Government Area Of Delta State Research Articles

English Language Teaching and Learning in Secondary Schools in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State: Problems and Prospects

This paper studied the problems of teaching and learning English as a second language in junior school certificate examination in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State. The study sought to establish the extent to which students in Junior Secondary School and teachers should value English as the language of instruction. The framework adopted is the behaviorist theory of bilingualism. The simple percentage method of data analysis was employed to analyze data. The population comprised students in junior secondary schools in Ozoro precisely the students of Opute Grammar School, Ozoro and Heroes Group of Schools, Ozoro both in Delta State of Nigeria. The sample size was 100, and the instrument for data collection was the questionnaire which was tested and retested on some other students to ensure that it was reliable. It was found out that the majority of the students consider the English language a difficult subject because of their inability to understand every aspect, which the English language entails. It was also found out among others that the level of infiltration of mother tongue into the respondents’ English is very high. This research recommended that good reading habits should be developed in the students and also well-equipped libraries should be provided in the schools and communities in order to improve better performance in their study of English language. It concluded that the problems of teaching and learning English as a second language is as a result of the impact of mother’s tongue, inadequate textbooks, poor language background and lack of professional growth and development of teachers. If these discovered factors are not checked there will be a drastic decline in standard of education.

Empirical assessment of fuel-wood induced carbon footprint in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria

Most studies of carbon footprint (CFP) in relation to climate change focus on the generation of greenhouse gases (GHG) by human activities such as electricity, industrialization and transportation in urban areas with little attention on rural areas. Against this background, this study aims to identify sources of Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, and estimate the amount of CFP generated through fuel-wood consumption in Udu LGA of Delta State, Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained from a sample of 200 households in four (4) rural settlements chosen randomly from 32 villages. Mixed survey technique which involved questionnaires, field observations and measurement were employed to collect data for the study. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation Analysis and calculation of CFP. The study reveals that the major source of CO2 emission was fuel wood (82.0%), which is used for various domestic and production activities with an average of 39.58kg consumed by each sampled household; thus, generating between 7.24314 MT daily. The amount of CFP also varies directly with the sizes of the sampled households. The study recommends that alternative sources of clean energy should be developed and utilized for sustainable development of the environment and mitigation of climate change phenomenon.

Effect of Computer Assisted Instruction on Mathematics achievement among Secondary School Students in Delta State, Nigeria

The study investigated the effect of computer assisted instruction in Mathematics achievement among secondary school students in Delta State. Two research questions were raised and two hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted the pre-test, post-test, non-randomized control group design and the population of the study comprised of 1337 senior secondary school students in Aniocha South Local Government Area Delta State. Purposive sampling technique was used to select two public and two private schools to give a sample size of 141 students. The research instrument was the Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT). The. Kuder-Richardson Formula- 20 yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.80. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, t-test and ANCOVA statistics. The study revealed, that there was a significant difference between the mean achievement scores of students taught mathematics with computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) method and those taught using the lecture method. A significant difference was found in the mean scores of Mathematics students taught with computer assisted instruction based on their gender. It was concluded that computer assisted instruction method is an effective method for improving students’ mathematics achievement in secondary school students in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State. It is therefore recommended that computer assisted instruction should be applied in the teaching of Mathematics in senior secondary schools in Delta State to improve academic achievements. Keywords: Mathematics Academic Achievement, Computer Assisted Instruction, Academic Abilities, High Academic Ability, Low Academic Ability

Prevalence of Occupational Burnout among Healthcare Workers in Government-owned Health Facilities in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria

Introduction: One of the serious issues facing global health care systems, patient care, and patient safety is burnout among health care workers which is a psychological condition affecting people who work at a job for a prolonged period of time and are exposed to interpersonal and emotional pressures. This study evaluated the prevalence of occupational burnout among health care workers in government-owned health facilities in Delta State, Nigeria.
 Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted for this investigation. Stratified (proportionate) random sampling was adopted and the questionnaire was self-administered to 140 respondents. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), was used to measure the prevalence of occupational burnout.
 Results: Burnout scores were divided into low, average, and high categories. Out of the 140 study subjects, 113 (80.7%) were females and 27 (19.3%) were males giving a male to female ratio of 1:4.0. The workplace morbidity/lifestyle of respondents revealed that 6 (4.3%) were diagnosed with health problems prior to commencement of their current job and 38 (27.1%) were diagnosed with health problems on their current job. The majority of the respondents had musculoskeletal pain while 7.9% of the respondents had diabetes mellitus. As a result of stress in the workplace, 72 (51.4%) were overeating, 40 (28.6%) were inactive, 2 (1.4%) had increased use of alcohol. The findings in this study indicated that workload (30.7%) and shift work (20.0%) were the major sources of occupational burnout experienced by the HCWs with the overall prevalence of occupational burnout at 45.0%.
 Conclusion: The study suggests the need for policy intervention from the health authorities of the state hospitals and the PHCs with regards to improving staff welfare, improving work family balance and effective family support from the family to reduce occupational burnout among HCWs.

