DEVELOPMENT

This study examined The Impact of Employee Training and Development on Employee Performance. The survey research design was adopted for this study because data was collected from a sample population with specific characteristics. Four research questions were asked and answered during the study using simple percentage analysis. The population of the study covered the entire employees (both male and female) in selected organizations within the area of study. Out of this population, a total of 100 employees were selected as the sample using a random sampling technique. The instrument used to collect data for the study was a twenty-item self-structured questionnaire. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that training and development play a significant role in improving employee productivity, enhancing skills, boosting motivation, and supporting organizational growth. However, challenges such as inadequate training opportunities, mismatch between training content and job requirements, and lack of follow-up after training were identified as factors limiting its effectiveness. The study further revealed that employees perceive training and development as vital for career advancement, but its success depends largely on relevance, consistency, and alignment with organizational objectives. Consequently, the implication of this study to practice highlights the need for organizations to adopt well-structured training and development programs that focus on employee growth, fairness, and organizational competitiveness. The results also indicated that organizations that actively invest in training and development for their workforce tend to record higher levels of productivity, improved job satisfaction, and better employee retention. The study recommends that organizations should provide continuous training opportunities, ensure that training programs are tailored to employee and organizational needs, and evaluate the outcomes of training to measure effectiveness. In addition, managers should give constructive feedback and create supportive learning environments to enhance employee performance and overall organizational success.

Studies have shown that there remain only few landscapes on the Earth that is still in their natural state. Due to environmental changes, the Earth surface is being significantly altered in some manner and man‘s presence on the Earth and his use of land has had a profound effect upon the natural environment thus resulting into an accelerated growth in settlement expansion.1 Settlements are products of human activities. It is on this backdrop, this study examines the trends in the development of Okokhuo town with case study of Ovia North East local government. Ovia North East Local Government Area is in the south senatorial district of Edo. Its headquarters is Okada. It occupies a total land area of 2,301km² and a population of 153,849 (National Population Commission, 2006).2 The area is lowland and rises up to about 100 metres above sea level. It falls within the rainforest zone with tall trees and oil palm trees and also possesses freshwater swamp forest. The vegetation favour the production of cereal crops like maize, tuber crops like cassava, tree crops like oil palm and fish farming.3 The major occupations of the people in the community are farming especially poultry and piggery, hunting, fishing, and trading. The major communities in the LGA are Okada, Uhen, Utese, Okokhuo, Uhiere, Isiuwa, Ekiadolor, Oluku, Iguoshodin, Utoka, Oghede, Egbeta, Ora, and Ogbese.4 Okokhuo Village is located in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. It is among several Villages in Ovia North East Local Government Area that have suffered continuous herders` attack resulting in loss of properties in recent times. Generally, Okokhuo people trace their origin back to Benin, Okokhuo people according to oral tradition is one of the Edo speaking groups involved in the exodus from the Benin about the nineth century, during the rule of Oba Ogiso

This study examined the relationship between skill acquisition, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development in Nigeria. The primary objective was to determine how skill development and entrepreneurial activities contribute to economic growth, employment generation, and long-term sustainability. The study adopted a quantitative survey design, and data were collected through structured questionnaires distributed to 333 respondents, out of which 290 were duly completed and analyzed. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including multiple linear regression analysis, was used to test the hypotheses. Findings revealed that skill acquisition has a significant positive effect on sustainable development, implying that individuals equipped with relevant skills contribute meaningfully to economic productivity and poverty reduction. Similarly, entrepreneurship significantly fosters sustainable development through job creation, innovation, and economic diversification. The study further identified key challenges such as limited funding, poor infrastructure, weak government policies, and inadequate access to markets as major barriers to effective skill acquisition and entrepreneurship. Similarly, the research established that strategies such as government support, public-private partnerships, mentorship programs, and entrepreneurship education significantly enhance the impact of skill acquisition and entrepreneurship on sustainable development. Therefore the government and private sector collaborate to provide adequate infrastructure, financial support, and policy frameworks to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems. The study concludes that skill acquisition and entrepreneurship are critical drivers of sustainable development in Nigeria

This study examines the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in early childhood development, with a specific focus on literacy programs for orphaned children in Nigeria. The research explores how orphanages and NGO-led initiatives contribute to children's reading, writing, and spoken language comprehension. Using a survey research design approach, data were collected through a structured questionnaire from three selected orphanages in three local government areas in Benin City. The findings reveal that structured literacy programs within orphanages significantly enhance children's reading and writing abilities, while NGO interventions, including speech development programs and interactive storytelling, improve spoken language comprehension. Based on these findings, the recommendations made include increased funding for orphanages, expansion of NGO literacy programs, integration of these initiatives into national education policies, and enhanced community involvement. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing empirical evidence on the effectiveness of orphanage and NGO literacy programs in improving educational outcomes for vulnerable children in Nigeria.