Innovative ICT Solutions and Entrepreneurship Development in Rural Area Such As Michael and Cecilia Ibru University (MCIU) Community, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State, Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume IV, Issue X, October 2019|ISSN 2454-6194
www.rsisinternational.org Page 52
Innovative ICT Solutions and Entrepreneurship
Development in Rural Area Such As Michael and
Cecilia Ibru University (MCIU) Community,
Agbarha-Otor, Delta State, Nigeria
Rosemary Aruorezi Anoemuah
Mathematics and Computer Science Department, Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Ibru Village,Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli-
North, Delta State, Nigeria
Abstract - The use of internet and information communication
technology (ICT) infrastructures is an essential aspect of
learning, this is why a lot of information on entrepreneurship
career choices are available online. However, the emerging
growth in the use of information and communication
technologies and services towards entrepreneurship development
is a challenge for efficient information dissemination and
learning especially in rural areas. This paper pointed out an area
in which MCIU can use Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) resources/infrastructure it possess for
entrepreneurship development and poverty alleviation in its
community. Thereby, encouraging social and economic growth,
and overcome the gap between urban and rural areas
entrepreneurship development. An online learning platform,
using video may contribute greatly in rural entrepreneurship
development such as MCIU community. Some examples of some
programmes like learning make over, headgear tying, bead
making, cake designing, etc online for a period of 4 to 6weeks.
Keywords: Internet, ICT, Infrastructures, Innovative, Services,
Entrepreneurship, Platform, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State, Nigeria.
I. INTRODUCTION
rural area is a geographical area that is located outside
towns or cities. Typical rural areas have a low population
density and fewer buildings. Meanwhile, education remains
the main tool for the rapid development of any community.
Nations, therefore, strive to improve their educational systems
to ensure they meet up with the societal needs, and to achieve
the best for their citizens in terms of economic and social
development thereby affecting the entrepreneurship
development positively.
MCIU is situated in a small community known as Ibru Village
in Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli-North area of Delta State, Nigeria.
The mission of MCIU is to empower her students, community
and close communities through functional education and
services that will eradicate poverty on the development of
communities and Nigeria. It also empower members of the
community to utilize their talents to better themselves and the
community. Agbarha-Otor community is a small village in
Ughelli-North local government area of Delta State. Rural
areas across the nation develop, through its educational
programs and ICT plays a significant role in developing
communities.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can be
described as “technologies that facilitate communication, the
processing and transfer of information by electronic means.”
ICT encourages a major change in all areas of our lives,
including dissemination of knowledge, economic, social
interaction and business methods practices, political
engagement, health, media, leisure, education and
entertainment (Abhay, Kumar and Singh, K. M).Information
and Communications Technologies(ICTs), which includes the
Internet, are producing changes in entrepreneurship and
economies development in the developing nations. Some
changes are largely significant such as business services,
education, and agriculture while others are till date little. But
they are seen and advancing in every area of social and
economic activities. However, ICT investments in rural areas
are often least prioritized because of the increasingly high
investment costs, slow developmental impact, low ICT
awareness, low or no internet connectivity and need for a long
period of time to reap actual profits. However, the importance
of information and communication technology investments is
that once information is taught, understood, and translated
into knowledge, the knowledge also can be stored, further
developed and passed on to others in a very short time.
There are today widely disparate views on the relevance of
information technology for dealing with poverty. ICT
provides developing countries with an unrivalled opportunity
to meet important entrepreneurial development goals such as
education and poverty alleviation activities far more than
before. Those nations that succeeded in exploiting the
potential of ICT can look forward to significantly expanding
the economic growth and dramatically improving human
welfare.
However, the emergence of ICT as a tool in our nations have
added better services by making systems and businesses and
operations more stable and productive. Many countries in the
world have made an attempt to provide the public with access
to information technologies in rural areas, and each has
A

employed some strategies to attain it. However, the common
strategy to achieve public access to information and electronic
benefits in rural areas has been in the form of
telecommunications centers and information technology
centers such as business centers own by private
individuals.ICT can also facilitate equality decision making in
entrepreneurship career choices making. It has being observed
that people are only aware of using ICT for academic and
social purposes than using it for career and entrepreneurship
purposes thereby reducing the entrepreneurial skills in the
society. The reason for this is that most people tends to take
academic career more importantly than vocational
opportunities.
