Utilization of Information and Communication Technologies among Undergraduates: A Case Study of the Faculty of Agriculture University of Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

The study identifies the reasons for utilization of information and  communication technologies among undergraduates in the University of  Calabar. Specifically, the study describes the demographic characteristics of respondents, identifies reasons for utilization of ICT tools in the study area and ascertains the problems faced by undergraduates in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar in the use of ICTs. Descriptive statistics such as frequency count, percentage, mean score and rank were used for data analysis in the study. The results of the demographic characteristics of the respondents showed that majority (19.9%) were in the department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology. The results on the reason for utilizing ICT revealed that most respondents used ICT for e-mail services (19.20%), literature research (18.30%), paper presentation during seminars/conferences (16.70%) among many others. The study revealed that problems faced by respondents in the use of ICT were inadequate skills, lack of personal computer and cost of maintenance of the ICT tools. The study concluded that majority of the respondents were in the department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology and that the respondents used ICTs for e-mail services and research literatures among very many others. The study therefore recommended that human capital development should be encouraged through continuous and effective training of the undergraduates on the use of ICT(s) in the Faculty of Agriculture, forest and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar, Calabar.

Keywords: Utilization, information and communication Technology, undergraduates, Faculty of Agriculture and University of Calabar