THE ROLE OF RADIO IN MOBILIZING NIGERIAN WOMEN INTO POLITICS
ABSTRACT
The man 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.
