CHALLENGES

The study is based on the Challenges and Prospects for Utilization of Health Centre in University of Benin. This study adopted an explorative and survey design method to examine challenges and prospects for health center utilization among students at the University of Benin. One hundred and ten respondents from the Faculty of Social Sciences (Department of Sociology and Psychology, 300-level and 400-level students) participated in the research. A questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection, and simple random sampling was employed to select participants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected. The study identified five major barriers to health center utilization: long waiting times, poor infrastructure, limited services, inadequate funding, and insufficient staff. When rating the current state of the health center, the majority of respondents assessed it as providing Fair or Poor quality services. The primary reasons for dissatisfaction included long waiting times, inadequate equipment, unfriendly staff, and limited services. Despite these challenges, a significant majority of respondents expressed optimism that the health center could improve. Students recommended improvements including upgrading infrastructure, increasing funding, expanding services, hiring more staff, and improving patient care. The study concludes that while significant barriers to health center utilization exist, students have provided clear recommendations for improvement. Addressing these challenges is essential for increasing health center utilization and supporting student health and academic success.

This study examined the challenges influencing exclusive breastfeeding completeness among nursing mothers in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Six research questions were raised and three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The research adopted a descriptive survey design to identify factors affecting mothers’ ability to complete the EBF period and to explore the influence of education, occupation, and parity on breastfeeding practices. A sample of 215 nursing mothers was drawn from eight functional Primary Health Care Centres using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected with a validated questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that while most mothers initiate exclusive breastfeeding, many discontinue prematurely due to challenges such as short maternity leave, inadequate family and workplace support, cultural pressures to introduce water or artificial feeds, breast engorgement, and perceived insufficiency of breast milk. Educational level and occupational status significantly influenced EBF completion, whereas parity showed minimal effect. The study recommends enhanced public health education, workplace breastfeeding policies, and community support initiatives to promote exclusive breastfeeding practices. These findings contribute valuable insights for policymakers, healthcare providers, and maternal health advocates seeking to improve child survival and maternal wellbeing in Nigeria.

A will is the final testament of a person. It contains directions as to how the person wants their estate to be administered. Prima facie, a person has the freedom to dispose their property in a manner that pleases them. However, there are limitations or restrictions to a person's testamentary freedom. This study aims to identify the various ways a person's testamentary freedom can be limited by law, cultural norms and religious dictates. It is trite principle in law that a person can make a will, but it does not mean that he can freely dispose his estate with no limit to his power of testation. This study examines the relevant judicial precedents and statute with regards to restrictions on testamentary disposition, as well as the challenges that arise with the wrong use of testamentary capacity. This study also examines the how cultural practices can affect testamentary disposition. Using the doctrinal method of research, it specifically investigates the effect of the trite principle of "nemo dat quod non habet” on testamentary freedom. The study goes further to identify other areas that affect testamentary freedom such as the effect of family property, the fetters Islamic law places on testators and the position on the law on provision for family members and dependents. This study tries to highlight the various ways, cultural and religious norms places restrictions on the testamentary freedom of a testator. The long essay also tries to identify modern developments in testamentary freedom. The study tries to suggest reforms to clarify the legal process of testamentary freedom and disposition. In conclusion, this long essay provides insight into the legal dynamics that govern testamentary disposition and offers practical solutions to lawyers and individuals especially testators and testatrixs seeking to navigate the murky waters of testamentary freedom and disposition.

This study examines the challenges of implementing Biology curriculum in senior secondary schools in Ovia North East Local Government Area, Benin City, Edo State. The purpose of the study is to determine the challenges faced by both students and teachers during the implementation of the Biology curriculum and to ascertain the impact on students’performance academically. A descriptive survey design was adopted for this study, the sample of the study study comprised of 40 teachers from selected senior secondary schools, data was elicited from the respondents using a questionnaire which was validated and proven to be reliable. The data retrieved from the respondents were analysed and the findings of the study revealed that teachers face many challenges during the implementation of the Biology curriculum and such challenges impact their ability to adequately carry out their duties thereby affecting the performance of students in Biology, some of the challenges revealed includes,poor teacher training, insufficient teaching aids and resources, inadequate teaching methods and overcrowded Biology classrooms and these challenges were proven to negatively impact students’ performance in Biology. The study concluded that several challenges hinder the Implementation of the Biology curriculum in senior secondary schools and these challenges has been proven to negatively impact students’academic performance, it is recommended that more funds should be allocated to the educational sector in order to boost the adequacy of the Biology laboratory and curriculum developers should review the Biology curriculum and lessen it's breadth and width and policy makers should increase the amount of time allocated to Biology practicals and lessons and ensure that such laws are being obeyed. School administrators should also ensure that the approved ratio of students to teachers are enforced in classrooms.

