Edo State

The role of industry in the socioeconomic development of a nation remains a subject of interest in modern societies. It is expected that industrial activities and operation will lead to improved socioeconomic development in their areas such industries are situated. It was on this premise that this study investigated the role of industry on national development using a case study of PRESCO PLC in Obaretin Community in Edo state, Nigeria. A total of 291 participants selected at random were sampled for this study. Useful data were elicited from these participants using a well-structured questionnaire. A simple descriptive analytical approach was utilised to address the research questions of interest. The results of the study indicated that more of the participants (77.4%) agreed that the siting of PRESCO contributed in alleviating poverty in the host community. Further findings revealed that PRESCO’s corporate social responsibility impacted, at least to a high extent, on the host community. The studyhowever, found that majority of the participants (82.6%) at least agreed that siting of PRESCO brought about high development to the host community. Although, it was found that 92.5 percent of the responses were of the view that PRESCO had provided employment to host community to at least a high extent. It was recommended amongst others, that the company should scale up her provision of basic facilities, endeavour to continuously initiate programmes that will support and promote small scale businesses in the area, and improve social and economic development of host community.

This study examined effective public service in the administration of development plans of the federal government: a case study of Edo State. The main objectives of the study were to ascertain if there is any relationship between effective public service and administration of development plans of federal government in Edo State, examine the roles that has or should be played by the public service for Nigerians to benefit from good government and national development, and determine the challenges faced by the public service in promoting government policies for effective national development. The data collected were presented in a tabular form with focus on the major research questions in other to enable the researcher determine the results. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentage. The findings from the study revealed that the structural problem faced by the public service in promoting government policies in Nigeria is personnel regulation; personnel qualification and organizational structure are part of the challenges faced by the public service in promoting national development in Nigeria; the high level of corruption associated with the public service in Nigeria has hampered its role in promoting national development; the Nigerian public service lacks transparency and accountability; and that the ethno-religious hospitalities and the crisis of confidence from the populace compound the problems in the public service. The study further recommends that if the public service is to attain the desired results of development in Nigeria, far reaching reforms are needed, such as, recruitment and promotion of civil servants should be based on merit system as opposed to spoils system. This is because the enthronement of federal character principle of recruitment and other
spoils system have sacrificed efficiency and effectiveness in the Nigerian public service, while rules and regulations are sine qua non for systematic and orderly government, and there is a need for the mental attitudes and believes of the public servants to be reoriented, so that they can cope with the policies of new government.

This study explores the pivotal role of adult education in fostering economic development within rural communities, with a specific focus on the IkpobaOkha Local Government Area in Edo State, Nigeria. Utilizing a descriptive survey research design, the research delves into various aspects of adult education programs, including community perceptions, social and economic impacts, employed strategies, and overall benefits. The study reveals diverse perceptions within rural communities regarding adult education, highlighting the need for targeted awareness campaigns to dispel misconceptions and increase participation. Furthermore, the research underscores the positive influence of adult education programs on social development, emphasizing behavioral changes, community engagement, and enhanced lifestyles among adult learners.Additionally, the study identifies a strong correlation between adult education and economic development, citing the acquisition of vocational skills, increased productivity, income generation, and entrepreneurship opportunities as key outcomes. To optimize the effectiveness of adult education initiatives, the study recommends adequate funding, resource allocation, community engagement, and policy enhancements. It advocates for a comprehensive approach that integrates adult education into broader development strategies, emphasizing the importance of tailored programs, stakeholder collaboration, and continuous evaluation and improvement.The study underscores the transformative potential of adult education in rural communities and calls for sustained investment, policy support, and community involvement to harness this potential for holistic community development and economic growth.

This study examined the impact of crime on socio-economic development in Nigeria at Ovia-North East Local Government Area. The researcher is concerned with the growing rate of crime, which is perceived to have affected community development. Survey research methods were employed in this study and adhered to two techniques of data collection, namely, self-administered questionnaires and person-to-person interviews. The limitations of the study were economic and time factors. Hypotheses were tested, confirmed that there is indeed a relationship between high crime levels and unemployment. The study found that the Ovia-North East District is fraught with problems of high unemployment, high crime levels and lack of physical infrastructure. Secondly, it was shown that the levels of crime like robbery and assault cases are the order of the day. Many crimes are committed either during the day or at night. This study made several recommendations relating to what should be done to ensure that local residents, potential developers and investors feel safe at Ovia-North East areas. Among other recommendations put forward are the establishment of community relations with the police, like community policing forums (CPFs) and development community safety centres.

Mental Health” provides a comprehensive analysis of the pivotal role of school social workers in enhancing student mental health. The study was conducted across various educational settings, employing a random sampling technique to select a representative sample from different schools. The primary data collection tool was a questionnaire, supplemented by a thorough review of relevant literature and documents. Significant findings emerged from the study, highlighting the crucial role of school social workers in fostering mental health support for students. It was found that school social workers significantly impact students’ mental, behavioral, and academic outcomes. The study recommended that school social workers should collaborate with school administrators and community agencies to create a supportive school climate. The study emphasized the importance of ongoing professional development for school social workers, suggesting that regular training and support could enhance their ability to effectively support students. The findings also underscored the need for schools to prioritize mental health
and wellbeing, recognizing that students’ academic success is closely linked to their mental health. In conclusion, the research highlighted the importance of a holistic approach to student mental health, emphasizing that school social workers play a key role in connecting students and their families with a range of services and supports. The research also underscored the importance of collaboration between schools and community agencies, suggesting that such partnerships can enhance the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of mental health supports. Keywords: School Social Workers, Student Mental Health, Supportive School Climate, Mental Health Interventions, Professional Development

The study investigated the prevalence of deviant behaviours among senior secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. To achieve the purpose of the study, three research questions were raised and examined. The descriptive survey research method was adopted for the study. The sample size for the study was made up of 100 students. In analyzing the data, the researcher made use of frequency count and percentages to compute the findings from the research The findings from the study include that there is low prevalent rate of deviant behaviours among senior secondary school students in public secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. It was concluded that there is no significant difference in the prevalent rate of deviant behaviours among male and female students in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The study recommended among others that government should establish counselling services in all schools to address various aspects of students’ lives, including mental health, peer relationships, and family dynamics, to provide support and guidance for students at risk of deviant behaviour.

