Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a Viable Tool in Entrepreneurship for Poverty Eradication among Youths in Benue State of Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a viable tool in
entrepreneurship for poverty eradication among youths in Benue State of Nigeria. Two
research questions were raised and answered while two hypotheses were formulated and tested
at 0,05 level of significance. The study adopted the cross sectional survey research design. A
sample of 109 business owners from a population of business centres in Benue environs, simple
random sampling technique was used to ensure a fair representation. An instrument titled ICT
based Entrepreneurship Skill Rating Scale (ICTESRS) was used for data collection. The
instrument was validated by experts in entrepreneurship training. Using Cronbach Alpha
Method, the reliability coefficient was calculated at 0.82. Data was analysed using mean and
standard deviation to answer the research questions while related t-test was employed in
testing the null hypotheses. The finding revealed that ICT has significant influence on
entrepreneurial businesses in Benue State (t = 326.93, df 1 @ 108, p = .023, since the p<0.05).
Entrepreneurial businesses have significant influence on poverty eradication in Benue State,
calculated (t = 301.27, df = 1 @ 108, p = .012 since the p value <0.05). The study
recommended among others that entrepreneurs should acquire and use ICT modern tools in
promoting their businesses.