Page 1 of 9

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 02 Issue 8

August 2016

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 340

The Empirical Study of the Challenges of Information and

Communication Technology on Confidential Secretaries in

Nigerian Universities: Lessons from Obafemi Awolowo

University Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Omisope Bankole Oluwaseun

Institute for Entrepreneurship and Development Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University,

Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Information and Communication

Technology is fast becoming one of the main

drivers of change in organizations all over

the world. ICT is said to improve the

standard of living and enhance business

operations as well as organizational

efficiency. It has also transformed and

changed the way people work and

communicate in organization. It is on this

note that this paper examined the challenges

of ICT on confidential secretaries in

Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun

State, Nigeria. This was necessitated by the

need to ensure improved productivity and

performance of confidential secretaries in

Nigerian universities. Primary and

secondary sources of data were utilized for

the study. The primary data were collected

through structured questionnaires.

Respondents were selected from confidential

secretaries on CONTISS 05 – 13 in

departments, institutes, faculties, units and

directorates of the university, thus 50

respondents were sampled from the

university. The questionnaires were

administered using random sampling

technique and analyzed using simple

statistical technique such as frequency

distribution and percentage secondary

sources of data were generated from

journals, textbooks, projects, internet

sources etc. on the field of ICT and

secretarial administration. The study

revealed that there are many challenges of

ICT on confidential secretaries in Nigeria

Universities why aptly explains why there is

low productivity and poor performance by

confidential secretaries in the discharge of

their duties. The study concluded that

management of Nigeria Universities should

procure the latest model of ICT facilities to

enhance secretarial functions and create

opportunity for training and re-training of

the confidential secretaries to be abreast

with the new changes and advancement in

ICT.

Introduction

The world is changing and all that exists in

it are changing along with it. ICT is fast

becoming one of the main drivers of change

in organizations all over the world.

(Adebambo and Toyin, 2011). ICT has

revolutionized all professions worldwide

including the secretarial practice.

Jaiyeola (2007) argues that ICT is like an

engine that could be used in so many ways,

Page 2 of 9

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 02 Issue 8

August 2016

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 341

the same engine that makes the aircraft to

move, could make a conveyor to convey

finished product from production line to the

storage location, the same could be used for

automobile, grinding machine etc. It is an

implement in the hands of confidential

secretaries but enhances and improves its

performance.

Buseni (2013) opines that information and

communication technology is providing the

tools that are revolutionizing the role of

secretarial professionals from that on

information recorders to business strategist

making them much more critical to the

success of any organization.

According to Uzoka (2002), information and

communication technology is the harnessing

of electronic technology in its various forms

to improve the operations and profitability

of the business as a whole.

The advent information and communication

technology has posed many challenges to

confidential secretaries in Nigerian

universities which has led to poor

performance and low productivity in their

work place. It is on this note that this paper

examines the challenges of ICT on

confidential secretaries in Obafemi

Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State,

Nigeria.

Objectives of the Study

The objectives of this study are to

i. review the concept of

Information and Communication

technology in Nigeria.

ii. identify the secretaries roles and

responsibilities in contemporary

organization.

iii. assess the challenges of ICT to

confidential secretaries in

Nigerian Universities.

Literature Review

Concept of Information and

Communication Technology

Information and Communication

Technology (ICT) has become within a very

short time, one of the basic building blocks

of modern society. Many countries now

regard understanding of ICT and mastering

the basic skills and concepts of ICT as part

of the core education, alongside reading,

writing and numeracy (Iwu and Nzeako,

2012). The rapid rate at which ICT has

evolved since the mid-20th century, the

convergence and pervasiveness of ICTs

gave them a strong role in development and

globalization (Nwagwu, 2006).

Iwu and Ike (2009) define ICT as the

acquisition, processing storage and

dissemination of vocals practice textual and

numerical information by a micro-electronic

based combination of computing and

telecommunication. ICT simply means the

use of computer process, store and transmit

data. Asharafi and Murtaza (2008) describe

ICT as any technology that enables

communication and the electronic

computing, processing and transmission of

information. Herselman and Hay (2003) also

refer to ICT as technologies that support the

communication and cooperation of human

beings and their organizations and the

Page 3 of 9

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 02 Issue 8

August 2016

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 342

creation and exchange of knowledge. Yu

(2010) considers ICT as a range of

technologies that allow the gathering,

exchange, retrieval, processing, analysis and

transmission of information. In order words,

ICT can be described as any tool that

facilitates communication, process and

transmit information and share knowledge

through electronic means.

Okwuanaso and Obayi note that ICT has

posed several challenges to secretaries in the

execution of their duties. They stated further

that any office staff of today that is lacking

in ICT would find his/her unproductive.

The introduction of ICT has influenced the

performance of confidential secretaries in

delivery of information, accuracy and

effectiveness at the work place. According

to Buseni (2013), ICT is seen as a way to

promote educational change, improve the

skills of secretaries and prepare them for the

global economy and information society. He

states further that ICT tends to improve the

understanding of the secretarial practice and

functions, increase quality of secretaries

work attitude thereby increase the impact of

secretaries on the management of the office.

Confidential Secretaries Roles and

Responsibilities in Contemporary

Organization

Scholars and researchers in the field of

secretarial studies have identified roles and

responsibilities of secretary. Ugiagbe (2009)

refers to secretary as an assistant to an

executive, possessing mastery of office

skills and ability to assume responsibility

without directly supervision, who displays

initiative, exercises, judgment, and makes

decisions within the scope of his/her

authority.

Oyeyiola (2005) views a secretary as

someone who has a sound general education

and has passed through a prescribed

programme of training with appropriate

skills, attitudes and competencies required

for assuming roles in an office.

He points out further that a secretary is an

indispensable office worker whose services

are essential to the success of a manager or a

chief executive officer’s job. The job

description may be both primary and

secondary in nature. The primary aspect has

to do with the general secretarial duties

while the secondary aspect is usually to

delegate functions and differ within the

same job description or even for different

job portfolios.

According to Association of Secretaries

(1990), a secretary is a clerical worker, who

takes and transcribes dictations, make

appointment for the employer, meeting

people employer, meeting people who call

to see him and he is responsible for minor

executive or supervisory duties.

A secretary thus, is someone who has a

sound general education and has passed

through a prescribed programme of training

in secretaryship possessing demonstrable

personal and business attributes; employable

skill in shorthand, keyboarding, document

processing, and has been actually employed

as such in an organization or is in practice

providing information and communication

support services needed by clients.