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

ABSTRACT<br> The study examined the role of security agencies in the 2023 presidential election in Bayelsa State. Faced with the problem of perceived bias regarding their effectiveness and impartiality amidst ongoing political interference and security challenges, the study examines the roles played by these agencies during the electoral process, investigates the challenges they encountered, and identifies lessons that can enhance their effectiveness and accountability in future elections.To achieve the objectives of this study three research questions were raised, secondary sources of data collection were utilized and a qualitative research method was adopted. The study adopted the systems theory which offered a comprehensive framework for understanding the intricate relationships among security agencies, electoral bodies, political actors, and the electorate. The findings indicated that, while security agencies played an instrumental role in preventing electoral violence and ensuring voter safety, they faced considerable challenges such as inadequate training, limited resources, political interference, and corruption. These factors compromised their effectiveness and eroded public trust in the electoral process. The study concludes that strengthening the capabilities of security agencies is essential for restoring public confidence in the electoral process and upholding the integrity of democracy in Nigeria. It then recommended that government should continue to enhance training programs for security agencies.

The Formal Letter Structure Validation System is a web-based system designed to help users format and validate formal letters according to predefined structural rules. Built using Django for the back-end and Bootstrap for the front-end, the system ensures that users correctly format their letters by validating key components such as sender’s address, recipient’s address, date, salutation, body, closing, and signature. The system uses regex-based validation techniques to check compliance with standard formatting guidelines and provides real-time feedback to users, highlighting errors and suggesting improvements. It also features an automated scoring mechanism, allowing users to track their progress and review past validation results stored in a SQL Server database. The user-friendly interface enhances accessibility and ease of use, making it suitable for students, professionals, and corporate users. While the system effectively validates letter structure, future improvements may include AI-driven grammar checking, multilingual support, and cloud-based deployment for wider accessibility. This project serves as a valuable tool for improving formal letter writing skills, bridging the gap in structured communication.

This study examined the optimization of process conditions for palm wine fermentation with the aid of Response Surface Methodology The raw materials used were purchased from a local market in Auchi. Temperature and Time were considered as the process conditions. Palm wine was observed at different temperature and time. Sensory attributes, pH and ethanol were determined. The data generated were analyzed. The results showed that pH influences greatly the optimization of palm wine up to 84% giving R-squared - 0.8452. Adjusted R-squared-0.734 and the quadratic model equation for pH-3.54-0.11 A-0.49 B+0.24 A2-0.14 B2-0.20*A*B. Although, ethanol concentration of Fresh palm wine obtained was very low (1.30%). Palm wine yeast produces alcohol in the range was 5.8-8.8%. The results is best optimized at an optimum temperature of 300C for 48hours for a better sensory attributes, low pH and Better yield of ethanol.

A 56-day trial was carried out at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching and Research Farm to evaluate the impact of varying dietary fibre sources in broiler diets on the serum biochemicals and metabolites, carcass characteristics and organ weights. One hundred and twenty (120) broilers were randomly assigned to four (4) treatments in a completely randomized experimental design. Each treatment had three (3) replicates of ten (10) hens. The diets consisted of the control diets (wheat bran) and three others (rice husk, cowpea and brewer’s dry grain) having 2% of the total diet composition. All routine management practices were carried out. At the end of the fifty-six (56) days of study, two birds were collected from each replicate to study the carcass and organ characteristics of the bird. The serum biochemical values (lipids, proteins and enzymes), blood minerals and metabolites were also analysed. The result on blood minerals and metabolites of the broiler birds showed that the diets significantly (P0.05) affected. The diets also significantly (P0.05) affected. The diets significantly (P0.05) affected. It was concluded that wheat bran was exceptional in improving the bird's meat quality, farmer’s could also supplement wheat bran with brewer’s dry grain and rice bran to obtain the same results.

