Evaluation of automated services in Nigerian universities Abdulraheem Sani National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja, Nigeria, and Muta Tiamiyu Africa Regional Centre for Information Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria Abstract Purpose – To evaluate the status of automated information services in selected Nigerian universities with a view to identifying progress and prospects of, and constraints to, the technological transformation of Nigerian universities as the basis of strategic recommendations to the different stakeholders in Nigerian university education. Design/methodology/approach – The study assessed the status of automated information systems and services in Nigerian universities in mid-2002 through site visits, and questionnaire and interview surveys of the views of administrators, teaching/non-teaching staff, students and researchers in the universities. Findings – It was found that automated services were far from adequate and that, out of the 29 different automated services that one would expect in a modern university, only about 40 per cent were available and utilized. Federal universities that had enjoyed higher levels of funding for automated systems had higher output of automated services than the non-federal universities. Major obstacles militating against the automated services in the universities include inadequate funds, electricity supply and telecommunications connectivity, as well as inadequate human resources for the automated systems. Respondents were marginally satisfied with the services of the computerized accounting system and the MIS-related databases, but were very dissatisfied with the level of automated library services. Originality/value – Clearly presents the challenges facing the Nigerian university system and individual Nigerian universities in the process of automating their operations. Keywords Information services, Universities, Nigeria, Library automation Paper type General review Introduction Universally recognized is that, in our knowledge- and technology-driven global village, each country’s economic and social well-being depends on its ability to harness its human resources through a dynamic and innovative educational system that thrives on, and propels, technological development. This required link between educational and technological development is particularly critical at the higher levels of the educational system, and especially, university education. Internet connectivity and various forms of web-enabled technologies are growing exponentially, and more and more information is becoming available on-line, thereby opening new information, research and networking opportunities. These developments are erasing the traditional borders and boundaries of learning, and leading to radical changes in the activities of scholarly communities. Modern university education now depends on a robust programme of automated information services to support and facilitate teaching, learning, research and management. This scenario of accelerated technological change The Emerald Research Register for this journal is available at The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm TEL 23,3 274 The Electronic Library Vol. 23 No. 3, 2005 pp. 274-288 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited 0264-0473 DOI 10.1108/02640470510603679