Benue State Research Articles

Impacts of Population Trends, Agricultural Supply Chains, and Environmental Decline in Otukpo LGA, Benue State, Nigeria

This research delves into the intricate relationship between population dynamics, agricultural value chain, and environmental degradation in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA), Benue State, Nigeria. The burgeoning population in the region has precipitated notable shifts in land use patterns, agricultural methodologies, and the overall environmental landscape. A robust research methodology was employed to explore this phenomenon comprehensively. Both primary and secondary data were collected, with a sample size of 400 determined using Taro Yamane's formula. This sample was then strategically distributed among the 13 clans within the LGA, yielding 380 returned samples for meticulous analysis. Statistical analysis, facilitated by tools such as standard deviation and mean, was conducted using SPSS software. Employing a mean criterion of 3.0, questionnaires were administered via survey techniques to discern respondents' perspectives. The research findings illuminate the multifaceted impacts of population dynamics in Otukpo LGA. Notably, these dynamics have instigated challenges within the agricultural value chain, manifesting as farmland degradation and pollution. These repercussions have reverberated throughout the environment, precipitating biodiversity loss, soil contamination, and rampant deforestation. The research also underscores the nuanced nature of these challenges. While population growth undeniably exacerbates these issues, it is crucial to acknowledge the contributory role of ineffective public policies in perpetuating environmental and agricultural dilemmas within the region. In light of these findings, the research advocates for formulating sustainable policies and evidence-based solutions. Addressing these issues holistically demands a concerted effort to mitigate the adverse impacts of population dynamics on agricultural practices and environmental sustainability.

IMPACT OF CASHLESS POLICY ENFORCEMENT AND NAIRA REDESIGN ON FRESH CATFISH MARKETING IN MAKURDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined the impact of Cashless Policy Enforcement and Naira Redesign on Fresh Catfish Production and Marketing in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 100 respondents for the study. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and farm budgeting techniques. The result revealed that fresh catfish producers were in their productive age with mean age of 34years. Majority (76%) of the fresh catfish producers were males and 84% married. The average household size and farming experience were 5 persons and 6 years, respectively. The results of the profitability analysis of catfish marketing in the study area before and during the cashless policy enforcement and Naira redesign revealed that before the policy, the catfish producers’ total variable costs and total fixed costs were N1701379 and N665689.22, respectively, making a total cost of N2367068.22. The results further revealed that total revenue of N2659284.66 and a net farm income of N292216.440 were realised. The profitability ratio shows that for every one naira invested, the catfish producers made about 89 kobo. However, the result revealed that, amid the cashless policy enforcement and Naira redesign, the total variable cost and total fixed cost were N827791.66 and N712688.47, respectively, making a total cost of N1540475.13. The results revealed total revenue of N1650800 and a net farm income of N110384.87. The profitability ratio shows that for every one naira invested, the catfish producers made about 92 kobo. The result of the impact of catfish marketing on the income level of the marketers in the study area before and during the cashless policy enforcement and Naira redesign revealed that before the policy, 30%t of the catfish marketers had an income of over N300, 000. However, during the policy, only 26% of the catfish farmer marketers had an income of over N300, 000 and 15% had an income of less than N50, 000. The result of the constraints to catfish marketing before and during the cashless policy enforcement and Naira redesign revealed that before the policy, the most constraints to catfish marketing were high electric charges (12.3%) and lack of credit facilities (9.1%). However, during the policy, the most constraints to catfish marketing were inadequate capital (8.3%), seasonality of commodity (7.8%), high cost of feed (7.4%), high cost of production (7.3%), high cost of labour (7.3%) and low demand of product (7.0%). The study concluded that Catfish production and marketing in the study area was more profitable before the cashless policy enforcement and Naira redesign. The study recommended that provisions for agricultural incentives such as short and long-term loans, with a single digit interest rate for the marketers in order to solve the problem of lack of credit facility. Also, Marketers should form marketing cooperatives to increase their access to credit from financial institutions and hence alleviate the problem of inadequate capital.

