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This research explores the representation of harmful cultural practices in Nigerian cinema, with a specific focus on Stephanie Okereke's Dry. The film tackles the deeply rooted practice of child marriage and its devastating health consequence, Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF). By examining the film's narrative structure, character development, and thematic emphasis, this study identifies the ways Dry portrays cultural norms and practices contributing to VVF. Additionally, it assesses the broader influence of Nigerian films in shaping public attitudes towards such practices, questioning whether cinema can function as a tool for social change. This work also evaluates Dry’s impact on its audience, analyzing if and how it raises awareness, inspires empathy, and challenges detrimental traditions. The findings suggest that through its compelling storytelling and authentic depiction, Dry holds potential as a catalyst for advocacy and transformation, bringing critical attention to the intersection of tradition, health, and women's rights in Nigeria.

The objective of this present study was to assess storage practices and the incidence of fungal infestation on yams stored in barns in Gwagwalada metropolis. Two (2) yam samples with obvious rots were taken from four (4) barns. Each sample was triplicated resulting in a total of twenty-four (24) replicate samples. Physical assessment, qualitative data collection and opinion analysis methodology, and laboratory techniques were employed in this study. From the results, most farmers stored their yam harvest in thatch and brick barns using stacking, floor storage and yam rack method. Most farmers carried out monitoring monthly, biweekly, weekly and a few daily. The varying levels of fungal growth shows the incidence of post harvest fungi in the yam samples. These fungal counts were significantly different across different concentration and storage methods. Furthermore, four fungal species were isolated following their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. They include: Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp., Rhizopus spp. Overall, this study showed a great relationship between storage practices and the incidence of fungal infestation in barns. As barns with little to no effective yam storage and disease management techniques revealed great presence of fungi.

This project presents the design and implementation of a scalable, web-based Online Campus<br><br> Podcast System for Crawford University, aimed at modernizing academic communication and<br><br> enhancing learning accessibility. The platform facilitates the creation, distribution, and<br><br> consumption of real-time (live) and on-demand audio content for students and faculty.<br><br> The system is engineered using a robust, decoupled streaming architecture, utilizing Python<br><br> (FastAPI/Django) for the high-performance backend, HLS/RTMP protocols for reliable media<br><br> streaming, and PostgreSQL/MySQL for secure data management. Key functionalities include:<br><br> Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to manage permissions for Students, Lecturers, and<br><br> Administrators; a Content Compliance Workflow that mandates synchronized transcript<br><br> generation for all content (WCAG 2.1 AA); and Token-Based URLs to protect proprietary<br><br> academic content from unauthorized access.<br><br> The system was developed using the Agile Scrum methodology and underwent rigorous functional<br><br> and load testing. The evaluation confirms that the system successfully addresses the problems of<br><br> fragmented communication and limited accessibility, delivering a user-friendly, high-performance<br><br> platform. Future work recommends integrating advanced features such as AI-powered<br><br> recommendation engines and dedicated mobile application development.

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus pose significant public health threats globally. The increasing resistance of mosquitoes to conventional insecticides has necessitated the exploration of alternative, eco-friendly mosquito repellents. This study investigates the efficacy of combining lemon grass oil and Neem seed oil as a mosquito repellent. The repellent activity of Lemon grass oil, Neem seed oil, and their combinations were evaluated against mosquitoes using human subject. The tests were conducted in a controlled setting, and the repellent efficacy was measured using the complete protection time (CPT) method. The results showed that the combination of Lemon oil and Neem seed oil exhibited synergistic repellent activity, with the 5:3 %w/w (Neem:Lemon) providing the highest repellent efficacy of 9 hours. The individual oils also demonstrated repellent ability, but to a lesser extent, with Lemon grass and Neem seed oils providing over 3 and 9 hours protection against mosquitoes when the concentration of 10%w/w was tested. The combination of Lemon oil and Neem oil offers several advantages, including enhanced repellent efficacy, prolonged duration of action, and reduced risk of skin irritation. The synergistic effect of the two oils may be attributed to the complementary modes of action, with Lemon oil’s citral and limonene components interacting with Neem oil’s azadirachtin and nimbin components to create a potent repellent effect. Also, the combination of Lemon oil and Neem seed oil represents a promising natural mosquito repellent, offering a safe, effective, and eco-friendly alternative to conventional insecticides. Further studies are needed to examine the potential of this combination for large-scale applications and to investigate its efficacy against other mosquito specie.

