Federal Polytechnic Oko

Despite the depleting fossil fuel reserves and growing environmental concerns, the world’s energy consumption is still rising, resulting in the development of unconventional and alternative energy sources. A byproduct from the distillation of crude oil, residual fuel oil (RFO), also known as bunker fuel, finds extensive application in power generation and marine transportation. Because of its high viscosity, high Sulphur content and incomplete combustion, RFO has not gotten much attention in recent fuel research, despite its high energy content and widespread availability. This study examines RFO's physicochemical and thermal properties in contrast with standard fuels such as diesel, biodiesel and high-sulfur fuel oil. In determining RFO's suitability for combustion applications, a comprehensive laboratory investigation was performed, including viscosity, density, calorific value, cetane number, Sulphur content, and auto-ignition temperature tests. Thermal degradation patterns, combustion temperature ranges, and emission properties were also investigated. The results conclude that RFO needs to be pretreated before use, with options like heating or blending. The calorific value of RFO is found to be close to diesel, making it a potential substitute for an alternative fuel, a viable and cheaper option, for stationery and large-scale engines. There are still certain issues related to its use, such as ignition delays, particulate emissions and regulatory compliance. The study suggests that RFO has the potential to be used as fuel, when suitably modified, in areas where getting access to refined fuel is difficult. Future work on the study includes fuel upgrades, engine system modifications & long-term combustion and emission studies to improve its usability and acceptability.

Global economic volatility, driven by factors such as market fluctuations and inflation, presents significant challenges to governance and stability. Nigeria, like many other developing nations, relies heavily on oil exports, which increases its vulnerability to shifts in global prices. This study examines the effectiveness of the policies adopted by Nigeria, a developing nation, to address economic volatility, with a focus on adaptive public administration and long-term resilience. This study used a quantitative approach with survey data collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires of 500 civil servants in Southeast Nigeria. Data were collected on policy effectiveness, adaptive governance and economic outcomes. Purposive sampling was used to ensure that the participants had at least five years of experience in civil service. The data were analyzed via descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis. Over 80% of the respondents viewed the government’s policy response as ineffective in addressing current economic volatility. More than 70% believe that the current Nigerian government's policies have no long-term potential, while 73. 8% think that this administration is unable to establish the solid basis necessary for economic development. In developing countries like Nigeria, where President Tinubu's administration has failed to address issues like inflation, unemployment, and energy shortages and has had difficulty stabilizing the economy, strategic leadership and adaptive public administration are essential for overcoming economic challenges. In addition, the government should concentrate on reducing its reliance on oil and prioritize diversifying the economy while also addressing structural issues to improve economic stability.

The ongoing conflict between herdsmen and farmers across different regions in Nigeria over scarce natural resources continues to generate disputes that threaten the lives and property of citizens. The impact of this crisis is now escalating to a level that significantly endangers the country's socio-economic development and overall security. It is essential to explore technological solutions that can sustain both herdsmen and farmers in their respective activities while making the best use of limited land resources. This study investigates the potential of agrivoltaics as a strategy to address Nigeria's nomadic cattle rearing challenges. A review of existing literature was conducted on the severity and implications of the nomadic cattle rearing crisis, along with the possibilities of applying agrivoltaic technology to cattle grazing systems. The technology involves a series of rack systems and photovoltaic panels installed based on the geographic coordinates and local climate conditions. The panels provide shade over grazing land, serving dual purposes: protecting livestock from heat stress caused by direct sun exposure and generating electrical energy for use on the same land. With optimal environmental conditions, structural compatibility, efficient photovoltaic configurations, and collaborative research, agrivoltaics emerges as a promising innovative technology capable of effectively addressing the issues associated with nomadic cattle rearing in Nigeria. This approach aligns with global efforts to produce clean, eco-friendly energy and to maximize the utilization of limited agricultural land to meet the rising food demands of the growing population. Additionally, agrivoltaics is compatible with both Industry 4.0 and 5.0, as it allows the integration of smart sensing and automatic systems for real-time monitoring of cattle behaviour, facilitating more effective rearing practices. Recommendations for sustainable agrivoltaic practices in Nigeria are also outlined.

A field study was conducted during the 2024 rainy season at two locations in the Sudan Savanna of Nigeria to evaluate the growth performance of sesame and cowpea varieties under intercropping systems. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. Four sesame varieties (530-6-1, TYPE-4, EX-SUDAN, KENENA 4) and four cowpea varieties (FUAMPEA 1, FUAMPEA 4, SAMPEA 14, SAMPEA 20-T) were used. Growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, and crop growth rate were evaluated at 3, 6, and 9 weeks after sowing (WAS). Results indicated that sesame variety had a significant (p<0.05) main effect on all measured growth parameters. Variety 530-6-1 consistently indicated highest performance, achieving the greatest plant height (155.76 cm) and the highest crop growth rate (13.83 g/week) at 9 WAS. TYPE 4 exhibited the highest number of branches (14.85). The cowpea variety also shows a significant effect, with FUAMPEA 1 often associated with the tallest sesame plants. The interaction between sesame and cowpea varieties was largely non-significant for most parameters. For cowpea, FUAMPEA 1 consistently produced taller plants with more leaves, while SAMPEA 20-T showed a higher number of branches. The study concludes that the choice of variety is a primary determinant of growth in this intercropping system, with sesame 530-6-1 and cowpea FUAMPEA 1 identified as the most vigorous varieties. The lack of consistent significant interaction simplifies recommendations for farmers, as these varieties perform vigorous with a range of intercropping partners.

