Nnamdi Azikiwe University Journals
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Gender Effect on Students’ Academic Performance in Block-laying and Concrete Works in Technical Colleges in Edo State
No full textThis study examined the gender effect on students’ academic performance in block-laying and concrete works in technical colleges in Edo State. One research question was raised to guide the study and one hypothesis formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. No sampling technique used, due to the manageable size of the population. The research instrument was subjected to test-retest reliability test technique. The reliability coefficient was calculated using Cronbach-Alpha coefficient which yielded reliability value of 0.64. The data collected were analyzed using Mean and Standard Deviation and t-test. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the research question and t-test was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The results of the study showed that although the male students had slightly better performance compared to the female students, it was not significant. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that Parents are encouraged to provide the right education they can afford for their children irrespective of gender. Also, there should be a deliberate Federal Government policy to encourage absorbance of female students into further studies in block-laying and concrete works
Assessing Preservice Teachers’ Challenges and Training Needs for Teaching Children with Special Educational Needs in Nigerian Regular Classes
No full textThe quality of teachers is critical to the successful implementation of inclusive education. However, many teachers in Nigeria have reported low confidence in teaching children with special needs. Despite this, limited research has investigated the challenges and training needs of preservice teachers within the Nigerian context. This study explored the experiences of preservice teachers during their practicum, particularly on the challenges they encountered, and their training needs. The phenomenological qualitative approach was employed as a research design. Data were collected through focus group discussions. The sample size consisted of 40 purposively sampled preservice teachers from two colleges of education in Zamfara State. The findings from the study revealed that challenges encountered by preservice teachers in teaching students with special needs include inadequate training in inclusive practices, communication difficulties, poor infrastructure, and low inclusive self-efficacy. Participants also reported the need for practical teaching exposure, specialized communication, and better access to inclusive education resources. These point to the need to strengthen teacher education programmes for inclusive education. We recommend, among others, that the teacher training curriculum be revised to incorporate hands-on experiences for inclusive educatio
Mechanism for Enhancing Cost Effective Budgeting for Construction Project Delivery in Anambra State
No full textThe study determined Mechanisms for enhancing cost effective budgeting for construction project delivery in Anambra State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Three research questions guided the study and the population comprised 101 registered builders in Anambra State. Census sampling technique was used for the study. The instrument for the study was a structured questionnaire on 4-point Likert scale. The instrument was validated by three experts who are lecturers in the Faculty of Technology and Vocational Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Cronbach Alpha was utilized to determine the reliability coefficient of the instrument which yielded 0.81 which was considered good enough for the study. Mean was used to analyze the data obtained in accordance with the research questions. Findings from the study show that effective monitoring of project suppliers, effective time management among others were the mechanisms that could enhance cost effective budgeting in Anambra State. It was therefore recommended among others that construction manager should work on their spending plans and ensure that tasks are completed as at when due
Academic Resilience, Academic Stress, and Emotional Regulation as Predictors of Secondary School Students\u27 Achievement in Chemistry in Anambra State
No full textThis study investigates the relationship between academic resilience, academic stress, emotional regulation, and chemistry achievement among secondary school students in Anambra State, Nigeria. Correlational survey research design was employed with a sample of 420 senior secondary school students (SS2) selected through stratified random sampling from government schools across three education zones with a total population of 27,530 SS2 students enrolled in the 148 public schools in the zones. Data were collected using standardized instruments: the Academic Resilience Scale (ARS-30), Perceived Academic Stress Scale (PASS), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), and Chemistry Achievement Test (CAT). Multiple regression analysis revealed that academic resilience (β = 0.42, p < 0.001) positively predicted chemistry achievement, while academic stress (β = -0.31, p < 0.001) negatively predicted achievement. Adaptive emotional regulation strategies (β = 0.28, p < 0.01) positively predicted chemistry achievement, while maladaptive strategies (β = -0.19, p < 0.05) showed a negative relationship. Together, these variables accounted for 47% of the variance in chemistry achievement. Significant gender differences were found in academic resilience and adaptive emotional regulation, with female students scoring higher. The study concludes that interventions aimed at enhancing academic resilience, reducing academic stress, and promoting adaptive emotional regulation may improve chemistry achievement among secondary school students. The findings highlight the importance of psychological factors in science education and recommended the integration of psychological interventions into chemistry education to enhance student achievemen
AESTHETICS AND ONTOLOGY: THE PHILOSOPHICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ARTS AND CULTURE
No full textThis paper investigates the role of art and culture in deepening our understanding of what it means to exist. It centres on a key question: How does engaging with aesthetics reveal who we are and the essence of our being? While ontology has traditionally approached the nature of reality through abstract reasoning and logical analysis, this research contends that art and cultural expression provide an equally vital lens through which being can be experienced and interpreted. Using Phenomenological method, the paper aims to demonstrate that aesthetic forms are not mere reflections of the world, but powerful forces that shape our perception and self-understanding. Employing conceptual clarification and logical analysis, it explores fundamental concepts such as aesthetic engagement, personal and collective identity, embodiment, and the ontological significance of artistic experience. By examining literature, visual arts, and cultural rituals, the study highlights how aesthetic practices uncover layers of human existence often overlooked by rational or empirical methods. A central insight is that aesthetics is not simply ornamental, it is revelatory. Artistic and cultural expressions expose often-invisible aspects of our lives: emotions, identities, temporal awareness, and our embeddedness in particular contexts. They invite us to recognize ourselves not merely as detached thinkers, but as active participants in the ongoing construction of meaning. The paper ultimately argues that any serious philosophical inquiry into human existence must recognize the aesthetic dimension as essential. Rather than existing on the margins of philosophical thought, art and culture stand at its heart, shaping the way we encounter, interpret, and inhabit reality. 
