INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study The community newspapers are important forces in our society. They provide information and entertainment and, at the same time, have persuasive powers that are capable of effecting radical changes. For this reason, the role of the community newspaper in the development and promotion of our culture, moral and community life cannot be overestimated. In this modern day we are surrounded by the mass media. As a result of the explosive growth of the mass media in the recent past, they have become a natural part of life. However, the community newspaper should not merely be accepted as natural; each person should become aware of how they influence the shaping of his or her own being and the environment in which he or she lives. Development is the singular ultimate quest of every society. Even the advanced countries still thirst for further development. Essentially, development implies the desire to improve or progress towards improvement in the quality of life of the people or majority of the people in a given society or community (Konkwo, 2010). And what happens during development, in essence is that a more active system is created and relations that have been dormant are awakened and parts that have been largely eccentric become interrelated and able to bring about an enormous progress in further activity and productivity. This embraces the social and cultural progress of that society, including those multitudes of different types of changes (in society) from the relatively specific notion of economic expansion to industrialization, urbanization, increase in literacy rates and so on. When therefore, one talks of the role of the community newspaper in the promotion of cultural heritage, broadly speaking, one is referring to the roles of these media in encouraging people to accept and practice changes in attitudes and behaviour that will bring about development. Culture could be likened to tradition, which is a belief, principle or way of behaviour which people in a particular society or group have continued to follow for a long time. A culture or tradition seems to exist in a community, perhaps forever, because it is passed on from one generation to another through traditional means of communication. Since cultural beliefs are transferred from the older to the younger generation, there is the temptation to ask how the process of transference will continue when the old and aged become extinct (Myers, 2000). This is where the issue of communication comes in to ensure that there is a continuous flow of culture from one generation to the next. Many social changes evident today are at least partially attributable to community newspaper. Cultural, moral and community opinions have been changed largely by the fact that the mass media can provide seemingly uninterrupted news that have influenced community life, indigenous culture and morals as well.

Thesis Overview

<p> </p><p><strong>Introduction</strong></p><p><strong>1.1</strong>&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp; Background of the Study</strong></p><p>According to Hans Klein (2005.p,65), political participation refers to ‘citizen’s rights to influence public affairs’. In line with this thought, political participation can be identified as those actions taken by the citizens of a country either to influence or to support government and politics. It derives from the freedom to speak out, assemble and associate; the ability to take part in the conduct of public affairs; and the opportunity to register as a candidate, to campaign, to be elected and to hold office at all levels of government.</p><p>In Nigeria, women play a minimal role in politics. Just few women are found in political leadership positions although the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Chapter 4 sections 30 and 40 guaranteed rights to all citizens of Nigeria- both male and female- rights that are basic and fundamental to all without discrimination between both sexes (Onabajo, 2000).</p><p>Women have been actively engaged in political struggle since the 19th century. Women like Amina of Zaria, Madam Tinubu of Lagos, Olufunmilayo Ransom Kuti of Abeokuta, Margaret Ekpo and Hajjia Gabon Swabia among many others have fought to give Nigerian women a pride of place in Nigeria’s history, (Luka, 2011). In the areas of politics, these women amongst others contributed immensely to the mobilization and sensitization of women with a view to ensuring that women participated actively in politics. According to the former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Professor Attahiru M. Jega, ‘Women should not be reduced to only voting and supporting male candidates win elective positions’. This was the motivation behind the unveiling of the INEC Gender Policy that institutionalizes the following:</p><p>1. Ensuring that INEC policies, plans, processes and operations are gender responsive;</p><p>2. Encouraging gender equity and balance within political parties, especially in the identification of candidates in line with the provisions of their statutes;</p><p>3. Increasing budgetary provision and mobilizing partners to effectively provide funding for gender sensitive actions within their purview and</p><p>4. Supporting an enabling legislative environment to achieve gender equality and bridging gaps in political representation in elective posts at all electoral levels.</p><p><strong>1.2 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Statement of the Problem</strong></p><p>It is not a hidden fact that women are under represented in the field of politics. In agreement with the assertion of (Luka, 2011), that “Politics is too serious a business to be left solely in the hands of men, the continuous low political participation of women in Nigeria becomes a major concern. In 2011, out of 109 senatorial seats available in Nigeria only 20 seats were occupied by females, same goes for the House of Representatives as only 24 seats out of 362 seats were occupied by women. In addition to the above, with vacancy in 36 states in Nigeria there are no female governors in the country neither has there been any female president or vice president.</p><p>There has been and still instances of women holding high political positions of leadership in countries like, Britain, Philippines, Brazil, Liberia, Germany etc, but in Nigeria reverse is the case. Women are also called to be leaders and not mere followers because they have equal rights as provided for in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria. The mass media especially the radio has an important role to play in mobilizing women for political participation, as this is one of the primary functions of the mass media.</p><p><strong>1.3 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Objectives of the Study</strong></p><p>The objective of this study is therefore stated as follows:</p><p>1. &nbsp; To explain the role of the broadcast media towards mobilizing women for political participation.</p><p>2. &nbsp; To encourage gender equity and balance within political parties.</p><p>3. &nbsp; To know ways which societal culture and norms affect women &nbsp; participation in politics in Nigeria.</p><p>4. &nbsp; To examine the effect of media in mobilizing women towards political &nbsp; &nbsp; participation.</p><p><strong>5.</strong>To find out some problems facing women in participating in politics.</p><p><strong>1.4 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Research Questions</strong></p><p>In this study, an attempt will be sufficiently made to answer the following questions.</p><p>1. &nbsp; What is the role of the broadcast media towards mobilizing women for political participation?</p><p>2. &nbsp; What is the perception of women on these political programs?</p><p>3. &nbsp; In what ways is societal culture and norms affect women participation in politics in Nigeria?</p><p>4. &nbsp; &nbsp; What has been the effect of media in mobilizing women towards political participation?</p><p>5. &nbsp; What are the problems facing women in participating in politics?</p><p><strong>1.5 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Scope of Study</strong></p><p>The study will be centered basically on the Assessment of Broadcast Media Role in Mobilizing Women for Political Participation.</p><p><strong>1.6 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Significance of the Study</strong></p><p>It is expected that at the end of this study, to update knowledge within the framework of the study. Particularly, it will assist people’s views on the usefulness of broadcast media in mobilizing women to take part in decision-making. This study will draw the attention of government to empower women to participate in politics through the use of radio, television, films and motion pictures in their packaging of news reports and events, and to academics in their practices and training of journalist. The government should promote the welfare of women in general. Also the federal government should promote the full utilization of women in the development of human resources and to bring about their acceptance as full participation in every phase of national development with equal rights and corresponding obligations least involving 30% elective positions for women.</p><p>Another important significance of this is for election to be conducted according to the rules, in which all qualified individuals especially women are free to vote or be voted for with out constraints of manipulations. (Williams, 2008).</p> <br><p></p>