British Journal of Multidisciplinary and Advanced Studies
British Journal of Multidisciplinary and Advanced Studies is a multidisciplinary research platform in all disciplines – Business and Management Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Sciences, Engineering and Technology, and Medical Sciences.The Journal provides an international forum for discussion and debate, for individual, academics and practitioners to promote their double blinded peer reviewed works on any field. The purpose is to explore the field of Multidisciplinary Research directed for, academics, researchers and practitioners working in any area.
Teachers’ Performance and the Rpms-Ppst: A Social Cognitive Perspective
This study determined the dynamic interactions of the three social cognitive factors of Bandura to the performance rating of teachers for S.Y. 2022-2023, particularly secondary teachers of the South District in the Division of Cagayan de Oro using the RPMS-PPST as the framework. This study investigated the factors influencing teacher performance ratings. Teachers achieved outstanding ratings overall. The analysis revealed that a teacher's rank, educational attainment, and self-efficacy in their job role significantly explained variations in performance ratings. Other factors, such as core behavioral competencies, self-assessment, and stress, did not have a significant impact. Notably, self-efficacy emerged as a crucial factor associated with outstanding performance. The findings support Albert Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, highlighting the importance of self-efficacy for teachers. These results can be used to improve performance appraisal and promotion systems for teachers. In essence, the study identified self-efficacy as a key factor influencing teacher performance ratings. This suggests that teachers with high self-belief in their ability to succeed are more likely to achieve outstanding results.
English Language, Teaching, Literature, Linguistics and Communication
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Solution to Einstein's Vacuum Equation with a Large Number of Lambda Terms
It is proposed to increase the number of positive and negative <!-- [if gte msEquation 12]><m:oMath><m:sSub><m:sSubPr><m:ctrlPr></m:ctrlPr></m:sSubPr><m:e><m:r>Λ</m:r></m:e><m:sub><m:r>j</m:r></m:sub></m:sSub></m:oMath><![endif]--> <span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; position: relative; top: 4.5pt; mso-text-raise: -4.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> -terms in Einstein's vacuum equation to infinity. The solution to this equation leads to a closed Universe filled with a virtually infinite number of "corpuscles" (i.e., stable convex spherical vacuum formations) and "anticorpuscles" (i.e., stable concave spherical vacuum formations) with a hierarchical discrete set of radii. These "corpuscles" and "anticorpuscles" of different scales are nested within one another like Russian dolls. Thus, they form a multitude of hierarchical chains, all beginning with the core of a single largest "corpuscle" (i.e., the mega-Universe) and culminating in a single core of the smallest "corpuscle" (i.e., the instanton). As a result, a closed Hierarchical Cosmological Model was obtained, which allows us to outline the ways of solving many problems of modern physics, such as: baryon asymmetry of the Universe, confinement of quarks, geometrization of electric charge, gravity, dark matter and energy, etc. This article is a development and refinement of the Geometrized Vacuum Physics Based on the Algebra of Signature (GVPh&AS), presented in the articles [3,4,5,6,7,8,9, 10,11,12,13,14,15,16].
The Interplay of Parental Stress and Mental Health in Shaping Parenting Behaviours and Child Development in Ekiti State, Nigeria
Parenting constitutes an essential responsibility in shaping a child's emotional, cognitive, and social growth in the contemporary era of the 21st century. This research endeavor sought to explore the complex relationship between parental stress and mental health in influencing parenting behaviors and child development within Ekiti State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was employed for the study. The target population comprised “all parents residing in Ekiti State, with a sample of 300 parents selected through simple random sampling techniques. The instrument utilized for data collection was a self-constructed questionnaire, which underwent validation by three experts in the fields of Guidance and Counseling, Early Childhood Education, and Educational Measurement. A pilot study was conducted involving 20 parents who were not part of the primary study, and the reliability of the instrument was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha, resulting in a coefficient of 0.81, indicating a high degree of internal consistency. The data gathered were subjected to inferential statistical analysis, with all hypotheses evaluated at a significance level of 0.05. The results demonstrated a significant positive correlation between parental stress and parental mental health. Additionally, findings indicated a significant negative correlation between parental stress and parenting practices. The analysis further revealed a significant correlation between parental mental health and parenting practices. The study concluded that parenting practices serve as significant predictors of child development. Consequently, it is recommended that parents be offered stress management and counseling support, which would enable them to effectively navigate financial pressures, work obligations, and parenting duties, thereby enhancing their mental health and overall well-being.
