DIGITALIZATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN NIGERIA: BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

This study investigated digitization of higher education in Nigeria: Benefits and Challenges.  Digitization as the process of converting educational resources from material forms to electronic forms where they can be stored and manipulated by a computer. It has the potential to transform the entire higher education system by making teaching, research and the provision of community service more efficient and fast. It is an education that is anchored on teaching, researching and community services. The primary goals of higher education in Nigeria are to foster the acquisition, development, and internalization of proper value systems necessary for the well-being of individuals and societies. The digitization initiative in Nigerian higher education is now facing challenges, despite the implementation of laws and programmes aimed at integrating digital education into the system. This study therefore, examined the concepts of digitalization, higher education, digitalization of higher education, and benefits of digitization and challenges. It concluded by identifying insufficient funding for digital education, inadequate digital facilities, unstable power supply, limited internet coverage, expensive digital equipment and maintenance, shortage of digital personnel, lack of digital skills and knowledge among lecturers and students, resistance to change, high cost of internet services, and ineffective implementation of digital policies as factors that hinder digitization of education in Nigeria. The study suggested that adequate funding should be provided for higher education with specific allocation to digital education development in all the higher institutions in the country.