Abstract
<p>We recruited 20 community members in Ido Local Government Area, Oyo state and Yewa Local Government Area, Ogun state in Nigeria to explore experiences and perceptions of Internet access and computer use. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using open-ended questions to collect qualitative data regarding accessibility of information and communication technology. Twenty low-income community members volunteered to participate in the study. The results centered around affordability of computers and Internet access, exposure to information on the Internet, increasing access to the Internet, training on computer use, benefits for job searching, and networking. The results indicated the lack of Internet access, affordability of computers and Internet usage, poverty, lack of computer skills, and poor infrastructures were contributors to the digital divide.</p>
Highlights
Equitable access to information is an essential principle in a global information economy
The inequalities for Nigerians in accessing the Internet and the World Wide Web, the lack knowledge of search engines, poor Internet connection quality, limited proficiency in English, and the diversity of socio-economic levels contribute to the digital divide (Ani, Uchendu, & Atseye, 2007; Umukoro, 2014)
Based on the responses from the 20 community members, we developed codes that resulted in five main categories
Summary
Equitable access to information is an essential principle in a global information economy. Rural communities in Nigeria, the most populous country on the African continent, have been victims of marginalization regarding Information and Communication Technology (ICT) that includes cell phones, personal computers, and Internet access (Hwang, 2006). Poor service caused by capacity constraints of the communication network, lack of infrastructure to support technology hardware and software, scarcity of financial resources, and an unreliable electric supply in Nigeria hinders ICT usage (Akanbi & Akanbi, 2012; Nwabueze, Nwabueze, & Egbra, 2013). The inequalities for Nigerians in accessing the Internet and the World Wide Web, the lack knowledge of search engines, poor Internet connection quality, limited proficiency in English, and the diversity of socio-economic levels contribute to the digital divide (Ani, Uchendu, & Atseye, 2007; Umukoro, 2014). In 2010, unemployment was 21% with the rate of youth unemployment increasing at a greater rate in urban areas than rural area (Akanbi & Akanbi, 2012)
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