This research explores Information and Communication Technology as a motivating factor for developing Nigerian education (E-Learning adoption) in the information communication and technology (ICT) industry in Nigeria. Over the past few years, there has been a renewed interest among academics and practitioners in that line on how to further enhance growth. This research will focus on the challenges, opportunities and the benefits in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in developing Nigerian education. An information and communication technology (ICT) is becoming a major determinant of all aspects of growth,Information and communication technology (ICT) is a factor that has effectively affected man and the way he lives. In this new IT based society, gaining access to information and communication technology is considered a motivating factor for growth and development of any society. Information and communication in Nigeria is still considered at an infant stage compared to other developed nations of the world. Looking at the educational sector of Nigeria, alot is needed to enhance improvement to standard and quality. This can only be achieved by incorporating ICT in the educational sector and establishing the need for offering Nigeria a tremendous opportunity to leapfrog the earlier stages of development. Unfortunately, as the rest of the world progresses in terms of ICT development, Nigeria coined to be among the richest nation in terms of natural resources is still in its technological infancy especially towards the utility of ICT in education without adequate ICT infrastructure to move education rapidly, Nigeria will be further marginalised in the global arena. As such Nigeria needs to launch a massive scale of exploiting ICT resource geared towards increasing access to developing education, reducing bandwidth costs, and facilitating access to the Internet.
In this modern world, ICT is a vital element in the infrastructure of nations and developing its economy. No positive impact can be sustained today without an adequate and pervasive information and communication technology infrastructure in place. The impact of ICT in development covers various aspects of a nation’s socio-economic life especially growth in its educational sector. The use of ICT can impact on developing Nigerian education (E-Learning adoption) in dissemination of knowledge and result in change in learning processes, working methods and culture (Ruikar et al., 2005). In this regard, some benefits of ICT in education is to reduce the time for data processing and communicating information in the E learning process as well, and also to improve communications for effective decision-making and coordination among students and lecturers (Peansupap & Walker, 2005).
Most tertiary education and research institutions in Nigeria are funded by the federal and state governments, though few are privately owned. These institutions have made significant contribution to the dissemination of knowledge and to research in all vital fields and disciplines of human endeavor. They have played some major role in transforming the community, state, and the entire nation. They also support the needs and aspirations of students and scholars. Ajibola and Tiamiyu (2000) and Ogunsola (2005) among others, have made emphases on the effect of the information explosion in the new information era. This includes digital technology, internet connectivity, and E learning adoption in all Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Many universities in Nigeria today have local area networks in their libraries and classes, finance departments, MIS units, also in some faculties or departments,and etc. Meanwhile,the newly adopted Nigerian universities network (NUNET) project initiated by the National Universities Commission which is the regulatory body of Nigerian universities could not be successfully linked up to for networking of the campuses as planned.
1.1 Background of Study
This chapter provides an introduction to and outlines the rest of the study. The topic of the study, information and communication technology as a motivating factor for developing Nigerian education (E-Learning adoption).Looking at the relevance of this study, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have had strong repercussions on many economic sectors especially in developing nations like Nigeria, in vital sectors like the informatics and communication, finance, and transportation. Our focus is, What about education? The knowledge-based economy now sets a new scene for education and new challenges and promises towards the education sector. Firstly, by definition, education is a prerequisite of the knowledge-based economy: the production and use of knowledge both require a more (lifelong) educated population and workforce putting ICT into consideration. Secondly, ICTs are a very powerful and useful tool for dissemination of knowledge and information, a fundamental aspect of the educational process: ICTs sometimes induce innovations in the ways of handling things.
The study will broadly employ the need to harvest the potentiality in Nigeria and to offer increased possibilities for codification of knowledge about teaching using E learning and for innovation in teaching activities using all possible ICT tools making it possible to deliver learning and cognitive activities anywhere at any time within the country. Thus, learning at a distance can furthermore be more learner-centred, self-paced, and also problem solving-based than face-to-face teaching. However, E-learning is a promising tool for expanding and widening access to all forms of education. Because they relax space and time constraints in their procedures, ICTs can allow new people to participate in all forms of education by increasing the flexibility of participation compared to face-to-face method. Working students and people living in remote areas (e.g. rural), non-mobile students in rural areas and even foreign students outside Nigeria could now more easily participate in education through E learning. With ICT, learners can indeed study where and when they have time to do so, and fully participate rather than where and when classes are planned. By identifying and analysing the benefits and requirement of E-learning, information system management concept has transformed the way institutions are administered through shared knowledge education as a part of information system, it is all about knowledge dissemination and information through the internet and other electronic devices. ICT is the underlying framework of any information system, and it has fundamentally changed the way lecturers and students work technologically. The development of E learning over the last few years has been through the production of systems that are powerful and easily accessible by lecturers and students, giving rise to a new concept known as strategic alignment to help enhance good quality and increase knowledge, through some IT tools and techniques and, to positively affect schools, regional and country level performance by developing trust and influence through repeated periods of positive face-to-face or IT based communication, social interaction, and common goal accomplishment through the E learning process. To acquire all this, information system management has to play a significant role.