From Digital to Smart Villages: Concept, Characteristics, and Development Pathways in Rural Bangladesh and Global South
The implementation of smart villages serves as an essential advancement from the digitalization-based efforts to improve rural areas in the Global South that face continual economic, governance, and service delivery exclusion from their rural citizens. The existing projects in Bangladesh, which aim to establish digital villages through improving connectivity and e-service delivery, lack both a clear definition of smart village elements and a verified method for developing these elements. The study introduces a local particularity framework that scientists use to define smart villages and to create local pathways for developing these villages in Bangladesh. The Global South uses smart village development as its main approach to achieving rural transformation but Bangladesh has developed only limited methods to evaluate this development within its areas facing climate threats and institutional inconsistencies. The study defines smart villages through multiple dimensions by creating the Smart Village Index (SVI) that evaluates rural development based on infrastructure and governance and digital services and livelihood innovation and social inclusion and climate resilience. The research team conducted their study through a mixed-method approach which included village-level surveys and institutional assessments and GIS-based spatial profiling and comparative case analysis to investigate five village clusters in Bangladesh which included Kaliganj (Gazipur) and Mithapukur (Rangpur) and Shyamnagar (Satkhira) and Char Kukri Mukri (Bhola) and a remote haor settlement (Sunamganj). The research results show that rural areas experience major differences in development because peri-urban and institutionally dense villages achieve better smartness scores than ecologically vulnerable char and wetland areas which remain outside digital access despite having infrastructure development. The study demonstrates that smart village development requires more than technology diffusion which interacts with governance capabilities and livelihood diversity and inclusion patterns and environmental threats. The study introduces a new theoretical framework to understand rural smartness through ICT4D and development-as-freedom while the study proposes a phased Vision 2041 Smart Village Roadmap for Bangladesh as its policy recommendation. Smart villages need a new definition which sees them as development ecosystems that enable rural equalization while building pathways for sustainable development instead of their current role as technological demonstration sites.
History, International Relation, Political Science and Administration
Motivational antithesis Among Teachers with Upgraded qualifications in Zambia
This article investigates the paradox of “motivational antithesis” among Zambian primary school teachers who upgraded their qualifications following the Government’s 2015 policy mandating academic upgrading for all serving teachers. While the policy aimed to enhance teacher quality and learner outcomes by leveraging both extrinsic-salary increments and promotions, and intrinsic- professional growth and self-actualization motivators, emerging evidence suggests that upgrading has coincided with declining motivation. Guided by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the study examined; the extent of qualification upgrading; levels of motivation among upgraded teachers; and the relative influence of extrinsic hygiene factors and intrinsic motivators on job motivation. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted with 100 primary school teachers selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire and analyzed with the aid of SPSS into descriptive and multiple regression results. Major findings reveal that 72% upgraded from certificate to diploma and/or degree, largely through self-sponsorship. Of these 97% had not received the expected salary scale adjustments while only about 3% had been promoted. Mean motivation remained low (3.94 ± 1.79), designating substantial demoralization. Regression analysis (R² = .52) revealed that intrinsic factors; perceived professional growth (β = .48, p < .001), sense of achievement (β = .26, p < .001), and meaningfulness of work (β = .21, p < .001) constituted the strongest predictors of job motivation, while extrinsic factors (salary increment, promotion status) had little effect, demonstrating that working conditions were insignificant in this instance. These outcomes show a motivational antithesis where a significant individual effort in upgrading, initially fueled by both extrinsic and intrinsic motivations, is weakened by institutional failure to fulfill promised and expected extrinsic rewards like realignment of salary, jobs and career paths. Thus, qualification upgrading alone is insufficient to boost teacher motivation but that it may be counterproductive if not combined with timely, transparent salary reforms, merit-based promotion structures, and leadership practices that recognize and utilize upgraded teachers' competencies.
The Role of Fintech in Bridging the Financial Inclusion Gap for Rural Women Agripreneurs
Financial exclusion remains a persistent challenge for rural women agripreneurs in developing countries. These women often lack access to affordable financial services due to infrastructural barriers, sociocultural norms, and limited digital literacy. Fintech-defined as the integration of technology into financial services-has emerged as a potential game-changer. This review explores how fintech solutions can close the financial inclusion gap by offering mobile banking, micro-insurance, digital credit, and blockchain-based platforms that bypass traditional banking systems. Drawing upon recent empirical evidence, this article analyzes the extent of fintech adoption, the barriers to scalability, and the socio-economic implications for women agripreneurs. It concludes with policy recommendations for governments and development agencies to catalyze inclusive digital financial ecosystems.