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES ON MAIZE PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY IN OTUKPO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined the effects of climate change adaption strategies on maize production efficiency in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 100 respondents for the study. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). The results revealed that maize farmers were in their productive age with mean age of 31years. Majority (55%) of the maize farmers were married. The average household size, farm size and years of farming experience were 6 persons, 2.5 hectares and 8 years of experience in farming, respectively. The result on the climate change adaptation strategies used by the maize farming households revealed that most of the farmers adopted adjustment Improved/multiple varieties (17.6%), multiple planting dates (18%) and fertilizer application (20.6%) as climate change adaptation strategies in the study area. The result of predicted Stochastic Frontier model showed that the minimum and maximum technical efficiencies (TE) of the maize farmers were 0.11 and 0.98, respectively, with the mean efficiency of 0.88. This showed that if the efficiency of resources usage is increased by 12.0 percent, the maize farmers would operate on the production frontier given the existing technology. The result on the influence of climate change adaptation strategies used by maize farmers in the study area further revealed that the coefficient of farm size, fertilizer and agrochemicals had positive relationship with the value of maize output at P≤0.05, P≤0.10 and P≤0.01 levels, respectively. The result of the inefficiency model revealed that improved/multiple varieties and fertilizer application increased inefficiency of maize production at P≤0.05 and P≤0.10 levels, respectively, while alternative tillage practices decreased inefficiency of maize production at P≤0.01 level. The study concluded that maize production in the study area was not optimally efficient. The study recommended that farmers should be provided with credit facilities to help improve their capacity to adapt to climate change. Also, development partners should focus on awareness creation of farmers on better production techniques and climate change adaptation strategies through mass media and agricultural extension.

“When We Believe in State Power, It Tends to Fail Us”: Insights Into the Management of Herder-Peasant Farmer Conflicts in Benue State, Nigeria

This paper examines management of herder-peasant farmer conflicts and internal security challenges in Benue state, Nigeria. It relied mainly on descriptive and cross-sectional survey designs. Four hundred and seven participants were collated and analyzed from 430 questionnaires distributed in 10 Local Government Areas with an age range of 20–79 years and mean age of 42.84 years. A structured questionnaire was adopted for measuring farmer-herder conflicts and analyzing the strategies deployed in tackling the conflict. The findings showed that certain laws and policies of the government significantly contributed to the onset and protraction of the herder-farmer conflict in Benue state, F (5, 406) = 186.51; p < 0.05. Further findings show that the inherent contradictions in the different policies and laws enacted by the government created obstructions to land access and utilization by the warring parties (herders and farmers). Pursuant to this, the paper linked the obduracy of the conflict to government’s poor handling of land and land-based resources. To address the conflict, the article recommends that land management policies should be unbundled to limit the influence of federal and state governments in land distribution and control.

Spatial patterns of intra-urban mobility and urban residential choices in Makurdi town, Benue State, Nigeria

Spatial patterns of intra-urban mobility and urban residential choices in Makurdi town, Benue State, Nigeria

Dietary Quality and Associated Factors among Women of Reproductive Age in Six Sub-Saharan African Countries.

The burden of micronutrient malnutrition is high among women of reproductive age (WRA) in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined the dietary quality and associated factors for WRA in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tanzania. Data were collected from women aged 15-49 years using representative Diet Quality Questionnaire surveys. The Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W), All-5 (key food group) consumption, noncommunicable disease risk (NCD-Risk), and Global Dietary Recommendation (GDR) indicators were assessed. Participants included N = 16,584 women [Cameroon: N = 2073; Côte d'Ivoire: N = 242; Kenya: N = 864; Adamawa State (Nigeria): N = 1283; Benue State (Nigeria): N = 1047; Nasarawa State (Nigeria): N = 1151; Senegal: N = 7232; Tanzania: N = 2692]. The MDD-W ranged from 43.0% in Tanzania to 81.4% in Côte d'Ivoire and was higher in urban, compared to rural, areas in Cameroon, Kenya, Nasarawa, Senegal, and Tanzania (p < 0.001). Increased education and wealth were positively associated with MDD-W in Kenya, Benue, Senegal, and Tanzania. Fewer than half of all women attained All-5 consumption. NCD-Risk scores ranged from 1.13 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.17) in Tanzania to 2.28 (95% CI: 2.16, 2.40) in Nasarawa, and women's GDR scores ranged from 10.47 (95% CI: 10.40, 10.54) in Cameroon to 11.45 (95% CI: 11.25, 11.64) in Côte d'Ivoire. Our findings highlight key aspects of women's diets in sub-Saharan African settings to enable greater awareness and more targeted responses to the specific areas needing the most improvement.

