Enhancing University Administration through ICTs in Nigeria
Abstract
The importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in enhancing university administration cannot be over-emphasised. However, there are many challenges facing the use of ICTs in the effective and efficient delivery of services in universities in Nigeria. The main objective of the paper is, therefore, to examine the challenges and proffer sustainable solutions. The General System Theory was adopted as the theoretical framework for the study. The research is descriptive and quantitative. Sources of data were primary and secondary while a well-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from one hundred and seventy four (174) respondents, randomly selected out of an estimated population of three thousand, five hundred (3,500) ICT users, comprising academic, non-teaching staff and students from three universities (federal -1, state -1 and private -1) in Ogun State, reputed to be the only state with the highest number of universities in Nigeria. Relevant hypotheses were tested and the data were presented using tables and percentages. Chi-Square and ANOVA statistical tools were used to analyse the data. Findings show that the challenges facing the use of ICTs in the universities include high cost of ICTs, low computer-literacy among university staff and students, epileptic power supply, absence of ICT policies and poor political-will to implement such policies, where they exist. The paper concludes that the prospects are bright and that more universities would embrace the use of ICTs in their operations when the identified challenges are tackled.
Downloads
References
Abasilim, U. D. & Edet, L. I. (2015). “E-governance and its implementation challengesin the Nigerian public service”, Acta Universitatis Danubius, 7 (1).
Adebayo, S. S. (2013). “The impact of application of information and communications technology (ICT) in the administration of polytechnics in Ogun State, Nigeria”. International Journal of Students Research in Technology & Management, 1, 505-515.
Adeogun, M. (2003). “The digital and university education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa”. African Journal of Library, Archival, and Information Science, 13(1): 11-20.
Akpan-Obong, P. I. & Alozie, N. O. (2016). Information technologies in the Nigerian public sector: E-governance practice in federal government institutions in Abuja.
Akpan-Obong, P. I., Ayo, C. K. & Adebiyi, A. (2016) (Ed.) Issues and concepts of e-governance in Nigeria: A reader. Ota: Covenant University Press.
Akpan-Obong, P. (2010). “Unintended outcomes in information and communication technology adoption: A micro-level analysis of usage in context”. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 45(2), 181-195. DOI: 10.1177/0021909609357412.
Akomaye, A. B. (2015). “E-governance in a nutshell”. In: In: Akpan-Obong, P. I., Ayo, C. K. & Adebiyi, A. (2016) (Ed.) Issues and concepts of e-governance in Nigeria: A reader. Ota: Covenant University Press.
Al-Ansari, H. (2006). “The Internet use by faculty members of Kuwait University”. The Electronic Library, 26(6):791-803.
Anim, E. O. (2015). “E-governance in Nigeria: Walking in an uncertain terrain”. In: Akpan-Obong, P. I., Ayo, C. K. & Adebiyi, A. (2016) (Ed.) Issues and concepts of e-governance in Nigeria: A reader. Ota: Covenant University Press.
Association of African Universities (2001). ICTs: Building capacity in African Universities. Programme of activities 2001 – 2004. mailto:0/o20info aau.org.
Bamiro, O. A. (2012). “The Nigerian university system and the challenge of relevance”. A lecture delivered at the Convocation Lecture, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, January.
Centre for Distance Learning and Continuing Education (CDLCE), University of Abuja. Educational Administration.
Commonwealth of Learning International (2001). Building capacity to deliver distance education in Nigeria’s’ federal university system. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/ NIGERIAEXTN/Resources/capacity/de.pdf.
Ehikhamenor, F. A. (2002). “Internet resources and productivity in Nigerian universities”. Journal of Information Science, 29 (2): 107-115.
Hasan, et al (2007), CIT reflections, Annual Magazine of the FTK-Centre for Information Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Issue 1 April 2007.
Ifinedo, P. (2007). “E-learning in the Nigerian higher education sector: Opportunities and challenges”. The African Symposium, 7(2), 48-54. An Online Educational Research Journal: A Publication of the African Educational Research Network (ISSN#TX 6-342-323).
