Afe Babalola University Based Journals
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Citizens’ Perception on Gender Equity and Inclusion in Nigeria: Evidence from the 2024 National Social Cohesion Survey
Full text linkGender and social inclusion are key components of Nigeria's pursuit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, especially SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). This study examined citizens’ perception on gender equity in education, politics, and family inheritance. Federal Government efforts in promoting gender equality in Nigeria were rated, and gender equity in education across Southern and Northern Nigeria was equally examined. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design. The study population include all Nigerians aged 15 years and above. A sample size of 5,465 citizens was pooled from 36 States, including FCT. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed in line with study objectives using SPSS version 27. A substantial proportion, 87% of males and 88% of female Nigerian citizens, agreed and strongly agreed that boys and girls should have equal access to education. There is a significant difference (p < 0.001) between Northern and Southern Nigeria regarding the accessibility of boys and girls to education. Region-specific intervention is needed to achieve uniform progress towards gender and social inclusion. There is a need for increased policy enforcement and monitoring to ensure that the principle of educational equality is well established in all parts of Nigeria
Evaluating the Influence of Carbonization on the Essential Properties of Sawdust
Full text linkThis study evaluates the influence of carbonization on the essential physicochemical properties of sawdust to determine its suitability for bioenergy and material applications. Raw sawdust and its carbonized derivative (biochar), produced via pyrolysis at 600 °C for 5 hours, were analyzed for density, moisture content, volatile matter, ash content, particle size, water absorption capacity, uniformity index, and heat energy. Results show that carbonization significantly altered several key properties. Density decreased from an average of 154.16 kg/m³ to 112.02 kg/m³, while moisture content dropped from 12.41% to 7.31%, enhancing storage and combustion stability. Conversely, volatile matter, which was initially low in sawdust (mean: 3.93%), increased markedly to 37.79% in biochar, indicating higher reactivity. Ash content rose from 2.87% to 17.61%, reflecting the concentration of inorganic residues post-carbonization. Particle size was slightly reduced (from 0.3457 mm to 0.3317 mm), although this change was not statistically significant (p > .05). A major shift was observed in water absorption capacity, which almost doubled from 336.08% to 619.40%, indicating enhanced porosity due to pyrolysis. The heat energy content also increased significantly from 16.56 MJ/kg to 24.96 MJ/kg, confirming improved energy potential. The uniformity index remained medium across all samples, showing consistency in particle grading. Overall, carbonization positively influenced fuel properties such as energy content and moisture resistance, although trade-offs in ash content and density may limit applications requiring compactness or low residue. These findings support the tailored use of carbonized sawdust in energy generation and material enhancement depending on end-use requirements
Optimization of Biodiesel Production from corn and millet waste using Fenton nano catalyst
Full text linkThis study investigates the biodiesel production from corn and millet waste oil blend using a Fenton nano-catalyst. The influence of catalyst concentration, reaction time, agitation speed, methanol-to-oil molar ratio, and temperature on biodiesel yield was analyzed. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to optimize the process parameters and understand the interactions between them. A 2-level, five-factor factorial design was used to analyse the effects of these parameters on the yield of biodiesel. The optimized conditions were a reaction time of 3 hours, a temperature of 50°C, an agitation speed of 300 rpm, a methanol-to-oil ratio of 9:1, and a catalyst concentration of 1.5 wt%. Under these conditions, the maximum biodiesel yield achieved was 81% (v/v). The significance of this research is that the utilization of waste agricultural products to produce alternative fuel presents an alternative to fossil fuel usage, is comparatively competitive in engine performance tests, and has very good emission control, with promising performance and emission reduction benefits for industrial applications
Synthesis and Application of Starch-Modified Chitosan-Silver Nanoparticle Composite as Green Corrosion Inhibitor for Mild Steel in Acidic Media
Full text linkThe corrosion of mild steel in acidic environments presents a significant challenge across various industries, including oil and gas, chemical processing, and manufacturing. Traditional corrosion inhibitors, while effective, often contain toxic and environmentally harmful chemicals, prompting the need for sustainable alternatives. In this study, a novel green corrosion inhibitor composed of cassava starch-modified chitosan and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was synthesized, characterized and application for protecting mild steel in dilute hydrochloric acid medium. The study utilized starchy extracts from waste cassava peel with chitosan synthesized from snail shells combined with green synthesis of AgNPs using phytochemicals of starch extracts as a reducing and stabilizing agent to formulate a biopolymer composite inhibitor. The starch, chitosan, and AgNPs formulation blend was varied in ratios, and inhibition effectiveness evaluated through gravimetric analysis, electrochemical measurements, and surface characterization techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Findings, demonstrated that the starch-chitosan-AgNPs composite exhibited superior corrosion inhibition efficiency, reaching up to 97% at optimal starch concentrations. It also revealed that higher starch concentrations improved the inhibitor's performance due to increased surface coverage and adhesion. The inhibitor functioned by forming a protective film on the mild steel surface. The incorporation of AgNPs enhanced the inhibitor's stability and barrier properties, while the biopolymers provided biodegradability and non-toxicity. This work highlights the potential of biopolymer-based green inhibitors as sustainable alternatives to conventional corrosion inhibitors
