ATBU Journal of Science, Technology and Education
Journal of Science, Technology and Education is published quarterly by Faculty of Technology Education, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi. It seeks to expand knowledge in Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Education and other Technological fields of study. The journal is a returned publication which fosters the exchange of information and new ideas among Scientist, Engineers, Agriculturalist, Environmental Scientist, Development Planners, Public Policy Makers, Professionals and Academics, Students and Staff of Research Institutions and International Agencies.Â
An Assessment of Cybersecurity Awareness among Students of Tertiary Institutions in Zaria
The rapid growth of internet usage and digital technologies has increased students’ exposure to cyber threats, particularly within tertiary institutions. Cybersecurity awareness is essential for protecting personal data, institutional systems, and national digital infrastructure. This study conducted a survey across eight tertiary institutions in Zaria, selecting 100 respondents from each institution, this includes Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST), Federal University of Education (FUE) Zaria, ABU College of Health Sciences, ABU Division of Agricultural Colleges, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), and St. Luke’s College of Nursing, using a systematic convenience sampling method. Data on students’ cybersecurity awareness were collected through a paper-based questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 17. The findings reveal moderate awareness levels, with significant gaps in practical cybersecurity behaviors such as password management, phishing detection, and data protection. The study recommends the integration of cybersecurity education into academic curricula, increased institutional awareness programs, and policy-driven interventions to enhance students’ cybersecurity preparedness.
Umar Kabir, Abdullahi O. A., Hassan M. G.
Bello Musbahudeen, Bashir Abdulrahman, Karagama I. M.
Effect of Main-Idea-Web Teaching Strategy on Secondary School Student Retention in Nutrient-Cycling In Nature and Pollution in Kano-State-Nigeria
This study investigated the effect of Main-Idea-Web (MIW) teaching strategy on secondary school students’ retention in Nutrient Cycling in Nature and Pollution in Kano State, Nigeria. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design involving pre-test, post-test, and post-post-test equivalent group. Population of the study consists of 11,290 SS11 students and a sample of 312 SSII students were taught using MIW strategy, while another group was taught using conventional teaching method. The instrument for data collection was a validated Nutrient Cycling in Nature and Pollution Achievement Test (NPAT). Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and ANCOVA at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that students taught with MIW strategy had higher mean retention scores than those taught with the conventional method. ANCOVA results showed a significant difference between the two groups in favour of the experimental group. The study also found significant effects of gender and a significant interaction effect between instructional strategy and gender. The R² value indicated that a substantial proportion of variation in students’ retention was explained by the instructional strategy. The study concluded that Main Idea Web teaching strategy is more effective than conventional teaching method in enhancing students’ retention in nutrient cycling in nature and pollution. It was recommended that Biology teachers should adopt MIW strategy to enhance students’ understanding and retention of complex biological concepts.
Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Improve Software Development Practices In High-Tech Companies
The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly influenced software development practices, particularly in high-tech companies that rely on speed, quality, and innovation. AI-driven tools and techniques are increasingly integrated into the software development lifecycle to enhance productivity, improve code quality, optimize decision-making, and reduce development costs. This paper examines how AI insights are transforming software development practices in high-tech organizations. Using a qualitative review approach, the study explores key AI applications across different stages of software development, including requirements analysis, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance. The findings indicate that AI enhances efficiency through automation, predictive analytics, and intelligent decision support, while also presenting challenges related to ethics, skills gaps, and tool integration. The paper concludes with recommendations for effective adoption of AI-driven software development practices.
Agballa U. B., Umar Kabir, Hassan M. G., Bello Musbahudeen
Bashir Abdulrahman, Abdulqadir Hamza, Karagama I. M.
Effect of Sequence-Chart Teaching Strategy on Secondary School Student Academic Achievement in Nutrient-Cycling in Nature and Pollution In Kano-State-Nigeria
This study investigated the effect of Sequence-Chart (SQC) teaching strategy on secondary school students’ academic achievement in Nutrient Cycle in Nature and Pollution in Kano State, Nigeria. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design involving pre-test, post-test, equivalent group. Population of the study consists of 11,290 SS11 students and a sample of 340 SSII students were taught using SQC strategy, while another group was taught using conventional teaching method. The instrument for data collection was a validated Nutrient Cycling in Nature and Pollution Achievement Test (NPAT). Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and ANCOVA at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that students taught with SQC strategy had higher mean achievement scores than those taught with the conventional method. ANCOVA results showed a significant difference between the two groups in favour of the experimental group. The study also found significant effects of gender and a significant interaction effect between instructional strategy and gender. The R² value indicated that a substantial proportion of variation in students’ achievement was explained by the instructional strategy. The study concluded that Sequence-Chart teaching strategy is more effective than conventional teaching method in improving students’ academic achievement in Nutrient Cycling in Nature and Pollution. It was recommended that Biology teachers should adopt SQC strategy to enhance students’ understanding of complex biological concepts.
Effects of Collaborative Teaching Strategy on Senior Secondary Students’ Achievement in Map Reading in Misau, Bauchi Nigeria
As a result of consistent poor achievement of senior secondary school students in geography, this study was conducted to determine the effects of collaborative teaching strategy on senior secondary students’ achievement in map reading in Misau, Bauchi Nigeria, quasi experimental design was adopted in the study. The population of the study was 427 The SS II Geography students comprise 246 males and 181 females. The sample of the study was 101 (59 males and 42 females). The researcher used simple random sampling and selected two secondary schools. The instruments used for data collection for this study were the map reading achievement test (MRAT) after validation process by experts, and a pilot study, the reliability confident of the instrument was 0.78 obtained (PPMCC) using (SPSS). Data were analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions and the Z-Test to test the null hypotheses. Findings of the study revealed that students that were exposed to collaborative teaching strategy achieved significantly higher than the control group that received no treatment. Also, there was no significant gender difference in achievement of the experimental group. This shows that collaborative teaching strategy is a gender friendly strategy. It was recommended that that teacher should be trained by the ministry of education and other educational contributing bodies like non-governmental organizations, and policy makers on the use of collaborative teaching strategies through workshops and seminars.
Policy-Practice Gap in Nigeria's Upstream Petroleum Environmental Governance: Evidence from Regulatory Effectiveness, Environmental Outcomes and Reporting Systems
Nigeria has one of the most elaborate environmental governance frameworks in Africa’s petroleum sector, built on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Act, and the Upstream Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria (UEGASPIN). Yet despite this regulatory architecture, oil spills, gas flaring, ecosystem degradation and community grievances persist across the upstream petroleum industry. This study examines the policy-practice gap in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum environmental governance using a convergent mixed-methods approach that draws on survey data (n = 142), documentary analysis, and environmental performance records. The analysis combines descriptive statistics, reliability analysis (Cronbach’s alpha), Pearson correlation, and one-way ANOVA with thematic analysis and triangulation of secondary datasets. The findings reveal a clear disconnect between policy design and implementation: legislative clarity scored 3.92/5.00, while enforcement consistency reached only 3.20/5.00; a measurable governance gap. Environmental outcomes posted the lowest overall score (2.96/5.00), and reporting transparency exposed striking divisions between stakeholder groups (industry: 3.76 vs. community: 2.43; F = 53.59, p < 0.001). The paper concludes that Nigeria’s environmental governance system is formally sophisticated but operationally weak, and traces the policy-practice gap to three interconnected deficits: enforcement, reporting integrity, and institutional capacity.
The Carbon Footprint Paradox: CO2 Emissions, Regulatory Gaps, and Mitigation Pathways of AI-Powered Data Centres in Nigeria
Data centre emissions are still relatively small compared to large sectors such as electricity generation and industry. However, there is pressure on power supplies and water resources and this has made AI to be considered potential to cut emissions in other areas and could offset many times its own carbon footprint when used effectively. The study aimed to of assess the environmental footprint of AI-powered data centres in Nigeria, with a particular emphasis on carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, which was structured across three complementary analytical levels namely; the macro-level, which focused on national CO₂ emissions projections under various electricity demand and power mix scenarios; the meso-level, which conducts state-by-state siting analysis using spatial data on renewable energy potential, grid stability, and policy framework, the micro-level, which develops facility-specific emissions profiles for selected Nigerian data centre operators and multi-level approach that ensures the findings are directly relevant and actionable for national policymakers, state governments, and private sector operators. The results shows that natural gas as the dominant source of electricity generation in the dataset, with an average quarterly output of 18.4 billion kWh, accounting for 75.4% of total generation. The OLS Linear Regression model achieved the best performance, with an R² of 0.996, RMSE of 0.65 MMT CO₂, MAE of 0.51 MMT CO₂, and a maximum prediction error of just 0.98% while projected that CO₂ emissions from data centres in Nigeria will increase rapidly across all scenarios, with compound annual growth rates (CAGR) ranging from 15.2% (Low demand, NDC Conditional) to 57.7% (High demand, Reference Mix). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that AI-powered data centres in Nigeria are on a trajectory to become a materially significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, e-waste, and water consumption in the near future and recommend that Nigeria’s next Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) should formally incorporate the data centre sector and establish a specific emissions intensity.
Hybrid Deep Learning for Skin Cancer Classification Using Dermatoscopic Images With Explainable AI
Skin cancer is one of the most prevalent and life-threatening diseases worldwide, with melanoma representing the most aggressive form due to its high metastatic potential and mortality rate. Early and accurate detection is essential for improving treatment effectiveness and patient survival outcomes. However, conventional diagnostic approaches based on visual inspection and dermatoscopy remain highly subjective and dependent on clinician expertise, which can lead to variability and misdiagnosis. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes an explainable hybrid deep learning framework that integrates Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Gated Recurrent Units (GRU) for automated skin cancer classification using dermatoscopic images. The proposed CNN–GRU model leverages the CNN’s capability to extract fine-grained spatial features such as texture, color variation, and lesion boundaries, while the GRU component captures broader contextual dependencies across feature representations to enhance classification robustness. The model was trained and evaluated using publicly available datasets, including the ISIC Archive and HAM10000, which contain high-quality annotated dermatoscopic images of benign and malignant skin lesions. Standard preprocessing techniques, including image resizing, normalization, and data augmentation, were applied to improve dataset diversity and reduce overfitting. An explainable AI framework was incorporated to improve clinical interpretability, utilizing Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) for visualizing CNN feature importance and attention-based visualization for interpreting GRU outputs. These methods provide transparent insights into the regions of interest influencing model predictions, thereby increasing clinical trust and interpretability. Experimental results show that the proposed CNN–GRU hybrid model achieved an overall classification accuracy of 85%, outperforming the standalone CNN model, which achieved 84%. The hybrid model also recorded improved macro and weighted average precision, recall, and F1-scores of 0.85 compared to 0.84 for the CNN baseline, indicating more balanced and reliable performance. At the class level, the model achieved a precision of 0.87 and recall of 0.84 for benign lesions, and a precision of 0.81 and recall of 0.86 for malignant lesions, demonstrating strong sensitivity in detecting malignant cases, which is critical for reducing false negatives in clinical diagnosis. Hence, the results confirm that the integration of CNN and GRU architectures enhances feature representation by combining local spatial feature extraction with global contextual learning. The hybrid model demonstrates improved generalization, stable convergence, and reduced misclassification across classes. When combined with explainable AI techniques, the framework not only delivers high classification performance but also provides interpretable decision support, making it a reliable and clinically applicable tool for early skin cancer detection and diagnosis.
