Parents urged to restrict teenagers’ smartphone use ahead of JAMB

The Director of Zion Study Centre and Leadership Academy, Toyin Joseph, has called on parents to monitor and limit their teenagers’ access to smartphones as part of efforts to improve performance in the forthcoming Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Joseph made the call during a seminar […]

The Director of Zion Study Centre and Leadership Academy, Toyin Joseph, has called on parents to monitor and limit their teenagers’ access to smartphones as part of efforts to improve performance in the forthcoming Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Joseph made the call during a seminar themed “Echoes from Zion” held at Zion Towers in Kubwa, Abuja. He said excessive smartphone use, particularly for social media and other online distractions, has negatively affected students’ focus and study time.

According to him, many students who sat for the examination last year struggled to achieve their desired scores due to inadequate preparation and poor concentration. He attributed part of the challenge to prolonged hours spent online instead of covering the required syllabus.

Joseph emphasised the critical role parents play in supporting their children’s academic success, urging them to set clear boundaries on smartphone usage and encourage structured study routines.

“A key element in our students’ success has been their ability to manage and limit their access to smartphones. This reduction in distractions has allowed them to focus more intently on their studies. Parents play a crucial role in guiding and supporting their children toward success,” he said.

He noted that over the past two decades, Zion Study Centre has implemented structured coaching programmes aimed at helping students achieve high scores. In the most recent academic session, he said the centre produced ten students who scored 300 and above, including one student who scored 352, one of the highest in Abuja. Several other students also recorded scores of 250 and above.

A student of the centre, Alhassan Kabir, said limiting his smartphone use contributed to improved performance in weekly tests. He acknowledged the difficulty of staying away from his phone but described the sacrifice as necessary for academic excellence.

Also speaking, a parent, Dr. Sarah, commended the centre’s efforts in preparing students for examinations. She urged other parents to take a proactive approach in supervising their children’s activities, particularly during examination periods.

She added that, beyond UTME and JAMB, students preparing for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examinations could perform effectively without smartphones during the critical revision period.