Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between information literacy training and information seeking behaviour has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While information literacy training is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on information seeking behaviour within Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to information literacy training are helping or hindering information seeking behaviour — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Information Literacy Training on information seeking behaviour in Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which information literacy training influences information seeking behaviour within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with information literacy training in relation to information seeking behaviour.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing information literacy training in order to improve information seeking behaviour.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of information literacy training on information seeking behaviour in Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does information literacy training influence information seeking behaviour within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with information literacy training in relation to information seeking behaviour?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize information literacy training in order to improve information seeking behaviour?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around information seeking behaviour. For managers and practitioners within Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria, the study provides practical insight into how information literacy training can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on library and information science by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Information Literacy Training and its relationship with information seeking behaviour within the context of Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria. It reflects a clearly defined scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.