Electoral malpractice continues to hinder democratic consolidation in Nigeria, particularly in the South-South region where citizen oversight is weak. This study developed a Community-Based Election Monitoring and Whistleblowing Framework (CEMWF) to strengthen transparency and accountability during elections. A mixed-method approach was employed, combining quantitative surveys of 432 respondents across Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Delta States with qualitative interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analyzed using weighted descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, logistic regression, and difference-in-differences (DID) analysis, while spatial hotspot mapping and thematic coding complemented the results. Findings showed that 48.3% of respondents experienced electoral malpractice, but only 26.4% reported it, citing low institutional trust (mean = 2.7/5) and a strong preference for anonymity (mean = 4.7/5). Smartphone ownership (71.7%) and internet access (65.2%) demonstrated readiness for digital monitoring. Reporting likelihood increased with incident severity (OR = 1.80, p < 0.001) and smartphone ownership (OR = 2.30, p = 0.004), while anonymity concerns discouraged reporting. They DID results showed a 3.5-point reduction (p = 0.010) in verified malpractices post-intervention. The study concludes that community-driven, blockchain-enabled monitoring can enhance electoral integrity and rebuild citizen trust in governance.

The local governments in Nigeria are the nearest to the people, but they lack proper accountability mechanisms due to poor institutional capacities and insufficient transparency. This paper explored the role of digital governance in improving the accountability of the local government in Akwa Ibom State. In particular, it evaluated how ICT preparedness, transparency system, and citizen response affected accountability outcomes. A structured questionnaire was administered to 318 respondents drawn from 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The correlation analysis showed that there are significant positive correlations among ICT readiness and transparency (r = 0.541, p < 0.01), citizen feedback (r = 0.562, p < 0.01), and accountability (r = 0.613, p < 0.01). The regression model further indicated that ICT readiness (β = 0.324, p < 0.001), transparency mechanisms (β = 0.278, p < 0.001), and citizen feedback (β = 0.236, p < 0.01) significantly predicted accountability outcomes, jointly explaining 52% of the variance (R² = 0.520).These results affirm that accountable governance is a strong determinant at the grassroots level based on digital readiness, fiscal transparency, and participatory feedback systems. The paper concludes that enhancing ICT infrastructure, institutionalization of digital auditing instruments, and encouraging citizen-initiated feedback mechanisms can contribute significantly to accountability in local governments. The results are added to the existing body of knowledge on e-governance at the subnational level and contribute to the global demands of digitalization in the state administration.

<p>The study examined the role of energy price fluctuations in widening economic inequality across generations in Nigeria from 1985 to 2023 using data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin, World Development Indicators, International Energy Agency and Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023) publications. Economic inequality served as the dependent variable, while oil price, gas price, expenditure on social welfare and control of corruption were utilized as the explanatory variables. The Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test was used to ascertain the stationarity of the model, and it was discovered that the variables were integrated at first difference, I(1). Consequently, the Johansen co-integration test was employed to ascertain the long-run relationship of the variables. The results from both the Trace statistics and Max-Eigen statistics showed that there was no co-integration, hence establishing no long-run relationship between energy price fluctuations variables and economic inequality in Nigeria. The econometric diagnostics utilized the GARCH model, and the findings of the study do not provide strong evidence that energy price fluctuations significantly influence economic inequality across generations in Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that exploring alternative factors may provide insights into the drivers of economic inequality in Nigeria, even if energy price fluctuations do not show a significant direct impact.</p><p> </p><p><strong>JEL:</strong> C22, C82, H2, H24, H24</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0422/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

This study examined the impact of aluminium doping on the structural, electrical, and magnetic properties of Li(0.5)Co(0.75)AlxFe(2-x)O4 spinel ferrites (x =0.15 to 0.60). The samples were synthesised using the sol-gel auto-combustion technique, and they were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dielectric measurements, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). All samples possessed a single-phase cubic spinel structure with Fd-3m space group, according to XRD analyses. SEM images showed the creation of homogeneous particles with an average size of about 21 nm. All samples had spinel ferrite phases, confirmed from FTIR spectra. DC electrical conductivity studies showed that the conductivity increased with increasing aluminium content up to x = 0.45 before dropping at x = 0.60. The maximum saturation magnetization value was found at x = 0.45, according to VSM measurements, which demonstrated that the magnetic characteristics were strongly correlated with the amount of aluminium.

This study presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of Random Forest and Neural Networks for grade classification using a dataset of 2,392 high school students. The research involves meticulous data collection and pre-processing, including scaling of numerical features and encoding of categorical variables, to optimize model training. Both models were implemented and rigorously evaluated using standard performance metrics, such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score, with particular attention to their ability to correctly classify students into various grade categories. The results indicate that while the Random Forest model achieved a slightly higher baseline accuracy and benefits from enhanced interpretability, the Neural Networks model demonstrated competitive performance following hyperparameter tuning. The findings underscore the trade-offs between model interpretability and the capacity to capture complex nonlinear relationships, offering valuable insights for practitioners seeking to deploy effective classification strategies in educational settings. Future work may explore ensemble approaches and advanced feature engineering techniques to further improve classification performance.

Effect of climate change on the economy, human health, socio cultural activities, etc. has become a consistent global matter. Geography being an environmental discipline that encompasses the study of the earth as natural habitation of man; we seek to know how this department when established in Anambra State Polytechnic (ANSPOLY) will contribute to climate change knowledge and sustainability among students, and by extension, the local community and society at large. Using explanatory approach, we attempt to identify the need to introduce this multifaceted discipline in this young institution. Attention is placed on both the positive expectations and potential challenges envisaged in the course of this study.