INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY SKILLS ON ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES OF OFFICER CADETS IN UNIVERSITIES IN NORTH-WEST, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated information communication technology skills on academic activities of officer cadets in universities North-west, Nigeria. Three research questions guided the study in line with the research objectives. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The study population comprised of four thousand and twenty-seven (4,027) officer cadets in universities in North-west, Nigeria with sample size of 351. A structured questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. Data were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation with criterion mean of 2.50 benchmark. Findings revealed that the extent to which officer cadets engaged in academic activities was high, the perceived influence of possession of ICT skills was positive and factors hindering their academic activities was high. Based on the findings, the study concluded that officer cadets in universities in North-west, Nigeria need to change their attitudes towards the use of ICT facilities to enhance academic activities. The study recommended that the management of universities in North-west, Nigeria should regularly engage the officer cadets in field work and physical training as these would help them to acquire practical knowledge of the profession, organise periodic ICT training for officer cadets especially in the areas where possession of ICT skills were low and provide more ICT facilities and alternative to electricity power supply, as these would help to enhance the academic activities of officer cadets.