An Application of the UTAUT Model for Understanding Acceptance and Use of ICT by Nigerian University Academicians

Introduction

Information and communications Technology (ICT) has the potential to improve all aspects of our social, economic and cultural life. The introduction of ICT into universities clearly changes the way education is conducted. ICT also paves way for a new pedagogical approach, where students are expected to play more active than before (Alabi, 2004). ICT focuses on the crucial issues of how people communicate and learn in electronic environment. ICT in learning depends on effective communication of human knowledge, which may either occur in synchronous or asynchronous and blended learning situation as the case may. The role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in human development has received growing attention among development practitioners, policy makers, government and civil society in recent years due to the growing proliferation of the Internet, convergence in IT and telecommunications technologies and increasing globalization.

According to Bandele (2006), ICT is a revolution that involves the use of computers, internet and other telecommunication technology in every aspect of human endeavour. Ozoji in Jimoh (2007) defined ICT as the handling and processing of information (texts, images, graphs, instruction etc) for use, by means of electronic and communication devices such as computers, cameras, telephone. Ofodu (2007) also refers to ICT as electronic or computerized devices, assisted by human and interactive materials that can be used for a wide range of teaching and learning as well as for personal use. From these definitions, ICT could therefore be defined as processing and sharing of information using all kinds of electronic device, an umbrella that includes all technologies for the manipulation and communication of information. This new development is a strong indication that the era of teachers without ICT skills are gone. Any classroom teacher with adequate and professional skills in ICT utilization will definitely have his students perform better in classroom learning. Teaching and learning has gone beyond the teacher standing in front of a group of pupils and disseminating information to them without the students’ adequate participation (Ajayi, 2008).

The ICT facilities used in the teaching learning process in schools according to Bandele (2006), Bolaji (2003), Bryers (2004), and Ofodu (2007) include; radio, television, computers, overhead projectors, optical fibers, fax machines, CD-Rom, Internet, electronic notice board, slides, digital multimedia, video/VCD machine and so on. In fact some of the facilities are not sufficiently provided for teaching – learning process in the institutions of learning. Undoubtedly, this might account for why teachers are not making use of them in their teaching.

In Nigeria the available infrastructure for ICT in most of these universities are grossly inadequate. It was observed that most university students still visit internet off campus because of too much demand on the internet on-campus. The bandwidths shared on most of these systems at cyber Cafés are still low, hence much time is still wasted on internet browsing. Olaniyi (2006) was of the view that most of the institutions of higher learning in Nigeria have started building their ICT centres but they focus mainly on internet facilities without considering other components that make up ICT Centre. However ICT infrastructure has not been the priority of government. Government policy has been the deregulation of telecommunication industry. ICT infrastructures are therefore mostly provided by private entrepreneur for business purpose (Akinsola, Marlien, & Jacobs, 2005).