DIGITAL INCLUSION AS A DRIVER OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN ABAJI AREA COUNCIL, ABUJA

This study examined the role of Digital Inclusion as a driver of community development in Abaji Area Council, with emphasis on education, entrepreneurship, governance, and social participation. It was motivated by the increasing relevance of digital technologies in development processes and persistent inequalities in access, skills, and usage within semi-urban contexts. The study addressed the gap between the availability of digital tools and their limited transformative impact on community development in Abaji, where Digital Inclusion is often reduced to access without adequate attention to usage and outcomes. The study was anchored on the Technology Acceptance Model, which explains technology adoption through perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. A mixed-methods research design was adopted, combining structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews to capture both quantitative and experiential dimensions of Digital Inclusion. The population comprised approximately 127,900 residents of Abaji Area Council, from which a sample size of 400 respondents was determined using Taro Yamane’s formula. However, 381 respondents successfully completed and returned the questionnaires, forming the final quantitative sample. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Findings revealed that Digital Inclusion supports communication, entrepreneurship, and limited governance participation, though its impact remains uneven. In education, improvements were moderate, reflecting partial integration of digital technologies. In entrepreneurship, digital tools significantly enhanced income activities, but benefits were uneven due to differences in skills and access. Governance participation remained moderate, indicating early-stage e-governance adoption. The study concludes that Digital Inclusion in Abaji Area Council is functional but not yet fully transformative. Despite increasing exposure to digital technologies, developmental outcomes are constrained by infrastructural deficits, digital literacy gaps, and economic limitations. It recommends improved digital infrastructure, expanded digital literacy programmes, stronger institutional ICT integration, and targeted support for low-income users to enhance inclusive community development outcomes.