THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY RADIO IN POVERTY REDUCTION

BY
AFOLABI JAMES OLAKUNLE 
HND/23/MAC/FT/0390

BEING A RESEARCH WORK SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION, INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (IICT), KWARA STATE POLYTECHNIC, ILORIN.

IN PARTIAL FUFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA (HND) IN MASS COMMUNICATION.

JULY, 2025

CERTIFICATION
This is to certify that this project has been read and approved as meeting part of the requirements for the award of Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication, Institute of Information and Communication Technology (IICT), Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.

________________________				______________ 
MR. OLUFADI, B.A					         DATE
(Project Supervisor)

________________________				______________ 
 MR. OLUFADI, B.A.			      		         DATE
(Project Co-ordinator)

________________________				______________ 
MR. OLOHUNGBEBE, F.T.				         DATE
(Head of Department)

________________________				______________ 
External Examiner 						         DATE

DEDICATION
This project is dedicated to Almighty God for his infinite mercy towards us for the successful completion of this work. And also to my parents, Mr. & Mrs. Afolabi, friends and loved ones.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
All praises and adoration goes to Almighty God, for his mercy protection over my life throughout my Higher National Diploma in Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.
My special appreciation goes to my parents for their support, financially and physically make you eat the fruits of your labour.
Special my gratitude goes to my amiable supervisor in person of Mr. Olufadi, B.A and our HOD in person of Mr Olohungbebe. F.T. For taking his time to prove, read my work despite his busy schedule I really appreciate sir, and all my amiable lecturers of mass communication thanks to you all may almighty God bless and protect your families (or their encouragement in my journey of education thank you and God bless you Amen.
To all others too numerous to mention who had contributed immensely to the successful completion of this project work, May Almighty God bless you all (Amen). 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE: Background to the Study
1.1	Introduction 
1.2	Statement of the Problem
1.3	Research Objectives
1.4	Research Questions
1.5	Significance of the Study
1.6	Scope of the study
1.7	Definition of Key Terms
CHAPTER TWO
2.0	Literature review
2.1	Conceptual framework
2.2	Theoretical framework
2.3	Empirical Review
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 
3.0	Introduction 
3.1	Research Design
3.2	Population of the Study
3.3	Sample size and Sampling Techniques
3.4	Instrument of Data Collection 
3.5	Validity and Reliability of the Instrument
3.6	Method of Data Collection
3.7	Method of Data Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR
4.0	Data Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation
4.1	Introduction 
4.2	Data Analysis and Interpretation 
4.3	Analysis of Research Question 
4.4	Discussion of findings
CHAPTER FIVE 
5.0	Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation 
5.1	Summary 
5.2	Conclusion 
5.3	Recommendations 
References
Appendix 

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
One of the most serious and concerning factors seemingly impeding the development of developing countries is poverty. This state of being in the confine of limited or no growth, pinned down due to “very high transport costs and small market size, low-productivity agriculture, a very high disease burden, adverse geopolitics and a very slow diffusion of technology from abroad” is what Sachs, McArthur, Schmidt-Traub, Kruk, Bahadur, Faye, and McCord, (2019) call “poverty traps” . Unless emerging countries deal with these poverty traps, which further include, high economic poverty, inadequate water supplies, education, corruption, insurgences, and poor sanitation to name a few, development will continue to be a mirage.
The provision of information and skills has gained popularity in the quest to empower communities with Community Radio as a unique and effective tool. Chapman, Blench, Kranjac-Berisavljevic and Zakariah (2020) asserted that the growth of rural radio stations reflects both the improvements in information technologies and the shifting of development paradigm towards a more participatory style of information and knowledge transfer. Kumar (2019) identified radio as an avenue for participatory communication and as a tool relevant in both economic and social development.
The poor are marginalised not only in relation to economic processes in society, but also in relation to information and communication processes. The situation of the poor is frequently misconstrued or ignored in societal communication. At the same time, the poor are not able to make their voice heard and so are not able to communicate accurate descriptions of their reality or engage in decision-making processes (Hills, 2019). These two aspects of poverty – on the one hand, the undermining nature of communication (or lack of communication) about the poor in society, and on the other hand the inability of the poor to engage in those communication processes on equal terms – are mutually reinforcing (Hovland, 2003).
Current communication initiatives in international development are starting to recognise this complex interplay between communication and poverty. While previous communication activities often focused on providing increased and more effective flows of development information ‘downwards’ to the poor, there is now far more emphasis on discussion, user engagement, and links to decision-making processes in society. It is no longer always assumed that ‘more information equals more development’ or that improved communication will necessarily reduce poverty (Hamelink, 2002). Instead, the interactive and changeable nature of communication processes, and their relation to wider political and economic processes, has brought to the fore the need to think strategically about communication in the context of the wider international development field, and how it can best contribute to poverty reduction (Hovland, 2003).
According to Bwalya (2008), a community is composed of people or households that are interdependent in their livelihood. Woods (2002)) argues that a community is a group of people where there are shared values and organisational vision; personal commitment and service to a common good; social norms that provide guidelines for cooperative action; collective history and traditions; continuing interaction, dialogue and shared experience; relationships grounded in mutual respect and trust, integrated, value-based participation and service; collaborative leadership and group work; sense of membership based on voluntary choice; respect for individual abilities and differences; collective celebration and ritual; sense of a shared physical, social and psychological space.
Community radio is a type of radio service that offers a model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial and public service. Community radio broadcasting serves geographic communities and communities’ interest. The content of broadcasting is largely popular and relevant to a local/specific audience but which may often be overlooked by commercial or mass-media broadcasters. Community radio stations are operated, owned, and driven by the communities they serve. Community radio is not-for profit and provides a mechanism for facilitating individuals, groups, and communities to tell their own diverse stories, to share experiences, and in a media rich world to become active creators and contributors of media. In many parts of the world today, community radio acts as a vehicle for the community and voluntary sector, civil society, agencies, NGOs and citizens to work in partnership to promote community development. By the core aims and objectives of this model of broadcasting, community radio stations often serve their listeners by offering a variety of content that is not necessarily provided by the larger commercial radio stations (Al-hassan, Andani and Abdul-Malik, 2011). This study therefore investigates the role of community radio in poverty reduction.

1.2 Statement of the Problem
The poverty situation in Nigeria is quite disturbing. Most people, especially in rural areas lack information that can improve their standard of living. They are not exposed to information that can make them to be self-reliant thereby reducing poverty.
Community radio has been identified as what can bring change and improvement to rural dwellers. It is an effective means of communication channel that can be used to propagate government programs on poverty alleviation, leading to better understanding, and gearing development on the part of the masses.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To find out whether community radio mobilize the audience to become economic self-reliant
2. To determine whether audience gain from community radio programmes designed to reduce poverty
3. To examine the effectiveness of community radio programmes in the mobilization campaign

1.4 Research Questions

1. Does community radio mobilize the audience to become economic self-reliant?
2. Do the audience gain from community radio programmes designed to reduce poverty?
3. How effective are community radio programmes in the mobilization campaign?