Streaming Apps and Music Consumption among the Nigerian Youth
Full text linkMusic is an important part of the youth lifestyle and experience as it influences both their leisure and emotional well-being. Streaming applications such as Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music have revolutionised the way music is consumed offering unprecedented access to a vast array of genres and artists with the provision of personalised listening experiences through curated playlists and on demand access reshaping how the youth engage with music. This research examines the impact of these streaming applications on the youth’s music consumption with the theoretical framework built around the Uses and Gratification and the Technological Determinism theories. The descriptive survey design method was adopted with the use of questionnaire for data collection. One hundred and fifty respondents were randomly selected for the study with the data analysed using simple frequencies and percentages and presented in frequencies and percentages. Results indicate that streaming applications enhance music accessibility and variety allowing youths to explore new music effortlessly. However, challenges such as potential reduction in traditional music purchasing are also noted. The study recommends optimising streaming application usage by continually innovating interfaces and recommendation algorithms, thereby catering to diverse preferences and listening habits to foster greater engagement and loyalty among users
Graphicons as Functional Communication Tools in WhatsApp Interactions of UNILAG Undergraduates
Full text linkSocial media as a fast-growing mode of communication has disruptive tendencies that create language change in digital contexts. A global trend of language transformation from words to pictograms (graphicons) in digital communication is observed in messaging language use, usually initiated by the young people in online interactions which eventually becomes established. This paper examines the functional use of graphicons such as emoji, sticker, GIF and meme as effective communication tools in digital conversations. Specifically, the study aims at exploring usage trends and meaningful ways the visual icons are used to achieve communication goals with or without texts. Data was purposefully drawn from 309 screenshot messages obtained from the respective class representatives of the selected classes’ WhatsApp platforms of students in Accounting, Computer and Systems Engineering Departments of the University of Lagos. 203 google questionnaires and follow-up unstructured interviews were also used to collect data. Pragmatic analysis of data was conducted using the Gricean cooperative principles or conversational maxims as the theoretical underpinning. Results show that emoji and sticker in particular, are an intrinsic part of young people’s social media communication with strong chances of sustained usage. They are used mainly for reaction, rapport management and message clarification. New functional and more expressive graphicons are recommended for technological devices. This paper not only expands literature in the field of linguistics, but also contributes to the fields of digital/computer communication and language development. It also fosters knowledge, facilitates understanding in digital user experience and adds pedagogical stimulus for students and software developers
Navigating Turnitin’s Limitations: Ph.D. Students’ Perceptions and Departmental Strategies for Academic Integrity at the University of Ibadan
Full text linkThis study examines Ph.D. students’ perceptions of Turnitin’s effectiveness in detecting plagiarism and the departmental strategies used to address its limitations at the University of Ibadan. The focus is on disciplines that face technical writing challenges, namely English, History, Law, Cultural and Media Studies, and Gender Studies. Anchored in Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), the study employed semi-structured interviews with fifteen Ph.D. students drawn from the Faculty of Arts (five from English and five from History), the Faculty of Law (two students), and the Institute of African Studies (two from Cultural and Media Studies and one from Gender Studies). Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal two major themes: students’ perceptions of Turnitin’s utility and limitations, and departmental adaptive strategies. While participants acknowledged Turnitin’s usefulness in promoting academic integrity, they expressed concerns about its high rate of false positives, particularly in legal citations, and its limited capacity to detect non-English and archival sources. These challenges contributed to low response efficacy and high response costs, including extensive citation reformatting. In response, departments adopted adaptive measures such as post-field seminars, pre-submission Turnitin checks, paraphrasing guidance, and supervisory support. These strategies reflect high response efficacy and self-efficacy within the PMT framework. However, their largely informal implementation highlights the absence of institutional standardisation. The study recommends the development of formal, discipline-sensitive plagiarism policies, including the establishment of a departmental or university-wide plagiarism review committee and customised Turnitin settings for specific disciplines. Training for supervisors and postgraduate students on interpreting similarity reports is also advised. Such measures would strengthen academic integrity, reduce inequities in thesis evaluation, and improve the effectiveness of plagiarism detection across diverse academic fields
