Contribution of Mobile Phone Services to Rural Livelihood Assets in Atiba Local Government of Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the contributions of Mobile Phone services to rural livelihood assets in Atiba Local Government areas of Oyo State of Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined the mobile phone features and services used, the respondents’ use of mobile phones for livelihood assets, constraints faced in using mobile phones for livelihood assets, and the relationship between selected socioeconomic characteristics and the use of mobile phones. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 135 respondents using an interview schedule. Variables were analysed with percentage, Weighted Mean score, Chi-square, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The result showed the most utilized feature and service of mobile phones was the clock (WMS=3.65), while Poor network (WMS=2.38) constrained its utilisation for livelihood assets. Social capital (vital information sharing (WMS=3.58) was the highest livelihood asset domain for respondents’ mobile phone usage. A significant relationship existed between respondents’ age (r=-0.355), income (r=0.210), gender (59.41), Level of Education (149.79), ownership of mobile phone (85.84) and use of mobile phone for livelihood asset. The study concluded that the poor network hinders the use of mobile phones for livelihood assets. It recommended that mobile network providers should strategies the provision of unalloyed networks to promote rural livelihood assets.