Social Demographic Factors and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Adoption Constrains Amongst Small and Medium Scale Farmers in Nigeria

This study examined the probable effects that socio-demographic factors and constraints has on ICTs employed in farm activities among two local governments of Edo State, Nigeria. A random sampling technique was used to collect data from 75 small and medium-scale farmers through 150 structured questionnaires. The data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that farmers in the location sampled uses ICT in farm activities, with the frequency of use influenced by age, educational status, and other allied factors. The result of ANOVA shows that educational variation is a strong factor (p< 0.05) influencing the adoption of ICT in the regions. Against the backdrop of these findings, it is suggested that a holistic approach towards the use of ICT in farm activities be developed and supported by government with respect to ICT infrastructural acquisition, farm extension services, ICT training, and financial support to farmers. These measures will no doubt help to modernize agricultural and consequently enhance productivity and innovation.

ICT Uptake as a Determinant of Antenatal Care Utilization in Uganda

Few studies have investigated information and communication technologies (ICTs) as determinants of ANC utilization, yet ICTs in health can improve patient outcome, tackle health systems challenges, and improve client-to-provider relationship. A cross-sectional design using both quantitative and qualitative data collection approaches was used to ascertain whether ICT uptake can determine ANC utilization. Women aged 18-50 years who were pregnant had given birth two years preceding the survey and who had at least a primary school education participated in this study. Data was analyzed using Pearson's Chi-square and descriptive discriminant analysis. Results from this study suggest an association between ICT uptake and ANC utilization (χ2 = 19.3, ρ <0.001) and a statistically significant relationship between the discriminant function and the grouping variable at p=.012 (Wilks's ᴧ = .822; χ2 = 28.62 (14df), p&lt;0.05, valid n = 164). Control measures and interventions should be geared towards integrating ICTs in women's routine antenatal care practices.

Assessing the Quality of E-Government Websites in Uganda

Governments are increasingly using web-based portals to provide information and cost-effective service delivery. While some e-government websites have delivered the intended goal, others are still struggling. This study assessed the quality of the e-government websites using a three-step investigation methodology. Firstly, the quality attributes were generated from literature, then a conceptual framework for e-government websites with four quality dimensions was developed, and lastly, an observation instrument was used to measure the quality attributes of 78 Uganda e-government websites. Most of the websites scored highly on the level of authority, relevance, quality of text, organization of the website, and time to download. The level of attractiveness, content accuracy, objectivity, currency of information, use of multimedia, and multi-language required significant improvements while the use of social media and evidence of security and privacy of the information was hardly visible. A framework is proposed to improve the quality of e-government websites.

Seizure Prediction and Classification Using Affective Technology

Epilepsy is a neurological issue that is described by abrupt and irregular seizures. As indicated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), roughly 1% of the total populace are epileptic patients. The abrupt nature of epileptic seizures constitutes a major disabling aspect of the ailment due to the impediments in patients' daily activities. Therefore, a method that can speculate the event of seizures could essentially improve the wellbeing of epileptic patients. Hence, the point of this paper is to build up a model that can anticipate seizures and furthermore characterize them, using a GSR sensor, temperature sensor, and also a pulse rate sensor.

Measuring E-Learning System Adoption in Universities in Tanzania

The success of e-learning systems in Tanzania relies on various factors that influence its measurement. Examples of the key factors include trust, environmental factors, and the university readiness. However, influence of these factors towards e-learning systems is not clear. Understanding their impacts and significance helps decision makers and stakeholders in making informed decisions on how to handle them. This study modifies the information systems (IS) success model whereby it adopts 12 factors that had been suggested by this author in his previous study conducted in Open University of Tanzania (OUT) in 2017. A sample of 1,005 students from eight universities in Tanzania was collected. A structural equation modelling was used in data analysis. The results shows trust (T) has positive and significant impact on e-learning actual use (EAU) while environmental factors (EF) had positive and significant impacts on e-learning actual use and perceived benefits, and at the same time, university readiness had a positive and significant impact on perceived benefits (PB).

