The integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become an indispensable element of modern higher education, with universities worldwide increasingly adopting digital tools to enhance teaching, research, and administration. However, Nigerian universities continue to grapple with significant challenges in achieving full ICT integration, including infrastructural deficits, inadequate funding, limited digital literacy, weak policy implementation, and socio-cultural barriers. This paper adopts a qualitative, literature-based approach, drawing on scholarly articles, policy documents, and institutional reports to critically examine these challenges within the Nigerian context. Findings reveal that while policies such as the National Policy on Information Technology have provided frameworks for ICT adoption, implementation remains inconsistent, particularly in public universities that serve the majority of students. The consequences of these challenges extend to teaching quality, research productivity, administrative efficiency, and graduate employability, thereby limiting the ability of Nigerian universities to compete globally in the digital era. The paper recommends a multi-level strategy involving stronger policy enforcement by government and the National Universities Commission (NUC), institutional commitment to ICT integration, continuous staff and student capacity building, and sustainable financing through public-private partnerships. Future-oriented solutions such as cloud computing, e-learning platforms, and artificial intelligence integration are also proposed to align Nigerian universities with global best practices. By addressing these barriers, universities in Nigeria can harness the transformative potential of ICT to improve academic quality, strengthen research outputs, and contribute meaningfully to national development in an increasingly knowledge-driven economy.

Keywords: Information and Communication Technology, Nigerian universities, higher education, digital integration, capacity building, e-learning,

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