Impact of Rural-Urban Digital Divide on Women’s Access to Educational Opportunities in Oye Ekiti, Nigeria
Florence Bolajoko ADENIYI (Ph.D) & Oluwatosin Emmanuel AKINSUROJU
The increasing relevance of digital technology in education has heightened concerns about unequal access among women in rural and urban communities in Nigeria. This study examines the impact of the rural–urban digital divide on women’s access to educational opportunities in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 960 women across six selected communities through the Women’s Digital Access and Education Questionnaire (W-DAEQ). Findings revealed significant disparities in digital access, with rural women reporting low access (M = 1.77) compared to urban women who demonstrated higher access levels (M = 2.45). Digital inequality was also found to strongly influence educational participation, as rural women had limited access to online learning platforms, e-libraries, and other digital resources (M = 1.38), while urban women recorded greater access (M = 2.51). Major barriers identified among rural women included low digital literacy, poor network connectivity, unstable electricity, and high costs of data and devices. The study further showed that digital skills training, improved ICT infrastructure, affordable internet, and reliable electricity were considered key interventions for addressing these challenges. The study recommended the need for targeted policies and community-based strategies to bridge the digital gap and promote equitable access to education for women in rural areas.
Keywords: Digital divide, women’s educational access, rural–urban inequality, digital inclusion