Inability to embrace digitisation bane of academic research – Don

A professor in the Department of Educational Administration and Planning in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof Samuel Ogunwale Ogundiran, has posited that a number of educators and school administrators in Nigeria are still finding it difficult to transition from the traditional methods to technology-driven solutions.

In a statement by Mallam Ibrahim Scheme, the director, media and publicity, Ogundiran stated this on Thursday in Abuja while delivering the university’s 28th Inaugural Lecture on the topic, ‘Educational Administration and Technology: A Marriage of Inconvenience’.

He emphasised that despite the availability of technological devices such as laptops and digital learning tools, issues like poor training, inadequate access to electricity and unreliable internet connectivity have continued to hamper effective use of such devices.

Ogundiran described his journey in adapting to technology, from struggling with basic computer tasks to fully integrating technology into his work, acknowledging that not all educators have been fortunate, with many still relying on outdated methods because of a lack of proper support and resources.

He therefore urged educational institutions to invest in technological training for their staff, ensure that all educators have the skills necessary to navigate a rapidly-evolving educational landscape.

The lecturer explained in  detail the benefits of technology in educational administration while also highlighting the inconveniences that arise from adopting technological innovations.

“Although technology should theoretically improve educational administration, the many deficiencies and complexities of the administrative system may hinder the full realisation of this ideal. As a result, the incompatibility between technology and educational administration may become more pronounced than the expected benefits,” he said.

The inaugural lecturer recommended improvements in technology adoption in educational administration, including addressing infrastructure, training and financial motivation issues.

 He urged policymakers to address the marriage of inconvenience between educational acquisition and technology, stressing that for Nigeria to progress, there needs to be a concerted effort to provide access, training and support for educators and administrators to fully harness the power of technology in the classroom.

On his part, the vice-chancellor, Prof Olufemi Peters, noted that NOUN has a custom like every other university all over the world to request that one who has risen to the post of a professor renders to the university community and the society at large what he/she has accomplished in academic journey.

He lauded Professor Ogundiran for his extensive contributions to the field, mentoring countless students and serving as a study centre director in various capacities.