Tackling Cybercrimes in the 5G Era

The study examined the readiness and digital skills of the Nigerian Police in tackling cybercrimes in the 5G era. Consequently, four specific research objectives were identified, and three hypotheses were tested in the study. The descriptive correlational research design was adopted for the study and the population comprised all police officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and above in the Criminal Investigation Department in Edo State (including the Anti-Fraud Unit). The sample for the study was 35 police officers in the state. The instruments for data gathering was self-designed questionnaire, and the data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. From the data analyzed, it was gathered that significant relationship existed among the readiness, digital skills of the Nigerian Police, and the tackling of cybercrimes in 5G era. The study concluded that the deployment of 5G technology will bring with it a new level of cyber threat, which will truly test the resolve of cyber security in and outside the country.

Preliminary Insights Into the Applications of IT in Diverse Disciplines in Africa

This paper seeks to contribute to research work done on applications of information technologies (IT) for solving problems in Africa. This was achieved via a systematic literature review on extant literature on IT use in Africa. Relevant articles with how IT are applied to the work activities of users in Africa are retrieved from various databases and analyzed to reveal the role IT plays in the African user's information journey. The results show that healthcare, agriculture, education, and banking and finance sectors have received considerable attention from researchers. Regarding methodologies adopted, most of the papers used a quantitative approach as compared to qualitative. Considering the limited literature reviews on scholarly technology adoption studies more especially in Africa where people are still yet to appreciate the use and impact of technology in their life, this paper makes significant contributions to the few scholarly studies that have been done in this regard.

Improving Education Delivery in a Technical University in Ghana Through Mobile Learning Technology

Although in Accra Technical University (ATU), Ghana there exists a traditional face-to-face (F2F) mode of education already in place, the implementation of mobile learning (m-learning) through ICT in education will solve problems such as small classroom size, inappropriate time schedule for lectures, and provision technological resources needed to run successful classroom education. In order to validate successful implementation of m-learning in ATU, this paper employed a questionnaire research instrument with reference to the technology acceptance model (TAM-2) as a theoretical framework. Closed-ended questionnaires were administered to a sample size of 160 students and 15 lecturers in the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS) in ATU. Based on the responses received, the authors established positive technological acceptance of respondents, which paved the way to propose and develop a suitable m-learning system for ATU. It is envisaged that successful implementation of the m-learning system proposed in this paper will practically increase the use of ICT in education by both lecturers and students in ATU.

Information Technology Adoption Dynamics for SMEs in the Manufacturing Sector of Namibia

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for employment, technological advancements, and competitive advantages in developed and developing countries. SMEs face intense competition from large corporations; therefore, to be competitive and sustainable, there is a need to adopt information technology (IT). However, SMEs have fewer financial resources, lower technical expertise, and lack of management skills. They are likely to be less prepared and may even be unable to deal with information technology adoption dynamics. Therefore, though there is a significant contribution by IT to business, many studies show unsuccessful IT implementations and slow adoption rates by SMEs. This paper uses a qualitative research approach to find out to what extent SMEs in the manufacturing understand IT, whether they have adopted IT and identify IT adoption dynamics in Namibia. Findings reveal that internal factors like top management, resources, end-users and external factors like competitive pressures, IT consultants, and government influence the SMEs in IT adoption.

Improving Career Decision-Making for High School Students Through a Web-Based Expert System

Globally, the right and appropriate selection of tertiary programmes by potential students in education corroborates every nation's development progress. In order to explore the effect of career counseling and development in high schools in Ghana with a focus on some selected senior high school (SHS) students, this paper utilized a quantitative (questionnaire) research instrument to corroborate the development a web-based expert system for tertiary programme selection. An analytical summary of questionnaire responses received from the selected SHS students showed that due to limited career assessment processes, SHS students in Accra, Ghana arbitrary select tertiary programmes without realizing how such selections can affect their future careers. In terms of user acceptance testing (UAT), 80% of the selected SHS students (100) found our proposed system to be very useful. Such a system will therefore solve and improve career guidance, counselling, and development problems of SHS students in Ghana.