1.5 Scope of the Study
	This study is on the role of community radio in poverty reduction. It focuses on the contribution of Okin Fm in the economic development of its audience. The study is limited to residents of Offa Local Government.

1.6 Significance of the Study
	This study would expose radio stations especially community radio to their level of contribution to poverty reduction in Nigeria. It would also create awareness to government on the need to use community radio for poverty reduction. This study would also be a reference material to other researchers conducting studies in similar area.

1.7 Justification of the Study
Community radio is a type of radio service that offers a model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial and public service. It can play a significant role at the grass roots level for rural development. For instance, issues of poverty, agriculture, gender inequality, education, social problems among others could be the focus for programming. Hence, the need for this study.

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

Radio: This is a device used to disseminate information, to the diverse audience.
Development: This is a change for the better in human, cultural, socio-economic and political conditions of the individual and of the society.
Community: This is a geographically based group of persons and/or a social group who have common or specific interests
Community Radio: This is a type of radio service that caters to the strict interests of a specific community. 

CHAPTER TWO
 LITERATURE REVIEW 
2.1 Introduction
This chapter is basically a review of relevant literatures pertinent to this study. The chapter examines the various comments, remarks, opinion canvassed as well as criticism by authors, scholars, academicians and institutions as related to the subject matter of this investigation.

2.2 Conceptual Model
Folarin (2002) defined a model as a symbolic representation designed to help us visualize the relationship among various elements of a structure, system or progress, for the purpose of discussion analysis. The conceptual framework for this study is shown below:

Poverty reduction

Awareness on economic development               policies

Radio programmes

Enlightenment on self-sustenance

	Radio programmes can be used for variety of purposes such as education, information entertainment, etc. Some radio programmes can also be used to create awareness on economic development policies of government that can promote favourable business activities among the populace. Some radio programmes can also be used to enlighten the ctitzens especially those in rural areas as well as the unemployed on the need to engage in entrepreneurial activities to promote self-sustenance. Using radio for these purposes could likely reduce poverty in most third world countries.  
2.3 Conceptual Review
2.3.1 Concept of Community
World Health Organization (1978) stated that a community consists of people living together in some form of social organization and cohesion. Its members share in varying degree political, economic, social and cultural characteristics, as well as interests and aspirations including health. Communities vary widely in size and socio-economic profile, ranging from clusters of isolated homesteads to more organized villages, towns and cities. 
Olise (2007) defined a community as a group of people living in a defined area and sharing some common interest examples are towns and villages.  A community can be homogenous that is consisting of people sharing the same culture e.g villages or heterogeneous that is consisting of people sharing different culture e.g urban cities. In simple terms a community may be said to be a group of people living within specified area and sharing things in common. 
The structure of a community is as follows: 
1. Village Head (Paramount Ruler) 
2. Village Council (Chiefs) 
3. President/Chairman (Community Development Committee) 
4. Influential leaders 
5. Members of the Community (the people) 
This structure enables Community mobilizers to know where to start from in the communities in their mobilization processes 
There are different groups of leaders in the community. They include: 
1. Formal leaders: These are the first class of individuals otherwise known as ceremonial leaders in the Community who are elected, appointed or chosen to rule the Community e.g traditional rulers namely Chiefs, Ezes, Obas, Emirs, Districts heads and village heads. They are entitled to remuneration from government. 
2. Informal Leaders: These leaders are unofficially installed but nominated and recognized by members of the Community to lead them in their day to day activities e.g women leaders, market women leaders, youth leaders, men leaders etc. 
3. Opinion Leaders: These are persons authorized and recognized by constituted authorities to give opinions on various matters concerning the Community. They are appointed to hold offices especially in public bodies and organizations e.g chairmen of councils, councilors, pastors, Imams etc. 
The above constitute the leadership composition of a community. They represent a cross-section of the Community in matters of decision making. 

2.3.2 Concept of Community Radio
Ayedum-Aluma and Olatubosun, (2011) on their own define community radio as “an activity owned and managed by a group whose common and defining property may be geographical, demographic, religious, political or even historical.” One major shortcoming of this definition lies in its non-universality especially in countries like Nigeria considering the ethno-religious and political tensions that usually arise to threaten peace and security. Hence, a definition that is silent on those tension areas would be a better one for Nigeria.
Opubor (2006) explains the term community radio as: When radio fosters the participation of citizens and defends their interests; when it reflects the tastes of the majority and makes good humour and hope its main purpose; when it truly informs; when it helps resolve the thousand of one problems of daily life; when all ideas are debated in its programmes and all opinions are respected; when cultural diversity is stimulated over commercial homogeneity; when women are main players in communication and not simply a petty voice or publicity gimmick; when no type of dictatorship is tolerated, not even the musical dictatorship of the big recording studios; when everyone ‘s words fly without discrimination or censorship, that is community radio. 