Integrating Sustainable Carbon Farming and Gender Equality: A Critical Interdisciplinary Review
Sustainable carbon farming has emerged as a vital strategy in combating climate change, enhancing soil health, and promoting ecosystem resilience. However, the intersection of carbon farming practices with gender equality remains underexplored. This review synthesizes interdisciplinary research on how sustainable carbon farming initiatives impact, and are impacted by, gender dynamics, particularly in rural and agrarian societies. Drawing on over twenty academic sources from environmental science, gender studies, and agricultural economics, the paper develops a dual-framework analysis-ecological sustainability and gender inclusion—to explore the synergies and conflicts in implementing gender-equitable carbon farming policies. The findings show a critical gap in equitable participation, benefit-sharing, and decision-making roles for women, despite their central role in land stewardship. The study concludes with policy recommendations for mainstreaming gender into carbon farming programs, stressing the need for participatory models, capacity-building, and equitable access to climate finance.
Perceived Effects of Sexual Harassment on Psychological Well-Being of Secondary School Students
This study was designed to fluid out the perceived effects of sexual harassment on psychological well-being of secondary school students in Oyo metropolis of Oyo state, Nigeria. The study focused on finding the influence of gender and religion effects of sexual harassment on psychological well-being of students. The disruptive survey method was adopted for the study. The target population comprised of all secondary school teachers in Oyo metropolis. The sample for the study was selected using purposive sampling technique. A sample of 200 participants was involved in the study. A research instrument titled, “Effects of Sexual Harassment on Psychological Well-being Questionnaire” was employed to collect data for the study. It has two sections. Section A consists of demographic data of gender and religion and Section B consists of 15 items on effects of sexual harassment on psychological well-being of students. The content and construct validity of the instrument was established by experts in counselling and test and measurement department of the Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo. The reliability of the instrument was carried out using test re-test procedure and co-efficient of 0.73 were obtained. The findings revealed that sexual harassment make student loose interest in schooling, it makes students perform woefully in examination and also make students develop emotional stress. No significant difference in teachers’ perception on effects of sexual harassment on psychological well-being of students based on family type and religious affliction. The implication of this findings for Counsellors and Education Managers among others are that both counsellors and Education Managers need to be trained on skills of handling issues of sexual harassment among students. The strategies of handling sexual harassment need to be included in the sexuality and family life education programmes. It is therefore recommended that seminars and conferences should be organized for the teachers in other to enlighten them on challenges of sexual harassment on student’s psychological well-being. The school workers and personnel should also be given counselling on unwholesome activities that can lead to sexual harassment.
Shifting Development Paradigms: Community and Environmental Wellbeing Over Corporate Profit in Africa
The prevailing paradigm in international business and investment increasingly prioritizes economic gains over the well-being of indigenous communities and the environment, particularly in developing nations. This article challenges this approach, focusing on Africa as a case study. Through a critical analysis of existing legal frameworks, policies, and practices, it argues for a shift towards a more holistic approach to sustainable development and foreign direct investment (FDI) that places the rights of indigenous communities and environmental protection at the forefront. Examining case studies and empirical data, the paper demonstrates the adverse effects of prioritizing profit-driven agendas in African communities and ecosystems. Drawing on principles of ethics, justice, social inclusion and sustainability, it proposes a new framework emphasizing human well-being and environmental safeguards while still promoting economic development through FDI. By reordering the priorities within existing legal instruments and advocating for community inclusion, and stronger enforcement mechanisms, the goal is to achieve a more accountable and equitable foreign investment standard, contributing to a sustainable future for all stakeholders in Africa.
Self-Regulation and Academic Engagement among Undergraduate Students in Public Universities in Anambra State, Nigeria
This study examined the relationship between self-regulation and academic engagement among undergraduates in public universities in Anambra State, Nigeria. The study aimed to determine the levels of self-regulation and academic engagement among students and to establish whether a significant relationship exists between the two variables. Three research questions guided the study while one null hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The theoretical framework for this study is grounded in two complementary perspectives: Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and Wilmar Schaufeli’s Theory of Engagement. A descriptive correlational research design was adopted, and data were collected from 1,777 undergraduates using standardized instruments. Findings revealed that only 13 students (0.7%) exhibited low self-regulation, 496 (27.9%) demonstrated moderate self-regulation, while the majority, 1,268 (71.4%), showed high self-regulation. Similarly, 473 students (26.6%) displayed moderate academic engagement, while 1,304 (73.4%) exhibited high engagement levels, with no respondents recording low engagement scores. The correlation analysis yielded a coefficient of r = 0.428 with a p-value of 0.000, indicating a statistically significant moderate positive relationship between self-regulation and academic engagement. The study concludes that self-regulation plays a crucial role in enhancing academic engagement among undergraduates. Based on the findings, it was recommended that universities should incorporate structured programmes that teach students goal-setting, time management, and self-monitoring strategies. These can be embedded into general studies
Education, Learning, Training & Development
Analysis and Functions of Vague and Ambiguous Language in President Tinubu’s 2023 Inaugural Address
The paper sheds light on the types and functions of vague and ambiguous language in President Tinubu’s 2023 inaugural address to the nation which forms the data for the study. The analysis was carried out using insight from the concepts of vagueness and ambiguity in semantics. Findings reveal that vague expressions in the speech are meant to: make Nigerians feel happy and hopeful; make Nigerians have pride in their country; achieve tact or save the face of some people; achieve mass mobilisation or support, etc. For ambiguous expressions in the speech, their functions include creating a sense of belonging or shared value and achieving tact.
