From Paper Files to Digital Risks: ICT and the Erosion of Confidentiality in South-South Nigerian University Registries

Confidentiality has historically defined the professionalism of university registries, serving as the safeguard for records, governance, and institutional trust. In Nigeria, this ethos was once secured by paper-based systems and career administrators. However, the advent of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has redefined administrative practice, enabled efficiency but also amplified risks. This study investigates how the transition from paper files to digital systems has affected confidentiality in Nigerian university registries. A mixed-methods approach was employed, drawing on survey responses from 596 registry personnel across seven South-South universities, complemented by qualitative interviews. Quantitative analysis revealed that confidentiality is the single strongest determinant of effective administration (r = .972, p < .001), while ICT competence also demonstrated a significant influence (r = .801, p < .001). Qualitative findings highlighted breaches unique to the digital era, including unauthorized WhatsApp circulation of Council minutes, covert recordings with smartphones, and tampering with e-records. Comparative analysis showed that while pre-ICT breaches were localized and manual, post-ICT breaches are instantaneous, viral, and systemic. The findings confirm that ICT has transformed confidentiality from a cultural expectation into a measurable competence that must be embedded in training, professional regulation, and data protection frameworks. The study concludes that registry professionalism in the digital era requires enforceable NDPA-aligned policies, ICT-based safeguards, and stronger professional accountability mechanisms.