INVESTIGATION

This study was conducted to examine the factors affecting student performance in the study of history in higher institution a case study of the University of Benin. This study made use of the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consisted One hundred (1,182) students which is also the sample respondents for the study. The instrument for data collection for this study was a self-constructed close-ended questionnaire the researcher's supervisors were part of the validation team. Data obtained from the study were analyzed using mean score analysis. It was found in this study that Students level of performance varies as a result of factors like strong analytical skills, teaching methods, complexity of historical analysis and ease of access to educational resources. Family, time management skills, student’s prior knowledge of history, quality of teaching, and personal motivation/interest in history are the factors responsible for the student performance in History in the university of Benin Students’ field trips, level of participation, use of modern technology, incorporation of global perspectives to history courses and the use of multimedia resources are innovative approaches that can be used to teach History in the university of Benin The student have access to the lecturers for academic and personal advice which fosters an open and supportive learning environment On the basis of the findings, it was concluded Students' performance in History at the University of Benin is influenced by various factors, including analytical skills, teaching methods, access to resources, and prior knowledge. Family background, time management, and personal motivation also play crucial roles. Innovative teaching methods such as field trips, modern technology, and multimedia resources enhance learning, while an open and supportive academic environment fosters better student engagement.

Salt stress is an abiotic factor which poses significant threat to plant growth and productivity. A variety of plants are sensitive to salinity, one of which, is Corchorus olitorius. This study investigated the effect of salt stress on the germination, seedling growth, and physiological responses of Corchorus olitorius seeds collected from Benin (Landrace B) and National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) designated as Landraces C. This experiment was conducted to determine how different concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) influenced germination percentage and the various growth parameters namely shoot height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem girth, number of branches, internode length, and leaf loss. The seeds were subjected to five treatments including control (5 ppm NaCl solution) and other varying salt concentrations (200 ppm, 2000 ppm, 5000 ppm, and 10000 ppm). Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to determine the level significance of the treatments. The results revealed significant differences in the parameters investigated. Increasing salinity levels significantly reduced germination rate, shoot elongation, and overall seedling establishment. The treatments with concentrations below 2000ppm recorded the highest mean values for germination percentage and growth parameters, while the treatments with the highest concentration of salt exhibited severe inhibitory effects leading to reduced germination rate, stunted growth, and poor seedling development. These findings demonstrated that C. olitorius is sensitive to high salinity levels, and salt stress adversely affects its early growth stages. It also reveals that C. olitorius seeds from Benin city were more sensitive to salt stress compared to C. olitorius seeds from NIHORT as higher germination percentage and growth were observed in landrace C.