Barriers to information technology adoption in universities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

Abstract

This research study identifies barriers to ITA (Information Technology Adoption), by means of a comprehensive review and survey study carried out in BRACED (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akw-Ibom, Cross-Rivers, Edo and Delta) States Universities in Nigeria. Questionnaires and interviews were conducted on 113 respondents to identify the enabling and deterring factors affecting ITA. The results of the study revealed the barriers to ITA in Nigeria include attitude to technology, cultural resistance, inadequate funding, lack of infrastructure, fear of change, as well as political inclined policies. A reliable analysis was further conducted using the Relative Importance Index (RII) to rank barriers factors and address the research question. Hence, lack of electricity was rated as the core barrier factor. Kruskal Wallis test was deployed to test research hypothesis which exists between attitude to ITA    and lack of infrastructure barrier factors. The test shows one percent variance between attitude to ITA and lack of infrastructure. It was then recommended that Government, Stakeholders and University Administration work hand in hand to ensure the following: The government should adequately fund education and set up governed ITA enforcement policy to ensure strict compliance by Universities in this Region. Universities should make it a point of call to train both students and lecturers to improve IT efficacy and establish collaboration with IT experts from developed IT nations to bring ITA to bear.