AVAILABILITY OF INTERNET FACILITY AND UTILIZATION BY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF IGNATIUS AJURU UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

  • Mercy Ekenma Echem Department of Library and Information Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
  • Comfort N. Owate Department of Library and Information Science, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
  • Onyekachi Grace Nnodim Department of Library Services, Catholic Institute of West Africa Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Keywords: Internet Access, Internet Utilization, University Library, Undergraduate Students, University of Education, Rivers State

Abstract

This study investigates the availability of internet facilities and utilization by undergraduate students of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rivers State, Nigeria. Three research questions and one hypothesis was formulated to guide the study. The study adopted survey research design. Population of the study was 1352, out of which a sample size of 338 was drawn. The questionnaire tagged, Availability of internet facility and utilization of by undergraduate students (AIFUUS) was the instrument for data collection. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the research questions while independent t-test analysis was used to test the null hypothesis formulated at 0.05 alpha level. The study found that undergraduate students of IAUE library use the lnternet facility daily, twice a week, weekly and occasionally. The reasons for usage were to complete their class assignment, research work, sending mail and acquiring new skills.  Challenges encountered by undergraduates include unsteady power supply, high fee charged, poor search skills, poor quality service delivery, slow Internet connectivity, locating the right websites and limited bandwidth access. The study recommends that enabling environment should be created through the provision of robust Internet access to enable the undergraduate make maximum use of the internet facilities on regular bases. This way, library patronage will be enhanced.

Published
2022-03-30