Gender use of information and communication technologies among agricultural extension agents in north central Nigeria

The paper examined gender use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) among Agricultural Extension Agents (AEA) in the North Central Zone, Nigeria. The zone comprises Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Niger, Plateau States and the Federal Capital Territory. A sample size of 467 agricultural extension agents was used for the study while questionnaire was used for data collection. The data were analysed using descriptive and three-way mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA).  Generally, when the male and female AEAs were compared on their usage of all ICTs, there was no statistical evidence to show that the male AEAs used all the ICTs more than their female counterparts or vice versa. Although, there was no significant difference, the mean responses indicated that the male relatively used all ICTs more than their female counterparts. On the contrary, when the male and female AEAs were compared on the use of each ICT in each state, the result showed that the female AEAs significantly (p .05) in the usage of agricultural book, radio, TV, video, cassette and computer among the male and female agricultural extension agents. Of all the ICTs studied, GSM phone was rated as most utilized by both gender while the least used ICTs varied from one state to another. The magnitude of mean responses showed that some ICTs like internet, computer and media-van were rarely used in most of the states. The major challenge faced by the male and female AEA on the usage of ICTs was high cost of owning and operating the ICTs facilities. Based on findings, the paper recommends that both gender need capacity building in the use of ICTs.