WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS: CAN RADIO ENHANCE THE SITUATION?

Nze U. Nze

Abstract


Politics involves governance which is a channel of serving the masses and providing them with the dividend of democracy. In developing countries like Nigeria the number of women in politics is insignificance compared to their male counterparts. One of the enhancing mechanism in increasing the number of women in politics in Nigeria is through the use of mass media especially radio. The role of radio in achieving behaviour change especially towards women participation in politics cannot be ignored. Radio is a channel of communication that is accessible, affordable and available to Nigerians. The channel of communication used to inform, educate and correct misconceptions people have about women participation in politics can go a long way in influencing the concerned authorities to give women chance to contest some political positions and be voted for. Against this backdrop, this paper examines radio as a channel of communication and relevance of radio in enhancing women participation in politics. The article is anchored on Agenda Setting Theory. The paper concludes that radio programmes are very essential in influencing women to participate in politics. The article recommends that concerned authorities should use multi-channel of communication if more women are to be influenced to go into politics.


Keywords


election, participation, Politics, radio, women.

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