Sociodemographic Correlates of Integrated Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Services Utilization Among Childbearing Mothers in Nigeria.

Background Some social and demographic factors might limit the ability of childbearing mothers (CBMs) to use healthcare services for themselves and their children, thereby exposing them to maternal, infant, and child morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the sociodemographic correlates of the utilization of integrated maternal, newborn, and child health (IMNCH) services by CBMs in Benue State, Nigeria. Methodology A community-based, correlational survey study was conducted among a random sample of 1,200 CBMs. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a pretested, structured questionnaire, the Integrated Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Services Utilization Questionnaire (IMNCHSUQ), and study participants were chosen using a multistage sampling procedure. Of the IMNCHSUQ issued, only 896 copies had complete data, which were used for the analysis. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The data were evaluated using the mean, standard deviation, and point-biserial correlation, and the null hypotheses were tested using linear regression at the 0.05 level of significance. Results The majority of the CBMs were married (79.7%) and unemployed (66.0%) while the predominant age group was between 15 and 24 years (42.7%). CBMs had a high level of utilization of IMNCH services (x= 3.30, SD = 0.94). The sociodemographic factors studied had little or no influence on the utilization of IMNCH services among CBMs. The most significant demographic predictor was the place of residence. Marital status, educational level, parity, and age were also found to be significant predictors in a few services. Conclusions Uneven distribution of IMNCH centers may be a major cause of the failure of CBM's lack of utilization of IMNCH services, especially in rural settlements with sparse distribution of facilities.

TEACHER TECH-CREATIVITY FOSTERING BEHAVIOUR AS DETERMINANT OF PRIMARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS TEACHER CLASSROOM PRACTICES

This research investigated teacher technological-creative fostering behaviour as determinant of teacher classroom practices in private primary schools in the Makurdi Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria. This study adopted the correlational research design. The population was all teachers in private primary schools in Makurdi. A sample of 70 mathematics teachers was drawn from 50 private primary schools. Two researcher-structured instruments were used for data collection, namely; the Mathematics Teacher Tech-Creativity Inventory (MTTI) and the Mathematics Teacher Classroom Practice Inventory (MTCPI). Correlation, scatterplots, and histograms were used to answer research questions, while analysis of variance was used to test the hypotheses at .05 level of significance. The following were the findings: the top three technological tools among others which mathematics teachers at the primary school level use most often to facilitate their teaching practices are, first interactive whiteboard, second, the calculator and third, internet surfing. Teacher tech-creativity fostering behaviour has a significant impact on teacher clarity, teacher classroom discussions, teacher feedback, teacher formative assessment and, teacher-teacher collaboration as teacher classroom practices. It was recommended that teachers of mathematics consider utilizing technology creatively during lessons as a catalyst to advance classroom teaching practices of teacher classroom clarity, class discussions, teacher feedback, formative assessment, and teacher-teacher collaboration.

