should ensure better welfare package for care givers including exposing them to various regular training programme.

The lateritic soils show a great variation in their properties as per their geological parent, weathering and mineralogical structure resulting in natural variation even in the relatively small geographical regions. Such variability presents serious difficulties to the engineers in determining their behaviour as well as designing the necessary compaction specifications. This study was intended to examine the impacts of different compactive efforts on lateritic soil engineering properties and to see how best they can be utilized in a civil work activity, using Oluku Borrow Pit and Blocks of Flats Gully Site in Benin City as the case study. Two samples of bulk laterite soil samples were collected at the two sites, dried in the air, ground and sent to the lab. The preliminary index tests such as particle size distribution, Atterberg limits, natural moisture content and specific gravity were conducted in order to classify the soils. Standard Proctor, West African Standard (WAS) and Modified Proctor methodologywere used to conduct compaction tests to measure the Maximum Dry Density (MDD) and Optimum Moisture Content (OMC). To determine the strength properties of the compacted soils, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests were later conducted in the soaked and unsovid states.The findings indicated that the maximum dry densities and the optimum moisture contents of both soils were increased by the increase in the compactive effort. Using the West African Standard compactive effort, optimum moisture content in the form of the West African Standard was a maximum of 10 per cent, with a maximum of 2.08 Mg/m3 dry density. The Oluku Borrow Pit soil, which had a lower content of fines (about 4.95-5.53% less the 0.075 mm sieve at shallow depths), presented a better performance with unsoaked CBR ranging between 28% at the shallow depths of compaction under the Modified Proctor compaction, whereas the soaked CBR was between 4-6%. Conversely, the Gully Site soil, which contains more fines (30 to 44 percent passing 0.075 mm sieve) registered lower unsoaked values of CBR of 2 to 4 percent and soaked values below 1 percent, which means that it is highly sensitive to moisture.

This study examined the socio-cultural factors influencing traditional festivals in Benin City, with particular emphasis on the Igue Festival. The Igue Festival, one of the most significant cultural heritages of the Benin people, embodies the spiritual, social, and cultural identity of the community. However, modernization, urbanization, and changing value systems have introduced new dynamics that influence the perception, practice, and sustainability of the festival. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 100 respondents through structured questionnaires. The study focused on four key objectives: to identify the socio-cultural importance of the Igue Festival; to assess how modernization and social change affect its practice; to examine the perception of different social groups towards the festival; and to explore strategies for preserving its relevance in contemporary society. Findings revealed that while the Igue Festival continues to play a vital role in cultural identity, unity, and spiritual renewal, factors such as Western influence, religious conversion, generational differences, and economic challenges have affected its observance. The study concludes that deliberate efforts are needed to balance cultural preservation with modern realities. It recommends sensitization programs, integration of cultural education into school curricula, and stronger community involvement to ensure the sustainability of the Igue Festival for future generations.

Syncretism is worldwide and it’s affect almost any two religion that meets. It is also perceived in the encounters of two worldviews. The belief is one of the challenges facing Religion in contemporary times. Christianity is faced with a stark reality that the Christian faith did not permeate the culture of our people well enough, thus there is such confusion and a mirage of different practices with professing Christianity. This can be seen in the lifestyles and beliefs of some Christians in Benin City particularly in times of difficulties in Life. Thus the aim of this research work is to examine the double allegiance of faith among
some Christians in Benin City who interestingly are devotees of both Christianity and African traditional beliefs. This research work set to critically examine the factors that are responsible for persistent of religious syncretism among some Benin city Christians. This Research work will adopt a descriptive method for data analysis, personal interviews and library resources that will constitute the primary and secondary sources of data. This data will be collected from published and unpublished articles. This research work tends to offer dialogue as a way forward to achieve authentic spirituality in any religion one may opt for.

This study assessed the water quality of harvested rainfall in different parts of Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, due to increasing dependence on rainwater as an alternative domestic water source amid erratic municipal supply. The research aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of harvested rainwater from three
communities—Ekosodin, BDPA, and Oluku—comparing direct rainfall and rooftop catchment sources. It further aimed to determine their Water Quality Index (WQI) using the Arithmetic weightage index model. Rainwater samples were systematically collected from pre-selected rooftops with different materials (corrugated iron, aluminum, and asbestos) and direct rainfall collectors. Standard laboratory methods were used for analyzing physicochemical parameters—pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), hardness, salinity, bicarbonate, chloride, sulfate, nitrate, heavy metals (Fe, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, V), and microbiological indicators. The results indicated that directly collected rainwater in all locations had excellent quality with pH (6.6–6.8), low EC (70–80 µS/cm), low TDS (41 45 mg/L), and negligible microbial contamination (0 CFU/mL). These samples had WQI values between 20 and 23, classifying them as “excellent” and safe for drinking and domestic use after minimal treatment such as filtration or boiling. However, rooftop-harvested rainwater showed slightly elevated concentrations of Fe (0.557 mg/L), Pb (0.026 mg/L), and Cd (0.01 mg/L).