Assessment of the Effects of Gosa Dumpsite on Soil, Water, and Air Quality in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Nigeria
Open dumpsites remain a major environmental challenge in developing nations. This study assessed physicochemical properties, heavy metal concentrations, and ambient air pollutants around the Gosa dumpsite in Abuja, Nigeria. Soil samples (n=9 + control) were analyzed for texture, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, and heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb). Water samples (n=3) were tested for major ions, pH, conductivity, and organic load indices. Air pollutants (PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, CO, H₂S, VOCs) were quantified. Results revealed sandy loam soils with low organic carbon (0.2–0.3%) and moderate cation exchange capacity (12–13 cmol/kg). Heavy metals occurred at low–moderate levels, while water samples showed significant contamination exceeding WHO/NESREA limits. Air quality was degraded, with NH₃, SO₂, NO₂, PM₂.₅, and PM₁₀ surpassing permissible thresholds. Findings highlight risks of groundwater pollution, reduced agricultural productivity, and public health hazards. Proper waste management, groundwater protection, and soil fertility restoration are recommended.
Biomass Supply Chain Logistics and Economic Viability for Sustainable Bioenergy Development in Bauchi State, Nigeria
Biomass resources represent an important renewable energy option for enhancing energy security and promoting sustainable rural development in Nigeria; however, inefficient supply chain logistics, inadequate storage infrastructure, and unstable market systems continue to limit their effective utilization. This study assessed the logistics and economic viability of biomass supply chains for sustainable bioenergy development in selected Local Government Areas of Bauchi State, Nigeria, using a mixed-methods research design involving 1,144 biomass stakeholders surveyed through questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations. The results revealed substantial biomass availability of approximately 1,240–1,542 tonnes annually, with sawdust (350–420 tonnes) and rice husks (320–360 tonnes) constituting the dominant feedstocks. Transportation costs varied significantly across locations, ranging from ₦87.57/km in Misau to ₦1,570.53/km in Jama'are, while hidden operational costs ranged between ₦120 and ₦270 per 100 kg bag, reducing overall profitability. Furthermore, biomass trading in Jama'are recorded a 24.84% negative price gap, indicating economic unsustainability, whereas seasonal fluctuations and inadequate storage facilities contributed to supply instability and post-harvest losses. The study concludes that although Bauchi State possesses considerable biomass resources capable of supporting renewable energy development, improving transportation infrastructure, storage facilities, market coordination, and policy support is essential for developing an efficient and economically viable biomass supply chain.
Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Soils around Major Junctions along Lugbe Airport Road, Abuja, Nigeria
Heavy metal contamination of roadside soils poses significant environmental and public health concerns in rapidly urbanizing cities. This study assessed the concentrations, distribution, contamination levels, and health risks of six heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni) in soils around two major junctions along Lugbe Airport Road, Abuja, Nigeria: Police Sign Board Junction (PSJ) and Federal Housing Junction (FHJ). A total of 80 soil samples were collected from surface (0-10 cm) and subsurface (10-20 cm) depths during wet and dry seasons. Heavy metal analysis was performed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Results revealed elevated lead (Pb) concentrations at PSJ (range: 68.2–98.7 mg/kg; mean: 85.9 mg/kg), with selected sampling points exceeding the Nigerian permissible limit of 85 mg/kg. Cadmium (Cd) levels (2.30–2.65 mg/kg) approached regulatory limits, while Zn (175.5–192.0 mg/kg), Cu (16.7–19.3 mg/kg), Cr (30.0–34.2 mg/kg), and Ni (13.5–15.6 mg/kg) remained below standards. Cadmium (Cd) levels (2.30-2.65 mg/kg) approached regulatory limits, while Zn (175.5-192.0 mg/kg), Cu (16.7-19.3 mg/kg), Cr (30.0-34.2 mg/kg), and Ni (13.5-15.6 mg/kg) remained below standards. Metal concentrations followed the order: Zn > Pb > Cr > Cu > Ni > Cd. Contamination assessment using geo-accumulation index (Igeo) classified Pb and Cd as "heavily contaminated" (Class 4), Zn as "moderately to heavily contaminated" (Class 3), while Cu, Cr, and Ni showed low to moderate contamination. Pollution load index (PLI) values > 1 confirmed soil quality deterioration at both locations. Health risk assessment revealed that children face potential non-carcinogenic risks (Hazard Index > 1), primarily from Pb exposure, while adults showed no significant risk. Carcinogenic risks for Cr and Ni remained within acceptable limits (10⁻⁶-10⁻⁴). Seasonal variations showed significantly higher dry season concentrations (p < 0.05), and surface soils exhibited greater contamination than subsurface. The study concludes that vehicular emissions are the primary source of heavy metal contamination, with Pb posing the greatest concern. Continuous monitoring, remediation interventions, and public health awareness are urgently recommended.
Climate Vulnerability, Livelihood Assets, and Adaptive Capacity of Rain-Fed Smallholder Farming Systems in Kaduna State, Nigeria: A Mixed-Methods Analysis
Smallholder farming systems in Kaduna State, northern Nigeria, are increasingly exposed to climate stressors including rainfall variability, drought, flooding and rising temperature. Yet the intersection of climate vulnerability and livelihood assets, two analytically distinct but practically inseparable dimensions remains underexplored at the sub-national level. This study integrates Climate Vulnerability Theory (CVT) and Sustainable Livelihoods Theory (SLT) to examine how climate change affects the five livelihood asset categories of smallholder farmers and what this means for adaptive capacity and agricultural resilience. A convergent mixed-methods design was employed: structured questionnaires were administered to 180 smallholder farmers across three agro-ecological zones of Kaduna State, supplemented by key informant interviews with extension officers and institutional stakeholders. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test; qualitative data were thematically analysed. Findings reveal that financial and natural capital are most severely eroded by climate stress (84% and 78% of respondents, respectively), while irrigation adoption, the most effective adaptation strategy reaches only 29% of farmers. Finance access emerged as the dominant barrier (89%), followed by poor extension coverage (76%) and weak climate information reach (71%). The study concludes that adaptive capacity among Kaduna's smallholders is structurally constrained, not individually deficient, and calls for institutional reforms targeting the finance-extension-information nexus. The findings contribute a theoretically grounded, empirically derived framework for strengthening climate-resilient smallholder agriculture in Nigeria's climate-vulnerable north.
Evaluation of Nutritional Composition and Chlorophyll Content of Okra Accessions
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus [L.] Moench) is an important vegetable cultivated for the edibility of the fruit and the leaves as sources of vitamins, carbohydrate and protein in nearly all developing countries. In view of its importance, the genetic variability among some accessions of the crop was assessed for the improvement of its qualitative and quantitative traits. A total of twenty (20) accessions were obtained from National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan. The accessions were evaluated for agro-morphological and yield parameters using a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates each. The nutritional and chlorophyll content were carried out under laboratory condition. Significant (p < 0.05) variation was observed in most of the parameters studied. The proximate compositions revealed that accession NGB00396 had the highest moisture content (18.22%), oil content (21.23%) and crude fibre (25.40%) but least in Nitrogen free extract (7.76%). Accessions NGB00469 and NGB00298 produced highest value in crude protein and nitrogen free extract contents with the value of 32.38% and 41.30% respectively. Highest chlorophyll a (22.72 mg/g) and b (18.49 mg/g) content was observed in NGB00331. Therefore, the high variability observed among the accessions for all the parameters studied indicate high genetic diversity in the crop. These variations however might be due to difference in their genetic makeup and environmental factors which can be exploited in further studies, notably, molecular characterization to ascertain the genetic bases in them and to arrange these accessions into suitable groups.
Strategies for Improving the Available E-Learning Devices for Teaching Technical Drawing in Technical Colleges in North-Central, Nigeria
This study investigated strategies for improving the available e- learning devices for teaching technical drawing in technical colleges North-Central, Nigeria. Three research questions and one null hypothesis tested at 0.05 level of significance were used for the study. The design of the study was a descriptive survey research design. The population of this study comprised all the 89 technical drawing teachers in 29 technical colleges North-Central, Nigeria. A 26-item questionnaire structured and validated was used to generate data for the study. Data obtained were analyzed using percentage, mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions while t-test statistic was used to test the hypothesis. The findings revealed that most schools have computer laboratories, laptops, some computers and standby generators but lack some e-learning devices such as slides, projectors, among others. The study also revealed that technical drawing teachers encounter a lot of problems in the use of available e-learning devices such as poor power supply and illiteracy. However, some strategies were suggested by the researcher for improvement of e-learning devices by technology teachers such as provision of adequate ICT infrastructure. Some recommendations were made such as organizing seminars and workshops for technical drawing teachers and improving power supply.
Effect of Computer Simulation Strategy on Junior Secondary Students’ Achievement in Basic Science and Technology in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
This work was conducted to examine the effects of computer simulation strategy on junior secondary school students’ achievement in basic science and technology in Jos North Plateau State, Nigeria. The study employed a Pretest–Posttest Non-equivalent Control Group Design for non-randomized samples. Intact classes were used in the study. The population of the study was 1,494 from the 22 public secondary schools in the study area. The sample size of the study was 75 comprising male and female from both the experimental and control groups. The instrument for data collection was Basic Science and Technology Achievement Test BSTAT. The instrument was validated by experts three from the Department of Science and Technology Education, Test and Measurement and Evaluation and Educational Psychology of the University of Jos. The reliability of the instrument was 0.79 the two groups were pretested to determined their equivalence; the treatment lasted for six weeks after which the posttest was administered. Data were analyse using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions. The use of ANCOVA was effective in answering the research hypothesis Findings of the study revealed that computer simulation is significant in teaching BST and there is no gender difference on achievement in the experimental group P>0.05. The study recommended that computer simulation teaching strategy enhanced students’ achievement in basic science and technology, teachers should adopt the use of this strategy.
Grace A. Chollom, Jibril Hussaini Ibrahim
Bioaccumulation of Hydrocarbons and Heavy Metals in Selected Indicator Species in Bonga Offshore Oil Field, Niger Delta
Petroleum exploration in offshore environments releases complex mixtures of hydrocarbons and heavy metals that pose significant threats to marine ecosystems. This study investigated the bioaccumulation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, V, Zn, Cu) in three selected indicator species — Lutjanus spp. (red snapper), Nematoscarcinus sp. (deep-sea shrimp), and Chromatium sp. (purple sulphur bacteria) — collected from five stations at distances of 0.5–10 km from the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel of the Bonga Offshore Oil Field (OML 118), Niger Delta, Nigeria. Samples were obtained during wet (April–October 2024) and dry (November 2024–March 2025) seasons. Results revealed significantly higher (p < 0.05) contaminant concentrations at stations proximal to the FPSO, declining progressively with distance following a log-linear decay pattern (r² = 0.94). Lutjanus spp. demonstrated the highest bioaccumulation factors for TPH (BAF = 2.92–3.21; mean = 3.05), confirming its suitability as a sentinel organism. Chromatium sp. was absent where sediment TPH exceeded 3.65 mg/kg dry weight (dw), providing a consistent, low-cost threshold bioindicator of hydrocarbon impact. Dry season contaminant concentrations were 11–19% higher than wet season across all matrices (p < 0.01). Human health risk assessment indicated that the cumulative Hazard Index for Lutjanus spp. consumers exceeded the safety threshold of 1.0 (HI = 1.79) under average consumption scenarios (30 g/day), and both lead (Pb) and TPH Target Hazard Quotients exceeded 1.0 for high-end consumers (100 g/day). These findings demonstrate measurable ecological impact from FPSO operational discharges and support continuous biomonitoring, seasonal fishing advisories, and further reduction of produced water hydrocarbon content in the Bonga field.
DigSALENT Model Base for the injection of Solar PV System with Grid Connected Network on 33/11kV Kubuwa network for Voltage Profile Improvement.