Impact of rural water supply and sanitation project in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State

Impact of rural water supply and sanitation project in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State

Distance to School and Students’ Mathematics Achievement in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State

Distance to School and Students’ Mathematics Achievement in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State

Factors Associated with Vegetable Consumption among Pregnant Women Attending Primary Health Care Facilities in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria

Factors Associated with Vegetable Consumption among Pregnant Women Attending Primary Health Care Facilities in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria

Community Leadership, Development and Broadcast Media

The main purpose of this research work is to find out the place of the mass media and opinion leaders in community development, using a study of Aniocha-North local government area of Delta State as a case in point. The method employed in gathering information for this study is the survey method of data collection using questionnaire and personal interview as primary sources while the use of journals, books, libraries, schools etc formed the secondary source of at collection. It was discovered that information from the mass media gets to members of Aniocha community through opinion leaders. Lazarfied and others said was true in Anicha community as it related to the community development of the town. Finally, since it is believed by the rural dwellers that mass media has not done any thing positive to change lives, the mass media should create the sense of identification through the propagation of common cultural value and symbol and by giving desirable interpretation of event.

Interpersonal and Informational Justices as Correlates of the Whistle-Blowers’ Intentions in Nigeria

This study examined whether interpersonal and informational justices are correlates of whistle-blowers’ intentions among selected local government areas in Delta State, Nigeria. In this study, two dimensions of organizational justice (interpersonal and informational justices) were used. In order to carry out the study, questionnaires were administered to employees in six local government areas and data obtained were analyzed via descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. On the basis of the analysis, it was found that while there is a significant relationship between interpersonal distributive justice and whistle-blowers’ intentions, an insignificant relationship was found between informational justices and whistle-blowers’ intentions. Thus, only interpersonal justice serve as a correlate of the whistle-blowers’ intentions. The study recommended the integration of internal disclosures via code of ethics and honesty reporting to support whistle-blowers as well as in silencing and/or punishing the whistle-blowers via retaliatory measures put in place by management of public sector.

Evaluation of Noise Pollution Levels in Selected Markets and Motor Parks in Delta State, Nigeria

Background: The control of environmental noise pollution has been hampered by lack of sufficient knowledge of its effect on human. Noise pollution is associated with several health conditions and affects both health and behavior. This study evaluated the noise pollution level in selected market and motor parks in local government areas in Delta State. Methods: The physical parameters were measured using a digital sound level meter and a mobilebased global positioning system (GPS), in September 2021. To determine noise pollution all over the city, the noise measurements were collected in the morning and evening. The selected areas of the study were market places, road junctions/busy roads and passenger loading parks. The noise pollution levels were measured in Ogwashi-Uku Market, Ogwashi-Uku Motor Park, Nwasi Motor Park, Ibusa Market, Central Motor Park Asaba, Delta Line Park Asaba, Onitsha Park and Oko Market Asaba. Results: The results showed that the average pollution level in the morning hours were 89.33, 90.1, 90.3, 91.72, 86.59, 90.11, 92.15 and 90.3 dB in Ogwashi-Uku Market, Ogwashi-Uku Motor Park, Nwasi Motor Park, Ibusa Market, Central Motor Park Asaba, Delta Line Park Asaba, Onitsha Park and Oko market Asaba, respectively. In the evening, the corresponding measured values were 83.65, 74.90, 90.04, 90.90, 85.07, 83.44 and 91.79 dB respectively. These values were higher than the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) standard limits for outdoor environment. Conclusion: The people who are working and living in the areas under study may be at risk of noise related health hazard due to continuous daily exposure.

