1.1 Introduction
Rural development strategies whether they are technocratic, reformist or radical, envisages rural industrialization from the point of economic growth, regional balance and social equity. It is the constructive technical co-efficient, based on their own resource endowments that augment the additional support and determination for a strategy of rural industrialization. Industrialization in rural communities appears to be beneficial in promoting rural development, when the individuals are able to recognize its significance in an appropriate manner. The policies, programs and strategies that are formulated with emphasis put upon the development of rural communities need to ensure that they should not impose any disadvantages, especially regarding the deprived, poverty stricken and economically weaker sections of the society.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
In rural Nigeria, majority of the people are poor. They are the disadvantaged and marginalized sections of society who often face impediments to use productivity enhancing resources in the same way they may face impediments to make good use of ICT facilities and infrastructures Moss (2000). Some of the constraints to ICTs facilities and infrastructures in rural Nigeria are surmountable while others require a shift in both human and organizational communication and working patterns which may take longer to change. ICTs facilities arid infrastructures rely on physical infrastructures (electricity, telecommunications and good road network) and even when such infrastructures are in place, difficulties arise when they are poorly maintained or too costly to use. ICTs are dependent on national policy and regulation for telecommunications and broadcasting licenses which is now receiving commendable attention in Nigeria (Kayani, R., Dymond, A., 2005).
Rural development of any kind in any places can only be meaning activated through a well–planned and executed complex interaction of many economic and non – economic variable. The major role of press (Enugu state media) is usually to highlight and examine problem and issued that need to be understood and tackled to achieve rural development or improve the quality of life for the rural dwellers. The Enugu state media should also help maintain the much needed regular two way communication between the poor or marginalized rural dwellers and thru urban cities especially the government or those who hold political power.
Despite their vaunted objectivity and self-acclaimed commitment to fairness, it can be argued that the Nigerian mass media has over the years, solely neglected the rural areas. The perspective of the Nigeria mass media was, and continues to be (despite some progress), strictly urban. The media reports and writes from the standpoint of an urban dweller’s world. The ills of the rural areas, difficulties of life there, their burning sense of grievance, are seldom seriously conveyed.
The impact of the development of the information communication and technology society and especially the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on spatial development is now a question of discussion. One reason for this is probably simply the fact that, as Moss (2000) argued, we do not understand how these technologies will shape the growth of development. Modern ICTs are newcomers and their application is still in the early stage, although rapidly increasing. Within half a century, they have changed the world and affected millions of lives in ways that no one could have ever foreseen or imagined.
The OECD (2007) undertook a wide range of activities aimed at improving our understanding of how ICTs contribute to sustainable economic growth and social well-being and their role in the shift toward knowledge-based societies. It has therefore become imperative to access and use ICTs everywhere especially in a developing country such as Nigeria. Information is raw material for development for both urban and rural dwellers. Prosperity, progress, and development of any nation depend upon the nation’s ability to acquire, produce, access, and use pertinent information.
Okiy (2003:1) says that, Rural development is a basis for economic development and information is an important ingredient in development process. People in rural areas whether literate or not should have access to any kind of information which will help them to become capable and productive in their social and political obligations, to become better informed citizens generally.
No serious, active, conscious, sensitive, and organized government would want to neglect rural communities. Lack of development has a positive correlation with the neglect of rural areas. Rural neglects brings negative consequences such as exodus of rural dwellers to urban areas, with resulting problems of unemployment, crimes, prostitution, child labor, insecurity, money laundering, bribery, poverty, proliferation of shanty living areas, spread of diseases, and overstretching of the facilities and infrastructures in the urban areas.
Therefore, in Cameroon where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Effects of Technology on Rural Development.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that effective ICT deployment would improve basic services like education and health and boost revenue and job opportunities. For ICTs to make these impacts on the majority of the rural population there should be affordable access to it and sufficient human resources and technical capacity to create and use applications and content and an enabling policy environment that promotes free enterprise. Over the years, deliberate, though ineffective efforts have been made by various regimes in the Nigerian government to bring about ICTs facilities and infrastructural development without much to show for it. Much of the failure can be attributed to the treatment of information delivery by the Nigerian government.
Information is essential ingredients in rural development programs but Nigerian rural seldom feels the impact of ICTs facilities and infrastructural innovations either because they may not have access to such vital ICTs facilities or because it is poorly disseminated.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Effects of Technology on Rural Development in Cameroon. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To ascertain whether computer contribute to the development of rural area;
- To ascertain the impact of computer in rural area; and
- To ascertain the relationship between computer and the mindset of rural communities.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does computer contribute to the development of rural area?
- What is the impact of computer in rural area?
- What is the relationship between computer and the mindset of rural communities?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no impact of computer in rural area
- H1: There is impact of computer in rural area
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There is no relationship between computer and the mindset of rural communities
- H1: There is relationship between computer and the mindset of rural communities
1.7 Significance of Study
The results of this work will therefore be useful to: Development Communication or Development Support Communication agencies and experts at the local, national and international levels. They can plan knowing where to make adjustments or change direction in view of recent findings.
Finding from the study will be useful to Governments at all levels who plan rural development programmes. Strategies based on empirical information will be useful to Rural Communities and other scholars and student in rural development, rural communication and development support communication.
This study will be very significant to students, rural communities and the general population. It will give a clear insight on the impact of computer in rural area. It will also serve as a reference material to encourage further studies in related field.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Effects of Technology on Rural Development in Cameroon.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Computer: A computer is a device that can be instructed to carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations automatically via computer programming. Modern computers have the ability to follow generalized sets of operations, called programs. These programs enable computers to perform an extremely wide range of tasks
Illiterate: Unable to read or write.
Literate: Able to read and write.
Rural Area: A rural area is an open swath of land that has few homes or other buildings, and not very many people. A rural areas population density is very low. Many people live in a city, or urban area. Their homes and businesses are located very close to one another.
