Research Summary. Promoting good governance in Nigeria
BBC Media Action has provided training to local radio partner stations, as part of a Media Support For Advocacy And Empowerment project
Abstract
In Nigeria, BBC Media Action has provided ongoing technical training to local radio partner stations over a four-year period, as part of the USAID-funded Media Support For Strengthening Advocacy, Good Governance And Empowerment (MESSAGE) project. In the regions studied, 13 million people were estimated to have listened to partner stations working with BBC Media Action in the past 12 months. TV and radio stations, including partner stations working with BBC Media Action, were reported as the main source of information for elections (62%) and other major issues of concern (64%). Listeners of partner stations were more likely to report being informed about election issues (81%) and political parties (72%) in the 2011 national election than listeners of other non-partner stations (76% and 65% respectively). However, very few listeners and viewers (8%) had phoned or sent an SMS to a programme on the radio or TV, suggesting that there is a need for stations to improve audience involvement. This area requires further development, in order for the programmes to be responsive to issues of public concern, and to provide a mechanism for listeners to ask questions of public officials.
Citation
BBC Media Action. Research Summary. Promoting good governance in Nigeria. BBC Media Action, UK (2012) 2 pp.