Browsing by Author "Covenant University Dissertation"

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A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF EXPERIENTIAL AND CELEBRITY MARKETING IN NIGERIA
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-04) GBEREVBIE REJOICE EGEHELE; Covenant University Dissertation
Experiential and Celebrity Marketing are one of the major marketing strategies adopted by advertisers such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi to attract consumers to their products. While Celebrity Marketing looks promising and a quicker way to get consumers, it might not prove to be a long-term solution for an audience seeking the physical experience of a product. The study aimed to develop a nuanced understanding of the differences between experiential and celebrity marketing focusing on their distinct impacts on consumer perception, purchase behaviour and brand positioning across different personality types. The study made use of two distinct methods which are Myer-Briggs (MBTI) personality test and Solomon four quasi-experimental design. 256 respondents who fit all 16 MBTI personality types were purposely selected through the use of questionnaires, this informed the focus group process for Solomon four quasi-experimental design. After which a comparison was carried out with the result from the different personality types who responded to both Experiential and Celebrity Marketing treatments across the same three metrics. The result revealed various personality types that function well with a marketing strategy e.g ENFJ, ENFP and ENTJ etc. The results also revealed that personality traits significantly influence how individuals respond to different advertising strategies even in controlled settings.
A COMPUTATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR PREDICTING COMPOUNDPROTEIN INTERACTION FOR PROSTATE CANCER THERAPEUTIC DISCOVERY
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-08) AGBI, Mayowa; Covenant University Dissertation
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major public health issue globally. In sub-Saharan Africa, with its limited number of diagnostic and treatment resources, it accounts for high mortality. The conventional approach to drug discovery is lengthy, expensive, and often insufficient to address the complex treatment-resistant prostate cancers present. In this study, a deep learning computational framework to predict Compound-Protein Interactions (CPI) for prostate cancer drug discovery was developed. An end-to-end machine learning pipeline was implemented using curated datasets from Zenodo, ChEMBL, BindingDB, and UniProt. Molecular representations for compounds were constructed using 2048-bit Morgan fingerprints, dimensionally reduced to 200 via Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and for the proteins, 100-dimensional 3-mer Word2Vec embeddings were used. These features were fed into a double-input deep neural network that was optimized with binary-cross-entropy loss, the Adam optimizer, and dropout regularization. The model identified five novel bioactive compounds for targeting proteins of prostate cancer biomarkers. Model confidence was used to prioritize predicted interactions for AR, SRC, and EGFR. Molecular docking in PyRx and AutoDock Vina, followed by visualization in Discovery Studio supporting strong binding affinity (-7.2 to -10) and complementarity from the structural point of view, constituting therapeutic potential. An integration of molecular docking enriched translational value to the prediction. The results presented here point to a disease-specific platform for in silico drug discovery in prostate cancer. This study opens a very promising path toward giving priority to candidate compounds by coupling the deep learning with structure-based affirmation. It provides a very viable ground to be merged with experimental validation and combinatorial therapy design, thereby taking one step further into machine learning-assisted precision oncology.
A MULTI-DOCUMENT SUMMARIZATION APPROACH FOR QUERY-DRIVEN NON-FACTOID QUESTION-ANSWERING SYSTEM
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-07) EFOSA-ZUWA, Emmanuel Temidire; Covenant University Dissertation
In Natural Language Processing (NLP), Question Answering Systems (QAS) are essential for facilitating efficient access to relevant information. Traditional QAS approaches typically involve decomposing user queries, retrieving relevant documents, and ranking potential answers, often struggle with non-factoid questions that require detailed, context-rich responses synthesized from multiple sources. While existing research has focused heavily on passage selection and ranking, many methods fail to produce a coherent answer, leaving the challenge of multi-source summarization largely unresolved. This study presents a transfer learning-based QAS framework that addresses non-factoid queries through multi-source summarization. The framework follows a multi-stage methodology incorporating question paraphrasing, contradiction detection, sentence embedding and pruning, and a hybrid approach combining extractive and abstractive summarization techniques. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted using benchmark datasets, including WikiHow QA and PubMedQA to evaluate its effectiveness. The proposed system achieved strong quantitative results, with scores on WikiHow QA (ROUGE-1: 34.10, ROUGE-2: 12.30, ROUGE-L: 32.10, BLEU: 25.14, BERTScore: 95.17) and PubMedQA (ROUGE-1: 42.30, ROUGE-2: 16.10, ROUGE-L: 33.40, BLEU: 31.66, BERTScore: 95.72), demonstrating its ability to generate accurate and contextually relevant answers. Qualitative evaluations also yielded promising outcomes, with average ratings of 4.37 for information, 4.16 for conciseness, 4.20 for readability, and 4.01 for correctness on a 5-point scale, confirming the model’s effectiveness in delivering accurate and comprehensible responses. This transfer learning-based QAS framework contributes meaningfully to advancements in NLP and offers valuable support for researchers and developers working on intelligent, explainable, and practical question answering systems.
