Conference Paper

Leveraging Digital Technologies for Efficient Service Delivery in the Transiting Federal Polytechnic Ilaro

The recent upgrade of the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro to the Federal University of Technology Ilaro (FUTI) through presidential assent in May 2025 has created both opportunity and pressure for the institution to reorganize its service delivery system to match university-level expectations. This paper examines how the new university can use digital technologies to manage this transition smoothly across admissions, academic records, financial operations, human resources, library services, security, and stakeholder communication. Using a conceptual and document-based approach, the paper draws on existing literature on e-governance, technology acceptance, and digital transformation in Nigerian tertiary institutions to identify practical applications relevant to FUTI’s circumstances. It finds that technologies such as integrated enterprise resource planning systems, learning management platforms, biometric access control, mobile applications, and data analytics tools can reduce administrative bottlenecks that often accompany institutional conversion. The paper also identifies infrastructural, financial, and human capacity constraints that could limit adoption if not addressed early. It concludes with a phased roadmap for implementation and recommends that FUTI management treat digital transformation as a deliberate institutional strategy rather than an afterthought during the conversion process. Keywords: digital transformation, service delivery, polytechnic-to-university conversion, e-governance, Federal University of Technology Ilaro