Thesis & Dissertation

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CONTEXT-AWARE RECOMMENDATION SYSTEM IN ECOMMERCE USING A DOMAIN SPECIFIC CHATBOT
(2022) MARTINS, ISAAC IKENNA
Recommendation systems are used in almost every e-commerce platform. With the amount of information increasing every day with almost unlimited products available, users tend to find it difficult to make a decision on these products. This research aims to develop a context-aware recommendation system that communicates to the user through a domain specific chatbot. The chatbot converses in three languages, English, Yoruba and Igbo. In this research, language is brought in as context to address existing gaps in literature related to e-commerce recommendation system. The developed system contains three main components they include, collaborative filtering, content based recommendation system and a chatbot. The collaborative and content-based recommendation systems uses user ratings and genre as the input to the cosine similarity and tf-idf functions. The chatbot was trained using a Keras sequential API, which created a deep neural network, and an interface was designed using python library tkinter and customtkinter. The chatbot uses a json file that contains the intents, and the recommendation systems use a modified 100k movielens dataset that contains Hollywood and Nollywood movies. The developed system is able to contribute to existing body of knowledge by generating an indigenous language corpus that can be used and modified by future researchs related to conversational system particularly in ecommerce recommendation. This research, will enable ecommerce platforms improve customer satisfaction, which would lead to improved revenue. In the aspect of trust, users will be able to have conversation with the system through the chatbot, which can increase trust between the users and the platform.
EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL ASSESSMENT OF EXTERNALLY BONDED AND NEAR-SURFACE MOUNTED NATURAL FIBRE COMPOSITES ON REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS
(2022) EFFIONG, JOHN UDUAK
The demand for sustainable and accessible materials is on the increase with drive towards providing and strengthening physical infrastructures to guarantee a more resilient, and sustainable environment. A substantial survey of literature has revealed that most research have concentrated on enhancing reinforced concrete (RC) beams adopting the externally bonded (EB) strengthening or near-surface mounted (NSM) techniques employing synthetic fiber reinforced polymer-based materials. A few studies have found that the use of natural fiber reinforced polymer (NFRP) composites is advantageous as a potential substitute for the utilization of conventional synthetic fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites for structural strengthening. The comparison of EB and NSM techniques using NFRP composites is very underexplored. Six beams were cast, and they underwent testing as part of the experiment. Flexural failure was the primary mechanism of failure for these beams. The findings of the empirical investigation show that the NSM kenaf FRP configuration of K-N-2-4 provided the best structural strengthening by increasing the load-carrying capacity by 163.64% and improving stiffness before deformation. This further demonstrates the kenaf FRP composite as a viable option in strengthening RC beams. The un-strengthened and strengthened RC beams were modelled numerically on Abaqus FEA software to correlate the empirical findings, and the numerical analysis' findings on the beams' load-deflection response, yielding load, and crack propagations were in conformity with the results of the experimental research.
POWER-VOLTAGE AND REACTIVE-VOLTAGE CURVES FOR VOLTAGE STABILITY ANALYSIS ON THE 58 BUS, 330kV NIGERIAN NETWORK.
(2022) EKONG, KENNEDY KENNEDY
Voltage instability is an undesirable phenomenon in power system networks, resulting from a system being severely loaded causing a gradual voltage drop which eventually leads to a blackout in the system. It frequently has to do with the power system's reactive power supply. Therefore, it is essential to comprehend the critical loading point in order to make sure the power system operates securely. The study helps identify weak buses and lines that are in the connected buses to determine the best location for mounting compensating devices on the power system's transmission line network. First, a load flow analysis is performed for all of the buses in the test system, they are simulated using NEPLAN software, and the suspected weak buses in the system are found, along with safe loading margins for real and reactive power for both networks. The Newton-Raphson load flow method is used to assess the condition of the network's buses, and the real power against voltage magnitude (P-V) and reactive power against voltage (Q-V) curves which reveals the maximum loadability at each candidate buses. The IEEE 14-Bus and Nigerian National Grid 330kV 58-Bus systems, which served as the study's case studies, were used to assess the recommended approach. Base case and contingency analysis were the two situations that were examined for the two systems listed above. The IEEE 14-Bus system's buses and lines were all stable in the basic scenario. With a reactive loading margin of 74.6MVAr, the 14th bus was discovered to be the most vulnerable bus in the network during the contingency analysis simulation. The loss sensitivity index was calculated for all lines in the IEEE 14-bus network, and it was discovered that lines linking bus 14 had the lowest valuation. During base case simulation for the 330kV 58-Bus Nigerian network, Birnin-Kebbi, Gombe, Makurdi, Yola, Maiduguri, and Jos buses were found to be very close to the lower limit of 0.95 p.u. During contingency simulation, it was discovered that the Maiduguri Bus was the weakest in the network, with a reactive loading margin of 385MVAr. Finally, the loss sensitivity index of the 58-Bus network was evaluated, and Line 15 to 53 was discovered to have the lowest sensitivity index in the network and the ideal position for suitable compensating device installation. According to the research presented in this dissertation, the P-V and Q-V curves are particularly helpful for determining how consistently voltage levels are maintained across a power system network.
