Female ICT participation in South-Eastern Nigerian Tertiary Institutions: Inhibiting Factors

TL;DR

This study investigates the low participation of female students in ICT in South Eastern Nigerian tertiary institutions, identifying cost and gender dominance as key barriers, and suggests reducing costs and parental involvement to improve female engagement.

Contribution

It highlights specific inhibiting factors for female ICT participation in Nigerian tertiary institutions and proposes targeted strategies to address these barriers.

Findings

High ICT costs deter female participation

Male dominance influences female perceptions of ICT

Parental involvement can encourage female ICT engagement

Abstract

The study examined the participation of female students of South Eastern Nigerian tertiary institutions in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The study discussed the attendant gender divide in ICTs participation, reasons for low female participation in ICT, consequences of not bridging the divide and ways of encouraging female participation in ICT. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from respondents. A multi stage random sampling technique was used in the selection of respondents. One hundred and thirty six (136) undergraduate female students of tertiary institutions in South Eastern Nigeria constituted the study sample. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings suggest that high cost of ICT and high level of male dominance, which made females think that ICT is for males were the major reasons for low female participation in ICT. Reducing the cost of Information Technology, and parental involvement in their children selection choice of study were suggested to encourage female participation in Information and Communication Technologies.