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The COVID-19 pandemic kick-started a new paradigm shift in the way and manner teaching and learning takes place on the global scale due to the lockdown that succeeded in shutting down school activities. As a result, most institutions turned to technology supported e-learning as against the traditional face-to-face teaching and learning in order to cover for lost time. This study therefore tested the effectiveness of game-based learning on students' performance in educational technology. Using a simple repeated measures design, 24 students participated in this study. Using an Educational Technology Achievement Test (ETAT), which was validated and pilot-tested to obtain data, the students were given two separate pre-tests before the commencement of the treatment as well as two different post-tests after the treatment. Data were computed using a mixed design repeated-measures ANOVA. Findings revealed that game-based learning significantly improved students' performance to a large extent (F[subscript (3, 69)] = 170.960; p < 0.05) with an effect size ([partial eta-squared]) of 0.881. The study has some implications for Nigerian teachers and researchers in Educational Technology and Science-related fields on the need to incorporate game-based learning given that it has what it takes to improve students' performance.

Due to rapid technological advancement that continues to permeate almost all facets of the education sector, video learning has been explored to enhance performance, but most researchers do not incorporate flipped classroom in mathematical videos, which affects the teaching and learning of the subject in Nigeria. This study checked the effectiveness of video learning in flipped and flipped collaborative classroom on mathematics students' achievement and retention. Using a randomized controlled trial with repeated measures approach, 70 senior secondary school students were purposively sampled from two private secondary schools in Gombe State, Nigeria, out of which they were randomly assigned into two experimental groups: video learning flipped classroom and video learning flipped collaborative classroom (VLFCC). Data was obtained using a 30-item mathematics achievement test, which was validated and pilot-tested (r=0.93). Results were computed using descriptive statistics and two-way mixed design repeated measures analysis of variance. Findings revealed that while the students' within subject performance improved tremendously in the post-test after the four-week treatment, the students in VLFCC performed better in both achievement (F[1, 69]=1,576.362, p=0.000, effect size of ([partial eta-squared]) of 0.954) and retention (F[[subscript 1, 69]]=114. 119, p=0.000, with an effect size ([partial eta-squared]) of 0.785. The finding has some implications for it exposes mathematics teachers, researchers, and policy makers to the credence of deploying video learning in flipped collaborative classroom to improve students' performance by engaging students in collaborative learning in addition to watching pre-class videos, where students discuss in small groups in order to learn through observation, imitation, repetition and behavior modeling, thus making them to learn at their pace in order to construct their own knowledge.

This study examined the level of lecturers' awareness and the extent of usage of open educational resources (OERs) for teaching and learning in Nigerian universities. A descriptive research design was adopted for the study. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select two (2) universities (both federal and state-owned) that are running open and distance learning programmes in each of the six (6) geographical zones of Nigeria; and to select a total of one thousand four hundred and eighty-five (1,485) respondents. To guide the study, three research questions were raised and three hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The main structured research questionnaire used in the study was titled: "Lecturer's Use of OERs Questionnaire" (LUOER; r=0.78). Data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation and inferential statistics of ANOVA. The findings revealed that lecturers were aware ([pi] = 3.06; SD = 0.72) and ready to use ([pi] = 2.80; SD = 0.80) OERs for education with ranges of identified challenges. Findings also revealed significant institutional affiliation differences in the extent of lecturers' awareness (F[subscript (11,1484)] = 61.71; p = 0.00 < 0.05), readiness (F[subscript (11,1484)] = 32.90; p = 0.00 < 0.05) and perceived challenges (F[subscript ](11,1484) = 12.12; p = 0.00 < 0.05) towards the utilisation of OER for education. Implications to meeting the global challenges were discussed. It was recommended among others that the ministries of education should sponsor periodic workshops and seminars to sensitize lecturers more on the availability and utilization of OER facilities for teaching-learning process.

This study focused on addressing underperformance in chemistry in Anglophone West African countries. The main purpose of the study was to determine if factors such as gender, school location and ownership impact students' perception of the difficulty of chemistry concepts and to suggest how these difficult concepts can be made easy to learn from the perspectives of the students. A mixed-methods approach was adopted. Participants were 1,292 chemistry students from nine public and 12 private secondary schools in Nigeria and Ghana with about three-quarters of the schools from urban areas. About 51% of the participants were females. Twenty-four students were interviewed to gather qualitative data. The Difficult Concept in Chemistry Questionnaire (DCCQ) and the Difficult Concepts in Chemistry Interview Guide (DCCIG) were used for data collection. The test-retest reliability coefficient of the DCCQ was 0.88. We found a slight difference in the perception of male and female students while school type came as a major determinant factor on students' perception of difficult concepts in chemistry, just as school location. Phobia for calculations came out as a major cause of difficulty in the top five perceived difficult concepts. Findings on causes of learning difficulties were reported as well as suggestions for improvement as viewed by the students. Recommendations were made for improving the teaching and learning of chemistry in Anglophone West African schools.

Most educators' inability to provide learning contents that suit different learning styles has caused a lot of problems in terms of performance. Thus, to cater to students' preferences in terms of access to learning contents, the distance learning regulatory body in Nigeria emphasized that course materials should be developed in mixed-media formats. This study was carried out to compare the effects of printed, video, and Moodle-based courseware on educational technology students' achievement, retention, and satisfaction in a distance learning course. A quasi-experimental design was employed for the study involving 108 participants from three experimental groups. The learning content and instruments, subjected to validation and reliability tests, where values of 0.78 and 0.86 were obtained using the Pearson product moment correlation and Cronbach's alpha for achievement and satisfaction inventory, respectively, were administered within a four-week period. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings indicated that the printed, video, and Moodle-based courseware formats improved students' achievement with mean gain scores of 47.92, 40.89, and 43.03, respectively. A significant difference was observed in the achievement (F [subscript (2,104)] = 8.67, p < 0.05), retention (F [subscript (2,104)] = 29.406, p < 0.05), and satisfaction scores (F [subscript (2,104)] = 5.662, p < 0.05) of the three groups. Open and distance learning administrators in Nigeria are recommended to produce and deploy printed, video, and Moodle-based formats of courseware to meet different students' learning preferences.

This article examined the repositioning of science and technology education for security and economic growth and development in Nigeria. The wreck on the nation's image by the incidences of insurgency has caused negative effects on the nation's security and economic development. Security issues are presently major challenges in Nigeria, especially in Northern Nigeria. Furthermore, the continuous rise in insecurity and deterioration in the economic development in Nigeria has called for concern among researchers and policymakers over the years. This article highlights the need for rebranding Nigerians through the internal process of repositioning the science and technology education system for national security and economic sustainability. Literature and other research papers using to gather information. The paper recommends that the nation adopt a proactive approach to improving the teaching and learning of science and technology education professionally and empowering youth while taking everlasting measures to curtail the issues of insurgencies in Nigeria. In other words, we need to reposition our youth's mental reasoning and economically empower them to certify the demands of the modern world. Repositioning Nigerian is one of the fruitful tools to achieve this objective, and rebranding directs the power and energy of Nigerians toward academic and productive goals.

