Paper short abstract:

As universities in Sub Sahara African countries continue to grapple with challenges of digitalization and equitable access to university education all aspects of academic and teaching activities in the universities are ‘governed’ by digital practices,with implications for knowledge production.

Paper long abstract:

As Higher Education (HE) system in Sub Sahara African countries continue to grapple with challenges of equitable access to university education; even with ‘limited-‘fiscus’, and the so called ‘reforms’ in the sector, all aspects of academic and teaching activities in the universities are being ‘governed’ by digitalization. In the ensuing context, implications remain for knowledge production, teaching and learning , world of work, and work activities in the universities. For the universities’ systems, work activities such as teaching, learning and conduct of other academic work are increasingly being ‘redirected’ and ‘pivoted’ on digital practices. While some semblance of on-line academic work may have been introduced, broadly, in the management of higher education, up to this moment, sufficient and deliberate institutional policy frameworks are just evolving in the universities in Nigeria to support digital learning. As the current situations of ’migration’ to on-line academic works are largely characterized with ‘panicky measures’ amidst the ‘austerity measures’, imperatives for digital skills, improved infrastructure, and equity access are more compelling with impact on Higher Education policy frameworks and delivery. However, this remains a challenge in the context of contemporary management of universities systems in Nigeria. This paper critically explores the implications and challenges of digital practices in the universities, in Nigeria. In utilizing much of Gramsci’s (hegemonic), and political economy analysis, it is demonstrated that as part of emblematic character of digital technology, there has been a phenomenal rise in digital inequalities, broadly; limiting equal access to digital practices and higher education in Nigeria.