EFFECT OF DEBT FINANCING ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF FAST-MOVING CONSUMER GOODS COMPANIES IN NIGERIA
(2022) AGUZUE, SANDRA ADAEZE
This study aimed at examining the effect of debt financing on financial performance of fastmoving consumer goods companies in Nigeria. The study established a link between some debt financial ratios, presumably debt-to-asset ratio (DAR), debt-to-capitalization ratio (DCR), and debt-to-equity ratio (DER) on financial performance of fast-moving consumer goods firms in Nigeria measured by return on assets (ROA) and sales return (ROS). The study gathered secondary data on ten listed fast-moving consumer goods companies from 2012 to 2021. Two models were drawn for the study. The dependent variables were return on assets (ROA) and sales return (ROS) while the independent variables were debt-to-asset ratio (DAR), debt-tocapitalization ratio (DCR), and debt-to-equity ratio (DER) of the selected companies. The fixed effect and the random effect regressions were conducted for both models while the Hausman test selected the random effect regression as the best fit for analysis for both models also. From the analysis, debt-to-asset ratio (DAR), debt-to-capitalization ratio (DCR), and debt-to-equity ratio (DER) were all negatively and statistically significant in impacting returns on asset (ROA). Also, debt-to-asset ratio (DAR) and debt-to-capitalization ratio (DCR) were positively and statistically significant in impacting sales returns (ROS), but debt-to-equity ratio (DER) was negatively not significant in impacting (ROS). The study therefore recommended that the consumer companies should focus on debt financing in order to improve their financial performances. This was due to the fact that debt financing ratios of debt-to-asset ratio (DAR), debt-to-capitalization ratio (DCR), and debt-to-equity ratio (DER) were significant in impacting return on assets).
LOAN DEFAULT, CREDIT RECOVERY AND BANKING SYSTEM STABILITY AMONG DEPOSIT MONEY BANKS IN NIGERIA
(2022) AMADI, AGATHA NKEM
The banking system is essential in driving business growth and macroeconomic effectiveness. Evidence, however, revealed that the Nigerian banking system had suffered various degrees of instability from shocks arising from both endogenous and exogenous sources, leading to default in repayment of bank loans. This has made deposit money banks (DMBs) in Nigeria ineffective at meeting set targets for sustainable banking and stable performance. The constant growth of loan default rate that gradually develops into hardcore bad debt continues to trend amongst DMBs. These issues necessitate the basis to empirically examine the effects of loan default and credit recovery on banking system stability among the DMBs in Nigeria. The study adopted the techniques of Partial Least Squares Structural Equations Modelling (PLS-SEM) and the dynamic panel of the system of the Generalised Method of Moments (SYS-GMM) to analyse data from primary and secondary sources. The result of the PLS-SEM indicated that there are various idiosyncratic factors among DMBs that encourage loan default and its increase. Scholars discovered that borrowers' nonadherence to loan agreement terms is mainly responsible for bank loan loss. The effect of loan default on banking system stability indicates that loan default has a negative impact on banking system stability in Nigeria both in the short and long run. The result further reveals that credit recovery has a positive and significant influence on banking system stability both in the short and long term. The findings of the combined causal effect of loan default and credit recovery on banking system stability reveal that the result is negative in the short run. However, in the long run, the negative effect is neutralised when credit recovery is achieved. The individual impact of the three categories of non-performing loans on banking system stability showed that each category negatively impacts banking system stability in the short and long run, except sub-standard loans, which have a positive effect in the short run. The findings showed that the vulnerability index is more pronounced than the banking soundness index. This is because the independent variables have higher and more significant relationships with the Banking Vulnerability Index (BVI) than with the banking soundness index, which means that the impact of loan default and credit recovery on the banking system stability is more significant on the Banking Vulnerability Index. The finding implies that exogenous factors rather than endogenous factors mainly cause the instability of DMBs in Nigeria. The study thus recommends that bank borrowers adhere strictly to loan agreement terms and conditions while lending officers should be penalised for defaulting on loans they booked. Therefore, bank management should ensure that inexperienced and non-risk professionals are not saddled with assignments in the risk directorate of banks to avoid causing unnecessary losses. In addition, banks should not wait as long as 90 days of default before activating prompt credit collection/recovery activities while maintaining favourable minimal recovery expenses, particularly with their Debt Recovery Agents (DRA). This is to ensure recovery expense does not outstrip the actual amount recovered.
