www.tjprc.org SCOPUS Indexed Journal editor@tjprc.org CHALLENGES TO THE UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY BY ENTREPRENEURS IN SOUTH-EAST, NIGERIA OKEKE NKECHI MERCY 1 , UZOAMAKA LUCYNDA KOLEDOYE 2 , JUSTINA NGOZI IGWE 3* , ANN EBERE OKECHUKWU 4 , BEATRICE N. ONAH 5 , POLYCARP M.D. OKEKE 6 , IHEANYICHUKWU G. OZURUMBA 7 , STELLA CHIOMA NWIZU 8 , NWAKAEGO EBELE EKWEALOR 9 , KANU CATHERINE CHIUGO 10 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Department of Adult Education and Extra-Mural Studies, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria 10 Department of Business Education, Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria ABSTRACT This study was aimed at determining the challenges to utilization of Information and Communication Technology by entrepreneurs in South-East, Nigeria. One research question was posed to identify the challenges to utilization of ICT by entrepreneurs in South-East, Nigeria . One null hypothesis tested at 0.05 level of significance guided the study. The design used for the study was descriptive survey and the instrument was structured questionnaire. The population of the study was all the 1251 registered entrepreneurs of medium and large scale enterprises in the private sector, from which a sample of 723 respondents were drawn using proportionate stratifies random sampling technique. Mean and standard deviation were used in analyzing the data collected from the research question and real limit of numbers was used to judge the responses as to whether they were high or low. The t-test statistics were used to test the hypothesis. Findings of the study showed that there are challenges to a high extent in utilization of ICT by entrepreneurs in South-East, Nigeria. The null hypothesis of no significant difference in challenges was not rejected. Based on the findings, recommendations were made which include that government should establish policies which induce reductions in the general burden of regulation, taxation and cost of internet access to spur entrepreneurs on the use of ICT in their enterprises, government should ensure regular power supply to entrepreneurs to reduce the cost of much use of generator, government should make computer education compulsory at all levels of education to make more members of the society ICT compliant and entrepreneurs should organize regular ICT courses for their staff to upgrade their knowledge of new technology. KEYWORDS: Information and Communication, ICT & Entrepreneurs Received: Jun 10, 2020; Accepted: Jun 30, 2020; Published: Jul 16, 2020; Paper Id.: IJMPERDJUN2020352 INTRODUCTION Importance of new technology – information and communication technology (ICT) is forcing entrepreneurs to tap technological knowledge so that they can measure up with the competition in the global market.According to Chris (2012) the growth of personal computer and computer networks continues to impact businesses both large and medium. Through computer and internet connection entrepreneurs can perform administrative tasks like paying your business bills on your computer, as well as marketing your business online, e-mail and instant messaging allow for easy communication. Moreover Uchegbu (2002) pointed out that the introduction and use of internet has caused an important revolution in communication and that is capable of improving the way we communicate, study, contract and transact business. This progress in business is noted as a result of progress in the ability to link up computers. Original Article International Journal of Mechanical and Production Engineering Research and Development (IJMPERD) ISSN (P): 2249–6890; ISSN (E): 2249–8001 Vol. 10, Issue 3, Jun 2020, 3719–3728 © TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.