Digital Literacy Training and Technology Adoption Among Older Adults in Abuja

This study examines the impact of digital literacy training programmes on technology adoption among older adults in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, North Central Nigeria. As Nigeria's economy and public services increasingly migrate to digital platforms, older adults face significant exclusion risks due to low digital competency. Digital literacy programmes targeting this demographic have been piloted by civil society organisations, tertiary institutions, and government agencies in Abuja, but their effectiveness in driving actual technology adoption has not been empirically assessed. This study uses a pre-test and post-test design, collecting data from 140 adults aged 50 and above who participated in an eight-week digital literacy programme at three community centres in Garki, Karu, and Gwagwalada. Technology adoption is assessed using device ownership, internet usage frequency, mobile banking utilisation, and e-government service access before and after training. Descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests are applied. Findings show significant post-training increases in internet usage frequency, mobile banking adoption, and e-government service access among participants. Prior education level and pre-training computer exposure are significant predictors of adoption success. Smartphone use for communication and health information access showed the largest absolute adoption gains. The study concludes that structured digital literacy training meaningfully improves technology adoption among older adults in Abuja. It recommends peer support models and context-relevant training content focused on practical daily applications to maximise adoption sustainability.

Keywords: digital literacy, older adults, technology adoption, Abuja, lifelong learning.