Mobile Phone Usage and Academic Performance of Senior Secondary School Students in Borno State, North East Nigeria

This study examines the relationship between mobile phone usage patterns and academic performance among senior secondary school students in Borno State, North East Nigeria. The widespread ownership of mobile phones among adolescents has prompted debates about whether these devices constitute a distraction or an academic asset. This correlational study involved 250 Senior Secondary School Two students sampled from public secondary schools in Maiduguri Municipal Council. A validated questionnaire assessed frequency, purpose, and duration of daily mobile phone use. Academic performance data were obtained from the students' most recent end-of-term examination results. Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to test hypotheses. Results reveal a significant negative correlation between non-academic mobile phone use (social networking and gaming) and academic performance. Conversely, students who frequently used mobile phones for educational purposes such as searching for information and watching tutorials recorded above-average academic scores. Socioeconomic background significantly moderated the relationship, as students from lower-income households demonstrated more purposeful academic use of shared devices. The study recommends a structured mobile learning policy in Borno State schools that channels phone use toward productive academic activities while managing recreational distractions. Keywords: mobile phone usage, academic performance, senior secondary school, Borno State, mobile learning