2.3.3 Poverty as a Concept 
Traditionally has been defined as lack of income. However Akindola (2009) argued that poverty transcends its traditional definition as a shortfall in income levels. Fundamentally, poverty is a denial of choices and opportunities, a violation of human dignity. It means lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society.  Gordon (2005) asserted that it means not having enough to feed and cloth a family, not having a school or clinic to go to; not having the land on which to grow one’s food or a job to earn one’s living, not having access to credit. It means insecurity, powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities. It means susceptibility to violence, and it often implies living on marginal or fragile environments, without access to clean water or sanitation.
According to UNDP (2003), poverty is defined to mean deprivation in the three dimensions of human development, thus, deprivation in education, deprivation in leading a long and health life as well as deprivation standard of living. Although income is important, raising income alone is not a sufficient condition for poverty reduction. 
Poverty can be classified in two categories, thus Absolute poverty and relative poverty. Absolute poverty or destitution refers to the deprivation of basic human needs, which commonly includes food, water, sanitation, clothing, shelter, health care and education. Relative poverty is defined contextually as economic inequality in the location or society in which people live (World Bank. 2011). 
2.4 Community Mobilization 
FMOH (2004) defined Community Mobilization as a means of encouraging, influencing and arousing interest of people to make them actively involved in finding solutions to some of their own problems. Community Mobilization is getting people involved and committed to achieving a goal. 
Onuzuluike (2004) defined Community mobilization as process of assisting people to become more aware of their Community, take an in-depth look at that Community, identify the felt needs as well as the real needs, have belief or faith that something can be done to relieve these needs and that most of the resources to achieve these are within the competence of the Community, possess a desire and a willingness to use such resources to ensure the continued existence and improvement of their Community. 
Gbefwi (2004) stated that Community Mobilization involves creating awareness on challenging conditions and allowing for a common solution in the Community. It is an ideal method for developing decision-making skills, communication, cooperation and self reliance 
Community mobilization involves encouraging the community to take part in their personal and community development. It is a lengthy process and not only implies that the community members, government and NGOs come together to develop a strategy to resolve issues within the community, but also entails the pooling of their resources. A key component of community mobilization involves identifying and developing leaders from the community by strengthening and building their capacities in various issues. Community mobilization is neither a campaign that is undertaken once, nor is it a series of campaigns carried out over a period. A continual and cumulative communication through educational and organizational processes produces a growing autonomy and consciousness in the community about taking development into their hands. Such efforts need to be sustainable and sustainability of social change is more likely if the individuals and communities have a sense of ownership in the development process and that communities should be the agents of their own change. The communities should be mobilized to participate in their development activities from the planning to implementation, monitoring and evaluation phases to ensure ownership and sustainability (Brian, Ezenekwe and Isidienu, 2016).
A Political Scientist, Karl Deutsch cited in Obasanjo and Mabogunje (1991) defines mobilization as a process in which major clusters of old, social economic and psychological commitment are eroded and broken and people become available for new pattern of socialization and behaviour. Accordingly to Udokah cited in Nwodu and Ukozor (2003), mobilization is the awakening or activation of the dominant consciousness of a greater number of people with the use of views, ideas for the purpose of gaining their support for an action or inaction. It is a process of creating new loyalties. Using new ideas and appeals to reason and sentiment at the appropriate time. It entails building and sustaining cohesive alliance between development agents and targets or beneficiaries of a given developmental progarmme as well as serving their support and participation in the programme. Therefore, mobilization addresses vulnerabilities of communities which makes them self reliant and confident to take responsibilities for their lives and question power structures that constantly reinforce their vulnerabilities.
A successful mobilization hinges on citizen participation in order to create new ideas and resources in the community. This entails involvement of the local people in decision-making, planning and execution of the project. Mobilization helps in galvanizing the local people to participate in developing their community, using local initiatives. The active participation of the people will foster success in any project which they embark upon. It encourages self-help and utilization of human and material resources to utmost capacity for community development (Ewelum and Mbara, 2015).

2.5 Objectives of Community Mobilization
When carried out at the higher levels of participation, community mobilization: 
•	Builds on social networks to spread support, commitment, and changes in social norms and behaviours. 
•	Builds local capacity to identify and address community needs. 
•	Through strengthening capacity, helps to shift the balance of power so that the community gains a voice in decision making, increased access to information and services while addressing many of the underlying social causes of their vulnerability (discrimination, poverty, low self-esteem and self –efficacy, low social status, violence etc). 
•	Mobilizes local and external resources to address the issue and establishes coordination and monitoring systems to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective management of these resources. 
•	Motivates communities to advocate for policy changes to respond better to their real needs. 
•	Plays a key role in linking communities to HIV related health services, helping to define, improve on, and monitor quality of care from the joint perspectives of community members and service providers, thereby improving availability of, access to, and satisfaction with health services. 

2.6 An Overview of Poverty in Nigeria
In Nigeria, widespread and severe poverty is a reality. It is a reality that depicts a lack of food, clothes, education and other basic amenities. Severely poor people lack the most basic necessities of life to a degree that it can be wondered how they manage to survive. There are several effects and deficiencies associated with poverty in Nigeria. One of the main effects of poverty is poor health, as is reflected in Nigeria’s high infant mortality and low life expectancy (Ucha, 2010). 
Poor people in Nigeria face several health issues as they lack basic health amenities and competent medical practitioners. Most children do not have the opportunity of being immunized and this leads to certain physical defects in some of the children. Their health has become low priority and as they have little or no choices, they live with whatever they are provided with, whether healthy or not (Ucha, 2010).
Nigeria economy has a very narrow and weak base, depending mostly or exportation of petroleum crude oil as a major source of income; the agricultural base of the economy had been frustrated and marginalized (Oyeduntan, 2003). High and growing unemployment has also exacerbated the level of poverty in Nigeria. Other factors that have contributed to the level and evolution of poverty in Nigeria include problems in the productive sector, widening income inequality, weak governance, social conflict and gender, intersectoral and environmental issues. Poverty in especially in the urban area has been made severe by low labour absorption capacity of the nonagricultural sector, especially manufacturing, which is as a result of limited growth of investment and technological innovation. Weak governance which is manifested in corruption, rent seeking, inappropriate planning and neglect of the private sector have contributed immensely to corruption in Nigeria. Furthermore, empirical evidence shows that poverty and environmental degradation are inextricably linked in Nigeria, because 75 percent of rural people depend on natural resources for their livelihood, hence environmental degradation reduces opportunities for poor people to earn sustainable income (Olowa, 2012).

