Use of information communication technologies (ICTs) by public and private extension agencies in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This Study investigated the use of information communication technologies (ICTs) by public and private extension agencies in Oyo State. The result of the study revealed the relationship between the personal characteristics of extension workers and their use of ICTs. Age and sex were significant while marital status and educational status were not significantly related to respondents’ use of ICTs at 0.05 level of significance using chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The results also revealed that there is significant difference between the constraints faced by public and private extension workers while there is no significant difference in the level of use of ICTs by public and private extension workers in the use of ICTs . Furthermore, the study revealed that all the respondents make use of ICTs. This implies that extension workers rely heavily on ICTs for them to carry out their primary role (communication and education). It is therefore recommended that there should be provision of functional infrastructure. Collaboration between public and private extension agencies in the use of ICTs should be encouraged and intensified. Government should create and enforce policy environment that will bring about sustainable use of ICTs for agricultural and rural development.

Keywords: Information, Communication, Extension, Public, Private .