Ifinedo, P. (2006). “Acceptance and learning technologies (WLT) among university students in a Baltic country”. The Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 23(6), 1-20.
Ifinedo, P. (2005). “Measuring Africa’s e-readiness in the global networked economy: A nine-country data analysis”. International Journal of Education and Development Using ICT, 1(1), 53-71.
Islam, A. & Panda, K. C. (2007). “Web information retrieval trends of researchers: A case study of Sambalpur University, India”. The Electronic Library, 25(6):725-765.
Iwu, A. & OIke, G. A. (2009). “Information and communication technology and Programmed
Instruction for the attainment of educational goals in Nigeria’s secondary schools”. Journal of the Nigeria Association for Educational Media and Technology.
Jagboro, K. O. (2003). Internet usage in Nigerian universities: A case study of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Johari, J. C. (2013). Comparative Politics. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers Limited.
Johnson, S. O. (2007). “Enhancing quality in higher education through information and communication technology in Nigeria”. In: Babalola, J. B., Akpa, G. O, Ayeni, A. O. & Adedeji, S. O. (Eds.) Access, Equity and Quality in Higher Education. Ibadan: NAEAP Publication, 505-512.
Kinengyere, A. A. (2007). “The effect of information literacy on the utilisation of electronic information and resources in selected academic and research institutions in Uganda”. The Electronic Library 25(3):328-341.
Kokt, D. & Koelane, T. (2013). “Reflecting on information and communication technology (ICT) in marketing from a marketer’s and student perspectives”. African Journal of Business Management, 7(31), 3098-3108. http://dx.doi.org/10.5897/AJBM2013.7054.
Koontz, H., O’Donell, C. & Weihrich, H. (1980). Management. McGraw-Hill Inc.
Kumar, R. & Kaur, A. (2005). “Internet and its use in the engineering colleges of Punjab, India: A case study”. Webology 2(4): 1-22.
Kupoluyi, A. K. (2015). “Before engaging jobless graduates as teachers”, The Punch, December 21, p.6.
Kupoluyi, A. K. (2011). “To avert another ASUU strike”, The Guardian, November 16, p. 51.
Ladipo, M. (2012). “The registry as the lifeline of the University: Past, present and future”. A lecture delivered at the Registry Day, University of Port Harcourt, November 9.
Magni, M. (2009), “ICT usage in higher education”, International Technology and Education and Development Conference, Spain March 9-11, 2009.
Maki, C. (2008). “Information and communication technology for administration and management for secondary schools in Cyprus”. Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 4(3): 18-20.
Njoku, S. (2006). ICT and Nigerian teachers. Paper delivered at Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) National Workshop. Abuja: TRCN.
Nnaemeka, T. (1990). “Ethical regulations practice”. In: Philosophy and dimensions of national communication policy. Vol. 2, CBAAC, Lagos.
Nwafor, S. O. (2005). “Information Technology: A modern tool for the administration of universities in Rivers State”. Nigerian Journal of Educational Administration and Planning, 5(2), 184-188.
Nwokedi, V. C. (2007). “Impact of internet use on teaching and research activities of the academic staff of Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos: A case study of Gateway Library Journal”, 10 (I): 13-22.
Ojedokun, A. A. & Owolabi, E. O. (2003). “Internet use for teaching and research in Botswana”. African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science, 13(1):43-53.
Okoli, E. C. (2007). “The place of the improved ICTs in the management of Nigerian University education”. In: Babalola, J. B., Akpa, G. O, Ayeni, A. O. & Adedeji, S. O. (Eds.) Access, Equity and Quality in Higher Education. Ibadan: NAEAP Publication, 523-532.
Okorie, N. C., Agabi, O. G., & Uche, C. M. (2005). “Application of ICTs in the management of public and private universities”. Nigerian Journal of Educational Administration and Planning, 5(2), 29-36.
