FASTCONNECT; A tool for e-Administration in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions

ABSTRACT

Information Communication Technology is crucial and widely utilized in developed countries both in the institutions of learning and private enterprises. It is unfortunate that FASTCONNECT has not been appreciated in most of Nigeria higher institutions, and its immense benefit cannot be over emphasized. In addition to  rigid in accessing  some Communication Technology,   facilities that can develop staff and students carrier, communication among students, staffs, school administration, community, student alumina are  also hindered. This research helps in bridging the gap in the research domain between Nigeria and developed countries, by adopting emerging technology and policy review in ………SME for researchers in Engineering and Estate Management in the new fast-growing domain of small medium enterprises in low income country.            

INTRODUCTION

The synergy for system communication is a predominant problem in virtually the entire units in most tertiary institutions of Nigeria. This phenomenon hinders connectivity of the entire system, equally contributing to inaccessibility of facilities that can develop staff and students carrier. FASTCONNECT is an acronym for emerging technology intended for different units in academic settings. The need to unfold historical trends, current academic and developmental issues, etc on a designed cross platform that will haste communication among students, staffs, school administration, community, student alumina and all departmental units is highly necessary. This will enable individual to communicate and receive prompt response on any request pertaining to the institution under consideration. FASTCONNECT is an applied ICT which is very important in any academic settings especially higher institutions.The emphasis of these study demand answers on relationship existing between communication platform and stakeholders (staff, students, alumni etc) in the study area.

B. LITERATURE

 FASTCONNECT is an innovative research project purposefully for responsive communication network that enable eligible users to derive unflinching benefits from intensive educational service delivery in order to promote their carrier through service charge recycle mechanism that will serves as internal revenue for the system. The processed bean known as “Iru” is a popular food condiment common in West African countries. It adds flavor and taste to most dishes, soup, sauces and stew made to accompany porridge, rice and cooked yam and cassava in the region. This means that the fermented food condiment is a crucial and widely consumed food of high nutritional value to millions of Nigeria both in rural and urban areas. It also serves as a source of protein supplements in the diet and the flavourant contribute some nutrients notable minerals and vitamins to nutritional requirements of a poor family especially in rural areas (Fagbemi, 2002;Oyerinde and Daramola, 2004; and Diawara etal.,2000)

C. INTRODUCING THE METHODOLOGY

This proposed research development (FASTCONNECT) will feature accredited users from difference global position system by accrediting profiles in order to prevent fraud and impersonation acts and provide friendly platform (web and mobile) to exchange files, review documents, perform administrative roles, managerial roles, academic role, personal interest, conduct research and development, tracking records, publish of leadership history in different academic perspective, and disseminate crucial information. The study area of this work is Kwara state, which is one of the six states in north central Nigeria. The state lies in the north central zone and covers an area of 74256 sq km or of the total area of Nigeria. Kwara state is bounded in the north by Niger state, in the Oyo, Osun and Ekiti states, in the east by Kogi state and in the west by Benin Republic. Because of its unique geographical position, the state is referred to as the "gateway" between the north and the south of the country. The state is divided into Three (3) Geo-Political Zones (Kwara North, Kwara –South and Kwara-Central). Kwara state was selected for the study because…………………………………………..

There is the need to improve the communication platform among the stakeholders within tertiary institutions of Nigeria to bring them to   international standard, considering the wide benefit of FASTCONNECT and large number of users of information technology in Nigeria.

D. This project proposal means also an increase of the technology usage in academic environment and facilitating small medium enterprises in the area of ICT which is still low in Nigeria as compared with developed countries (China, India and America etc). As ICT aids small medium enterprises and enhances global economic growth, it will certainly improve academic development, technological and small medium enterprises development especially for prospective users in the low income country of Nigeria. 

This project helps in bridging the gap in the research domain between Nigeria and developed countries, by adopting emerging information technology in higher institution of learning, SME for researchers in Engineering and Estate Management in the new fast-growing domain of ICT and small medium enterprises.         

2.0 METHODOLOGY

To establish various data and the stake holders that are involved in the proposed research project,   the various challenges faced in higher institutions in terms of cross- communication, admission problems etc, a pilot survey, interview, and designed questionnaire will be used to collect primary data. The state is divided into three (3) Geo-Political Zones; therefore we will visits two (2) tertiary institutions from each of the zone for data collection. We will spend 7 days at each location to interact and collate the required data. This will help us in analyzing the data, suggesting and developing a web and mobile application (FASTCONNECT) for better service delivery in higher institutions of Nigeria.

