DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.184273.1 ISSN: 2046-1402

Advancing Digital Governance, Accessibility, and Transparency in Nigerian Universities: Policy Directions from a National Assessment of 300 University Websites

Hilary Izuchukwu Okagbue, Ifeyinwa Anosike, Olanma Okezie-Okafor, Juliet Ihuoma, Munachiso Elekwa, Ebubechi Maxwell, Adeyinka Ogunsanya, Rauf Rauf, Sunday Atobatele, Sidney Sampson
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Background Digital systems have become integral to the governance, communication, dissemination of research, student engagement, and visibility of higher education institutions. University websites are increasingly serving as portals for academic services, admissions, governance disclosures, and stakeholder interactions. Nevertheless, significant disparities persist in the quality, accessibility, transparency, and functionality of digital ecosystems across Nigerian universities. Policy outcomes and implications This policy brief outlines the results of a national evaluation of 300 university websites in Nigeria, encompassing federal, state, private, and specialised institutions. The evaluation focused on governance visibility, institutional philosophy, website functionality, academic information, research visibility, digital infrastructure, student services, transparency, and stakeholder engagement. While numerous universities exhibited a functional online presence, considerable deficiencies persist in student-centred services, research dissemination, institutional transparency, and inclusive digital accessibility. Research visibility was notably inadequate, and both transparency and stakeholder engagement varied significantly among institutions and across geopolitical regions. The performance of digital systems is heavily influenced by institutional ownership and regional location. Recommendations The brief advocates for the establishment of a National Higher Education Digital Accessibility Framework, the incorporation of website quality indicators into accreditation processes, the execution of regular national website audits, investment in ICT infrastructure, enhancement of institutional digital governance, improvement of student-centred digital services, augmentation of research visibility systems, and the fortification of transparency mechanisms. Conclusions Digital accessibility and the governance of institutional online presence should be acknowledged as essential elements of quality assurance in higher education in Nigeria. In the absence of intentional policy reforms and ongoing investment, the existing disparities in digital readiness are likely to worsen.

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