This study investigates the knowledge of school safety challenges and their impact on the educational development of secondary school students in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. It emphasizes the importance of a safe school environment as a foundation for effective teaching, learning, and overall student development. The research highlights those frequent issues such as violence, bullying, cultism, sexual harassment, poor infrastructure, and insecurity continue to affect students’ academic performance and emotional well-being in many Nigerian schools. A descriptive survey research design was adopted to collect data from both public and private secondary schools within the study area. Using a structured questionnaire titled School Safety and Educational Development Questionnaire (SSEDQ), data were gathered from a sample of 150 students selected through proportionate stratified random sampling. The study examined students’ awareness of safety risks, their exposure to safety training, and how these factors influence attendance, academic performance, and psychological stability. Findings revealed that although students recognize some safety threats in their schools, many lack sufficient knowledge of preventive and emergency measures. Schools with inadequate infrastructure, poor security systems, and limited safety education reported higher cases of absenteeism, fear, and reduced classroom participation. The study also identified gaps in policy enforcement, teacher training, and stakeholder collaboration as major barriers to ensuring safe learning environments. Based on these findings, the research recommends that school authorities and government agencies should prioritize the implementation of comprehensive safety policies, regular safety drills, and improved infrastructure. Teachers should receive training on child protection and crisis management, while students should be continuously educated on safety awareness and response strategies. A collaborative approach involving parents, communities, and educational stakeholders is essential to creating a secure, supportive, and conducive learning environment for students.

Underdevelopment in Nigeria has been attributed to numerous factors, both internal and external, which continue to hinder the nation’s socio-economic progress. Overcoming these challenges is a very necessary topic for both the general public and the government. It is essential for sustainable development and national growth. The study seeks to explain and understand the root causes of underdevelopment in Nigeria and examine its effect on society and the state. It also explores possible pathways for overcoming these challenges, drawing insights from scholarly suggestions and recommendations, empirical research, and past studies. The research adopts a qualitative approach, relying on secondary data from academic articles, books, government and international bodies reports, and publicized works. Through the use of theories like the Modernization theory, the Dependency theory, and the Human Development theory, we are able to understand the causes of and solutions to underdevelopment. Finding reveal that corruption, weak institutions, and the structural nature of Nigeria's economy has contributed significantly to underdevelopment. External factors such as unequal trade relations, foreign aid dependency, and the colonial legacy further compound the problem. All these have hindered development efforts, and continue to make life hard for citizens, while moving the state backwards.

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 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) made the theory of separation of powers a fundamental principle of state governance. This essay examines the doctrine of separation of powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to critically assessing the challenges facing same in Nigeria. The 1999 Constitution in different sections vested the powers of government in separate organs of government as follows: section 4 deals with the legislative powers; section 5 deals with the executive powers, while section 6 is concerned with judicial powers. This kind of separation of powers is known as the horizontal separation of powers. It has been discovered, by the adoption of doctrinal methodology as well as comparative research methodology, that a water-tight application of the doctrine of Separation of Powers is not possible. It is in recognition of this fact that the founders of the doctrine developed the principle of checks and balances which empowers each arm of government to serve as a check on the others to ensure that they do not go out of their constitutionally assigned roles. This concept of checks and balances is as well provided for in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Despite these provisions of the constitution, there are presently in Nigeria disputes and controversies concerning the meeting points of the powers allotted the various arms of government. The executive arm of government by virtue of the amplitude and plentitude of powers allotted to them by the constitution. The judicial arms of government appear to be at the receiving end of this power tussle. There are however certain salient areas in the interplay of powers where the three arms of government must converge or meet for the orderly regulation or governance of Nigerian society. This long essay reviewed the hallowed concept of separated 15 powers of government, the doctrine of checks and balances as well as the Independence of judiciary, the meeting points of the powers and their areas of dislocation. Some recommendations that will uplift the law and practice of sep rated powers in Nigeria were made.

BACKGROUND: In the digital era, university students are increasingly exposed to high levels of online
engagement through academic platforms, social media, and entertainment, leading to a phenomenon known as digital overload. This study examined the relationship between digital overload, mental health (depression), and academic burnout among pharmacy students at the University of Benin, Nigeria, and explored how these factors influence academic performance. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of digital overload among pharmacy students in UNIBEN. To measure the degree of academic burnout (emotional exhaustion and academic inefficacy) among the respondents. To examine the relationship between digital overload and mental health on academic burnout. To assess the extent to which digital overload and academic burnout affect students academic performance. METHOD: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted, with data collected from 334 pharmacy students across all levels using a structured questionnaire comprising the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Student Survey (MBI-SS) and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25, employing descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and one-way ANOVA tests.

Flow assurance has become one of the most pressing challenges in onshore oil and gas production. It refers to the ability to transport hydrocarbons from the reservoir through pipelines and surface facilities to the point of sale without blockages or interruptions. While the concept first gained traction in offshore systems, onshore operations face their own unique and complex issues. These challenges are linked to aging infrastructure, climatic variations, and the exploitation of marginal and mature fields, which often present high water cuts and unstable emulsions. This study provides a systematic review of the major flow assurance problems in onshore environments, focusing on wax deposition, hydrate formation, asphaltene precipitation, mineral scale, emulsions, and corrosion. Each mechanism was examined in terms of its underlying chemistry and physics, its operational impact, and the mitigation strategies commonly applied. Traditional solutions such as thermal treatments, chemical inhibitors, pigging, and water management remain central, but they are often costly, environmentally intensive, and sometimes unreliable under harsh conditions. The review also highlights the increasing use of innovative technologies, including nanomaterial-based inhibitors, environmentally friendly chemical alternatives, advanced coatings, and digital monitoring supported by artificial intelligence and machine learning. These emerging approaches show promise in reducing chemical volumes, lowering costs, and improving predictive control, although many remain at laboratory or pilot scale. The findings demonstrate that no single strategy is universally effective. Instead, integrated approaches tailored to field-specific conditions provide the best outcomes. For instance, thermal and pigging strategies remain practical in wax-prone pipelines, while low-dosage hydrate inhibitors and AI-based prediction models are more suited for hydrate management in colder climates.