THE IMPACT OF MOBILE PHONES IN ENHANCING STUDENT COMMUNICATION AT KASHIM IBRHIM UNIVERSITY, BORNO STATE

This study examined the impact of mobile phones on enhancing student communication at Kashim Ibrahim University, Borno State, Nigeria. With the increasing reliance on mobile technology in higher education, the research specifically investigated the extent of mobile phone usage among students, the types of communication facilitated, and the effects on students’ academic and social interactions. The Uses and Gratifications Theory served as the theoretical framework, explaining students’ motivation for adopting mobile phones to satisfy academic, social, and personal needs. A survey research design was adopted, and data were collected from 375 undergraduate students through structured questionnaires using a simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistical tools such as frequency counts and percentages were used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that mobile phone usage among students is very high, with the majority of respondents using mobile phones daily for academic and social communication. Results showed that students extensively use mobile phones to receive lecture updates, participate in group discussions, engage in online tutorials, access academic materials, and communicate with lecturers and peers. Social interactions were also strongly enhanced through mobile phones as students use them to maintain in contact with family members, socialize with friends, and access entertainment. However, the study also identified that mobile phones sometimes serve as sources of academic distraction for some students. The study concludes that mobile phones have become indispensable tools for learning, collaboration, information sharing, and social connectivity among university students. It therefore recommends the integration of mobile-friendly academic platforms, the adoption of mobile-supported teaching strategies, digital discipline training for students, and the formulation of institutional policies to promote responsible mobile phone use in learning environments.