Abstract:
This study investigated Information and Communication Technology and the Development of Information Literacy among Undergraduates in University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The main objective is to find out the information literacy skills possessed by undergraduates. Six (6) research questions were formulated to guide the study. What information literacy skills are possessed by undergraduate students? What are the effects of ICTs on the development of information literacy of students? What are the benefits of ICTs on undergraduate’s use of information literacy in their academic work? What programmes are adopted for teaching information literacy skills to u!ndergraduate students? What are the problems associated with use of ICTs on the development of information literacy skills among undergraduate students? What are the strategies for the enhancement of Information and communication technologies on the development of information literacy of undergraduate students? A descriptive survey design was used in carrying out the study. The population of 432 undergraduates was used for the study. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire. The data was analyzed using simple percentages and mean (X). The results from the analysis revealed that there is a dearth of ICT facilities available to undergraduates in University of Nigeria, Nsukka, that ICT facilities are available to undergraduates in University of Nigeria, Nsukka, that undergraduates lack adequate programmes for teaching information literacy skills. The findings revealed that undergraduates are faced with lots of problems on the use of ICTs on the development of information literacy skills which include irregular power supply, lack of fund to finance ICT programmes and high cost of ICT equipments. The respondents agreed on the perceived benefits from the use of ICT facilities for on-line registration, word processing but lack skills in software application, statistical data and photocopying materials. Problems associated with the use of ICT facilities include the irregular power supply, high cost of equipments and lack of funds to finance ICT programmes. Strategies for promoting effective and efficient ICT on the development of information literacy include that student should be educated on the use of ICT facilities, alternative source of power supply should be provided, increase of awareness among undergraduates on the use of ICT facilities and also government provision of enough funds and reduction of tariff on the importation of ICT equipments, more commitment in the development of ICTs skills.