ADAPTING MOBILESAM FOR FEW-SHOT SEGMENTATION OF PROSTATE CANCER IN HISTOPATHOLOGY IMAGES
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-08) ANTHONY, Micheal IdediA; Covenant University Dissertation
Segmenting prostate cancer in tissue images is difficult because of irregular gland shapes, broken tissue structures, and very few labelled images available for training. This study introduces FrozenSE-SAM, a segmentation method that works well even with small datasets. It combines a frozen MobileSAM encoder with a lightweight decoder enhanced by Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) blocks and is trained using Focal Tversky Loss, which helps focus on difficult regions. Unlike older methods that need extra shape information or lots of labels, FrozenSE-SAM can directly segment tumour regions without prompts. It was trained on only 35 tissue microarray (TMA) cores from the Gleason 2019 dataset and tested on 100 new samples. The model achieved a Dice score of 68.45%, which is better than U-Net (60.72%), Swin-UNETR (58.12%), and a Signed Distance Function (SDF) based model (62.77%). For measuring boundary accuracy, FrozenSE-SAM showed better performance with HD95 = 0.0228 mm and ASD = 0.0056 mm, compared to the SDF model (HD95 = 0.0328 mm, ASD = 0.0072 mm), and worse scores from U-Net and Swin-UNETR. Visual/Qualitative result also confirmed that FrozenSE-SAM was better at outlining complex tumour regions. It could accurately segment cribriform and fused glands without including nearby healthy tissue. In contrast, the SDF model produced blurry edges and missed finer structures, leading to under-segmentation. These results show that FrozenSE-SAM is a strong, reliable method for prostate cancer segmentation, especially in real-world situations with limited data.
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AS PREDICTORS OF BURNOUT AMONG OGUN STATE ROAD SAFETY PERSONNEL: MEDIATING ROLE OF EMOTIONAL SELF-REGULATION
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-08) AGEMA, Hembafan Rita; Covenant University Dissertation
This study explored the predictive role of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on burnout among Ogun State Road Safety personnel. It further examined the mediating role of emotional self-regulation. Grounded in Maslach’s Burnout Theory, Gross’s Process Model of Emotion Regulation, and Developmental Trauma Theory, the study employed correlational design. A total of 249 personnel (67.1% male; aged 20–58 years, M = 37.17, SD = 7.96) were selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using three validated instruments: The Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ), the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire–Short Form (ERQ-S), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). Descriptive statistics showed that 27.7% of participants reported low burnout, 61.0% moderate burnout, and 17.3% high burnout. Simple linear regression revealed that ACEs significantly predicted burnout, B = 2.65, p < .001, R² = .091, highlighting that higher exposure to childhood adversity was linked with increased symptoms of burnout. Although, mediation analysis using Hayes’ PROCESS macro (Model 4) showed that emotional self-regulation did not significantly mediate the effect of ACEs on burnout, indirect effect = 0.13, 95% CI [–0.10, 0.40], as the confidence interval included zero. However, emotional self-regulation significantly predicted burnout, B = –0.43, p < .001, ACEs did not significantly predict emotional self-regulation, B = –0.31, p =. 238.These findings underscore the independent influence of ACEs and emotional self-regulation on burnout. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the Federal Road Safety Corps implement targeted mental health awareness initiatives to help personnel recognise and manage burnout, particularly among those with higher exposure to adverse childhood experiences.