Lack of proper laboratories and inadequate facilities have become some of the factors affecting chemistry practical in Nigeria which therefore affects students' performance. While there were many studies conducted on the effectiveness of mobile learning, literature remains very scarce in the Nigerian context. In order to tackle this problem, using Analysis, Design, Develop, Implementation and Evaluation (ADDIE) instructional design model, the researchers developed and tested the effectiveness of mobile learning towards improving college of education pre-service teachers' achievement in practical chemistry. The study adopted the use of repeated measures design whereby 50 pre-service teachers were purposively used in the study. A 40-item Practical Chemistry Achievement Test (PCAT) which was subjected to expert validation and reliability test was used to obtain data for the study. A normality test was conducted using Kolmogorov--Smirnov test and it was revealed that the data were normally distributed (P > 0.05). The students were given two pre-test and post-measures before and after the 8-week treatment period. The data were analyzed using mixed design repeated measures analysis of variance and we found that students' performance improved periodically with each testing period (F (3,147) = 109.475, P = 0.000 with an effect size of ([partial eta-squared]) = 0.916) after the treatment. The finding also revealed no significant differences in the performance of the students on the basis of gender that (F (3,144) = 2.051, P = 0.109) with an effect size of ([partial eta-squared]) 0.21. This finding has some implications for lecturers, researchers and policy experts on the need to incorporate mobile learning in education. This finding provides insights on the effectiveness of mobile learning towards enhancing students' chemistry practical knowledge.

Purpose: Drawing on the job demands-resources (JD-R) model, the authors examine how working in the hybrid workplace model (telework and flexible work) affects job performance via the intervening role of work engagement. Design/methodology/approach: The authors adopted a quantitative approach and collected data from 277 employees working in universities in Nigeria. Partial least square structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data and test the hypotheses. Findings: The findings reveal that flexible work, not telework, has a significant and positive effect on job performance. It also emerges that flexible work positively affects work engagement, and work engagement significantly mediates the relationship between flexible work and job performance. However, the findings do not support the effect of telework on work engagement and the mediating role of work engagement in the proposed relation between telework and job performance. Originality/value: The paper provides fresh insights by linking the components of the hybrid workplace model with job performance and employee work engagement and extending the JD-R model to the hybrid workplace setting. The practitioners can benefit from the findings of this study by factoring in the importance of the hybrid workplace model in designing policies and procedures to promote job performance.

The study focuses on assessing the proficiency levels of higher education students, specifically the physics achievement test (PHY 101) at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). This test, like others, evaluates various aspects of knowledge and skills simultaneously. However, relying on traditional models for such tests can result in inaccurate interpretations of students' abilities. The research highlights the importance of exploring the multidimensional nature of the PHY 101 test to improve its accuracy in measuring student proficiency and enhance education and assessment quality at NOUN. Using an ex-post facto research design, the study analyzed 978 responses from NOUN's Directorate of Examination and Assessment. Through confirmatory and exploratory DETECT techniques, the study found strong evidence supporting the test's multidimensionality. Three distinct dimensions emerged: cognitive processing, reading ability, and problem-solving skills. A parsimonious multidimensional three-parameter logistic model was used to calibrate the test items, providing valuable insights into item difficulty, discrimination, and resistance to chance influences. While the study primarily focuses on the psychometric aspects of the PHY 101 test, it is important to consider its broader impact on the educational community. The research contributes to educational assessment by emphasizing the significance of recognizing and addressing the multidimensional nature of higher education tests. This approach can result in more accurate assessments of students' abilities, ultimately improving education quality and fairness. The findings confirm the multidimensional nature of the PHY 101 test and identify three distinct dimensions, aligning with the study's objective. These insights are relevant to educators and test developers, highlighting the need for a multidimensional approach to effectively assess and enhance student proficiency. For researchers interested in similar studies, it is recommended to explore the broader influence of multidimensional models in educational assessment. Investigating their impact on teaching methods, curriculum development, and student learning experiences can provide valuable insights. Longitudinal studies assessing the long-term effects of multidimensional assessment on student outcomes and success are also recommended.

Mathematics anxiety is the feeling of tension and fear which interferes with the manipulation of numbers in ordinary life and academic setting. This study aimed at exploring students' level of mathematics anxiety and teacher behavior and speech which intensifies and minimizes mathematics anxiety among secondary schools in Sokoto state, Nigeria. In total, 109 questionnaires regarding mathematics anxiety named the cognitive, emotion, physical-mathematics anxiety rating (CEP-MAR) were distributed to students and 102 were returned. From the responses in the questionnaire, 20 of the most mathematics anxious individuals were selected to participate in a photovoice project. These 20 students were given cameras and asked to capture classroom events, which impact on their mathematics anxiety. Afterwards, a one-to-one semi-structured interview was conducted with each student to discuss the photos. The findings disclosed that teachers' behavior and speech such as being too quick in mathematics classroom lessons, giving too many notes, exercises, punishments and embarrassing/alarming statements have a significant effect in intensifying mathematics anxiety. The findings also showcased that quiz/competitions, good learning environment, intrinsic and extrinsic motivational statements help in minimizing mathematics anxiety. This study provides further evidence that teachers have both positive and negative effect on students' mathematics anxiety.

Over the years, developing countries have experienced tremendous growth in access to information and communication technology (ICT). This growth in access to ICT has brought about massive changes in many sectors within the society, including education. Researchers explored teacher educators' attitudes and use of instructional and web-based technologies in teacher preparation programs. Researchers used Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in this study. Using a mixed-method design, researchers examined the relationships between educators' attitudes and the use of technology. Findings from descriptive statistics have shown that educators exhibited overall positive attitudes toward technology. Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient revealed relationship exists between perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Both quantitative and qualitative findings in this study have implications for educators and administrators in Nigerian education, especially, teacher preparation programs.

Education has been one of the worst-hit sectors of the economy since the detection of the first index case of COVID-19 in Nigeria on February 27, 2020. Like many affected countries of the world, the Federal government of Nigeria has taken several necessary precautionary measures to curtail the spread of the disease. This has led to the suspension of all educational activities especially in-class teaching and learning processes. This paper studied the state of education in Nigeria and the effort of government towards continuous education in comparison to the measures put in place by other developing countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper equally reviewed five different available and popular online learning platforms that can be implemented by the government to provide start-up educational programs that would help to keep students on course by learning remotely from home throughout the period of COVID-19 pandemic. These include Distance Learning, Social media, Virtual Classroom, M-Learning, and Flipped classroom. Implementation of these online forms of education will successfully offer alternatives and ensure continuous education presently and in the future. The recommendations of this study would be useful even for other developing countries that are yet to discover any alternative to the disrupted in-class learning activities so that their students will start to learn from home.

