Roles of Non-Governmental Organizations (Ngos) in Promoting Digital Inclusion Towards Community Development in Rural Communities in Rivers State

This study examined the roles of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in promoting digital inclusion towards community development in rural communities in Rivers State. three objectives, three research questions, and three hypotheses guided the study. The analytic descriptive survey design was adopted with a population of 12,030 comprising 550 NGO staff and 11,480 members of community-based organizations registered in Rivers State. The study sample was 387 respondents, consisting of 75 NGO staff and 312 community members, determined using the Taro Yamane formula. The multistage sampling technique was used in selecting the sample. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled "Roles of Non-Governmental Organizations in Promoting Digital Inclusion toward Community Development Questionnaire"(RNGOPDQ). The instrument was validated by three experts from Rivers State University. Reliability was established by the Cronbach Alpha method, yielding coefficients of 0.88, 0.86, 0.76, 0.79, 0.74, 0.78 and 0.85 for the various clusters with a cumulative coefficient of 0.79. Mean and standard deviation statistics were used to answer research questions, while the hypotheses were tested using z-test statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed, among others, that NGOs play a significant role in providing access to digital infrastructure, enhancing digital literacy, use digital content and platforms that cater to the needs of rural areas towards community development. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that government and development partners should provide sustainable funding frameworks for NGO-led digital inclusion initiatives, that NGOs should strengthen community ownership mechanisms to ensure long-term programme viability