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THE ROLE OF RADIO IN MOBILIZING NIGERIAN WOMEN INTO POLITICS

ABSTRACT

The main trust of this study is to find out the role of radio in mobilizing Nigerian women in politics. This is studied in relation to other media of communication. We became interested in this project since 4th March, 2004, when some of us listened to the review on the international women’s day on COSMO FM with the title “Nigerian Women Since 1985”. There were so many women liberation that spoke especially on the role women play in the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria. We made a proposal that comprise of our interests, objectives, and importance of the study; Research methodology research problems, research hypothesis and definition of terms etc. We used survey method in conducting this study. The major objective is to ascertain if there is any significant difference between radio and other media as sources of political information to women. Hypothesis one (H1) postulated that Nigerian women tend to be getting more of their political information from radio than any other medium of communication. It was empirically supported with a calculated value of X2 = 77.04, as against a table value X2 = 11.345. Thus Nigerian women tend to be getting more of their political information from radio than any other medium of communication. The second hypothesis (H2) postulates that Nigerian women tend to prefer news from radio to political news from opinion leaders. It received empirical support with a calculated value of X2 = 81.621 as against a table value of X2 = 11.345. In essence of our respondents are pf the view that Nigerian women tend to prefer news from radio to political news form opinion leaders. The third hypothesis stated, “Women who are exposed to political news tend to be more influenced than those not exposed, in their political opinion formation. It has as well received statistical support with a calculated value of X2 = 114.08 as against a table value of X2 = 11.345. It then means that Nigerian women that are exposed to political news tend to be more influenced in their political opinion formation than those not exposed. The fourth and the final hypothesis of the study postulates that radio tends to be more accessible to Nigerian women than any other medium of communication. The hypothesis is empirically supported with a calculated value of X2 = 98.66 as against the table value of 11.345. This means that the audience believes that radio is more accessible to Nigerian women than any other medium of communication. In general analysis, our findings are in line with our postulations in literature review that among the various medium of communication, radio is the most veritable tool of mobilizing Nigerian women into politics. This is because it tends to be fast and immediate in delivering their messages to their target audience than any other medium of communication. Recommendations were given on how other studies should be carried out and how radio should be equipped, modernized, privatized and used to enhance its use in mobilization of women into politics.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

This study, the role of radio in mobilizing Nigerian women into politics will look into the role played by radio as a medium of mass communication in galvanizing and preparing Nigerian women into politics especially towards participating in this on going transition programme. There are so many other communication media like the festival, gongs, drums, and town crier. But in view of how the channels could be used in performing the role of mobilizing Nigerian women into politics, radio is more effective in getting messages to its target audience (Nigerian women). Though the magazine and newspaper, for their non-transient feature would have helped, but it is found difficult for women to afford it. Infact average Nigerian women can not afford to spend their income in buying newspaper and magazines just to get political information. Hence radio could be used as last and best resort to reach Nigerian women in case of wide reach and transcend language problem/literacy problem. This why during one of her lectures Mrs. Ukozor stressed that through integration, mass media can turn the whole world into a “global village”. Radio as a mass media does the same work.Also Television is a very expensive communication gadget that cannot be afforded by every family in Nigeria. A set of traditional communication system cannot work for the nation because of so many ethnic groups in Nigeria. There is no unification of traditional communication system in Nigeria. Many Nigerian women are living in urbanization so it is ineffective to disseminate political information to women through the use the traditional communication media system. Elelstan A.G. (2000) in his study about audiences concluded that the audiences evaluated sources of information in terms of content, television in breath of perception and radio in availability.

Hence radio for its availability characteristics is always handy to these women. Again N. Akpan (1999) in mass communication in Nigeria. Book of reading (ed) (Nwuneli) says that the public is entitled to all facts in a political situation and that of the basis of those facts; it can make its decision. Therefore these women if informed about political news tend to be politically aware. Introduction to mass communication (Agee, Warrant, Kendall) by Noelle Neumann (1985) says that “real life is different from laboratory controlled studies, the media are so ambiguous that it is difficult for a person to escape a massage. Repetitive massages have reinforced impact and news stories are so much the same that there is few option for selective perception. However, the media for its agenda setting role and using radio to disseminate information repeatedly about politics. These Nigerian women tend to be influenced by listening to these repetitive political messages, hence develop the habit of liking politics.

The mass media generally perform six conventional functions to the audience. They are education, information, entertainment, socialization, survellant, and cultural transmission. Ben Agbo stated these roles during his lecture with year two students (2004). Radio as a medium generally performs the same role; radio uses these roles in mobilizing Nigerian women into politics. According to Edwin Ude (HOD) during his lectures with the class while in ND1, the ‘Radio reaches places where television cannot reach. The cities, even the rural areas feel the power of this medium. No wonder old men and women don’t joke with their battery radio. Radio as a mass medium-collect, store, process and disseminate political information, which the Nigeria women require.