Science education is believed to be a vital tool for individual and societal development at large. The persistent low levels of students' achievement in sciences at the various public examinations in Nigeria have continued to draw the attention of major stakeholders in education. This study examined academic achievement of Senior Secondary School students in biology and gender difference in students' achievement was examined. Ex-post facto design of descriptive research was adopted for the study. A proforma was used to collect data from a sample of two hundred (200) students, selected using stratified random sampling procedure from the Science secondary schools in Kano state Nigeria. The data collected were the students' performances in biology achievement tests. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and independent-sample t-test. Overall results showed that the test internal consistency reliability is low and unsatisfactory; the students performed below average (M=47.02, SD=16.493 (47%). Similarly, gender difference exists in biology performance with another significant difference between performance of urban and rural school students. The study concludes that, biology test used in Kano state qualifying examinations to assess students potential ability in biology is not a reliable measurement tool and that, academic performance of students in biology is unsatisfactory and evidence of differential performance between gender and schools locations. The implication for measurements and evaluation of learning as well as recommendations has been discussed.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of social and emotional learning approach on student social-emotional competence. A quasi-experimental pre-test post-test non-equivalent design conducted with 207 Junior Secondary School students enrolled in form 3. The students divided into two groups: an experimental and a control group. The experimental group was taught through social-emotional learning approach, while the control group taught via traditional teaching approach. The development of social-emotional competence measured through a questionnaire at the beginning and the end of the classes. The results obtained from the analysis of covariance revealed that students in social and emotional learning approach classroom had positively demonstrated significant social-emotional competence compared to students in the traditional teaching approach group. Therefore, the utilized (social and emotional learning- RULER) has provided substantial procedures on how students can integrate and apply RULER's strategies in enhancing their social emotional competence. The implication for introducing social and emotional learning approach into teaching and learning was discussed.

The e-learning platform provides a new teaching-learning channel in which instructors provide information to learners irrespective of method used to access the platform. The purpose of this study is to examine instructors' acceptance of e-learning in Nigerian universities. The study adopted a quantitative approach, with a total of 299 questionnaires collected from instructors. The result was analyzed using PLS-SEM. The study results indicate the factors affecting instructors' adoption of e-learning platforms and the subsequent impact on instructors' behavioral intention, and consequently, an impact on the acceptance of the e-learning platform in Nigeria. Based on the study, self-efficacy, educational quality, and ease of use, perceive usefulness, and behavioral intention were found to be predictors for instructors' acceptance of the e-learning platform in Nigeria. Also, the results drawn from the study revealed that there are individual challenges that come from the use of the e-learning platform. We discussed both theoretical and educational implications.

The study investigates the washback effect of WAEC [West African Examination Council]/SSCE [Senior Secondary Certificate Examination] English Test of Orals on Teachers Methodology. The method used in this research is a mixed method employing survey and case study strategies. Questionnaire and semi-structured interview were used to collect data. 32 out of the 41 teachers of English taking senior secondary school classes in Sokoto metropolis were sampled to respond to the questionnaire and the selection of participants was done using random sampling method. 5 teachers of English outside the sampled population were purposively selected to participate in the interview. The data from the questionnaire was analyzed quantitatively using frequencies, simple percentages and mean ranking while the data from the interview was analyzed qualitatively. The findings were presented sequentially, quantitative followed by qualitative. The result obtained from the study revealed that examination related factors affect the teachers in their choice and use of methodology the more. Teachers follow the format of the test and skip other content in the curriculum that did not feature in the test. The research concludes that the practice constitutes negative washback on teaching methodology and that examination bodies must improve on their testing system for the attainment of the envisaged positive washback.

Purpose: This study analysed text mining from full-text articles and abstracts by postgraduate students in selected Nigeria universities. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a survey research design using a questionnaire as the instrument for data collection from 357 postgraduate students drawn using Raosoft sample size calculator. Six research questions were developed and answered. Finding: The findings demonstrate that postgraduate students mined texts from full texts articles mostly to write a dissertation, for personal academic development and to prepare research seminars. It also revealed that postgraduate students mined texts from abstracts majorly to write dissertations and prepare for research seminars; postgraduate students mined texts using information extraction technique, information retrieval technique, and summarization. The texts are mined mostly form PDF format, followed by Microsoft word format and HTML format (Web pages). Postgraduate students prefer mining texts from full-text articles than from abstracts and the sources postgraduate students mostly mine text is through the World Wide Web, followed by library databases. Research limitations/implications: The current study only used a questionnaire, a self-reported survey to collect data from the respondents of the study. Including other data collection instruments such as interviews would provide a holistic view of the data mining scenario from both the full-text articles and abstracts among the postgraduate students in Nigerian universities and this would make the generalisation of the study findings easier and more worthwhile. Originality/value: Research on data mining either from full-text articles or abstracts were predominantly conducted in Advance countries. This study seems to be one of the pioneer studies in this area in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. It is the original idea by the author; and it is assumed that understanding the nature and context-related information in data mining by the postgraduate students is an original idea.

This study investigated Undergraduates' Attitude towards the utilization of OER [Open Educational Resources] among Undergraduates and the influence of gender and area of specialization on their attitude towards the use. The study adopted a descriptive method of the quantitative research. 3 research questions were developed and answered. 398 respondents were randomly sampled from 3 purposively selected area of specializations. Frequency counts, percentage, rank order and mean were used to answer research questions 1 to 3. The findings of the study were: Undergraduates have a positive attitude towards utilization of OER for learning; There was difference between male and female undergraduates' attitude towards the utilization of OER for learning in favor of male undergraduates; and There were no significance differences among undergraduates based on Area of Specialization. The study concluded that students have a positive attitude towards use of OER for learning. The research recommends that institutions should endeavor to create their own OERs where students can access anytime and anywhere.

This study described the implementation procedure (step-by-step) of the culturo-techno-contextual approach (CTCA) in the classroom with concrete curricular examples for each step. The study then proceeded to explore the potency of CTCA on nuclear chemistry, a traditionally perceived difficult concept among secondary school students in Nigeria, as obtained from the survey phase of the study. Using a quasi-experimental research design, we had a total of 221 senior secondary school two (SS2, the equivalent of grade 11) students from two schools in educational district V of Lagos State, Nigeria, who participated in the experimental phase of the study. After the pretest exercise for both the experimental and comparison groups, we had a four-week treatment where the experimental group was taught with CTCA, and the comparison group was taught with the conventional lecture method. Four weeks after the posttest, a retention test was conducted for both groups using the same Nuclear Chemistry Achievement Test instrument used for the pre- and posttests. Data collected were analyzed using ANCOVA, and the results obtained showed a statistically significant mean difference between the groups [F(1, 218) = 84.12; p < 0.05], indicating that CTCA improved students' performance in nuclear chemistry. We also found no statistically significant difference in the achievement of male and female students in the experimental group. Within the limitations of the study, we concluded that CTCA is a viable culturally relevant tool for teaching chemistry concepts. The future directions of the study were also highlighted.

