FACTORS INFLUENCING USAGE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG VILLAGE EXTENSION AGENTS IN THREE SELECTED STATES OF NORTH - WEST, NIGERIA
FACTORS INFLUENCING USAGE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG VILLAGE EXTENSION AGENTS IN THREE SELECTED STATES OF NORTH - WEST, NIGERIA
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2011-08
Authors
FADIJI, TAIYE ODUNTAN
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
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
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.
Description
A Dissertation Submitted to the Post-Graduate School,
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Nigeria,
in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
(Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology).
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND RURAL
SOCIOLOGY,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
AUGUST, 2011
Keywords
INFORMATION,, COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES,, VILLAGE,, EXTENSION AGENTS,, NORTH - WEST,, NIGERIA