2.7 Causes of Poverty in Nigeria 
According to Ajakaiye and Adeyeye (1999), there is no one cause or determinant of poverty. On the contrary, combination of several complex factors contributes to poverty. These are examined below: 
(i) Low economic growth performance: Growth of the economy is a must for poverty reduction. In developing countries such as Nigeria growth that is employment generating and with export base is desirable in order to achieve growth that is poverty reducing with equity. Although the economic performance of countries in the World has generally been highly volatile since the early 1980s, on the whole, growth rates have been low or negative, with overall declines in several countries. This is due in part to external shocks such as adverse changes in several countries’ terms of trade, changes in global demand for exports and changes in global interest rates on developing countries external debt. All these are probably responsible for the increase in poverty level in various countries of the world. Extensive evidence links the importance of economic growth to poverty reduction (World Bank 1990). For example, in Indonesia and Thailand poverty was reduced by between 30 and 40 percent during a twenty -year period in which annual growth rates were ap-proximately 3 percent (investments in the social sectors also contributed). Accordingly, of a sample of countries, those that reduced poverty the least (for example, India and Sri Lanka) had growth rates of less than 1 percent. Growth can reduce poverty through rising employment, increased labour productivity and higher real wages it generates.
(ii) Unemployment and Underemployment: Unemployment is a major factor contributing to poverty in Nigeria. There is a strong correlation between unemployment and poverty. When people are unemployed, their source of livelihood depletes over time. The cost of living becomes high and the standard of living goes down. There are many people in Nigeria who lack the opportunity of being employed. Many graduates in Nigeria wander the streets without anything reasonable to do for a living. The government is capable but unwilling to provide jobs for them. Employment in Nigeria is usually not based on merit but depends on how connected you are with people that have power. This leaves many highly qualified people in poverty as seemingly no one cares to know what they are capable of achieving. These people are missing out on the income they would have gotten if they were employed. The number of quality jobs in the economy is low and many government resources are misallocated.
Further, underemployment occurs largely in the informal sectors and results in low incomes for an important segment of the labour force, particularly in rural areas. Unemployment is due more to slow economic growth than to the direct effects of im-perfections in the labour market, although regulations affecting the formal sector are likely to induce more under-employment in the informal sector. In poorer, rural areas, this mainly takes the form of seasonal unemployment and in urban areas those who have given up searching for work. High unemployment particularly affects youths, women urban dwellers, and those “queuing” for good jobs in the formal sector.
(iii) Migration: Migration rates do reduce poverty especially when the majority of individuals who migrate are skilled workers. On the other hand, individuals who emigrate vacate jobs in labour markets. Thus, migration drains on skills. It reduces the pace of economic growth and thus slows the process of overall job creation and affects the long-run development potential in a country. 
(iv) Corruption: In Nigeria, the government’s income is generated mostly from natural resource revenues. This income, instead of being used for developmental purposes, is then circulated among the political office holders and their families, leaving the rest of the people to wallow in poverty. Political leaders practically ignore the affairs and wellbeing of their people who elected them into office. They mismanage and embezzle funds. There are several issues involved with bad governance in Nigeria, use of wrong policies, adaptation to wrong policies and implementation of those wrong policies. In any case, it is clear that Nigeria’s corruption has increased poverty and inequality as well as contributed to high crime rates.
(v) Laziness: Laziness is a common disease which is virtually suffered by many Nigerians today, especially those from wealthy households. Everyone wants to be comfortable but they are not ready to work towards it. This often leads to greed where people will do whatever they can to keep the family wealth for themselves. In most families, everyone depends on the bread winner, who works so much to keep the family going and when he dies the family is likely to become poor because of mismanagement of funds. In most Nigerian families, the death of the bread winner means the death of the whole family fortunes; because everyone was depending on him/her to provide everything.
(vi) Poor Education System: Education can play a major role in reducing poverty. According to the World Bank, education is central to development. It promotes economic growth, national productivity and innovation, and values of democracy and social cohesion. In Nigeria, the population with no education account for most of the poor. The education system in Nigeria can be regarded as a failure compared to other countries in the world. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights8 states that “everyone has the right to an education.” This right to education has been denied to many Nigerians, of which many of them can be considered invisible to the society now. This deprivation of education applies more to females than males, because they are considered the inferior sex. Hence educating them is seen as unnecessary as they are expected to marry as early as possible.
(vii) Non-Diversification of the Economy: In Nigeria, those in power have practically ignored other sources of income, and today, Nigeria depends heavily on exporting oil. This dependency on natural resources is often referred to as “Dutch disease”, whereby natural resources make a country less competitive. Excluding the few working in the oil sector, the majority of the people have been impoverished as their products have become irrelevant. The agricultural sector, which was their major means of income before the discovery of oil, is considered almost useless.
Beyond the Dutch disease, Nigeria’s abundance of a natural resource has led to what is known as a resource course, which is reflected in the “Niger Delta Crisis (reflecting the region of the country where most of the oil is coming from). The people in this region are fighting for resource control as they claim the government is not fulfilling their promise of giving them the large part of the oil revenues. The wealth from natural resources in Nigeria is supposed to be working with the derivation policy, but this policy is not functional in any way, as the oil-producing states are still impoverished and this policy is supposed to work in a way such that these states with these natural resources should be able to get a large part of the countries revenue as they contribute a lot to the national wealth.

2.8 Media and Poverty Reduction
The media is “the most powerful tool of communication”. It gives a real exposure to the mass audience” about what is right or wrong. The media is a potentially powerful force for the elimination of poverty and it is journalists who hold that power and the responsibility that comes with it in their pens. Information is power; therefore, it is imperative for every true democracy to ensure that the media disseminates accurate information to keep the people informed of all the latest political, economic and social development without too much government interference
(Centre for Democracy and Governances, 2009). This serves as a vital element for genuine participation, consultation, transparency, accountability and freedom of speech.
Restructuring and strengthening government institutions to improve economies requires good governance for all government institutions. The Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) of various countries strongly requires quality participation from citizens in policy forums in order to have an effective deliberation on issues pertaining to eliminating poverty (Hudock, 2009).
As Gounder (2007) mentions that, in most developing countries, the media sectors are not prepared for this role as they as a whole, face large obstacles to realizing their potential as government watchdogs and champions of public interest. However, some countries do not support an independent and a vigorous media industry despite its contribution to socio-economic development of the country (Hudock, 2009).
As Lloyd (2005) highlights that the media’s proudest boast, and indeed their main reason for being considered indispensable to a free society, is usually said to be to hold power to account. It is to assist the people of that society to understand all kinds of powers - state, corporate, associative, cultural, foreign – “so they, the people, can hold them to account through their actions, chief among which must be voting and other participation in civic life.
Heightened media involvement in the PRS process could help build a stronger independent media sector while preparing citizens to take an active role in dialogues that will have a huge impact on their lives (Seniloli, 2010). The media sector can play a very crucial role in providing a platform for discussions pertaining to national interest, and keep the relevant parties well informed about the progress and outcomes of these consultations. A highly qualified media is important in creating awareness and disseminating accurate and timely information to the society to enhance government’s policy efforts to eliminate poverty (Hudock, 2009). 
As Abbott and Pollard (2004) point out that, well-informed citizens are crucial to the success of the PRS development process and to ensuring lasting results of its implementation, and without the active participation of the media, civil society organizations (CSOs) and individual citizens are unlikely to fully understand the issues being debated, the trade-offs governments face in terms of policy options to promote poverty alleviation and economic development, and the implications this has for a society’s economic well-being.
As a socialising force and a source of information and entertainment, the media has the potential to be an agent for social change or a tool to maintain hegemonic power structures. (Stadler, 2003). The ideal of the role of the media in supporting positive social change is somewhat compromised by the trans-national, oligopolistic character of the media industry (Seniloli, 2010).

