The Need For Students Information Management System (SIMS) For Nigerian Universities In A Technological Age: Challenges And Strategies For Proper Integration

Abstract

Nigerian Universities are currently experiencing population explosion due to high demand of University education. An average of 20,000 students are admitted into 131 government and private universities in Nigeria yearly despite NUC restriction on carrying capacities. This suggests a population of well over 100,000 students in Nigerian universities. To properly handle this large number of students' population, the use of newer technologies such as Student Information Management System (SIMS) should be earnestly harness in the universities to keep record of student's data and its proper management. Consequently, academic staff and administrators need to be competent enough in the use of the growing number of newer technologies to address the administrative and instructional task for the proper management of information, decision-making, excellent teaching, research, and community service. The aim of this paper is to highlight the potential benefits of SIMS, the current state of SIMS utilization in Nigerian Universities, the challenges face by the institutions in integrating SIMS for excellent delivery and strategies for proper SIMS integration by Nigerian Universities for the effective and efficient management of Nigerian educational system in a technological age. Furthermore, the paper recommends that all academic staff should be made to undergo courses in computer (instructional packages, management information system software, internet browsing etc.) to enhance the use of MIS facilities for professional development