Effects of Social Media on Trainers’ Work Performance at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the effects of social media on trainers’ work performance at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, Ilorin, Nigeria. Systematic random sampling procedure was employed in the selection of 91 respondents for the study through the use of structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square. Results showed that the frequently used media on a daily basis, were Twitter (83.5%), emails (79.1%), WhatsApp (76%), and Facebook (72%) while Linkedin (29.3%) were used on weekly basis. Trainers used social media to connect with families and friends (64.1%), source for journals (19.2%), collaborative research (18.8%) and as well as for online dating (20.7%). Furthermore, 38.0% of the respondents accessed social media from their personal office (68.4%), individual homes (59.6%) and departmental office (23.2%). Trainers agreed that social media were essential office tools (57.0%), retarded their work (38.2%) as well as wasted their time (11.6%). Chi-square analysis results showed a significant relationship between social media usage and age (R = -0.212, p≤0.05) as well as work experience (R= -0.39, p≤0.005). Social media has both positive and negative effects on trainers’ work performance. Social media usage should be controlled during working hours to improve the work performance of trainers at ARMTI.