This study compares the impact of Assessment of Learning (AoL) and Assessment for Learning (AfL) on students' mathematics achievement. The quasi-experimental study, which was carried out in the Ekiti Central Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria, featured 140 seniors in secondary education out of the total population of 500 senior secondary school students, including 200 male and 300 female students from ten public secondary schools in the area. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed; simple random sampling was also used to select four intact classes from these schools (two from each). One intact class was randomly assigned to the experimental group and the other to the control group. Well-structured items named Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT)was developed and used for data collection. The instrument's face validity was confirmed.The respondents were split into two groups: the experimental group received training in AfL practices, while the control group received training in AoL techniques. Math proficiency was assessed by pre-test and post-tests. Significant post-intervention gains were seen in the experimental group's scores, according to analysis with t-tests and ANCOVA; no significant gender differences were noted. The findings support previous research emphasizingAfL's beneficial effects at all educational levels and highlight how well it can improve mathematical understanding. These results emphasize the significance of using AfL techniques in instructionto enhance mathematics learning outcomes.
This study investigated the administration of School-Based Management Committee and quality assurance in public secondary schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between the administration of school-based management committee and quality assurance in public secondary schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Correlational research design was used for the study. The population consisted of 8,167 teachers and 90,370 students in 208 public secondary schools. Twenty-five schools were selected through simple random sampling technique. Ten teachers and 10 students were selected from each school through simple random sampling technique making 500 respondents. Administration of School-Based Management Committee Questionnaire (ASBMCQ) and Quality Assurance Questionnaire (QAQ) were designed for the study. Pearson product moment correlation statistics was used to test the research hypothesis at 0.05 level of significant. The study revealed that there is no significant relationship between the administration of school-based management committee and quality assurance in public secondary schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria.
This study examined the relationship between facilities management practices and teaching-learning effectiveness in Colleges of Education in Niger State, Nigeria. A descriptive correlational research design was adopted. The population comprised 950 lecturers, from which 247 were selected using multistage sampling techniques. Data were collected using two validated instruments: the Facilities Management Practices Questionnaire (FMPQ) and the Teaching-Learning Effectiveness Questionnaire (TLEQ), with Crobach’s Alpha reliability coefficients of 0.78 and 0.85 respectively. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while Spearman’s rank-order correlation was employed to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance due to non-normal data distribution. The findings revealed that facilities management practices were at a high level and had a significant positive relationship with teaching-learning effectiveness. The study recommends sustaining quality through innovative maintenance systems and regular needs assessment.
Youths in Modern Music Industry and the Disruptive Impact on Yoruba Cultural Sustainability
1Olatomide Emmanuel Babalola; 2Olubunmi Christianah AjayiYoruba people of southwest Nigeria have a rich culture that served as a means of identifying themselves amidst the comity of ethnic groups in Nigeria. From the time immemorial, this cultural value had been preserved and sustained from generation to generation despite the infiltration of the European imperialists who came to introduced new ways of life into Yoruba communities. One of the viable and veritable tools that Yoruba people employed for transmission of this rich cultural heritage is music. But today, with the in-coming of the Youths into music industry, the traditional music has been termed “old school” and obsolete, hence music has sadly enough, played disruptive role rather than constructive role in sustaining the Yoruba cultural values. It is against this background that this paper examines the traditional music vis-à-vis the modern trend of music among the Yoruba youths and its consequences on the Yoruba cultural values. The paper concludes that the in-coming of the youths in music industry should be exploited to detach Yoruba culture from the apron of the former colonial overlord. This could be achieved by appreciating our own cultural values, rather than injecting and transmitting immoralities and other vices which negate our cultural values through the so called modern music.
