UNIHEZ JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH

The study examined the effects of a six-week ergonomic bicycle exercise programme on anthropometric measurements among undergraduate students of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Three objectives, three research questions and three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A quasi-experimental design was adopted for the study. The population for the study comprised of all undergraduate students of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, and a sample size of 182, was recruited for the study. The instrument for data collection was a self-structured questionnaire titled effect of a 6-week ergonomic bicycle exercise programme on anthropometric measurement (E6-WEBEPAM) with 0.68 coefficient of reliability. Data was analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation while the hypotheses were tested using paired samples t-test at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The findings from study showed the mean body weight for male undergraduate students was72.51kg and that of the female student was 66.33kg prior to six-weeks ergonomic bicycle exercise intervention; while it was 65.18kg for male students and 61.67kg for female undergraduate students post six-weeks of ergonomic bicycle exercise intervention. The mean body mass index for male students was 24.30kg/m2 and 24.38kg/m2 for female students prior to 6-weeks intervention; and 21.80kg/m2 for male students and 22.69kg/m2 post intervention. Percentage body fat was 18.15% for male students and 28.78% for female students prior to exercise intervention; while post exercise intervention was 15.16% for the male students and 26.75% for female students. Furthermore, the paired samples t-tested analysis revealed six-weeks participation in exercise riding the stationary ergonomic bicycle has significant effect on body mass (t= -12.287; p= 0.000); body mass index (t= -12.077; 0.000) and percentage body fats (t= -12.079; p= 0.000) among undergraduate students of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. It was recommended that the university management should provide stationary ergonomic bicycles on campus and at the same time grant the students unlimited access to these fitness facilities.

Advancing peacebuilding through technology: a focus on social media and digital diplomacy was investigated. The objectives were to examine the role of social media platforms in promoting dialogue and mutual understanding in conflict-affected communities, analyze how digital diplomacy initiatives contribute to conflict resolution and peacebuilding at local, national, and international levels, evaluate the effectiveness of technology-driven peacebuilding strategies in mitigating hate speech and online radicalization, explore the ways in which governments and non-state actors utilize digital tools to facilitate peace negotiations and diplomatic engagement and identify challenges and opportunities in integrating social media and digital diplomacy into long-term peacebuilding frameworks. This study adopted a descriptive research design, historical research design was used to trace the evolution of digital diplomacy and peacebuilding strategies, focusing on the impact of social media from the early 2000s to the present. The study relied on secondary data sources while content analysis method was employed to systematically analyze and interpret the data. The result showed that social media platforms facilitate dialogue and mutual understanding in conflict-affected communities but are hindered by misinformation and manipulation. Digital diplomacy initiatives contribute to conflict resolution by enhancing inclusivity and transparency at local, national, and international levels, as seen in peace processes in Colombia and South Sudan. Technology-driven strategies, including counter-speech campaigns, help mitigate hate speech and online radicalization, though challenges remain due to unregulated content. Governments and non-state actors use digital tools to engage in peace negotiations, promoting broader participation. However, challenges such as the digital divide, cybersecurity risks, and online polarization persist. Opportunities include increased inclusivity, real- time engagement, and international cooperation, but addressing these challenges requires policy development, infrastructure investment, and global collaboration.

Expenditure management plays a critical role in determining the quality of service delivery in public schools, particularly in regions facing resource constraints. This study examined the influence of expenditure management on service delivery in public schools within Esan West Local Government Area (L.G.A) of Edo State, Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design, sampling 140 teachers and administrative staff across selected public schools. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The regression results revealed that budgeting practices (β = 0.45, p < 0.05), expenditure prioritization (β = 0.38, p < 0.05), and financial accountability (β = 0.52, p < 0.05) significantly influence service delivery in public schools. Financial accountability was identified as the most critical determinant, highlighting the importance of transparent fund management, timely salary payments, and audit compliance in enhancing teacher motivation, retention, and overall educational quality. The combined effect of the three expenditure management practices explained 68% of the variation in service delivery (R² = 0.68). These findings underscore that structured budgeting, strategic expenditure allocation, and robust accountability mechanisms are essential for improving the availability of learning materials, infrastructure, and teacher performance. The study recommends adopting participatory budgeting, prioritizing critical expenditures, strengthening financial accountability, and building administrative capacity to optimize resource utilization and enhance educational outcomes.

The purpose of this work is to make known the appraisal of RSTV campaign against infant mortality in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers state. This is to present detailed and comparative information on the television campaign against infant mortality in the area sponsored by some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s). In course of this research work the researcher used the opinion survey method, which required the administration of questionnaire to gather data. The total population of this work is the residents of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area (464,789 according to the 2006 census) from which a sample was drawn (sample size of 1,858). 330 copies of the questionnaires were administered to respondents in Obio/Akor Local Government Area, which comprises of both male and female adult. Findings of the study shows that the RSTV campaign against infant mortality in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area is vital to the reduction of infant mortality rate in the area and suggest the government make available community viewing centres in the area then intensify enlightenment campaign through street rallies and the social media.