Abstract
This study explores the effectiveness of mobile apps in promoting the utilization of electronic
information resources (EIRs) among postgraduate students in federal universities in Nasarawa
and Benue states, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was employed, involving 106
postgraduate students selected through stratified random sampling from the Federal University of
Lafia and Joseph Tarkaa University of Makurdi. Data were collected using a structured
questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings indicate that postgraduate
students have a high level of awareness of mobile apps such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate,
and JSTOR, while their awareness of other apps like Zotero, PubMed, and ScienceDirect
remains low. Despite this awareness, the actual utilization of mobile apps for accessing EIRs is
relatively low, with Google Scholar being the most frequently used. The study further reveals
that mobile apps are highly effective in promoting EIR utilization, particularly through academic
performance correlation, user engagement metrics, and frequency of resource downloads.
However, significant challenges hinder their usage, including poor internet connectivity, high
data costs, lack of digital literacy, and inadequate institutional support. To enhance EIR access,
the study recommends targeted awareness campaigns, digital literacy training, improved internet
infrastructure, and institutional support to encourage the effective use of mobile apps for
academic purposes.
Keywords: Mobile apps, Electronic Information Resources, Utilization and Postgraduates
Publication Date: 2025-05-01