DEVELOPMENT OF FUNCTIONAL POLYURETHANECENOSPHERES HYBRID NANOCOMPOSITE COATINGS FROM Ricinus communis SEED OIL
(2022) ADEBOWALE, ADEDAMOLA DANIEL
The utilisation of plant seed oils as a sustainable and biodegradable substitute for petroleum-based chemicals cannot be overemphasised. This renewable feedstock is vital for the development of polymeric organic coatings. This report investigates the one-spot synthesis of castor seed oil, Isophorone diisocyanate, Trimethylolpropane (cross linker), and the percentage composition of prepared cenosphere nanoparticles incorporated within the polymer matrix. The hybrid coatings were characterised using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and NMR, as they all confirm the presence of the cenosphere fly ash nanoparticles in the polyurethane. The FT-IR spectrum shows the presence of absorption peaks at 1350 cm-1 , 1102 cm-1 , and 1000 cm-1 which represent the (Al=O), (SiO-Si), (AlO4) functional groups respectively. The SEM EDX of the PU-CFA revealed that aluminium, silica and carbon have a percentage weight of 2.8 Wt.%, 4.6 Wt.%, 40.2 Wt.% respectively. The thermal stability of the synthesised composites was evaluated on a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The TGA revealed that PU-CFA lost 50%, 30%, and 90% of its weight at 418.16℃, 470.17℃, 506.96℃ respectively. The antimicrobial activity shows that PUCFA composite showed improved resistance towards Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS AND JOB PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES IN SELECTED DEPOSIT-MONEY BANKS IN NIGERIA: MODERATING ROLE OF ETHICAL ORIENTATION
(2022) ORENUGA, DAVID AYOYINKA
This study became necessary due to the occurrence of poor employee relations noticed in many Nigerian banks which in turn affects the job performance of bank employees. In Nigerian Deposit-Money Banks, there have been complaints of poor pay, poor conditions of work, and excessive use of contract staffing among others. Nigerian Deposit-Money Banks often struggle with how to address these employee issues and how to cultivate a healthy relationship with their employees to elicit better job performance. This study therefore, investigated how employee relations and ethical orientation can enhance job performance in some selected deposit-money banks in Nigeria. The study employed a mixed method approach for data collection and a total of 381 copies of questionnaire were administered to bank employees who constitute the respondents of the study. Managers of the selected banks were also interviewed through semi-structured interviews. Structural Equation Model (SMART-PLS) was utilised in analysing the responses extracted from the 316 valid copies of the administered questionnaire. A series of confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modelling (SEM) were carried out to test the measurement model and developed hypotheses. Thematic analysis was also used for the semi-structured interview responses. Five hypotheses were raised and tested using SEM. The findings revealed a significant influence of conflict management on banks‟ performance at r=0.694, R2 = 0.482, t = 20.511 and P<0.05. Job performance of selected banks was found to be significantly influenced by employee remuneration at r=0.722, R2 =0.521, t=22.836 and p<0.05. Employee communication was also found to significantly influence job performance of selected banks at r=0.771, R2 = 0.594, t=20.722 and p<0.05. Employee empowerment was found to significantly influence the job performance of selected banks at r=0.733, R2 =0.537, t=15.361 and p<0.05. Results from the thematic analyses validated the findings from the test of hypotheses. The outcomes of the quantitative and qualitative analysis concluded that employees who are happy with their relationship with their employers are more likely to be happy and productive on the job in the long-run. The fifth hypothesis established the extent to which ethical orientation moderated the relationship between employee relations and job performance of staff in the selected banks. It was recommended that Deposit-Money Banks should encourage and motivate their staff with equitable remuneration to complement a proper ethical orientation strategy. Furthermore, the study recommended that relationship between banks‟ staff should be strengthened through seminars and workshops to facilitate cooperation and improved job performance.
