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This research focused on the partial purification of the methanolic extract of withered Terminalia catappa (almond) leaves using three classical chromatographic techniques: paper chromatography, column chromatography, and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The withered leaves of Terminalia catappa (almond) were collected, dried, pulverized, and subjected to cold maceration extraction using methanol. The crude methanolic extract obtained was dark brown, sticky, and semi-solid, with a percentage yield of 12.5% based on the initial weight of the powdered leaves. The crude extract was first analyzed using paper chromatography, which revealed the presence of three distinct components with varying retention factors (Rf).

Small and medium enterprises are one of the major contributors to a country’s GDP. They provide employment opportunities for the labour force of any country. These are the reasons why the study of small and medium enterprise is very important especially in the aspect of their performance. Thus, the purpose of this study is to analyze the competitive strategy of intellectual capital on small and medium enterprises’ performance in Ilorin, Kwara State. The study used simple random sampling techniques to select three hundred and fifty-four (354) SME operators in Ilorin, Kwara State. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire which was administered electronically to the SME operators. Data obtained were analyzed and presented using descriptive statistics. The hypotheses formulated in accordance with the research questions were tested using simple regression analysis with the aid of SPSS. The findings revealed that formal education, cost leadership and e-commerce have positive (weak) significant effect on SMEs' performance in Ilorin, Kwara State, while hard/soft skills have positive (moderate) significant influence on SMEs’ performance in Ilorin, Kwara state. The study concluded that intellectual capital has an impact on small and medium enterprises’ performance in Ilorin, Kwara State and it can be used to formulate and implement competitive strategy to gain an edge over rivals in the market and to boost and sustain business performance. The study recommended that small and medium enterprise operators should advance their level of education. They can opt to attend business schools in order to improve their business wise competencies and to stand out among their rivals. They should also provide training to their employees. SME owners should leverage the use of e-commerce and social media platforms to increase their online visibility. Also, the government (federal, state, and local level) should provide training to SME owners on hard and soft skills that are required to boost their businesses performance and the use of different e-commerce platforms and social media.

<p>ABSTRACT The researchers sought to investigate the use of effective communication to enhance teaching and learning of Biology in senior secondary schools in Awka Education Zone. Descriptive Survey Research Design was used to carry out the study. This study was carried out in all the senior secondary schools of Awka Education Zone in Anambra State. Three research questions were formulated to guide the study. The general population was made up of all Biology SS II students and Biology teachers in senior secondary schools in Awka Education Zone of Anambra State. The population of this study is made up of sixty-two (62) public secondary schools, one hundred and eighty-six (186) Biology teachers, and ten thousand four hundred and seventy (10,470) SS II students. A total of two hundred and ten (210) Biology students and teachers were sampled using a simple random sampling technique. A validated structured questionnaire whose reliability was established at 0.62 through test re-tests method using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient showed that the instrument was reliable. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The results of the findings showed that communication skills are an effective tool for teaching and learning of Biology. It also showed that effective communication skills enhance students’ performance in examinations in such a way that it helps students to learn and acquire writing skills, as well as their ideas, concepts, and initiatives that can be shaped by communicating effectively. In conclusion, educational implications and suggestions for further studies were acknowledged based on the result analysis.</p>

For hygienic-sanitary safety reasons, the amount of this type of microorganisms found in stream waters is constantly monitored, especially in cases when the stream water is used for human consumption. Many authors have demonstrated that agricultural or urban pressures are highly associated with loading of Salmonella and other enteric bacteria in the surface waters

The study determined the effects of Zobo drink on the haematological and histological parameters of obese rats. The study was conducted for forty-two (42) days consisting of five (5) days for acclimatisation, fourteen (14) days for induction to obesity, two (2) days for establishment of obesity and twenty-one (21) days of experimental feeding. Thirty adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into two (2) control groups A (negative control) and B (positive control) and three treated groups C, D and E of six (6) rats each with difference in weight not exceeding more than 5g within each group. The rats were also fed rat chow and water ad libitum throughout the experiment. Group A served as the negative control (un-induced with obesity), group B served as the positive control (induced with obesity) and was fed 0mg/kg body weight of the sample respectively. Groups C, D and E served as the experimental groups and were fed 500mg/kg, 1500mg/kg, and 3000mg/kg body weight of the sample daily, respectively. Chemical and biochemical analysis were done using standard procedures. Data obtained were reported as Mean + Standard Deviation and Percentages and analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) for separation of mean. Duncan Multiple range test at 5% probability (p

This narrative review examines the role of technology in research and scholarly communication in African universities. It considers how digital repositories, online journals, research information systems, collaborative platforms, research data services, persistent identifiers and open-access infrastructures can improve the visibility, accessibility and reuse of research outputs. The review also considers institutional challenges including unreliable connectivity, infrastructure constraints, limited digital skills, fragmented systems, funding limitations, research governance and unequal access to scholarly resources. The analysis shows that technology-enabled research should be approached as an institutional ecosystem rather than as a collection of isolated digital tools. Sustainable progress requires reliable infrastructure, researcher capacity development, responsible research data practices, interoperable systems, clear institutional policies and regional collaboration. The review concludes that African universities can strengthen research productivity and scholarly communication by combining digital infrastructure with human capacity, governance and open science practices.

Digital transformation is changing how higher education institutions collect, manage, share and use information for teaching, research, administration and institutional decision-making. As universities increasingly depend on digital platforms and interconnected information systems, effective data governance has become important for maintaining data quality, security, accountability and responsible use. This review examines the relationship between data governance and digital transformation in higher education institutions, with particular attention to institutional policies, data ownership, access management, data quality, privacy, interoperability and organisational capacity. The review considers how governance arrangements can support the effective adoption of digital technologies while reducing risks associated with fragmented information systems, inconsistent data practices and inappropriate access to institutional information. Particular attention is given to challenges affecting higher education institutions in African and West African contexts, including limited technical capacity, uneven infrastructure, institutional coordination challenges and resource constraints. The review argues that digital transformation should be supported by clear governance structures that define responsibilities, establish appropriate data-management practices and promote accountability across institutional units. It concludes that effective data governance can provide a foundation for more reliable digital services, better institutional decision-making and sustainable digital transformation in higher education.

Higher education institutions increasingly depend on digital technologies for teaching, research, administration, communication, and information management, making them important targets for cybersecurity threats and data-protection risks. This review examines cybersecurity awareness and data protection practices in higher education institutions, with particular attention to institutional policies, staff and student awareness, information-security behaviour, privacy protection, access control, cybersecurity training, and organisational preparedness. The review synthesises existing literature to identify major cybersecurity risks and the institutional practices used to mitigate them. The literature indicates that technological controls alone are insufficient when users lack adequate cybersecurity awareness or institutions have weak governance and data-protection practices. Effective cybersecurity therefore requires a combination of technical safeguards, clear policies, continuous awareness programmes, staff and student training, responsible data-management practices, incident-response mechanisms, and institutional leadership. The review highlights the need for higher education institutions, particularly in developing and African contexts, to strengthen cybersecurity governance and build a culture of responsible information security. It concludes that sustainable data protection depends on integrating cybersecurity awareness, institutional policies, technical controls, and continuous capacity development into the broader digital transformation strategy of higher education.