This research has initiated a comprehensive exploration of the potential for integrating photovoltaic (PV) energy sources into the power distribution system to enhance reliability. The study aims to provide a critical and systematic analysis of a PV grid-connected system modeled for the 33/11 kV Karu network, which consists of a 22-bus system. The model was developed to reduce active power losses and improve the voltage profile of the network. A forward and backward sweep power-flow technique was used to analyze the network and assess its actual operating conditions. Active power losses and voltage deviations were simulated using DIgSILENT Power Factory, ensuring that all system conditions were satisfied. The total base-case power loss of the Karu 22-bus network prior to the integration of the PV system was 418.32 kW, with a minimum voltage of 0.8934 p.u. After the integration of the PV sources, the power loss was reduced to 315.48 kW, representing a 32.59% reduction in power loss while the minimum voltage improved to 0.9801 p.u.It can be concluded that the proposed method achieved a 32.59% reduction in power loss through the injection of PV at the Karu/Nyanya, Jikwoyi, and Karshi injection substations, compared to the initial base-case scenario without PV integration.
Physical Building Attributes and Place Performance of Green-Certified Buildings in Lagos State, Nigeria
The growing adoption of green-certified buildings has increased the need to evaluate not only their environmental efficiency but also their capacity to function as comfortable, accessible and user-responsive places. This study assessed the relationship between physical building attributes and place performance in selected LEED- and EDGE-certified buildings in Lagos State, Nigeria. Anchored on Post-Occupancy Evaluation theory, the study adopted a quantitative case study design involving 1,004 valid responses from users of nine operational green-certified buildings. Physical building attributes were measured across material quality, energy efficiency, water efficiency, waste management, site/environmental sustainability, indoor environmental quality, and safety/maintenance conditions, while place performance was measured using a composite index covering comfort, accessibility, functionality, environmental quality, productivity, social interaction, privacy, and satisfaction-related indicators. Reliability analysis showed strong internal consistency for the Place Performance Index (Cronbach’s alpha=0.876) and the overall instrument (alpha=0.855). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that indoor environmental quality had the strongest positive relationship with place performance (r=0.837, p<0.001), followed by safety and maintenance (r=0.611, p<0.001), material attributes (r=0.534, p<0.001), energy efficiency (r=0.392, p<0.001), and site/environmental sustainability (r=0.388, p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that the model significantly predicted place performance, F(7,996)=594.035, p<0.001, explaining 80.7% of the variance. Indoor environmental quality emerged as the strongest predictor. The study concludes that sustained place performance in green-certified buildings depends not only on certification status but also on indoor environmental quality, effective maintenance, material performance, energy reliability, and context-sensitive site planning.
Abdulrasaq K. Ayinla, Abayomi R. Ayoola, Oreofe O. Ayejuyo
Application of Optimal Interline Power Flow Controller Placement for Voltage Improvement in the Lagos Regional 330 KV Transmission Network
The increasing demand for reliable electric power and the growing complexity of transmission networks have intensified the need for advanced power flow control and voltage stability enhancement techniques. This study investigates the optimal placement of an Interline Power Flow Controller (IPFC) for voltage profile improvement and transmission loss minimization the Lagos Regional 330 kV transmission network as case studies. The networks were modeled in the Power System Analysis Toolbox (PSAT) environment within MATLAB/Simulink. Load flow analysis was initially performed to identify weak buses, evaluate voltage profiles, and determine active and reactive power losses under uncompensated operating conditions. For the Lagos Regional 330 kV network, a polynomial regression model relating transmission distance to active power loss was developed and utilized as an objective function for optimization. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and a hybrid PSO–Multi-Verse Optimization (PSO-MVO) algorithm were employed to determine the optimal IPFC location. The optimization process identified the transmission line 5 between Olorunsogo and Ikeja West at an approximate distance of 600 km as the most suitable location for IPFC installation. Simulation results demonstrated significant improvements in voltage profiles, active and reactive power flow distributions, and reductions in transmission losses after IPFC implementation. The simulation results when the IPFC was placed within the ten (10) buses showed that the impact of the of the optimal placement of IPFC using PSO-MVO on the network obtained voltage improvement above 10% on bus 2, 5, 6 and 10 as a result of impact of IPFC placement on the network when compared to that without IPFC placement while the active and reactive power losses improved between 92% to 95% for all the buses when IPFC was placed on the test network. Finally, techno-economic evaluation using the profitability index confirmed the economic viability of the proposed approach.
Adejoh Idris Araga, Zubairu Gatugel Usman, A. E. Airoboman
Effect of Computer Simulation Strategy on Junior Secondary Students’ Retention in Basic Science and Technology in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
This study was conducted to examine the effects of computer simulation strategy on junior secondary school students’ retention in basic science and technology in Jos North Plateau State, Nigeria. Two research questions and hypothesis were raised and formulated. The study employed a Pretest–Posttest Non-equivalent Control Group Design for non-randomized samples. Intact classes were used in the study. The population of the study was 1,494 from the 22 public secondary schools in the study area. The sample size of the study was 75 comprising male and female from both the experimental and control groups. The instrument for data collection was Basic Science and Technology Achievement Test BSTAT. The instrument was validated by experts three from the Department of Science and Technology Education, Test and Measurement and Evaluation and Educational Psychology of the University of Jos. The reliability of the instrument was 0.79. The two groups were pretested to determined their equivalence, the treatment lasted for six weeks after which the posttest was administered and after two weeks the retention test was re- administered and data were analyse using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions. The use of ANCOVA was effective in answering the research hypothesis because of non-randomization of sample. Findings of the study revealed that computer simulation was significant in teaching BST at p<0.05, and there is no gender difference on retention of male and female in the experimental group P>0.05. Based on the findings, it was recommended that teachers should adopt the use of Computer Simulation Strategy since it has proven effective on students’ retention in Basic Science and Technology. It was also recommended that the Computer Simulation Strategy should be adopted in teaching other subjects.
A Robust Hybrid InC-FLC Maximum Power Point Tracking Method with Adaptive Step-Size and Noise Mitigation for PV Systems Under Dynamic Conditions
This paper presents a comprehensive review and comparative analysis of hybrid Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC) based Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithms for photovoltaic (PV) systems, with particular focus on a novel hybrid Incremental Conductance-Fuzzy Logic Control (InC-FLC) approach. Photovoltaic systems face significant challenges in achieving optimal power extraction due to their nonlinear electrical characteristics and sensitivity to varying environmental conditions, including fluctuating irradiance, temperature changes, and partial shading. Conventional MPPT algorithms such as Perturb and Observe (P&O) and Incremental Conductance (InC), while widely used due to their simplicity, suffer from inherent limitations including steady-state oscillations around the Maximum Power Point (MPP), slow convergence under rapidly changing conditions, and compromised efficiency due to fixed step-size perturbation strategies. Simulation results under dynamic conditions, including abrupt irradiance changes at 0.2-second intervals ranging from 200 to 1000 W/m² and sudden load variations from 50Ω to 20Ω and 35Ω, demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves superior performance across all evaluated metrics. The proposed method attains an average MPPT efficiency of 97.7%, representing a 2.29% improvement over the conventional P&O algorithm (95.41%) and a 2.10% improvement over the InC algorithm (95.60%). The convergence time averages 53.5 milliseconds, which is 11.5 ms (17.7%) faster than P&O and 6.5 ms (10.8%) faster than InC. Most significantly, the proposed algorithm reduces steady-state oscillation amplitude to just 3.8 W, representing an 87% reduction compared to P&O (28.5 W) and a 75% reduction compared to InC (15.2 W). The root mean square error (RMSE) of 8.6 is the lowest among all algorithms evaluated, and the RMS percentage of 97.8% is the highest, indicating superior tracking accuracy and output stability. Under dynamic load variation tests at 1000 W/m² irradiance, the proposed algorithm achieves an RMSE of 25.15 and an RMS percentage of 97.92%, outperforming the InC algorithm (RMSE: 27.11, RMS%: 97.14%) and existing hybrid methods. Statistical analysis across irradiance levels from 75% to 100% reveals that the proposed method maintains tighter performance distribution with reduced variability, ensuring consistent and predictable operation. While the proposed algorithm exhibits minor limitations, including a slight delay of less than 5 milliseconds under sudden load variations and sensitivity to measurement instrument precision, these are substantially outweighed by its performance advantages. The review concludes that the choice of input variables and fuzzy rule base design critically impacts MPPT performance, and the proposed hybrid InC-FLC algorithm using SInC and CSI input variables offers a robust, efficient, and adaptive solution for maximizing power extraction from PV systems operating under diverse and dynamic conditions, making it highly suitable for real-world photovoltaic applications including grid-connected systems, standalone power supplies, and hybrid renewable energy installations.
Andrew Habila John, Agbon E. E, Sagir M. Garba
Bello Usman Abdullahi, Aminu Chiroma Muhammad, Ahine O. Itamah
Assessment of the Environmental and Social Sustainability of Plastic Waste Management in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Plastic waste has emerged as one of the most critical environmental challenges confronting urban communities in developing countries. Improper disposal of plastic waste contributes to environmental degradation, public health concerns, flooding, and ecosystem disruption. This study assessed the environmental and social sustainability of plastic waste management practices in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The target population comprised 530 residents, from which a sample size of 228 respondents was determined using Yamane's formula. A structured questionnaire was employed for data collection, while descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were utilized for data analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 23). A total of 198 valid questionnaires were returned, representing an 87% response rate.The findings revealed that open dumping (Mean = 3.81), burning (Mean = 3.38), and plastic waste collection services (Mean = 3.25) constitute the predominant plastic waste management practices within the study area. The study further identified major environmental impacts associated with poor plastic waste management, including land pollution, water pollution, air pollution, ecosystem degradation, greenhouse gas emissions, flooding, drainage blockage, and microplastic contamination. Residents demonstrated substantial knowledge of safe waste management practices, particularly regarding waste handling procedures, environmental sanitation, and community participation in waste management initiatives. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships between plastic waste management practices and environmental impacts (r = 0.367, p < 0.05), as well as between waste management practices and community behavioral factors (r = 0.412, p < 0.05). The study concludes that although residents possess adequate knowledge regarding safe plastic waste management, ineffective disposal practices remain prevalent and continue to generate significant environmental and social challenges. The study recommends strengthening waste management infrastructure, expanding recycling initiatives, enhancing public awareness campaigns, and promoting community-based waste management programs to improve environmental sustainability and public well-being. Assessment of the Environmental and Social Sustainability of Plastic Waste Management in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Bukar Abba Gana, I. Y. Chindo, Mudathir Qossim
Ethanol Cosolvent Concentration Effects on Remediation Efficiency, Index Properties, and Compaction Characteristics of Electrokinetic-Remediated Crude Oil-Contaminated Lateritic Soil
Crude oil spillage along pipeline corridors severely degrades the geotechnical integrity of lateritic soils in sub-Saharan Africa, rendering them unfit for road sub-base and subgrade applications. Electrokinetic remediation (EKR), enhanced with organic cosolvents, offers a promising in-situ strategy for decontaminating these soils. This study investigated the effects of ethanol cosolvent molar concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 mol/L) on the remediation efficiency (total petroleum hydrocarbon removal), index properties (Atterberg limits, specific gravity, and particle size distribution), and compaction characteristics (maximum dry density and optimum moisture content) of crude oil-contaminated lateritic soil subjected to EKR. Crude oil-contaminated soil was collected at 1 m depth from the Nigerian Pipeline and Storage Company site in Kaduna. EKR was conducted in a Plexiglas cell at 1 V/cm potential gradient with ethanol cosolvents buffered with 0.01 M NaOH at the anode. Laboratory tests followed BS 1377 (1990) protocols. TPH removal efficiency increased consistently with cosolvent concentration, reaching optimum performance at 0.20 mol/L. Liquid limit declined from 50% to 19%, plastic limit from 25.0% to 15.3%, and plasticity index from 25.6% to 3.7% as cosolvent concentration increased. Specific gravity improved from 2.61 to 2.73. Maximum dry density rose from 1.66 Mg/m³ (BSL) to 1.89 Mg/m³ (BSH), while optimum moisture content decreased from 14.46% to 10.63%. Ethanol-enhanced EKR at 0.20 mol/L significantly restores the geotechnical suitability of crude oil-contaminated lateritic soils, meeting the Nigerian General Specifications for Roads and Bridges (2016) requirements for sub-base materials.
