Applicability of Software Maintenance Techniques in Nigeria Private Institutions: (A case Study of ABC University, Nigeria)

• Author(s): Rahmon Ariyo Badru ; Ayodele Akuemaho Babatunde ; Idowu Olugbenga Adewumi
• Paper ID: 1710870
• Page: 1524-1538
• Published Date: 26-09-2025
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 9 Issue 3 September-2025

Abstract

In the digital age, sustainable software upkeep is crucial for the dependability of higher education systems, especially in private universities in Nigeria that increasingly rely on learning management systems (LMS), student portals, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions. This research explored the relevance of corrective, preventive, adaptive, and perfective maintenance methods at ABC University, Nigeria, employing a mixed-methods case study approach. Quantitative data comprised 21 survey responses, regression analysis, and maintenance log examination, supplemented by semi-structured interviews with ICT personnel. Findings indicated that corrective maintenance prevails among systems, featuring average resolution durations of 6–12 hours per incident and network outages averaging 6–10 hours monthly. Regression analysis indicated that the quantity of monthly maintenance tasks (B = 1.21, p = 0.015) and the availability of budget (B = 2.54, p = 0.035) are significant predictors of maintenance effectiveness, whereas training demonstrated a positive yet non-significant impact (B = 1.87, p = 0.080). The model accounted for 28.4% (R² = 0.284) of the variability in staff confidence. Correlation analysis revealed that staff expertise is highly associated with response speed (r = 0.71) and management of downtime (r = 0.39), whereas downtime management demonstrated the strongest predictive ability for staff confidence (r = 0.44, p < 0.05). Even with few preventive measures, merely 35% of employees indicated they received formal training over the last two years. Comparative analysis revealed that ABC’s practices fall short of global best practices, which prioritize automated patching, CI/CD pipelines, predictive analytics, and cloud-based systems. The ongoing dependence on manual and reactive methods has led to regular unexpected downtimes, decreased user satisfaction, and limited scalability. The research indicates that although remedial measures are still essential, private universities in Nigeria should transition to proactive upkeep by incorporating predictive analytics, automated assessments, and ongoing professional training. Recommendations for policy involve implementing a thorough Software Maintenance Policy (SMP), distribution of protected budgets and methodical performance evaluations. Future studies should replicate this research at public universities and perform cost–benefit analyses of cloud and automation tools to guide IT governance in sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords

Software Maintenance, Corrective Maintenance, Perfective Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Adaptive Maintenance, Private Universities, LMS, Student Portal, ERP System, Nigeria Higher Education, System Downtime, Predictive Analytics

Citations

IRE Journals:
Rahmon Ariyo Badru , Ayodele Akuemaho Babatunde , Idowu Olugbenga Adewumi "Applicability of Software Maintenance Techniques in Nigeria Private Institutions: (A case Study of ABC University, Nigeria)" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 9 Issue 3 2025 Page 1524-1538

IEEE:
Rahmon Ariyo Badru , Ayodele Akuemaho Babatunde , Idowu Olugbenga Adewumi "Applicability of Software Maintenance Techniques in Nigeria Private Institutions: (A case Study of ABC University, Nigeria)" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9(3)