FACTORS INFLUENCING USAGE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG VILLAGE EXTENSION AGENTS IN THREE SELECTED STATES OF NORTH - WEST, NIGERIA

Project Abstract

<p>&nbsp;                  <b>ABSTRACT&nbsp;</b></p><p>This study investigated the factors that influenced the usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) among Village Extension Agents (VEAs) in Kaduna, Kano and Kebbi States, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to (1) describe the socio-economic characteristics and Perceptions of VEAs; (2) determine the level of awareness and the accessibility of ICTs by VEAs; (3) examine the extent of usage of ICTs by VEAs in their work; (4) determine the VEAs’ characteristics influencing extent of usage of ICTs; (5) determine the effects of VEAs’ usage of ICTs on their work, and ; (6) identify problems encountered by VEAs in using ICTs. Two hundred and four (204) respondents were sampled from a total of 1,018 VEAs through the use of both purposive and random sampling techniques, in the study area. Data were analysed using Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS). The findings revealed that 80% of the respondents were between 30 - 49 years of age, 89% were males, and 11% were females, about 79% were married; and 83% were from households of 10 or less members. Considerable proportion (44%) of them had Higher National Diploma (HND) qualification, 34% had Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and 51% had 19 or more years of working experience. Most (48%) of the respondents had income range of N301,000.00 – 400,999.00. Their level of awareness was high on radio (99%), Cell phones (97%) and television (93%), and low on Fax (32%), Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) (31%) and land-line phones (54%). The respondents’ levels of accessibility to ICT components were as follows radio (98%), cell phones (96%), television set (85%), cassette recorder (78%), compact disk (CD)/Digital Video Disk (DVD) players (72%), Video Home System (VHS) players (60%), and camera (52%). Results of weighted mean of ICTs used to a great extent were GSM phones (3.65), Radio (3.38), Cassette recorder (2.66) and Television set (2.65). Results of correlation matrix indicate that significant association exist on Access to ICT and ICT usage (0.320**) at 0.01 level, Perceptions on Government Policy and ICT usage (0.157*) and Perception on Customs/ tradition and ICT usage (0.141*) at 0.05 level. Also, results of Multiple&nbsp; Linear Regression analysis revealed that usage of ICT was statistically and positively significant on income (0.039*), Sex (0.007**), Accessibility to ICT (0.000***) and Perception on custom/tradition (0.021*) and Perception on availability of infrastructural Facilities (0.047*). Majority of the respondents agreed that ICT has effect on them in terms of Time Saving (96%), Cost Saving (88%), More accessibility to ICT (92%), Wider coverage (95%), and More Knowledge (92%). However, the challenges the respondents encountered in using ICT included poor network/services, unreliable electricity supply, high cost of purchasing it, lack of access, lack of maintenance and inability to operate it. Finally, the following recommendations were made ICT components should be popularized among VEAs, VEAs’ employers should improve socio-economic status and perceptions of VEAs, sustain the effects of ICT on VEAs and ICT providers should make facilities be accessible in rural areas in order to optimize their usage. </p>

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