The radio as entertainment channel entertains Nigerian women through the chips of information and political giggles in the radio. Entertainment gives by radio to Nigerian women these women on doing their work easily, fast and simultaneously with radio entertainment. Women also memorize these political giggles and sing them in other to relieve boredom. The socialization need of the radio agree with the Nigerian women on a particular candidate or politician to vote for. Radio exposes every thing concerning a candidate and then the audience (Nigerian women) will then accept the person they want. Thereby making this women to socialize in the community ‘they are. The radio as surveillance channel, here the radio plays the role of watchdog. According to Ben Agbo during his lectures with your one students (2003) “states that watch dog role of the press is and adversarial to the government”. This is in effect that radios investigate the candidate very well and watch the present government for the betterment of the country.

Radio promotes culture of the country. It is through radio that you will hear about the culture of almost all Nigeria ethnic groups. In radio you will hear certain programmes that are done in so many languages. Infact different language in communities like Udi ndee, Awgu unu ejee, Onitcha ado ndonuoo, Awka demenu. During such programmes radio announces the political aspirants and people that have high post in the government. Introduction to mass communication states that the media also help in the development of culture by awakening and stimulating the imagination and aesthetic creativity of individuals, thus leading to the precaution of cultural air facts. Radio, “As a medium disseminate cultural and artistic products for the purpose of preserving the past heritage of the people. The status conferral is another role of the radio that is when radio confers status and legitimacy on political leader and issue. Here radio is setting the political agenda for the Nigerian women by deciding what political topics Nigeria women talk about.

According to sandman et all (1976). The editorial decision that a particular event is not news is a self-fulfilling judgment; if the news media ignore it, then it cannot be news. Conversely, any event given major play in the mass media becomes by definition of a major event… In this sense, even when the media do not tell us what to think, they tell us what to think about. An example is what we have in the network news. The NTA Network and other daily’s has been announcing how powerful Dr. Dora Akunyili (Mrs.) is, such kind of announcement raises high the women status and inspire Nigerian women into politics. Dr. Dora Akunyili is the present Director General NAFDAC. The researcher had an interview with the former chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Mrs. Evelyn Chukwu about what motivated her into politics. Mrs. Chukwu said that she got motivated from the various political messages she hears from the radio about the on going political campaign. ‘She went further to say that women who came to vote for her during the election proper, got mobilized during her political campaign through the radio, and felt that her position or a change in government will bring them a radical development change. The enemas turn up of female voters made her to win. Meanwhile, this study will look into the critics of radio credibility about radio information; especially of political news messages. This aside it will also tackle the various critics why women since the inception of Nigerian independence (1960s) and Nigerian political eras have been showing head above the water to compete with the male counterparts in Nigerian politics.

1.2    THE STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

All over the world, the media have been regarded as veritable tools of political socialization and mobilization. Among the developing countries especially, radio has been singled out as the most veritable tool of mobilizing people into action be it politics, developmental progammes etc. Nigeria, both before and after she gained independence; women have not been fully taking part in the political game of the country. The very few women that are particularly conscious, according to chief Mrs. Ebun, Oyaghola, minister of national planning (1992) in her address to the intra parliamentary “Have contributed to the event handing over of power to people and will always be remembered as some of the pioneering landmark of the great journey to political independence by this great nation”. Some other women that participated in politics include Chief Mrs. Ramson Anikulaopo Kuti, Mrs. Margret Ekpo, Mrs,. Elizabeth Okaro, Prof. Ikeji Ani clark and other women of substance that haveparticipated in politics.

The status conferral media especially the radio have been identified to be responsible for their inspiration, motivation and mobilization. It is in tight of this political apathy among Nigerian women that the researcher wants to find out the following research problems.

1. What role does the radio play in the mobilization of women into politics?

2. From which medium does Nigerian women get their political information.

3. Which sources of political information does Nigerian women prefer?

4. How does exposure to political information influence Nigerian women?

5. How accessible are radio to Nigeria women?

1.3     OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

i.   The objective of the study will focus on finding out the role of radio in mobilizing Nigerian women for political participation in the country.

ii. To find out how Nigerian women radio listeners views political information/messages.

iii. To find out why some Nigerian women are suffering political apathy.

iv. To find out the medium Nigerian women prefer getting their political information from.

v. To find out how Nigerian women that are exposed to political news are influenced into political participation.

vi. To find out the medium that are most accessible to Nigerian women.

1.4   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is expected that after this study, Nigerian radio broadcasters will know the best techniques involved in packaging political information that will be able to catalyze, stimulate, mobilize, and inspire Nigerian women into participating in politics. Also the study will be of relevance to students, studying communication and its paradigms because, it will enrich their knowledge in determining how to disseminate political information and get effective feed backs from Nigerian women, especially when they go into the labour market.Lectures will also benefit from this study because, the areas and ways that students need to be though about how to package political information will be made clear in the study. In all, the study will be of relevance to the government because it will make a policy statement on the need for adequate funding for radio station, as the most veritable tool or medium of mobilizing women into politics.

1.5   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. Do Nigerian women get most of their political information from radio more than any other medium?

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