ANALYSIS OF PHYTATE CONTENT VARIABILITY AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERISATION OF GENES IN COWPEA LANDRACES
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-08) OMODIAGBE, David Eromosele; Covenant University Dissertation
Phytate is a naturally occurring phosphorus-storage compound in seeds, but it reduces the bioavailability of iron, zinc, and calcium in human diets. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp), an essential dietary protein source widely consumed in Nigeria, contains notable phytate levels, which may hinder micronutrient absorption with regular consumption. This study investigated phytate content in Nigerian cowpea accessions and explored candidate genes involved in its biosynthesis to guide future efforts for nutritional improvement. Thirty (30) cowpea landraces were obtained from the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB). Phytate concentration was quantified using acid digestion followed by filtration and titration. To explore the genetic basis of phytate accumulation, protein sequences of known phytate biosynthetic genes from Arabidopsis thaliana, Glycine max, and Phaseolus vulgaris were retrieved from Phytozome 14.0. These sequences were used for BLASTp searches to identify putative homologues in cowpea. Homologous cowpea sequences were aligned and subjected to phylogenetic analysis using the Neighbour-Joining method in MEGA v12.0.11 with 10,000 bootstrap replicates to assess evolutionary relationships. The results showed significant variation in phytate content, 3.96‒30.94mg/g (p < 0.001) across cowpea accessions. The cowpea sequences displayed strong homology to known phytate biosynthetic enzymes in seed, MIPS (Myo-inositol-3-phosphate synthase), ITPK (Inositol 1,3,4-triphosphate 5/6-kinase), IPK2 (Inositol 1,4,5-tris-phosphate kinase), MRP (Multidrug-resistance-associated protein ATP-binding cassette), IMP (Inositol monophosphate phosphatase), MIK (Myo-inositol kinase), and IPK1 (Inositol 1,3,4,5,6 pentakisphosphate 2-kinase), with low E-values and high identity percentages. Phylogenetic clustering of cowpea sequences alongside those from related legumes suggests potential functional conservation, although expression-level validation is necessary. Quantitative gene expression profiling to further clarify the roles of these genes in phytate biosynthesis and accumulation is needed. These identified genes could be prioritised for reverse genetics or transcriptomic studies, provided that tissue-specific expression and off-target impacts are carefully evaluated
ASSESSING CONSUMER SHOPPING AND CYBER PROTECTION ON E-COMMERCE BRANDS
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-07) AKINOLA, Mobolaji Nifemi; Covenant University Dissertation
This paper examines the consumer shopping behavior and cyber protection in the evolving ecommerce industry in Nigeria, especially in Lagos State. With online retail growing at an increasing pace, issues regarding data security, trust and digital fraud have been raised, particularly within the context of informal and social commerce. The research investigates how consumers navigate these concerns, the cybersecurity measures adopted by e-commerce brands, and how these factors influence trust and purchase decisions. Using a mixed-method approach, the study employs both survey results and qualitative inquiry to evaluate security measures among consumers, safety functions offered by the brands, and the reaction of consumers to the internet threats. Results indicate that, though most consumers understand some fundamental security measures, there are some holes in cybersecurity literacy, particularly among non-techsavvy users. Brands, though increasingly proactive, often fail to effectively communicate their safety protocols. Based on the research findings, the report concludes that digital trust is not based on technology only but on transparency, user education, and a consistent security message. Recommendations include enhancing digital literacy, implementing more user-friendly safety signals, and enforcing clearer data protection policies to strengthen consumer confidence
ASSESSMENT OF CRISIS COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE FOR CRISIS MANAGEMENT: A STUDY OF FLUTTERWAVE AND PAYSTACK
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-08) NWITE, Juliet Ngozi; Covenant University Dissertation
This study assessed crisis communication and social media usage for crisis management in the Nigerian Fintech sector, focusing on Flutterwave and Paystack. Guided by the Situational Crisis Communication Theory and the Social-Mediated Crisis Communication Model, the research adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining a cross-sectional survey of 400 respondents with descriptive content analysis of official crisis-related communications from the two companies. The objectives were to examine the extent of social media utilization for crisis management, identify the strategies employed, evaluate the influence of social media use on public reaction, and analyze public complaints regarding crisis communication on social media. The findings revealed that both Flutterwave and Paystack actively used social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), during crises. Flutterwave’s communication was characterized by frequent, real-time updates and direct engagement, while Paystack adopted a more measured approach with fewer but more detailed updates. Timeliness, transparency, and interactive engagement emerged as significant factors influencing public trust and perception. However, common complaints included delayed responses, insufficient detail in updates, and perceived lack of empathy in crisis communication. The study concludes that effective use of social media is essential for Fintech crisis management, as it directly impacts stakeholder trust and brand reputation. The study recommends enhancing real-time communication capacity, ensuring consistency of messages across platforms, integrating empathy and transparency into crisis communication, and using public sentiment analysis to refine crisis strategies. The research contributes to existing knowledge by providing empirical evidence on Fintech crisis communication in Nigeria, extending theoretical applications of SCCT and SMCC to an African context, and offering practical strategies for improving corporate crisis responses in the digital era.
