THE ROLE OF ICT IN THE AGE OF KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY ACROSS NIGERIA’S POWER SECTOR: A CASE STUDY OF KADUNA ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY (KEDC)

Abstract

Information and communication technology (ICT) plays an important role in today’s society. The structural transformation in the economy, society and culture tend to work faster in this era of information. This study examines the ICT role, revolution and its impacts in the age of knowledge economy across Nigeria’s power sector, with Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC) in particular. The study incorporated the use of questionnaires in such a way to assess the level of experience on the role of ICT in the day-to-day activities of the organization. The findings indicate that with the advent of computer technology, the tedious operations inherent in the organization’s business activities is a thing of the past, as it takes just a few minutes to accomplish a task with the aid of information and communication technology. 

The findings also support the integration and application of ICTs in the organization’s processes.

Table of Contents

DEDICATION...................................................................................................................... 10

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...................................................................................................... 11

ABSTRACT......................................................................................................................... 12

CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCTION.................................................................................... 13

1.1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 13

1.2 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY .............................................................................. 14

1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ............................................................................. 14

1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY ......................................................................................... 15

1.5 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY ................................................................................... 15

1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS............................................................................................ 15

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY .............................................................................................. 15

1.8 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY............................................................................... 15

CHAPTER TWO - LITERATURE REVIEW.............................................................................. 17

2.1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 17

2.2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF KADUNA ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION 

COMPANY (KEDC) ............................................................................................................ 18

2.3 WHAT IS ICT? .............................................................................................................. 19

2.4 ICT AND POWER SECTOR REFORM IN NIGERIA ................................................ 20

2.4.1 Evolution of computerization in the organization .................................................. 20

2.4.2 The Personal Computer (PC) Revolution ............................................................... 20

2.5 FORMS OF ICT INNOVATIONS IN THE NIGERIA’S POWER SECTOR......................... 21

2.5.1 Automation of the Cash Collection System............................................................ 21

2.5.2 Pre-Payment for Electricity..................................................................................... 21

2.5.3 Automatic Meter Reading....................................................................................... 22

2.6 BENEFITS OF INTEGRATING ICT INTO DAILY OPERATIONS OF NIGERIA’S

POWER SECTOR.................................................................................................................. 23

2.7 PROBLEMS MILITATING AGAINST THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ICT IN 

NIGERIA’S POWER SECTOR................................................................................................ 24

2.8 THE WAY FORWARD FOR EFFECTIVE INTEGRATION OF ICT ACROSS 

NIGERIA’S POWER SECTOR................................................................................................ 25

CHAPTER THREE - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .............................................................. 27

3.1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 27

3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN USED........................................................................................ 27

3.3 STUDY POPULATION ................................................................................................ 27

3.4 STUDY SAMPLE DESIGN .......................................................................................... 27

3.5 SOURCES OF INFORMATION................................................................................... 28

3.5.1 Secondary sources................................................................................................... 28

3.5.2 Primary sources....................................................................................................... 28

3.6 METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION AND DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT..............28

3.6.1 Questionnaires......................................................................................................... 28

3.7 ETHICAL ISSUES ........................................................................................................ 29

3.8 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS................................................................................ 30

3.9 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... 30

CHAPTER FOUR - DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS ............................................. 32

4.1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 32

4.2 INTERPRETATION / ANALYSIS OF DATA COLLECTED ............................................. 32

4.2.1 Figure 1: Age of Respondents................................................................................. 32

4.2.2 Figure 2: Sex of Respondents ................................................................................. 33

4.2.3 Figure 3: Educational Qualification of Respondents.............................................. 33

4.2.4 Figure 4: Respondents of computer literacy ........................................................... 34

4.2.5 Figure 5: Work experience of Respondents............................................................ 34

4.2.6 Table 1: Respondents that identify the organization’s processes that are automated

………………………………………………………………………….........................................................…………..35

4.2.7 Table 2: Respondents on the aspects to which automation is efficient.............. 36

4.2.7 Table 3: Respondents on whether automation is efficient and effective in the 

organization’s processes................................................................................................. 36

4.2.8 Table 4: Respondents on the importance of implementing ICTs in business activities in the organization ......................................................................................... 37

4.2.9 Table 5: Respondents on whether inadequate or to some extent lack of ICT can 

hinder the operations and business processes............................................................... 38

4.2.10 Table 6: Respondents on the factors militating against the application of ICT... 39

4.2.11 Table 7: Respondents’ suggestions for the improvement of ICT application in the 

organization’s activities....................................................................................................... 40

4.3 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION................................................................................... 41

4.4 CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................. 44

4.5 RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................... 44

4.6 APPENDIX .................................................................................................................... 46

4.7 REFERENCES............................................................................................................... 48