INFLUENCE OF OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT LABORATORY ON SKILLS ACQUISITION AND LEARNING MOTIVATION OF OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT STUDENTS IN NIGERIA

Abstract This study investigated the influence of Office Technology and Management (OTM) laboratories on skills acquisition and learning motivation among OTM students in Nigerian polytechnics. The research was guided by three research questions and three null hypotheses, tested at a 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population comprised 242 HND I students from Federal Polytechnic, Offa, and Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. No sampling was done, as the entire population was studied. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-tests. Findings revealed that OTM laboratories have a strong positive influence on the acquisition of financial skills (Grand Mean=3.45), marketing skills (Grand Mean=3.6), and office technology skills (Grand Mean=3.58). Furthermore, the laboratory was found to be a significant source of learning motivation for students. The t-test results showed no significant difference in the perceptions of male and female students regarding the laboratory's influence on skills acquisition, learning, and motivation, leading to the non-rejection of all null hypotheses. The study concludes that well-equipped OTM laboratories are indispensable for effective vocational skill development and enhancing student motivation. It is recommended that tertiary institution administrators and government policymakers prioritize adequate funding, provision, and maintenance of OTM laboratories to ensure graduates possess the requisite competencies for the modern workplace.