This study surveys the causes of massive failure in Senior School Certificate Examination. (SSCE). It investigates the causes of students' massive failure in English language in 47 Secondary Schools in Yobe state. It seeks to find out the major elements that bring about persistent and consistent setback to students' success in their final year of examination. The study uses mixed methods as a means of data collection which include both qualitative and quantitative sets of data. The study was conducted for a period of seven months. Where some selected secondary schools were visited to administer questionnaires in Zamfara, Edo and Abia States. The findings of the study revealed that among other things, lack of qualified language teachers, poor state of infrastructure, curricular, and students' attitudes toward learning generally are the main causes of heavy failure in Yobe State. The study finally suggests that the government should set up very strong supervisory team that will look after truant teachers.

Purpose: University placement test is an important admission policy priority in Nigeria, because it serves as a university-based selection criterion for placement of students into undergraduate programs in Nigeria. Although recently attention have been shifted on the call to develop a standard content and standardize the test, yet attention has not been paid on the development of standard setting in which the decisions to select or reject the applicants are made. This study; therefore, investigated the application Rasch-based Objective Standard Setting (OSS) to establish the standards in a university placement test. Methods: To demonstrate the application of OSS, 9 judges were employed for the conduct of standard ratings; the data used for Rasch calibration with WINSTEP were the responses of 600 students on the 60 items validated Economics Placement Test (EPT). Findings: The experts' ratings and Rasch generated logits (item difficulties) were used in quantifying the set of essential items selected. Results of OSS produced the cut-scores of [less than] -0.62 into Basic, -0.62 logits into Proficient and 0.02 logits for Advanced performance levels. The examinees in these categories were, 39% at Basic, 32% at Proficient and 29% at Advanced performance levels. Implications for Research and Practice: The results of this OSS provide performance levels with a clear content related description to informed decision on students' mastery of the content in EPT. It is recommended that, results from the OSS should be compared with other existing IRT-based methods in similar study to ascertain its external validity.

In the last decade, evidence in the science education literature seems to suggest that studentcentered classroom interaction appears to have effect over and above teacher-centered interaction in enhancing learning outcomes in various science subjects especially in Physics. Based on this premise, this paper examined the effects of teacher-centered and student-centered interaction practices on students' achievement and attitude in dynamics, an aspect of Physics considered abstract at the secondary school level. This study employed both the quasi-experimental and observational survey designs. From a sample of four comparable schools in Kogi East Local Government Areas of Kogi State, Nigeria, 139 physics students from intact classes and seven teachers (4 who did the teaching and 3 others who observed in all classes) were involved in the study. Three instruments developed were used for data collection. These are Teacher-Student Classroom Observation Schedule (TSCOS), Students' Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ), and Physics Achievement Test (PAT) with reliability indices of 0.68, 0.86 and 0.79 respectively. The data generated from the use of the instruments were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while the ANCOVA statistic was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 a-level. Results revealed that the difference between the mean performances and mean attitude of students exposed to the two types of interactions were statistically significant. Gender differences in mean performance and attitude scores were not significant. It was recommended that student-centered classroom interaction strategy should be advocated for use. Implications were drawn for teacher skills acquisition.

The study examined the effects of Performance Appraisal on Employee Productivity in Federal Ministry of Education Headquarters Abuja. The study used survey research design. The population of the study consists of 1797 employees of Federal Ministry of Education Headquarters Abuja. The sample size of the study was 400 respondents and was determined using Taro Yamane formula. Data for the study was collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and OLS analysis. Results from the findings revealed that the coefficients of appraisal performance and employee feedback had positive and significant effect on employee productivity for the period under study. The coefficients of employee training and employee compensation had positive but insignificant effect on employee productivity for the period under study. The coefficient of multiple determination R2 value of 0.687 percent implied that 68 percent total variation in employee productivity was explained by performance appraisal, employee feedback, employee training and employee compensation. The study recommends that multiple appraisal method should be introduced to further encourage objectivity and eliminate biasedness in the appraisal of workers in the Ministry.

This paper explores the possibilities of using mobile technology in the teaching and learning of the English language. A sample of 50 Sandwich students/teachers of the English language was drawn through a multi-stage sampling technique. The instrument used to collect data for this study is a ten-item questionnaire on integrating mobile phones in the teaching and learning of English. This instrument was validated by two language experts in the Department of English and Literary Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Data collected for this study were analysed using the percentage system represented in line charts. The results showed that mobile phones are instrumental in teaching and learning of English in classrooms. The paper concludes that M-learning promotes cooperative and collaborative learning through the enhancement of learner's use of authentic English language that would make it possible for them to construct their own knowledge. Based on the results of this research, the researchers recommend that mobile phone can be integrated in teaching and learning of English as a Second Language

This study investigated the influence of social media on psychosocial behaviour and academic performance of secondary school students. It was conducted in Batagarawa Local Government, Katsina State, Nigeria. Two research hypotheses were formulated for the study, and descriptive survey research design was employed. The target population consists of four secondary schools purposively selected out of the seven public schools and 306 SSII students were randomly selected for the study. Researcher-made validated questionnaire and academic performance test in English Language was used for data collection. Collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation. Null hypotheses were subjected to t-test of independent samples. The study found among others that, social media usage has negative influence on psychosocial behaviour and academic performance. It therefore recommended that parents, teachers, and educational psychologists should pay more attention to their students' attitude on these platforms and also educate them on time management as not to waste too much of their time chatting, they should concentrate on their studies.

There have been few studies on topic difficulty in the public administration curriculum of African universities. This is further problematized by non-existent literature on the relationships between gender, future career interest and country of study on student difficulty in the study of public administration. This is a gap in the public administration literature which this study attempts to fill. The work is significant to the extent that our understanding of 'where the shirt tights' regarding topics that students find difficult will guide teachers and other stakeholders in applying appropriate remedies. The purpose of the study is to find out (a) what topics in public administration students find difficult to learn; (b) if there are statistically significant relationship between gender and concept difficulty in the study of public administration in African universities; (c) if there are statistically significant relationship between student's career interest and concept difficulty in the study of public administration; and (d) if there are statistically significant relationship between country of study and concept difficulty in the study of public administration. Quantitative method was employed with sample (N = 650). The study reports bureaucracy, decentralization, public policy and politics as moderately difficult; significant relationship between gender and concept difficulty; and significant relationship between student future career interest and concept difficulty. We suggest curriculum development that would improve students' knowledge by laying more emphasis on the perceived difficult areas in the study of public administration, gender, and encourage early students' interest in public sector career choices.