Manpower Development and Employee Commitment in Selected Local Government Areas in Delta State

Nigerian local governments have been investing in employee training and manpower development over the years to improve the institutions' overall performance and level of dedication. This is because it is acknowledged that training and workforce development play a critical role in achieving organizational goals and objectives. Thus, in a few Delta State local government units, this study looked at the relationship between employee commitment and manpower development. Using a self-administered questionnaire, 390 employees provided data, and the Taro Yamane method was used to calculate the sample size. With the help of the Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) version 23.0, the collected data was analyzed using percentages and frequency, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and linear and multiple regression. The results showed that employee commitment (affective commitment, continuance commitment, and normative commitment) was highly influenced by manpower development. The study came to the conclusion that employee commitment and manpower development increase organizational effectiveness. Therefore, in order to effectively improve employee performance and organizational effectiveness, policies that enhance workplace commitments and duties must be promoted. Therefore, among other recommendations made by the study, the management of Delta State's Local Government Councils should set up programmes for staff members' professional and personal growth. This means making long-term plans for career development initiatives. Employee commitment (affective, continuance, and normative commitments) will be greatly increased as a result, and employees will be able to meet their goals.

The Motivational Challenges of Teachers in Junior Secondary Schools in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State

This paper investigated and identifies the key factors influencing teacher motivation in in Junior Secondary Schools in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State. The study aimed at identifying the motivational challenges of Junior Secondary School teacher in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State. The paper adopted the qualitative research approach a descriptive research design and sampled ten (10) teachers selected from five schools with two teachers selected from each school. Primary data was used in the study and data was collected using interviews and the data was analyzed using thematic analysis based on the objectives and research questions of the study. The paper concluded that the current motivational techniques used by the ministry of education and the Nigerian education service are ineffective. The paper concluded that, intrinsic motivations like teachers enjoy teaching as a profession that gives them great deal of satisfaction, teaching giving teachers recognition and respect, teaching giving teachers a sense of control over others and teaching making teachers more useful in the society increase the moral of teachers to a lower extent. The paper also concluded that, extrinsic motivation such as teachers receiving low salaries, lack of free accommodation, lack of prompt payment of salaries, lack of recognition and difficulty in getting financial assistance in difficult times does not increase teachers’ moral to a large extent. The paper also concluded that, the motivational techniques used by the Nigerian education service in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State include the fact that, teacher promotions are based on the number of years of teaching in the school and not on performance, teachers are not rewarded for putting in extra efforts in teaching, headmasters/mistresses punish teachers when they go wrong and teachers are not allowed to take part in key decision making. The paper concluded that, teachers are not motivated by the motivational techniques used by the Nigerian Education Service and in addition, teachers do not also feel the urge to remain teaching in their various schools because of the existing motivational used in their schools. The paper recommended that, the ministry of education of Nigeria should to immediate steps to implement actionable and immediate solutions including recognition of good work done, payment of competitive salaries and involvement of teachers in decision making. To improve on motivation and reduce teacher dissatisfaction and improve job morale, the study recommended that both the Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria education service and the ministry of education should make efforts to find out what motivate each teacher since different teachers have different backgrounds, personal attitudes and expectations and efforts must be made to provide such motivational needs to all teachers in the Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Influence of Workplace Flexibility on the Satisfaction of Employees: A Study of Selected Local Government Areas in Delta State, Nigeria

This study investigated the influence of workplace flexibility on the satisfaction of employees in selected Local Government Areas in Delta State of Nigeria. The study employed the social exchange theory and identified two workplace flexibility dimensions (compressed work-weeks and job-sharing) so as to see their influence on employees’ satisfaction. The survey design was used and one hundred and eighty (180) questionnaires were administered on employees of eight (8) local government areas’ headquarters in Delta State, Nigeria. The analysis of data entailed descriptive statistics (frequency counts, simple percentages, mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum values and Pearson correlation); diagnostic statistics (variance inflation factor and Breusch-Pagan and Cook-Weisberg) and inferential statistics (simple regression). The simple regression results revealed that workplace flexibility dimensions of job-sharing (F-value = 9.44; p-value = 0.0000) and compressed work-weeks (F-value = 14.01; p-value = 0.0000) had significant positive influence on the satisfaction of employees. On the basis of the findings, it was recommended that management of local government areas should strive towards ensuring increased flexibility in the workplace; this can be realized by making sure that employees are accorded decreased work-weeks while at the same time, job role among the workforce should be adequately jointly or collective done.

