UNDERGRADUATE

This study examines the factors motivating the choice of study of Mass Communication among undergraduates in the University of Benin. Evolving media technologies and innovations have significantly expanded career opportunities in mass communication. However, issues of professionalism and dwindling ethical standards have been constant threats to the prestige of the profession. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the social responsibility theories provided theoretical justification for the study. Using the simple random sampling technique, 366 students of Mass Communication from 100- 400 level participated in a field survey. Findings revealed that personal ambition, career opportunities and prestige are some of the factors motivating the choice of mass communication as a career. The study thus concludes that there is the need for mass communication students to be taught under better conditions and promote practical of the Mass Communication discipline in order to improve the motivation of the study of Mass communication.

This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of lecturers towards the academic writing skills of undergraduate students. The sample size consisted of 50 lecturers from Education, Physical Science and Life Sciences in the University of Benin. The study utilized a questionnaire as a research instrument to gather data from the participants. The results revealed that the majority of the lecturers perceived undergraduate students' academic writing skills to be poor, with deficiencies in critical thinking, research, and organization. However, the study also showed that lecturers recognized the importance of academic writing skills and believed that they play a significant role in students' academic success. The study suggests that there is a need for increased emphasis on academic writing skills in undergraduate curricula and the provision of additional resources and support for students to improve their writing skills. The findings of this study have implications for teaching and learning practices in higher education, highlighting the importance of developing effective strategies to enhance
undergraduate students' academic writing skills.

Depression is a prevalent mental health condition that significantly affects academic performance, social functioning, and overall wellbeing among university students. This study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with depression among undergraduate students at the University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed, and data were collected from a sample of 382 students drawn from the Faculty of Arts through a stratified random sampling technique. A structured self- administered questionnaire incorporating the standardized Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression levels, while additional sections captured socio- demographic, academic, and lifestyle variables. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0, with descriptive and inferential statistics applied at a significance level of p < 0.05. The results revealed that depression was prevalent among undergraduate students, with varying degrees of severity influenced by socio-demographic, academic, and lifestyle factors. Female students, those with lower socioeconomic status, students living off-campus, and those with high academic workloads were more likely to exhibit depressive symptoms. Furthermore, poor sleep quality, substance use, and lack of social support were significantly
associated with higher depression rates. Academic performance and self-efficacy were inversely related to depressive symptomatology, indicating that academic stress and low motivation contribute substantially to the development of depression. The findings underscore the urgent need for institutional interventions aimed at promoting mental health awareness, early screening, and the integration of counseling and peer support services within the university system. It is recommended that the University of Benin enhance mental health literacy programs, provide academic accommodations for affected students, and strengthen psychosocial support mechanisms to mitigate depression and its consequences among undergraduates.

This study was carried out to identify the factors influencing youth involve in cultism, a case study of undergraduate students in the University of Benin. The research was carried out as a survey research using relevant literature from journals, magazines, books and the internet. Four research questions were raised for the purpose of the study. A sample random sampling technique was used in selection of two hundred (200) university of Benin students. The data were collected with questionnaire instrument and analyzed using simple percentage. The result revealed that; the factors influencing university of Benin students into cultism are, inferiority complex, parental upbringing, broken homes, protection and students indulge in cultism because those caught in cult activities are not persecuted, the effect of cultism on the academic performances student are there is decline in the academic of a cultist, students who involve in cultism spends lots of extra years in school, absenteeism from classes and most of them end up not graduating at all, the rate of cultism on campus is low, as most students of the University of Benin are likely forced into cultism because of their resident area. Based on the results, it was recommended that professional guidance counselors should organize public lectures, seminars and workshops for students on the dangers of cultism, parents and Guardians should inculcate been apprehended by security operatives should be paraded and publicly sanctioned so that other students can learn from it and finally, on the part of the stakeholders in the university education (the churches, the mosques, parents, school administrators and the society at large) to fuse effort to eradicate the menace before it destroys the whole educational system.

This study investigated the factors influencing the health behaviour of full-time undergraduates at the University of Benin, Benin City. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected from 150 respondents selected through proportionate sampling from various faculties across the institution. A self-structured questionnaire titled Survey on Factors Influencing Health Behaviour among Undergraduates in the University of Benin was used for data collection. The instrument’s reliability, established through a pilot study at Ambrose Alli University, yielded a Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of 0.708, indicating acceptable reliability. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequency counts, percentages, and mean scores, while chi-square tests were used to determine relationships between selected variables at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that although majority students engage in positive practices such as avoiding substance use, maintaining good hygiene, and exercising occasionally, negative behaviours such as poor diet, inadequate rest, and excessive screen time remain prevalent. Major factors influencing students’ health behaviour included peer pressure, academic workload, financial constraints, and limited access to credible health information and quality healthcare services. The study concluded that health behaviour among undergraduates is shaped by a complex interplay of personal, social, and institutional factors. It recommended that the university strengthen health promotion programmes, improve the accessibility and quality of campus health services, and integrate health education into student orientation and
wellness activities

