Delta State Polytechnic

This study examined the relationship between diversity and career plateau among teachers in selected private secondary schools in Isoko North, Ukwuani, and Ethiope East local Government Areas of Delta state, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to ascertain the influence of demographic diversity (DD), cultural diversity (CD) and intellectual and academic diversity (IAD) on career plateau (CP). Survey research design was utilized in this investigation. The study population comprised of teachers in selected private secondary schools in Isoko North, Ukwuani, and Ethiope East local Government Areas of Delta state. However, convenience sampling technique was used to select 200 respondents. The responses obtained from the respondents were coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation statistics and simple linear regressions with the aid of SPSS version 23. The findings revealed that there is significant positive effect of demographic diversity (t= 8.04, p<0.05), cultural diversity (t= 7.00, p<0.05) and intellectual and academic diversity (t= 7.59, p<0.05) on career plateau. The study recommends that Organizations (private secondary schools) should comprehend how variability in DD, CD and IAD affect CP and then consider strategies such as inclusive policies and practices to ensure that diverse employees receive equal career progression opportunities and support to overcome potential plateaus. Through inclusive policies and practices, organization can alleviate the unexpected career plateau effects associated with DD, CD and IAD, encourage an unbiased and conducive work environment for all employees. Keywords: Diversity, Demographic Diversity, Cultural Diversity, Intellectual and Academic Diversity, Career Plateau.

The study designed and tested multifunctional nano-adsorbent systems that sequester heavy metals while enhancing the quality of waste cooking oil (WCO) for biodiesel production in the Warri-Effurun industrial zone of Delta State, Nigeria. The waste oil from ten commercial centres contained high levels of Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr, all of which exceeded the WHO/FAO limits, indicating the need to purify them using advanced purification methods. Two designed adsorbents (thiol-functionalized magnetic biochar (Fe3O4 -Biochar-SH) and amine-functionalized graphene oxide (GO -NH2)) were produced and characterized by SEM/TEM, FTIR, XRD, BET analysis, and zeta potential. Spontaneous and endothermic processes were confirmed by batch adsorption experiments showing rapid pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 ≥ 0.989), Langmuir monolayer behaviour, and favourable thermodynamic behaviour (ΔG ≥ 0, ΔH ≥ 0). Biochar-Fe3O4-SH performed best, with Pb removal of 97.5% and over 87% for metals. Purification considerably enhanced the quality of FFA; peroxide value and moisture were reduced to 1.14 meq/kg and 0.12, respectively. Biodiesel derived from purified WCO demonstrated a better FAME composition (96.8%), improved viscosity and density, improved oxidative stability (6.1h), and full compliance with ASTM/EN standards. Regeneration experiments showed 86.7% capacity retention over five cycles. In general, using Fe3O4-Biochar-SH as an adsorbent, this study demonstrates that it is scalable and reusable and can accomplish both WCO detoxification and biofuel feedstock upgrading.

This study investigated the determinants of customers' patronage of GSM services in the Delta-South Senatorial Zone of Delta State. The objectives were to assess the influence of service reliability, tangibility, service assurance, and other factors on customer patronage of GSM services in the zone. Using a survey research method and a sample size of 384 respondents calculated by the Taro Yameni formula, information was gathered via a questionnaire and analyzed using a regression model. The results indicated that service tangibility, service reliability and service assurance all influence customer patronage of GSM services. The study concluded that factors related to service providers have a favorable influence on customer patronage. It recommends that GSM service providers adopt and implement reliable new technology and ensure employees are well-paid and cared for to positively influence customer patronage.

The research explores the ability of Natural Language Processing (NLP) to undertake systematic analysis of citizen views on policy delivery. Quantitative-computational study design with qualitative underpinning was utilized, providing room for large-scale computational examination as well as contextual understanding of citizens' voices. Data were gathered from social media, government consultation websites, and online forums, using purposive sampling to identify items of particular applicability to active policies. The text data was subjected to aggressive preprocessing in the form of normalization, tokenization, lemmatization, stop-word removal, and translation of non-English comments. Analytical methods integrated sentiment analysis, topic modelling based on LDA, BER Topic, and supervised classification via conventional machine learning models, as well as cutting-edge transformer-based deep learning models like BERT. Outcomes indicate that citizens were overall satisfied in policy areas like the economy and health, but dissatisfactions were heavily felt in service delivery, infrastructure, and openness of policy. Quantitatively speaking, 42.8% of the comments were positive, 28.7% neutral, and 28.5% negative, and notable themes were service delivery (31%) and openness of policy (24%). Comparative analysis also identified effective alignment of citizens' issues and the government's reactions within economic and health domains, but ineffective alignment within transparency and infrastructure domains. Performance assessment indicated that BERT performed best among other models with a 90.6% F1-score, which accounts for its capacity to identify subtle sentiments from citizens. The findings confirm the significance of NLP as a tool for policy analysis, having the ability to detect inconsistency in policy action and citizen expectations. By combining computational observations with qualitative assessment, this research also highlights the capacity of AI-based feedback analysis to enhance the responsiveness, inclusivity, and transparency of the government.