Viral diseases pose a major constraint to okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) production in Nigeria, particularly in Kwara State, where smallholder farmers rely heavily on the crop for food and income. This study evaluated the effects of intercropping okra with maize (Zea mays) on the incidence and severity of viral infections, as well as on the growth and yield performance of okra. A field experiment was conducted at the University of Ilorin Teaching and Research Farm using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three treatments: sole okra, okra–maize–okra–maize, and okra–okra–maize–maize. Data were collected on virus symptom incidence and severity, plant height, number of leaves, and pod yield. Viral presence was confirmed using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) tests targeting Okra Mosaic Virus (OMV), Okra Leaf Curl Virus (OLCV), and Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV).<br> Results showed that intercropping significantly reduced the incidence and severity of viral infections compared to the mono-cropped okra treatment. The okra–maize–okra–maize arrangement consistently recorded the lowest virus incidence (10.8% at week 8) and the highest yield (11.9 g per plant), suggesting improved plant health and productivity. ELISA analysis supported field observations, with lower viral detection rates in intercropped treatments. These findings affirm that intercropping okra with maize can serve as an effective cultural strategy for managing viral diseases and improving okra yield under the ecological conditions of Kwara State.<br> The study recommends the adoption of okra–maize intercropping alongside integrated pest management practices to enhance sustainable okra production, reduce dependence on chemical pesticides, and promote food security among smallholder farmers.

ABSTRACT<br> Background: Current antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have limitations in efficacy and side effects, underscoring the need for new therapeutic agents. Silymarin, a flavonoid complex from the milk thistle plant, has demonstrated potential due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. This study explores the nitrergic and cholinergic mechanisms involved in the antiepileptic-like activity of silymarin in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) kindling model of epilepsy in mice.<br> Method: PTZ-induced kindling model of seizure was induced in adult male mice by intraperitoneal injection of PTZ (37.5 mg/kg) on alternate days for 14 days. Group 1, which served as normal control, was given saline as a vehicle (10 mL/kg, p.o.). Group 2 received PTZ (37.5 mg/kg) and vehicle (10 mL/kg, p.o.) and served as a negative control. Groups 3 and 4 received Sily (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.), while group 5 was administered DZP (3 mg/kg, p.o.), serving as positive control respectively, for 14 days with a 1 hr interval between treatments. Twenty-four (24) hours after the last treatment with all the drugs, mice were sacrificed and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HC) dissected to measure nitrite levels and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity.<br> Results: Silymarin significantly delayed seizure onset and reduced seizure duration and severity in PTZ-treated mice. PTZ treatment significantly increased nitrite concentrations in the PFC (p < 0.0001) and HC (p < 0.01) compared to the saline group. Additionally, PTZ kindling showed no significant change in AChE activity in both brain regions compared to the saline group. Silymarin (50 mg/kg) significantly increased nitrite concentrations in the PFC (p < 0.01) without significant changes in the HC compared to the PTZ group, but has significantly (p < 0.05) reduced AChE activity in the PFC and HC compared to the PTZ group.

This study presents a cross-sectional analysis of the morphology and abundance of Lanistes lybicus, a freshwater gastropod, and its relationship with key limnological factors in Shema Dam, Dutsinma, Katsina State, Nigeria. The research aimed to examine the spatial and temporal distribution of L. lybicus in the dam and investigate how limnological parameters, including water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and nutrient concentrations, influenced its population dynamics. Data were collected through weekly sampling of water parameters and snail populations across different locations in the dam over a 3 month period. The results indicated that L. Lybicus populations were most abundant in areas with stable water temperature and moderate turbidity. Positive correlations were observed between snail abundance and dissolved oxygen levels, while pH and nutrient concentrations showed minimal impact. Spatial variation in L. lybicus density was also noted, with higher densities found in shallow, less disturbed zones of the dam. The research found that L. lybicus was more abundant in areas with stable temperatures, moderate turbidity, and high dissolved oxygen levels, with minimal influence from pH and nutrient levels. Morphometric analysis (n = 112) revealed that most snails had shell lengths between 1.6–2.4 mm (65.18%), shell heights between 0.2–1.0 mm (65.18%), and shell widths between 0.3–1.1 mm (66.07%). Mean shell length was 1.65±0.37 mm, and the shell length-to-height ratio (SL/SH) averaged 2.06±1.33. Water conditions averaged 24.4±0.32°C in temperature, 6.8±2.3 pH, and 155.5±32.48 mg/L in total dissolved solids. The study suggests that L. lybicus could serve as a bioindicator for ecosystem health in freshwater environments like Shema Dam.