HEALING BEYOND SCIENCE: THE ROLE OF ART AND HUMANITIES IN MEDICINE
No full textThis paper examines the vital role of the arts and humanities in enriching medical practice and expanding the scope of healing beyond scientific intervention. While biomedicine prioritizes diagnosis, treatment, and technological advancement, it often falls short in addressing the emotional, psychological, and existential needs of patients. Drawing on disciplines such as literature, visual art, music, philosophy, and medical ethics, this study highlights how these fields cultivate empathy, enhance communication skills, and foster reflective practice among healthcare professionals. Through a multidisciplinary lens, the paper underscores the transformative potential of integrating humanistic approaches into healthcare education and practice. The study also utilizes concepts like symbolism, bioethics, meditation and the chakra system to lay the groundwork in understanding how medicine exists symbiotically with art and humanities. The findings advocate for a more holistic model of medicine- one that balances scientific rigor with compassionate, person-centred care, ultimately promoting healing that addresses both body and spirit. 
OPTIMIZING THE CONDUCTIVITY OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE IN A DYE SENSITIZED SOLAR CELL THROUGH SENSITIZER AGEING
No full textThe increasing global need for energy and the depletion of fossil fuel reserves necessitate the development of clean alternative energy sources. Among the approaches for harnessing solar energy and converting it into electricity, the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) represents one of the most promising methods for future large-scale power production from renewable energy sources. In these cells, the sensitizer is one of the key components, harvesting the solar radiation and converting it into electric current. The electrochemical, photo physical, and molecular electronic properties of the sensitizer play an important role for charge transfer dynamics at the semiconductor interface. The use of expensive ruthenium metals, derived from scarce natural resources for dye sensitized solar cells fabrication corresponds to a relatively heavy environmental burden, hence the necessity to use natural dyes as alternative sensitizers with appreciable efficiencies. In this researched paper, some natural dye samples were used in DSSC fabrication. The dye samples were tested using ageing technique for improved cell performance. The UV-Vis analysis proved that the aged samples has improved absorbance in the visible and near infra-red regions which are demonstrated in the photovoltaic properties. The fabricated solar cells sensitized with the aged dyes showed enhanced open-circuit voltage and efficiency
A STATISTICAL STUDY OF FERTILITY BEHAVIOUR AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS IN ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA
No full textThis study investigates the factors influencing fertility behaviors among civil servants in Anambra State, Nigeria, and evaluates the effectiveness of existing public policies in promoting work-life balance. A cross-sectional survey design was used, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. A sample of 482 civil servants was selected through stratified random sampling. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Generalized Linear Models (GLM) including Poisson and negative binomial regression, chi-square tests, and mixed-effect models to explore relationships between demographic variables and fertility outcomes. The findings reveal that fertility rates significantly differ by age, gender, and marital status, with civil servants aged 40-49 having the highest mean number of children (3.50). Poisson regression analysis identified age and marital status as significant predictors of fertility, with p-values less than 0.05, indicating their strong influence on the number of children ever born. Chi-square tests highlighted significant differences in family planning method preferences across demographic subgroups. Mixed-effect models, accounting for the clustering effect of location, further confirmed that age, gender, level of education, marital status, and location are significant predictors of fertility behavior. Negative binomial regression revealed that the timing of childbearing, its perceived importance in marriage, and societal pressure to have multiple children are key factors influencing fertility. The study concludes that targeted policy interventions are needed to address the specific fertility and family planning needs of civil servants, particularly those in the most fertile age groups. Recommendations include more flexible work arrangements and enhanced parental leave policies to better support the reproductive goals of civil servants, thereby improving work-life balance and job satisfaction
PARENTS\u27 AWARENESS AND RESPONSES TO SIBLINGS’ VICTIMIZATION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
No full textThis study investigates parents’ awareness and responses to sibling victimization of children with disabilities. Despite being a recurring issue in Nigerian households, there is limited data on this subject. Research indicates that children with disabilities are over three times more likely to be abused or neglected than their non-disabled peers and face a greater risk of serious harm. The study utilized a descriptive survey design, guided by four research questions. The population consisted of 121 parents of children with disabilities from four Special Schools in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo State. Data were collected using the Bystander Intervention on Bullying and Sexual Victimization Scale developed by Nickerson et al. (2014) and analyzed with SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science). Descriptive analysis included frequency and percentage. The findings revealed a significant incidence of sibling victimization among children with disabilities, with 90% of parents demonstrating a high level of awareness regarding the issue. 84.3% of respondents reported that their child with a disability experienced victimization by a sibling. The study recommended targeted intervention strategies and educational programs aimed at enhancing parental awareness and capacity to identify and effectively respond to sibling victimization. Such initiatives are essential for the safety and overall well-being of children with disabilities
Safeguarding the Sanctity of the Rule of Law and Human Rights in Counter-Terrorism Measures
No full textThe fight against terrorism requires the use of force. However the use of disproportionate forceundermines the very essence of human rights and may cause the violation of the rights of innocentcivilians and citizens. The grundnorm, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, isclear on basic rights such as the right not to be subjected to torture and inhumane treatment premisedon the principle of dignity of a person. Additionally, under the adversarial system which is obtainablein Nigeria, it is trite that everyone suspected of a crime remains innocent, until proven guilty and thesame applies to suspects of terrorism. In this light, this paper discusses the need to safeguard humanrights as well as the challenges of protecting human rights in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. Thepaper among other things highlights the dangers inherent in the use of undue force on a suspect ofterrorism especially when such a person eventually ends up being innocent. The paper equally maderecommendations as to the adoption of preventive measures that address the root causes of terrorismwhile safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals