CHALLENGES OF DIGITAL ECONOMY AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN UMUIKAA OKWU OLOKORO IN UMUAHIA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA ABIA STATE

This study determined the extent to which households in Umuikaa participated in digital economy and illuminated on the challenges they encountered. The area of the study was Umuikaa Okwu Olokoro in Umuahia South Local Government Area Abia State Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The population of the study was 97 households in Umuikaa. The study adopted a total population sampling. Two research objectives, two research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. The in.strument for data collection was a 20-item structured four points rating scale questionnaire. Three experts validated the instrument. A reliability of 0.86 was obtained using Cronbach Alpha Reliability Test Method. Findings of the study revealed that rural household in Umuikaa participated averagely in digital economy. The findings further revealed the challenges limiting rural household participation in digital economy. Among others were, cost of training on digitalization, lack of digital marketing skills, cost of digital tools and constantly changing technologies. The hypothesis revealed that 62.5% of the hotiseholds participated in digital economy. The study recommended that data which is the oil that drive digital economy should be subsidized by the government in order to make it affordable for rural households. Again, good networking without hitches should be installed in rural communities to encourage digital economy participation and rural inclusion among others.