An Analytical Study of NAFDAC’s Influence on the Safety and Market Dynamics of Aporo-Epa Ijebu in South-West Nigeria
The study examines National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) with particular reference to the role of NAFDAC established by Decree 15 of 1993 (as amended) and charged with responsibility to control and regulate the manufacture, importation, advertisement, sales and use of food, drugs, chemicals, cosmetics, detergents, medical devices and all drinks with the view of protecting and safeguarding the citizens against consumption of hazardous and uncertified food, drugs and other related products. The study analyses primary data against the background of the objective. Evidence available indicates that consumer protection in Nigeria like most less developed countries remained at the lowest ebb. The study observed that although NAFDAC recognized the right of consumers but not specifically provide avenue on how these rights should be enforced as they are merely implied and subsumed with the function of the agency. Meanwhile, consumers’ awareness of their protection laws is low, even in case of obvious infringement. This implies that NAFDAC should be more proactive in safeguarding the welfare of Nigerians. The study employed Focus Group Discussion (FGDs) to elicit information from illiterates that more vulnerable while secondary data are sourced from textbooks, journals, publications and internet facilities.
Human, Nature, and the Ring: Fire and Struggle in Jack London’s Fiction
This article examines Jack London’s short stories The Game (1905) and To Build a Fire (1908) through the lens of literary naturalism and the concept of dignified defeat. It argues that London redefines heroism not as victory over external forces but as moral endurance in the face of inevitable failure. By juxtaposing human confrontation with nature and with another human opponent, the study demonstrates how London foregrounds inner strength, ethical resolve, and perseverance as central markers of human worth. Drawing on close textual analysis and contextualized within American naturalism, the article situates London’s protagonists as figures who achieve moral triumph despite physical annihilation.
Effects of Classroom Environment on Learning Outcomes of Students in Public Schools in Afijio Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria
The classroom environment is a significant determinant of students’ learning outcomes, influencing cognitive, affective, and socio-emotional development. This study examined the effects of both physical and psychological aspects of classroom environments on students’ learning outcomes in public schools within Afijio Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was utilized, and data were collected from a sample of 390 students, selected via a multistage sampling technique across primary and secondary schools. Structured questionnaires were employed to obtain information on students’ perceptions of classroom infrastructure, teacher-student interactions, peer cooperation, and other socio-emotional factors. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and means. Findings indicated that physical factors such as adequate seating, proper ventilation, sufficient lighting, and availability of instructional materials significantly enhanced learning outcomes. Psychological factors—including supportive teacher-student relationships, positive classroom climate, discipline, encouragement, and peer collaboration—were also positively associated with students’ motivation, engagement, and academic achievement. The study identified systemic challenges, including overcrowding, insufficient furniture, poor ventilation, and lack of instructional resources, which hinder the creation of conducive learning environments. It is recommended that educational stakeholders prioritize both physical infrastructure and the psychosocial climate of classrooms to optimize students’ learning outcomes. The study provides empirical evidence for policymakers and school administrators to enhance educational quality and contributes to understanding how holistic classroom environments impact learning outcomes in Nigerian public schools.
Effective Leadership Strategies in Educational Institutions: Enhancing Performance and Innovation
Educational institutions increasingly operate in rapidly evolving landscapes shaped by digital transformation, accountability pressures, and demands for pedagogical innovation. Effective leadership is critical not only for sustaining institutional performance (e.g., teacher effectiveness, student achievement) but also for fostering innovation (e.g., novel pedagogies, organizational change). This paper presents a systematic literature review of empirical and theoretical studies (2015–2025) to identify leadership strategies that contribute to both performance and innovation in educational settings. We synthesize evidence on instructional, transformational, distributed, and technology-enabled leadership, examine underlying mechanisms and contextual moderators, and highlight research gaps. Findings suggest that integrated leadership models combining instructional focus, shared decision-making, trust, and digital capacity are most effective. We conclude with recommendations for policy, practice, and future research.
Nexus Between Employees’ Retention and Organisational Sustainability Among Health Workers in Ondo State, Nigeria
Employee retention is not just about keeping the competent staff; it also promotes continuity of workers to ensure services delivery and working environment is sustained. However, the study evaluated relationship between employees’ retention and organisational sustainability among health workers in Ondo State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaire. The study adopted simple random sampling techniques to choose respondents for the study. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the socio-demographic information of the respondents while inferential was used to analyse the stated hypothesis. Specifically, pearson correlation was used to analyse the hypothesis at 0.05 alpha level. The result of the study revealed that there was significant relationship between employees’ retention and organisational sustainability among health workers in Ondo State, Nigeria {r (307) = -.231**, p < .01}. The study concluded that employees’ retention significantly relates to organisational sustainability among health workers in Ondo State. Therefore, it was recommended that selected health institution should regularly review the remuneration of their health workers to meet the competitive global standard.