2.9 Empirical Review
Several researches related to this study were conducted by different researchers. Hannides (2011) conducted a study on how effective is community radio in meeting the needs of remote communities in Nepal? Case study of Okhaldhunga, Nepal. He stated that Communication is fundamental to human life in every part of the world. The evolvement of modern technologies has made it more sophisticated and accessible than ever before, greatly increasing potential for economic and social impact. Today, many groups are working to harness the power of communication technology to bring social change and meet peoples’ need. For example, community radio initiatives around the world are giving poor people a ‘voice’, enabling them to instigate their own change such as advocating for rights or promoting social learning and dialogue. For many remote communities, radio remains the most accessible technological medium available.
The study uses qualitative and quantitative research to perform a community--‐based needs assessment. It highlights the underlying issues of a weak economy, infrastructure and caste system. It also highlights social and family networks that strengthen communities. The research then investigates how the community radio station is responding to these needs, presenting findings alongside the potential roles of radio. The study uses a set of community radio indicators (James 2004) in collaboration with five conditions for social change to identify limitations and constraints, and review effectiveness. The study concluded with key recommendations for the station to: increase networking, increase learning and, most importantly, increase community involvement. It makes recommendations for donors to reduce control and increase community participation.
Mhagama (2015) investigated community radio as a tool for development: a case study of community radio stations in Malawi. The objective of the study was to investigate the extent and ways in which community radio is used as a tool for development through audience participation; and to examine the extent to which communication for development in community radio in Malawi takes the form of participatory communication. Using the case study approach, the thesis specifically examines the functions of participation in development through community radio; whether community radio can encourage development through enhancing capabilities and participation even when people do not own and manage the stations; how radio listening Clubs (RLCs) help to expand people’s capabilities; and how the programming of community radio in Malawi is influenced by the agendas of development agencies. Arnstein’s (1969) ladder of participation and Carpentier’s (2011) minimalist and maximalist versions of participation are adopted as criteria for evaluating the different levels of participation in and through community radio. 
The findings show that community radio in Malawi firstly, affords ordinary people opportunities to participate in the media and in development projects and, secondly informs people about development initiatives from development agencies. Although these functions overlap, the thesis found that community radio stations in Malawi concentrate more on the latter. The programming of the stations is influenced by the agendas of development agents who sponsor programmes thereby reducing opportunities for participation. However, although people’s participation in the media is low or reduced, there are other ways in which through the media, people can benefit, enhance their capabilities and through which development agencies can reach their goals. 
The thesis recommended that management of community radio stations should explore more avenues of income generation which can make community radio stations more self-sustaining to reduce dependence on sponsored programmes in a quest to earn more income to meet operational costs. Also, communities need to be trained or sensitized on what constitutes participation in the media and how to participate so that they can understand what their role is at every stage of the station operations.
Dan Vidija (2014) conducted a study on The Place of Community Radio in Rural Development in Kenya: Case Study of Sauti FM in Rarieda, Siaya County. According to him, rural communities in Kenya have largely been relegated to the periphery of the regular mainstream socio-economic and political development conversations. Their voices remain muted and their core political and socio-economic concerns largely excluded from the core resource planning and allocation. Radio offers a platform for remedying this situation as it is widely regarded as the ideal media for developmental communication.
The study aimed to examine the role of Community Radio in rural development in Kenya. Sauti FM, a community radio station located in Rarieda, Siaya County was selected for a case study with the purpose of demonstrating how the radio station has been harnessed for the socio-economic, cultural and political development of Rarieda; as well as the impacts of the radio‘s programming in its catchment area. This study was qualitative in orientation and data were as gathered through focus group discussions, key informant interviews and direct observation in addition to consulting secondary data from various sources. The findings of this study are that Sauti FM is indeed being harnessed for the social, economic, cultural and political development of the inhabitants of Rarieda in such areas as mobilization of resources and collective action, preservation and promotion of progressive facets of local culture, civic education, behaviour modification, business and social networking, as well as promotion of fraternity and harmony in the community.
	Khan (2009) also wrote on Role of Community Radio in Rural Development. He pointed that statistics betrays that after Independence Indian growth rate has increased from 3% to 9 % .But, still Indians are facing problems like poverty, illiteracy, unemployment etc. Besides; a major chunk of population living in villages (72%) is still backward. Though the government is spending million of rupees in the name of rural development, but still it’s not getting the desired results. He argued that among many reasons, one of the foremost reason is the communication gap between government devised policies and common masses as people largely remain ignorant regarding them. In order to bridge this gap, a firm communication policy will prove crucial. According to this policy, local community media should be promoted in order to enhance community development, at least at grass root level. 
He added that among various existing genres of local community media, Community Radio will prove most effective as it can easily cover a wider range of area as well as diversified audience. Besides, experiments with community radio in many parts of India have proved it to be the cheapest and the strongest medium for fulfilling communication gap between the community and the Government. It has proved to be a vital tool in strengthening the ‘Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression’ As, the community radio is still evolving it might be possible that in the near future, Indians will witness its various new forms which will be more superior as well as user-friendly.
Ojomo et al. (2015) also wrote on Making a Case for Community Radio in Nigeria, they opined that community radio has assumed a monumental growth in the last two decades in several nations of the world. This development is largely due to its potential to democratize and provide a horizontal form of communication, thus, contributing more meaningfully to development efforts than the other forms of broadcasting. Despite these efforts, it is very disheartening to note the non-existence of a single community radio in Nigeria, while there are over a thousand community radios across Africa. Thus, the country’s political aspirations for inclusive participation of the majority and contextualization of development remained elusive due to non-democratization of access and use of information for freedom of expression. 
This imperative to positively and qualitatively hasten progress has eluded the citizenry due to unfavourable policies, legal and regulatory frameworks. The paper, according to the authors, is a clarion call for immediate promotion and operation of community radio in Nigeria, from legal provision in holistic practice in consonance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The African Charter on Broadcasting and the Windhoek Declaration to establish, maintain and foster independent, pluralistic and free press; all of which are essential to guaranteeing the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.
Asemah, Anum and Edegoh (2013) also wrote on Radio as a Tool for Rural Development in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges. The rationale behind the paper was to find out the prospects and challenges of using radio as a tool for rural development in Nigeria.  They noted that communication generally, has a very crucial role to play in bringing about positive attitudinal change. The first requirement for the development of an information society that enables the effective use of the radio is wide spread access to the radio set and radio programmes. Radio plays a very significant role in the development of the rural and urban areas of any society. Several problems are however associated with the use of radio as tool for rural development in Nigeria; some of which are: communication related problems, message related problems, illiteracy, the use of English Language by the electronic media, multiplicity of language in Nigeria, lack of audience feedback, ownership problem, dearth of qualified personnel, urban-centred development journalism and dearth of community based or vernacular radio/telecommunication. 
