In today’s global digital economy, remote work enables professionals to engage across cultural boundaries, but it also presents challenges in effective intercultural communication. In semi-urban areas like Osogbo, Nigeria, remote workers connect with diverse clients through digital platforms. Despite fluency in English and access to technology, many struggle with cultural nuances and global communicative norms. This study addresses the gap in literature on how remote workers in non-metropolitan African contexts manage intercultural communication through technology. Using a quantitative, descriptive survey design, data from 52 remote workers in Osogbo LGA were collected via a structured questionnaire assessing digital communication technology use, intercultural communicative competence (ICC), and communication effectiveness. Grounded in Byram’s Intercultural Communicative Competence model and Verbeek’s Technological Mediation Theory, the research employed SPSS for analysis, revealing a significant positive relationship between digital communication technologies, ICC, and intercultural communication effectiveness. Notably, ICC was a stronger predictor than technology use. The study concludes that while digital tools facilitate engagement, human competence is crucial. Recommendations include targeted intercultural training, promotion of culturally inclusive practices, improved infrastructure, and validation of local communicative norms to enhance the effectiveness of remote workers in Osogbo and similar regions.
Vol. 4, No 2, pp. 106-114.