Information Needs of Rural Secondary School Adolescents in Nigeria

In determining information needs of specific group of user, the research instrument is a vital factor of identifying the need areas and various influences which define such user’s needs. This study is based on identifying primary areas of information needs of rural adolescents. From a sample population of 800 rural secondary school students spread through six of the Eastern states of Nigeria, it was found that 267 (60.3%) males and 207 (58.0%) females need information on ‘occupation’. Their second highest area of information need was on ‘health’ with 126 (28.4%) males and 105 (29.4%) female. Respondents also showed interests in ‘social services’ with 38 (8.6%) males and 24 (6.7%) females indicating information need in this area. The survey findings further revealed high influence of parents’ occupation in information generation among the students’. The majority of respondents are from the ‘lower’ and ‘middle’ class social structure and the extent to which this factor affects the shift of emphasis from education to occupation needs is also discussed. In developing rural area, the paper advocates for special attention to be focused on the information needs of rural adolescents to enhance development.