Background: Sickle Cell disease (SCD) is known to be caused by a mutation in the beta-globin gene of the hemoglobin that affects the red blood cells (RBCs) and is passed down through generations. This study was carried out to determine the effect of sickling of RBC on serum protein profile in SCD individuals. Methods: A case-controlled study was carried out among 80 patients. They were forty-five sickle cell disease individuals (HbSS) attending Children Specialist Hospital Ilorin and thirty-five healthy controls (HbAA). The levels of total protein and albumin were determined spectrophotometrically and serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) was carried out using cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Results: Significant hypoalbuminemia and hypergammaglobulinemia were observed in SCD groups compared with controls. A higher proportion of the SCD group, 11(25%) had hypergammaglobulinemia and 21(49%) had hypoalbuminemia (P<0.05). Plasma protein electrophoresis in SCD patients shows an intense colour at the gamma region which was not seen in control. There was a significant relationship between the patterns of serum protein electrophoresis and the frequency of crisis. Conclusions: Sickle cell disease crisis and other associated underlying conditions may be prevented early through assessment of serum protein profile, especially SPE. Hypergammaglobulinemia and hypoalbuminemia may be associated with frequent episode of crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the attitude of academic community towards physically challenged students in the University of Maiduguri as it affect the financing of inclusive education for sustainable development in Nigeria. Four objectives, two research questions and two hypotheses were set and tested for the study. Descriptive survey was adopted as a design while the population comprised 987 academic staff and 89 administrators. Using Stratified and random techniques, 20% of the population were sampled as respondents for the study. Questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The reliability index of the instrument stood at 0.85. Checklist was also used to verify the availability of physical facility in the University of Maiduguri. Frequency counts and percentage were used in answering research questions while Chi-square was used to determine difference between the attitude of male and female, lecturers and administrators towards the physically challenged students in the University of Maiduguri. The results of the analysis showed that there was no significance difference between gender of administrators and lecturers and their attitude towards the physically challenged students. The study also revealed that there was minimal discrimination of physically challenged by both lecturers and administrators in the University of Maiduguri with 35% and 27% respectively, lecturers and administrators support the welfare of physically challenged in the University of Maiduguri. Based on the result of this study, the researchers recommended among others that the management of the University of Maiduguri should ensure the provision of appropriate facilities for all the categories of physically challenged students to encourage inclusive education; architectural planner should consider physically challenged students in classrooms buildings, offices and hostel accommodations for easy utilization, integration and inclusive education that could lead to sustainable development in Nigeria.

