Influence Of Radio On The Economic Empowerment

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The potency of radio has given credence to its use as a tool for grassroot development. Nwuneli (1986), explains that after a decade of research on the relationship between various media of mass communication and socio-economic variables, it is now a generally held belief among development communication scholars that broadcasting particularly radio- could be the most effective media for transferring information on various social change programmes from government and other institutions to the masses living in the developing nations of the world of which Nigeria is a part.
Radio seems to have an edge over the other media of communication, Nwuneli (1986) vividly paints a picture with these comparisons; the print media has to contend with the problem of high illiteracy and as such is considered limited to educated people in urban areas as opposed to radio’s flexibility in language use and wide coverage.
The cost of purchasing a television automatically excludes many Nigerian’s from the use of the medium as opposed to radio which is affordable, available and portable.
Thus, exposure to radio is far greater and effective than any other mass medium due to the fact that radio lends itself to the predominant oral culture of the people. He further asserts that this is true especially if programmes are produced in the predominant local language of the target audience.
Moemeka (1998, P133) revealed that “the UNESCO declared in 1957 that there was convincing evidence from projects in many parts of the world , that the mass media can be effectively applied to the development of resources to meet basic economic, social,
political, educational, and cultural needs of the nations. These efforts were of course centred on the use of radio”
Nsi (1993) reinforces the above when he articulates that there is something about radio that makes it appropriate for integrated rural development. He reviewed rural development in the light if self help efforts through radio programmes on; farming, education, flow of information, and health care, including the much needed family planning programmes and not as the need to focus only on the government efforts at providing rural areas with necessary infrastructure.
Moemeka (1981, P42), adds that “ in the performance of its task, radio feeds the people with information about what is likely to be, thus making it possible for individuals and communities to re-adjust themselves in ways best suited to their situations.
The role of radio and its programming in development has been evident over the years even at present.
Enugu state broadcasting service (ESBS) was established for effective information dissemination in all parts of the state. It was to bridge the information gap between the ruralites and urban areas and to stimulate interest between government and rural folks. This is the reason for dedicated rural economic programmes like ESBS/IMT UNIAIR etc. These programmes exist in electronic media but nothing has been done to ascertain the effect that would justify the relevance of these programmes. It is in the light of the above that this study is designed to measure the effectiveness of ESBS economic programmes among dwellers of Agbani community of Enugu state.

1.2 Statement of the Problem
The importance of radio cannot be over-emphasized; globally, nationally, and locally, as it performs many functions in the society. It is pertinent to see the extent to which ESBS radio have impacted on economic empowerment in Agbani community

1.3 Objectives of the Study
The following objectives were relevant to this study;
I. The objectives of this study are to know the extent to which Agbani dwellers are exposed to ESBS radio.
II. To find out if Agbani dwellers accord credibility to economic empowerment messages from ESBS.
III. To know if the information received from ESBS radio have any impact on the economic empowerment of their community.

1.4 Research Questions
The researcher used the following research questions for the study;
I. To what extent are Agbani dwellers exposed to ESBS economic empowerment programmes by Agbani dwellers?
II. What is the believability rate of ESBS economic empowerment programmes by Agbani dwellers?
III. To what extent can ESBS radio help to improve the economic empowerment of Agbani community?

1.5. Research Hypothesis
The researcher used alternative hypothesis for the study.
H1: ESBS Radio programmes are effective in the economic empowerment of Agbani community.

1.6. Scope of the Study
This study is restricted to Agbani community in Enugu state. It is further going to be narrowed down during data collection to specific areas within the community.

1.7. Significance of the Study
It is hoped that the study will be very important in many repects. This study is therefore aimed at highlighting the influence of radio on economic empowerment of Nigeria. it will provide a sufficient resource materials for further studies in the field related studies, thereby extending the frontiers of knowledge. To radio producers and presenters, the findings of the work will aid in the proper implementation of economic empowerment grass root programmes and campaigns. To the government, this study will serve as a platform for planning and making of relevant policies that border on the economy and informing the ruralities.
And finally, it will serve as evaluation reference materials for general study of communication development study and scholars.

1.8. Definition of Terms
The terms were operationally defined.
i. ESBS
This means Enugu state broadcasting service. It is the radio that operates in the Agbani community. It is the radio that gives out economic empowerment messages to the people.
ii. Rural areas
Rural area is a place where rural people live. Agbani community is a rural area that was studied.
iii. Radio programmes
These are programmes designed by the ESBS radio and which is to be transferred among everybody in Agbani community.
iv. Economic empowerment
This involves stirring up in the people of Agbani the necessity to work and create wealth for them to sustain a good life.
v. Poverty
Poverty here refers to the standard of living of the people of Agbani community and other rural areas. It is a life of lack, insufficiency, rejection and need of Agbani.