Sampling efficiency and screening of Aedes albopictus for yellow fever virus in Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Aedes albopictus, like Aedes aegypti, is a virulent vector of arboviruses especially the well-documented spread of yellow fever around the world. Although yellow fever is prevalent in Nigeria, there is a paucity of information in the Niger Delta region on the distribution of Aedes mosquito vectors and molecular detection of the virus in infected mosquitoes. This study sampled Aedes mosquitoes around houses associated with farms from four communities (Otolokpo, Ute-Okpu, Umunede, and Ute Alohen) in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. various sampling methods were used in Aedes mosquito collection to test their efficacy in the survey. Mosquitoes in holding cages were killed by freezing and morphologically identified. A pool of 15 mosquitoes per Eppendorf tube was preserved in RNAi later for yellow fever virus screening. Two samples were molecularly screened for each location. seven hundred and twenty-five (725) mosquitoes were obtained from the various traps. The mean abundance of the mosquitoes was highest in m-HLC (42.9) compared to the mosquitoes sampled using other techniques (p<0.0001). The mean abundance of mosquitoes was lowest in Center for Disease Control (CDC) light traps without attractant (0.29). No yellow fever virus strain was detected in all the mosquitoes sampled at the four locations. this study suggests that Aedes albopictus are the mosquitoes commonly biting around houses associated with farms. More so, yellow fever virus was not detected in the mosquitoes probably due to the mass vaccination exercise that was carried out the previous year in the study area. More studies are required using the m-HLC to determine the infection rate in this endemic area.

A Comparative Study on the Effectiveness of Traditional and Computer-Assisted Instruction Methods in Determining Students’ Achievement on Graph Plotting

The study aimed at examining the effectiveness of traditional and computer-assisted instruction methods in determining students’ achievement on graph plotting in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was employed and 140 students randomly chosen from the senior secondary schools in the LGA made up the study sample. The chosen students were split into two groups of 70 students each using stratified sampling. The first group served as the experimental group while the second group the control group, were taught graph plotting using computer-assisted instruction and traditional instruction methods respectively. The study took five weeks, and a null and alternative hypothesis was formulated to guide the study. The Teacher Made Test (TMT) on graph plotting was developed as the instrument of the study to assess students’ achievement on graph plotting within the two groups. A reliability of 0.8 was yielded for the instrument using Richard Kuderson-21. The data obtained from the instrument was treated with t-test of independence at p ≤0.05 level of significance, and the results showed that students who received computer-assisted instruction had significantly higher improvement in their mean test scores. The study thus fills a research gap that informs the improvement of the method employed in teaching graph plotting, thereby enhancing students’ performance in secondary school science education. The research recommends the incorporation of computer-assisted instructions in the pedagogy of graph plotting in the science education of secondary school students across Delta State, Nigeria.

Information needs and seeking behaviour of police officers in Ughelli-North Local Government Area of Delta State

Information needs and seeking behaviour of police officers in Ughelli-North Local Government Area of Delta State

Infrastructural Facilities and Supervision: Strategies for Effective Management of Nursery Schools in Ika North East

This work focused on the infrastructural facilities and supervision of instruction as strategies for effective management of nursery schools in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State. The research design was ex-post-facto. In carrying out the research 180 teachers were selected from 20 nursery school. The instrument used for eliciting information from the respondents was questionnaire titled strategies for effective management questionnaire (SEMQ). The statistical tool employed was the chi-square. Some of the findings of the study revealed that adequate infrastructural facilities lead to effective management of nursery school, effective use of infrastructural facilities lead to effective management of nursery schools and adequate supervision of instruction leads to effective management of nursery schools. The researcher recommended that adequate infrastructural facilities should be made available in schools, because these facilities help to make learning easy and significant, promote meaningful teaching and learning and consequently, promote the standard of education in the country and there should be adequate supervision of instruction in both public and private nursery schools with a view to improve the management of schools.

Estimation of transfer factor from soil to cassava in Ethiope East, Delta State, Nigeria