John E. Sani, Alexander Joseph, George Moses
Barakat O. Ochu, Faustinus Bayang, Alhassan Abdulaziz
Impact of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) on University Semester Examinations in Nigeria
This study analyzed the impact of implementing Computer-Based Testing (CBT) on university semester examinations in Nigeria, specifically evaluating its institutional efficacy and its direct influence on student performance. The study adopted a quantitative research method utilizing a cross-sectional survey design. The target population structurally encompassed the critical stakeholders of the university examination ecosystem across eight selected universities. A composite sample size of 384 respondents was established, comprising 24 University Examination Officers (3 selected per institution), 24 CBT Center Managers & System Administrators (3 selected per institution), and 336 undergraduate students (42 selected per institution) to ensure all dimensions of automated testing were evaluated by the appropriate personnel. Primary data were collected via a structured instrument titled "Computer-Based Testing on University Semester Examination Questionnaire (CBTUSEQ)" and analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and mean scores, based on a 2.50 threshold decision rule. The findings revealed that CBT profoundly impacts institutional assessment frameworks by enhancing administrative efficiency, accuracy, consistency, and result reliability, while actively curbing physical examination malpractices, bias, and missing scripts. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that CBT significantly influences student performance by compelling thorough academic preparation due to the elimination of cheating opportunities, speeding up result turnaround times, and fostering crucial technical skills among undergraduates. The study concludes that while the transition from Paper-Based Testing (PBT) to CBT represents a major step forward for academic integrity and logistical optimization, its success remains vulnerable to structural barriers. Consequently, it is recommended that university managements invest heavily in robust backup power infrastructures, expand standard workstation capacities to match growing student populations, and implement continuous digital literacy orientation programs for incoming students to eliminate technophobia.
Ali Abdu Giginyu, Auwalu Muhammad Giginyu
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing and Molecular Identification of Bacteria Isolated from Treated Water Sources for Municipal Consumption in Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria
This study evaluated the microbiological quality of treated municipal water sources in Sokoto, Nigeria, to assess their suitability for consumption and potential public health risks. A total of 15 water samples were collected from five diverse locations these includes; Water board post treatment, Minannata, Runjin Sambo, Mabera and Tsohuwar Kasuwa area and analysed for microbiological quality assessment which includes; bacterial isolation and identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, biochemical test and antibiotic sensitivity test by using Kirby-Bauer method as well as molecular identification of antibiotics resistance bacterial pathogens. Seven bacterial species were isolated and identified, with the highest frequencies attributed to Escherichia coli (25%), Staphylococcus aureus (18.75%), S. typhi (18.75), Bacillus spp (12.5), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.5%), Proteus spp and Shigella flexineri (6.25) respectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed alarming resistance, particularly in E. coli and Proteus spp which was highly resistant to Septrin (100%), ciprofloxacin (80%), levofloxacin (80%), and amoxicillin/augmentin (60-75%) . Conversely, S. aureus and S. typhi were generally more sensitive to tetracycline, ampicillin, and gentamycin. Further molecular analysis of multi-drug-resistant strains identified emergent pathogens such as Proteus terrae, and Providencia stuartii. This study underscores the significant public health risk posed by contaminated water after treatment, driven by the widespread presence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. Continuous monitoring, urgent infrastructure upgrades, and enhanced water treatment strategies are imperative to mitigate the rising threat of water-related illnesses in the region.
Manga Shaibu Bala, Adeboye Muhammed Mustapha, Jafar Usman
Scrap Metal Scavenging and its Socio-Economic impact in Kano Metropolis
This study examined the socio-economic impact of scrap metal scavenging in Kano Metropolis, Kano State, Nigeria. The study aimed to assess the socio-demographic characteristics of scrap metal scavengers, identify the sources and operational patterns of scavenging activities, evaluate its contribution to income generation, employment, and livelihood improvement, and examine the challenges and environmental effects associated with the activity. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and primary data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires to 390 scrap metal scavengers selected from major scavenging locations within Kano Metropolis. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages. The findings revealed that scrap metal scavenging is predominantly undertaken by young males with low levels of formal education and serves as an important source of income and employment for many households. The major sources of scrap metals were identified as dump sites, roadsides, construction sites, and industrial areas, while manual collection methods were the most commonly used means of recovery. The study further revealed that scavenging contributes significantly to livelihood improvement and poverty reduction among participants. However, respondents reported several challenges, including health risks, inadequate equipment, low income, social stigma, and exposure to environmental hazards. The study recommends the integration of scavengers into formal waste management systems, provision of protective equipment, and implementation of policies that promote sustainable recycling practices.
Abubakar Umar Bichi, Jibril Muhammed, I. Y. Chindo
Institutional Drivers and Structural Challenges of Implementing Computer-Based Testing (CBT) in Nigerian Universities
This study evaluated the foundational institutional factors necessitating the transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) in Nigerian universities and identified the critical structural and systemic bottlenecks hindering its optimal deployment. The study adopted a quantitative research methodology utilizing a cross-sectional survey design. The target population for this study structurally encompassed the professional and academic operators of the university examination system. Recognizing the limited number of specialized IT personnel on campuses, a representative sample of 384 professional respondents was established, comprising 32 CBT Center Managers & System Administrators (exactly 4 selected per institution) and 352 University Lecturers (exactly 44 selected per institution) across eight selected federal and state universities. Primary data collection was executed using a validated, structured questionnaire, and the retrieved data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, mean scores, and standard deviations, governed by an evaluation mean decision threshold of 2.50. The empirical results revealed that the primary institutional drivers pushing the implementation of CBT include the urgent need to mitigate widespread examination malpractices (Mean=3.68), the demand to eliminate administrative inefficiencies such as missing scripts and delayed grading (Mean=3.55), and massive student overcrowding (Mean=3.42). Conversely, the study identified severe structural challenges hindering optimal deployment, led by frequent erratic power outages and electrical grid failures (Mean =3.74), unstable internet and intranet connectivity (Mean=3.61), and a persistent shortage of technical personnel competent in handling CBT applications (Mean=3.48). The study concludes that while the educational shift toward CBT is highly justified by its potential to restore academic integrity, its operational success remains severely vulnerable to systemic infrastructural deficits. It is recommended that university administrations install high-capacity solar power banks, establish intensive digital literacy pre-tests for incoming undergraduates, and set up continuous training frameworks for system administrators. Institutional Drivers and Structural Challenges of Implementing Computer-Based Testing (CBT) in Nigerian Universities
Strength Characteristics of Cement-Stabilized Vermi-Improved Crude Oil Contaminated Lateritic Soil under British Standard Light Compactive Effort for Highway Application
This study investigates the strength characteristics of cement-stabilized vermi-remediated crude oil contaminated lateritic soil under British Standard Light (BSL) compactive effort for potential application as highway base material. About 250 kg of lateritic soil obtained from Shika, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria (Latitude 11°15′ N, Longitude 7°45′ E) was contaminated with crude oil at a rate of 75 cl per 10 kg of soil and mixed with 1000 ml of water. The total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) content was measured at 4500 mg/kg before vermiremediation using the earthworm species Eudrilus eugeniae at a density of 300 worms per 200 kg of contaminated soil for one month. Post-remediation TPH was reduced to 3300 mg/kg, reflecting a remediation efficiency of 27%. Cement stabilization was applied at 0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% admixture levels. Under BSL compactive effort, the optimum moisture content (OMC) decreased progressively from 16.25% (0% cement) to 13.01% (8% cement) while maximum dry density (MDD) increased from 1.62 g/cm³ to 1.66 g/cm³. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days curing peaked at 6% cement with values of 407.37, 434.35, 503.55 and 534.03 kN/m² respectively. The unsoaked California Bearing Ratio (CBR) was highest at 6% cement (95.06%), while soaked CBR peaked at 8% (77.55%). Durability assessment showed resistance to loss in strength of 122.06% at 8% cement under BSL. All optimum strength values at 6% cement for BSL satisfied Nigerian General Specification requirements for highway sub-base material. The findings are consistent with prior studies on cement stabilization of geotechnically challenged lateritic soils (Sani et al., 2024), confirming cement as an effective binder for improving contaminated lateritic soils in tropical environments.
Nasiru Musa, George Moses, Barakat O. Ochu
Effects of Solid Waste Dumpsite on Groundwater Quality in Idu District, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja
This study assessed the effects of the waste dumpsite on groundwater quality in Idu District, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. The was aimed at assessing the increased deposition of waste in the dumpsite, urbanization, industrial activities, and indiscriminate waste disposal practices that pose contamination risks to groundwater resources serving as the primary water supply for residents. The study involved waste characterization at the dumpsite and analysis of groundwater samples from seven boreholes located at varying distances from the dumpsite. Water samples were collected and analyzed for physico-chemical parameters (pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Dissolved Oxygen, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Biological Oxygen Demand, chloride, total hardness, and colour), heavy metal concentrations (magnesium, zinc, iron, chromium, and lead), and bacteriological parameters (Total Coliform Count, E. coli, and Faecal streptococci). Waste characterization revealed that organic waste constituted the highest proportion. Groundwater analysis showed that pH values (6.38–7.95) fell within WHO standards, while iron concentrations (2.43–21.08 mg/l) significantly exceeded the 0.30 mg/l limit. Water hardness (81–418 mg/l) and chloride levels (5.08–49.98 mg/l) exceeded permissible limits in several samples. Bacteriological analysis revealed contamination with Total Coliform Counts reaching up to 144 CFU/ml and presence of E. coli (11–12 CFU/ml) in samples closest to the dumpsite. One-way ANOVA revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in contaminant concentrations between wells located within 50 meters and those beyond 100 meters from the dumpsite. The study concludes that groundwater quality in the vicinity of the waste dumpsite is compromised, with contamination levels influenced by distance from the dumpsite, shallow water table depth, and the geological characteristics of the area.
Sadiq Mamman Malgwi, Mohammed Jibril, John Gushit
Assessment of Material Resources for Instructional Delivery of Fabrication and Welding in Technical Colleges in Delta State
This study assessed the material resources for instructional delivery of fabrication and welding in technical colleges in Delta State. Three research questions guided the study and three hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study used descriptive survey research design. The population for study was from six technical colleges in Delta State, which comprised 18 instructors and teachers and 72 NTC III students total 90 respondents. There was no sampling because the population was manageable in size. The questionnaire was a check list used to collect data on Adequacy, Functionality and Usability of Material Resources for Instructional Delivery in Technical Colleges (AFUMRIDTC). The instrument was validated by three experts. The reliability of instrument was determined using inter-rater reliability (Kendal Co-efficient of Concordance (W) which yielded a reliability co-efficient of 0.82 for adequacy, 0.78 for functionality and 0.73 for usability respectively. The data were analyzed using percentage for adequacy, mean and standard deviation for functionality and usability of material resources. t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings of the study revealed that majority of the material resources for instructional delivery of fabrication and welding were available but inadequate, all are functional and usable expect one in the technical colleges. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others, that fabrication and welding workshop in technical colleges should be well equipped with tools and equipment by the government from time to time as required for teaching and learning of fabrication and welding.
