ABSTRACT

This work is on use of mobile phones by pharmacy students in Nigeria universities with pharmacy department University of Benin as a case study. The process of data collection for study was guided by the five objectives formulated for the study. The objectives are to find out whether pharmacy department university of Benin student spend time in making calls; To determine the reasons for using mobile phones by students of pharmacy department university of Benin; To ascertain the roles of mobile in students academic.

Programmes; To know whether the use of mobile phones do satisfy students information need; To identify and highlight the problems of students use of mobile phones and proffer workable solution.

The survey research design was adopted while carrying out the study with the questionnaire used as instrument for data collection. In presenting and analyzing the data, frequency percentage tables were used.

The findings of the study revealed that pharmacy department university of Benin students spends time in making calls. The study also revealed that students of pharmacy university of Benin have reasons of using mobile phones.

According to findings mobile phones help pharmacy student in university of Benin in their academic programmes.

It also revealed that students of pharmacy department university of Benin are satisfy with the information needs of mobile phone. But there are still some problems hindering student use of mobile phone and there are high cost of recharging and poor network services of mobile services operators.

The study therefore recommends that in line with the objectives of the study in order to ensure effective utilization of mobile phone by pharmacy student university of Benin.

GSM service provider should as a matter of necessity expand their network base to the immediate environment of our tertiary institution to reduce the rate of call interferance.

The use of mobile phone should be encourage in the academic environment as it facilitate information retrieval processes.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Mobile phone also known as G.S.M. Hand phone, wireless phone, cell phone, cellular phone and telephone is a long-range electronic device used for mobile voice or data communication over a network of specialized based stations known as cell site (Blake, 2004).

According to Blake (2004) standard voice function of a mobile phone, telephone, current mobile phones may support many additional services and accessories, such as Short Message Service (SMS) for text message, email, packet switching for access to the internet, gaming, Bluetooth, infrared, camera with video, recorder and multimedia service (MMS) for sending and receiving photos and video, mp3 player and radio.

Many students of various academic institution make use of mobile phones for their research work. Majority of phones are now connected to the internet students find it very easy to browse with their phone other than going to the cyber café.

Mobile phones is used by students to communicate with friends and families. It has helped a lot of students to get information or programmes in the school through calling or texting the person involved. Students also use mobile phones to share experiences and receive emotional and psychological support from their parents.

Majority of students finds it difficult to purchase a quality phone due to the cost price.

The issue of low battery affect students use of the mobile phones. In view of the foregoing, it is the intent of the study to empirically find reasons for using mobile phones, role of the mobile phones in their academic pursuit and the problems associated with students use of mobile phones and proffer workable solutions to them and time spent.

1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In many academic institutions, mobile phones has increased the rate of communication among students and has improve their level of learning in the area of research.

Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly difficult for effective communication due to the high cost of purchase of mobile phone and the frequent network failure.

1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

To find out whether pharmacy department university of Benin students spend time in making calls.

To determine the reasons for using mobile phones by student of pharmacy department university of Benin.

To ascertain the roles of mobile phones in student academic programmes.

To know whether the use of mobile phones do satisfy students information needs.

To identify and highlight the problems of students use of mobile phones and proffer workable solution.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Do students of pharmacy department university of Benin spend time in calls?

What are student reasons for using mobile phones?

What are the roles of mobile phones in student academic programmes?

Does the use of mobile phones satisfy students information needs?

What are the problems associated with the use of mobile phones?

What are the solution to these problems?

1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is on the use of mobile phones by students with particular reference to pharmacy department university of Benin.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work is focused on the use of mobile phones by students of pharmacy department university of Benin, ascertain whether these method aid on how student of pharmacy department university of Benin use their mobile phone also to proffer solutions to problems when necessary to encourage maximum use of mobile phones by students.

It will also add to the increasing literature on the topic which can be used as reference materials by students and researchers in the field of library and information science.

1.6 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF UNIVERSITY OF BENIN AND IT’S PHARMACY DEPARTMENT

University of Benin was founded in 1970 by then mid western state government initially as the mid west institution of technology. The institution achieved full university status in July 1971 and became the University of Benin 1975. The institution run but B.S.C, post graduate and master degree that started with three faculties. faculty of medicine, pharmacy and engineering and later had Art, social science and education.

The university main library John Harris was named after a pioneer university librarian Prof. John harris from Newzealand the Library is situated at Ekehuan Road campus with ultramodern building. The library is open between the hour of 8-8pm the library has section that make up the library and their head. The Chief Librarian S.A Ogurombi.

Serial headed by T.A. Elugie

Reference headed by Mrs. C.D. Demowu

Circulation headed by A.R. Garube

Acquisition headed by R.I. Uguanbi

Catalogue unit headed by Eifi A.O

The pharmacy and pharmacology faculty is situated at Ekehugn the department run fulltime and part time programmes. The department is headed by Mr. Ehu A.E. The department has training library for easy access to pharmacy students. The training libraryi headed by a library officer Igbinovia J. and the library is controlled by the university librarian.

1.7 DEFINITION OF OPERATIONAL BASIC ON CEPT

Mobile phone according to Webster Dictionary is a radio or device that is capable of transmitting voice calls, information and message from the source encoder to a receiver the decoder. Awake, (2006).

Internet is a computer and other communication devices connected to each other using telephone lines, satellite and other devices using a common language Ukoha, (1997).

REFERENCES

BLAKE, M. (2004) “Growing Mobile Market in Africa” The Electronic Library Vol 22 No. 4 P. 370.

Nigeria Business Info. Com (2003) “Revisiting Nigeria’s Telecommunication Industry”. Available at

htt///www.nigeriabusinessinfo.com/telecoms080903.htm (Accessed 11 October 2004).

OKORUWA, C. (2004) “Three Years of GSM” The Guardia pp 41-45.

SCOTT, N. (2003) “African’s New Communication user’s – What do they use and why? Available at

htt://wwwbalancingact.africa.com/new/backbalancing-act-203html, (Accessed 4 May 2004).

WATT, W. (2003) “Latest Research in Mobile Phone use” England; Future Publishing Ltd.