ABSTRACT

University of Benin is a leading public higher education institution (HEI) in Nigeria that is primarily focused on evidence-based research, teaching, and learning. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged almost every sector, with the educational sector being one of the most affected across the globe particularly the Nigerian education landscape. Themainaimofthismixedmethodsresearchistoinvestigatetheeffectsofthe COVID- 19 pandemic and different teaching methods on student performance levels across different gender variations at University of Benin. Data for 1000 students, consisting of 600 males and 400 females from the survey conducted were used to run descriptive and inferential analysis. The findings revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has positively impacted the academic performance of University of Benin students and that the online/virtual teaching method had a positive impact on student performance. Besides, theresearchrevealedaslightbutinsignificantdifferenceintheacademicperformanceof students across gender with the female variation doing better, this proves gender has no effect on student performance. The psychological effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on students was examined and a negative outcome was established. The COVID-19 pandemic is here to stay and more studies of this nature are needed to aid the education andlearningsectorinNigeriaandtheworldatlarge.AfurtherstudyintothepostCOVID- 19pandemicis highlyrecommendedtogetherwithassessmentofthepandemic’seffects on staff in Nigerian HEIs.