Olaleye, J. (1998). “Concepts of the multipurpose cadastral: Principles and applications of geographic information systems”. Series in surveying and geoinformatics, edited Ezeigbo, C. U, Chapter 3, pp. 24-36.
Olaniyi, J.O. (2001). Introduction to political analysis. Lagos: Fapsony Nigeria Limited.
Ololube, N. P. (2006). “Appraising the relationship between ICT usage and integration and the standard of teacher education programs in a developing economy”. International Journal of Education and Development Using ICT, 2(3), 70- 85.
Oyedum, G. U. (2006). “Internet utilisation and satisfaction by students’ of Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria”. Borno Library, Archival and Information Science Journal 5(2):1-9.
Peeraer, J. & Petegem, M. (2005). “Factors influencing integration of ICT in higher education in Vietnam”.
Ramzan, M. (2004). “Does level of knowledge impact librarians’ attitude toward information technology (IT) applications?”, 2nd International CALIBER-2004, New Delhi, 11-13 February.
Ray, S. N. (2011). Modern comparative politics: Approaches, methods and issues. New Delhi: PHI Learning Private Limited.
Shahriza, K., Nor, A. & Hasan, A. (2007). “Reading habits and attitude in digital age: Analyses of gender and academic program differences in Malaysia”. The Electronic Library 25(3): 285-297.
Sipila, K. (2010). “The impact of laptop provision on teachers’ attitudes towards ICT”. Technology, Pedagogy and Education Journal, 19 (1), p. 3 - 16.
Simin, G., Mojgan, A. Saedah, S. & Kalaivani, S. (2013), “ICT application for administration and management: A conceptual review”. Procedia: Social and Behavioural Sciences, (103)1344 - 1351.
Startup, R. (1979). The university teacher and his world: Sociological and educational Study. Great Britain: Saxon House.
Tella, A. (2007). “Impact of web-based e-learning at the University of Botswana”. The African Symposium: An on-line Journal of African Educational Research Network, 7(2), 87-97 (ISSN#TX 6-342-323).
Thomas, K. O. (2004), “Practical application of ICT to enhance university education In Ghana”, Feature Article, Ghana Web 2004.
Toro, U. & Joshi, M. (2012), “ICT in higher education: Review of literature from the period 2004 –-2011”, International Journal of Innovation, Management and Technology, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2012.
Tosun, N. & Baris, M. F. (2011). “Using information and communication technologies in schools’ improvement”. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 10(1), 223-231.
UNESCO (1998). World declaration on higher education for the twenty-first century and framework for change and development in higher education, as adopted by the World Conference on Higher Education, 9th October 1998, UNESCO, Paris.
University of Abuja. Educational administration. Centre for Distance Learning and Continuing Education, CDLCE, Abuja.
Watson, D. M. (2001). “Pedagogy before technology: Re-thinking the relationship between ICT and teaching”. Education and information technologies, 6(4), 251-266. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/a:1012976702296.
World Bank (2002). Constructing knowledge societies: New challenges for tertiary education. Washington D. C.: The World Bank.
Yalokwu, P. O. (2006). Fundamentals of management. Lagos: African Centre for Management & Education.
Yusuf, M. O. (2005a). “Integrating information and communication technologies in Nigerian tertiary education”. The African Symposium, 5(2), 2005: An On-line Educational Research Journal: A publication of the African Education Research Network. http://www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/aern/INDEX.HTML.
Yusuf, M. O. (2005b). “Information and communication technology for education: Analysing the Nigerian policy for information technology”. International Education Journal, 6(3), 316-321.
TRANSFER OF COPYRIGHT
JRBEM is pleased to undertake the publication of your contribution to Journal of Research in Business Economics and Management.
The copyright to this article is transferred to JRBEM(including without limitation, the right to publish the work in whole or in part in any and all forms of media, now or hereafter known) effective if and when the article is accepted for publication thus granting JRBEM all rights for the work so that both parties may be protected from the consequences of unauthorized use.