An Assessment of Geo-Political Representation of Women in the 2023 Elections in Nigeria: The Role of the Media
No full textEthnic diversity and gender equity are critical dimensions of inclusive democratic governance. Political participation of women in Nigeria remains disproportionately low, with significant variations influenced by ethnicity. This study examines the ethnic representation of women in Nigerian politics, using both primary and secondary data. The research content analyzes quantitative data from secondary data obtained from the Independent Electoral Commission and research literature on women’s participation in politics across the six zones. The findings reveal that ethnic identity significantly influences women’s access to political opportunities, with women from the North West and North East groups facing compounded challenges due to cultural expectations, religious expectations, financial constraints, and limited political networks. Those involved are mostly not at the same level of education as compared with females from the South-west, South-east, and South-south. The North Central provided profound evidence for this study due to its mixed ethnic and cultural heritage. There are more female contestants in the North Central when compared to other Northern Zones. The study finds that women who win elections in Nigeria are above 50 years of age, who have demonstrated proven political and strong financial stands, which align with the elite theory. Though the research revealed that religion is not one of the major factors influencing women’s participation in politics in Southern Zones. Also, 28 of the contestants at the senatorial level have degrees or attended higher education. Worthy of note is the South East, which has 3 PhD degree candidates. Generally, South-south has proven to have encouraged female contestants at all levels, considering thefact that 33 female contestants from the age of 35 years and above contested, when compared to other geopolitical zones
Performance Evaluation of Dough Mixing Machine
Full text linkIn bread-making, mixing is most crucial process to bring different ingredients together to achieve homogeneity, the quality of dough depends mainly on mixing processes. This study was carried out to evaluate the performance of dough mixing machine designed, by assessing the functional properties of wheat flour for the pasting properties and farinograph characteristics of the flour suitable for use in the mixing machine. A gear-driven electric motor of 1.23 kW maximum power supply with torque of 3.75 Nm was considered for the designed fabrication. The machine operated at 280 rpm with a mixing capacity of 31.9 kg/hr and an average efficiency of 94.7%. The dough mixer performance evaluation results analyzed for pasting property of the flour samples, indicated that flour from the Eagle Flour was the best for bread making with the value of peak viscosity of 792.1 RVU, trough viscosity of 193.6 RVU, breakdown viscosity of 598.5 RVU, setback viscosity of 73.9 RVU, final viscosity of 267.5 RVU, and pasting temperature of 50.2 oC. Result analysis shows that, Eagle Flour sample has a water absorption capacity, swelling capacity and bulk density of 152.69 %, 20.78 % and 0.78 g/ml respectively. Then, Farinograph characterized the mixing time, over mixing stability, and dough's rheological characteristics. The physical property of the bread obtained from fabricated dough mixer has a loaf volume of 1850 cm3, specific loaf volume of 4.19 cm3/g, density of 0.15 g/cm3 and oven spring of 0.16 mm. The overall acceptability rating of 94.28% and 89.48% were recorded for the bread from the fabricated and commercial dough mixers, respectively. Hence, 5 kilograms (kg) of components was able to mix properly and effectively in 8.15 minutes on average, which is 36.91 kilograms per hour. The fabricated dough mixer has a good market prospect
Techno-economic Evaluation of Grid-connected Hybrid Energy System Based on Run-of-River and Solar Energy Plants for Sustainable Electrification of a Rural Community
Full text linkThe connection between energy access and greenhouse gas emissions is an issue that continues to garner attention. Presently, hundreds of millions of people globally do not have access to sufficient electricity, and those who do, rely on expensive fossil resources characterized by greenhouse gases. A viable solution is to explore renewable energy (RE) sources to satisfy the electricity demand and curtail the effect of greenhouse gases. This study performed a techno-economic analysis of a grid-connected hybrid RE system that included micro-hydro and solar photovoltaic power plants for a Nigerian rural community. The optimal system, according to the analysis done with HOMER software tool, has an overall NPC, operating cost, and LCOE of 37,515.81, and $0.06053/kWh, respectively. A 98.1 kW micro-hydro turbine, a 150 kW converter, 100 kW solar panels, and 704 battery strings constitute the system components. An annual emission of 4,483 kg of CO2, 0.356 kg of CO, 22.5 kg of SO2, 4.86 kg of NO, and 1.66 kg of particulate matter will be released into the atmosphere. The implementation of this hybrid power system will not only increase access to energy but also help lessen greenhouse gas emissions