Authors : Joseph Oluchukwu Wogu, Christiana Ogeri Chukwu, Joel Chinedum Ugwuoke, Chinyere Christiana Ugwulor-Onyinyechi and Chukwuemeka Ononuju Nwankiti
Abstract: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) created different media platforms that require specified skills for their users. Students of mass communication are required to acquire these skills in the course of their study as undergraduates. Thus, this study investigates the level of student’s acquisition of media literacy skills in Southeast Nigerian universities. The objective of this study is to determine the level of media literacy skills acquisition among undergraduate students of mass communication in Southeast-Nigeria ascertain the factors militating against undergraduate student’s acquisition of media literacy skills in Southeast Nigerian universities and to proffer solutions to the identified problems. A cross-sectional survey involving students in the Departments of Mass Communication in all the 10 public universities in the Southeast was adopted. Structured questionnaire was used as instrument of data collection and technology acceptance model as framework of analysis in pursuit of the objectives. With the aid of Taro Yemane formula for determining sample size, a sample of 369 respondents was derived from a total population of 4677 students. Percentage formula and SPSS Version 20 tools (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) were used to analyse the data while decisions were taken based on the standard that mean difference is significant at $0.05. Results showed that majority of the students have acquired rudimentary computer and internet knowledge and skills have not acquired substantial critical understanding competence/skills and communication abilities/skills required for effective and efficient professional practices in the current digitalised media platforms. The results further reveal that poor funding, lack of appropriate facilities, inadequate curriculum, incessant strikes, poor quality of lecturers and teaching methods are the major factors militating against undergraduate’s media literacy acquisition. Appropriate and special funding intervention scheme, periodic review of education curriculum and the integration of lecturer’s ICTs driven and media literacy compliance into indices for the promotion and recruitments were recommended.
Joseph Oluchukwu Wogu, Christiana Ogeri Chukwu, Joel Chinedum Ugwuoke, Chinyere Christiana Ugwulor-Onyinyechi and Chukwuemeka Ononuju Nwankiti, 2019. A Survey of Student’s Media Literacy Skills in Nigerian Universities. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 14: 5365-5373.