The Evolution of Small Language Models in Healthcare: A Narrative-Evolutionary Literature Review
Small Language Models (SLMs) are emerging as transformative tools in healthcare AI, offering an optimal balance between task performance, privacy, and computational efficiency. Unlike Large Language Models (LLMs), which require substantial infrastructure and raise privacy concerns, SLMs are designed for domain-specific applications in real-time, resource-constrained clinical settings. This narrative-evolutionary review traces the development, capabilities, and deployment of SLMs across key healthcare domains, including clinical documentation, decision support, mental health, and telehealth. It outlines enabling technologies such as model compression, federated learning, and edge deployment that facilitate secure and efficient operation within sensitive healthcare infrastructures. To assess their clinical utility, we introduce a domain-relevance matrix and evaluate SLMs using both conventional and deployment-aware metrics, such as latency, memory usage, and compliance with data regulations. The review also identifies critical research gaps in benchmarking practices, data diversity, and explainability. We emphasize the importance of collaborative data ecosystems, standardized evaluation protocols, and socio-technical governance to ensure safe, multimodal, and regulation-compliant integration of SLMs in healthcare workflows. Overall, our findings position SLMs as a scalable, transparent, and context-aware solution for advancing real-world medical NLP, especially in scenarios demanding adaptability, trustworthiness, and decentralized AI performance.
Barriers to Scaling Circular Economy Practices in Selected Nigerian Cities
Rapid urbanisation in Nigeria has intensified waste generation and exposed the limits of disposal-oriented waste management systems. While circular economy (CE) principles are increasingly referenced in policy discussions, their practical scaling remains limited. This study examines the systemic barriers constraining the expansion of circular economy practices in Awka, Enugu, and Onitsha in south-eastern Nigeria. Using a qualitative exploratory design, twelve focus group discussions were conducted with municipal officials, private recycling firms, informal waste actors, and community representatives. Thematic analysis revealed six interrelated barriers: regulatory fragmentation, infrastructural deficits, financial constraints, informal–formal disconnects, weak market demand, and institutional coordination gaps. Findings indicate that circular transition is not hindered by the absence of recovery activity, but by structural misalignments across governance, infrastructure, finance, and market systems. Disposal-oriented regulatory incentives reinforce mixed waste streams, while limited access to capital and unstable demand discourage technological upgrading and private investment. Informal actors, despite playing a central role in material recovery, remain institutionally excluded. Cross-city comparisons further demonstrate that administrative structure and commercial intensity shape transition dynamics. The study concludes that scaling circular economy practices in Nigerian cities requires coordinated governance reform, infrastructural investment, financial innovation, and inclusive institutional frameworks rather than isolated technical interventions.
Talent Retention Strategies and Institutional Stability: A Comparative Analysis of Public and Private Universities in Southwest, Nigeria
This study examined the impact of talent retention strategies on institutional stability in public and private universities in Southwest Nigeria, with particular emphasis on incentive strategies. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and covered a total population of 8,550 academic and non-academic staff, with population data obtained from the Nigeria University Digest (2019). Using the Taro Yamane (1967) formula as cited in Umar and Wachiko (2021), a sample size of 382 respondents was determined and selected for the study. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Descriptive statistics, including frequency tables, were used to summarize respondents’ demographic characteristics, while inferential analysis employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The findings revealed that incentive strategies have a positive and statistically significant effect on institutional stability in both public and private universities in Southwest Nigeria. In addition, the results indicated a significant difference in talent retention practices and institutional stability between public and private universities, suggesting variations in incentive structures, managerial flexibility, and organizational environments. The study concluded that talent retention strategies significantly influence institutional stability, though their effectiveness varies across university types. Consequently, it was recommended that universities, particularly public institutions, should design and implement context-specific and competitive incentive programs that align with the needs and expectations of their faculty and staff to enhance long-term institutional stability.
