Evaluation of the access to and utilization of information communication technology (ICT) facilities among extension officers in Shiroro LGA, Niger State, Nigeria

The study evaluated the access to and utilization of information communication technology (ICT) facilities among extension officers in Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger state, Nigeria, during the 2010 rainy cropping season. Data were collected from a sample of 70 extension officers (EOs), comprising of zonal managers (ZM), zonal extension officers (ZEO), subject matter specialists (SMS), block extension supervisors (BES), as well as village extension workers (VEWs). Multi-stage random sampling technique was adopted in the selection of respondents. Primary data were elicited using the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and maximum likelihood probit regression estimation technique. Results indicated that majority (78.3%) of sample respondents are below the age of 40 years, 86.3% are married, 66.7% are males, while the remaining 33.3% are females and 63.3% have 5 to 10 family members. All the respondents possessed one form of education or the other ranging from secondary school leaving certificate to Ph.D. Overall, 56.7% belonged to public extension agencies, while 43.3% belonged to private organizations. Results of the probit model showed that there is significant and positive relationship between utilization of ICT facilities and age, personal income and availability of ICT infrastructure in the study area with maximum likelihood estimate values of 0.021, 0.001 and 0.051, respectively. Availability, access and utilization of ICT facilities were also found to pose as constraints in the mainstream of the agricultural extension system. It is recommended that government should intervene in the deployment of ICT infrastructure in the area