Adoption of ICT Driven Approaches in Vocational Agriculture Education to Enhance Youths’ Involvement in Agriculture in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The digital revolution has transformed multiple sectors globally, with Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) offering tools for efficiency, innovation, and youth empowerment. In Nigeria, where agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, vocational agricultural education faces persistent challenges, including outdated curricula, limited infrastructure, and declining youth participation. This study examined the adoption of ICT-driven approaches in vocational agricultural education as a strategy to enhance youths’ involvement in agriculture in Delta State, Nigeria. A total of 105 copies of questionnaires were produced and distributed to tertiary students in selected Delta tertiary institutions, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages. The results showed that youths were more engaged in agricultural entrepreneurship (35.2%), farm management (19.1%), and crop production (18.1%), highlighting a preference for innovative and managerial aspects of agriculture. High levels of ICT competence were recorded in the use of e-commerce platforms (84.8%), internet resources (81.9%), blockchain technology (81.0%), and digital marketing platforms (78.1%), suggesting that youths recognize ICT’s role in modern agribusiness. However, adoption of advanced tools such as IoT devices was relatively lower (61.9%). Respondents agreed that ICT promotes mentorship (Mean = 3.0) and collaboration (Mean = 3.37), but disagreed on its role in online training, networking, and job opportunities. Major barriers to ICT adoption included lack of technical know-how, poor facilities, low manpower, and high internet costs. The study concludes that integrating ICT-driven approaches into vocational agriculture education can modernize training, attract youth into agribusiness, and strengthen Nigeria’s food security system.