Sampling procedure and sample size

A purposive sampling technique will be used to select two (2) higher institutions in each of the three Geo-Political zones of Kwara State. We intend to interact with/ consult students, ESTAB Unit, Exam directory, Admission unit, Registry Unit, Sport Unit, Centre of Continue Education Unit (CCE), MIS unit and each departmental or units. The following locations were selected;  Federal Polytechnic Offa,  and College of Education Oro in Kwara South, Kwara State Polytechnic  Ilorin and College of Education Ilorin in Kwara Central, College of Education Technical Lafiagi and  ……………in Kwara North. The selected locations were having numbers of reputable higher institutions.

Data dissemination strategies

Participation in any ongoing conferences and make the data so generated available in journal publication in Nigeria. Participation in international conference and other international publications in the world in line with Information and Communication Technology and Global entrepreneurship development.

3.0 POLICY RELEVANCE AND CROSS CUTTING THEMES

Education is valuable to millions of Nigeria and access to quick and fast information in most tertiary institutions is very challenging. Meanwhile, interactive connectivity has made the world synonymous to what they call global village, because virtually all problem are solved on-line through electronic media within few seconds, as information are disseminated within a blink of an eye. FASTCONNECT is an electronic interactive device that seeks to solve peculiar problem of going through rigours in accessing, updating and disseminating   personal data or profile and reduce entirely the problem of dearth in stakeholders data bank as well as queue formation.  This research helps in bridging the gap in the domain of data and information, interaction between service providers and the stakeholders especially  developing countries, by adopting emerging technology and policy review in SME for researchers in Engineering and Facility Management in the new fast-growing domain of small medium enterprises in low income country.

4.0 BUDGET

5.0 LIST OF REFERENCES CITED

6.0 TIME LINE:

7 Months Budget:

1.      1^st   Month -Preparation and procurement of   data set, Software and other materials

2.      2^nd Month - Extensive but focused literature review and lectures on subject to other team members and preparation for the journey.

3.      3^rd Month- 4^th Month- Visit to 6 higher institutions in the three (3) Geo-Political Zone of Kwara State for data acquisition by spending 7 days in each institution.

4.      ^4th   Month-Analyzing the  data and summarizing the findings  

5.      ^6th Month- Report writing and disseminations of findings in reputable journal.

FIT WITH INITIATIVE

Our research is poised to collect raw data from the field, collating data of  institutions under study on information and communication technology, outlining their constraints on ICT as it relate also to entrepreneurs, the environment and how their ineffectiveness hinders the  educational services and ICT enterprises.  Equally, our work (FASTCONNECT)   intends to create easy access to processing, updating and accessing information via e-media in some of Nigerian tertiary institutions, it would allow students, the registry, academic board etc to easily access, update and disseminate information and data across the medium for stakeholders to utilize fast and very easy. It would bridge the gap of rigours undertaken before information is accessed and disseminated. Cordial relationship between the system and the stakeholders is foreseen while understanding of the associated opportunities and constraints militating against effective job performance will be carefully reduced as it would afford long-range planning decisions. It will also impart an understanding of the critical importance of e-information accessibility especially in education sectors.

Policy Relevance                                                         

To identify the policy framework within which the students and staff can communicates, share ideas, and operates at ease within a limited time. This work will allow the tertiary institutions handlers or management in Nigeria and all the stakeholder in our educational sector to be abreast of FASTCONNECT and networking using I.C.T and have a appreciable know how as regards the use of FASTCONNECT in Nigeria tertiary institutions.

Academic Innovation

We shall go from one tertiary institution to the other in the study area and identify challenges in educational information, we shall have one on one contact with them this will give us room to interact and ask many questions. FAST CONNECT has to do with using information and communication to share with students and staff in tertiary institutions, and other stake holders, thus creating innovation to academics. These will be made available in international publications in line with global best practices in education and academic research.

Cost Effectiveness

The budget estimate for this research covered only our research area and is within the budget frame work. However, an attempt to extend to other states in Nigeria will required additional budget.