The research work examined the effect of reward systems on employee performance in selected private tertiary institutions in Ekiti State, focusing on Afe Babalola University, Crown Polytechnic, and Fabotas College of Health Sciences and Technology. The research work was driven by inadequate reward structures, worker displeasure, and their institutional performance. Specifically, the research investigated the effect of monetary rewards, non-monetary rewards, and employees’ perceptions of reward fairness on performance outcomes. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised 264 academic staff members; while a sample size of 159 respondents was determined using Yamane’s formula and selected through proportional sampling techniques. Data were gathered through structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used such as frequencies and percentages were used for data analysis, while Chi-square statistics tested the hypotheses at 0.05 significance level. Findings shown that both monetary and non-monetary rewards significantly influence employee performance, motivation, and job satisfaction. Salary increments, bonuses, recognition, promotion opportunities, job security, and professional development were found to positively affect employee commitment and productivity. The Chi-square results showed significant relationships between monetary rewards and employee performance (χ² = 129.71, p < 0.05), non-monetary rewards and employee motivation (χ² = 151.03, p < 0.05), as well as reward fairness perceptions and employee performance (χ² = 100.84, p < 0.05). However, budget limit, poor communication, and weak performance evaluation systems were identified as challenges affecting effective reward implementation. This was concluded that a well-adjusted, nondiscriminatory, and translucent reward system is to improving employee performance and organizational effectiveness in private tertiary institutions. The study recommends solidification reward policies, cultivating communication, and supporting performance evaluation structures with recognized reward structures.
Counselling Needs of Undergraduate Students of Nigerian Tertiary Institutions
1 Adeyemi Olaitan; 2 Jude Thaddeus Awe; 3 Moses OgunmuditiThis quantitative cross-sectional descriptive study examined the counseling needs of undergraduate students in Nigerian tertiary institutions across four domains: academic, vocational, personal and emotional, and social and adjustment. The target population comprised all full-time undergraduate students enrolled in accredited public and private tertiary institutions across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones during the 2025 to 2026 academic session. Using Krejcie and Morgan's (1970) table, a sample of 652 undergraduates was drawn through multi-stage sampling. The instrument was a structured questionnaire titled the Undergraduate Counseling Needs Questionnaire (UCN–Q), which included the standardized Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent-samples t-tests. The findings revealed that the most prevalent academic counseling needs were examination anxiety management (Mean = 3.42), time management skills (Mean = 3.31), and fear of academic failure (Mean = 3.28). The highest vocational counseling needs were job search strategies (Mean = 3.51), employability skills (Mean = 3.44), and career decision-making (Mean = 3.38). Regarding personal and emotional needs, 78.2% of students reported clinical anxiety, 71.5% reported clinical stress, and 66.6% reported clinical depression. Social and adjustment needs were most acute among newly admitted students, particularly homesickness (Mean = 3.42) and loneliness (Mean = 3.38). The hypotheses tested revealed that newly admitted students reported significantly higher academic counseling needs than advanced-year students (p = 0.0001). In comparison, female students reported significantly higher personal and emotional counseling needs (p = 0.00001) and social and adjustment counseling needs (p = 0.005) than male students. Based on the findings, the study concluded that Nigerian undergraduates experience substantial counseling needs across all domains and recommended mandatory academic counseling for first-year students, career guidance across all year levels, gender-sensitive mental health interventions, and government funding for counseling services.
This study examines the extent of innovative decolonization process in secondary school mathematics curricula in Nigeria and South Africa. Using a comparative cross-national mixed-methods design, data were collected from 111 respondents, including mathematics teachers and curriculum policymakers, through stratified random and purposive sampling. A structured questionnaire on curriculum content, goals, materials, development processes, and teaching strategies was administered, with reliability established at 0.89. Descriptive and inferential analyses, including independent samples t-tests, were conducted at the 0.05 significance level. Findings reveal that both Nigeria (M = 2.62) and South Africa (M = 2.52) exhibit only moderate levels of curriculum decolonization, with limited integration of indigenous knowledge systems and culturally relevant pedagogy. While South Africa demonstrates more systemic policy efforts toward decolonization, implementation remains inconsistent due to resource and training gaps. Nigeria’s curriculum continues to reflect Eurocentric orientations, with minimal evidence of indigenous mathematical practices. Overall, results highlight that both countries face challenges in embedding decolonial perspectives, particularly in teaching strategies and curriculum review processes. The study underscores the need for inclusive, culturally grounded curriculum reforms, enhanced teacher preparation, and participatory development processes to foster epistemic justice and learner engagement in mathematics education. Recommendations include strengthening policy frameworks, integrating ethnomathematics, and prioritizing teacher training to advance decolonial goals in African mathematics curricula.