Gravida and maternal age group effect on the weight of an infant

This paper makes use of Two-way Analysis of Variance approach to check whether significant difference exists in the weight of an infant as it relates to gravida and maternal age or not. Five hundred and thirty-three (533) samples on the weight of an infant, maternal age and gravida sourced from Family Support Programme (FSP) Makurdi Benue State, Nigeria was used. Maternal age was divided into five (14-19, 20-25, 26-31, 32-37 and 38-43); the level of gravida (number of pregnancies) considered are gravida one (1), gravida two (2), gravida three (3) and gravida four (number of pregnancies greater than or equal to four). The results revealed that significant difference exist between the maternal age as it relates to the weight of an infant since the p_value of 0.0001 is less than 0.05 alpha level of significance. Significant difference was also seen in gravida since the p_value of 0.0001 is less than 0.05 alpha level of significance. As a result of significant difference observed in both maternal age and gravida, multiple mean comparison was carried out to identify the mean weight that actually differs. It was discovered that the mean weight of an infant in gravida four (4) is different from that of gravida one (1) and two (2), in addition, gravida 3 and 1 were statistically significant. Maternal age one (14-19) was also found to be different from every other age group.

Evaluation of the Factors Influencing Needle stick Injury And Bloodborne Pathogens among Healthcare Workers in Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi, North-Central Nigeria

It is well recognized that the danger of needle stick injuries and the blood-borne diseases they can cause is higher for healthcare professionals. In order to do this, a survey on the variables influencing blood-borne infections and needle stick injuries among medical personnel at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Benue State, North Central Nigeria, was carried out. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used as the methodology, and questionnaires were given to medical professionals at BSUTH in Makurdi, Benue State, including doctors, nurses, and medical laboratory scientists. Using a straightforward random sample method, the participants who fulfilled the inclusion requirements were chosen. Findings: The questionnaires were distributed to participants between the ages of 20 and 35. Of those, 190 (68.8%) were female, and 177 (64.10%) were single. The study’s findings also showed that 39% of the respondents were physicians. In addition, 74% of respondents had worked for less than five years, 13% for six to ten years, and a further 13% for ten years or more. The most reliable source of information for blood-borne infections (89.1%) and needle stick injuries (78.4%) was the Teaching Hospital. Of the 109 people who had needle stick injuries at that time, 84.4% had done so fewer than five times in the previous six months, and 4.6% had done so more than ten times. For the last six months, Tin. According to the results, 16.5% of the participants in this category suffered an intravenous insertion needle stick injury, 18.3% during an injection, and 60% while recapping a needle. Males were also found to have a greater frequency of needle stick injuries (66.3%) than females, with medical professionals and those with six to ten years of experience having the highest prevalence. However, medical lab scientists had a greater prevalence of blood-borne infections (20.7%). The outcome demonstrated negative opinions regarding blood-borne infections and needle stick injuries.

ORGANIZATIONAL CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIOR AND PERFORMANCE OF NURSES IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SECTOR IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF TERTIARY HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN BENUE STATE

Purpose: This study investigates the effect of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) on the performance of nurses in the public health sector in Benue State, Nigeria, with a particular focus on nurses in the tertiary healthcare facilities in Benue State. The specific objectives of this study were to examine, evaluate, ascertain, determine, and establish the effect of altruism, civic virtue, conscientiousness, courtesy, and sportsmanship on the task and contextual performance of nurses in tertiary healthcare facilities in Benue State, Nigeria. Methodology: This study adopts and uses a descriptive research design using a survey method. The study population comprised 587 nurses from Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi (BSUTH) and Federal Medical Centre Makurdi (FMC). The study used Taro Yamene’s formula to determine a sample size of 238 nurses. 238 questionnaires were issued out to nurses, of which 221 were usable and returned for analysis. Data were statistically analyzed after being collected from the field using Multiple Regression Analysis as the main statistical tool with the aid of SPSS to explain the relationship between variables under study. Findings: The findings from this study indicated that there was actually an established effect of all the dimensions of organizational citizenship behavior on the task and contextual performance of nurses working in tertiary healthcare facilities in Benue State, Nigeria. Originality/Value: The study revealed that all the OCB constructs examined significantly positively affect the task and contextual performance of nurses working in tertiary healthcare facilities in Benue State, Nigeria. Part of the recommendations made is that the management of tertiary healthcare facilities in Benue State should do everything possible to create a working environment that will motivate nurses to engage in citizenship behaviors since it has been scholarly proven that citizenship behaviors positively affect task and contextual performance of nurses working in tertiary healthcare facilities.

