The internet in African universities: case studies from Kenya and Nigeria

This study focuses on selected universities in Kenya and Nigeria and examines the physical representation of the internet indicators for Africa as well as national ICT infrastructure policies in Africa.

Abstract

The rate of adoption of the internet exceeds that of all technologies before it.  Its uses range from communication, publishing to research.  Internet is, and will continue to play an important role in transforming higher education itself just as the universities have contributed in remarkable ways in generating new technologies in ICT, life sciences and biotechnology.  Exploiting the benefits of the Internet in the larger society in Africa, and specifically in African universities, and for that matter, in other less developed areas, will depend on a host of innovative absorptive factors.  African countries are not waiting for complementary innovations - they simply have either not put in place these basic infrastructure. Poor connectivity infrastructure manifests in lack of affordable access to PCs, Internet devices, modems, telephone lines and Internet connections.  Various illustrations in this study indicate the physical representation of the internet indicators for Africa.  The study is exploratory and focuses on selected universities in Kenya and Nigeria.  The objectives and methodology follow in this paper.  Section 2 reviews national ICT infrastructure policies in Africa with specific focus on Kenya and Nigeria.  The final sections analyses the research findings, concludes the study and suggests a future research agenda.