ASSESSMENT OF ASPARTAME AS A GREEN AND EFFECTIVE CORROSION INHIBITOR FOR T95 CARBON STEEL IN STRONG HCl SOLUTIONS
(2022) UZOMA, IFEANYI EMMANUEL
Oil well acidizing, although a stimulation process, induce the corrosion of metallic equipment and well tubings. It is a necessity to use an effective corrosion inhibitor during oil well acidizing. However, current acidizing inhibitors, although effective are toxic to the natural environment and in some cases, very expensive. There is therefore, at present a high demand of effective, low-cost, and less toxic corrosion inhibitor for acidizing process. This work was thus designed to formulate a green and low-cost inhibitor formulation based on Aspartame (ASP) that can compete favourably with the commercially available acidizing corrosion inhibitors. The inhibitive effect of ASP for T95 CS in 15 and 28 wt.% HCl solution at 60, 70, 80, and 90oC was investigated using the weight loss, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), and optical profilometry (OP) techniques. Results from the weight loss and the electrochemical techiniques show that the retardation efficacy of ASP enhances with increase in concentration and temperature. At 90oC and 2000 ppm of ASP, inhibition efficiency of 85% and 88% is obtained in 15 wt.% and 28 wt.% HCl solution, respectively. Following the variation of inhibition efficiency of ASP with temperature, chemisorption mechanism is proposed for the adsorption of ASP onto the T95 CS surface in both 15 wt% and 28 wt.% HCl solution. In order to enhance the inhibitive performance of ASP, studies were undertaken to ascertain whether or not there is synergistic effect between ASP, potassium iodide (KI), and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). Results from weight loss studies reveal that synergistic effect existed between ASP, KI, and SDS especially at 90oC. Based on the synergistic studies, ASP-based cocktail was formulated in a ratio of 2 (ASP): 0.1 (KI): 0.1 (SDS). The formulation performed outstandingly at the studied corrosive media. At 90oC, 2000 ppm of the formulation exhibits inhibition efficiency of 92% and 96% in 15 wt% and 28 wt.% HCl solution, respectively from EIS technique. A comparison of the performance of the formulation with that of a commercially available acidizing inhibitor reveals that, the formulation perform better than the commercial inhibitor in 28 wt.% HCl solution but compete considerably in 15 wt% solution. The PDP results reveal that ASP alone and in combination with additives acted as a mixed-type corrosion inhibitor in the studied environment and inhibited both the anodic oxidation and cathodic reduction reactions. The SEM, OP, and EDX results confirmed the adsorption and high inhibitive performance of ASP-based inhibitor. The ASP-based formulation is a potential inhibitor for oil well acidizing process.
DIGITAL PSYCHOLOGY AND PURCHASING DECISION OF ONLINE RETAILERS CUSTOMERS: A STUDY OF POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS OF COVENANT UNIVERSITY, OTA
(2022) NWOSU, PRECIOUS CHIEMERIE
The outcomes of this study have widened the horizon of the general public on what really the concept of digital psychology is in the context of marketing professions and its influence on consumer purchasing decisions. The study was targeted at eliciting information from the respondents on the effects of digital psychology on consumer purchasing decisions with specific focus on Post graduate students in Covenant University. The rationale of this study is to ascertain if psychological innovation influences consumers’ retention to a large extent; determine the extent to which influencer marketing influences customer acquisition; examine the influence of customer learning on product adoption (use); The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The study relied mainly on the primary data methodology through the instrumentality of a wellstructured questionnaires distributed across the studied area. Although, 171 copies of questionnaires were shared across the studied area, only 159 were returned and used for the analysis. Econometrically, the study was analyzed using the univariate analysis through the instrumentality of the Ordinary Least Square Estimation Technique. The result revealed that digital psychology vis-à-vis Psychological innovation, Influencer marketing, Customer learning, and Individual subjectivity exerted positive significance influence on customers' purchasing decisions- customer retention, customer acquisition, product adoption and customer advocacy. Consequently, the study concludes that digital psychology vis-à-vis Psychological innovation, Influencer marketing, Customer learning, and Individual subjectivity are instrumental to customers' purchasing decisions- customer retention, customer acquisition, product adoptionand customer advocacy. As such, the study recommends that, there is need for Nigerian onlinemarket space to opt for Psychological innovation if they must retain their existing customers. Again, to acquire more customers; Nigerian online market spaces should hire Influencers that are highly competent. Lastly, to improve product adoption, Nigerian online market spaces must ensure that their customer learning processes are value packed.
