KIU Journal of Social Sciences 311 KIU Journal of Social Sciences Copyright©2020 Kampala International University ISSN: 2413-9580; 6(1): 311–318 Institutional Factors and Gender Role in Rural Technology Adoption in Nigeria N.A. SOFOLUWE Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria Abstract. Rural development agenda could be affected by institutional issues and gender differences in access to rural based technology. This study examines the influence of institutional factors from gender perspective, on rural technology adoption decision of rural households in Nigeria. Primary data were collected for the study using structured questionnaire. The data collected from randomly sampled respondents were fitted to Heckman selection model. Results show that access to credit and new seed technology exerts significant influence on adoption decisions of male and female rural households. While institutional factor of access to credit affects both male and female, access to the technology is more favourable to male. The findings suggest the need for inclusive support, through institutional intervention, for both rural male and female households to achieve rural developmental objectives. Keywords: rural development, gender, credit access, adoption, heckman. 1. Introduction Among several challenges facing most developing economies, rural development is foremost due to peculiarities of rural inhabitants, shortage of infrastructural facilities, low income earnings and limited availability of productivity enhancing technology in most rural communities (Epstein & Jeseph, 2001). Existence of suitable technology in the rural sector is capable of boosting food production and enhancing livelihood strategies of most peasants, who constitute the largest population in various rural communities (Hesselberg & Yaro, 2006). Part of the importance of ensuring availability of appropriate rural technology is potential for reducing rural-urban migration, unemployment and poor earnings (Lanjouw & Lanjouw, 2001). Nonetheless, involving rural people in development related programmes is important to deliver the necessary technological needs of the rural people. Technological needs of the rural people vary and depend largely on socio-economic conditions of the people residing in the rural areas (Sofoluwe, Tijani & Kareem, 2013). In a largely agrarian rural set-up, farming related technologies such as improved seed varieties, fertilizer and machinery would be more appropriate. With special consideration for overall populace of the rural people and infrastructural needs, communication technology, efficient transport system with good road networks could be of importance. However, one of the vital expectations from the rural areas is provision of food for the teeming population of a country. Consequently, the most required technology in the sector, should be food related and this would include provision of new seed varieties and related innovations. Evidence from the developing world indicated that men and women do not use new technologies at the same rate or do not benefit equally from them. Understanding gender differences in use of such technologies may help agricultural research systems develop new varieties and technologies, aid extension systems in identifying the most binding constraints to their use, and help development practitioners and policymakers address the gender specific constraints (Meinzen-Dick et al., 2010). It will also suggest some criteria for evaluating the gender-specific impact of new technologies, which may help guide the prioritization of technologies to be developed and the choice of technology to disseminate in particular settings. Gender differences in agricultural sector arising from socio – economic, cultural and institutional factors impose real costs on society in terms of untapped potential in increasing agricultural productivity,