nla-article-8 20260930200701.0 2026s2026 xxu|||||obm|||||||eng|d 10.1234/nlabor/art.8doi Emmason, JonahUniversity of Maiduguri Audu, JamesUniversity of kebbi Abba, AbubakarUniversity of Abuja Roles of Public Library in eradicating illiteracy rate among users in Maiduguri, Borno State NLA Borno State Chapter2026-09-22 1 online resource Illiteracy remains one of the major educational and social problems affecting personal development, community participation, and national progress. It does not only mean the inability to read and write simple words; it also includes difficulty in understanding written information, using knowledge for daily decisions, and applying basic communication skills in social, economic, health, and civic life. In Nigeria, the problem is more serious among disadvantaged groups, especially people affected by poverty, conflict, limited schooling, gender barriers, rural isolation, and poor access to learning resources. Recent literacy data on Nigeria show that a large number of adults still lack basic literacy skills, which means that literacy development remains a continuing social responsibility rather than a task for formal schools alone (UIL, 2022). This makes public libraries important institutions in any serious attempt to reduce illiteracy among community users. sociallocal economiclocal healthlocal civiclocal lifelocal https://nlajournal.org/journal/borno-journal/article/nlabor-2026-00002Publisher version Borno State Chapter Journal Electronic articlesfast nla-article-7 20260930200701.0 2026s2026 xxu|||||obm|||||||eng|d 10.1234/nlabor/art.7doi Emmason, JonahUniversity of Maiduguri Musa, AzmanUnimaid A SOCIOLINGUISTICS STUDY OF GENDER BASE DIFFERENCES IN COMMUNICATION PATTERNS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI NLA Borno State Chapter2026-07-05 1 online resource This study examined gender-based differences in communication patterns among undergraduate students at the University of Maiduguri from a sociolinguistic perspective. The study was motivated by observed variations in communication behaviours between male and female students, which may influence academic participation, interpersonal relationships, and learning outcomes. The study was guided by three objectives: to identify the communication patterns exhibited by male and female students, examine the linguistic and pragmatic features that characterize their communication styles, and investigate the non-verbal communication behaviours associated with both genders. The study was anchored on Dominance Theory, Difference Theory, and Social Constructionist Theory. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised approximately 400 GST students drawn from the Departments of Languages and Linguistics, English Language and Literary Studies, Theatre Arts, and History and Strategic Studies in the Faculty of Arts, University of Maiduguri. Using a multistage sampling technique, 196 students were selected, out of which 190 valid responses were retrieved and analyzed. Data were collected using a self-designed questionnaire whose validity and reliability were established through expert review and pilot testing. The data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean scores, and standard deviations with the aid of SPSS. The findings revealed significant gender differences in communication patterns. Male students were perceived as more active, assertive, dominant, confident, and direct in communication, whereas female students were viewed as more cooperative, polite, empathetic, supportive, attentive, and expressive in both verbal and non-verbal interactions. The study concluded that gender significantly influences communication styles among undergraduate students. It recommended inclusive teaching strategies, communication skills programmes, and interactive learning activities to promote effective, balanced, and gender-inclusive communication practices within the university environment. Sociolinguisticslocal Genderlocal Communication Patternslocal Undergraduate Studentslocal Verbal Communicationlocal Non-Verbal Communicationlocal University of Maidugurilocal https://nlajournal.org/journal/borno-journal/article/nlabor-2026-00001Publisher version Borno State Chapter JournalVol. 0, No. 0 (2026) Electronic articlesfast