Religion: The Fundamental Motivations, Predispositions and Relevance to Man in the Modern World
Charles Kenechukwu OkoroNA
This study examines the use of metaphor in My Lord, Tell Me Where to Keep Your Bribe through a combined cognitive-linguistic and psychosocial framework. The concern here is to examine how metaphors in the poem construct Nigerian socio-political Realities. The primary objective of the study is to investigate how metaphorical structures in the poem shape cognitive perception, moral evaluation, and social consciousness about corruption. The study has as its theoretical framework Conceptual Metaphor Theory, as developed by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson, which views metaphor as fundamental to human thought rather than merely a stylistic device. Methodologically, the research adopts a qualitative textual analysis, focusing on the identification and interpretation of conceptual metaphors and image schemas embedded in the poem. These metaphors are analysed in relation to their source and target domains, as well as their psycho-social implications within the broader context of Nigerian socio-political realities. Findings reveal dominant conceptual metaphors such as CORRUPTION IS A COMMODITY, CORRUPTION IS DIRT, CORRUPTION IS INFILTRATION, and JUSTICE IS A MARKET. These metaphors function not merely as poetic embellishments but as cognitive tools through which socio-political realities are constructed and interpreted. The analysis further demonstrates that metaphor in the poem performs ideological and psycho-social functions by exposing collective frustration, normalisation of corruption, and institutional dysfunction in contemporary Nigerian society. The study concludes that metaphor in Osundare’s poem functions as a powerful mechanism for both critique and cognition, revealing how language constructs and sustains social realities. The study contributes to scholarship in cognitive poetics, African literary stylistics, and discourse studies by demonstrating how metaphor operates as both a cognitive and socio-cultural mechanism for representing political and moral crises in African poetry.
The study investigated the effectiveness of using roving Mathematics Laboratory in teaching Mathematics on senior secondary school students’ achievement in mathematics in Ijumu local government area Kogi state, Nigeria. The study adopted quasi-experimental, non-randomized, non-equivalent, pre-test, post-test control group design. The sample is one hundred and seventy-six (176) senior secondary school two (SS2) students which were purposively selected from three senior secondary schools in Ijumu local government area of Kogi state. Two research questions and two hypotheses were raised as a guide to this study. Roving Mathematics Laboratory was used to teach geometry to the two experimental groups while the control group was taught geometry using the conventional method. An instrument called Mathematics Laboratory Test was used to collect data. The instrument was validated by three (3) senior lecturers of Mathematics Education and two experienced senior secondary school mathematics teachers. Test retest method was used to determine the reliability and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was used to calculate the reliability coefficient which was 0.78. Descriptive statistics: mean and standard deviation was used to answer the research questions, while ANCOVA was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The finding of the study among other reveals that students taught geometry using Roving Mathematica Laboratory achieved significantly better than those taught using conventional method irrespective of students’ gender. Based on the finding of this study, it was recommended among other things that Mathematics teachers should be encourage to use Roving mathematics laboratory to teach geometry.
Agricultural Input Use and Sustainable Grain Production in China: Dynamic and Regional Evidence
Jin Wang1, Wah June Leong 1, Yong Ge 1, Ying Huang 2 & Wendy Ling Shinyie 1Stable grain production is central to food security, but the policy challenge is no longer only to expand agricultural inputs. It is also necessary to improve input efficiency and design region-specific production strategies. This study examines how major agricultural inputs affect grain output in China and evaluates whether these effects vary across dynamic, nonlinear, and regional dimensions. Using provincial panel data from 2000 to 2021, we estimate a two-way fixed-effects model as the baseline specification and extend the analysis with dynamic panel models, nonlinear specifications, and regional heterogeneity analysis for eastern, central, and western China. The results show that grain sown area has a stable and positive association with grain output, indicating that land protection remains a key condition for grain security. Grain output also shows strong persistence, suggesting that current production is closely related to previous production capacity and accumulated regional conditions. Pesticide use has a positive and significant effect, whereas fertilizer use has a weak and insignificant effect, indicating possible inefficiency in fertilizer application. The nonlinear results further suggest that the output effects of agricultural inputs do not follow a simple linear pattern. Regional estimates show clear differences across eastern, central, and western China, implying that uniform input policies may be less effective than region-specific strategies. Overall, the findings provide evidence for agricultural input policy and sustainable grain production in China. Policy should focus on protecting grain sown area, improving fertilizer-use efficiency, and designing differentiated input-management strategies according to regional production conditions.