1.2 Presenting problem statement
In the modern world E learning is used as the easiest and fastest way of diffusing knowledge. It is flexible and also very easy in terms of usability. Compare with other forms of learning, it provides several benefits such as effectiveness and efficiency. Typically, E-learning is a simple way of doing research on internet. Since E-learningplays an important role in the development of any nation, this research would determine the situation by investigating how E-learning can really motivate the development of Nigeria. The challenges faced or is trying to develop the phenomenon. I would analyze how the government of Nigeria is trying to explore the potentials of effectively using this development and determine the contribution of the government towards the development of educational sector by the effective use of ICT. Currently, Nigeria is still behind in online research, this is caused by lack of IT infrastructures, online facilities and etc. Nigeria has less than 2% of its general website is been research oriented. In (Nigerian education establishment journal 2008), is clearly stated that 70% of Nigerian students are not computer literates and even the once that are computer literates are not properly focus on research and innovations as sustained around the globe. Thus, looking at this situation, this research paper tends to establish a way of dealing with the problem through emphasizing the need for a well established E-learning approach. Most of the problem is due to lack of IT knowledge, lack of potential knowledge on how E-learningcan effectively change the education structure and how its benefits could possibly reflect the society and nation as a whole. Ideas on new approach to E-learninghas been adopted by other nations such as new research methods, new learning concepts, new ideas and new websites operations has been created. Many nations gain an extra benefit from E-learning adoption, but my question is why is Nigeria behind with the entire abundant human and natural resources it has. My research is going to investigate, to find possible solution to how knowledge is going to be disseminated through the use of ICT (E-learning adoption) and how this is going to change the way education is perceived in Nigeria.
1.3 Research Objectives
First of all, there are two main objectives to this research.
- To explore the role Information and communication technology (ICT) plays in developing Nigeria as a nation with emphasis on education sector.
- To propose the possibilities of using ICT to manage and disseminate knowledge in Nigeria (E-learning adoption).
Knowing that ICT has to play a major role in education, since it involves technology, ICT is a developed way of teaching and learning that involves mostly computerized gadgets in rendering its services. Thus, ICT has a large impact on the development of education in any nation. Therefore, the first objective of my research is to explore the role Information and communication technology (ICT) plays in developing Nigeria as a nation with emphasis on education sector.
Secondly, is to propose the possibilities of using ICT to manage and disseminate knowledge in Nigeria (E-learning adoption). Since we know education as defined by (Webster) is ? to develop the knowledge, skill, or character of people through various means and shared, but how can this be shared and utilized in developing countries like Nigeria. So, this research will propose the possibilities of using ICT to manage and disseminate knowledge in Nigeria (E-learning adoption).
1.4 Research Question
The research questions are three,they tend to ask question about the relevance of the study.
- What has Nigerian government done to improve the standard of information and communication usage especially in education?
- What benefits can Nigeria achieve from fully adopting E-learningas a motivating factor in its educational sector?
- How beneficial is information and communication technology usage to Nigerian students?
1.5 Nature of Study
The basic idea is to produce a comprehensive research on Information and Communication Technology as a motivating factor for developing Nigerian education and try to identify and analyse their behaviours toward the adoption of E-learning in Nigeria. Base on these information I will find the answer to my research. This study will apply the triangulation approach towards data gathering. Which consists of questionnaires, interview and data from organizations such as the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Economic Community of West African States and African Development Bank.
1.6 Limitation of Research
This research has several limitations to be considered. The main primary obstacle to the study on ICT as a motivating factor for developing Nigerian education is the political instability in some part of the nation. Another is mass illiteracy and underdevelopment of some part of Nigeria, including cultural differences.
1.7 Chapter Outline
Chapter 1 Introduction: This provides the reader with background information of the study. Research objectives, background of study, problems, nature of the study and significance as well as the limitations of the problem that will be faced by the researcher are clearly stated in the chapter.
Chapter 2 Literature Review: This chapter explores relevant literature. It basically deals with pertinent literature on Nigeria ICT with discussions on related research variables such as Infrastructures, Digital-Divide and E-learningadoption. This section concludes with an overview of the status of the ICT in Nigeria and actions that the region is taking to overcome the obstacles to becoming ready for the E-learningadoption.
Chapter 3 Methodology and Data Collection: This chapter focuses on the research design that will be used to conduct this research. It further discloses the ways used in analyzing data that will be collected, limitations of the methods used and how the data will be collected.
Chapter 4 Result and Discussion: This chapter outlines results of data analysis, provides discussion of research findings and builds bridges between objectives, findings and relevant literature. The result section summarizes the analysis of the data and present findings of the study with respect to the hypothesis and research questions.
Chapter 5 Conclusion and Recommendation: Conclusions and recommendations are provided in this chapter together with discussions on the contribution of the study to the body of knowledge. This chapter concludes the research and documents the implications of the study with recommendations for future research.
1.8 Purpose of Study
These are some of the major reasons why I decided to focus my research on this topic and use Nigeria as a case for consideration.
- Lack of awareness and understanding of the value of E-learningin Nigeria