ASSESSMENT OF FGFR2 AND FGFR4 POLYMORPHISMS IN NIGERIAN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-09) OGBODO, Peace Nzubechukwu; Covenant University Dissertation
Breast cancer (BC) persists as the most frequently occurring cancer in females, with a growing incidence percentage in sub-Saharan Africa. BC has been correlated with FGFR2 and FGFR4 genetic variations in different populations. However, the data on Nigerian women are scarce. This study investigated the association of FGFR2 rs1219648 (A>G), FGFR2 rs2981582 (A>G), and FGFR4 rs351855 (G>A) with BC risk in a Nigerian cohort. A case-control design was employed involving 75 BC cases and 75 controls. Using blood samples, genomic DNA was extracted, and SNP genotyping was conducted with the use of TaqMan® allelic discrimination assay. Genotype and allele frequencies comparison was conducted using chi-square, odds ratios, and Fisher’s exact tests. The FGFR2 rs1219648 G allele was significantly more common (48.0%) in cases than controls (35.3%), with the GG genotype conferring a significant increase in risk (OR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.07 - 6.64, p = 0.039). FGFR2 rs2981582 showed no significant genotype-level association, but the minor A allele was more common in cases (43.2%) than controls (31.3%) (p = 0.045). FGFR4 rs351855 was not significantly associated with BC. None of the SNPs showed association with tumour immunohistochemical subtypes. The findings identify FGFR2 rs1219648 as a significant risk factor for BC in Nigerian women and highlight the need for larger, multi-centre studies to validate these associations.
ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF FAULTS IN A DISTRIBUTION NETWORK: A CASE STUDY OF COVENANT UNIVERSITY
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-07) ECHEMITA, Timothy; Covenant University Dissertation
Electrical faults pose significant challenges to the reliable and safe operation of distribution networks, often causing equipment damage, service interruptions, and reduced protection system effectiveness. This research investigates the impact of faults within the Covenant University distribution network. The objectives were to develop a representative network model, identify potential fault types, and assess their influence on overall system performance. A detailed MATLAB/Simulink model of the distribution network was created, and simulations were conducted for five primary fault types: single line-to-ground, double-line, double-line-to- ground, three-phase, and three-phase-to-ground faults, all under steady-state load conditions. The simulation results demonstrated distinct variations in fault current magnitudes and voltage responses depending on the fault type, with three-phase faults producing the highest currents. These results were compared against the interrupting capacities of protective devices installed in the Chapel, College of Science and Technology (CST), and Electrical and Information Engineering (EIE) powerhouses. The analysis revealed instances where simulated fault currents exceeded device ratings, indicating potential weaknesses in the existing protection scheme. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of simulation-based fault assessment in evaluating protection adequacy and enhancing system resilience. Additionally, the findings provide a reference framework for protection analysis in similar institutional microgrids
ASSESSMENT OF THE INFLUENCE OF NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY POLICY AND CITIZENS’ RIGHTS IN NIGERIA (2015-2024)
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-08) WONOSIKOU, Mohadapwa Hunnoungu; Covenant University Dissertation
Nigeria officially ventured into protecting its cyberspace in 2001 and has enacted its National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy alongside legislative instruments such as the Cybercrimes Act 2015 and the National Data Protection Regulation 2019, to safeguard more than 103 million Internet users. Nonetheless, ongoing debates highlight that these measures may encroach upon fundamental freedoms, underscoring the complex task of balancing national security with individual rights. This study examined the implications of Nigeria’s National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy and accompanying legislation on the digital rights of its citizens. Grounded in Buzan and Wæver’s Theory of Securitisation, this exploratory research employed a mixed-methods of data collection. A purposive and snowball sample of fifteen stakeholders, including journalists, activists, lawyers, and cybersecurity experts, participated in semi-structured interviews, complemented by document reviews of key policy texts. Thematic analysis was used to organise and categorise emergent themes systematically. Findings revealed that although the national cybersecurity policy and related laws were intended to strengthen data security, their implementation has expanded state surveillance capacities while eroding substantive privacy protections. Cybersecurity provisions have been instrumentalised to legitimise content removals and platform shutdowns, producing a chilling effect on public discourse. Furthermore, rather than explicit legal prohibitions, citizens primarily confront significant implementation gaps and infrastructural barriers that impede equitable Internet access. By presenting a comprehensive empirical study of Nigeria’s cybersecurity framework in a developing-country context, this research provided a unique insight into the security-privacy nexus and the operationalization of securitising discourse. In response, this study proposed, among other recommendations, harmonising policy with international human-rights standards; establishing a robust, independent oversight mechanism; and mandate transparency; and launching sustained digital-rights awareness. This study concluded that aligning Nigeria’s cybersecurity objectives with rigorous rights protections is essential to safeguarding national security while upholding the digital freedoms of all citizens.
ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF BIOTRANSFORMED IPOMEA INVOLUCRATA LEAVES
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-09) OLEKA-ARIWODO, Chiamaka Jennifer; Covenant University Dissertation
The need for functional foods has found interest in underutilised leaves with potential health benefits. An underutilised plant, Ipomoea involucrata was used for this study while Amaranthus hybridus served as the control leaves for monitoring the edible status of the experimental leaves. The aim of this research is to assess the quality attributes of Ipomoea involucrata processed with a specific probiotic-aided fermentation into health-beneficial edible vegetable. I. involucrata leaves were collected, dried, and then submerged in LAB fermentation for 0, 24, 72, and 120 hours aseptically. Post fermentation test includes nutrition analyses (including mineral content), pH, antioxidant qualities, enzymatic tests, while vitamins and phytochemicals were determined by HPLC. According to the results, the pH of both plants decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Bacterial counts increased across all fermentation days in both plants. In I. involucrata, nutritional analysis showed a significant increase in carbohydrate and Ash, but a decrease in moisture and crude fiber. FRAP results were maintained, whereas DPPH scavenging capacity and protein content fluctuated across all fermentation days. LDH activity significantly reduced before increasing again, while α-amylase activity generally increased during the 5-day fermentation. In vitamin profiles, By Day 5, vitamin A, vitamin B2 reduced, while an increase in vitamin B9 were noticed. In I. involucrata, vitamin C increased on Day 3, whereas vitamin E initially dropped. According to the phytochemical analysis, rutin, catechin, resveratrol and kaempferol decreased, while the phenolic compounds like epicatechin and ellagic acid increased. Saponins revealed that stevioside increased and ginsenosides fluctuated. Mineral analysis significantly decreased in heavy elements including lead and cadmium. In this study, LAB fermentation improved the phytochemical and nutritional profile of I. involucrata, mainly by enriching bioactive substances, modifying vitamins and enzymes, and reducing toxic metals.
ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES BY NON-MILITARY ACTORS AND NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIA
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-08) PETER, Mark Jatau; Covenant University Dissertation
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) have emerged as a defining feature of guerrilla warfare, increasingly weaponised by non-military actors (NMAs) across Nigeria’s conflict landscape. While considerable scholarly attention has focused on Northeastern Nigeria, the deployment of IEDs by criminal and secessionist groups in Southeast (SE) Nigeria remains under-examined despite its growing strategic, humanitarian and political implications. This study explores the use of IEDs by NMAs in SE Nigeria, focusing on their operational patterns, proliferation networks and implications for national security. Drawing on asymmetric warfare theory and the human security paradigm, the research adopts a qualitative, exploratory design to interrogate the evolving tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) of IED use, the challenges facing Nigeria’s Counter-IED (CIED) architecture and the regional vulnerabilities exacerbated by porous borders. Findings reveal that NMAs exploit transnational IED precursor supply chains, digital platforms, border insecurity and local ingenuity to sustain low-cost, high-impact explosive violence. This violence disrupts military operations at strategic, operational, and tactical levels, while also devastating civilian lives and infrastructure, eroding economic activities and precipitating forced displacement and trauma. The study also highlights the fragmented coordination among security agencies, weak indigenous defence innovation and limited community intelligence networks as significant gaps in Nigeria’s CIED strategy. This research makes a unique contribution by shifting analytical focus to the SE, identifying the convergence between historical marginalisation, tactical adaptation by NMAs and institutional inertia. Policy recommendations include the development of an indigenous CIED doctrine, enhanced interagency collaboration, strengthened border governance and community-based early warning systems. These findings contribute to scholarly and policy discourses on terrorism, national security and hybrid warfare in underexplored landscapes of the Global South, with broader implications for counterterrorism approaches in similarly affected regions. The study concluded that with the elimination of IEDs as a means of guerrilla warfare, innocent lives would be saved and properties preserved in Nigeria.
