An assessment of the use of information technology facilities for academic pursuit

Abstract

Purpose

This study is aimed at looking at the extent to which staff of Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria, are acquainted with and use information technology facilities for academic pursuit.

Design/methodology/approach

The main instruments used for collecting data were questionnaires and interviews. Simple percentage was the statistical method employed.

Findings

Data gathered through the use of the questionnaire and interviews reveal that most of the staff are not only aware of the existence of information technology (IT) facilities, but also employ them to satisfy their academic desires. From the study, epileptic power supply was adjudged the worst problem encountered in the use of IT facilities, while other problems include high internet service charges, unreliable telecommunication infrastructure, internet traffic congestion due to limited bandwidth and unsatisfactory performance of internet service provider.

Originality/value

The study acts as an eye‐opener to the staff and management of Delta State University, those of institutions of higher learning in Nigeria as a whole, as well as the government of the day, as to the true state of affairs relative to how far and well we have advanced in the application of IT for developmental purposes in a world that has gone so far in it, and try as much as possible to bridge the gap.

Citation

Emojorho, D. and Adomi, A. (2006), "An assessment of the use of information technology facilities for academic pursuit", The Electronic Library, Vol. 24 No. 5, pp. 706-713. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470610707295