Adoption and Determinants of E-Business Among Retailers in Ado-Ekiti Metropolis

This study examines the determinants of e-business adoption among retailers in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, emphasizing socio-demographic factors, perceived usefulness, online risks, and fraud impacts. A descriptive research design was employed, and primary data were collected from 420 respondents using structured questionnaires. The demographic analysis reveals that 55.7% of respondents are male, and 91.7% have attained tertiary education. Income distribution shows that 38.8% earn above ₦1,000,000 monthly. The regression analysis indicates that socio-demographic factors explain 11.9% (R² = 0.119) of the variance in e-business adoption, with age (β = 0.609, p < 0.001) and gender (β = 0.163, p = 0.015) significantly influencing adoption. Education (β = -0.103, p = 0.024) also shows a notable impact, while income (β = 0.028, p = 0.442) demonstrates no significant effect. These findings suggest that younger and male retailers, particularly those with higher education, are more likely to adopt e-business. Despite its benefits—such as market expansion and operational efficiency—e-business adoption is constrained by infrastructural challenges, low digital literacy, and concerns about online fraud. Recommendations include improving digital literacy through training, enhancing internet and power infrastructure, and establishing robust cyber security measures to mitigate fraud risks. These efforts are critical to fostering e-business growth and enhancing the competitiveness of retailers in Ado-Ekiti.