RHEMA UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

The research examined how classroom facilities influence the educational success of undergraduates in universities located in Bayelsa State. The paper employed a descriptive survey design. The population consists of 400-level students within the Faculty of Education at Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State. The purposive sampling was used to select 416 participants, comprising of 267 males and 149 females. Data were gathered through a structured questionnaire titled “Impact of Classroom Facilities on Undergraduate Students’ Academic Performance in Universities Questionnaire (ICFUSAPUQ).” The instrument underwent validation by two specialists in the Faculty of Education, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State. Reliability was assessed using the Cronbach Alpha technique, yielding a coefficient of 0.73. Data analysis involved the use of arithmetic mean to address the research questions, while the t-test was employed for hypothesis testing. Findings revealed that seating facilities, such as chairs and desks, are both sufficient and in good working condition in undergraduate classrooms across universities in Bayelsa State. Consequently, the research suggested that, university managements in the state should sustain regular maintenance of classroom seating facilities to ensure continuous comfort and support for undergraduate learning.

Cassava (Manihot spp.) is a very important and ubiquitous staple crop that plays a vital role in the food security of rural Nigeria. The youths in Anambra State are not willing to take cassava production as a means of livelihood because it is considered a non-profitable enterprise. This study estimated the gross margin of cassava farming in Anambra State as a second-best approach to determine the profit level of the enterprise. The specific objectives were to determine the expected input and output values of an average cassava farmer and apply Simulation technique to estimate the expected minimum, maximum and average gross margin of a typical cassava farmer in the state. Knowledge of the profitability of cassava production will assist the youths and prospective entrepreneurs in ranking cassava production properly among other candidate enterprises (for selection) for undertaking as a means of livelihood. The study used secondary cross-sectional data. The survey design was a multistage stratified sampling design. From the 21 LGAs of the state, 8 LGAs were selected for further sampling. The sample size of 543 was apportioned to the selected LGAs in proportionality to their sizes. In each of the selected LGA, systematic sampling was used to select the desired number of farmers from the sampling frame which was constructed by updating the listing of all VCDP beneficiary farmers in the LGA. The cassava producers in the sample were 244 farmers located in 7 LGAs. The data was collated and managed with Microsoft excel spread sheet and statistical analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). This study estimated the gross margin (GM) as total revenue (TR) minus total variable costs (TVC) that is GM = TR – TVC. Total revenue was calculated as the value of cassava sold plus the value of cassava consumed at home or given out as gifts. The variable costs in this study included values of: cassava cuttings, fertilizers applied, agrochemicals applied and aggregated labour. The cost of packaging and transportation were imputed because they were not captured in survey. The prices used were current market prices obtained during the survey. After 2000 iterations the resultant expected gross margin was estimated at N 1,976,559.78 only with an average of the expected gross margins at N1,715,734.49; Simulation of the gross margin enabled important decisions namely; despite the fluctuations in yield and prices, the expected gross margin showed that the variable cost was fully covered in the cropping enterprise; since the average expected gross margin was N1,715,734.49, it indicated that the cassava production enterprise was profitable in Anambra state; the estimation of the expected minimum and the maximum values of the gross margin enabled visual presentation of the distribution; and enabled comparison of any amount with the classes of the distribution of the expected gross margin. Cassava production in the State was constrained by: advanced age of the farmers; the limited number of extension visits; very exorbitant cost of fertilizers, agrochemicals and labor; and nonavailability of farming loans. The study recommended that government should formulate policies that will attract youths into cassava farming and increase extension to farmer ratio, to improve the number of extension visits to cassava farmers in Anambra State.

Achieving optimum property values through urban slum clearance is the research topic, taking Mango Estate in Elelenwo, Port Harcourt as the case study. The study aimed at maximizing profit on real estate investment especially residential housing with good location and better environmental standards.  The researchers utilized both primary and secondary methods of data collection with structured questionnaire distributed to four categories of respondents which include Landlords, tenants, Town planners and Estate Surveyors and valuers. Current journal publications, published books, and other relevant materials were also consulted.  The retrieved questionnaire were collated and analyzed using the tabulated method, percentages and chi-square  to test the hypothesis therein.  One of the key findings is that after the area has been cleared of slum property values is now increasing and the place is well secured and concluded that the area is attracting more developments and investors.

This study investigated the level of adherence to academic integrity principles in research and publishing among students and lecturers in universities in Bayelsa State, as well as the influence of academic integrity on research quality and excellence. A descriptive survey design was adopted, involving a sample of 350 respondents, comprising 220 students and 130 lecturers. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and independent samples t-test. Findings revealed that both students and lecturers generally perceived a high level of adherence to academic integrity within their institutions, although lecturers reported significantly higher mean ratings than students. Furthermore, both groups agreed that academic integrity positively influences the credibility, originality, and quality of research outputs. T-test analyses showed statistically significant differences in perceptions between students and lecturers on both the level of adherence and the influence of academic integrity on research quality (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, the study recommends enhanced academic integrity education, stricter enforcement of policies, and increased institutional efforts to promote a culture of ethical research. The study concludes that fostering academic integrity is essential for improving the overall quality and reputation of research outputs in higher education institutions in Bayelsa State.

This study examines the predictive validity of intrinsic effects of stress on senior secondary school students’ academic achievement in Biology in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study adopted the correlational research design. A sample of 936 respondents comprising 288 and 648 Biology teachers and students respectively were selected from 72 public senior secondary schools across six (6) randomly selected Local Government Areas in Rivers State. A 20-item self-structured instrument titled “Predictive Validity of Intrinsic Effects of Stress Questionnaire” (PVIESQ) and 50-item “Biology Achievement Test” (BAT) with reliability coefficients of 0.852 and 0.837 respectively necessitated their use for collecting data analyzed using regression analysis. The study revealed p-values of .000*, .011*, and .041* which indicated that the predictors of stress like depression, emotional insecurity and mental health disorder respectively significantly contributed to determine senior secondary school students’ achievement in Biology in Rivers State. The study recommended that the Ministry of Education should ensure that school administrators and supervisors regularly monitor teachers’ compliance to professionalism in teaching, guiding and giving students age-compliant tasks that would enhance their school interest rather that burdening them with tasks that could depress, traumatize and affect their academic achievement in Biology.

This study examines the benefits and challenges of implementing technical and vocational education programmes in Rivers State. Technical and vocational education equips learners with practical skills, entrepreneurial abilities, and knowledge that support employability, self-reliance, and economic growth. Despite its importance, implementation challenges often undermine expected outcomes, creating a gap between training and labour market demands. A descriptive survey design was used to investigate teachers’ and students’ perceptions across four Government Technical Colleges and seven Government Craft Development Centres. A sample of 532 respondents was selected using proportional stratified random sampling, and data were collected through a validated questionnaire, interviews, and documentary review. Mean scores and percentages were used to answer the research questions, while z-test and t-test statistics tested the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings showed that respondents agreed that TVE provides essential benefits, including functional education for self-reliance, preparation for adulthood, economic development, creativity, risk management, and skill acquisition. These align with national and international views on TVE as a tool for youth empowerment and industrial development. However, the study also revealed several challenges, notably inadequate funding, lack of equipment and materials, insufficient qualified manpower, negative societal perception, and low student interest. These obstacles restrict programme effectiveness and hinder students’ ability to acquire relevant practical skills. Hypothesis testing indicated no significant differences in perceptions between students of technical and vocational institutions, and between teachers across the two school types. The uniformity of responses suggests that the benefits and challenges are systemic across institutions. These insights underline the need for targeted interventions to strengthen programme delivery, improve facilities, enhance public perception, and support students in acquiring employable skills.