ASSESSMENT OF THE UTILISATION OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-01) OBANOR ENOCH IWINOSA; Covenant University Dissertation
This study evaluates renewable energy adoption across Ogun, Lagos, Edo, and Delta states using a mixed-methods approach. A bibliometric analysis of 424 research publications (2014–2024) revealed that solar energy was the most studied topic (35%), followed by hydropower (25%) and bioenergy (20%). The analysis identified a 32% increase in renewable energy publications since 2019, with 62% of highly cited papers focusing on policy and deployment strategies. Citation mapping indicated that the top 10 research institutions contributed 47% of all renewable energy studies, highlighting the concentration of expertise in specific regions. Survey data from 387 respondents indicated that 68% lacked reliable electricity access, while 78% relied on traditional biomass or fossil fuels. Among respondents, 62% expressed willingness to adopt solar energy if installation costs were reduced by at least 40%. However, only 23% were aware of existing renewable energy policies, and 54% rated government efforts as inadequate. In terms of energy satisfaction, only 9% of respondents rated their current energy sources as highly adequate, while 36% described them as moderate, and 21% rated them as low. The study further analysed energy availability across Nigerian states. Lagos, Ogun, Edo, and Delta states experience an average of 12–18 hours of electricity outages per day, forcing 74% of households to rely on generators as backup power sources despite Nigeria’s solar radiation potential of 3.5–7.0 kWh/m². Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 and 13 was assessed, revealing that only 19% of publications explicitly addressed energy access and climate change mitigation, while survey results showed that 69% of respondents were unaware of Nigeria’s commitment to SDGs. Projections based on current adoption rates estimate that, if key policy recommendations, energy access in Southern Nigeria could rise from 32% to over 70% by 2035 and fossil fuel dependency could decline by 55%. This research shows that achieving an efficient renewable energy transition requires urgent policy interventions, enhanced financial incentives, and strengthened institutional frameworks.
ASSOCIATION OF COMT AND CYP1B1 POLYMORPHISMS WITH PROSTATE CANCER RISK IN NIGERIAN MEN
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-09) Pirisola, Ayomikun Joshua; Covenant University Dissertation
Prostate cancer (PCa) disproportionately affects men of African descent, with Nigeria recording high mortality rates, yet genetic studies in this population remain sparse. This study investigated the association between COMT rs4680 Val158Met, rs9332377, and CYP1B1 rs1056836 genetic variants and PCa risk and severity in Nigerian men. This case-control study involved 65 histologically confirmed PCa patients aged (median) 65 years old and 59 healthy controls aged (median) 60 years old. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood. Genotyping was conducted via TaqMan real-time PCR. Chi-square tests were conducted to compare genotype/allele frequencies, and associations were estimated using unadjusted logistic regression odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals. Kruskal-Wallis tests and Spearman correlations were used to examine correlations with Gleason scores. Findings showed that there is a significant genotype and allele difference in COMT rs4680, where low-activity AA is the genotype that presents high risk (OR=9.50, 95% CI: 3.08-36.42, p<0.001 vs. GG), under genotypic as well as dominant models. In the case of rs9332377, the effect of the TT genotype showed a trend towards a protective effect but did not reach statistical significance (OR=0.21, 95% CI: 0.03-0.94, p=0.062 vs. CC). There were significant differences in CYP1B1 rs1056836, with the C alleles higher in cases (83.7% vs. 13.6%), and the GG risk being borderline (OR=4.074, p=0.056). None of the variants were significantly correlated with Gleason scores (p>0.05), although there was a trend in the case of rs1056836 (Spearman rho=0.263, p=0.089). These results suggest that genetic variation in COMT and CYP1B1 may contribute to PCa susceptibility among Nigerian men, potentially through impaired oestrogen detoxification pathways. Further validation in larger cohorts, with adjustments for environmental factors and comparisons across populations, is needed to clarify these associations.
