DIGITAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AMONG NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: EVIDENCE FROM NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY

The rapid expansion of digital technologies has significantly transformed the ways in which young people access information, communicate, and engage with education. This study examines the influence of new media on educational attainment among Nigerian youths, focusing specifically on students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Anchored in the Uses and Gratifications Theory, the research adopts a descriptive survey design and employs quantitative method through an online questionnaire administered to a sample of 280 students across multiple faculties. Findings reveal that new media serves as both a facilitator and a barrier to educational acquisition. While it enhances access to academic resources, accelerates research processes, and supports flexible learning, it also contributes to distractions, internet addiction, and exposure to cyber-related risks. The study concludes that the educational value of new media largely depends on patterns of usage. It recommends policy interventions, digital literacy programs, and institutional strategies to promote productive engagement with digital technologies among students