Public Procurement Management Practices and Public Procurement Price Variance in Government Agencies in Nairobi, Kenya
In developing nations where the urgent need for infrastructure and essential services has been historically neglected, public procurement often accounts for an average of around 30% of GDP highlighting the considerable reliance on public procurement to drive economic growth and improve public services in these regions. However, the large scale of public procurement makes it vulnerable to inefficiencies and corruption. Addressing these vulnerabilities is essential to ensure that public procurement can fulfill its critical role in driving national development. However, despite the pressing need for efficiency, public procurement processes in Kenya have been plagued by an inefficiency that manifests in the form of overpriced tendering processes, raising serious concerns about the integrity of public spending. Very few studies have examined the concept of public procurement overpricing in Kenya, and mechanisms to alleviate it. This study sought to examine the effect of: Procurement Planning; Procurement Audit; E-Supply Chain Management; and Procurement Risk Management; on Public Procurement Price Variance. The study collected data from 73 government agencies in Nairobi; and applied regression analysis to examine the statistical significance of the variables of study on Public Procurement Price Variance. The study established that public procurement management practices. However, the study also found gaps in procurement planning, lack of a concrete procurement audit framework, relatively low application of digitization, and relatively high usage of non-competitive methods of procurement. The study thus recommends for policy and research intervention into these public procurements practices-specifically, the perceived resistance to apply them.
The #EndSARS movement of October 2020 constituted a watershed moment in Nigeria's socio-political landscape, propelled by mass mobilization and a sophisticated semiotic architecture of protest discourse. This study interrogates the linguistic and visual signification systems deployed during the movement through the theoretical frameworks of Saussurean and Peircean semiotics, augmented by Barthesian myth theory. The analysis examines how slogans, symbols, imagery, and digital modalities articulated resistance, constructed collective identity, and contested hegemonic state narratives. Findings reveal that protest discourse functioned simultaneously at symbolic, indexical, and mythic registers, transmuting vernacular expressions such as "Soro Soke," "End SARS Now," and "We Are Tired" into instruments of ideological insurgency. Visual signifiers including the clenched fist and the blood-stained national flag reinforced solidarity by reconfiguring national iconography through frameworks of collective trauma and aspirational futurity. These semiotic productions achieved extensive circulation via social media platforms, facilitating transnational visibility and amplifying justice claims. The study concludes that semiotic praxis proved fundamental to the movement's efficacy, enabling Nigerian youth constituencies to reconceptualise citizenship, resist institutional violence, and articulate counter-hegemonic narratives of national identity through strategic meaning-making practices.
Effects of Grazing Intensity on Soil Properties of Rangeland in Semi-Arid Rangeland of Borana Zone, Southern Ethiopia
The study was conducted in three districts of Borana Zone to determine the impacts of grazing on soil nutrients of Borana rangelands under the traditional enclosure and continuous grazing rangeland types. Within both rangeland types of each district, 20 m x 20 m plots were placed at 200 m distances intervals with three replications used to collect soil samples from four corners and a center of main plot within three depths (0-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20- 30 cm) to analysis its soil physio-chemical properties. Totally 54 soil samples were collected from three districts, two rangeland types, and three depths to determine the effect of grazing on soil properties. The collected data were analyzed using a three-way factorial ANOVA to compare the effect of grazing pressure by using traditional enclosures and continuous grazing rangeland types of each study site on rangeland soil properties. The study sites of soil texture class were loam, sandy loam, and silt clay. The soil pH value was significantly different (P > 0.05) among study sites, but there was no significant difference between rangeland types and soil depths. The soil total nitrogen was significantly different (P > 0.05) between districts, rangeland types, and soil depth, due to the impact of grazing pressure, was differed between rangeland types. Grazing intensity has a great impact on rangeland soil physico-chemical properties. Therefore, rangeland users should consider an appropriate grazing system to improve and sustain the soil health and ecosystem of rangeland.
Female Gender Portrayal in Nigerian Television Advertisement and Information Services
This study discussed the female gender portrayal in Nigeria television advertisement and information services. It examines the perception of the audience on gender roles in television adverts and information services generally. The primary objective of advertising is to change consumer behavior in response to information services and promotional offer. However, consumers frequently develop opinions about the advertised brand and how the characters are portrayed after seeing multiple services and advertisements. The objective of the study is to ascertain the extent to which women are negatively portrayed in television advertisements and information services in terms of their physical appearance and roles. The survey method was used by the researcher as instruments were administered to the respondents to gather information relevant to this study. The researcher discovered that while 42% strongly agreed that the portrayal of women in Television advert and information services is stereotypical, 12% strongly agreed that it is empowering. The 42% makes up for the opinion of larger percentage of the respondents on the portrayal of the female gender in Television advertisements and information services in Nigeria. Conclusively, the research findings underscore the need for improvements in the portrayal of women in Nigeria television advertisements and information services. Hence, it is recommended that instead of provocative and objectifying representations, advertisers should focus on presenting women in empowering and respectful ways that reflect their diverse roles, abilities, and achievements.
