Assessment of Digital Competency Needs of Business Education Lecturers in Colleges of Education in South South Nigeria

This study assessed the digital competency needs of Business Education lecturers in Colleges of Education in the South South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Digital competency has become an indispensable professional requirement for educators in the 21st century, encompassing the ability to design, deliver, and assess learning using digital tools and platforms. For Business Education lecturers, who train the next generation of business teachers, digital competency gaps can cascade into widespread instructional deficiencies. A descriptive survey design was employed. The population comprised 240 Business Education lecturers in eight Colleges of Education across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Edo States. Using stratified random sampling, 120 lecturers were selected. A validated Digital Competency Needs Assessment Instrument comprising 40 items across six competency areas was used for data collection. Mean and standard deviation were computed for analysis. Findings indicate that lecturers are most deficient in using Learning Management Systems, creating digital assessment tools, and designing interactive multimedia learning materials. Basic digital literacy and word processing skills were adequately present. The study recommends that the National Commission for Colleges of Education should integrate digital competency benchmarks into lecturer appointment criteria and facilitate annual digital skills upgrading workshops for all Business Education lecturers in Colleges of Education across the South South zone. Keywords: digital competency, business education lecturers, Colleges of Education, South South Nigeria, professional development