Background: Expanding access to equitable health insurance is an important lever towards the overall strategy for achieving universal health coverage. In Nigeria, health insurance coverage is low with a renewed government action on increasing access to and coverage of high-quality healthcare services to citizens, particularly for the vulnerable and poor population. Therefore, our study co-creates the priorities for expanding health insurance in Nigeria, focusing on key policy reforms, public advocacy, and innovative financing strategies to ensure broader and more equitable coverage for the population. Methodology: We employed a Delphi approach methodology through strategic health insurance meetings with a diverse multidisciplinary panel of 125 stakeholders including representatives of accredited Health Insurance Maintenance Organizations, Heads of States Social Health Insurance Agencies, Development Partners representatives, academics, government officials, national health insurance authority expanded management team and experts in health insurance across all the states of Nigeria to recommend specific actions towards health insurance expansion and universal health coverage in Nigeria. Results: The participants/panels were able to come up with a consensus on 66 priorities for health insurance expansion in Nigeria working with stakeholders within the Nigerian health insurance ecosystem across the 36 states and Nigeria's FCT. From these priorities, seven priority areas and 17 themes were derived that should be considered by the government, policymakers, regulators, and practitioners to deepen health insurance penetration in Nigeria. These seven priority areas that have been identified include enrolment, equity, organizational health and structure, data and technology, quality, market efficiency, and citizen engagement. Conclusion: The priorities identified for health insurance expansion in Nigeria will go a long way in shaping health insurance. We hope that government, policymakers, regulators, and practitioners in the health ecosystem will use these social policy actions to set priorities for increasing health insurance coverage and address inadequacies to accelerate the drive towards the attainment of UHC by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nigeria is one of the most populated countries in West Africa and is in seventh position globally. The issue of terrorism has become a common problem in Nigeria, and the government has been applying local strategies to address the situation but has yet to produce good results. The challenges necessitate the effort in this paper to develop a new deterministic model to curb terrorism and insurgency through technology intelligence in Nigeria. This analysis indicates that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and the transmission rate per capita are the most sensitive parameters. Also pictured from the graphs in Figures 2, 3, and 4 were drones used to reduce the number of informants of both the terrorist and kidnapper individuals in Nigeria. Finally, this paper recommended the model adopted for controlling terrorism in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigated food security status among vegetable women producers in North West, Nigeria. Primary data were used based on a well-organized questionnaire. The data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, Tobit regression model, food security index, and principal component model. The outcome shows that averagely the age, household size, and farm size approximates 48 years, 9, and 0.75 ha respectively. A household is regarded as food secure if it achieves at least 2 3 of the MPCFE (Mean per Capital Consumption Food Expenditure) per month. Therefore, the vegetable women producers that spent at least N 2,125.51 (1USD =N 1,040) on food per month were grouped as food secure, and those that spent less than this figure were grouped as food insecure. This denotes that the vegetable women producer to be regarded as food secure will spend above N 70.85 on food per day. Based on the headcount ratio, about 54% of vegetable women producers had their per capital food expenditure equal or above N 2,125.51, while 46% of them had their per capital food expenditure below N 2,125.51. The educational level, age, household size, income from vegetable farming off farm income and access to credit were different significantly from zero in deciding the food security status of vegetable women producers. The major challenges faced by vegetable women producers include lack of improved seeds (1st), lack of credit (2nd), and lack of access to land (3rd). Credit should be made available at single digit interest rate to enhance productivity, and increase food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the economics of resource utilisation efficiency and constraints related to maize production in North West Nigeria. Primary data were collected through well-designed questionnaires administered to 120 proportionally selected maize producers. The researchers analysed the data using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicate that the average age, farming experience, and educational level of the producers are approximately 46 years, 9 years, and 11 years, respectively. Additionally, about 15% of the producers are female and 25% are not members of any cooperatives. The analysis found that land, agrochemicals, labour, fertiliser, and seed are significant factors influencing maize output, as they were statistically different from zero. The first-order derivatives, or partial elasticities of production, serve as measures of resource productivity, with land showing the highest elasticities at approximately 0.29, and agrochemicals the lowest at 0.10. The sum of the partial elasticities, referred to as scale efficiency, is approximately 0.90, indicating decreasing returns to scale. The resource utilisation efficiency analysis of maize producers indicates that land, agrochemicals, labour, fertilisers, and seeds are under-utilised, as the ratio of marginal value product (MVP) to marginal factor cost (MFC) for each resource is greater than one. The major challenges faced by maize producers are lack of access to land (1st), high fertiliser costs (2nd), and insufficient farm technologies (3rd). To address these challenges, it is recommended that land policies should be formulated to facilitate easier access to land for both male and female farmers, thereby enhancing efficiency and productivity. Additionally, improved seeds, fertilisers, and agrochemicals should be made available to producers at affordable prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microfinance has emerged as a vital tool for promoting inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. This study investigated the impact of microfinance interventions on economic development in Nigeria and focused on their contributions to poverty alleviation, financial inclusion, and overall economic growth. Employing quantitative methods and drawing on a comprehensive literature review, the study examines microfinance development indicators, such as loan disbursements and the number of microfinance institutions, about the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate. The Fully Modified Least Squares (FMOLS) estimation conducted for the period 2003 to 2022, with 20 observations, revealed significant positive relationships between microfinance development indicators and the GDP growth rate in Nigeria. Specifically, the coefficients for Microfinance Loan Disbursements (MFLD) and the Number of Microfinance Institutions per Capita (NMFI) were both statistically significant, with estimates of 0.804184 and 4.091506, respectively. The results revealed significant positive relationships between these microfinance indicators and GDP growth rate, indicating the substantial impact of microfinance interventions on economic development. Based on these findings, several recommendations are proposed to enhance the effectiveness and inclusiveness of microfinance interventions in Nigeria. These recommendations include improving microfinance accessibility in rural areas, providing capacity-building programs for practitioners and borrowers, strengthening regulatory frameworks for transparency and stability, implementing supportive policies for sector growth, conducting further research and impact evaluations, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders for knowledge sharing and innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lassa fever (LF) is a viral hemorrhagic illness endemic in Nigeria and other West African countries. In recent years, the number of reported cases of LF in Nigeria has increased. In this study, we discussed the epidemiology of LF, the phylogenomics of the LF virus, issues associated with the increased cases of LF, and recommendations for tackling the future occurrence of LF in Nigeria. Methods: Epidemiology data on LF were obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control database and analyzed using Microsoft Excel software. About 59 partial and complete sequences consisting of both small and large segments of the LF virus were retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Information from 1969 to 2013 to study the evolutionary relationship of the LF virus in Nigeria. Results: Nigeria has been shown to have the highest prevalence of Lassa fever among African countries, with seasonal occurrence in both wet and dry seasons. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis of the LF virus showed a great relationship with several outbreaks of LF in Nigeria and other African countries. Conclusion: To combat the increasing cases of LF in Nigeria, there is a need to increase the molecular diagnosis capacity in Nigeria, improve public health awareness about the disease in rural and urban settlements, integrate a surveillance system through the One Health lens, and support LF vaccine research in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Niger is a large country with many distant locations that can be difficult to access because the Sahara Desert covers 80% of the country's land. In Niger, just 49% of residents have access to a health centre within 5 km of their house. Health care may be difficult to access in the Diffa region of Niger, as non-state armed groups strike on a regular basis and floods cause a high rate of vulnerability. This study looked at how mobile clinics can improve healthcare accessibility for vulnerable populations in the Diffa region. Methods: This was a descriptive-comparative study conducted over the period from 15 August 2022 to 15 October 2022, using three months' mobile outreach clinic to improve health outcomes in five districts of the Diffa region, including Bosso, Diffa, Goudoumaria, Mainé Soroa, and N'guigmi. Results: During the three months of mobile outreach clinic, 42,251 people were sensitized about mobile outreaches and 12,004 were treated. A total of 18,708 vaccine doses were delivered to children aged 0–11 months, with Maine Soroa, Goudoumaria, Bosso, Diffa, and N'guigmi districts accounting for 29.24%, 24.62%, 18.54%, 18.05%, and 9.5%, respectively. In the same line, Goudoumaria, Bosso, and Maine Soroa districts recorded relatively high antenatal clinic (ANC) attendance percentages of 27.85%, 25.62%, and 21.89%, respectively. Furthermore, mobile clinic outreach provided a variety of healthcare treatments, both curative and preventative. Mobile Clinic 2 increased vaccine dose received among children aged 0–11 months by 1.11% (95%CI: 0.15%-2.06%, P = 0.023) when compared to Mobile Clinic 1. In the same line, mobile clinic showed a statistically significant increase of ANC between the three clinical rotations (P = 0001), showing an increased ANC update over time. Conclusion: This study found that mobile outreach clinic can play an important role in improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations in the Diffa region. However, well-designed, and frequent mobile clinic outreach should be planned and included in the country's public health policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research on breast cancer risk factors and mortality is gaining recognition and attention globally; there is need to add more information on its determinants among patients admitted in hospital. Some studies on risk factors and mortality of breast cancer in Nigeria hospitals conducted in the urban and suburban areas have been documented. Therefore, an addition of a study conducted in the setting of a rural health institution is necessary. This study assessed the risk factors and determinants of mortality among patients admitted for breast cancer in rural Southwestern Nigeria. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 260 patients who were admitted for breast cancer between January 2010 and December 2023 using a data form and a standardized information form. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. The risk factors and the determinants of mortality of patients with breast cancer were identified using multivariate regression model. Results: The breast cancer risk factors were old age, family history, tobacco smoking, combined oral contraceptives, and hormonal therapy use. The case fatality rate was 38.1%, and its determinants of mortality were patients who were older (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.956; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.341-4.333), obese (AOR, 2.635; 95% CI: 1.485-6.778), stage IV (AOR, 1.895; 95% CI: 1.146-8.9742), mastectomy (AOR, 2.512; 95% CI: 1.003-6.569), discontinued adjuvant chemotherapy (AOR, 1.785; 95% CI: 1.092-4.6311), and yet to commence adjuvant chemotherapy (AOR, 2.568; 95% CI: 1.367-5.002). Conclusion: The study revealed that patients with breast cancer were associated with high mortality. Sustained health education to promote early diagnosis, managed co-morbidities, and access to treatment may contribute to reduction in breast cancer mortality in rural Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Timely access to safe blood and blood components is still a challenge in Nigeria. This study aimed to determine blood donation practices, processing and utilization of blood components across government tertiary hospitals (THs) in Nigeria. Methods This was a descriptive cross-sectional study done in Nigeria in June–July 2020. Data were analysed with SPSS version 21.0. Results Data were collected from 50 THs. The majority (68%) of the THs lack facilities for blood component preparation and only 18% and 32% provide cryoprecipitate and platelet concentrate, respectively. Whole blood was most commonly requested (57.04%). All facilities tested blood for HIV, HBV and HCV, but the majority (23 [46%]) employed rapid screening tests alone and nucleic acid testing was not available in any hospitals. The manual method was the most common method of compatibility testing in 90% (45/50) and none of the THs routinely perform extended red cell typing. The average time to process routine, emergency and uncross-matched requests were a mean of 109.58±79.76 min (range 45.00–360.00), 41.62±25.23 (10.00–240.00) and 11.09±4.92 (2.00–20.00), respectively. Conclusion Facilities for blood component preparation were not widely available. Concerned government authorities should provide facilities for blood component preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective solid waste management is a critical environmental challenge, particularly in rapidly growing Global South countries like Nigeria. This issue is exacerbated by burgeoning populations, lax waste regulations, and the widespread practice of open dumping. The deterioration of soil quality and alteration of water quality are major consequences of open waste dumping, posing significant environmental and public health risks. This study aims to assess the environmental risk and pollution status of soil and water resources near major dumpsites in Lagos. It aims to offer insights that can inform targeted interventions and policy measures not only in Lagos but also in comparable urban settings worldwide. Results indicated that important soil parameters, including TN (11.89–13.83 mg/kg), pH (6.45–7.35), sulfate (36.71–39.49 mg/kg), phosphate (9.31–14.39 mg/kg), and electrical conductivity (342–566 µS/cm), were significantly affected by the dumpsites. Additionally, concentrations of heavy metals varied, with some exceeding permissible limits set by international standards, highlighting the environmental challenges posed by improper waste disposal in urban settings like Lagos. The analyzed parameters for water were mostly within acceptable limits, indicating a lesser impact of the waste dump on water resources. Water samples from boreholes and hand-dug wells near three dumpsites showed that pH, TDS, and heavy metal concentrations were mostly within WHO limits, with borehole water deemed safe for drinking and hand-dug wells suitable for cleaning. To alleviate the environmental impacts of open dumpsites, it is recommended to implement effective waste segregation, recycling programs, controlled landfilling, and investment in waste treatment technologies, along with regular water quality monitoring to prevent further pollution and protect public health. While these measures offer opportunities, they also face significant challenges due to financial and land constraints. Therefore, strong public awareness, infrastructure investment, and government commitment are essential, along with coordinated efforts among the government, private sector, and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish are good sources of protein however when they contain toxic metals, they can pose health risk to human beings. Percentage moisture and ash contents were determined using oven dry weight and furnace methods respectively. Also, the concentrations (mg/Kg) of Cd, Cr and Cu in the tissue of catfish, tilapia and croaker fish were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Estimated daily intake of Cd, Cr and Cu, hazard quotient, hazard index, and cancer risk were evaluated. The result showed 4.25±0.35 % (catfish), 5.25±0.45 % (tilapia fish) and 4.50±0.00 % (croaker fish) for moisture, 1.75±0.35 % (cat fish), 2.25±0.23 (tilapia fish) and 2.25±0.23 % (croaker fish) for ash content. The concentrations of Cd, Cr and Cu in the species of fish determined were above the threshold WHO/FAO (0.02 mg/kg) limit. The THQ for Cu was greater than 1 while Dc and Cr were less than 1. This indicates that the level of Cu in the species of fish determined will lead to a non-carcinogenic effect on consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to determine adolescents' perceptions of the psychological security of their schools environments and their relationship with their emotional development and academic performance in secondary schools in Gombe Metropolis. A sample of 239 (107 males and 133 females) secondary school students selected via stratified random sampling from four public and private secondary schools in Gombe Metropolis participated in the study. A self-develop questionnaire titled "Psychological Perspective of the Security of School Environment, Emotional Development Academic Performance of Adolescents Questionnaire" with a Cronbach Alpha reliability of (0.71) was used for the study. Simple Percentage and Multiple Regression were used to analyse the data. The findings reveal that adolescents perceived the psychological security of secondary schools environments as insecure; there are significant relationships between insecurity of school environment with emotional development and academic performance of adolescents. It is recommended that Government and school proprietors should fence all schools, school administrators should provide adequate security for teachers and students through good leadership and parents should train their children well.

