Use of mobile phones among students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the motivation for using smart phones by students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. The specific objectives are to; examine the motive of using smart phones by students of ABU, Zaria as well as identify the average time spent on smart phones by students of ABU, Zaria. The study used primary data and selected a sample of 320 in order to collect data from the respondents, with the use of a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics SPSS version 16.0. The findings of the study revealed that the students mostly used their smart phones for social networking and they spent between 3-6 hours daily on their phones. The study recommended that the students should create a balance between social networking and academic activities; and that there should be a decrease in the amount of time spent on smart phones. The paper concludes that wrong use of smart phone could lead to negative consequences that would affect the academic performance of the students.

Keywords: mobile phones, students, Zaria, Ahmadu Bello, smart phones