The objectives of this paper are:
1) To encourage youth’s learning of Computer
operations, entrepreneurial expertise and vocational
studies using ICT, and ICT infrastructures.
2) To demonstrate the innovative role of Michael and
Cecilia Ibru University in contributing to national
education and development goals through ICT
entrepreneurial development in the community.
A. Related Research work
(Alikem, Tamakloe, 2014)in his paper presented the
experience of Volta Regional library, Ghana Library
Authority, Ho, Ghana, in bringing new educational chances to
school children from rural and poor communities through
mobile library Information and Communication Technology
services. The library travels to five different schools in a van,
equipped with solar power, bringing fully-charged laptops for
the children to use during Information and Communication
Technology classes. The service was evolved with support of
a Public Library Innovation Program (PLIP) The paper draws
conclusions built on the favorable result of this service to
improve the educational levels of the communities.
(Ali, Hossein Moeinnemati , 2015)described in his paper how
the development and applications of information technologies
in rural areas, facilitates services and improving welfare
indexes in Village Tourism which increases its income, in the
Village Farming and Animal Husbandry, in the development
of Electronic Hygiene and Medicine in Villages and also in
the Social Welfare benefits of the Village.
(Akpomuvie, Orhioghene Benedict , 2010)In his paper
explores ways in which Information and Communication
Technologies and traditional media could become effective
tools in the campaigns and mobilization for acquiring of
innovations, which is mainly on rural development in Africa.
The findings in this paper revealed that the majority of the
people in Africa lived in the rural areas and were not aware
about any government programmes aimed at improving them.
Apart from acknowledging the basic challenges opposing
policy makers, development communicators and other
stakeholders in the nation's development process, this paper
recommends that governments in Africa should create a
conducive environment for the Information and
Communication Technologies to be effectively used and
collaborated with traditional media in gaining development
communication goals at all levels.
(Chieme, Azubuike; Nyekwere, Endwell Onyinye; Nwaubeta,
Grace Nnennaya, 2017) Describes the functions of ICTs in
rural development in Nigeria, for instance through
Information and Communication Technologies, health,
education and agriculture has improved. In this article the
challenges of ICTs in rural development such as literacy was
described. Literacy has continued to be a major disadvantage
to the growth of Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) in developing countries like Nigeria. Most Nigerians
are illiterates and don’t have enough training to understand
the use of Information and Communication Technologies
(ICTs) and its gadgets for accessing information that will no
doubt, enhance their lives. Most of the literates are even so
hungry and poor that they cannot afford Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) facilities. Other challenges
are network breakdown, digital divide etc.
(Ananth, P.N and Karthikeyan, M. , 2014)Proposed that
Science and technology has to be adopted in rural areas to
increase its efficiency in production, productivity and
marketing phases.
(Usman, J.M.; Adeboye, K. A.; Oluyole, K.A. and Ajijola, S,
2012)In their study investigated the role and impact level of
use and possibilities of integrating Information and
Communication Technologies (ICTs) into agricultural
development processes in Oluyole area of Nigeria. The study
observed that as much as infrastructure and finance are
important factors in developing agriculture, much more were
required in the form of ICTs to adequately extend innovations
to effectively employ resources, and took advantage of
innovative ICTs) and markets to better the living standard of
the farmers. Based on the findings, it was recommended that
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) should
be included into all aspect of agricultural development
processes. Awareness should also be made among young and
middle-aged farmers about availability of ICT services in
order to increase farmers' participation in ICT new
enterprises.
(Bello, O.A. and Aderibigbe, F.M., 2014)Highlights some of
the advantages developing countries can achieve from the
adoption and use of ICT, as well as some problems they
encounter and what the government of these developing
countries can do to help in the implementation of ICT. This
paper also described how ICT can support poverty reduction
and economic development, ICT can help in meeting
development challenges in many ways, such as enabling
information and comprehension to travel faster and further, it
also helps business to perform better in different, ICT in
health care, ICT in Education (e.g. e-learning) etc.
