ROLE OF INDEPENDENT TELEVISION, BENIN, IN POLITICAL MOBILIZATION OF RURAL AREAS

This research work is geared towards finding out the Role of Independent Television in Political Mobilization of Rural Areas in Nigeria with special reference to Uziare Local government area. For this study, five rural towns in Uziare local government area were studied. The important of Television as the mobilization media, mass communication is universally acknowledged. The use of television utilization, such a high cost of television maintenance and poor power supply, most rural communities are not connected to the electricity. This project used Survey research and is primary source of data collection for the study is the self-administered questionnaire which is formed from three main research questions. Data collection were analyzed and interpreted. The finding revealed that the impact of television is not yet fully enjoyed by many in Uziare zone because the high cost of Television and electricity supply for those who own Television sets. In this democratic era, rural dwellers need political, educational awareness and enlightenment. The government should therefore do something to improve the economy of the nation to enable many people to own television set. Television stations should have more programmes to carry rural dwellers along. The researcher hoped that the suggestions would enhance political mobilization and public enlightenment. The study was conducted using the purposive sampling technique, simple percentage and Chi-Square to infer meaning to the data in each table.