ASSOCIATION OF HYPOXIA AND ANDROGEN SIGNALLING GENE POLYMORPHISMS WITH PROSTATE CANCER IN NIGERIAN MEN
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-09) ALABI, Kehinde Elizabeth; Covenant University Dissertation
Prostate cancer (PCa) remains a major health concern, particularly in Nigeria, where incidence and mortality are high. Globally, PCa is a leading malignancy among men. Genetic variations, such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), may influence PCa susceptibility and progression. This study investigates the association of three SNPs, rs11549465 (Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1A), rs3211938 (Cluster of Differentiation 36), and rs6152 (Androgen Receptor), with PCa risk and severity in Nigerian men. A case-control study was conducted involving 73 PCa patients and 80 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed using the TaqMan assay, and allele and genotype frequencies were calculated. The rs6152 SNP showed a higher frequency of the A/G genotype in cases (24%) than controls (9.7%), with an odds ratio of 4.95 (95% CI: 1.54–17.35; p = 0.0091), suggesting a significant association with increased PCa risk. For rs11549465, the C/T genotype was more prevalent in cases (10.1%) than controls (2.6%), with an OR of 0.24 (95% CI: 0.02–1.33; p = 0.061), indicating a possible protective effect, though not statistically significant. The rs3211938 SNP showed no significant association with PCa risk. No investigated SNP showed a statistically significant association with the Gleason score. For rs11549465, the mean score for C/C was 7.34 compared with 7.75 highlighting the role of genetic factors in susceptibility. Further studies with larger cohorts are warranted to validate these associations and explore their potential in personalised medicine for PCa management in African populations. for C/T (Mann–Whitney U = 66.0, p = 0.673). For rs3211938, T/T had a mean of 7.29 versus 7.64 for G/T (Mann–Whitney U = 199.0, p = 0.407). For rs6152, A/A, A/G, and G/G showed mean scores of 7.36, 6.00, and 7.80, respectively (Kruskal–Wallis H = 1.62, p = 0.445). These findings suggest a significant association between rs6152 and PCa risk in Nigerian men,
ASSOCIATION OF IL6, TNF-α and IL10 POLYMORPHISM WITH PROSTATE CANCER RISK AND SEVERITY IN NIGERIAN MEN
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-09) ALEEM, Adeola Abibat; Covenant University Dissertation
One of the critical health burdens in Nigeria is prostate cancer (PCa) with high risk and death, especially men of African indigene. Persistent inflammation is influenced by soluble molecules such as interleukin-6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), and interleukin-10 (IL10), which influences PCa development and malignancy, with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes influencing disease susceptibility and severity. This study investigated the association of IL6 (rs1800795), TNFα (rs1800629), and IL10 (rs1800872) SNPs with PCa risk and severity in a Nigerian cohort comprising 75 PCa victims and 81 healthy controls. Genotype and allele frequencies were determined using TaqMan SNP genotyping, and associations with PCa risk and severity (assessed via Gleason scores) were analysed. The results showed no statistical relationship between the studied SNPs and PCa risk. Specifically, rs1800629 showed a predominance of the GG genotype (85.7% cases, 86.4% controls) with a low minor allele frequency (MAF) for the A allele (7.04% cases, 6.72% controls; OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.39–2.38, p = 0.930), and no correlation with Gleason scores (p = 0.58). For rs1800872, genotype frequencies (TT: 14.3% cases, 16.9% controls; TG: 50.0% cases, 58.4% controls; GG: 35.7% cases, 24.7% controls). The minor T allele was less frequent in cases (39.3%) than in controls (46.1%), suggesting a protective effect, though the difference is not statistically significant. No meaningful associations was observed with PCa risk and the genotypes (OR = 1.711, GG vs. TT, p = 0.301; OR = 1.017, TG vs. TT, p = 0.971) or with Gleason scores (p = 0.95). Notably, rs1800795 exhibited complete monomorphism (GG genotype in all subjects), precluding its analysis as a biomarker for PCa risk or severity. The lack of significant associations may be attributed to population-specific genetic profiles, particularly the monomorphism of rs1800795 and low MAF of rs1800629, as well as the limited sample size, which constrained statistical power. These findings show the importance of population-specific genetic studies, as allele frequencies and their disease associations vary across populations. Future research should involve larger cohorts, genome-wide association studies, and functional analyses to explore other IL-6 SNPs, gene-environment interactions, and novel PCa-associated variants in Nigerians, contributing to improved molecular epidemiology and potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and targeted therapies in African populations.
BUSINESS PROCESS REENGINEERING AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OUTSOURCING ORGANISATION IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA. A STUDY OF HUGO INC
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-03) OKWARAOGOMA REGAN OGADINMA; Covenant University Dissertation
This research focused on the influence of business process reengineering on outsourcing organization: A study of Hugo Inc. Companies need to survive the test of time in business practices and having operational efficiency, so process reengineering can help them in achieving this. Business process reengineering is typically used to boost business agility, responsiveness, and customer satisfaction with improved goods and services. Sustainability is connected to the ability to run a production process over a period of time. Some of the problems BPR is trying to address are client satisfaction, process implementation, operational and resource management. The purpose of this study is to know how process reengineering can lead to sustainability for outsourcing organization. Organization understands the importance of profit and having customer base, and must understand that it is important to design operation to ensure both factors are not affected. The key variables in the study are value creation, process ownership and customer focus connected to business process reengineering, while economic, environmental and social variables are connected to sustainability, these are explored in relation to each other and their connection to the problem. The theory utilized in the study are the triple bottom line and stakeholders’ theory was used in this study to provide the theoretical foundation to this study. A quantitative survey method was adopted for this study. The population of the study comprised of 850 employees and questionnaires was administered to a sample size of 272 employees using purposive and simple random sampling technique. Results showed there is a positive relationship between process reengineering and sustainability. The study is to push outsourcing organizations to review their system of operation to constantly overcome challenges and be productive in their operation. Therefore, there is need to constantly review, update, recommend and adjust the process of operation.