Research has shown that technology, when used prudently, has the potential to improve instruction and learning both in and out of the classroom. Only a handful of African tertiary institutions have fully deployed learning management systems (LMS) and the literature is devoid of research examining the factors that foster the adoption of LMS. To fill this void, the present research investigates the factors contributing to students' acceptance of LMS. Survey data were obtained from registered students in four Nigerian universities (n = 1116); the responses were analyzed using artificial neural network (ANN) and structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques. The results show that social influence, facilitating conditions, system quality, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness are important predictors for students' behavioral intention to use LMS. Students' behavioral intention to use LMS also functions as a predictor for actual usage of LMS. Implications for practice and theory are discussed.

The study determined the relationship between principals' administrative styles and students' academic performance in Taraba State secondary schools, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to determine the relationships between initiative structure of leadership styles, consideration structure of leadership styles, participatory structure of leadership styles as they affect students academic performance. A null hypotheses was raised and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Correlation research was adopted as a design for the study., the population of the study comprised all the 4,300 teachers' and 10,750 students registered with Taraba State Teaching Service Board. Using stratified random sampling, 430 teachers representing 10% of the population were randomly selected from the 8 education zones spread across the state. Proforma was using in collecting academic performance record of the 10,750 secondary school students who graduated from 2009-2011. 30 Items Questionnaire was also used as the second instrument for data collection in this study. Using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, and Regression analysis, data were analysed, The results of the study revealed that there were no significant relationships between principals initiative administrative styles and students' academic performance in English language. The findings also revealed no significant relationships between consideration structure of principals' administrative styles and students' academic performance in English language. The findings further revealed no significant relationships between participatory administrative styles of principals' and student academic performance in senior secondary schools in English language for the year 2010, and in Mathematics 2010 and 2011 respectively. It further revealed that among the three leadership styles, none is the best predictor of students' academic performance in Taraba State secondary schools. Based on these findings, it was recommended among others that School administrators should explore ways and means of using varying administrative styles that could yields the much needed results of enhancing students' academic performance in Taraba State secondary schools.

The study determines the relationship between staff utilization and staff commitment in Borno State Colleges of Education, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to determine: the level of staff utilization in Borno State Colleges of Education, the level of staff commitment in Borno State Colleges of Education and the relationship between staff utilization and staff commitment in Borno State Colleges of Education. Two research questions were raised and answered as one hypothesis was tested. The study adopted correlation research design. The population of the study comprised 739 academic staff in Colleges of Education in Borno State. A simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 148 academic staff from the three Colleges of Education in Borno State. The data collected through questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistic of frequency and percentage counts to answer research questions 1 and 2 while Pearson Product Movement Correlation Coefficient was used to test the hypothesis. The result of the study revealed that the level of staff utilization in Borno State Colleges of Education was relatively high, the level of staff commitment in Borno State Colleges of Education was low, there was no significant relationship between staff utilization and staff commitment in Borno State Colleges of Education. It was recommended that there is the need for increased and sustained staff welfare so as to enhance and improve staff commitment in Colleges of Education in Borno State and that there should be flexibility on the part of Colleges of Education authorities in creating conducive atmosphere for college staff to desire to work and freely get involved and committed to their work.