The paper concluded that radio is an important tool for entertaining, informing and educating the society, but that there are certain factors that hinder the effective use of radio for rural development. It therefore recommends, among, others, that radio stations in Nigeria should endeavour to use local dialects, especially when the radio programme is aimed at the rural dwellers and that there is the need to establish community radio stations that will be closer to rural dwellers.
Wabwire (2013) also wrote on The Role of Community Radio in Development of the Rural Poor, he noted that More than 850 million people in developing countries are excluded from a wide range of information and knowledge, with the rural poor in particular remaining isolated from both traditional media and new information and communication technologies, which would improve their livelihoods and development pattern. Considering the sociocultural and geographical structure of rural, remote people community radio has been found more effective and inclusive medium to provide unbiased information and knowledge among the masses (Gumucio 2001). 
The aim of the article was to analyze the contribution of community radio to the development of deprived rural people in various parts of world in general and Kenya in particular. The analysis indicates that the community radio movement has created grassroots-level participation and horizontal circulation of ideas among the deprived rural communities, which are necessary pre-conditions to democratization of communication and redistribution of power. The article has also looked at the Community Radio ownership models in various parts of the world and made some policy suggestions for its sustainability especially in Kenya and East Africa at large.
Wood (2009) conduct a research titled: 'Engaging Communities with Farm Radio in Malawi: A Review', the main objective of this research was to review the current strategies used to engage communities with farm radio in Malawi and to identify common factors of success and feasibility for widespread adoption At the time of the study, many of the farm radio producers interviewed by the author were partners of the African Farm Radio Research Initiative (AFRRI).
The author carried out a qualitative review of different strategies used to engage communities with farm radio in Malawi; exploring the success and challenges of each strategy. The study involved making observations and carrying out interviews with practitioners in Malawi who are actively involved in engaging communities with farm radio and the community of radio listeners. The study revealed that radio producers in Malawi have a strong appreciation of the importance of engaging their community and using different strategies to engage community of listeners with farm radio. These include: 
1. The inclusion of community voices on air which encapsulates pre-recorded interviews with community members as well as live phone-in programmes. 
2. There was the existence of radio listening clubs (RLC) in the various communities studied. 
3. Community members participated in the production of programmes by the radio stations and 
4. There was the use of text alerts and call-outs to listeners in the communities. 
Similarly,  Tanja (2003) conducted study on 'Radio, Community and Identity in South Africa: A Rhizomatic Study of Bush Radio in Cape Town, it was observed that the establishment and organization of Bush Radio have transformed over time just as the political context in South Africa has changed over time. To demonstrate how Bush Radio created community, the study focused on several cases within Bush Radio. The use of hip-hop for social change was explored. Framed within theories of entertainment-education and behavioural change, the study explored specific programmes on-air and outreach programmes offered by radio stations. The work also looked at ‘kwaito music’, a new hybrid musical form that emerged in South Africa post-apartheid. 
In particularly, the study observed that Bush Radio used kwaito music in the consolidation of a black identity in South Africa. Programmes targeting children and youth were also discussed and this offered a space for the creation of a generation consciousness in the post-apartheid era. Conclusively, the study in particular, found out that Bush Radio is not so much an organization as it is an organism, held together by a complex set of interlinked structures, with the concept of ―community pulsating as its central life-force. A kind of ―body without organs‖ (Haraway, 1989). Bush Radio has no real essence – it is both the embodiment of community radio at its best - and its antithesis. Bush Radio is not a ―bush radio, geographically or figuratively. It sported state of the art digital equipment and a relatively sophisticated organizational structure, yet, it is still deeply connected to the various communities it serves. 
Ifeduba (2012) also conducted a study on Community Media and Mediated Communities: Case for Re-negotiation of Boundaries‘ which presented empirical evidence for the accommodation of online or mediated communities within the conceptual and operational boundaries of community media, whether they are owned by all members of their communities or not. Using Technological Determinism and the Democratic Participant Media theories, the researcher established that since the internet and World Wide Web (www) have created a special community and they are media, even though the new media, they can safely be called community media, thus re-negotiating the boundary of community media.
The researcher generated his operational evidence through an exploratory survey of the World Wide Web to prove that there are online communities and online media to justify the re-negotiation. This study as well used the exploratory website survey of available Nigerian radio broadcasting services and communities online to search for evidence for Nigeria-based online communities, forums and clubs. It was discovered that there are ten Nigerian-based radio distribution services, 49 radio stations, 12 forums, clubs and communities online. 
The researcher identified the different kinds of community that existed in the Nigerian media, which are rural communities (e.g. Ofada, Kagoro and Ihiala), urban communities (Lagos and Ibadan) and semi- urban communities (Nsukka, Epe). Others are learning communities (e.g. Campuses, Naijareads.com), faith-based communities (e.g. Believers Love World, Redemption camp) and communities of interest (Nollywood). He further contended that each of these communities has every right to claim a community status and may be marginalized and, as such, may be in need of a medium controlled by members of the community. 
2.10 Theoretical framework
This study is based on the framework of development media theory. 
2.10.1 Development Media Theory
According to McQuail (1987) cited in Muhammad (2016), this theory seeks to explain the normative behaviours of the press in countries that are conventionally classified together as developing countries. The theory owes its origin to the UNESCO's MacBride Commission set up in 1979. This theory is opposed to dependency and foreign domination and to arbitrary authoritarianism. It accepts economic development and nation building as overriding objectives. Press freedom should be opened to restriction according to economic priorities and the development needs of the society. In the interest of development ends, the state has the ultimate control (Ndolo, 2005 cited in Muhammad, 2016).  
The theory holds that the media have a role to play in facilitating the process of development in the developing countries. According to the development media theory, the media are to be used to serve the general good of the nation. The media are seen as agents of development and social change in any community thus, the theory says that the media should be used to complement government's efforts by carrying out programmes that will lead to positive behavioral change among the people. 
The development media theory according to Okunna (1999) cited in Muhammad (2016) accepts that economic development and nation building should take precedence over some freedom of the press and of individuals. In addition, the theory advocates that the mass media should assist the government in the task of nation building and that government should control the media as well as journalist to achieve this goal. Summarily, the fundamental tenets of the theory as identified by McQuail (1987) are:
i) Media must accept and carry out positive development tasks in line with national   established policy.
ii) Freedom of the media should be open to economic priorities and development needs of the society.
iii) Media should give priority in their content to the national culture and language(s).
iv) Media should give priority in news and information to links with other developing countries which are close geographically, culturally or politically.
v) Journalists and other media workers have responsibilities as well as freedom in their information gathering and dissemination tasks.
vi) In the interest of development ends the state has a right to intervene in or restrict media operation and devices of censorship, subsidy and direct control can be justified.
2.10.2 Relevance of the Theory to the Study
The theory is relevant to the study because it lays emphasis on using the media to develop the society. This implies that the media have the capacity to positively affect the society toward reducing poverty. Thus, the media need to be employed to bring about social, political and economic development in the society. This theory believes that the primary aim of the media in using this theory is societal development especially at the grassroots level. Principles of this theory are in support of the respective concepts of radio mediated messages and rural development. According to Folarin (2005) the media is a tool of national integration, socio-economic modernization, promotion of literacy and cultural creativity.

