TERTIARY INSTITUTION

The study investigated the influence of social media on the academic performance of students in tertiary institutions, using a sample of two hundred undergraduate students from the University of Benin. The aim was to explore how social media platforms affect students’ achievement, attitude, study habits, and access to learning materials, with attention to differences based on age, sex, and academic level. A descriptive survey design was used, and data were gathered through a structured questionnaire. The selected faculties represented humanities, life sciences, and technical fields, ensuring a fair representation. The research tool was validated by experts, and its reliability was confirmed using the Cronbach Alpha method, yielding a score of 0.832. Data analysis
was conducted using mean, standard deviation, and t-test at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings showed that students across academic levels believed that social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook helped improve their learning experiences. Male and female students alike reported that social media tools supported their learning activities and helped them stay connected academically. The use of these platforms was also found to influence how students build study habits and gain access to educational materials. The results showed that while students generally viewed social media as helpful, their experiences varied based on age, gender, and level of study. This shows that social media plays a strong role in shaping the way students interact with academic content and carry out their studies

Tertiary institutions, which provide education and temporary housing for thousands of students, face environmental challenges. This study analyzed water samples from five hostels for microbiological contamination and physicochemical parameters. Bacterial counts ranged from 2 × 10¹ to 1.3 × 10³ CFU/ml, with no coliform or E. coli detected. Proteus was found in samples 1 and 2, while Pseudomonas was present in samples 3 and 4. The analysis revealed acidic pH values between 4.77 and 5.33 and low total dissolved solids (TDS) from 13 to 37 mg/l. Iron concentrations were the highest, ranging from 62.32 to 154.70 mg/kg. Manganese peaked in sample 3 (0 to 15 cm depth) with 34.46 mg/kg. Lead levels ranged from 1.25 to 3.09 mg/kg, and copper levels varied from 4.36 to 11.05 mg/kg. Cadmium levels were stable at 0.01 to 0.02 mg/kg, while arsenic and mercury were not detected. Waste characterization showed that plastics and food constitute a significant portion of hostel waste. Regular monitoring of water quality and maintenance of storage systems can enhance drinking water in student hostels. Improving waste disposal and implementing better waste segregation are also essential to minimize metal accumulation. These actions will significantly enhance waste management and drinking water quality.

Cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge, particularly in developing countries where awareness, screening, and prevention are inadequate. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and factors influencing the utilization of cervical cancer screening services among female non-academic staff at the University of Benin, Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted, and data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire from 90 respondents selected through total enumeration. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi- square tests at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that while most respondents (86.7%) had heard of cervical cancer, knowledge about specific risk factors such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and recommended screening intervals was limited. Although the majority demonstrated positive attitudes toward screening (mean = 3.52), actual utilization was low, with only 31.1% having ever undergone screening. Major barriers identified included lack of awareness, financial constraints, fear of the screening procedure, and distance to healthcare centers. A significant relationship was found between awareness and screening utilization (p = 0.001) as well as between attitude and utilization (p = 0.003). The study concludes that despite relatively high awareness, inadequate knowledge and prevailing barriers hinder effective screening uptake. It recommends intensified health education, workplace-based screening programs, policy support, and subsidized services to enhance cervical cancer prevention among women in tertiary institutions.

This study evaluated indoor air quality and examined major risk factors for respiratory symptoms among students who used University of Benin libraries and laboratories. The concentrations of particulate matter, carbon dioxide, and formaldehyde were measured during the morning and afternoon sampling periods, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic, environmental, and health data. Statistical analyses included paired-samples t tests and chi- square tests, with significance set at p < 0.01. The mean pollutant concentrations range from 14.5 ± 0.6 to 24.1 ± 3.1 µg/m³ (PM₂.₅), 27.0 ± 1.5 to 43.2 ± 6.7 µg/m³ (PM₁₀), 399.5 ± 0.3 to 404.4 ± 4.7 ppm (CO₂), and 0.003 ± 0.000 to 0.026 ± 0.012 mg/m³ (HCOH), 24.6 ± 0.2 °C to 32.6 ± 3.7 °C (Temperature), and 69.1 ± 0.5% RH to 78.3 ± 0.6% RH (Relative Humidity).The mean pollutant concentrations did not differ significantly between the morning and afternoon samples, indicating temporal stability. In contrast, environmental factors were significantly associated with symptom prevalence. Notably, a highly significant but inverse relationship emerged for cleaning frequency: participants reporting daily cleaning reported the highest symptom prevalence compared with those reporting monthly cleaning. Demographic variables such as age and sex were not significant predictors of symptoms. These findings indicate that respiratory health risks in these indoor settings are driven less by short-term fluctuations in measured pollutants and more by shortcomings in building maintenance.

This study examined the knowledge, attitude, and practice of nutrition and healthy eating habits among students of a tertiary institution in Benin City, Edo State. Poor nutrition and unhealthy eating behaviours among young adults have been recognized as major public health concerns, contributing to the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design and utilized a stratified sampling technique with convenience sampling to select 200 participants from different academic levels and faculties. A total of 200 structured questionnaires were distributed and duly completed, yielding a 100% response rate. Data were analysed us ing the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0, and results were presented in tables, charts, and figures using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that the majority of the students possessed good knowledge of nutrition and healthy eating habits, as indicated by a grand mean score of 1.8. Most respondents also exhibited positive attitudes toward proper nutrition, recognizing the importance of balanced diets, regular meals, and adequate hydration. However, despite their awareness, many students demonstrated poor eating practices, often skipping meals, consuming fast foods, and taking sugary beverages due to time constraints, limited finances, and the easy availability of junk foods. Hypothesis testing showed a significant relationship between students’ nutritional knowledge, attitudes, and their actual eating behaviours (p< 0.05). The study concludes that while students have good knowledge and favourable attitudes toward nutrition, these do not always translate into healthy dietary practices due to various socioeconomic and environmental barriers

The study investigated the role of ICT as a change agent for quality education in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Three research questions were raised to guide the study. The population of the study comprised of over eighty thousand undergraduate students (80,000) in tertiary institutions of Edo State while the sample for the study comprised two hundred and eight (208) students randomly selected from different schools. Structured questionnaires titled: The role of ICT as a change agent for quality education in tertiary institutions in Nigeria was used for data collection. The questionnaire was validated by the researcher's supervisor as well as two other experts in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Technology while the Cronbach’s alpha reliability method was adopted to ascertain the reliability of the instrument which yielded a co-efficient index of .766. Data were analyzed with simple percentage, mean and standard deviation. The study concluded that ICT is a change agent for quality education in tertiary institutions. Strategies for effective use and implementation of ICT in tertiary institutions. From statistics, the percentage of students who agree that the ICT is a change agent for quality education in tertiary institutions is hundred percent (100%) which means that all students see ICT is a change agent for quality education in tertiary institutions