Dipterans are excellent indicators of water quality; hence, they are routinely used as bioindicators during monitoring of aquatic ecosystems. The study was therefore, executed to investigate the physico-chemical water quality and dipteran aquatic insect larvae community. Both water and benthic samples were collected between August 2021 and January 2022 at four designated sampling stations along the Okhuahie River at Ikpe in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria, using standard procedures. A total of 22 physiochemical parameters were determined and measured. Among the physical and chemical parameters, Flow rate, Dissolved oxygen, and Phosphate showed highly significant differences (P<0.001) across the stations. A total of 3 taxa comprising 857 species were recorded. Abundance was highest in station 3 consisting of 146 individuals and the lowest in station 2 consisting of 77 individuals. The dominant taxon is Chironomid (98%), Culex (1.2%) and Tanyderidae (0.3%). Culex consisted of just 1 species and 11 individuals, Tanyderidae of 1 species and 3 individuals, whereas Chironomid comprised 5 species and 843 individuals. The diversity indices showed that station 3 was more diverse followed by station 4, while dipteran species in station 2 was least diverse. Culicidae and Tanyderidae showed positive critical correlation to sulphate and turbidity. The overall abundance showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) for all the four station. This study proved that Okhuaihe River is unperturbed and the Dipteran encountered are characteristics of a tropical freshwater habitat.

Zooplankton and macrobenthic invertebrate fauna are good indicators of the overall water quality of rivers, as changes in water quality affect their general distribution and abundance. This study investigates the community structure of zooplankton and macrobenthic invertebrate fauna of Siluko River, Edo State, Nigeria. Zooplankton and macrobenthic invertebrate samples were collected monthly from July 2016 to March 2017 at four designated stations between 09:00 hours and 12:00 hours using plankton net and filtering 100litres of water respectively and thereafter analyzed in the laboratory using standard methods. A total of 20 zooplankton taxa comprising 386 individuals belonging to the groupCladocera, Cyclopoida, ploimida and flosculariaceae were encountered. Tropocyclops prasinus had the highest number of abundance. Cladocera accounted for 31.00% while Cyclopoida, Ploimida and flosculariaceae accounted for 62.00%, 6.00% and 1% respectively. Shannon-Weiner’s diversity indices showed that highest value of 3.583 was obtained in station 4 and lowest value of 2.731 was obtained in station 2 for the zooplankton. There were no observed seasonal variation in Cladocera and Copepods composition and abundance except for Rotifers which were more abundant in dry season. A total of 52 macrobenthic invertebrates taxa comprising of 2163 individuals, three phyla; Annelida, Arthropoda and Mollusca were encountered in this study. Centroptilum sp. had the highest abundance. Diversity and evenness indices showed that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in species composition across the study stations. Using the Shannon-Weiner’s diversity index, highest value was obtained in station 1 and lowest was obtained in station 3. Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera (EPT) index revealed that the water quality at stations 1, 3 and 4 were acceptable while that of station 2 was categorized as good. The zooplankton and macrobenthic invertebrate communities in Siluko River were characterized by species which indicated good water quality. However further studies are recommended to monitor the changes to this water body and their probable health effects as anthropogenic activities such as farming and housing development are on the increase around this stretch of the River.

A survey was conducted in the month of August, 2023 in order to investigate the food and feeding habit of Sclerophrys maculata in Okomu Rubber Plantation in Ovia South -West, Edo State, Nigeria. The study was carried out in order to contribute to the available information on the food and feeding habit of the Sclerophrys maculata . The specimens examined were captured at night using visual and acoustic encounter sampling techniques among grasses while they were out to feed or mate. The anurans were euthanized by exposing them to chloroform in a killing jar and then injected through the peritoneum with 10% formalin to preserve the stomach content and then stored in a bottle filled with 10% formalin. A total of nine Sclerophrys maculata comprising of 3 males and 6 females were examined for their dietary content. Analysis of the prey items recovered from the stomach of the species showed the occurrence of three prey items category: Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Blattodea. Hymenoptera was the most abundant prey items accounting for 92.16% while other prey items were Coleoptera (3.92%) and Blattodea (3.92%). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the feeding rate of both male and female specimens. The high prey abundance of Hymenopterans recovered from the toads confirmed the description that they are sit and wait feeders and myrmecophagous specialist but may opportunistically feed on other prey items.

In the agricultural economy of Edo State, Nigeria, women play a pivotal yet often under-documented role in the livestock sector. This study investigates the participation of women in pig and pork marketing in Benin City, exploring their impact on local food security and the urban economy. Methodology & Scope Using a combination of structured surveys and field observations across major meat hubs such as Santana, Oliha, and New Benin markets, the research analyzes the demographics, scale of operations, and profitability of female-led pork enterprises. Key Findings * Value Chain Positioning: While men dominate the production (far ing) and slaughtering stages, women hold a near-monopoly on retail marketing, processing (grilling/frying), and the distribution of pork products.