ASSESSING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY USAGE: A CROSS-INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF WOMEN IN ACADEMICS IN UNIVERSITY OF BENIN AND ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY

Despite rapid digitalization in higher education, gender disparities in academic technology adoption remain poorly understood in Nigerian contexts.This study compares Information and Communication Technology (ICT) utilization among female academic staff at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA).The study analyzed usage patterns across teaching, research, and communication.A descriptive survey research design was adopted in the srudy.Data were collected from 180 respondents using a validated researcher-designed structured questionnaire.Data collected were analyzed using inferential statistics involving t-test.Results obtained from the study revealed significant institutional gaps in digital access, usage frequency, and perceived productivity, with UNIBEN demonstrating notably higher engagement in research-oriented ICT tasks than AAUA.These findings show the urgent need for gender-sensitive ICT policies and targeted infrastructural investments to prevent the marginalization of women in increasingly digital academic environments.Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that female academics at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA) utilize Information and Communication Technology (ICT) primarily at a foundational level.Consequently, it was recommended among other things that Universities should design gender-sensitive ICT training programs tailored for female academics.These should move beyond basic literacy to focus on advanced skills, such as statistical analysis (SPSS), LMS navigation, and digital resource management.