Information and Communication Technologies have come to transform and reshape the school structures, curriculum, pedagogies, assessment and evaluation. Despite these advantages, very few institution of learning in Nigeria have been able to explore the inherent benefits of ICT to the fullest. The quest to attain Educational ends in response to the fast changing Society has indeed become a great challenge to the Nigerian Curriculum. Instructional delivery is the bridge between understanding and assimilation of knowledge. It is no longer news that developed Nations have moved from Desktop Computing Technology to what is now known as Cloud and Automated Computing and recently Computer Based Test (CBT). Improving the instructional delivery method requires whole lot of work. To this effect, this paper focuses on the ways to transform the Traditional driven methods of instructional and administrative delivery which in all ramification inactive. There are barriers hindering wholesome ICT integration in the University of Maiduguri such as inadequate power supply, lack of fund to equip schools, leadership focus and direction. Perhaps when the Universities, Government and stakeholders surmount these barriers, then we can propel to that paperless classroom. The paper further demonstrates how instructional delivery via computer transforms the thinking and impact on learners and general administration of Schools. It reflects on some of the impact and challenges of using CBI, CAI, CBT and recommends an optimum solution to the adaptation and use of the new Technologies to improve learning, evaluation and administrative delivery in the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.

This study investigates the preconceptions of junior secondary school students in Niger State on scientific ideas. The sample was made up of three hundred and sixty (360) junior secondary school students (JSSS I) who were randomly selected from twelve secondary schools. Four schools in each three educational zones with thirty (30) students from each school (15 males and 15 females) were used. The research instrument used was a 24 items of preconceptions on scientific ideas scale (POSIS) adapted by the researcher to obtain students' preconceptions on scientific ideas. Five experts in science education validated the instrument. A reliability coefficient of 0.78 and 0.80 were obtained for the instrument using test-retest method and Cronback alpha analysis respectively. Four hypotheses were formulated and tested. Data collected by means of the instruments were analyzed using the mean, standard deviation, t-test and ANOVA statistics. The study revealed that the gender of the respondents did not influence their preconceived knowledge on scientific ideas. (t-cal=1.42, df =358, p< 0.05). The preconceptions across the three educational zones in the state did not differ significantly. (F-cal=2.76, DF= 357 and 2, p< 0.05). There was no significant difference between the responses of students from rural and urban schools on preconceived ideas about selected scientific ideas. (t-cal=1.36, df =477, p< 0.05). However, it is revealed that the private school students responded more positively to the statements than did their counterparts in public schools. (t-cal=3.28, df= 477, p< 0.05). Based on the findings, recommendations were made, among others, that science curriculum for Nigeria be reviewed to include basic ethnographic and ethno science concepts which will facilitate the deep understanding of scientific concepts and acquisition of appropriate scientific skills.

The study examined the effect of simulation technique and lecture method on students' academic performance in Mafoni Day Secondary School, Maiduguri. The study used both simulation technique and lecture methods of teaching at the basic level of education in the teaching/learning environment. The study aimed at determining the best predictor among the two variables. Using quasi-experiment as a design for this study, a sample of ninety students was purposively sampled across the 3 levels of junior secondary classes in the school. Instrument called basic science achievement test (BASAT) was used as a guide for testing the academic performance of basic science students across the levels both in experimental and control groups. Using t-test of independent variable, the study found simulation technique very significant predictor of as the mean performances of student taught with simulation game technique was much higher and better than those taught using lecture method in the cause of lesson presentation in their respective class. It was recommended among others that teacher should make effective use of simulation techniques method in lesson delivery as it shows to be more promising in enhancing students' academic performance at the basic level of education in Mafoni Day Secondary School, Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Emotional intelligence and job satisfaction are two concepts of high interest in modern work environment. They serve as a competitive edge in personal and organizational life. The educational system or lecturing profession is one of those within which the individuals could reap great advantage from the knowledge of emotional intelligence owing to recurring human interaction that exists among the lecturers and between the lecturers and students. This study aims to examine the relationship between lecturers' emotional intelligence and their job satisfaction in Universities within Kano State. The study comprises of 2,502 number lecturers of all the universities in Kano State, using Convenience Sampling, 335 represents the population of the Lecturers in Kano State. The study used the scale of Wong and Law to measure Emotional Intelligence and the scale of Macdonold and Maclntyre generic scale to measure job satisfaction. Multiple linear regressions were used for the analysis. Result from the analysis revealed a significant relationship between use of emotion, regulation of emotion with job satisfaction while self emotional appraisal and other emotion appraisal were found to have no relationship with job satisfaction. It is recommended that universities should introduce an emotional Quotient programs which would be used to build the capacity of the universities for bringing out the best in the lecturers and forming powerful workplace relationships. This will help to increase engagement, trust and integrity to build more effective teams, retain great employees, provide exceptional performance in teaching, and effectively manage change.

The study investigated the effect of teachers' instructional methods on students learning outcomes in selected senior secondary school in Kaduna, Nigeria Two instructional methods (Demonstration and Lecture) were used on target population of one thousand nine hundred and eleven (1,911) senior secondary (S.S. II) Science Students. The sample consist of 100 Students randomly drawn from two co-educational senior secondary schools within Kaduna North LGA. The students were divided in to two groups: The experimental group and the control group of 50 students each based on a categorization test to ascertain the equivalence of the group. The pretest-posttest quasi-experimental control group design was adapted. The students in the experimental group were exposed to Demonstration Method, while those in the Control group were exposed to the lecture instructional strategy for a period of three weeks. The instrument developed and validated for data collection was Chemical Bonding Performance Test (CBPT). Four research questions were stated and four null hypotheses were tested. The data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, t-test and ANOVA at 0.05 level of significance. The major findings from the study shows that there is significant difference in learning outcome on students exposed to demonstration and lecture strategies used to teach chemistry (t[subscript cal] = 0.774 >t[subscript crit] = 0.443 and F[subscript cal] = 0.771 > F[subscript crit] = 0.710 at P<0.05) and there is no significant difference in the academic performance of both male and female students exposed to demonstration instruction in teaching chemistry (t[subscript cal] = 0.177 < t[subscript crit] = 0.861 and F[subscript cal] = 0.728 < F[subscript crit] = 0.781 at P<0.05) . Findings from present study suggest that Chemistry teachers should incorporate demonstration method for teaching at senior secondary school level so as to enhance academic performance and also Curriculum planners should recommend and ensure demonstration method is used for teaching chemistry at senior secondary school among others.