Sex hormone-binding globulin is a valuable diagnostic indicator of gestational diabetes mellitus.

To assess the performance of the Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) assay as a diagnostic indicator of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) in the study population. Analytical cross-sectional study. Hospital-based, Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, Nigeria. Women with singleton pregnancies at 24 to 28 weeks gestational age attending Antenatal care at BSUTH, Makurdi. Serum SHBG levels were assayed by ELISA during a diagnostic 75-gram Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) for assessment of GDM in the cohort of consecutively selected participants who met the inclusion criteria. Serum levels of SHBG and presence of GDM in the participants. Serum SHBG was significantly negatively correlated (rpb = - 0.534, p-value < 0.001) with the presence of GDM. It had an area under the ROC curve of 0.897 (95% Confidence Interval = 0.858-0.935; p-value < 0.001). A cut-off value of 452.0 nmol/L indicative of GDM had a diagnostic odds ratio of 21.4 in the study population. SHBG is a valuable diagnostic indicator for GDM in the study population. None declared.

Effect of External Geomorphic Process on Ushongo Hills and its Environs, Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State

Effect of External Geomorphic Process on Ushongo Hills and its Environs, Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State

Assessment of Urban Dwellers on the Use of Selected Social Media Platforms in Propagating the Knowledge of Parkinson's Disease in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

This paper examined the assessment of urban dwellers on the use of selected social media platforms in propagating the knowledge of Parkinson's disease in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. Three research objectives, three research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and used a questionnaire structured by the researcher for data collection. A sample of 384 respondents was selected from the population of 851,186 in Ebonyi using a purposive sampling technique. The instrument for the data collection was face and content validated by three experts from the Department of Mass Communication who vetted it in terms of the coverage and adequacy of the contents of the questions. The reliability of the instrument was determined by subjecting it to a test of reliability in a trial testing using 20 respondents from Benue State, which was not part of the study area. The data collected were used to determine the reliability coefficient using the Cronbach alpha approach in the statistical package for social science (SPSS). The analysis gave the coefficient index of 0.81. The instrument was administered to the respondents with the help of three (3) research assistants who were graduates from the Department of Mass Communication and considered to have good knowledge of the area of study as well as requisite skills and ideas needed for the administration of the questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using percentages, mean and standard deviation. Percentage was used to present the demographic data while research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation, and the hypotheses were tested using regression at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that urban dwellers use the selected social media to propagate knowledge of events to a high extent; the selected social media platforms were used to propagate the knowledge of Parkinson's disease among urban dwellers to a low extent, and the aspects of knowledge of Parkinson's disease that the selected social media platforms were used to propagate among urban dwellers in Ebonyi state, Nigeria are meaning of Parkinson's disease, causes of Parkinson's disease and symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The study recommended, among other things, that the health sector, active smartphone users, government, non-governmental organizations, and other concerned groups should use different mechanisms to sensitize the public on the importance or benefits of using social media platforms for propagating knowledge of Parkinson's diseases.

Endogenous measures for stifling corruption within selected agricultural and food development projects in Benue State, North Central, Nigeria

