NEED TO EQUIP OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT STUDENTS IN NIGERIA WITH DIGITAL SKILLS FOR MAXIMUM PRODUCTIVITY IN THE GLOBAL WORKPLACE

This study on the need to equip Office Technology and Management (OTM) students in Nigeria with digital skills for maximum productivity in the global workplace was necessitated by the skills gap between industry and graduates of the programme in the digital era as a result of which many of them remain unemployed for a long time. The globalized office and business environments have become extensively digitalized making it difficult for OTM students, as future office managers, who lack adequate digital skills to secure employment and progress smoothly in the current era. The study reviewed the concepts of Office Technology and Management (OTM) and digital skills to highlight their relatedness. Office Technology and Management refers to programme of study in Nigerian tertiary educational institutions designed to equip students with relevant skills for employment in various fields of endeavor especially as office managers.On the other hand, digital skills refer to the ability to effectively use digital devices, communication applications and the internet to access, manage, create and share information.The study found that duties of office managers (OTM graduates) have transformed beyond the previously popular routines due to the advent of Information and Communication Technology which has made digital skills acquisition a major requirement for success in employment. Consequently, it was concluded that without adequately equipping OTM students with digital skills, most of the graduates will not fit into and effectively perform their current roles. Finally, the study recommended among others that management of Tertiary Educational Institutions should adequately provide ICT infrastructure and tools for lecturers and instructors that are proficient in digital skills as well enabling environment for OTM programme to facilitate hands-on practical experiences by students for adequate acquisition of digital skills.