Speaker
Description
Mohammed, A. S.
Aminu Saleh College of Education Azare, Bauchi-State Nigeria
asmohammed45@gmail.com
Track: Inclusion, Equity and Digital Access
This study investigated the prevalence of ICT phobia among academic and non-academic staff in three selected tertiary institutions and examined its causes, implications, and possible mitigation strategies. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, with data collected through a structured questionnaire administered to randomly selected respondents from the institutions. The findings revealed that although a majority of staff acknowledged the importance of ICT in contemporary academic practice, a substantial proportion exhibited varying degrees of anxiety and reluctance toward the use of digital technologies. The major factors responsible for ICT phobia included inadequate digital literacy, fear of making mistakes, resistance to change, insufficient training opportunities, age-related concerns, and lack of technical support. The study further found that ICT phobia negatively affected staff productivity, efficiency in service delivery, participation in online academic activities, and overall institutional effectiveness. Statistical analysis indicated a significant relationship between exposure to ICT training and willingness to adopt digital technologies. Based on the findings, the study recommends regular capacity-building programmes, continuous professional development in ICT, mentorship schemes, improved technical support services, and institutional policies that encourage digital competence among staff. The study concludes that addressing ICT phobia is essential for enhancing academic performance and ensuring the relevance of tertiary institutions in an increasingly technology-driven environment.