Contribution of Tourism Destinations for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Biodiversity Conservation in Eastern Ethiopia
Ethiopia has numerous tourism potentials that contribute to comprehensive sustainable development in many ways at both national and local levels. These tourism potentials are not yet utilized as expected due to various factors that require detailed assessments for each destination. Among these potential destinations, Eastern Ethiopia's tourism sites contribute to the country’s development, whereas their utilizations for entrepreneurship and biodiversity conservation are not assessed adequately. Based on these notions, this research assessment was conducted with the objectives of profiling the potential tourism destinations, identifying the existing contributions for local youth entrepreneurs, and assessing the challenges facing these places for further study and policy actions. Research Methodology: Accordingly, the purposive sampling method was used for site selection; as a result, East Hararghe, Harari region, and Maya City were included in the sample. Then, potential destinations in each selected site, specific places were identified to mention, Lake Haramaya and its watershed catchment lakes, Gara Mul’ata Mountain, the so-called Dabbal, the historical Lij Iyasu Prince Prison, and Harar Jegol. Moreover, a key informant interview with long-experienced locals was conducted to further strengthen the research.The result shows that these tourism destination sites have contributions to sustainable biodiversity conservation, climate change balance, income for local youths, foreign visitors’ attractions, educational research, and water sports. With all these contributions, however, these tourism destinations faced many challenges, such as society’s attitude towards these sites is low, less promotion of these sites to foreigners, and less attention to engaging domestic tourists and Ethiopian-born diasporas, poor infrastructures, especially for Gara Mul’ata Mountain, the so-called Dabbal, and Lij Eyasu Prince Prison.Therefore, it recommended that the government and other stakeholders should focus on sustainable awareness creation for the surrounding community about the importance of tourism, development of infrastructure, capacity building for small-scale local businesses, tourism managers, guides, community leaders, and registration of these sites at the global level.
Synergistic Intelligent Tutoring System for Enhancing Continuous Assessment Outcomes Among Students with Learning Disabilities
Continuous assessment remains a cornerstone of effective teaching and learning, particularly among the students with disabilities. However, traditional assessment practices often fail to adequately capture the learning progress of students with learning disabilities due to their limited flexibility, delayed feedback, and uniform evaluation standards. This paper reconceptualises continuous assessment through the lens of Synergistic Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS), proposing an adaptive, data-driven, and learner-centered framework for improving assessment outcomes among students with learning disabilities. Anchored in Connectivism Theory, the paper synthesises empirical and theoretical literature to demonstrate how Intelligent Tutoring System can individualise assessment, enhance learner engagement, reduce cognitive load, and promote equity among students with learning disabilities and their counterpart. The study adopts a conceptual and systematic literature review approach to articulate the pedagogical, technological, and assessment-related implications of ITS for education of the student with disabilities. The paper concludes by proposing a synergistic ITS–continuous assessment model capable of transforming assessment practices for learners with diverse needs.
Environmental Sustainability Practices and Marketing Performance of Portable Water Producers in Abia State, Nigeria
The ability of the present generation of humans to conduct its activities without depleting the natural resources or undermining the efforts of future generations to meet up their own needs is the focus of environmental sustainability. The task of maintaining the balance of ecosystems and biodiversity ensures the protection and preservation of the natural resources needed for clean air, water, soil formation and climate regulation. The study focused on the environmental sustainability practices and marketing performance of portable water producers in Aba, Abia state, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the influence of eco-friendly packaging on the marketing performance of portable water producers; determine the influence of biodegradable packaging on the marketing performance of portable water producers; ;investigate the influence of recyclable packaging on the marketing performance of portable water producers; ascertain the influence of reusable packaging on the marketing performance of portable water producers and evaluate the influence of water sanitation on the marketing performance of portable water producers in Aba, Abia State. The study adopted survey research design. The population of the study consisted 1030 (water producers) and 1,275,000(water consumers) totaling1,276,030. A sample size of 685 (six hundred and eighty-five) was drawn from the population using Taro yamane statistical formula. Five hypotheses were formulated in the study, tested with simple regression analyses.. The major findings in the study showed that there is a significant and positive influence of reusable packaging and water sanitation on marketing performance of portable water producers in Aba, Abia State while eco-friendly packaging, biodegradable packaging and recyclable packaging showed insignificant influence on marketing performance of portable water producers in Aba. Hence, we concluded that without stronger policy support and industry collaboration, the sustainability gap could widen, disadvantaging some market players. We, therefore, recommended that portable water companies should form alliances to share sustainability technologies and training and firms should run educational campaigns on the environmental benefits of their products, among others
Student-Teacher Ratio and Internal Efficiency of Public Secondary Schools in Ondo State, Nigeria
The study examined the student-teacher ratio and internal efficiency of public secondary schools in Ondo State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive research design of the survey type. The population for this study consisted of all 258 public secondary schools in Ondo State, while the sample size consisted of 200 teachers and 20 principals selected in 20 public secondary schools in Ondo State. Two research instruments were used for the data collection. The instruments tagged ‘Student -Teacher Ratio Questionnaire” (STRQ), and inventory specifically designed and administered to the principals (or Vice-Principals) to request the enrolment of students from JSS.1 to SSS III. Face and content validity of the instruments were ensured by experts, while the test-retest method of reliability was adopted to determine the reliability coefficient of 0.81 for the STRQ. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The finding revealed that there was a significant relationship between the student-teacher ratio and internal efficiency of secondary schools. It was recommended that government and school administrators should ensure that teachers are made available for students to reduce overpopulated classes, and teachers should be provided with opportunities to attend seminars, conferences, and training that will equip the teachers to apply innovative ideas in the classrooms. The Teaching Service Commission should ensure that experienced teachers are employed in public secondary schools in the State. This will enable the teacher to monitor the students when the class size is not so large.