In-Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Clove Oil Against Food Poisoning and Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria
As antimicrobial resistance continues to rise, the necessity for discovering natural antimicrobial agents becomes more critical. Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) oil is rich in bioactive compounds that exhibit antibacterial properties and can potentially be used as a replacement for conventional antibiotics. Clove oil was obtained by extracting with n-hexane in a Soxhlet apparatus and tested for efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Using disk diffusion methods, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), phytochemical composition was determined using standard methods. Clove oil displayed antibacterial properties that increased with concentration against all the tested bacteria. At 200 mg/mL, the largest diameter of the inhibitory zone was against P. aeruginosa (22.00 1.00 mm). For all the bacteria, MIC was 100 mg/mL. But bactericidal efficacy was confirmed only for P. aeruginosa at 50 mg/mL. The presence of flavonoids alkaloids phenolic compounds, and terpenoids was identified in the phytochemical analysis. Clove oil demonstrated significant antibacterial activity, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibiting the highest susceptibility among the tested organisms. The oil was also found to contain several bioactive phytochemicals with known antimicrobial properties. Further studies are recommended to characterize its chemical constituents using GC–MS analysis, assess its safety profile, and evaluate its antimicrobial efficacy in vivo.
Attah Friday, Adeboye Muhammed Mustapha, Aminu Ruth Foluke
Numerical Solutions of Fractional Volterra-Fredholm Integro-Differential Equations
Fractional Volterra-Fredholm integro-differential equations (FVFIDEs) have gained increasing attention among researchers over the last decades because of their usefulness in modelling physical phenomena in engineering and technology. Although collocation, Homotopy Perturbation, Adomian Decomposition and related methods have been applied to these problems, many existing approaches involve high computational cost or reduced accuracy for difficult cases. This study therefore applied the Standard Collocation Method (SCM), Least Squares Method (LSM) and Akbari-Ganji Method (A-GM) to obtain numerical solutions of FVFIDEs. The general problem considered is given by: where denotes the fractional-order derivative of y(x). Orthogonal polynomials were adopted as basic functions for the general class of FVFIDEs. Approximate solutions were assumed in polynomial form and substituted into the governing equations. The resulting equations were collocated at equally spaced interior points, producing systems of linear algebraic equations. These systems were solved for the unknown coefficients, which were then substituted back into the trial solutions to obtain the required approximations. Absolute estimated errors were computed to assess the accuracy and comparative performance of the methods. The findings showed that SCM, LSM and A-GM successfully solved both linear and nonlinear FVFIDEs. The computed absolute errors were small, indicating close agreement between the numerical and exact solutions. LSM and A-GM performed better than SCM, while the results obtained compared favourably with those reported in the literature. The study concluded that SCM, LSM and A-GM are reliable alternative methods for solving FVFIDEs and recommended their adoption for related problems and future studies.
Development of a Model for Improving Reliability Performance of a Microgrid Lithium-Ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
There is a global increasing demand for storage of renewable energy; this cannot be achieved without an efficient and reliable battery energy storage system. The energy obtained from any source can either be used at that moment or stored for future use. This condition has motivated many researchers to work on improving the reliability performance of different types of battery energy storage systems (BESS). The study examined the possible and available modalities for improving the reliability performance of a microgrid lithium-ion battery energy storage system. A mathematical model was developed to improve the BESS performance reliability of lithium-ion batteries. The modified model achieves percentage accuracy of 98.88% when tested using the percentage accuracy prediction error method; it demonstrates a root-mean-square error (RMSE) value of 1%, and it achieves a mean absolute error of 1%. A MATLAB program was developed for improving lithium-ion battery reliability performance analysis.The results demonstrate that a lithium-ion BESS functions well between 25°C and 45°C; at this temperature range, the internal resistance of the BESS becomes lower, allowing electrons to freely flow within the BESS. The MATLAB program was run at different numbers of battery cycles, such as 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, and 6000 cycles with temperature variations and capacity degradation rates to analyze the BESS reliability performance in the MATLAB environment. The outcome clearly indicates that the higher the number of battery cycles, the higher the state of health (SOH) and the less capacity degradation.
Abdulraheem Kabara Abdulrasheed, Khama Asebakeoghena John
Integration of Information And Communication Technology in Management of Public Universities in Nigeria
The growing reliance on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has changed the way universities carry out their administrative and academic responsibilities. This paper is grounded in socio-technical theory, which emphasizes the integration of socio and technical sub-systems within the work environment. The paper examined the place of ICT in the management of public universities in Nigeria, areas of ICT integration in public universities discussed are; planning and decision making, personnel management, financial management, student data management, admission and examination, campus security, teaching and learning, research development. It identified benefits of ICT integration in management of public university to include administrative efficiency, effective data management, optimal use of resources among others. Challenges of ICT integration in management of public universities discussed include; inadequate funding, poor internet connection and dearth of qualified ICT staff among others. Among other suggestions made include; prioritizing funding, engaging multiple internet servers and employment of qualified ICT personnel.
Health Education as a Tool for Community Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Health education is a key public health strategy for enhancing population wellbeing and reducing the incidence of both communicable and non-communicable diseases, especially in low-resource settings. It contributes significantly to improving knowledge, reshaping attitudes, and promoting positive health behaviours that support disease prevention and overall community wellness. This article focuses on health education as an instrument for community health promotion and disease prevention, highlighting its relevance within public health practice and its role in strengthening informed health decision-making among individuals and communities. The paper also reviews major approaches and delivery channels for health education in community contexts, such as primary health care facilities, schools, mass media platforms, and community outreach programmes. Furthermore, it identifies key barriers to effective health education, including low literacy levels, cultural and social beliefs, insufficient funding, misinformation, and weaknesses within the health system. The study emphasizes the public health importance of improving health education interventions through stronger community participation and policy support. It concludes that well-implemented health education is vital for achieving sustainable health promotion and disease prevention and should remain a central component of primary health care and public health practice.
Antimicrobial Potential of Salvadora persica Stem Extract Against Dental Plaque-Associated Microorganisms: An Integrated In vitro and Molecular Docking Study
The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and oral biofilm-associated diseases has intensified the search for alternative therapeutic agents from medicinal plants. Salvadora persica L. (miswak) has long been employed in traditional oral hygiene owing to its antimicrobial properties; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its antibacterial activity remain incompletely understood. This study investigated the antimicrobial activity of the methanolic stem extract of S. persica against selected oral pathogens and explored the inhibitory potential of its phytochemical constituents against bacterial DNA gyrase using molecular docking. Methanolic stem extract of S. persica was prepared by cold maceration and qualitatively screened for phytochemical constituents. Antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Aspergillus niger was evaluated using the agar well diffusion assay, while the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were determined using standard microbiological methods. Identified phytochemicals were subsequently subjected to molecular docking against Escherichia coli DNA gyrase subunits A and B (PDB ID: 3NUH), using levofloxacin as the reference inhibitor. Protein–ligand interactions were analyzed using Discovery Studio Visualizer and PyMOL. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, anthraquinones, phenols, and cardiac glycosides. The extract exhibited concentration-dependent antimicrobial activity against all tested organisms, with the highest inhibition observed against S. aureus (22.1 mm), followed by A. niger (18.6 mm) and E. coli (15.4 mm) at 100 mg/mL. The MIC and MBC values against the bacterial isolates were 12.5 mg/mL and 25 mg/mL, respectively, while the MFC against A. niger was 50 mg/mL. Molecular docking identified the compound with PubChem CID 135580681 as the most promising ligand, exhibiting stronger binding affinities toward DNA gyrase subunit A (−8.0 kcal/mol) and subunit B (−7.6 kcal/mol) than the reference inhibitor levofloxacin (−6.1 and −6.8 kcal/mol, respectively). Interaction analysis demonstrated that the compound formed favorable hydrogen-bonding, hydrophobic, and electrostatic interactions with key active-site residues involved in enzyme inhibition. The methanolic stem extract of Salvadora persica possesses significant antimicrobial activity against selected oral pathogens and contains bioactive phytochemicals with promising inhibitory activity against bacterial DNA gyrase. These findings provide mechanistic support for the traditional use of S. persica in oral healthcare and identify PubChem CID 135580681 as a potential lead compound for the development of novel therapeutics targeting dental plaque-associated bacterial infections. However, further toxicity evaluation, molecular dynamics simulations, and experimental validation may be needed to further confirm this data. Antimicrobial Potential of Salvadora persica Stem Extract Against Dental Plaque-Associated Microorganisms: An Integrated In vitro and Molecular Docking Study
Temidayo Olamide Adigun, Muhammed Maikarfi, Samira Abdullahi
Oluwayemisi Olufunke Fagboro, Tubosun Olamide Fayemi, Mutairu Adeyinka Ghazali
Remediation Efficiency, Index Properties, and Compaction Characteristics of Vermi-Remediated Crude Oil–Contaminated Black Cotton Soil Stabilized with Cement Kiln Dust
Crude oil contamination severely degrades the geotechnical performance of expansive black cotton soil (BCS), rendering it unsuitable for engineering reuse, while conventional stabilizers such as cement and lime remain costly and carbon-intensive. This study evaluates vermi-remediation using Eisenia fetida as a low-cost biological pre-treatment for crude oil–contaminated BCS, followed by stabilization with 0–8% cement kiln dust (CKD), an industrial by-product, with a view to reuse as landfill liner and cover material. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) content was determined gravimetrically before and after a 36-day vermi-remediation period, while index properties (natural moisture content, specific gravity, particle size distribution, and Atterberg limits) and compaction characteristics (maximum dry density, MDD, and optimum moisture content, OMC) of the remediated soil treated with CKD were investigated under three compactive efforts — British Standard Light (BSL), West African Standard (WAS), and British Standard Heavy (BSH) — in accordance with BS 1377 (1990, 2016). Vermi-remediation reduced the average TPH concentration from 5200 mg/kg to 4033 mg/kg, corresponding to a removal efficiency of 22.43%. CKD treatment increased the liquid limit from 53.10% to 55.60%, the plastic limit from 20.90% to 27.10%, and specific gravity from 2.320 to 2.340, while the plasticity index decreased from 32.20% to 28.50% and fines content declined across all compactive efforts, an outcome attributed to flocculation and agglomeration induced by cementitious hydration products. MDD ranged from 1.60–1.90 g/cm³ and OMC from 11.00–19.36%, both within limits recommended for landfill liner and cover materials. The results demonstrate that combining biological remediation with waste-derived chemical stabilization is a viable, sustainable pathway for converting hydrocarbon-contaminated expansive soils into geotechnically acceptable barrier materials.
Ezekiel Adi Shiddi, George Moses, Kehinde K. Mustapha
Effect of Toasting Time of Full-Fat Soyabean in Diets on Performance and Cost-Benefit of Broiler Chickens
This study evaluated the effect of the toasting time of full-fat soyabean (FFSB) used in diets on the performance of broiler chickens, with emphasis on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and cost-benefit. One hundred and fifty (150) broiler chickens were fed diets containing full-fat soyabean, which was toasted at a constant temperature of 130 ℃ at different time durations 30,35,40, and 45 minutes, represented as T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively. Each treatment had 3 replicates, and each replicate had 10 birds assigned in a completely randomized design (CRD). Feed and water were supplied ad libitum, and the trial lasted for 8 weeks. Results for growth performance showed that toasting time significantly influenced nutrient availability and absorption, which in turn affected the performance of broiler chickens. Birds fed diets containing FFSB toasted for 40 minutes(T4) exhibited superior weight gain (1573.00g), improved FCR (2.54), and better carcass traits, such as percentage breast (24.20 %), when compared to those fed T2, T3, and T5 diets. The treatments had an increasing effect on some carcass parts, such as the breast and thigh muscle). The cost-benefit analysis showed T4 with the highest profit (₦2869.20) accrued with birds fed T4, as well as return to naira invested (RNI) of ₦0.54 and a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) greater than one (1) (₦1.54). The optimal toasting condition was determined to be 40 minutes at 130 ℃, which achieved the best balance between deactivating antinutritional factors (ANF) and nutrient preservation. These findings highlight the importance of precise thermal processing of FFSB before use in broiler chicken diets and suggest that careful control of toasting conditions can maximize growth performance, carcass yield, and enhance economic benefits. It is therefore concluded that FFSB should be toasted for 40 minutes to give optimal balance between deactivating ANF and denaturing of amino acids, which will increase growth performance and enhance cost-benefit.