CHAPTER THREE

3.1 Introduction 
This chapter will present the data collection techniques, the target population, sample size, sampling method and method of data analysis. 
3.2 Research Design
A research design is defined as “a blue print or a guide that the researcher uses for conducting the research study in order to achieve the objectives of the study such that the findings are a true reflection of reality (Burns and Groove 2005). The research design that will be use in this study is survey research design. It aims at answering the research questions in order to provide more accurate and impartial description or a true picture of the phenomenon (Sreejesh, 2013).
3.3 Population of the Study
The target population is an entire population in which the researcher is interested in and to which the researcher would like to generalize the results of the research study (Polik and Hungler 2008) The populations of this study will be the residents of Ilorin community. In other words, as far as an individual resides in Ilorin, such individual will be part of the population of this study.  The Local Governments in Ilorin has a population of 1,800,975 as recorded in the National Population Census.

3.4 Sample and Sampling Techniques
The sample size is a sub set or a fraction of the entire target population from which data is collected (Lobiondo and Wood 2006). The sampling procedure that will be for this research work is purposive sampling technique. Taro Yamane model is used to determine the sample size.
n = 	       N

	   1+ N (e)2
n = Sample
N = Population size under study
I = Unit in value (always constant)
e = Estimated standard error margin of 0.05
       n =   88,975
   	1+88,975 (0.05)2
  =	88,975
      1+88,975 (0.0025)
=	88,975
          1 + 222.44
=	88,975
            223.44
n = 399.99
Therefore, n = 400

3.5 Research Instrument
In this research, the data collection instrument to be used is questionnaire. The questionnaire will be simple, structured and will be self-administered.  
3.6 Validity of the Instruments
Instruments validity refers to the degree to which as test measures what it purports to measure (Borg and Gall, 1989 cited in Asemah, Gujbawu, Ekhareafo and Okpanachi, 2012). For this study, validity will be achieve by ensuring that the instrument is assessed by the project supervisor.

3.7 Reliability of the Instruments
A study is reliable when repeated measurement of the same material results in similar decisions or conclusion; (Wimmer and Dominick, 2003). A pilot study will be used in ascertaining the reliability of the instrument. The questionnaires will be administered and re-administered and analyzed.
3.8 Method of Data Collection
The copies of questionnaire will be distributed to the respondents directly by the researchers so that large amount can be retrieved. 
3.9 Method of Data Analysis
The method to be used in the presentation/analysis and interpretation of data to be collected is statistical method. It will involve the use of frequency tables and percentage for the presentation of the data.

CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
 4.1 Introduction 	
	This chapter presents the analysis of the data gathered using frequency tables and percentages. 100 hundred (100) copies of questionnaires were administered to the respondents and all were returned representing 100% rate. 
Table 1: Sex Distribution of Respondents.
Sex 	No. of Respondents	Percentage (%)	
Male	61	61%	
Female 	39	39%	
Total	100	100%	
Source: Field Survey, 2025
Table 1 shows that 61 respondents (61%) were male while 39 respondents (39%) were female. 
Table 2: Age Distribution of Respondents 
Age Bracket	No. of Respondents	Percentage (%)	
17-23yrs	132	33%	
24-29yrs	120	30%	
30-35yrs	88	22%	
36 yrs and above	60	30%	
Total	400	100%	
Source: Field Survey, 2025

Table 2 shows that 132 respondents (33%) were between the ages of 17-23 years, 120 respondents (30%) were between the ages of 24-29 years,  88 respondents (22%) were 30-35 years while 60 respondents (30%) were 36 years and above.
Table 3: Marital Status of Respondents 
Academic Qualification 	No. of Respondents	Percentage (%)	
Single 	134	33.4%	
Married	181	45.3%	
Divorced/Separated/Widowed	85	21.3%	
Total	400	100%	
Source: Field Survey, 2025
	As shown in the table 3, 134 respondents (33.4%) were single, 181 respondents (45.3%) were married while 85 respondents (21.3%) were Divorced/Separated/Widowed.
Table 4: Occupation of Respondents
Response	No of Respondents	Percentages 	
Trader 	82	20.5%	
Civil Servant
Private employee
Self-employed	110
83
74	27.5%
20.8%
18.5%	
Student	51	12.8%	
Total 	400	100%	
Source: Field Survey, 2025
	In table 4, 60 respondents (30%) said excellent, 182 respondents (45.5%) said good, 92 respondents (23%) said fair while 6 respondents (1.5%) said poor.

Table 5: Do you listen to Okin Fm?
Responses 	No. of Respondents	Percentage (%)	
Yes	256	89%	
No	44	11%	
Total	400	100%	
Source: Field Survey, 2025
	Table 5 shows 256 respondents (89%) listen to Okin Fm while 44 respondents (11%) did not listen to Okin Fm.
 Table 6: How often do you listen to the station? 
Responses 	No. of Respondents	Percentage (%)	
Always	260	65%	
Occasionally
Once in a while	102
48	25.5%
12%	
Total	400	100%	
Source: Field Survey, 2025
	Table 6 shows that 260 respondents (65%) always listen to the station, 102 respondents (25.5%) occasionally listen to the station while 48 respondents (12%) listen to the station once in a while.
 Table 7: Is Okin Fm contributing to the socio-economic development of the people of Offa?
Response	No of Respondents	Percentages 	
Yes	348	87%	
No	52	13%	
Total	400	100%	
Source: Field Survey, 2025
	In table 7, 348 respondents (87%) said Okin Fm is contributing to the socio-economic development of the people of Offa while 52 respondents (13%) said Okin Fm is not contributing to the socio-economic development of the people of Offa.
 Table 8: How is Okin Fm contributing to the economic development of the people of Offa? 
Response	No of Respondents	Percentages 	
Excellent 	120	30%	
Good
Fair
Poor	182
92
6	45.5%
23%
1.5%	
Total 	400	100%	
Source: Field Survey, 2025
	In table 8, 60 respondents (30%) said excellent, 182 respondents (45.5%) said good, 92 respondents (23%) said fair while 6 respondents (1.5%) said poor.

Table 9: What is the degree of influence the self-reliant campaign on Okin Fm has on you? 
Response	No of Respondents	Percentages 	
High	118	29.5%	
Moderate
Low	168
114	42%
28.5%	
Total 	400	100%	
Source: Field Survey, 2025
	In table 9, 118 respondents (29.5%) said high, 168 respondents (42%) said moderate while 114 respondents (28.5%) said low. 
Table 10: Are there programmes on Okin Fm that help reduce poverty among its listeners?
Response	No of Respondents	Percentages 	
Yes	276	69%	
No	124	31%	
Total	400	100%	
Source: Field Survey, 2025
	In table 10, 276 respondents (69%) said there are programmes on Okin Fm that help reduce poverty among its listeners while 124 respondents (31%) there are no programmes on Okin Fm that help reduce poverty among its listeners.
Table 11: How many of such prorammes have you listened to? 
Response 	No. of Respondents	Percentage (%)	
One	198	49.5%	
Two	84	21%	
Three 	68	17%	
More than three	50	12.5%	
Total	400	100%	
	Source: Field Survey, 2025
From table 11, 198 respondents (49.5%) listened to one of the progreammes, 84 respondents (21%) listened to two of the progreammes, 68 respondents (17%) listened to three of the progreammes while 50 respondents (12.5%) listened to more than three of the progreammes.

Table 12: How can you describe the effectiveness of Okin Fm in mobilizing people for self-reliant scheme?
Response	No. of Respondents	Percentage (%)	
Very effective	288	72%	
Effective	64	16%	
 Not effective	48	12%	
Total	400	100%	
	Source: Field Survey, 2025
In table 12, 288 respondents (72%) described it as very effective, 64 respondents (16%) described it as effective while 48 respondents (12%) described it as not effective. 
Table 13: What is your degree of participation in self-reliant initiatives advocated on Okin Fm? 
Response	No. of Respondents	Percentage (%)	
High	123	30.8%	
Moderate	246	61.5%	
Low	31	7.75%	
Total	400	100%	
Source: Field Survey, 2025
In table 13, 123 respondents (30.8%) said high, 246 respondents (61.5%) said moderate while 31 respondents (7.75%) said low.