(Ankur, Mani Tripathi; Abhishek Kumar Singh and Arvid
Kumar, 2012) Described that due to the lack of
comprehension and especially the use of Information and

Communication Technology (ICT) in rural areas,
development is at a very low rate. There are some
improvement in the technologies provided by the government
in the urban areas but there is no much improvement
technology-wise in the rural areas. Information and
communication technologies (ICTs) are developing everyday
but are not or less applicable in rural areas. One main factor is
lack of ICT resources in rural areas. The most important
problems in rural areas are no electricity which result to lack
of communication. Meanwhile, government and non-
governmental organizations can develop rural areas with the
use of technology devices. At the conclusion of this paper, it
was said that by use of ICT, development of rural areas can
easily be increased. At the conclusion of this paper, it was
said that the by use of ICT, development of rural areas can
easily be increased. Though, the primary factor of
development in rural area is electricity, transportation and
communication media but the introduction of ICT resources
can increase the interest and knowledge of people settled in
rural areas. Which can improve the interaction of people with
outside and increase in farm productivity thereby increasing
the economic growth of the rural areas and the country at
large.
(Jayita, Pramanik;, Bijan, Sarkar and Shyamalendu, Kandar,
2017) Described how the use of information and
communication technologies can contribute to the
socioeconomic development of rural areas. This work have
mainly concentrated on the improvement of education,
agricultural process, disaster management, health care
facilities, tourism etc. with the use of Information and
communication system and thus contributing towards
economic growth and changing quality of life in the rural
area.
(Ebo, I. O; Amosa, B. M. G and Adenusi, D.A,
2012)Investigates what ICT is, examines the offering of
Information and communication technologies to rural
development and identifies ways by which Information and
communication technology can bring about rural
development, its challenges and suggested some solutions to
the entrepreneurial development of rural areas in Nigeria.
(Ahsanullah) Exposed the application of Information and
communication Technology (ICT) and find out means to
convey, the benefit of new "Technology Innovations",
towards socio-economic discharge of rural communities and
"Poverty Alleviation" of teaming millions. A Case Study was
described on the basis of series of activities performed in
some selected rural areas, and evolved some practical solution
of problems of some communities. This is extensively
achieved by the application of ICT tools like
telecommunication Solutions linking with computer Network
as well as of the application of Video-Tapes, Library
Information processes etc.
B. ICT Resources/Infrastructures
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources
are electronic and digital devices, such as mobile phone,
Computer System, Television set, Radio Set, Automated
Teller Machine, GPS, projector, Digital Cameras, Point of
Sale Machine Automated Cash Register (POS ACR),
interactive devices etc, which are used to handle
telecommunication and technology services, broadcast media,
artificial intelligent management systems, electronic learning
systems, electronic health systems, transmission systems and
audiovisual processing, network-based control functions etc.
To provide quality solutions and entrepreneurship
development in rural areas such as MCIU community using
ICT, a strong infrastructure is required. Information and
Communication Technology infrastructure which includes
computer system, high speed network (preferably wireless
network infrastructure), Projection unit, interactive devices,
video conferencing equipment’s, printer etc. This process
aims in providing free service or service at low cost. To
encourage youths learning of computer operations, vocation
and entrepreneurship development programmes such as make
over, headgear tying, bead making, shoe making, cake
designing, bag making etc place of learning must be set up in
some convenient locations, that is, accessible walking
distance. Proper selection of application and interactive
software must be done for smooth operation using ICT.
Nowadays Cloud computing are becoming popular to provide
support to a good number of users without buying individual
software copy. The services provided by cloud computing
may be thought as `whenever and whatever needed'. It
reduces the implementation and maintenance cost of ICT
infrastructures. Software as a service, Platform as a service
and infrastructure as a service are various cloud computing
models as per the user requirement. Therefore, the kinds of
video needed to train the youths of the community can be
downloaded and stored easily from the internet. Technical
support is also one of the infrastructure to keep the program in
good shape. Knowledgeable technicians in the field of
information and communication technology must be
employed to provide the technical support.
C. Innovative ICT Solutions And Entrepreneurship
Development
The eTransform Africa report in (The World Bank, 2012)
identifies innovative use of ICTs in some major eight (8)
areas: 1). agriculture, the Kilimo Salama software in Kenya is
helping them to manage natural disasters such as drought
better . 2). Climate change adaptation, for example in Malawi,
a deforestation project was established training rural
communities to map their villages using GPS devices and
empowering them to develop localized adaptation strategies
by engaging communities. 3). financial services. 4).