INVESTIGATION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES TO HOUSING PROVISION IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA
(2022) BAIYEWU, OLABISI BABATUNDE
The New National Housing and Urban Development policy (2002) identified housing cooperatives as part of a sustainable delivery framework for the housing sector through which new housing units could be provided. However, there is a lack of understanding of the contributions of co-operatives to housing provision in past years. The study, therefore, investigated the contributions of co-operatives to housing provision in Ogun State in a bid to improve the performance of various strategies of housing provision through cooperatives in Nigeria. The study is in tandem with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to ensure access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing for all by the year 2030. The research involved the administration of structured questionnaires to the fifty-two (52) Presidents and 418 members of cooperatives involved in housing provision activities in the study area, using both purposive and proportionate sampling method. The analyses of the data were done with the use of frequency and percentage distributions, mean score, standard deviation, Kruskal-Wallis test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Spearman Correlation, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Categorical Regression (CATREG) analysis. The findings of this study imply that cooperatives involved in housing provision in the study area contribute to housing delivery mainly through improving members’ access to key housing inputs, such as land, building materials, and housing finance rather than engaging in the actual construction of housing units. This study is also instructive in revealing that the contributions of cooperatives to housing delivery can be improved through large and active membership, better management of their resources, and elimination of barriers preventing access to affordable land and building materials in Nigeria.
DEVELOPMENT OF A SOLAR CHARGING STATION FOR OFF-GRID APPLICATION
(2022) AYOOLA, AANUOLUWA DANIEL
At the core of the growth and development of any Nation is the availability of energy for driving the other spheres of the economy. Unfortunately, while the world is moving towards new trends in providing clean and affordable energy, many underdeveloped, and developing countries are still stuck with the challenge of inadequate exploration, and utilization of conventional energy sources, and this has kept these nations backwards as compared to the developed world. This study addresses a sustainable solution, which can serve as a framework for addressing the challenge of clean and affordable energy availability for meeting basic needs in Nigeria. Of particular interest among the various renewable energy sources is solar energy which is an abundant renewable energy source in Nigeria. This study discusses the current state of energy generation, transmission, and distribution in Nigeria, and also provides an insight into Nigeria’s renewable energy potential with a focus on solar energy. The various photovoltaic technologies were also discussed, and the future of solar energy exploration too. A detailed design of solar energy charging station geared at meeting basic electricity need of people living in rural areas was presented, and the performance of this system was evaluated using the European Commission PV-GIS simulation software, and data obtained from NASA’s database. The results showed that the system is a viable one both technically, and economically to meeting the basic electrical demand of rural dwellers and can be adopted on a larger scale by the Government. Recommendations were also made on how this work can be further advanced.
TAX REFORMS, DIGITALISATION AND GOVERNMENT REVENUE IN NIGERIA
(2022) AJETUNMOBI, OPEYEMI OLAOLUWA
Mobilisation of tax revenue has become a critical policy objective for the public sector in Nigeria. The influence of tax reforms and digitalisation on government revenue in Nigeria was investigated in this study. This research focused on evaluating the distributional outcomes of tax revenue and digitalisation on the revenues of both Federal and State government. The study used a time seriesbased research approach with both descriptive and inferential analysis of the hypothesised relationships. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique was used to create a dynamic framework for analysing the linkages in the study. Disaggregated data on government revenues was employed in the empirical analysis due to differentials in revenue stream. The long and short run impacts of tax reforms (for Company Income Tax – CIT and Value added tax – VAT) and digitalisation on government revenues were calculated using the analytical framework. The study's findings suggest that both CIT and VAT amendments increased revenue of the federal government in the short and long run. The reforms, on the other hand, hampered state government earnings in Nigeria, particularly in the long run. Furthermore, there is evidence that, in the short and long run, digitalisation has a considerable beneficial influence on Federal-based revenue but a negative impact on State-based revenue. In the long run, digitalisation improved the impact of tax reforms on federal government revenues, however, the impact on state government revenues was not obvious in the study. The results imply that the current VAT reforms in Nigeria seem to undermine the state government's fiscal system and focus more on federal revenue activities, although the CIT reforms appear to be more widespread in terms of their effect on short-term revenue inflows. In the same vein, there are implications that tax reforms that are more streamlined with the transformation of the economy (in terms of digitalisation) will yield better revenue outcomes in Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that the conduct of fiscal reforms in Nigeria should evolve to become more of a bottom-top approach where all tiers of government are carried along at all times. Moreover, state governments need to improve their capacity to obtain better revenue input from the digital economy in Nigeria by playing more active roles in provision and monitoring of the digital economy.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT INFLOW IN WEST AFRICA