Cassava is a very important staple food crop in Delta state. The aim of this research is to assess the activity concentration level and determine the transfer factor of radionuclide from soil to cassava in Ethiope Local Government Area of Delta state, Nigeria. The activity concentration of 40K, 238U and 232Th in soil and cassava samples collected from the study area were analysed using gamma spectrometry. A lead-shielded 3 x 3 inch coaxial type Sodium Iodide Thallium [NaI(TI)] doped detector crystal (Model No. 802 series, Canberra Inc.) coupled to a Canberra series multichannel Analyzer (MCA) (Model N0.1104) through a preamplifier was used. The results of the activity concentration in soil samples indicate that, 40K has the highest mean activity concentration ((38.66 ± 3.69) BqKg−1) with the highest value ((62.47 ± 5.67) BqKg−1) recorded at E2. The mean activity concentrations of 238U and 232Th are 3.65 ± 0.90 BqKg−1 and 0.46 ± 0.05 BqKg−1respectively. The peak values of 238U and 232Th are 5.07 ± 1.17 BqKg−1 and 0.98 ± 0.11 BqKg−1. From cassava, 40K varies from 75.06 to 200.08 BqKg−1 with the highest mean activity concentration of 99.62 ± 8.32 BqKg−1 and 200.08 ± 14.90 BqKg−1 as the highest value noted at C5. The mean activity concentrations of 238U and 232Th are 3.89 ± 0.93 BqKg−1 and 0.81 ± 0.09 BqKg−1 respectively. The maximum values of 238U and 232Th determined from the computation from cassava samples are 11.10 ± 2.48 BqKg−1 and 1.70 ± 0.18 BqKg−1. The results of this study show that the activity concentration of 40K, 238U and 232Th in the study area are lower than world average values of 420, 30 and 35 BqKg-1 in soil and cassava respectively, and it is therefore not harmful if consumed. The mean transfer factor of 40K, 238U and 232Th from soil to cassava are 3.12 ± 0.44, 0.95 ± 0.31 and 2.96 ± 0.91 respectively. The range of values of 40K, 238U and 232Th varied as 1.41 to 5.82, BDL to 2.98 and 0.21 to 9.35 correspondingly. Peak values of the TF were noted as 5.82 for 40K at E8, C8, 2.98 for 238U at at E9, C9 and 9.35 for 232Th at E9, C9. The high value of TR is accredited to the richness of the organic matter in the soil. The quick recycling of natural radionuclides through the soil-cassava suggests the presence of an internal cycling that help the build-up of the natural radionuclides.

Pattern of Vegetable Consumption among Pregnant Women Attending Primary Health Care Facilities in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria

Aim: Vegetables provide key nutrients essential to promoting and maintaining good health. This study aimed to determine the perception of the importance and pattern of vegetable consumption among pregnant women attending Primary Health Care facilities in Patani Local Government Area (L.G.A) of Delta State, Nigeria.&#x0D; Study Design: A population-based descriptive cross-sectional survey of 368 pregnant women aged 15-49 years was conducted in Patani L.G.A, Plateau State, Nigeria using a multi-stage cluster random sampling design.&#x0D; Methodology: Data were collected by face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) data were used to estimate habitual frequency of intake of dark green leafy vegetable for previous 7 days.&#x0D; Results: Of the 368 pregnant women, age group 21-25 years and 26-30 years with prevalence of 95 (25.8%) and 90 (24.5%) respectively were the highest age groups. Two hundred and twenty-one (60.1%) agree that a maternal diet rich in vegetables and eaten during pregnancy reduces risk of gestational diabetes, hypertension, preterm birth and foetal growth restriction, and the perception of the respondents was high. Ugu leaf 257 (69.8%), Bitter leaf 173 (47.0%) and water leaf 151 (41.0%) were the most available vegetable in the respondent’s community. 19% of the respondents did not consume vegetable, 26.6% consumed vegetable seven times and 13.9% consumed vegetables three times in the last 7 days prior to the study. The mean frequency of vegetable consumption is 11.6%. 55% of respondents put vegetables into food towards the end of cooking the food. 33.4% of the respondents spent N 150- N 200 to purchase vegetable to cook.&#x0D; Conclusion: Vegetable consumption is highly nutritious especially during pregnancy. Its pattern of consumption varies depending on the perception of its importance, educational status, age group, types of vegetable available and the financial power of purchase.

Awareness of the effects of small-scale cassava mill effluent on the environment in Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria.

The threat of environmental pollution in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta region, cannot be solely ascribed to oil spillages; rather, it also encompasses the discharge of cassava mill effluent (CME), frequently disposed off in an unregulated manner. Existing studies on CME have focused on its potential environmental consequences on soil characteristics, microbial populations, and heavy metal levels. There is limited study on the awareness of the impact of CME on the environment. Thus, this study contributes to the literature on CME by examining the awareness of its effect on the environment in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. The study used interviews, observation, and questionnaires administered to 399 respondents for data collection. A Student t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation were employed to analyse the data in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Results revealed limited awareness, with 51.3% unaware of CME's environmental impact. Slight, moderate, and extreme awareness were reported by 7.5%, 17.3%, and 23.8%, respectively. Gender's influence on awareness was insignificant, but age showed a significant influence (p < 0.05), while education, occupation, and income correlated positively with awareness (p < 0.001). The source of information significantly predicted awareness (r = -0.727, p < 0.001). It indicates that gender's influence on awareness might depend on education levels. Socio-economic factors are strongly related to awareness. Reliable information sources are vital for understanding CME's environmental impact. The study underscores the need for enhanced environmental education and reliable information dissemination to promote sustainable practices.