Socioeconomic Inequalities and Digital Access in Nigeria Education: Evaluating the Economic Barriers to Educational Technology Adoption

Nathan Udoinyang; Ogbonnaya-Ngwu Chidinma Esther; Abroad E David

doi:10.23918/ijsses.v13i2p5

Authors

Nathan Udoinyang Department of Economics, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2457-3045
Ogbonnaya-Ngwu Chidinma Esther Intellectual Giants Christian Academy, Abia State, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6836-4184
Abroad E David Department of Curriculum Study/Computer Science, College of Education, Warri, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8645-049X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23918/ijsses.v13i2p5

Keywords:

Digital Technology, Educational Technology (EdTech), Economic Barriers, Socioeconomic Inequalities

Abstract

This research studied the economic dimensions of the socio-economic inequities of digital access and EdTech use in schools in Nigeria. The digital divide and technology acceptance were utilized in exploring the effects of income and funding of schools on access to devices, Internet and teachers’ ICT skills. A mixed-methods design was implemented where 450 respondents in urban and rural areas were sampled using multistage sampling. Quantitative data (α = 0.82) were analysed descriptively, using correlational and regression techniques, and t-test while the qualitative data obtained through interviews were analyzed thematically. The findings confirmed that socio-economic status is a major predictor of digital access (r = 0.63, p < 0.001) and that EdTech has significant adoption barriers F(4,445) = 39.27, p < 0.001) and that the gap between urban and rural areas is significant t(448) = 11.46, p < 0.001). The study suggested that devices should be subsidized, data costs lowered, funding increased, teachers trained, and digital infrastructure strengthened.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Afolayan, A., Dare, O., & Oladipo, T. (2023). Determinants of technology acceptance among university students in Nigeria: A modified TAM approach. Journal of Educational Technology & Online Learning, 6(3), 112–129. https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.123456

Azubuike, O. B., Adegboye, O., & Quadri, H. (2021). Who gets to learn in a pandemic? Exploring the digital divide in remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 2, Article 100022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2020.100022

Barikzai, S. (2024). Challenges and strategies in e-learning adoption in emerging economies: A scoping review. Cogent Education, 11, Article 2400415. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2400415

Becker, G. S. (1993). Human capital: A theoretical and empirical analysis with special reference to education (3rd ed.). University of Chicago Press.

Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319–340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008

Gómez, S., & Pather, S. (2022). Digital inclusion through the capability approach: A review and research agenda. Information Technology for Development, 28(1), 150–168. https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2021.1930939

International Telecommunication Union (ITU). (2023). The State of Broadband 2023 (ITU Policy Paper). https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/opb/pol/S-POL-BROADBAND.28-2023-PDF-E.pdf

Muraina, I. O. (2025). Barriers and enablers of e-learning technology adoption and diffusion among Nigerian undergraduate students: An evaluative analysis. Journal of E-Learning and Educational Technologies. Retrieved from https://www.el-journal.org/index.php/journal/article/view/95

Norris, P. (2001). Digital Divide: Civic Engagement, Information Poverty, and the Internet Worldwide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139164887

Ogunode, N. J., & Abubakar, M. (2023). Digital learning challenges in Nigerian public schools: Implications for educational development. Educational Research International, 12(2), 45–57.

Okolie, U. C., Igwe, P. A., & Nwosu, H. E. (2022). Digital skills, employability, and human capital development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Education and Information Technologies, 27(5), 6943–6960. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11091-7

Sen, A. (1999). Development as freedom. Oxford University Press.

van Dijk, J. (2023). The digital divide (Updated Edition). Polity Press.

World Bank. (2025). Digital skills in Nigeria: Policy note on digital literacy and assessment (Policy Note). World Bank. https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/a607bb6e3b76d2be0f3db8db34dcf73e-0140022025/original/1Nigeria-TF0C2441-Digital-Skills-Report-final.pdf