5 - ICT Utilisation and Associated barriers in Teaching among Middle-level Academics in Nigerian Universities
Corresponding Author(s) : John Lekan Oyefara
Journal of Higher Education in Africa,
Vol. 19 No. 1 (2021): Journal of Higher Education in Africa
Abstract
This article seeks to understand the barriers to information and com- munications technology (ICT) utilisation among middle-level academics in Nigerian universities. It makes use of a cross-sectional survey and key informant interviews to interrogate the problem. A total of 1,325 middle- level lecturers drawn from 12 South-western Nigerian universities took part in the study. Because of the nature and character of the Nigerian state and the historical contexts of its higher education, the political economy approach was adopted along with ICT utilisation resistance theory to explain barriers to ICT utilisation in Nigerian universities. The article finds that there is a significant relationship between the availability, utilisation and quality of teaching in Nigerian universities. Specifically, it finds that in universities where lecturers had tablets they were 1.5 times more likely to deliver quality teaching. It also finds that in universities where lecturers used multimedia projectors, students were 2.7 times more likely to receive quality teaching. On the barriers to ICT utilisation, the article finds that lack of funding, lack of strong institutional policy and support infrastructure such as broadband internet connectivity and constant electricity supply are among the major constraints to ICT-based higher education. It therefore suggests the development of a comprehensive policy on ICT-based education and massive investment in university education in Nigeria.
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- Achimugu, P., Oluwagbemi, O. and Oluwaranti, A., 2010, ‘An evaluation of ICT diffusion in Nigeria’s higher educational institutions’, Journal of Information Technology Impact, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 25–34.
- Adam, L., 2003, ‘Information and communication technologies in higher education in Africa: initiatives and challenges’, Journal of Higher Education in Africa / Revue de l’enseignementsupérieur en Afrique, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 195–221.
- Aina, O.I., 2002, ‘Alternative modes of financing higher education in Nigeria and the implications for university governance’, Africa Development, Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 236–62.
- Ajayi, G.O., 1996, ‘Full Internet connectivity in Africa: the journey so far and the way forward’, in M.A. Sanni and O. Adagunodo, eds., Telematics for Development in Infotech ’96, Ife: National Centre for Technology Management (NACATEM), Telecommunications Foundation of Africa. pp. 17-34.
- Ake, C., 2000, The Feasibility of Democracy in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA.
- Alemneh, D.G. and Hastings, S.K., 2006, ‘Developing the ICT infrastructure for Africa: overview of barriers to harnessing the full power of the internet’, Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 4–16.
- Apagu, V.V. and Wakili, B.A., 2015, ‘Availability and utilization of ICT facilities for teaching and learning of vocational and technical education in Yobe State technical colleges’, American Journal of Engineering Research , Vol. 4, No. 2, pp.113–18.
- Aramide, K.A., Ladipo, S.O. and Adebayo, I., 2015, ‘Demographic variables and ICT access as predictors of information and communication technologies’ usage among science teachers in Federal Unity schools in Nigeria’, Library Philosophy and Practice. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1217/ (accessed 30 April 2020).
- Archibong, I.A., Ogbiji, J.E. and Anijaobi-Idem, F., 2010, ‘ICT competence among academic staff in universities in Cross River State, Nigeria’, Computer and Information Science, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 109–15.
- Aristovnik, A., 2012, ‘The impact of ICT on educational performance and its ef- ficiency in selected EU and OECD countries: a non-parametric analysis’, The Turkish Online Journal of Technology, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 114–52.
- Barakabitze, A., Lazaro, A.W., Ainea, N, Nwizu, M.H., Maziku, H., Matofali, A.X., Iddi, A. and Sanga, C., 2019, ‘Transforming African education systems in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) using ICTs: challenges and opportunities’, Education Research International, Vol. 2019, Article ID 6946809. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6946809.
- Buabeng-Andoh, C. and Yidana, I., 2015, ‘Teachers’ ICT usage in second-cycle institutions in Ghana: a qualitative study’, International Journal of Education and Development Using Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp.104–12.
- Castells, M., 1996, The Rise of the Network Society. The Information Age: Economy, Society and Culture, Vol. 1, Malden, MA, and Oxford: Blackwell.