Monday Jugbodu Evelyn, Attah Sunday, Shaahu David Terhemba
Index Properties, and Compaction Characteristics of Palm Kernel Shell Ash-Stabilized Vermi-remediated Crude Oil-Contaminated Lateritic Soil for Highway Sub-Base Application
Crude oil spillage progressively degrades the geotechnical performance of lateritic soils used in highway construction, necessitating remediation before reuse as pavement material. This study evaluated the remediation efficiency, index properties, and compaction characteristics of Palm Kernel Shell Ash (PKSA)-stabilized, Vermi-remediated, crude-oil-contaminated lateritic soil intended for highway sub-base application. Lateritic soil obtained from Shika, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria was contaminated with crude oil at 150 cl per 20 kg of soil and subsequently treated using the earthworm species Eudrilus eugeniae at 200 worms per 100 kg of soil for 30 days. Vermi-remediation reduced the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) content from 4500 mg/kg to an average of 3300 mg/kg, corresponding to a remediation efficiency of about 26%. The Vermi-remediated soil was thereafter stabilized with PKSA at 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16% by dry weight and evaluated for index, compaction, and strength properties in accordance with BS 1377 (1990). The liquid limit, plastic limit and plasticity index of the Vermi-remediated soil (54.0%, 32.3% and 21.7%) varied irregularly with PKSA content, while linear shrinkage remained close to 11% throughout. Specific gravity decreased marginally from 2.4 to 2.2 with increasing PKSA content, consistent with the lower density of the ash. Compaction results showed that maximum dry density (MDD) decreased under British Standard Light (BSL) and West African Standard (WAS) efforts but increased under British Standard Heavy (BSH) compaction, while optimum moisture content (OMC) generally increased with PKSA content across all compactive efforts. The findings support the use of Vermi-remediation combined with agricultural-waste-ash stabilization as a sustainable, low-cost technique for rehabilitating petroleum-impacted lateritic soils for highway earthworks in Nigeria.
John E. Sani, Daniel O. Oyeleke, George Moses
Probabilistic Calibration of Target Safety Dependent Safety Factors for the Design of Steel Concrete Composite Beams
This study presents a reliability-based calibration of partial safety factors for steel–concrete composite beams designed in accordance with Eurocode 4. The research evaluates the reliability performance of composite beams under ultimate limit states and calibrates partial safety factors to achieve specified target reliability levels. Limit state functions were developed for flexural and shear failure modes. Uncertainties in concrete compressive strength, steel yield strength, dead loads, live loads, and model uncertainty were represented using probabilistic models obtained from established literature. Structural reliability analyses were conducted using the First-Order Reliability Method (FORM) implemented in CodeCal software. Reliability indices ranging from 2.0 to 4.3 were investigated, with emphasis on the Eurocode target reliability index of β = 3.8. The influence of importance factors on structural reliability was also examined. The results showed that reliability is highly sensitive to load variability and importance factors, with optimum performance occurring at importance factors between 0.5 and 0.8. Reliability-based calibration produced optimized partial safety factors for both flexural and shear limit states. At β = 3.8, the calibrated flexural safety factors were γM = 0.98, γG = 1.59, and γQ = 1.35, while the calibrated shear safety factors were γM = 1.05, γG = 1.42, and γQ = 1.50. Comparison with Eurocode values indicated that permanent-action factors require upward adjustment, whereas material and variable-action factors can be reduced while maintaining the target reliability level. The study concludes that reliability-based calibration provides a rational basis for optimizing partial safety factors for steel–concrete composite beams. The calibrated factors improve the consistency of safety margins and achieve target reliability levels while promoting structural economy and design efficiency.
Lawal D. Aminu, Jibrin M. Kaura, Uwemedimo N. Wilson
Artificial Intelligence as a Pedagogical and Psychosocial Intervention: Contextualizing Personalized Learning and Support for Nigerian Higher Education
The Nigerian higher education system is characterized by a dual deficit: the pedagogical limitations of massified, instructor-centric models and a critical shortage of accessible psychosocial support for students. This review paper argues that Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a unique opportunity to address these challenges synergistically, but its implementation must be critically adapted to Nigeria’s specific socio-technical realities. Moving beyond techno-optimist narratives, the review paper analyzes AI applications—such as Adaptive Learning Systems and AI-powered counseling Chabot—through the lenses of educational psychology and critical policy studies. It explores how these tools can operationalize theories of mastery learning and scaffolded instruction while providing scalable, first-tier psychosocial support. However, the review paper foregrounds significant impediments, including infrastructural fragility, algorithmic bias, data privacy concerns, and cultural acceptability. It concludes by proposing a phased, ethically-grounded implementation roadmap, positing that a context-sensitive approach to AI integration is not merely additive but essential for fostering a more equitable, effective, and supportive learning environment in Nigerian higher institutions of learning.
Muhammad Sani Umar, Shamsuddeen Ibrahim Umar
Security Challenges and Responsibilities of Building Sustainable Peace in the Realm of Nigeria
Nigeria faces complex security challenges hindering sustainable peace in its landscape, such as Banditry, Terrorism, Kidnapping, Boko haram and Communal conflicts among others which have resulted in loss of lives, displacement, and economic instability. Despite numerous efforts by both the government and the community, these challenges persist, undermining national development, peace and stability. The paper aims to examine the security challenges and identify responsibilities of various stakeholders and propose effective strategy for building sustainable peace in the Nigerian landscape. The study reviews existing literature on security challenges and peace building via thorough assessment of chosen materials available and released lately (mainly from 2010 to date), as gathered in the Web of Sciences database and selected specialized publications, from distinct educational viewpoints. Also, it is expected to identify key factors contributing to security challenges in Nigeria and propose effective strategies for sustainable peace. The study will provide recommendations for the government, civil society and international partners on how to address security challenges and promote peace building in the realm of Nigeria.
Shamsuddeen Ibrahim Umar, Muntari Sabe, Aliyu Abubakar
Design of a Unified Automation Framework for Cross-Platform Mobile Application Testing
Mobile device diversity and fragmentation present significant challenges for the effective testing of mobile applications. Existing frameworks such as Appium, while popular, often require maintaining separate test suites for Android and iOS, leading to increased effort, higher maintenance costs, and inconsistent testing outcomes across platforms. Additionally, these frameworks struggle to accommodate platform-specific UI elements, device capabilities, and performance variations, which can compromise test accuracy and defect detection rates, ultimately impacting user experience and application reliability. This work addresses these challenges by proposing a Unified Automated Cross-Platform Testing Framework (UACPTF) that provides a single, platform-agnostic testing protocol for both Android and iOS applications, thereby eliminating the need for separate WebDriver protocols for each platform. The framework integrates a unified driver and a centralized orchestration mechanism, reducing the need for multiple test suites and streamlining the testing process. The UACPTF aims to improve test coverage, defect detection rates, and overall testing efficiency without compromising accuracy. The framework's performance was evaluated through rigorous experiments involving several open-source applications such as WordPress, Telegram, and others. Results demonstrate that UACPTF significantly outperforms existing tools like Appium and Patrol, achieving a defect detection rate of up to 15% higher and expanding test coverage by 20%. Furthermore, the unified approach reduces test maintenance effort by approximately 30%, resulting in faster feedback cycles and reduced testing costs. These findings affirm that UACPTF offers a scalable, reliable, and efficient solution for cross-platform mobile application testing, ensuring higher-quality and more consistent user experiences across heterogenous mobile ecosystem.
An Exploratory Study of Curriculum Practices for Balancing Global Artistic Trends and Indigenous Cultural Identity of Art Education in Colleges of Education in North-Central, Nigeria
This exploratory study investigates curriculum practices in fine and applied arts education programmes in Colleges of Education in north-central, Nigeria. The study focuses on how global artistic trends supposed to be balanced with indigenous cultural identity. Anchored in culturally responsive pedagogy and curriculum hybridity theory, the study adopts a qualitative exploratory design involving curriculum document analysis, semi-structured interviews with lecturers and administrators, and focus group discussions with final-year students across selected colleges of education. Findings indicate increasing incorporation of digital media, contemporary global art movements, and interdisciplinary approaches; however, indigenous art practices are often treated as static historical content rather than dynamic, practice-based knowledge systems. Structural challenges including limited infrastructure, insufficient funding, curriculum rigidity, and inadequate documentation of local artistic traditions further complicate balance. The study concludes that sustainable art education in Nigeria requires deliberate curriculum restructuring that integrates global competencies with community engaged practice based indigenous learning models. The paper contributes to international discourse on decolonising curriculum and culturally grounded innovation in vocational teacher education.
Sani Muhammad Babangida, Amos Lawal Danlami
Abubakar Jibril Danlami, Magaji Dangusau, Mohammed Jiya Bala
Impact of Agricultural Skills Acquisition on Entrepreneurial Intentions of Students in Colleges of Education in North east, Nigeria
The study investigates the influence of agricultural skills acquisition on the entrepreneurial intentions of students in Colleges of Education in North-East Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised of 500 NCE 111 agricultural education student from Colleges of Education that offer NCE agricultural education course in north east Nigeria. A sample size of 350 students were selected using multi-stage sampling technique, appropriate statistical formula was used to determine the sample size. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics to answer the research questions, and inferential statistics to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. Spearman rank moment correlation was used for the relationship between agricultural skills acquisition and entrepreneurial intentions of agricultural education students in Colleges of Education in North-East Nigeria. The findings revealed that, agricultural education students do not possess adequate skills for entrepreneurship development in agriculture, they had a very low skills in the use of agricultural tools, agro processing, farm management and a moderate skill level on crop production techniques and animal husbandry practices. The findings further indicate a moderate level of entrepreneurial interventions among agricultural education students in federal collages of education in north east Nigeria. The study recommends the integration of entrepreneurship education in to the curricula of agricultural education programs across all colleges and ensuring full implementation of the curriculum will no doubt assist agricultural education students to connect the skills acquired with viable agribusiness opportunities.
Oguntunde Gabriel, Abdullahi Usman, Muazu Mohammed
Enhanced Deep Learning-Based Classification Approach for Detecting Data Leaks in Cloud Computing Environments
In the realm of data security and privacy, organizations strive to safeguard sensitive information from unauthorized access and leakage. Data leakage, unintentional or malicious, can have serious implications, including financial losses, damage to reputation, and legal action. Traditional methods of data leakage detection often struggle to identify subtle patterns and anomalies. Whereas the network scenario that the study addresses needs the data leakage to be detected with highly consistent results for all the metrics, therefore, there is a need for advanced techniques that can effectively detect data leakage with high accuracy. This study suggests a deep learning approach for cloud computing that is based on data categorization and data leaking. Autoencoder (AE) architecture has been used to classify the input data. The developed AE classifier model was implemented using MATLAB R2023a. Support vector machines Convolutional neural networks, and artificial neural networks (SVM, CNN, and ANN) were used to compare the proposed model to current approaches.
