DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A WEB – BASED LOST AND FOUND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR KANO STATE POLYTECHNIC

Lost and found property management remains a significant challenge in many tertiary institutions, including Kano State Polytechnic, due to the absence of a centralized and efficient system for reporting, tracking and recovering misplaced items. The traditional manual approach currently used is characterized by poor record keeping, delays in item retrieval, lack of transparency and increased risk of item loss or misappropriation. This study focuses on the design and implement of a web – based lost and found property management system for Kano State Polytechnic to address these challenges. The system is designed to provide a centralized online platform where students, staff, and visitors can easily report lost of found items, search available records, and receive timely notifications on items status. The proposed system employs modern web technologies, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and MySQL, to ensure accessibility, security, and efficient data management. Key features of the systems include user authentication, item reporting and categorization, image upload, administrative verification, and automated record storage. The system was developed following the structured system development life cycle (SDLC) methodology, incorporating requirement analysis, system design, implementation and testing phases. The implemented system improves accuracy, reduces retrieval time, enhances transparency and minimizes the risks associated with manual lost and found processes. The study concludes that the web – based lost and found property management system will significantly enhance property recovery efficiency and service delivery within Kano State Polytechnic, while also serving as a scalable model for adoption in other tertiary institution.