INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue X October 2025
administrative systems for student registration, record management, staff recruitment, payroll administration,
examination processing, procurement, and communication. The integration of e-governance tools such as e-
records, e-procurement, e-learning, and e-communication enhances the speed, accuracy, and accountability of
administrative processes while improving stakeholder satisfaction.
In Nigeria’s public universities, however, administrative processes are often characterized by bureaucracy,
manual record-keeping, duplication of efforts, loss of files, delays in decision-making and limited accessibility
to services. This inefficiency affects productivity, accountability, and the overall quality of service delivery.
With the expansion of university enrolments and growing demands from stakeholders, the need for a more
efficient, transparent, and technology-driven administrative system has become imperative.
In Rivers State, state-owned universities—such as Rivers State University (RSU)—represent major institutions
of higher learning and public service delivery. These institutions handle thousands of students, academic and
non-academic staff, and numerous administrative transactions daily. However, challenges such as poor ICT
infrastructure, irregular power supply, inadequate digital literacy among staff, and limited institutional support
have hindered the full realization of e-governance benefits. Some administrative units have adopted partial
digital systems for tasks like student registration or result processing, but these initiatives often operate in
isolation without integration into a comprehensive e-governance framework.
Therefore, the development of effective e-governance strategies tailored to the unique environment of a state-
government-owned university in Rivers State is essential. Such strategies must focus not only on technological
infrastructure but also on organizational culture, capacity building, process re-engineering, and policy
frameworks that can sustain digital transformation.
Statement of the Problem
In recent years, Nigerian universities have faced increasing pressure to deliver quality administrative services in
line with global best practices. Unfortunately, most administrative systems in state-owned universities still rely
heavily on manual procedures, leading to inefficiencies such as delays in processing students’ records, poor
communication flow, lack of transparency in financial management, and low staff productivity. These challenges
have created dissatisfaction among students, staff, and other stakeholders, undermining institutional credibility
and effectiveness.
Although some universities in Nigeria have introduced digital initiatives such as online registration and
electronic fee payment, these efforts remain fragmented and often poorly maintained. In many cases, inadequate
funding, poor ICT infrastructure, insufficient technical expertise, and resistance to change among staff impede
successful e-governance implementation. In Rivers State specifically, state-owned universities struggle with
unstable power supply, inconsistent internet connectivity, and lack of institutionalized ICT policies that could
drive sustainable e-governance practices.
Consequently, administrative service delivery in these institutions remains slow, unresponsive, and prone to
errors. Without strategic planning and a comprehensive e-governance development framework, the potential
benefits of technology-enabled administration cannot be realized. This research, therefore, seeks to examine the
development strategies that can enhance e-governance for effective administrative service delivery in a state-
government-owned university in Rivers State.
Objectives of the Study
The main objective of this study is to examine e-governance development strategies for effective administrative
service delivery in a state-government-owned university in Rivers State.
The specific objectives are to:
1. Assess the current level of e-governance implementation in administrative service delivery.
2. Identify the key challenges affecting e-governance adoption in the selected university.
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