- Commonwealth of Learning, 2017, Open Educational Resources Policy for Education in Nigeria, Columbia: Commonwealth of Learning.
- Davis, F., 1989, ‘Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and user acceptance of information technology’, MIS Quarterly, Vol. 13, No. 3, pp. 319–40.
- Dumbili, E.W., 2014, ‘The McDonaldization of Nigerian universities: a sociological analysis and critique of engendering policies’, SAGE Open, Vol. 4, No. 2. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2158244014529780.
- Edumadze, J.K.E. and Owusu, A., 2013, ‘Use of information and communication technology for teaching and learning in Ghanaian universities: case of University of Cape Coast’, International Journal of Computing and Academic Research, Vol. 2, No. 6, pp. 266–77.
- Ekeh, P.P., 1975, ‘Colonialism and the two publics: a theoretical statement’, Comparative Studies in Society and History, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp, 91–112.
- Friedman, T., 2005, The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
- FRN (Federal Republic of Nigeria), 2004, National Policy on Education, Yaba: NERDC Press.
- Fuchs, C. and Horak, E., 2008, ‘Africa and the digital divide’, Telematics and Informatics, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 99–116.
- Gillwald, A., Moyo, M. and Stork, C., 2012, ‘Understanding what is happening in ICT in South Africa’, Evidence for ICT Policy Action Policy Paper 7. https://www.africaportal.org/publications/understanding-what-happening-ict-south-africa-supply-and-demand-side-analysis-ict-sector/ (accessed 23 May 2021)
- Idowo, P.A., Abimbola, O.I., and Adagunodo, E.R., 2004, ‘A comparative study of information and communication technologies at higher educational institutions in Africa: case studies from Nigeria and Mozambique’, Journal of Information Technology Impact, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 67–74.
- Kpolovie, P.J. and Awusaki, O.K., 2016, ‘ICT adoption attitude of lecturers’, European Journal of Computer Science and Information Technology, Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 9–57.
- Limb, P., 2005, ‘The digitization of Africa’, Africa Today, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 3–19.
- Makura, A.H., 2014, ‘Students’ perception of the use of ICT in a higher education teaching and learning context: the case of a South African university’, Meditaranian Journal of Social Sciences, Vol. 5, No. 11, pp. 43–7.
- Muianga, X., Hansson, H., Nilsson, A., Mondale, A., Mutimucuio, I. and Guambe, A., 2013, ‘ICT in education in Africa – myth or reality: a case study of Mozambican higher education institutions’, The African Journal of Information Systems, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 106–17.
- Ng’ambi, D., Brown, C.I., Bozalek, V. and Gachago, D., 2018, ‘Technology enhanced teaching and learning in South Africa – a rearview of a 20 year journey’, British Jour- nal of Educational Technology, Vol. 47, No. 5. https://doi/org/10.1111/bjet.12485.
- Nnoli, O. (1993). The Deteriorating Condition of the Nigerian Development’, in Nnoli, O. ed., Deadend to Nigerian Development, Dakar, CQDESRIA.
- Nwankwoala, H.N.L., 2015, ‘An investigation of lecturers’ and students’ use of ICTs in Nigerian university education as a panacea for national development’, Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, Vol. 5, No. 20, pp. 18–29.
- Ohiwerei, F.O. and Onimawo, J., 2016, ‘Utilisation of information and communication technology between older and younger lecturers in business education in Nigerian universities in the South–South geo-political zone’, International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 33–47.
- Okafor, E.E., Imhoriopi, D. and Urim, U.M., 2011, ‘Utilisation of Internet services and its impact on teaching and research outputs in private universities in South- western Nigeria’, International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 135–51.
- Sawyer, A., 2004, ‘Challenges facing African universities: selected issues’, African Studies Review, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 1–59.
- Schaefer, M.J., Shrum, W.M., Miller, P.B., Mbatia, P.N., Palackal, A. and Dzorgbo, D.S., 2016, ‘Access to ICT and research output of agriculture researchers in Kenya’, Science, Technology & Society, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 250–70.
- Shrivastava, M. and Shrivastava, S., 2014, ‘Political economy of higher education: comparing South Africa to trends in the world’, Higher Education, Vol. 67, No. 6, pp. 809–22.