Abba Mohammed Yayaji, Badamasi Imam Ya’u
Factors Affecting Skills Acquisition among Students of Electrical Installation and Maintenance Work Trade in Technical Colleges of Gombe State
The study examined the factors affecting skills acquisition among students of electrical installation and maintenance work trade in technical colleges of Gombe state. The study has four specific objectives. In order to achieve these objectives, four research questions were poised and four null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Pragmatism theory propounded by Charles Sanders Peirce in 1870s was adopted as the theoretical framework. The design of the study was a descriptive survey. The population of the study consisted of 438 respondents. Stratified sampling technique was used to draw 280 respondents that consist of 220 students, 36 teachers and 26 administrators across the six technical colleges of Gombe State. The instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire based on Likert scale which was developed by the researcher and validated by three experts. The instrument was trial tested on 20 students, 5 teachers and 5 administrators in one Technical College in Yola Adamawa. Cronback Alpha was used to compute the internal consistency of the instrument which yielded a reliability index of 0.89. The data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions. While, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed teachers' and students' related factors which among others include inappropriate methods of teaching practical; inadequate consumable materials for practical skills training; teachers' lack of professionalism, low level of knowledge and skills; and students' personal interest, inadequate workshop materials, high academic expectation, personal safety and workplace hazards respectively as responsible for the failure of practical skills acquisition in Technical Colleges of Gombe State. The study further revealed that that socio-economic background and carrier aspiration of the students and parents have effect on acquisition of practical skills in electrical installation and maintenance work. The study recommended that factors that hinder practical skills acquisition should be tackled, students should be properly guided to pursue their carrier aspirations, aspirations of parents and their children's carrier should be in harmony.
An Assessment of the Importance of Guidance and Counselling Services in Public Girls’ Technical Colleges in Yobe State, Nigeria
Guidance and counselling services are formally recognised in Nigeria’s National Policy on Education as integral to holistic student development. However, in crisis‑affected regions such as Yobe State, north‑eastern Nigeria, the delivery and perceived importance of these services remain underexplored. This study assessed the importance of guidance and counselling services in Senior Secondary Schools in Yobe State. A mixed‑methods sequential explanatory design was employed. The quantitative phase surveyed 680 respondents (400 students, 150 teachers, 120 parents, 10 counsellors) selected through multi‑stage sampling from 16 public Senior Secondary Schools across Damaturu and Gashua educational zones. The qualitative phase involved semi‑structured interviews with 20 purposively selected stakeholders. Instruments included a 35‑item questionnaire (α = 0.85) and interview guides, validated by experts and pilot‑tested. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means) and thematic analysis. Findings revealed that 62.5% of schools had no functional counselling unit, and only 28% of students had ever accessed counselling. Despite low availability, 87% of stakeholders rated counselling as “very important” for addressing academic difficulties, career indecision, trauma from insurgency, and child‑marriage‑related stress. Major challenges included acute shortage of professional counsellors (1:15,000 student ratio), lack of referral pathways, cultural stigma, and inadequate government funding. The study concluded that guidance and counselling services are critically important yet severely underprovided. Recommendations include immediate employment of 200 additional counsellors, mandatory school‑based counselling units, and community sensitisation programmes.
Maryam Hassan Gambo, Yusuf Lawan Goroma, Binfa Kpaknan Wuyep
Effect of Atili Shell Ash on the Geotechnical Properties of Lateritic Soil
The use of agricultural waste materials as soil stabilizers continues to attract attention for its economic and environmental benefits. This study investigated the effect of Atili shell ash (ASA) -- an agro-waste pozzolan derived from the shells of Canarium schweinfurthii (African elemi) -- on the index, gradation and compaction properties of a lateritic soil, with a view to its use as a sustainable, low-cost stabilizer. Lateritic soil obtained from Shika, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, was treated with 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16% ASA by dry weight of soil. The natural soil classified as A-7-6 (GI = 12) under AASHTO and CL under USCS, with 64.00% fines, a liquid limit of 47.00%, a plastic limit of 27.30%, a plasticity index of 19.70%, and a specific gravity of 2.61. Oxide analysis showed ASA to be a silica-rich pozzolan (57.2% SiO₂, with SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ + Fe₂O₃ exceeding 70%) and only marginally calcareous (1.78% CaO), indicating a slower, silica-driven pozzolanic mechanism rather than the rapid calcium-based cation exchange typical of lime- or cement-type stabilizers. Incorporation of ASA progressively coarsened the soil gradation, with the fines fraction falling from 3.15% to 1.14% under British Standard Light (BSL) compaction and from about 2.40% to 1.21% under West African Standard (WAS) compaction over the 0-16% ASA range. The specific gravity decreased slightly from 2.61 to 2.58 at 16% ASA. The liquid limit rose from 44.50% to a peak of 48.02% at 12% ASA before falling to 46.54% at 16% ASA, while the plastic limit fell from 25.00% to a minimum of 22.14% at 4% ASA. The plasticity index increased to a maximum of 25.54% at 8% ASA before reducing to 23.40% at 16% ASA. Maximum dry density decreased consistently with ASA content, from 1.60 to 1.55-1.57 Mg/m³ (BSL), 1.68 to 1.63-1.64 Mg/m³ (WAS), and 1.73 to 1.68-1.69 Mg/m³ (BSH), while optimum moisture content increased correspondingly, from 16.60% to 17.77% (BSL), 15.70% to 16.45% (WAS), and 14.64% to 15.41% (BSH). These results show that ASA modifies lateritic soil primarily through particle flocculation, aggregation and progressive pozzolanic bonding rather than densification, and indicate that 4-8% ASA offers the most favourable balance of improved gradation and consistency without excessive loss of compacted density, supporting its potential as an effective, sustainable and economical soil-stabilizing material for low-volume road and embankment applications.
Effects of Challenge and Project-based Learning on Woodwork Technology Students’ Academic Achievement, Retention and Interest in Colleges of Education (Technical) In Northeast Nigeria
This study investigated the effect of Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) and Project-Based Learning (PBL) on students’ academic achievement and retention in Wood Work Technology in Colleges of Education (Technical) in North East Nigeria. The study was motivated by the persistent poor performance and low retention of practical skills among students taught mainly through the conventional lecture method. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group design was adopted. The population comprised 301 NCE II Wood Work Technology students, while 245 students were purposively selected from four Colleges of Education (Technical) in North East Nigeria. Data were collected using the Woodwork Technology Achievement Test (WTAT), which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.790 using Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was employed to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings showed that students taught design skills using CBL achieved higher posttest mean scores (71.94) than those taught using lecture method (52.96). Students taught project construction using PBL also recorded higher posttest mean scores (72.07) than those taught using lecture method (54.27). In addition, students taught design skills using CBL obtained higher retention mean scores (66.03) than those taught using lecture method (48.93). ANCOVA results indicated significant differences in academic achievement and retention in favour of CBL and PBL (p < 0.05). The study concluded that CBL and PBL are more effective than the lecture method in improving students’ academic achievement and retention in Wood Work Technology.
Reward System and Professional Development as Motivational Tools for Improving Teachers’ Job Performance in Senior Secondary Schools of Sokoto State
This study investigated the role of reward system, professional development in improving teachers’ job performance in senior secondary schools in Sokoto State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised 3,331 teachers from 164 senior secondary schools across six educational zones in the state. Using stratified and proportionate sampling techniques, a sample of 321 teachers was selected. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire based on a four-point Likert scale. The instrument was validated by experts, while its reliability was established using Cronbach’s Alpha with a coefficient of 0.80. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequency counts, percentages, mean scores, and standard deviation. The findings revealed that reward systems positively influenced teachers’ job performance by enhancing commitment, punctuality, and effectiveness in instructional delivery. Professional development programmes such as workshops, seminars, and in-service training significantly enhanced teachers’ skills, competence, and classroom management. The study recommended that, School administrators should establish an open, checklist-based reward system where the criteria for recognition (such as punctuality, lesson preparation, or teaching effectiveness) are clearly written and shared with all staff to eliminate favoritism and ensure fairness. Schools should introduce a peer to peer “step down” training model, where any teacher who attends an external seminar or workshop is given a scheduled time to train and share those new teaching skills with fellow colleagues during staff meetings.
A Multi-Model Machine Learning Framework for Automated Requirement Prioritization in Software Development
Software requirement prioritization is a critical decision-making activity in agile software development, directly influencing project success, resource allocation, and stakeholder satisfaction. Traditional prioritization methods, such as the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and MoSCoW, rely heavily on subjective human judgment and become cognitively overwhelming as project scale increases. Recent advancements, such as the framework proposed by Jamasb et al. (2025), have leveraged Natural Language Processing (NLP) to automate requirements management. Their pipeline uses BERT embeddings to extract semantic meaning, K-Means clustering to group similar requirements, and similarity computation to generate a structured requirements list. However, their approach remains fundamentally unsupervised; it organizes and groups requirements for human review but does not autonomously predict a final priority score. This paper proposes a fully automated, supervised machine learning (ML) framework that eliminates the need for human intervention entirely. We evaluate four regression algorithms—XGBoost, Random Forest, Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN)—on the publicly available UCL, Smart Card requirements dataset, utilizing stakeholder roles, influence weights, and semantic text features extracted via TF-IDF. Our experimental results demonstrate that the XGBoost model significantly outperforms the Jamasb et al. (2025) baseline in Mean Absolute Error (MAE), achieving a score of 0.0678 compared to their reported 0.9000. Furthermore, our model achieves a competitive F1-Score of 0.4560 against their 0.6000, while operating entirely without manual expert intervention. Additionally, the XGBoost model achieved a Spearman Rank Correlation of 0.4156, proving its effectiveness in preserving the correct order of importance. This work establishes that supervised ML pipelines provide a superior, scalable, objective, and cost-effective alternative for modern agile requirement engineering.
Index Properties and Compaction Characteristics of Vermi-Remediated Crude Oil-Contaminated Lateritic Soil Stabilized with Locust Bean Waste Ash
This study characterizes the index properties and compaction characteristics of vermi-remediated crude oil-contaminated lateritic soil (VRCOCS) stabilized with varying percentages (0, 4, 8, 12 and 16%) of locust bean waste ash (LBWA), with a view to assessing its suitability as landfill liner and cover material. Vermi-remediation reduced the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) content of the crude oil-contaminated soil from an average of 4500 mg/kg to 3300 mg/kg, representing a 27% removal efficiency, prior to stabilization. The untreated vermi-remediated soil was classified as A-7-5 according to AASHTO and CL (lean clay) according to the Unified Soil Classification System, with 72.42% of particles passing the BS No. 200 sieve. Specific gravity increased from 2.0 for the untreated soil to a peak of 2.4 at 4% LBWA before fluctuating between 2.2 and 2.3 at higher ash contents. Particle size distribution improved markedly with LBWA addition, as the percentage of fines passing the No. 200 sieve fell sharply from 35.5% (untreated) to between 2.5% and 5.8% for the stabilized mixtures, reflecting flocculation and agglomeration of clay particles induced by pozzolanic reaction. The liquid limit varied only slightly with LBWA content (52.3%–57.0%), while the plastic limit rose from 32.3% to a maximum of 35.1% at 4% LBWA before declining to about 30.5–30.7% at 12–16% LBWA. The plasticity index reached a minimum of 18.5% at 8% LBWA, indicating the greatest improvement in workability and volume-change potential at this stabilization level. Compaction results showed that the maximum dry density (MDD) increased with increasing compactive effort and peaked at 1.89 Mg/m³ at 4% LBWA under British Standard Heavy (BSH) energy, before decreasing at higher ash contents owing to the lower specific gravity of excess unreacted ash. The optimum moisture content (OMC) exhibited only minor variation with LBWA content, generally decreasing with increasing compactive effort and rising slightly at 16% LBWA due to the greater water demand of the additional ash. Overall, the results indicate that 4–8% LBWA produces the most favourable combination of reduced plasticity, improved gradation and enhanced compaction response, supporting its use as a sustainable, low-cost stabilizer for vermi-remediated lateritic soils intended for landfill liner and cover applications.