CHARACTERISATION OF THE GUT MICROBIOME AND FUNCTIONAL PROFILE IN ESTROGEN RECEPTOR-POSITIVE BREAST CANCER PATIENTS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-10) WILLIAMS, Moyosoreoluwa Mary; Covenant University Dissertation
Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer is the most prevalent molecular subtype globally, yet its association with gut microbial composition, functional potential and inflammatory drivers remains uncharacterised in sub-Saharan Africa. Employing the intersection of microbiology, oncology, and genomics, this study investigated the gut microbiome, predicted functional profiles, and systemic inflammatory markers in treatment-naïve ER+ breast cancer patients compared to healthy controls in Lagos, Nigeria. Faecal DNA samples from participants were extracted and analysed using 16S rRNA sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform using the QIIME2 pipeline. Microbial diversity was assessed through alpha (Shannon index) and beta diversity (NMDS, PCoA) metrics, and the group differences were tested using the Mann–Whitney test and Kruskal–Wallis, while PICRUSt2 predicted functional pathways with on focus on β-glucuronidase. Concurrently, systemic inflammation was evaluated through the quantification of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) from blood serum. Analysis revealed no significant differences in alpha diversity between groups (p > 0.05). However, beta diversity demonstrated substantial compositional divergence (PERMANOVA R²=0.11, p=0.02), with cases showing an elevated Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio and depletion of Actinobacteriota, including Bifidobacterium and Collinsella. Functional prediction indicated heightened β-glucuronidase activity in ER+ cases, suggesting enhanced estrogen reactivation potential. Inflammatory markers displayed a complex profile, with significantly reduced IL-6 levels in patients despite stable CRP concentrations. These findings characterise distinct gut microbial dysbiosis and functional alterations in Nigerian ER+ breast cancer patients, revealing an estrobolome configuration potentially contributing to pathogenesis. The results underscore the necessity of population-specific microbiome studies and highlight potential biomarkers for early detection and targeted interventions in this understudied population.
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE GUT MICROBIOME AND INFLAMMATORY MARKERS IN TREATMENT-NAIVE TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER (TNBC) PATIENTS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA
(Covenant University Ota, 2025-10) OGUNLEYE, Oluwanifemi Omodara; Covenant University Dissertation
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors. Emerging studies suggest that gut microbial imbalance and chronic inflammation may contribute to breast cancer progression. This study investigated the gut microbiome profile and circulating inflammatory markers in treatment-naive TNBC patients compared with unknown subtypes and healthy controls to understand the microbiome–inflammation relationship in TNBC pathogenesis. Fecal DNA from TNBC, unknown subtype, and healthy control groups was extracted and analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing through the Nephele QIIME2 pipeline. Alpha diversity was evaluated with the Shannon index, and group differences were tested using the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests. Serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were quantified using ELISA, and correlations were assessed using Pearson and Spearman analyses. Alpha diversity analysis revealed no statistically significant difference among groups (Kruskal–Wallis p = 0.298), though TNBC samples exhibited lower and more variable Shannon index values compared with controls. TNBC samples showed unstable high levels of Firmicutes, and Bacteriodota, and varying low levels of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota, indicating microbial imbalance. IL-6 and TNF-α levels did not differ significantly between TNBC and controls (p > 0.05), though TNBC patients displayed higher variability. A moderate positive correlation was found between IL-6 and TNF-α in TNBC (r = 0.5982), indicating co-regulated inflammatory activity. The PICRUSt functional prediction revealed altered microbial metabolic pathways in TNBC patients compared to controls, particularly a reduction in butyrate and propionate metabolism associated with short-chain fatty acid production. The findings suggest early gut dysbiosis and immune imbalance in TNBC despite the absence of significant statistical differences. Reduced microbial diversity, altered phylum-level composition, and cytokine co-regulation indicate biological perturbations in treatment-naive TNBC. These findings collectively support a potential link between microbial dysbiosis, altered short-chain fatty acid metabolism and elevated inflammatory activity in TNBC pathogenesis. It also highlights the need for larger, longitudinal studies to validate microbial and inflammatory biomarkers for early disease characterization.