MARKET WOMEN USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) GADGETS IN NIGERIA.

The study focused on Market Women Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Gadgets in Nigeria. This is a survey study with a descriptive design. The population of the study consist of all the market women of the various markets in Nigeria, studied. From the target population, a sample size of 300 was drawn through the convenient sampling technique. The study employed the questionnaire method of data collection. The responses generated from 224 filled, returned and found usable questionnaires were collated and analysed for the purpose of matching the research objectives and answering the research questions. The statistical analysis method used in analysing the descriptive data was frequency count and simple percentages. The findings are: most market women own Smartphones; market women use their smartphones of mostly buying and selling and making and receiving payments online; challenges of erratic power supply, illiteracy and high cost of smartphone, were inherent. The study recommended among others that, the Federal, State and Local Governments should encourage the use of ICT gadgets by market women, by giving on-the-spot free lectures in form of training to market women in their market places. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]