- Teferra, D. and Altbach, P.G., 2004, ‘Africa’s higher education: challenges for the 21st century’, Higher Education, Vol. 47, pp. 21–50.
- UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), 2015, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Education in Sub- Saharan Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Basic E-readiness in Schools, Canada: UNESCO Institute of Statistics.
- Voogt, J., Fisser, P., Pareja R.N., Tondeur, J. and van Braak, J., 2013, ‘Technological pedagogical content knowledge – a review of the literature’, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Vol. 29, pp. 109–21.
- World Bank, 2016, World Development Report: Digital Dividends-An Overview, Washington DC: World Bank.
- Yelland, N., 2001, Teaching and Learning with Information and Communication Tech- nology (ICT) for Numeracy in the Early Childhood and Primary Year of Schooling, Melbourne: Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs.
References
Achimugu, P., Oluwagbemi, O. and Oluwaranti, A., 2010, ‘An evaluation of ICT diffusion in Nigeria’s higher educational institutions’, Journal of Information Technology Impact, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 25–34.
Adam, L., 2003, ‘Information and communication technologies in higher education in Africa: initiatives and challenges’, Journal of Higher Education in Africa / Revue de l’enseignementsupérieur en Afrique, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 195–221.
Aina, O.I., 2002, ‘Alternative modes of financing higher education in Nigeria and the implications for university governance’, Africa Development, Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 236–62.
Ajayi, G.O., 1996, ‘Full Internet connectivity in Africa: the journey so far and the way forward’, in M.A. Sanni and O. Adagunodo, eds., Telematics for Development in Infotech ’96, Ife: National Centre for Technology Management (NACATEM), Telecommunications Foundation of Africa. pp. 17-34.
Ake, C., 2000, The Feasibility of Democracy in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA.
Alemneh, D.G. and Hastings, S.K., 2006, ‘Developing the ICT infrastructure for Africa: overview of barriers to harnessing the full power of the internet’, Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 4–16.
Apagu, V.V. and Wakili, B.A., 2015, ‘Availability and utilization of ICT facilities for teaching and learning of vocational and technical education in Yobe State technical colleges’, American Journal of Engineering Research , Vol. 4, No. 2, pp.113–18.
Aramide, K.A., Ladipo, S.O. and Adebayo, I., 2015, ‘Demographic variables and ICT access as predictors of information and communication technologies’ usage among science teachers in Federal Unity schools in Nigeria’, Library Philosophy and Practice. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1217/ (accessed 30 April 2020).
Archibong, I.A., Ogbiji, J.E. and Anijaobi-Idem, F., 2010, ‘ICT competence among academic staff in universities in Cross River State, Nigeria’, Computer and Information Science, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 109–15.
Aristovnik, A., 2012, ‘The impact of ICT on educational performance and its ef- ficiency in selected EU and OECD countries: a non-parametric analysis’, The Turkish Online Journal of Technology, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 114–52.
Barakabitze, A., Lazaro, A.W., Ainea, N, Nwizu, M.H., Maziku, H., Matofali, A.X., Iddi, A. and Sanga, C., 2019, ‘Transforming African education systems in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) using ICTs: challenges and opportunities’, Education Research International, Vol. 2019, Article ID 6946809. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6946809.
Buabeng-Andoh, C. and Yidana, I., 2015, ‘Teachers’ ICT usage in second-cycle institutions in Ghana: a qualitative study’, International Journal of Education and Development Using Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp.104–12.
Castells, M., 1996, The Rise of the Network Society. The Information Age: Economy, Society and Culture, Vol. 1, Malden, MA, and Oxford: Blackwell.
Commonwealth of Learning, 2017, Open Educational Resources Policy for Education in Nigeria, Columbia: Commonwealth of Learning.
Davis, F., 1989, ‘Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and user acceptance of information technology’, MIS Quarterly, Vol. 13, No. 3, pp. 319–40.
Dumbili, E.W., 2014, ‘The McDonaldization of Nigerian universities: a sociological analysis and critique of engendering policies’, SAGE Open, Vol. 4, No. 2. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2158244014529780.
Edumadze, J.K.E. and Owusu, A., 2013, ‘Use of information and communication technology for teaching and learning in Ghanaian universities: case of University of Cape Coast’, International Journal of Computing and Academic Research, Vol. 2, No. 6, pp. 266–77.