Parenting Styles as Predictors of Examination Malpractice in Selected Universities in Nigeria
Anna AwopetuThe growing incidence of academic dishonesty among university students across Nigeria has become a major source of concern. Although educational regulatory bodies and school administrations have implemented various intervention strategies to curb this menace, positive outcomes remain minimal. This empirical study investigated how parental socialization practices correlate with and predict academic fraud behaviors among undergraduates. Adopting a descriptive survey design, a randomized cohort of 690 first-year undergraduate students (comprising both males and females) was selected from two distinct Nigerian universities. Data collection was executed using a 30-item structured questionnaire comprising an adapted variant of the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) and a modified version of the Examination Cheating Behavior (ECB) scale developed by Alarape and Onakoya (2003). Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and multiple linear regression models were utilized to evaluate three research hypotheses at a 0.05 significance threshold. The empirical outcomes demonstrated that all three primary dimensions of parenting styles significantly predicted students' engagement in examination malpractice, with the permissive (laissez-faire) parenting approach emerging as the most substantial and dominant predictor. Based on these insights, the paper discusses critical socio-educational implications and proposes targeted counseling and policy interventions.
Monitoring and Analysis of Domestic Sewage Treatment Facilities in Ningbo Port, China
Jingjing Wanga*, Musab Abdul Razaka*, Li Pan,b, Mohamad Rezi Abdul Hamid a, Mohd Zahirasri Mohd Tohir a, Mohd Yusof Harun aNingbo Port is a well-known deep-water port on the Chinese mainland and one of the densest ports in the world. One of the pollution concerns at the port is the marine domestic sewage, especially those coming from ships discharged into the water. Therefore, the goal of this work is to macro-evaluate the current situation of marine domestic sewage from ships at Ningbo Port, China, according to China GB 3552-2018: Water Pollution Emission Control Standard and put forward suggestions for the improvement of the treatment facilities. Samples of domestic sewage from ships were collected between July 2020 and June 2021 and then analyzed according to their pH, suspension, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), heat resistance of coliform, and total chlorine. The results show that 104 batches of ships using membrane bioreactor (MBR) devices have a qualification rate of only 47.1% for domestic sewage and a 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) of only 69.2%, a BOD5 of 25 mg/L, and a COD of 125 mg/L, which is below the limits of the GB 3552-2018 Standard. One of the proposed treatments is to use an anaerobic-aerobic mobile bed biofilm reactor (A/O MBBR) to treat the simulated marine domestic sewage. When 34 batches of simulated marine domestic sewage were treated with A/O MBBR, the removal rate of the daily domestic sewage capacity of a 1.5-ton device for total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, COD, and BOD reached 87.12%, 93.96%, 96.79%, and 94.89%, respectively. While the removal rate of the daily domestic sewage capacity of a 7-ton device reached 87.40%, 92.40%, 96.88%, and 93.59%, respectively, The study emphasized that the A/O MBBR combination process not only has a strong ability to resist the impact load, but also improves the daily treatment volume of sewage and effectively reduces the pollutant concentration of wastewater. This shows that it has good development potential and improves the quality of domestic sewage for ships in Ningbo Port, China.
