An assessment of the use of information technology facilities for academic pursuit
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470610707295 |
| Published date | 01 September 2006 |
| Pages | 706-713 |
| Date | 01 September 2006 |
| Author | Daniel Emojorho,Awhefe Adomi |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
An assessment of the use of
information technology facilities
for academic pursuit
Daniel Emojorho and Awhefe Adomi
Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
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.
Keywords Communictiontechnologies, Universities, Academicstaff, Information facilities,Nigeria
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Information is essential to the smooth running of any organization. It cuts across all
facets of administration, interacti ons, transactions, behaviours, among others.
Information is even more important to the individual. An organization or individual
that is bereft of information is almost cut off the world as a whole and could, in some
cases, even be regarded to be as good as dead.
Webster’s English Dictionary (Webster, 1996) defines information as an act or
process of informing and specifically communicating knowledge or intelligence that
emanate from what is read, observed or received from or as an instruction. One can
hardly think of any endeavour that has no form of communication, one way or the
other, linked to or with it. Communication of knowledge or intelligence results
acquisition and accumulation of experience. This further leads to rapid development.
Agwibike (2000, p. 25) sees the human race as always loaded with experience. A good
and proper flow of information is a thing that cannot be divorced from possession and
display of quality experience.
There is no doubt that we are presently in an information age; an era in which the
more knowledgeable a person is, the more powerful he is likely to become. The advent
of information technology is a great booster to this era. Information technology (IT)
encompasses a range of new technologies and their application, including all aspect s of
the use of computers, micro electronic devices, satellite, internet and communication
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
EL
24,5
706
Received 22 November 2004
Revised 18 December 2004
Accepted January 2005
The Electronic Library
Vol. 24 No. 5, 2006
pp. 706-713
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/02640470610707295
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