INFLUENCE OF RADIO BROADCASTING ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ESIT EKET LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this work was to examine the influence of radio broadcasting on rural development in Esit Eket Local Government Area. Two hundred and fifteen (215) research questions were administered to four communities/villages in the study, two hundred (200) copies was later retrieved. The data collected was analysed using simple percentage; the research utilized an instrument title “what extent has radio influenced the development of Esit Eket Local Government Area” with response options namely; great extent, some extent, none of the above. It also include the Yes, No, Don’t know options. The findings revealed that radio broadcasting has influenced the people of Esit Eket to some extent; also, radio was seen as a powerful tool for developing the rural areas. From the findings, the following recommendations were proffered. All staff, radio editors/managers, and reporters should be well trained on how to conduct face-to-face meeting with the rural dwellers and the Government should established a community radio in Esit Eket. Local Government Area.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page – – – – – – – – – i
Declaration – – – – – – – – – ii
Certification – – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgements – – – – – – – – v
Abstract – – – – – – – – – vi
Table of Contents – – – – – – – – vii
List of Tables – – – – – – – – – xi
List of Appendices – – – – – – – – xii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study – – – – – – 1
1.2 Statement of Problem – – – – – – – 4
1.3 Objectives of Study – – – – – – – 5
1.4 Research Questions – – – – – – – 5
1.5 Scope of Study – – – – – – – 6
1.6 Significance of Study – – – – – – – 6
1.7 Limitation of the Study – – – – – – 6
1.8 Definition of Terms – – – – – – – 7
References

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.0 Introduction – – – – – – – – 9
2.1 Review of Concept – – – – – – – 9
2.1.1 Concept of Development – – – – – – 9
2.1.2 Concept of Development Communication – – – – 10
2.1.3 Paradigm to Development Communication – – – – 13
2.1.4 Media/Channels of Development Communication – – – 16
2.1.5 Roles of Radio in Development Communication – – – 18
2.1.6 Development Communication Campaigns Strategies – – 19
2.2 Evolution of Radio Broadcasting – – – – – 21
2.2.1 Radio in Nigeria – – – – – – – 24
2.2.2 Peculiarities of Radio – – – – – – – 27
2.3 Radio and Rural Development – – – – – 29
2.4 Radio and Agricultural Development – – – – – 30
2.5 Review of Related Theoretical Studies – – – – 32
2.6 Review of Empirical Studies – – – – – 38
2.7 Theoretical Framework – – – – – – 40
References

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction – – – – – – – – 44
3.1 Research Design – – – – – – – 44
3.2 Population of the Study – – – – – – 45
3.3 Sample Size – – – – – – – – 45
3.4 Sampling Procedure – – – – – – – 46
3.5 Description of Research Instrument – – – – – 47
3.6 Validity of Research Instrument – – – – – 47
3.7 Reliability of Research Instrument – – – – – 48
3.8 Method of Data Collection – – – – – – 48
3.9 Method of Data Analysis – – – – – – 48
References
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1 Data Presentation and Analysis – – – – – 50
4.2 Discussion of Findings – – – – – – 61
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary – – – – – – – – 62
5.2 Conclusion – – – – – – – – 62
5.3 Recommendations – – – – – – – 63
Bibliography
Appendices

LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.1: Respondents Sex – – – – – – 50
Table 4.2: Respondents Age – – – – – – 50
Table 4.3: Respondents Marital Status – – – – – 51
Table 4.4: Respondents Educational Qualifications – – – 51
Table 4.5: Respondent Occupation – – – – – 52
Table 4.6: What extent has radio influenced the development of Esit Eket
Local Government Area? – – – – – 53
Table 4.7: Do the challenges too ambiguous in the use of radio affect the
people of Esit Eket L.G.A.? – – – – – 53
Table 4.8: Can radio help in the development of Esit Ekt L.G.A.?
Table 4.9: What are the main contributions of radio in the development
of Esit Eket? – – – – – – – 54
Table 4.9.1: Respondents who chooses two – three options provided in
the questionnaire – – – – – – 54
Table 4.10: Which specific radio programmes influence the information
dissemination in Esit Eket? – – – – – 55
Table 4.11: Are there any radio programmes that has no benefit to the rural
development? – – – – – – – 56
Table 4.12: If Yes, please specify – – – – – – 56
Table 4.13: Can radio contribute meaningfully towards solving the
developmental problems of Esit Eket? – – – 56
Table 4.14: Can radio influence you in your daily decision about development? 57
Table 4.15: If yes, to what extent can it influence your daily decision? – 57
Table 4.16: If yes, in which of the following areas? – – – 58
Table 4.17: Do you think that sound radio information can make Esit Eket
Local Government Area’s development plans to fully excel? 58
Table 4.18: Can radio serve as a means of promoting good cultural norms which
can encourage development in Esit Eket Local Government Area? 59
Table 4.19: Do you think that radio can be used as one of the tools to revamp
Esit Eket Local Government Area’s economic system? – 59
Table 4.20: In your own view, what other areas do you think radio can be
used to enhance development programmes in Esit Eket Local
Government Area? – – – – – – 60

LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix I – – – – – – – – – – 66

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Radio is the technology that allows for the transmission of sound or other signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves. Radio came to be as a result of the invention of technology, therefore the history of radio in Nigeria started way back with British Broadcasting Corporation. Radio broadcasting was introduced into Nigeria in 1933 by the then Colonial Government; it relayed the overseas service of the British Broadcasting Corporation through wired system with loudspeakers at the listening end. The service was called Radio Diffusion System (RDS). From the RDS emerged the Nigeria Broadcasting Service (NBS) in April 1951.Mr T.W. Chamlers, a Briton and controller of the BBC Light Entertainment programme was the first Director –General of the NBS. The Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation, NBC came into being in April 1957 through an act of parliament No.39 of 1956 and the Director General was Mr J.A.C Knott Obe. In 1978, the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation was re-organized to become the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN.
To Uwakwe (2005:165) the third world countries today is being overwhelmed by the western communication structures. With satellites on the space, the CNN and BBC for instance, continue to invade the third world countries effortlessly. Therefore broadcasting both radio and television, started simultaneously in Eastern Nigeria, Enugu regional capital on the 1st of October, 1960. During the civil war, the Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (ENBC) was known as Radio Biafra. After the war, it was named the East Central State Broadcasting Service (ECBS) stationed at Enugu. With the creation of old Anambra and Imo states in 1976, it changed to Anambra Broadcasting Service. With the creation of the new Anambra and Enugu States in 1991 and the subsequent disengagement of the staff on March 16, 1992, the Anambra Broadcasting Service, Enugu gave birth to Anambra Broadcasting Service (R/TV) Awka and Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. After the state creation, the first movement was to Onitsha- the location of the AM Station. From Onitsha, the headquarters moved to Awka in January 1993 and ABS latter moved to its permanent site on the Enugu/Onitsha Express Way in Awka in January, 2002. Today ABS Radio transmits on the frequency 88.5 FM with the four stations(2 television and 2 radio).

Quoting Edeani in Okorie (2006:95), development communication means the use of all forms of communication in reporting, publicizing and promoting development at all levels of the society. Okorie (2006:67) pointed out that the major aim of such communication is to make better the lives of people in a given society economically by encouraging them to understand the development agent. This was because of the multi-lingual nature of Nigeria. However, the provision of information and skills has gained popularity in the quest to empower communities with community radio as a unique and effective tool. Chapman et al (2003:67) reported that the growth of rural radio stations reflects both the implements in information technologies and the shifting of development paradigm towards a more participatory style of information and knowledge transfer. Kumar (2004:44) identified radio as an avenue for participatory communication and as a tool relevant in both economic and social development.
Radio broadcasting had focused itself on local activities and was accessible to the rural areas. They utilized it in expressing their very existence and their particular needs, thereby formulating plans, and taking the right actions that met their basic needs. It was in this light that radio was believed to be a great component in rural development.
Looking at Esit Eket Local Government Area, radio had been an instrument of civilization, encouragement of creativity and mobilization of resources within the locality to solve immediate problems.
The main aim of this work is to find out if really radio as a medium of the mass media has influence on rural development as well as to determine the extent of its influence in the development of Esit Eket Local Government Area.

1.2 Statement of Problem
The idea on how effective radio was in terms of rural development compared to other media of mass communication had become contentious. Again, the negative side of radio was highlighted, that is, how the methods of presentation (grammar in a newscast progamme, dramatic presentation, topical talk and variety show) of radio programmes did not communicate all the aspects of people’s lives in the rural areas; that is, due to the grammar of the radio broadcaster, the rural people did not understand the messages sent through this programmes. Thereby leaving a communication gap between the rural areas and the people that operated the system.