The Glodok area in West Jakarta is one of Indonesia's most significant historic commercial districts, recognized as the center of Chinatown heritage and urban economic activities. Rapid urbanization, increasing commercial intensity, traffic congestion, limited green open spaces, and aging infrastructure have generated challenges for sustainable urban development. This study evaluates the implementation of the Urban Design Guidelines (RTBL – Rencana Tata Bangunan dan Lingkungan) in Glodok based on three major aspects: Green Open Space (RTH), Infrastructure Systems, and Environmental Utilities. The research adopts a qualitative-descriptive approach utilizing field observation, document analysis, RTBL indicators, and literature review. Assessment criteria are developed from Indonesian urban planning regulations and sustainable urban design principles. The results indicate that Glodok demonstrates strong commercial vitality and cultural identity; however, the provision of green open spaces remains below ideal urban standards. Infrastructure systems such as pedestrian networks and accessibility have improved through revitalization programs, although connectivity and traffic management remain problematic. Environmental utilities, including drainage, waste management, lighting, and public facilities, exhibit moderate performance but require further modernization. The study concludes that RTBL implementation in Glodok has contributed positively to urban revitalization, yet strategic interventions are required to enhance environmental sustainability and urban resilience.
The Glodok area is one of the oldest urban heritage areas in Jakarta, which has developed as a center of trade, settlement, and culture for the Chinese community since the colonial era. The high intensity of economic activity has caused pressure on the area's environmental quality, especially on the visual aspects of the area, spatial legibility, streetscape quality, and the comfort of public spaces. This study aims to evaluate the environmental quality of the Glodok area based on the Building and Environmental Planning (RTBL) approach. The study uses a descriptive-qualitative method with field observations and spatial analysis of sixteen observation zones in the study area. The assessment is based on RTBL environmental quality indicators which include the wayfinding system, streetscape quality, visual identity of the area, advertising control, integration of informal activities, and environmental lighting quality. The results show that the Glodok area has a strong urban heritage character through traditional trading activities, the typology of Chinatown shophouses, and a lively spatial atmosphere. However, the area still faces various environmental quality problems such as visual pollution, irregular signage, poor wayfinding quality, spatial conflicts due to informal activities, and minimal pedestrian lighting quality. This research shows that the RTBL approach has an important role in directing the arrangement of environmental quality in heritage areas in order to maintain local identity while improving the quality of urban space in a sustainable manner.
Sustainability reporting has emerged as a critical instrument for enhancing transparency, accountability, and stakeholder confidence in corporate reporting, yet its performance implications remain inconsistent among African non-financial firms. This study examined the effect of social sustainability disclosure on the performance of listed non-financial firms in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. Using a sample of 1,541 firm-year observations from 128 firms, social disclosure is measured through employee disclosure (EMP), corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSR), female employee disclosure (FEMP), female management disclosure (FMAN), and training disclosure (TRAIN). Firm performance is proxied by Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Capital Employed (ROCE), Earnings per Share (EPS), and Tobin’s Q. Panel regression techniques guided by the Hausman specification test were employed. The empirical results showed that social disclosure variables are jointly significant in explaining firm performance (χ² = 32.64, p = 0.0000). The model results further indicated that social disclosure significantly influences ROA (Wald χ²(7) = 38.90, p = 0.0000), ROCE (F = 2.51, p = 0.0190), EPS (Wald χ²(7) = 85.27, p = 0.0000), and Tobin’s Q (F = 2.25, p = 0.0344). The findings suggest that social disclosure enhances operational efficiency and profitability, while its effect on capital efficiency is mixed and its influence on market valuation is relatively weak. The study concluded that social sustainability disclosure is performance relevant in emerging African markets. This study recommends that firms should strengthen social disclosure practices, particularly in areas such as employee welfare, diversity, and training, as these contribute to improved operational efficiency and profitability.
CBOD: A Resource-Efficient and Robust Image-Based CAPTCHA Scheme
1,2Md. Shamim Imtiaz*, 1Kamrul Hasan, 1Amina Khatun, 1,3Mohammad Shorif UddinTraditional text-based and conventional image-based CAPTCHA schemes are increasingly vulnerable to automated attacks leveraging modern deep learning and computer vision architectures. To address this security risk with-out compromising user experience, this paper introduces Color Boundary Object Detection (CBOD), a robust and user-friendly image-based CAPTCHA scheme designed to resist automated object detection pipelines. The CBOD framework constructs challenges through a multi-step pipeline: strategic spatial preprocessing, composite quad-image merging, the algorithmic insertion of randomly shaped and colored polygonal boundaries around target objects, and the application of a variable layer of mixed random noise. Security evaluations demonstrate that the proposed scheme achieves exceptional combinatorial robustness, generating a conservatively estimated 1.17 × 1012 unique challenges from a minimal baseline asset library of 150 images distributed across 10 semantic categories. This structural resilience stems from defensive mechanisms such as image discontinuity, foreground occlusion, and localized noise artifacts, which intentionally exploit the structural vulnerabilities of deep learning-based object de-tection frameworks. Concurrently, an extensive usability study involving 285 participants establishes high human performance, characterized by a 96% first-attempt success rate and a low average completion time of 6.8 seconds. While the current implementation utilizes a predefined asset taxonomy and lacks specialized assistive features for visually impaired individuals, CBOD provides a highly secure, lightweight verification mechanism that effectively balances low backend resource overhead with a seamless user experience.
Deep Vein Thrombosis of the Lower Limb on Hyperhomocysteinemia Secondary to Biermer's Disease
R. Bouagaga1, Z. Khammar1, R. Berrady1, A. El Maghraoui2Venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) is characterized by the formation of a blood clot or thrombus that obstructs a vein and blocks blood flow [1]. It includes two clinical entities: deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), which in 90% of cases is secondary to DVT of the lower limbs [2,3]. It is a frequent and multifactorial pathology [4], which often poses a problem during the etiological investigation, particularly in young subjects [5]. Recent years have seen the recognition of a good number of factors favoring a state of thrombophilia, constitutional or acquired [6]. Through our observation we recall the implication of hyperhomocysteinemia secondary to B12 deficiency in thromboembolic disease.
This study evaluated the Junior Leadership and Staff Officers’ Course (JLSOC) curriculum and the career progression of Direct Regular Commission (DRC) officers in the Nigerian Army (NA). The study explored how well the curriculum’s objectives and other components help develop the leadership, staff and managerial skills needed for effective military service and career advancement. Using a descriptive survey research design, the study was grounded in transformational leadership theory and constructive alignment theory. The population sample included JLSOC Directing Staff/instructors, curriculum planners/evaluators and DRC officers who had completed the course. Data were gathered through a structured questionnaire and analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings showed that the curriculum is generally effective and relevant in providing DRC officers with the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes for junior command and staff roles. However, some gaps were noted in practical training, instructional resources and the incorporation of emerging security and operational challenges. The study concluded that while the JLSOC curriculum plays a significant role in the professional development and career progression of DRC officers, it requires periodic review and modernisation. The study therefore recommended continuous curriculum evaluation, improved teaching strategies and more resource allocation for operational effectiveness of the DRC officers.
This study examined the advancement of Office and Information Management (OIM) through innovation and digital transformation in public tertiary institutions in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study was guided by four objectives focusing on the extent of digital transformation, innovative digital technologies adopted, students’ perceptions of effectiveness, and strategies for strengthening digital transformation for improved graduate preparedness. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The target population comprised 300 graduating students in three public tertiary institutions in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Total enumeration was used as the sample. The instrument used was a four-point structured Likert-scale questionnaire which was administered to all the graduating students. Both face and content validity of the instrument was ensured through experts in the field. A pilot study involving respondents outside the study area was conducted to establish the reliability of the instrument, and the internal consistency of the questionnaire was determined using Cronbach's Alpha coefficient, with a reliability coefficient of 0.70 which was considered acceptable for the study. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation, while hypotheses were tested using Regression and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Findings revealed that digital transformation enhances OIM practices to a moderate extent, particularly in information accessibility, communication, and administrative efficiency, while advanced integration remains limited. The study further showed that adoption of digital technologies is uneven, with greater reliance on communication platforms, Learning Management Systems, and electronic records management systems, while cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence, and data analytics remain minimally adopted. Students’ perceptions indicated low to moderate effectiveness of digital transformation initiatives, with limited improvements in communication, service delivery, and overall academic satisfaction. Hypothesis testing showed significant relationships between digital transformation, technology adoption, administrative effectiveness, and graduate preparedness. The study concludes that digital transformation in Ekiti State tertiary institutions is still at an early-to-middle stage and requires strengthened infrastructure, policy support, capacity building, and curriculum innovation to achieve full effectiveness.