Government. 5). Health 6). Education. 7). Trade facilitation
and 8). Regional integration.

In (Gregor Jagodic and Valerij Dermol, 2015) the following
innovative ICT solutions and entrepreneurship development
were formulated: 1). due to development of ICT many
operations can be performed more easily, efficiently and
successfully. 2). many people also believe ICT can be used as
a tool for creating and processing entrepreneurial skills. 3).
ICT may offer learning opportunities, business planning
solutions, database tools as well as business training
opportunities with the help of business plan simulators.
Lastly, 4). ICT can help to develop and enhance
communication and social.
D. MCIU ICT Unit
MCIU ICT laboratory has over 300 desktop computer systems
which is also properly equipped and furnished for conducive
teaching and learning. Other ICT infrastructures available in
the MCIU ICT laboratory are: Interactive Whiteboards, Air
Conditions, projectors, printer (networked) etc. There are also
qualified technician and ICT personnel working in this unit.
MCIU tapped her power supply from the Benin Electricity
Distribution Company (BEDC). However the university has
functional industrial electricity generating set that supplies at
least ten (10) hours of non-interrupted power supply and this
is an advantage to youths for smooth learning.
E. The role of MCIU in the community
entrepreneurship development using innovative ICT
solutions
Although, YouTube and other hundreds of online learning
platforms can achieve the aim of this study, but the following
challenges are also faced by most individual involved in rural
areas(Obadaki, 2016):
 Connectivity Challenges: most people can’t afford
compactible ICT tools such as mobile phone for
internet connectivity while some cannot afford the
high internet charges of watching videos on their
devices for like one to two hours daily.
 Power: It is a fact that irregular or constant power
supply is a big challenge in most of our rural areas in
which Agbarha-Otor is not an exception, therefore,
individually power might be a big problem to the use
of ICT tools, for those that have.
 Lack of knowledge. Even if power, Internet services
and power are present, there is still this problem of if
the people involved have the knowledge to access
and use the technologies effectively.
Meanwhile, with MCIU ICT tools and facilities, all of these
mentioned above will be offered by MCIU with little or no
payment attached.
The role of MCIU in contributing to national education and
development goals through entrepreneurship development in
Agbarha-Otor community is to give the youths of the
community, especially those who are unemployed to learn
some vocational studies through innovative ICT and
entrepreneurial development programs by downloading free
video of this programmes such as head gear tying, bead
making, shoe making, cake designing etc from internet for
training for short periods of 2 to 4 weeks for free or low cost.
This will alleviate poverty in the community and thereby
facilitate entrepreneurial development through innovative ICT
solution in the community. Fig. 1 shows the suggested model
for the programme.
Fig. 1: Innovative ICT solutions on entrepreneurial opportunities for rural
area entrepreneurship / economic development
II. CONCLUSION
This study attempted to contextually encourage youth’s
learning of Computer operations, entrepreneurial skills and
vocational studies using ICT, and ICT infrastructures and also
to demonstrate the role of Michael and Cecilia Ibru University
in contributing to national education and development through
entrepreneurship development in Agbarha-Otor community,
Delta State, Nigeria. The study observed that MCIU has the
necessary ICT Infrastructure needed to achieve this goal of
developing the community through training the youths of the
community in any vocational studies like bead making, shoe
making, head gear tying, caking making and designing
thereby alleviate poverty in the community, increasing
entrepreneurial development in the rural area. From the
aforementioned, it is clear that the role of information and
communication technology (ICT) in rural development efforts
cannot be overemphasized, that is it is not limited to
agriculture, health, even education using a sort of curriculum.
This will definitely increase entrepreneurial development in
the rural area such as MCIU community.
Limitation to This Study
One major limitation to this study is that the factors affecting
the acceptability of the innovative ICT solutions for
entrepreneurship development in the rural was not done
before embarking on this study. Therefore, for future work the

factors affecting the acceptability of the innovative ICT
solutions for entrepreneurship development should be looked
into.
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Innovative ICT Solutions and Entrepreneurship Development in Rural Area Such As Michael and Cecilia Ibru University (MCIU) Community, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State, Nigeria

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