INFORMATION NEEDS, AWARENESS AND USE AMONG RURAL DWELLERS IN CHIBOK LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study determined the information needs, awareness and use among rural dwellers in Chibok Local Government Area, Borno State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research was the method adopted for the study and the target population for the study was sixty-six thousand, one hundred and five (66,105) rural dwellers in the study area. A sample of three hundred and eighty-two (382) was used for the study. The sample selected was considered adequate for generalization based on Krejcie and Morgan (2006) table for determining sample size. Out of the 382 questionnaires administered to the respondent, 321 (84.03%) copies were duly completed, returned, and found valid for the analysis. The results indicated that rural dwellers in Chibok Local Government Area, Borno State, Nigeria frequently need information on health, agriculture, employment, skills acquisition, among others, and that they were aware of the sources of the information they get. They utilize the information they get very often though it was revealed that they were satisfied with it to the low extent. The study recommended among others that the Borno state government should provide more and quality channels or medium of getting information by the rural dwellers in the study area, and that state the government should introduce functional community libraries across the local government area for a better dissemination of information needs of the rural dwellers under study.