Assessment of Innovative Teaching Methods on Students' Retention in Secondary Schools in Kogi State
Omuya Ohunene Florence; Haruna, Josephine Eleojo; Tolorunleke Emmanuel Adebayo; Akuh Esther Amina; Kachi, Oluwatosin Motunrayo; Abayomi Isaac Araiyegbemi; Buraimoh Oluwaseun Funmilola; Olonikawu Ade Samuel & Nwosu-Kanu Daniel IheanyichukwuThe study assessed the effect of innovative teaching methods on students' retention in sec. schools in Kogi State Nigeria. Persistent concerns about declining learning outcomes and weak retention among secondary students have call for pedagogical innovation. Innovative teaching methods has a significant role in students learning retention that will cater for the individual differences in the classroom. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted using non-equivalent control groups. The sample consisted of 480 senior SS III drawn from six public secondary schools across the three senatorial zones of Kogi State. Data were collected using the Teaching Methods Questionnaire (TMQ) and a Students' Retention Test (SRT) administered immediately after instruction & six weeks later. Reliability coefficients of 0.73 (TMQ) and 0.85 (SRT) were obtained. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The findings revealed a statistically significant difference in retention between students taught using innovative teaching methods and those taught using traditional lecture methods. The study concludes that innovative teaching methods significantly enhance students’ retention and highlights the critical role of instructional leadership in supporting effective pedagogical practices.
Digitalization of Tax Collection and Revenue Generation in Nigeria
Oboegbulem Obumneke Judith1 (Ph.D)1; Ugwoke Robinson Onuora (Prof.)2; Obioma Vivian Ugwoke (Ph.D)3NA
This study investigated the perceptions and practices of pre-service and in-service teachers regarding 21st-century teaching skills using a mixed-method approach involving surveys and classroom observations. A sample of 80 teachers was randomly selected from pre-service teachers in Al-Faruq College of Education and in-service teachers from local schools in Wenchi Municipality. Results indicated significant differences in perceptions (t(78) = 2.72, p = .008) but no significant differences in teaching practices (t(78) = -1.03, p = .308) or challenges faced (t(73.94) = 1.73, p = .087). Recommendations included targeted professional development for in-service teachers, support and mentorship for all teachers, and modifications to teacher education programs to enhance practical experiences. Additionally, workshops and seminars for pre-service teachers and their mentors were suggested to better prepare them for classroom challenges.
Background: The ability of learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to build and sustain social relationships with peers, both at home and in school, has become a growing challenge for parents and teachers in recent years. Therefore, identifying and providing early intervention for potential parental-related factors can improves the social skills of learners. Aim and Objectives: Parental education level, income and family size on social skills development of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Ogoja and Bekwarra areas, Cross River State, Nigeria. Methods: The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consisted of 93 parents/guardians of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The sample include all 93 parents/guardians of identified children with ASD in the study area. Social Skill Rating form of TRIAD was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by two experts, one in Research, Measurement and Evaluation Unit and the other in the Department of Special Education University of Calabar. The reliability of the instruments was determined using the test-retest method. Descriptive statistics of frequency count was used to analysed the responses from the participants. Results: Findings revealed that parental education significantly influences the development of social skills in children with ASD, parental income substantially influences the social skills development of children with ASD in the study area and family size exerts a dual influence, providing both opportunities and constraints in the social skills development of children with ASD. Recommendations: Future research should explore the specific mechanisms through which income influences social skills, such as access to therapies, parental stress levels, and educational quality.