The study investigated the proximate and mineral composition of aqueous extract of Musa paradisiaca (Plantain) leaves to assess its nutritional potential and safety profile. Proximate analysis revealed significant concentrations of crude fat (35%), ash (20%), crude fiber (15%), and carbohydrates (20.72%), with moderate levels of crude protein (4.28%) and low moisture content (5%). Mineral analysis showed high levels of calcium (6826.79 mg/kg), magnesium (5183.54 mg/kg), potassium (4099.05 mg/kg), and iron (91.67 mg/kg). However, lead was also detected at 9.98 mg/kg, which exceeds safe limits. These results confirm that M. paradisiaca leaves are nutrient-dense and may contribute positively to dietary and medicinal applications. Nevertheless, the presence of toxic metals such as lead underscores the importance of quality control. This study supports the incorporation of plantain leaves in food and pharmacological industries with appropriate detoxification and safety validation measures.

ABSTRACT<br><br><br> Background: Chromolaena odorata is a tropical and subtropical flowering shrub belonging to the family Asteraceae. Recent reviews highlight its ethnopharmacological significance, along with its fungicidal and nematicidal properties. Preliminary ethnobotanical surveys have revealed its traditional use in treating neurological disorders, including depression.<br><br><br> Aims And Objective: The study aims to evaluate the effects of Chromolaena odorata leaf extract on behavioral despair in mice using standard models of depression, such as the forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). Additionally, it seeks to assess the impact of the extract Qualitative phytochemical screening.<br><br><br> Methods: Mice were administered either distilled water (10 ml/kg), Chromolaena odorata at doses of 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg, or Fluoxetine at 20 mg/kg. One hour after treatment, the mice were subjected to behavioral assessments using the forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test TST, with relevant parameters observed for five minutes. Following these assessments, Qualitative phytochemical screening <br><br><br> Results: Chromolaena odorata (100mg/kg) was found to increase the latency of immobility and reduce the duration of immobility in tail suspension test when compared with negative control (100-400 mg/kg). In forced swim test, the extract (100-400 mg/kg) caused a significant reduction in the duration of immobility time and increase in the latency/onset of immobility. C. odorata revealed the presence of Tannin, phenol, alkaloids, saponin, flavonoid, steroids, Anthraquinone, Terpenoid, cardiac glycosides and reducing sugar.<br><br><br> Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest that the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Chromolaena odorata C. odorata shows promise as a potential natural antidepressant, offering a safer alternative to synthetic drugs, which are often associated with undesirable side effects.<br><br><br> Keywords: Chromolaena odorata, Antidepressant, Fluoxetine, Neurological disorders, Ethno-botanical.

This study focuses on the quality evaluation of composite lafun produced from fermented cassava enriched with soybean flour. The primary objective is to assess how varying levels of soybean flour supplementation affect the proximate composition, functional properties, and sensory attributes of lafun. Cassava, a staple food in many parts of Nigeria, is known for its high carbohydrate but low protein content. Incorporating soybean flour, a rich source of plant protein, offers an opportunity to improve the nutritional balance of the product. Samples of cassava were processed, fermented, dried, and blended with different proportions of soybean flour to produce composite flours. The results revealed that increasing soybean substitution significantly improved the protein and fat content of lafun while reducing carbohydrate levels. Sensory evaluation showed moderate acceptability up to a certain enrichment level, beyond which the beany flavor affected taste preference. The study concludes that enriching cassava lafun with soybean flour can enhance its nutritional quality, making it a more balanced food for consumers.

Project aimed to design and construct a fence that meets the specific needs of the<br> mosque while adhering to civil engineering principles. Security and privacy concerns <br> were the primary drivers for this initiative, with the mosque serving as a place of worship <br> for female students and staff who require a safe and private space.. The compressive <br> strength of the cubes produced in the laboratory with curing days 7, 14 and 28 days are The<br> 15.16N/mm2<br> , 18.73N/mm2<br> and 19.96N/mm2<br> respectively. The completed fence, though <br> unfinished, successfully addressed the primary concerns of security and privacy. This <br> project contributed to the development of Civil Engineering skills, particularly in <br> perimeter fencing design and construction. Recommendations for future phases include <br> using durable, low-maintenance materials, completing the remaining construction, and <br> encouraging similar hands-on projects to enhance students' practical skills in Civil <br> Engineering. Overall, this project has improved the safety and privacy of the Mosque's <br> users while providing valuable learning experiences for the students involved.