Due to the increasing cases of failed agricultural intervention projects in Benue State, as a result of corruption and sharp practices, this study was carried out to investigate the effect of endogenous measures used for stifling corruption within selected agricultural intervention projects in Benue State, North Central, Nigeria. key players' attitudes toward stifling corruption were also studied. Agriculture is the mainstay of the Benue State populace, but regrettably, this sector has deteriorated, and it is barely an agent of development and empowerment because of the effect of corruption on it. A preliminary survey was carried out to identify and ascertain the existence of endogenous measures employed in stifling corruption in the three local government zones (A, B, and C) of Benue State. Consequently, zone ‘C’ was randomly selected. A total of 129 respondents from all of the selected agricultural intervention projects in the zone were used. Focus Group Discussions (FGD), In-depth interviews (IDIs) with key players, and structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The dimension of sharp practices in the selected agricultural development projects was more pronounced in allocating agricultural supplies to the farmers and less pronounced in bribery, influence peddling, pricing, and duty abandonment. FGD and IDIs with key players revealed that Ekaa or Okpa (oath taking), Aolode (local vigilante), Echi (protective charms), public denouncement, tying of palm frond leaves, Enumajeje (Mucuna pruriens), withdrawal of project from the community, and Onyonkpo (village cult) were the endogenous measures deployed to stifle corruption in the selected agricultural development projects. These various endogenous measures deployed by some key players of the selected agricultural development projects to curb sharp practices significantly prevented intended culprits from indulging in deviant behavior for fear of its instant judgment on culprits. It is recommended based on the findings that endogenous measures should be encouraged to complement the government's efforts and the crude aspects of the measures conflicting with natural justice should be ejected.

Malaria Diagnosis at the Pediatric Emergency Unit of a Teaching Hospital in Makurdi, North Central Nigeria.

Globally, there were 241 million cases of malaria in 2020, with an estimated 627,000 deaths with Nigeria accounting for 27% of the global malaria cases. In sub-Saharan Africa, testing is low with only 28% of children with a fever receiving medical advice or a rapid diagnostic test in 2021. In Nigeria, there are documented reports of over-diagnosis and over-treatment of malaria in children. Therefore, this study examined the diagnosis of malaria at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi. A 5-year (2018-2022) retrospective study was carried out at the Emergency Pediatric Unit (EPU). Records of all children presenting to the EPU with an assessment of malaria were retrieved and reviewed. Data was analyzed using SPSS 23. Out of 206 children reviewed, 128 (62.1%) were tested using either malaria RDT or microscopy while 78(37.9%) were not tested. Out of the number tested, 59(46.1%) were negative while 69(53.9%) tested positive, of which 14(20.3%) had uncomplicated malaria while 55(79.7%) had severe malaria. However, while 97.1% (n=67) of the positive cases were treated with IV artesunate, 69.5% (n=41) of those who tested negative and 88.5% (69) of those who were not tested also received IV artesunate. Moreover, while 85.5% (n=59) of those who tested positive received oral artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), 72.9% (n=43) of those who tested negative and 67.9% (53) of those who were not tested also received oral ACT. There was over-diagnosis of malaria, and subsequently, over-treatment. Hence continued emphasis on parasitological confirmation of malaria before treatment is recommended.

Causes and Effect of Out-Migration in Rural Areas of Benue State, Nigeria

The study assessed the effect of out-migration from rural settlements in Benue State, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to examine the causes, effect and control of migration in rural settlements of the study area. A total of 1202 respondents were selected from rural communities in 5 Local Government Area of the State. The study used multi-stage sampling technique involving purposive, simple random, judgement and snowball sampling techniques in selecting the communities and the respondents. Data were obtained via questionnaire. Frequencies and percentages were used for data analysis while tables were used for data presentation. The study found that 60.1% of the respondents are male. Most of the respondents (23.7%) are within age 50-54 years. Majority of the respondents are married (79.8%) and have households that have migrated to other places in Nigeria and beyond. The major causes of migration include unemployment (99.8%), inadequate educational institutions (97.2%), village hardship and crises (69.2%), lack of social amenities (6.7%) and insecurity/crises in rural areas. The major effect of out-migration includes reduction in labour supply, increased in demand for labour (97.1%), high cost of labour (99.8%), decreased in farm size (99.5%), decreased in productivity (99.7) and decreased in income (99.7%) in rural areas. Migration also causes low social economic growth and development in rural areas. The study recommends some major strategies for making the rural areas attractive to minimise youth migration in the State. These includes mechanization of agriculture, establishing agro-based industries, creating employment opportunities, provision of social amenities and ensuring adequate security of life and properties in rural areas of the State.

FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES' SUPPORT AS CORRELATES OF JOB PERFORMANCE AMONG NON-TEACHING STAFF OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN BENUE STATE: IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNSELLING

The study investigated how family, friends and colleagues' support as correlates with job performance of non-teaching staff of public universities in Benue State for counselling implications. The study adopted a correlation research design. The population comprises 2,703 non-teaching staff from three public universities in Benue State: Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University in Makurdi, Benue State University in Makurdi, and the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo. The sample size for the study was 348 non-teaching staff. The sample was selected using proportionate stratified and accidental sampling techniques. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled “"Family Support, Friend's Support, and Colleagues' Support, and Job Performance Questionnaire" (FSFSCSJPQ). The questionnaire was validated by experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was established using Cronbach Alpha method which yielded coefficients of 0.81 and 0.84 for sections A and B respectively. Data collected for the study were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The study's findings revealed that there is a high positive relationship between family support and job performance of non-teaching staff of public universities in Benue State, and that the relationship was significant. It was also found that, friends’ support and colleagues’ support had a high and significant positive relationship with job performance of non-teaching staff of public universities in Benue State. The study concluded that support networks, including family, friends, and colleagues; significantly contribute to the enhanced job performance of non-teaching staff in public universities in Benue State. Recommendations were made that public universities should organize employee assistance programs and workshops on communication and interpersonal skills using counsellors as facilitators to help build and maintain support networks and public universities in Benue State should establish or expand Counselling services for their non-teaching staff that can address both personal and professional challenges that may affect their job performance.

Possibility of Enhancing Students’ Academic Performance in Electrolysis Using Collaborative-Predict-Observe-Explain-Write (CPOEW) and 3E’s Learning Models

This research investigated the possibility of enhancing senior secondary school students’ academic performance in electrolysis using Collaborative-Predict-Observe-Explain-Write (CPOEW) and Exploration, Explanation and Evaluation (3E’s) learning models. The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design. Electrolysis Performance Test (EPT) was the instrument used for data collection. Kuder-Richardson (KR-21) formula was used to test the internal consistency of EPT which yielded a reliability value of 0.91. The population was 7,152 SS2 students offering chemistry in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. A sample of 143 students drawn from 3 schools in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria was selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The research questions were answered using Mean and Standard Deviation scores while the null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using results from Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The study revealed that there was significant difference in the mean academic performance of students taught Electrolysis using CPOEW, 3E’s model and discussion method [F2, 140=1943.116, P&lt;0.05]. The study revealed that there was no significant interaction effect of treatments and gender on the mean academic performance scores of students in electrolysis [F2, 140=114.340, P&lt;0.05]. It was recommended among others that to enhance students’ academic performance in electrolysis, serving teachers should be encouraged to use CPOEW and 3E’s learning models in teaching electrolysis.

Perceived Impact of Personality Traits on the Academic Performance of Students in Biology

The study examined the perceived impact of personality traits on the academic performance of biology students in Makurdi, a local government area of Benue State, Nigeria. Three research questions were raised and two hypotheses were also formulated and tested. The research design adopted for this study was a descriptive survey design. The study sample comprises 384 students who were randomly selected from the total population of 9,748 students of the 20 government secondary schools in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The instruments used for data collection in this study were the Five-Factor Inventory Questionnaire (FFIQ) for personality traits and “The Biology Performance Test (BPT)” for academic performance. The data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while ANOVA statistics and t-tests were used to test the hypotheses at a .05 significance level. The findings revealed that there was no significant mean difference in the five personality traits of students and the personality traits of Biology students had no significant relationship with their performance in the subject. Also, there was no significant difference in the mean performance of students in each of the five personality traits based on gender. The findings further revealed no significant difference in students’ personality traits according to gender and no significant difference in the performance of students who were offered biology according to gender. This study recommends that Special attention be paid to improving the performance of students in Biology in Makurdi to strike an association between the traits. Also, male and female students should be given equal opportunities in biology since there is no gender difference in their personality traits and academic performance.