Population size of Nigeria has gained global attention as one of the largest in the world, while the country remains one of the poorest. The actual population of Nigeria has been a subject of controversy because of her inability to conduct a census that is acceptable to all her citizens. Models have been developed through several studies to project Nigeria’s population in the absence of a reliable census. This research was therefore designed to investigate the internal composition, and as well cross – validate the projected population figures using public Primary School Enrolment and extent of Voters participation in general elections between 1999 and 2020. Data for the research were obtained from the records of Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the National Population Commission, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Federal Ministry of Education. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS package. Results from analysis showed that there has been a consistent proportional increase in population figures of both Northern and Southern Nigeria, despite that the growth rates has not always been in favour of one region. Between 1991 and 2006, the population growth rate of the Northern Nigeria was 4.2% and Southern Nigeria recorded 3.5%. From 2006 to 2016, Southern Nigeria has a higher population growth rate of 3.9% as compared to 3.6% for Northern Nigeria. For the entire nation, a growth rate of 3.85% and 3.77% were obtained for 1991 – 2006 and 2006 – 2016 periods, respectively. Findings also showed that public primary school enrolment data and records of voters’ participation in general elections did not display the same pattern of growth as observed in projected population figures. The need for an actual headcount is implied as an imperative by this study.

Background: Today, more than 1.1 billion adults worldwide are overweight and 312 million of them are obese. This growing prevalence of overweight and obesity had led to a propelling upsurge in cases of diabetes especially type 2. However, diabetes is a major predisposing factor of cardiovascular diseases which accounts for about 18 million death every year. This study was aimed at determining the relationship between obesity and its comorbidities among adult diabetic patients attending the GOPC at a tertiary health institution in Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and hospital-based study carried out at Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, within a four months period. Data was collected using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire and was analyzed using social package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 17 computer software, with all p values considered significant at values <0.05. Results: A total of 216 diabetics (subjects) and 216 age, and sex matched non-diabetics (control) were studied over a period of four months. In both the study and control group their mean age was 54.70±10.59 years with females accounting for 66.9% (123) and males 43.1% (93) resulting to a male; female ratio of 1:1.3. Ninety-four (43.5%) of the diabetics were overweight, 70 (32.4%) were obese while 52 (24.1%) had normal weight. There was a statistically significant relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus and body mass index (BMI) (p=0.000) wherein diabetics subjects tend to have higher than normal BMI. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a significant association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), BMI, physical inactivity and hypertension while dyslipidaemia did not.

In small-scale paint production industries, the reliance on manual methods for mixing paint often results in inconsistencies, extended mixing times, and excessive operator fatigue. This study presents the design, fabrication, and evaluation of a low-cost, manually operated paint mixing machine tailored to the needs of small-scale users. The machine integrates a crank-powered system, a cylindrical mixing drum, and cross-shaped internal blades mounted on a central shaft, all supported on a mild steel frame. The primary objective was to assess the efficiency and usability of the machine using measurable parameters such as mixing time, blade uniformity index, operator fatigue level, and user satisfaction. Materials such as mild steel, galvanized iron, and stainless steel were selected based on durability, cost-effectiveness, and corrosion resistance. The machine was tested using three different viscosities of paint, with results showing an average mixing time of 9.2 minutes per 5-liter batch and a uniformity index of over 88%, which is satisfactory for most commercial applications. A usability assessment involving 20 participants indicated high ratings in ergonomics, safety, and ease of operation, with over 85% of respondents recommending the design for micro-enterprises. The torque required for mixing and efficiency output validated the mechanical advantage of the hand crank, suggesting potential for scalability. The total cost of fabrication was estimated at ₦23,400, making it significantly more affordable than electric mixers commonly unavailable to low-income operators. The system also offers flexibility for indoor and off-grid usage, reinforcing its sustainability and alignment with circular economy goals. The outcome of this study demonstrates that an ergonomically sound, manually operated mixing machine can significantly improve productivity and paint quality while remaining accessible to users with limited financial resources. It bridges the gap between artisanal processes and modern efficiency, with potential for wider adoption across emerging economies. Recommendations for future improvements include integration of a geared crank system, development of larger capacity variants, and multilingual manuals for broader accessibility. This innovation presents a vital tool for economic empowerment, particularly within local paint production clusters in developing regions.

This research explores the factors influencing administrative efficacy within Nigerian institutions, specifically examining the connections among the organizational climate, data management protocols, and leadership style focused on inspiring change. A quantitative approach was adopted, employing a standardized survey distributed to 460 personnel and managers from diverse industries. Regression analysis was used to evaluate three central propositions. The results indicate significant positive correlations for all studied variables. Data management protocols exhibited the greatest explanatory capacity (β = 0.955, p<0.05), accounting for 91.2% of the variability in organizational output. Leadership promoting change (β = 0.929, p<0.05) and the organizational climate (β = 0.627, p<0.05) were also considerably impactful. The study suggests that a comprehensive approach, incorporating a supportive physical setting, well-defined data management systems, and motivational leadership, is critical for improving administrative effectiveness and achieving superior institutional performance in Nigeria. Recommendations include strategic allocation of resources to ergonomic design, the establishment of formal data governance structures, and extensive leadership training programs to cultivate qualities associated with inspirational change. This investigation offers practical knowledge for decision-makers and organizational heads aiming to improve performance within a complex operational environment.