Ekeh, P.P., 1975, ‘Colonialism and the two publics: a theoretical statement’, Comparative Studies in Society and History, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp, 91–112.
Friedman, T., 2005, The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
FRN (Federal Republic of Nigeria), 2004, National Policy on Education, Yaba: NERDC Press.
Fuchs, C. and Horak, E., 2008, ‘Africa and the digital divide’, Telematics and Informatics, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 99–116.
Gillwald, A., Moyo, M. and Stork, C., 2012, ‘Understanding what is happening in ICT in South Africa’, Evidence for ICT Policy Action Policy Paper 7. https://www.africaportal.org/publications/understanding-what-happening-ict-south-africa-supply-and-demand-side-analysis-ict-sector/ (accessed 23 May 2021)
Idowo, P.A., Abimbola, O.I., and Adagunodo, E.R., 2004, ‘A comparative study of information and communication technologies at higher educational institutions in Africa: case studies from Nigeria and Mozambique’, Journal of Information Technology Impact, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 67–74.
Kpolovie, P.J. and Awusaki, O.K., 2016, ‘ICT adoption attitude of lecturers’, European Journal of Computer Science and Information Technology, Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 9–57.
Limb, P., 2005, ‘The digitization of Africa’, Africa Today, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 3–19.
Makura, A.H., 2014, ‘Students’ perception of the use of ICT in a higher education teaching and learning context: the case of a South African university’, Meditaranian Journal of Social Sciences, Vol. 5, No. 11, pp. 43–7.
Muianga, X., Hansson, H., Nilsson, A., Mondale, A., Mutimucuio, I. and Guambe, A., 2013, ‘ICT in education in Africa – myth or reality: a case study of Mozambican higher education institutions’, The African Journal of Information Systems, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 106–17.
Ng’ambi, D., Brown, C.I., Bozalek, V. and Gachago, D., 2018, ‘Technology enhanced teaching and learning in South Africa – a rearview of a 20 year journey’, British Jour- nal of Educational Technology, Vol. 47, No. 5. https://doi/org/10.1111/bjet.12485.
Nnoli, O. (1993). The Deteriorating Condition of the Nigerian Development’, in Nnoli, O. ed., Deadend to Nigerian Development, Dakar, CQDESRIA.
Nwankwoala, H.N.L., 2015, ‘An investigation of lecturers’ and students’ use of ICTs in Nigerian university education as a panacea for national development’, Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, Vol. 5, No. 20, pp. 18–29.
Ohiwerei, F.O. and Onimawo, J., 2016, ‘Utilisation of information and communication technology between older and younger lecturers in business education in Nigerian universities in the South–South geo-political zone’, International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 33–47.
Okafor, E.E., Imhoriopi, D. and Urim, U.M., 2011, ‘Utilisation of Internet services and its impact on teaching and research outputs in private universities in South- western Nigeria’, International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 135–51.
Sawyer, A., 2004, ‘Challenges facing African universities: selected issues’, African Studies Review, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 1–59.
Schaefer, M.J., Shrum, W.M., Miller, P.B., Mbatia, P.N., Palackal, A. and Dzorgbo, D.S., 2016, ‘Access to ICT and research output of agriculture researchers in Kenya’, Science, Technology & Society, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 250–70.
Shrivastava, M. and Shrivastava, S., 2014, ‘Political economy of higher education: comparing South Africa to trends in the world’, Higher Education, Vol. 67, No. 6, pp. 809–22.
Teferra, D. and Altbach, P.G., 2004, ‘Africa’s higher education: challenges for the 21st century’, Higher Education, Vol. 47, pp. 21–50.
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), 2015, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Education in Sub- Saharan Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Basic E-readiness in Schools, Canada: UNESCO Institute of Statistics.
Voogt, J., Fisser, P., Pareja R.N., Tondeur, J. and van Braak, J., 2013, ‘Technological pedagogical content knowledge – a review of the literature’, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Vol. 29, pp. 109–21.
World Bank, 2016, World Development Report: Digital Dividends-An Overview, Washington DC: World Bank.
Yelland, N., 2001, Teaching and Learning with Information and Communication Tech- nology (ICT) for Numeracy in the Early Childhood and Primary Year of Schooling, Melbourne: Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs.