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Abstract<br> <br> This study investigates the microbial load and shelf life of preserved tomatoes to assess their quality and safety during storage. Fresh tomatoes were processed and preserved using different preservation methods such as heat treatment, salt addition, and refrigeration. Microbial counts were determined at regular intervals using standard plate count methods. Results showed that microbial load increased gradually with storage time, with higher counts observed in samples stored at room temperature compared to refrigerated ones. Proper preservation techniques significantly reduced microbial growth and extended the shelf life of the tomatoes. The study concludes that temperature and hygienic processing are key factors in maintaining the safety and quality of preserved tomato products.

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.

ABSTRACT<br><br> Early childhood education (ECE) is important for preparing young children for school and life. This study examined the comparative study of effectiveness of ECE in public and private primary schools, case study, Okitipupa Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State. Five purposes of study were generated for this research work which includes examining the: (i) teaching and learning materials used in public and private early childhood centers in Okitipupa LGA of Ondo State (ii) quality of personnel available for early childhood education in public and private primary schools in Okitipupa LGA of Ondo State (iii) classroom management for early childhood education in public and private primary schools in Okitipupa LGA of Ondo State (iv) level of compliance of teacher-pupil ratio for early childhood education in public and private primary schools in Okitipupa LGA of Ondo State (v) availability of outdoor play materials in early childhood education in private and public primary schools in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, out of which five research questions were raised to guide the study. <br><br> The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The target population for the study consisted of 2,786 public and private school teachers in Okitipupa LGA. Multi-stage sampling technique of stratified and proportionate (7.5%) sampling procedure were used to select 200 respondents. The instrument was subjected to face and content validity by supervisor and 2 other experts. The reliability score of 0.75 was obtained using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The data gathered were analysed using the descriptive statistics of frequency count and percentage for demographic data while mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. <br><br> The findings of the study revealed that: <br><br> the usage of teaching and learning materials for public and private early childhood centers in Okitipupa LGA of Ondo State was high, the quality of personnel available for early childhood education in public and private primary schools in Okitipupa LGA of Ondo State was high, the effectiveness of classroom management for early childhood education in public and private primary schools in Okitipupa LGA of Ondo State was high, the level of compliance of teacher-pupil ratio for early childhood education in public and private primary schools in Okitipupa LGA of Ondo State was low, the available outdoor play materials in early childhood education in private and public primary schools in Okitipupa LGA of Ondo State was high.<br><br> Based on the findings, the study concluded that the usage of teaching and learning materials, quality of personnel available, effectiveness of classroom management, and availability of outdoor play materials for public and private primary schools in Okitipupa LGA of Ondo State were high except the level of compliance of teacher-pupil ratio for public and private primary schools which was low. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that the government should provide funding and policy support to equip schools with quality learning materials as well as recruit and deploy more qualified teachers to reduce overcrowding classrooms.

CT<br><br><br><br> The research work examined the impact of Whatsapp Usage On Students Academic Performance: A Study Of Federal Polytechnic Oko. The research objective were to find out the frequency of WhatsApp platform usage by the students of Federal Polytechnic Oko and whether exposure to WhatsApp has any negative influence on the educational growth and performance of students in Federal Polytechnic Oko. The study used survey method as its research design with a sample size of 400. Questionnaire was data of instrument of collection. The study revealed that Students of Federal Polytechnic Oko are daily and very often exposed to WhatsApp, that MTN followed by Airtel are the mobile networks students of Federal Polytechnic majorly used to access their WhatsApp platform, that WhatsApp have bridged the gap of information imbalance between the students and school management and that students of Federal Polytechnic Oko derive information, advert and jokes gratification from WhatsApp usage. The study concluded that The presence of positive and negative sides of WhatsAPP does not change the fact that the tools has gained an important place in our lives, and starting to take their place in education. In a nutshell, this research has explained that WhatsApp Messenger indeed contributes positively as an information dissemination platform among the Federal Polytechnic Oko students. The study recommended that students using WhatsApp must set timeline for themselves in other to reduce addiction, WhatsApp Group Administrator must set up time to lock up the group when there is no relevant information to be posted and Schools management should develop good WhatsApp contents that will assist students in their learning activities.

This study examine the role of trimming project in providing capacity building to rice value chain actors in middle rima irrigation scheme multistage sampling procedures was used to arrive at samples size of 75 responded to the role of trimming project in providing capacity building to rice value chain

This study examines the impact of unethical accounting practices on financial reporting quality<br> among consumer goods firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Group from 2019 to 2023.<br> Using an ex-post facto research design and Ordinary Least Squares regression analysis on data<br> from sixteen selected firms, the research investigates the relationships between income smoothing,<br> tax avoidance, and accelerated depreciation practices and financial reporting quality. The<br> findings reveal that income smoothing significantly and negatively affects financial reporting<br> quality, with quality declining by -0.00013039 as income smoothing increases. Tax avoidance<br> demonstrates an insignificant positive effect (coefficient: 0.0007598), while accelerated<br> depreciation shows an insignificant negative effect (coefficient: -0.0553022). These results suggest<br> that deliberate earnings manipulation undermines transparency and reliability, while<br> conservative depreciation practices reflect greater board financial expertise. Based on these<br> findings, the study recommends strengthening internal controls, implementing transparent<br> disclosure policies, developing ethical tax planning systems, and enhancing board financial<br> expertise to improve financial reporting quality in Nigeria's consumer goods sector.

The 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 <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.

Abstract<br> <br> <br> Entrepreneurship and skill acquisition have become pivotal in addressing unemployment and promoting self-reliance among graduates of business education. This study examines the relationship between entrepreneurship training, skill acquisition, and the propensity for self-employment among graduates in Anambra State, Nigeria. The research investigates how the integration of entrepreneurial curricula and practical skill development in business education programs influences graduates' career choices and readiness for self-employment.<br> The findings reveal that entrepreneurship education equips students with critical thinking, creativity, and managerial skills necessary for successful venture creation. Skill acquisition programs, focusing on practical and technical competencies, further enhance their capacity to manage small-scale enterprises effectively. However, challenges such as inadequate funding, limited access to mentorship, and a lack of government support hinder the transition to self-employment.<br> This study underscores the need for policy reforms, improved funding for entrepreneurial programs, and stronger collaboration between educational institutions and industry stakeholders to bridge the gap between education and self-employment. It concludes that fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and hands-on skill acquisition among business education graduates can significantly reduce unemployment and drive economic growth in Anambra State and beyond.