This paper seeks to provide further understanding of issues surrounding university students’ cognitive belief about the effort an individual would expend when using information and communication technology (ICT) to perform a given task related to academic learning. The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) perspective was adopted to determine the strength of effort expectancy (the belief that ICT is easy to use and effort-free) and the moderating influence of experience on ICT use in academic context. A pre-tested questionnaire was administered to 400 respondents that were selected using purposive sampling from students at University of Maiduguri and University of Ibadan in Nigeria. This study aims to achieve three objectives: to determine the respondents’ level of ICT use; to determine the effect of effort expectancy on ICT use; and to assess the moderating influence of prior ICT use experience on the relationship path between effort expectancy and ICT use. The Cronbach alpha of the measurement scale was (a = .85) very good. The results indicate that effort expectancy significantly predict ICT use and that low experience significantly moderates the relationship path between effort expectancy and ICT use, which led this paper to conclude that most Nigerian university students possess basic (rudimentary, or low) ICT use skills; and the majority of them believe that an individual student would need to expend lot of effort when using ICT to accomplish a given academic task. Hence, this paper recommends that practical e-learning courses should be included in public universities’ academic curriculums.

This study examined African Diaspora students’ behaviour towards their social media profile images in relation to self-presentation and impression management at the University of Nicosia, Cyprus. The study sought to find out why African students in diaspora manage their social media profile images and how they present themselves and manage impression through online social media platforms. In-depth interview was used to collect data on the subject investigated. The researchers used available and convenient sampling technique to select seven individual African students at the University to enable the researchers obtain extensive data. Findings from the study indicated various factors that prompt and motivate African students to manage their social media profile images. These factors include maintaining social ties with friends, relatives and associates at home in Africa, as well as sharing moments, aesthetic environment and nature with them. The study concluded that African students in the University of Nicosia managed their social media profile images in order to share their experiences with their relatives and friends. This assisted them to manage their self-images. Hence, the study recommends further research on a large scale that will explore specific African Diasporas ’personality traits and gender differences in relation to managing social media profile images.

Adherence to treatment is a vital aspect of medical care as it determines the success or otherwise of any medical encounter. Studies have shown that the doctor-patient style of interaction encourages or discourages adherence. This study, therefore, investigated the style(s) of doctor-patient communication (paternalism, mutuality, consumerism and default) used at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan as it bothers on patients’ adherence to treatment. The study adopted the doctor-patient relationship framework anchored on paternalistic, informative, interpretive and deliberative models. Accidental sampling technique was used to select 420 patients. The respondents were sampled across three out-patient departments (surgical, medical, and obstetrics and gynecology). Three doctors who are heads of departments and three patients from the three outpatient clinics for in-depth interviews. The instruments used were communication styles and patients’ adherence to treatment (CSPATQ, r = 0. 77) questionnaire and in-depth interview guide. Data were subjected to frequency and percentage distributions, Pearson product moment correlation and multiple linear regression analyses at 0.05 level of significance. Qualitative data were analysed thematically. A positive correlation was established between mutuality and patients’ adherence to treatment (r = 0.24). The following variables have relative effects on patients’ adherence to treatment Paternalism (ß = 0.06), mutuality (ß = 0.10) and default (ß = 0.33) had relative effects on patients’ adherence to treatment. This was supported by the in-depth interviews with the heads of departments and patients from the out-patient clinics. Mutuality as a communication style is perceived to enhance patients’ adherence to treatment and should be encouraged.

Adherence to treatment is a vital aspect of medical care as it determines the success or otherwise of any medical encounter. Studies have shown that the doctor-patient style of interaction encourages or discourages adherence. This study, therefore, investigated the style(s) of doctor-patient communication (paternalism, mutuality, consumerism and default) used at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan as it bothers on patients’ adherence to treatment. The study adopted the doctor-patient relationship framework anchored on paternalistic, informative, interpretive and deliberative models. Accidental sampling technique was used to select 420 patients. The respondents were sampled across three out-patient departments (surgical, medical, and obstetrics and gynecology). Three doctors who are heads of departments and three patients from the three outpatient clinics for in-depth interviews. The instruments used were communication styles and patients’ adherence to treatment (CSPATQ, r = 0. 77) questionnaire and in-depth interview guide. Data were subjected to frequency and percentage distributions, Pearson product moment correlation and multiple linear regression analyses at 0.05 level of significance. Qualitative data were analysed thematically. A positive correlation was established between mutuality and patients’ adherence to treatment (r = 0.24). The following variables have relative effects on patients’ adherence to treatment Paternalism (ß = 0.06), mutuality (ß = 0.10) and default (ß = 0.33) had relative effects on patients’ adherence to treatment. This was supported by the in-depth interviews with the heads of departments and patients from the out-patient clinics. Mutuality as a communication style is perceived to enhance patients’ adherence to treatment and should be encouraged.

This study investigates Nigerian newspapers framing of President Mohammadu Buhari medical leave to United Kingdom, with specific emphasis on genre of the story, prominence, pattern of framing, dominant frame and frequency of the reports. Three newspapers; The Guardian, Vanguard and Daily Trust were selected for the study which covers a period of 8 months. Content analysis was adopted for the study. Results showed, among others, the newspapers did not give background information on President Muhamadu Buhari’s medical leave. The newspapers used the straight news format most in the reportage of the issue. Findings further showed that the newspapers gave minimal prominence to the coverage. The result also showed that the newspapers used varieties of frames in the coverage such as: political frame, respond frame, human interest frame and death-rumour frame. The dominant frame was political frame which accounted for 27 percent. It recommended that Nigeria newspapers and journalists should refrain from brief report of issues, especially a matter of national concern and adopt an in-depth investigation and reportage. Further studies are also recommended to include audience perception of the coverage by the media.

Power sector in Nigeria has been one of the challenging sectors for Nigerian development. It has faced challenges ranging from corruption, lack of infrastructure, insufficient power generation, inadequate supply of electricity to consumers, inflexible tariff system, to non-payment of large bill arrears by the power consumers. Despite all these, Nigerians have increasingly demanded for electricity in the country. This study examined newspaper coverage of tariff increase in the power sector to know how the issue was deemed important. The study used agenda-setting theory to buttress and explain the work while content analysis was the research design used to content analyse The Punch and The Nation newspapers for the period of six (6) months. The universe of the study was 366 out of which 192 was the sample size while coding sheet and coding guide were the instruments of data collection. Findings revealed that the selected newspapers did fairly well in their coverage on tariff increase in the power sector. Both newspapers gave prominence and high frequency to the stories reported. The study recommended that since so many people rely on media messages there is need for the print media to be more proactive on the interpretative function of the mass media and that media professionals should not rely solely on media briefings, conferences and press releases from electricity power brokers; they should equally get the opinions of the common man on the street and know what the masses are saying on any issue of importance.

This paper examined audience perception of portrayal of women in magazine advertisements, with a focus on Maiduguri residence. The study sought to find out audience perception on how women are depicted in magazine advertisement and whether audience perception on the portrayal of women in magazine advertisement is viewed as positive or negative. A survey was conducted to gather and generate data for the study. It used purposive sampling to select 100 respondent individuals relevant to the study. The study found that the respondent perceive that women are depicted predominantly as subjects for sexual appeal in magazine advertisement and women are perceive as being portrayed negatively in magazine advertisement. The study concludes that respondent’s perception of women’s portrayal in magazine advertisement is tilted towards the negative perspective and their depiction is predominantly as object for sexual appeal.