This study examined the knowledge, perception, and uptake of voluntary HIV/AIDS screening among accounting students at a Nigerian university. Utilizing a descriptive cross-sectional survey design, 266 participants were selected through a stratified sampling technique to ensure a representative sample across different years of study. Data collection employed a structured questionnaire, and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 was used for data analysis. The study aimed to assess students' level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS, their attitudes toward screening, and the factors influencing their screening decisions. Results showed a high level of HIV/AIDS knowledge among participants, with
90.6% demonstrating good understanding, particularly concerning screening purposes, testing timing, and transmission routes. However, despite this high knowledge level, screening uptake was nearly evenly split, with 49.2% reporting good uptake and 50.8% indicating poor uptake. Only 28.2% engaged in regular screening, and just 35.3% had been tested within the last year, highlighting a gap in continuous monitoring. Stigma, lack of awareness, cost considerations, and accessibility emerged as the primary barriers, with 71.4% identifying stigma as a deterrent. Peer influence, awareness initiatives, and access to free testing services were significant facilitators for screening uptake. The study concludes that while knowledge about HIV/AIDS is high among accounting students, this does not consistently translate to regular screening behavior. Addressing both structural and psychosocial barriers is critical to improving HIV screening uptake. Recommendations include implementing institutional awareness programs, offering cost-free and easily accessible screening services, and developing peer support networks to reduce stigma. These interventions could contribute to a more consistent and proactive approach to HIV/AIDS screening among university students, ultimately supporting early detection and preventive health behaviors.

Background: Undergraduate students are the upcoming workforce of any country and their health is essentially linked to the social and economic development of the country. Health- seeking behaviour and health outcomes are shaped by socio-cultural beliefs, accessibility, cost and perceived quality of available health services and these affect health outcomes and indices. This study aimed at assessing the perception of, satisfaction with, major barriers to utilization, major health conditions prompting utilization of on-campus health services and factors influencing use of alternative sources of healthcare. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among undergraduate students of University of Benin, Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. A sample size of 430 was obtained, and a multistage sampling technique was used to select respondents. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data for the study after pretesting. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 and the level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The mean age of respondents was 23.0 ± 3.2 years. A higher proportion, 52.8% were male, Christians (58.1%) and single (67.7%). Out of 430 respondents, 61.4% resided off-campus, 52.6% received a monthly allowance of between 50,001 to 100,000 naira and 73.5% received support from their parents. From the responses, 41.4% had received care at the health center in the past year and were most commonly by joint pain (21.9%), fever (15.7%) and headaches (11.8%). Ninety-five percent and 99.0% had a good perception of health center and were satisfied with the services provided there respectively. Common barriers to seeking health care at the center were long waiting time (37.4%), out-of-pocket payments (17.9%). viii ix Conclusion: The study showed that there was a good perception of the health center and respondents were satisfied with services at the health center. Recommendations: The government should strengthen implementation of the Tertiary Institutions’ Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) of the National Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS) at the health center, increase public-private partnership to reduce health cost and encourage local production of pharmaceuticals. The health center should improve awareness of service at the center, increase number of staff and strengthen existing programmes

This study examined the influence of school environment on the academic performance of undergraduate students in the faculty of education, university of Benin. Four research questions were raised and answered to guide the study. Pertinent literature were reviewed. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study and the study population was 665, consisting of all the students in Health, Safety, and Environmental Education Students in the University of Benin 2022/2023 academic ses sion. A sample size of 100 respondents was selected using the simple random sampling technique to select the respondents across the levels in the department. The instrument for data collection was a well- designed structured questionnaire which was validated by the project Supervisor and two other lecturers from the Department of Health, Safety and Environmental education. The test-retest method was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. Collated data was analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequency and percentage tables. The findings revealed that the nature of the school environment has an impact on the academic performance of the respondents. Furthermore, findings from this study further revealed that the influence of school facilities on the academic performance among the respondents is bad. It was also revealed that school personnel have a very low influence on the academic performance of the respondents. Lastly, findings from this study revealed that the ways social relationship influence academic performance among the respondents includes; peer support, such as sharing notes and ideas, which positively affects their academic performance, collaborating with their classmates regularly for academic purposes (e.g., group assignments, exam preparation, participation in extracurricular activities (e.g., clubs, sports) which helps them balance academic stress and improves their performance, involvement in social activities on campus which has a positive effect on their academic performance and socializing with classmates and friends outside of class helping them relax and improve their ability to concentrate on their studies.