Lubem Tsavhemba

The prevalence of banditry has contributed to the rising cases of insecurity as a potential threat to development of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. These activities pose a threat on the political, social and economic lives of the people as it portends a threat to sustainable rural development in the affected area. Regrettably these rural areas that are vital to the socioeconomic development of the geographical area faced with the problem of retarded rural development. The objectives of the study are to identify the number of districts affected by the banditry activities in the study area; explain the impacts of banditry on rural development in the study area; examine the efforts of the government for rural Development in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area and recommend measure towards tackling banditry to improve rural development in Katsina-Ala Local government area. The writers adopt survey as their methodology to analysing the paper. Data were collected through two sets of semi-structured multi-choice questionnaires, the study area was represented with the aid of a pie chart showing the area coverage of banditry activities and the activities of bandits were analysed using percentages. The paper found out that, banditry have negative impact on rural development in the killing, kidnapping, regional isolation and destruction of properties and farm lands in Katsina-Ala area of Benue State. It was recommended that, Sankera axis should be educated on the negative effects of abetting and supporting banditry activities. It is also imperative to give vital/adequate information about their where about as the will assist the security operatives in their fight to ameliorate the suffering of the people of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.

Study evaluates the influence of ICT in the teaching and learning of geography in Ukum local government area, Benue State, Nigeria. A total of twenty (20) Geography teachers and Eighty (80) students which were randomly selected from five (5) Secondary schools in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. A total of one hundred (100) respondents formed the sample size were sampled. Data on geography teachers and students in senior secondary schools and data on the influence of ICT in the teaching and learning of geography were analyzed using frequency counts, percentage and mean statistics. Any mean that is lower than 2.50 is rejected while any mean of 2.50 and above is accepted. There are indicators that establish a link between the use of ICT and students' result in examination. ICT has positive impact on student's performances in secondary schools particularly in Geography as the majority of the respondents strongly agreed and agreed that ICT is an important tool in the teaching and learning process in education. The study concludes that regular training and seminars should be organized for Geography teachers in senior secondary schools on the application of ICT to enhance the teaching of Geography.

The study assessed crop farmers' perceived rainfall variability and its impact, and adaptation strategy in Yandev district, Benue State, Nigeria. A total of 107 farmers were sampled from six registered farming cooperative societies. Data on crop farmers were obtained from structured questionnaire, and rainfall data were acquired for 37 years (1981-2017) from Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture, Yandev. The data on farmers' perception were analysed using descriptive statistics while correlation analysis was used to examine the trend in the variability of rainfall variables. Farmers' perceived an increasing trend, decreasing trend and negligible change in onset and cessation of the rainy season and annual rainfall, while the observed variability showed increasing trend in all the rainfall variables. There is agreement between the perceived and observed variability for onset of the rainy season. Majority of the farmers (64%-87%) perceived that variability in the three rainfall variables has huge influence on crop production. The farmers (74%) prefered diversifying livelihood sources as the major adaptation strategy to rainfall variability. The study concludes that crop farmers need insurance against climate related losses and recommends that crop farmers should incorporate meteorological predictions in planning their farming activities.

Study evaluates the influence of ICT in the teaching and learning of geography in Ukum local government area, Benue State, Nigeria. A total of twenty (20) Geography teachers and Eighty (80) students which were randomly selected from five (5) Secondary schools in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. A total of one hundred (100) respondents formed the sample size were sampled. Data on geography teachers and students in senior secondary schools and data on the influence of ICT in the teaching and learning of geography were analyzed using frequency counts, percentage and mean statistics. Any mean that is lower than 2.50 is rejected while any mean of 2.50 and above is accepted. There are indicators that establish a link between the use of ICT and students' result in examination. ICT has positive impact on student's performances in secondary schools particularly in Geography as the majority of the respondents strongly agreed and agreed that ICT is an important tool in the teaching and learning process in education. The study concludes that regular training and seminars should be organized for Geography teachers in senior secondary schools on the application of ICT to enhance the teaching of Geography.