Factors Affecting use of Information Communication Technologies among Extension Agents in North-East, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the Relationship between Awareness, Accessibility, Perceived Organizational Support, Motivation and Adoption of ICT’s Among Extension Agents in North-East, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to describe the demographic profiles of the respondents, assess the perception of the respondents on problems in using ICTs for agriculture extension works, assess the Relationships between Awareness, Accessibility, Perceived Organizational Support, and Adoption of ICT’s. Data was collected through the use of questionnaires distributed to 254 respondents using a multi-stage cluster sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and Structural Equation Modelling in AMOS was used. Findings reveals that level of ICT adoption, accessibility, and perceived organizational support was high. The high cost of ICT's, electricity problem, lack of training, ICT illiteracy, outdated contents, inability to use ICT and signal issue were the critical problems in using ICT's in extension work. There is an evident relationship between awareness, accessibility and motivation with ICT adoption among the extension agents and the strength of the linear relationship is very high correlation in a positive direction. The study suggests governments and policymakers to design a policy framework that will ensure that extension personnel are enlightened, trained, given access to ICT's, provide an alternative source of power, and as well adhere to the motivational behavior that will enable them to remain within the system and also increase their service efficiency using ICT's in extension work.