INFLUENCE OF ICT USAGE INFLUENCE ON UNIVERSITY LECTURERS’ TEACHING PROFICIENCY DURING A PANDEMIC ERA

This research investigated the influence of ICT usage on lecturers’ proficiency in teaching during COVID-19 in private universities in Oyo and Osun States, Nigeria. The study was guided by three research questions. Mixed-methods approach was adopted. The population comprised all staff (both academic and non-academics) in private universities in Oyo and Osun states. The study adopted quantitative and qualitative data types using both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data were collected using individual structured questionnaires administered in the six sampled private universities and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) for staff and heads of departments. A total of two hundred (200) respondents were selected as the sample for this study. In addition, a total of twelve (12) key informant interviews (KIIs) was conducted. Analysis of data was done using both descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentages, charts, and content and thematic analysis was used. The findings revealed that, quite a few of the lecturers sampled were proficient in ICT usage, with many lecturers in private universities in Oyo and Osun States insufficiently skilled in ICT use. The study also revealed that prior to COVID-19 pandemic, most universities had not used ICT tools such as Zoom, Google Meet, and other virtual platforms. The study also found the obstacles faced by lecturers in ICT usage during COVID-19 to include; low power supply, lack of quality phones, laptops and personal computers, huge cost of data, infrastructural challenge and unreliability of the telecommunication. It recommended that the private university owners in Nigeria should urgently develop a policy framework to ensure that university lecturers acquire the necessary ICT skills through training and development programmes that will assist them in teaching, research, and other allied duties