Assessment of Digital Communication Skills Among Administrative Staff of Tertiary Institutions in Bayelsa State, South South Nigeria

This study assesses the digital communication skills of administrative staff in tertiary institutions in Bayelsa State, South South Nigeria. Administrative staff play a vital role in the operational efficiency of universities and polytechnics, and their proficiency in digital communication tools directly influences institutional responsiveness and service quality. A descriptive survey design was employed with a sample of 100 administrative staff from Niger Delta University and Bayelsa Medical University in Yenagoa. A validated Digital Communication Skills Inventory measured proficiency in email management, virtual meeting facilitation, social media for official communication, digital document management, and online scheduling. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and independent samples t-tests. Findings reveal moderate proficiency in email use but low proficiency in virtual meeting facilitation and digital document management. Staff below 35 years of age demonstrate significantly better digital communication competence than older staff. The absence of formal digital skills training programmes within institutions is identified as the primary driver of skill gaps. The study recommends that tertiary institutions in Bayelsa State establish mandatory annual digital competence refresher training and integrate digital communication modules into induction programmes for all new administrative hires. Keywords: digital communication skills, administrative staff, tertiary institutions, Bayelsa State, professional competence