(2022) OKWUDIRE BLESSING ONYINYECHI
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow is critical for the rapid economic progress of emerging economies such as those of Sub-Saharan Africa. However, in the context of West Africa low FDI inflow in recent time has given rise to concerns regarding West African countries being able to achieve their sizeable economic potentials as West Africa is a major player, economically in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is where Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure may play a role as it may boost FDI inflow critical as a source of capital for West African countries. This study employs panel data random effects regression and Granger causality, using country level data on West Africa sourced from the World Bank; World Development Indicators and covering the period of 2010 to 2020 to investigate the role of ICT infrastructure for FDI inflow to West Africa. ICT infrastructure was measured using mobile phone use and internet use, while FDI inflow was measured using Net FDI inflow. The study found that ICT infrastructure variables were significant in boosting FDI inflow to West Africa. Further in respect of low and high ICT penetration countries, internet use was significant in promoting FDI inflow in low mobile phone and high internet use countries in West Africa. Further mixed causality findings were found in respect of country specific-causality analysis performed comprising uni-directional causality findings, bi-directional causality findings and nocausality findings. The study recommendations include: that the use of ICT in the form of mobile phones and internet must be promoted and encouraged by individuals in West African countries by country governments, and correlates with ICT such as GDP growth rate, openness to international trade and inflation should also be given focus by West African country governments so as to ensure that the correlates can act as channels through which ICT infrastructure may impact FDI inflow to West African countries.
CLASSIFICATION OF OUTCOMES OF ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES USING MACHINE LEARNING MODELS
(2022) IYIOLA, TOMILAYO PROMISE
Football remains an important sport in the world and it has a lot of followers. Researchers are often interested in the analysis of the results of football matches, which helps in the prediction or classification of outcomes (results) of football matches based on some variables. Most of the available models of prediction and classification of outcomes are based on a selected variable or a large number of variables. The use of a few variables can not predict accurately and the use of large variables leads to the problem of interpretation (Parsimony). This work used feature selection methods to reduce sixteen selected independent variables (football related) to six variables in the classification of the outcome variable (home win, away win, and draw) of five seasons of English premier league matches. As expected, a home win is a modal observation in all five seasons. The Kruskal Wallis test showed that the median outcome was not the same for the five seasons, while four machine learning models classified the outcome using the six best variables recommended via the feature selection. Furthermore, the result of the first half and second half was used to classify the final outcome. Five performance metrics attest that the ML models are good in the classification. Cross-Validation ensured that the issues of over-fitting were adequately addressed. Bookmakers may find this research interesting as some variables were identified as key to the classification of outcomes of football matches.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY: A STUDY OF FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY CORPS, LAGOS SECTOR COMMAND, OJODU, NIGERIA
(2022) ESISIO, OSHEPHIHO JACKSON
This study captioned Digital Transformation and Public Service Delivery: A Study of Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Sector Command, Ojodu intended to interrogate the need for an information communication revolutionised bureaucratic institution. The research was carried out on the Ojodu command of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Lagos, State, Nigeria. Taking into cognizance the fact that digital transformation has become a sin-qua-non for the efficiency of bureaucratic agencies, this research became quite expedient. To enable us to interrogate the stated research questions, structured questionnaires were distributed to one hundred and ten (110) personnel of the agency. The population of this work focused on staff members of the officer cadre who were 110 at the time of this inquiry. While we utilised the Simple Random Technique to distribute the questionnaires, the Pearson Products Moment Correlation Statistics was used in testing the validity of the research hypothesis. The outcome of the thesis revealed that there is a significant nexus between digital transformation and service delivery of officers in Lagos State Sector Command, Ojodu. It was concluded that digital transformation and public service delivery in FRSC, Lagos State Sector Command, Ojodu should be a continuous exercise and officers who perform exceptionally well should be motivated through rewards for outstanding performance. The study, therefore, suggests that digital transformation needs to be encouraged in a bid to enhance the performance of officers in FRSC Lagos State Sector Command, Ojodu. This study observed that efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery can be enhanced through digital transformation, and officers’ competencies is vital for service delivery. The Federal Government of Nigeria should release adequate funds for the digital transformation of not only in FRSC, bu other government parastatals. In addition, Politicisation of digitalisation process among government officials should be eliminated.
