Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Chemical Education: A Pedagogical Paradigm Shift
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education has transformed traditional teaching and learning practices across disciplines. However, chemical education has been relatively slow in adopting AI-driven pedagogies despite its potential to enhance conceptual understanding, laboratory simulations, and personalized learning experiences. This study explores how the infusion of AI technologies can redefine pedagogical approaches in chemical education, emphasizing a paradigm shift from content-centered instruction to learner-centered, inquiry-driven models. The research further investigates how educators can align AI tools with constructivist and technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) frameworks to promote deeper learning and creativity in chemistry classrooms. A qualitative interpretive research design was employed through an extensive literature synthesis of peer-reviewed publications, policy reports, and educational frameworks from 2018–2025. The study analyzed best practices and case studies of AI-enhanced chemistry teaching using thematic analysis to identify emerging pedagogical trends and challenges. Findings indicate that AI integration improves learners’ engagement, supports adaptive assessments, and enhances virtual experimentation. However, ethical concerns, data privacy, and teachers’ digital literacy remain critical barriers to sustainable adoption. The study concludes that AI-driven pedagogy represents a transformative paradigm in chemical education, demanding a redefinition of curriculum design, teacher preparation, and assessment strategies. The paper recommends a hybrid AI-pedagogical framework that promotes innovation, inclusivity, and continuous professional development for chemistry educators.
Assessing Media Ownership and The Coverage of Social Movements in Kano State, Nigeria
This study examines how patterns of media ownership and control influence the coverage of social movements in Kano State, Nigeria. Anchored on Framing Theory and Agenda-setting theory, the research investigates the relationship between ownership structures, editorial independence and the framing of social movements such as the #EndSARS protests, the 2020 palliative-looting crisis and the #JusticeForHanifa campaign. A survey design was adopted with 120 questionnaires distributed among journalists, mass communication students and media consumers in Kano; 90 valid responses (75%) were returned. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Findings revealed that media ownership significantly influences how social movements are framed in the news. Ownership control often constrains journalistic independence, forcing reporters to align with the owner’s interests. Additionally, audiences are highly perceptive of media bias, which affects their trust in news reports. The study concludes that ownership is a key factor shaping media content in Kano. It recommends stronger professional ethics for journalists, clearer regulatory frameworks to protect editorial independence, and increased media literacy for the public to critically evaluate news sources.
Empowering Women in Cassava Value Chains: Barriers and Pathways to Inclusive Agricultural Development in Benue State, Nigeria
This study evaluated gender dynamics within cassava value chains in Benue State, Nigeria. A sample of 150 respondents was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique involving purposive, stratified, and simple random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that women made up 58.7% of the workforce and dominate labor-intensive tasks such as planting, weeding, and post-harvest processing. Despite their central role, only 48% of/ women own farmland and 55.3% lack access to credit, limiting their capacity to scale production. Prior studies have described women’s participation but failed to quantify its impact or explore the institutional and cultural constraints that reinforce gender disparities. Chi-square analysis (X² = 165.04, p < 0.05) confirmed significant gender-task segmentation, with men leading land preparation and women concentrated in post-harvest roles. Regression results showed that female-led farms achieved higher yields (β = +0.82, p = 0.03), especially when supported by training (β = +1.10, p = 0.001), improved varieties (β = +0.95, p = 0.005), and education (β = +0.35, p = 0.016). These findings therefore, highlight the urgent need for gender-responsive policies that strengthen women’s access to land, credit, training, and leadership key drivers of equitable and productive agricultural development. Inclusive interventions that expand women’s access to resources, education, and institutional support are essential for advancing gender equity and accelerating agricultural development in Nigeria.