Attitude of Colleges of Education Students Towards Sex Education in Southwest, Nigeria
This study assessed the attitude of Colleges of Education students toward sex education in Southwest Nigeria, focusing on the influence of gender, religious beliefs, parental education, and school location on their perceptions. A descriptive survey design was used to collect data from students in selected colleges of education. The study’s population included 34,274 students across 12 Colleges of Education in Southwest Nigeria. A sample of 900 students was selected using a multistage sampling technique. In the first stage, three states were randomly chosen. In the second stage, one Federal and one State College were selected from each state using stratified random sampling. Finally, 75 students from each college were purposively selected. Data was gathered using a self-developed instrument, the "Students Attitude Towards Sex Education Questionnaire" (SATSEKQ), designed to assess students' attitudes. The instrument was validated by subject experts, and a reliability coefficient of 0.81 was obtained. The SATSEKQ was administered to the selected students through face-to-face distribution during scheduled lecture hours, with respondents assured of confidentiality and voluntary participation. Descriptive statistics, including percentage and mean, were used to answer the research questions. Path analysis tested the research hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. The findings indicated that College of Education students generally hold positive attitudes toward sex education. However, religious beliefs and gender differences significantly shaped their attitudes. Students from religiously conservative backgrounds held more restrictive views, while female students demonstrated greater engagement with sex education than their male counterparts. Parental education and school location were found to have minimal influence on students' attitudes. Based on these findings, it is recommended that schools develop sex education programs that respect religious beliefs while promoting comprehensive and accurate information. Teachers should tailor their methods to address gender differences, and the government should offer professional development on sensitive topics for educators.
Inclusive Human Resources (HR) Practices, Employee Engagement, and Retention: Evidence from Diverse Workforces in Southwestern Nigeria
The increasing demand for workplace inclusivity has heightened interest in how human resource (HR) practices affect employee outcomes across diverse organizational settings. While evidence from Western contexts indicates that inclusive HR practices improve positive work attitudes, limited empirical data from Sub-Saharan Africa exists. This study examined the impact of inclusive HR practices on employee engagement and retention among diverse workforces in Southwestern Nigeria. Drawing on Social Exchange Theory and the Job Demands-Resources model, it was hypothesized that inclusive HR practices would boost engagement and decrease turnover intentions, with engagement serving as a mediator. A cross-sectional survey of 378 employees in five industries across Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun States was carried out using validated tools, including the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Structural equation modeling showed that inclusive HR practices significantly predicted employee engagement (β = 0.47, p < 0.001) and negatively influenced turnover intentions (β = -0.39, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis revealed that engagement partly mediated the relationship between inclusive HR practices and turnover intentions. These results suggest that inclusive HR practices foster employees’ psychological attachment to their work while lowering their desire to leave. The study advances Human Resources Management (HRM) scholarship by providing evidence from Africa on inclusivity and engagement and offers practical advice for organizations in Nigeria aiming to develop engaged and stable workforces.
Good Governance and Sustainable Development: Pathways, Principles, and Policy Imperatives
This paper examines the critical dynamic between good governance and sustainable development, emphasizing their shared cornerstones in institutional probity, responsibility, and enduring societal welfare. Leveraging global governance frameworks and the sustainable development goals (SDGs), this delineates the role of transparency, inclusive participation, robust regulation, and rule of law in shaping development outcomes across economic, social, environmental, and institutional spheres. The analysis accentuates deep-rooted governance issues like corruption, administrative inefficiencies, policy gap, and technological variations—that restrict sustainability efforts, particularly in developing and transition economies. Through discerning international instances, the study illustrates how governance innovations, information systems, and inclusive institutions heighten the prospects of just and adaptable progress. The research wraps up by determining the fundamental action items for building institutional resilience, mainstreaming shared input, and embracing climate-resilient management approaches. The paper thereby strengthens the argument that sustainable development’s success is deeply tied to the standard of responsiveness and credibility of governance systems.