CORPORATE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE, CONSERVATIVE ACCOUNTING PRACTICES AND THE MARKET VALUE OF LISTED FIRMS IN NIGERIA
(2022) ILOGHO, SIMON OSIREGBEMHE
Corporate environmental and social activities are expected to improve the value of firms in the long term. However, when corporate social and environmental performance activities negatively affect a firm's value, as some reviewed studies revealed, this causes problems when rational decisions are made, and firms choose not to invest in these activities. This disparity in results was successfully explained by certain factors like the level of conservative accounting practice inherent in the preparation of financial reports. The study introduced a moderator (conservative accounting practices) to analyse its effect on corporate social and environmental performance and the market value of listed firms in Nigeria. Also, the study examined firms separately based on their environmental sensitivity categorisation. One hundred and thirty-one firms listed in the Nigerian Exchange Group were examined across the eleven sectors with sixyear observations (2014 2019). Data were collected from secondary sources such as annual reports, sustainability reports, websites and any publication by the examined companies. Panel least square regression was employed as a data analysis method for testing hypotheses. The findings revealed an insignificant influence of corporate environmental and social performance on the market value separately. This result reveals that social and environmental performance activities are insufficient to impact firm value. The findings also revealed an insignificant influence of conservative accounting practice on the market value. When the study introduced conservative accounting practice as a moderator, the results revealed the complementary moderating influence of conservative accounting practices on the value of environmental The results also revealed the moderating influence of conservative accounting practices on the significance. These results are in line with the A-priori expectation. The thesis recommends that conservative accounting practices be engaged when firms are involved in social and environmental activities because of their moderating effect, and conservative accounting practices improve reporting quality. Managers are expected to increase their social and environmentally friendly activities to improve the significance of their influence on the value of their firms. Because of their positive coefficient, environmental activities such as product innovations should be focused on. However, one of the policy implications encourages the manager to ensure that the financial and non-financial cost of engaging in socially and environmentally friendly activities in Nigeria is not detrimental to the going concern of the business.
HEALTH COMMUNICATION AND BEHAVIOURAL PRACTICE OF WOMEN TOWARDS BREAST CANCER SCREENING IN LAGOS STATE
(2022) ADEDOYIN, PRECIOUS DORCAS
The global burden of Breast Cancer is increasing with an effect on the physical, mental and socio-economic wellbeing of the human population. Existing studies have majorly focused on the prevalent rate and the clinical analysis of the disease, to the neglect of the behavioural practices and the influence of information sources on breast cancer behaviours. With the aid of the Health Belief Model, this study on the one hand examined the perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barrier, self efficacy and cues to action of women towards breast cancer screening in Lagos state, Nigeria and the influence of information sources on these behaviors on the other hand. A cross-sectional survey was employed in eliciting information from 400 women respondent randomly selected through multi-stage sampling technique method. The study revealed that while majority of the respondents 317(79.3%) [mean score of 3.99 and a standard deviation of 0.93] had a high susceptibility perception of having breast cancer, internet related channels of communication had a greater influence on this perception. Findings also show that internet predominantly influenced the severity perception of the women as, majority 358(49.6%) believed that the thought of breast cancer-related complications increases their fear [mean score of 4.30 and a standard deviation of 0.85]. Furthermore, radio channel of communication significantly influenced the benefits perception of women engaging in breast self examination (BSE), as a total of 377(94.3%) of the respondents believed that engaging in BSE will help detect a lump early. On perceived barrier of women towards BSE which was influenced by interpersonal communication of friends and relatives, majority 42.6% of the women believed that religious related factors hinders them from performing breast self-examination [mean score of 3.05 and a standard deviation of 1.24]. Based on the findings, this study concludes that information sources plays a pivotal role on the breast cancer beliefs and behavioural practices towards breast self examination among women in Lagos State, Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that a national communication policy that will incorporate the use of information sources to strategically influence the beliefs and behavioural practices of woman towards breast cancer management in Nigeria be developed. Such policy will further engender the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal 3.
