ASSESSMENT OF INTERNET USAGE BY STUDENTS OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN BENUE STATE NIGERIA.

The paper is an assessment of internet usage by the students of tertiary institutions in Benue State. Specifically, the study sought to find out the types of internet resources used by students, ascertain the level of satisfaction derived from internet usage by the students, identify the problem encountered with Internet usage by the students and find out the strategies for overcoming the problems militating against internet usage by students of tertiary institutions in Benue State. In line with the purpose of the study, four research questions guided the study. The survey research design was adopted in conducting this research. The area of study is Benue State Nigeria. Questionnaire was the instrument employed for data collection. The population of the study consisted of six (6) tertiary institutions across Benue State which covered the three senatorial zones. Questionnaire was the instrument employed for data collection. The sample size for this study was 496 students derived from the population using random sampling. Data collected was orderly organized in tabular form to indicate raw scores which was converted into frequency and simple percentages. Results found the types of internet resources used by students to include; online books, online databases, online academic etc. On the level of satisfaction with the internet resources, the study found that users were satisfied with; online books, online databases, search engines, electronic textbooks, electronic serials publications such as magazines, newspapers. Furthermore, the study found problems encountered by students using internet resources to include; poor internet connectivity making it difficult for students to maximize the full potentials of internet resources, epileptic power supply, lack of knowledge about the existence of the internet resources and highlighted the to overcome the problems of internet use included: management of the schools should urgently improve the bandwidth for full internet connectivity, the management should make provision for a standby generator to complement JED among others. Based on the findings of the study, the paper recommended that: Heads of Institutions liaise with other stakeholders and supporting management to provide internet facilities. This is significant because internet facilities in schools are crucial in supporting academic performance and the School ICT Laboratories should be well equipped with internet facilities to assist student research and Study among others.