A Study of Soil Burial Degradation, Hardness and Thermal Properties of Agricultural Waste (Melonhusk-Cellulose) Filled Waste Polystyrene Composites
The research is aimed at collation and conversion of agricultural waste (melon-husk) and waste polystyrene to useful material and to reduce the negative impacts on environment. Melonhusk (MH) materials were reduced to particle size of 75 µm and alkaline treated with Sodiumhydroxide based on weight to volume fraction of 1-5%. Melonhusk particulates were investigated using Fourier Transforms Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR) before compounding. Composites were prepared based on polystyrene to filler ratio of 25/75 in a metal mould dimension of 150mm by150mm by 50mm. Composites samples were analysed using dynamic thermal mechanical analyser (NETZSCH, DTMA 242) according to ASTM D4065 standard. The soil burial degradation, hardness and thermal properties were investigated. The result of the FTIR showed removal of hemicellulose, lignin and pectin on melonhusk. The soil burial degradation hardness and thermal properties showed better performance on composites prepared with 75 µm particle size and treated with 3 % alkaline when compared with untreated and other treated particulate fillers.
Stabilization of Vermiremediated Crude Oil-Contaminated Lateritic Soil Using Cement Kiln Dust for Landfill Liner and Cover Applications
Crude oil pollution of tropical lateritic soils remains a persistent geo-environmental problem in oil-producing regions such as the Niger Delta of Nigeria, where spillage, pipeline vandalism and artisanal refining continually degrade soils that would otherwise be suitable for engineering use. This study evaluated the combined use of vermiremediation and cement kiln dust (CKD) stabilization to recondition crude oil-contaminated lateritic soil for use as a compacted liner and cover material in waste containment systems. Lateritic soil obtained from Shika, Zaria, Nigeria, was artificially contaminated with crude oil, bioremediated using the earthworm species Eudrilus eugeniae, and subsequently stabilized with 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8% CKD by dry weight of soil. Vermiremediation reduced the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) content of the contaminated soil from 4500 to 3300 mg/kg, a removal efficiency of 27%. Stabilization with CKD produced a general reduction in liquid limit, from 54% at 0% CKD to a minimum of 43% at 8% CKD, and reduced the plasticity index from 21.7% to 16.9% at 6% CKD. Maximum dry density increased from 1.63 Mg/m³ under British Standard Light (BSL) compaction to a peak of 1.84 Mg/m³ at 4% CKD under British Standard Heavy (BSH) compaction, while optimum moisture content increased moderately with CKD content, consistent with the additional water demand for hydration and pozzolanic reaction. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) improved markedly with treatment, rising from 170.2 kN/m² in the untreated soil to a maximum of 748.2 kN/m² at 6% CKD, +2% moulding water content and BSH compaction. Volumetric shrinkage strain (VSS) fell from 5.01% in the untreated soil to a minimum of 2.60% at 8% CKD, while hydraulic conductivity decreased with treatment, reaching values as low as 3.7 × 10⁻⁸ cm/s at 4-6% CKD under BSH compaction. Based on criteria commonly specified for compacted clay liners and covers (UCS ≥ 200 kN/m², VSS ≤ 4% and hydraulic conductivity ≤ 1 × 10⁻⁷ cm/s), vermiremediated crude oil-contaminated lateritic soil stabilized with 6% CKD satisfies the engineering requirements for use as a landfill liner and cover material, offering a low-cost, dual-mechanism route for the beneficial reuse of a petroleum-impacted soil together with an industrial by-product.
Index Properties and Compaction Characteristics of Vermiremediated Crude Oil-Contaminated Lateritic Soil Stabilized with Gum Arabic for Road Subgrade Application
Crude oil contamination progressively degrades the index and compaction properties of lateritic soils, undermining their suitability as pavement subgrade material. This study evaluates the index properties and compaction characteristics of vermiremediated crude oil-contaminated lateritic soil stabilized with Gum Arabic (GA), a natural biopolymer, as a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical stabilizers. Lateritic soil obtained from Shika, Zaria, Kaduna State, was contaminated with Bonny Light crude oil at 75 cl per 10 kg of soil, biologically treated using the earthworm species Eudrilus eugeniae, and thereafter stabilized with 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8% GA by dry weight. Natural moisture content, specific gravity, Atterberg limits, particle size distribution, linear shrinkage, and compaction characteristics (maximum dry density, MDD, and optimum moisture content, OMC) were determined for the British Standard Light (BSL), West African Standard (WAS) and British Standard Heavy (BSH) compactive efforts, in accordance with BS 1377 (1990). Contamination increased the liquid limit from 47.0% to 51.8% and reduced the specific gravity from 2.66 to 2.40. Following vermiremediation and GA stabilization, the liquid limit and plastic limit generally decreased with increasing GA content, falling from 54.0% and 32.3% at 0% GA to minimum values of 44.0% and 15.0% at 6% GA, respectively, while the percentage fines passing the 0.075 mm sieve decreased markedly, indicating particle flocculation and agglomeration. The MDD values were most sensitive to GA addition under the BSH effort, decreasing from 1.79 g/cm³ at 0% GA to 1.70 g/cm³ at 6% GA, while OMC values generally increased with GA content before declining at 8% GA. The results demonstrate that GA measurably alters the index and compactive behaviour of remediated contaminated lateritic soil, with 2-4% GA offering the most favourable balance of reduced plasticity and workable compaction response for subgrade application.
Geotechnical Characterization and Rice Husk Ash Stabilization of Vermiremediated Crude Oil–Contaminated Lateritic Soil for Highway Applications
Crude oil contamination severely degrades the index, compaction, and strength properties of lateritic soils in Nigeria's oil-producing regions, limiting their suitability for road construction. This study evaluated the geotechnical response of crude oil–contaminated lateritic soil to sequential treatment by vermiremediation and rice husk ash (RHA) stabilization. Lateritic soil sourced from Shika, Zaria, Kaduna State (11°15′ N, 7°45′ E) was artificially contaminated with crude oil at 75 cl per 10 kg of soil and subsequently vermiremediated using the earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae at a rate equivalent to 300 worms per 200 kg of soil over 30 days, achieving a total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) reduction of approximately 27%. The vermiremediated soil was then stabilized with RHA at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16% by dry weight and evaluated in accordance with BS 1377 (1990) and BS 1924 (1990) using index, compaction (British Standard Light [BSL], West African Standard [WAS], and British Standard Heavy [BSH] efforts), unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California bearing ratio (CBR), and durability tests. Untreated vermiremediated soil classified as A-7-6 (CL) with a plasticity index of 19.5% and unsoaked CBR values below 9% for all compactive efforts, confirming its unsuitability as a pavement material. RHA stabilization increased CBR values to a maximum of 26–32% and produced peak 28-day UCS gains of up to 227.7 kN/m² for the WAS effort at 16% RHA, although the optimum RHA content varied with compactive effort (8% for BSL, 16% for WAS and BSH). The results indicate that RHA is a viable, low-cost pozzolanic stabilizer capable of restoring vermiremediated, oil-impacted lateritic soil to a condition suitable for subgrade and light sub-base applications, although values generally remained below the 80% CBR threshold specified for base-course material by the Nigerian General Specifications for Roads and Bridges (2016).
Design and Performance Evaluation of a Laboratory-Scale Horizontal Subsurface-Flow Constructed Wetland for Brewery Effluent Treatment
Brewery wastewater is characterised by high organic and nutrient loads that pose a significant risk of eutrophication when discharged untreated into receiving water bodies. This study presents the design, construction, and performance evaluation of a laboratory-scale horizontal subsurface-flow constructed wetland (HSSF-CW) for the treatment of effluent from a brewery in Kaduna, Nigeria. The raw effluent was characterised and found to be of moderate strength (pH 7.76, COD 609 mg/L, TSS 185 mg/L, total nitrogen 45 mg/L, total phosphorus 12 mg/L), with elevated turbidity (197 NTU) and iron content (8.5 mg/L). A wetland cell of dimensions 0.93 m × 0.43 m × 0.36 m, aspect ratio 2.16:1 and volume 144 L, was sized using first-order plug-flow kinetics with a reaction rate constant of 0.612 d⁻¹, yielding a theoretical hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 47.04 hours; an experimental HRT of 72 hours was adopted in operation. Effluent quality was monitored at 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours across thirteen physicochemical and heavy-metal parameters. After 72 hours of treatment, turbidity fell from 197 NTU to below 6 NTU (>97% removal), COD reduced by 77–87%, TSS by over 92%, and iron, lead, copper and zinc concentrations all declined below NESREA and FAO discharge and irrigation limits. The results demonstrate that a compact, low-cost HSSF-CW designed on basic hydraulic and kinetic sizing principles can reliably bring brewery effluent into regulatory compliance, offering an economical and low-maintenance alternative to conventional treatment for small and medium-scale breweries in developing regions.
A Secured Digital Document Management System using Fingerprint Signature
In today’s digital world, the need for secure and efficient document management systems is paramount. The ever-growing reliance on digital documents necessitates robust security measures to protect sensitive information and combat unauthorized access to information. This led to the aim of this research which is to develop a Digital Document Management System (DDMS) that leverages fingerprint signatures for enhanced security and user convenience. The methodology engages the use of cutting-edge software development kits and tools which includes Kotlin, PostgreSQL, and some Java Virtual Machine (JDK) framework. This methodology integrates fingerprint signature together with Digital Document Management System. The key features of the system include document encryption, access control with fingerprint signature, and document storage. The result reveals a highly secured document management system immune to security breaches like brute-force attack and credential impersonation. The Digital Document Management System (DDMS) secure with fingerprint signature can serve as a solution to many documents’ security challenges.
The Effects of Mobile Banking Applications on User Experience and Customer Loyalty in Nigeria
Through the use of mobile banking application, banks have been able to expand customer base as well as reaching remote areas. For optimal performance of banks, it becomes very critical to study the various factors that could potentially mitigate or foster customer loyalty. In order to ascertain the impact of mobile banking user experience on customer loyalty, this study adopts a quantitative approach in the study of the effects of mobile banking application considering Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), and Zenith Bank, as this allows for the testing of hypotheses. The findings from the study shows that the user experience construct with the most potential of driving customer loyalty in the Nigerian banking landscape is that of continuous application improvement (CAI), while technical challenges (TC) have the least influence. Furthermore, users of this mobile banking applications are within the youthful age ranges of 18 – 25 and 26 – 35 respectively, which will allow for informed decision by management during the strategizing phase.
Influence of Head Teachers’ Variables on Preventive Maintenance Practices in Primary Schools in Egor Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria
This study examined whether preventive maintenance practices in primary schools differ according to the age, years of experience and sex of head teachers in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was used for the study. The sample comprised 13 private and 10 public primary school head teachers selected by cluster random sampling. A validated questionnaire titled "Questionnaire on Preventive Maintenance Practice (QPMP)" was administered to collect data. Data were analysed using frequency distribution, percentages and chi-square tests at 0.05 significance level. Results showed that there was no significant difference in preventive maintenance practice by age of head teacher (χ² = 1.35, df = 3, p > 0.05), by experience of head teacher (χ² = 6.26, df = 3, p > 0.05) or by sex of head teacher (χ² = 2.20, df = 3, p > 0.05). However, descriptive statistics revealed that head teachers aged 51-60 years were more likely to carry out preventive maintenance (very regular: 1; regular: 2) than younger ones. Head teachers with above 10 years of experience were more engaged (very regular: 1; regular: 1; irregular: 5) than those with less experience. Male head teachers (n=13) reported slightly more regular maintenance than female head teachers (n=10). The study concluded that socio-demographic characteristics of head teachers do not significantly influence preventive maintenance practices, although small differences exist in favour of older, more experienced and male head teachers. It is recommended that all head teachers, irrespective of age, experience or sex, should be trained and encouraged to adopt regular preventive maintenance schedules.