APPLICATION OF CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN STRATEGIES IN THE DESIGN OF A CONVENTION CENTRE, IKHUENIRO, BENIN-CITY
(2022) UMOREN, PRECIOUS ANIETIE
The rise of insurgency and insecurity in Nigeria necessitates the provision of secure spaces, particularly public spaces. Convention centres are public facilities that make up an intricate part of the tourism industry. Such may be crime-prone areas causing a lack of motivation for users' to visit facilities that fail to provide a feeling of safety and security. Previous studies have assessed Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles and their application as crime prevention strategies in the built environment. Due to the possibility of crime associated with public spaces, in this case, Convention centres, CPTED strategies are analysed from existing literature and case studies to ascertain their relevance and efficiency in achieving optimum security in the proposed Convention centre. Hence, this research aims to design a Convention centre in Benin, Edo State, Nigeria, that integrates the principles of CPTED within the Convention centre environment. The study answered questions on Crime Prevention Strategies through existing literature, the CPTED strategies adopted in selected Convention centres, and the level of user satisfaction with security in the chosen facilities to achieve the study's objectives through adopting a mixed method. The research method facilitated qualitative and quantitative data acquisition as the research findings. The data obtained is analysed with content analysis and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The data presentation of the result includes tables, and pictures, with the analysis showing users' general satisfaction with security in the selected Convention centres, which encourages the facility usage. The study further elucidates how suitable design, planning, and application of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles from the project's conceptual stage. Integrating proper landscaping, material selection, site zoning, and overall spatial requirement can enhance security for crime prevention.
IMPACT OF CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS IN NIGERIA
(2022) ADEPEJU, ADEDEJI ADEBOLA
Previous studies that established that superior financial and non-financial performance outcomes result from the use of customer relationship management features were contextualised outside Nigeria and the architectural industry. To achieve the financial and non-financial prosperity of businesses and contribute to the sustainable development goals (SDGs), there has been a paradigm shift by companies across the globe toward customer relationship management. The customers of architectural firms are called ‘clients,’ and studies that holistically described the client relationship management (CRM) features used by architectural firms and how they influence firm performance are unknown. This study filled this gap by investigating the impact of CRM features used by architectural firms in Nigeria on their firm performance. The mixed-method research paradigm was adopted and a mix of a validated questionnaire and an interview guide were administered to principals of architectural firms across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. The sampling frame comprising 780 architectural firms was drawn from 1,066 registered architectural firms listed by the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON). Multistage cluster sampling and multistage random sampling were used to extract a representative sample size of 290 firms as respondents of the quantitative data instrument while purposive sampling was used in selecting participants for the interviews. The statistical tools used to analyse the quantitative data from the retrieved 202 copies of the questionnaire were descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, principal component analysis and categorical regression analysis. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study found that individualised incentives strategy had the strongest impact on firm performance in Nigeria (β = 0.42, p < 0.01). Also, office location is the strongest driver of individualised incentives strategy (β = 0.21, p = 0.02). For parsimonious reasons, this study cross-sectionally investigated CRM (a longitudinal phenomenon) as done by previous studies. This is a limitation of the study and it implied that interpretations of results from the study were reported tentatively as they would need to be corroborated with further longitudinal studies. The study also recommends that principals and managers of architectural firms in Nigeria upgrade their skills in implementing location-sensitive individualised incentives strategy as a priority CRM feature to achieve superior performance of their firms.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DRIVEN ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF A HYBRID MINI-GRID
(2022) BELLO, ILESANMI OLUWAYOMI
With the driving theme of sustainability in our world today, it is imperative to consider approaches to reduce the carbon footprint on a global scale. One critical area is in the generation and distribution of energy supply. In the management of energy, various methodologies have been implemented especially in the area of Demand Side Management where a lot of research work has been done. However, while it is very important for the consumer to be very efficient in their consumption of energy, it is also quite critical that energy supply is properly managed such that even though the demand is optimized, the supply also needs to be properly optimized to avoid energy wastage. This work has contributed to the ongoing research for Supply Side Management by adopting two heuristic artificial intelligence models – Fuzzy logic for intelligent decisions and Genetic Algorithm (GA) for optimizing the energy supplied to consumers. The fuzzy logic helps in predicting the demand and optimizing it for the required supply while the GA helps to clean up the minimization function for the optimization of the supply of energy. This model is applicable to any energy system – on-grid and off-grid application.

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