Table 14: What are the self-reliant initiatives advocated by Okin Fm? 
Responses 	No. of Respondents	Percentage (%)	
Entrepreneurship	100	25%	
Farming
Trading	98
156	24.5%
39%	
Others	46	11.5%	
Total	400	100%	

Source: Field Survey, 2025
	A table 14 shows that 100 respondents (25%) said entrepreneurship, 98 respondents (24.5%) said farming, 156 respondents (39%) said trading while 46 respondents (11.5%) said buying and selling. 
Table 15: Do you agree that poverty can be reduced in Offa community if the people inculcate the strategies to be self-reliant advocated by Okin Fm? 
Response	No. of Respondents	Percentage (%)	
Strongly agree	108	27%	
Agree	132	33%	
Strongly disagree	-	-	
Disagree	94	23.5%	
Neutral	66	16.5%	
Total	400	100%	
Source: Field Survey, 2025
In table 15, 108 respondents (27%) strongly agreed that poverty can be reduced in Offa community if the people inculcate the strategies to be self-reliant advocated by Okin Fm, 132 respondents (33%) agreed that 132 respondents (33%) agreed poverty can be reduced in Offa community if the people inculcate the strategies to be self-reliant advocated by Okin Fm, 94 respondents (23.5%) disagreed that poverty can be reduced in Offa community if the people inculcate the strategies to be self-reliant advocated by Okin Fm while 66 respondents (16.5%) were neutral.
* Which of the self-reliance strategies advocated by Okin Fm can you recall?  
	43% of the respondents said they could remember they that some programmes on the radio advocated going into farming as a sure way of being self-reliant. With the way people are looking for white collar jobs and abandoning farming, it has made food to be expensive as such farmers are now making more money. 39% said they remember some programmes on Okin Fm said people should go into entrepreneurship by thinking of providing products or services that can solve problems of human needs. 18% of the respondents said they could not recall.   
* What challenge do you have in implementing the strategy? 
	69% of the respondents said they could not access the required capital to start-up the business idea they got from Okin Fm. They claim they could not meet the requirement of banks to obtain loan. 23% of the respondents said they could not get land for farming because most of their families’ land have been sold or occupied with residential buildings. 8% o of the respondents said they had no challenges implementing the strategies.	
4.3 Discussion of Findings  
The data analyzed reveal that majority of the respondents (89%) listen to Okin Fm. Although 65% of the respondents listen to the radio station always while 25.5% of the respondents said they listen occasionally. Among those who listened to the programme, majority of the respondents (87%) said Okin Fm is contributing to the socio-economic development of the people of Offa. 42% said the degree of influence the self-reliant campaign on Okin Fm is moderate while 29.5% of the respondents said it is high.
	In finding out whether there are programmes on Okin Fm that help to reduce poverty, 69% of the respondents said there are programmes. This means that they have listened to some programmes that have made them to be economically viable. While 49.5% of the respondents said they have listened to one of such programmes, 21% of the respondents said they have listened to two of such programmes. 72% of the respondents described the programmes as very effective in mobilizing people for self-reliant scheme.
	On the degree of participation in self-reliant initiatives advocated on Okin Fm, 30.8% of the respondents said their degree of participation is high while 61.5% said their degree of participation is low. Some of the self-reliant initiatives advocated by Okin Fm are trading (39%), entrepreneurship (25%), farming (24.5%). Majority of the respondents agreed that poverty can be reduced in Offa community if the people inculcate the strategies to be self-reliant advocated by Okin Fm.

CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary
This study examined the role of community radio in poverty reduction. It focuses on the contribution of Okin Fm in the economic development of its audience. Residents of Offa Local Government were the population of the study. In conducting this study, three objectives were set which led to the adoption of survey research method as research design. Questionnaire was the instrument used in gathering data. The analysis of the data gathered reveals the following:
i.	Majority of the respondents said Okin Fm is contributing to the socio-economic development of the people of Offa.
ii.	Majority of the respondents have listened to some programmes on Okin Fm that can make them to be self-reliant.
iii.	Majority of the respondents rated Okin Fm as very effective in the mobilization of the audience for self-reliance.
iv.	Majority of the respondents are facing the challenges of finance and accessibility to land in trying to implement self-reliant strategies advocated by Okin FM.
5.2 Conclusion 
	From the base of this study, it can be concluded that Okin Fm as a community radio station has been contributing to the economic development of its audience. The people of Offa community are benefiting from some of the self-reliant strategies advocated on the stations. Most of the respondents believed by adhering to the strategies, poverty would drastically reduce in their community.
	However, the people still have some challenges they encounter among which is finance. Some of them could not have access to fund because they could not meet up with bank requirement to obtain loan. Others had no land to go into farming since their families’ land have been sold or occupied by residential buildings.  
5.3 Recommendations
	This study recommends the following:
i.	The National Broadcasting Commission should grant licenses for the establishment and operation of more community media in Nigeria.
ii.	Government and developmental agencies must continue to recognize the place of community radio in national development by encouraging its use to reach out to the populace especially people in rural areas for self-reliant initiatives. 
iii.	Community media should focus on contributing to economic development of their immediate environment by emphasizing on self-reliant initiatives.  

5.4 Limitation of the Study
	The researcher had the challenge of convincing the residents to fill the questionnaire. He also had financial challenges in the course of conducting this study. 
5.5 Suggestion for further Studies
	Further studies can be conducted on the effectiveness of indigenous language in mobilizing rural dwellers for community development. 

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QUESTIONNAIRE
                                                                      Department of Mass Communication
                                                                      Kwara State Polytechnic
                                                                      Ilorin
                                                                      Kwara state
                                                                      6th January, 2025

Dear Respondent,
REQUEST FOR COMPLETION OF QUESTIONNAIRE
I am a Final year student of the above named department. I am conducting a research on “The Role of Community Radio in Poverty Reduction”.
The research is purely an academic study in fulfillment of the award of a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication.
I shall be grateful if you can complete this questionnaire for me. Your anonymity is guaranteed as the information will be treated in strict confidence.
Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.

Kindly provide the right responses by ticking (√)
SECTION A

a.	Sex          Male (  )        Female (   )
b.	Age         (   ) 17-23          (  ) 24-29        (   )30-35years         (  )36 and above.
c.	Marital status:       Single (  )       Married (   )   Divorced/Separated/Widowed (   ) 
d.	Occupation: Trader (  ) Civil Servant (  ) Private employee (  ) Self-employed (  ) Student (  )
SECTION A
1.	Do you listen to Okin Fm? Yes (  ) No (  )
2.	How often do you listen to the station? Always (  ) Occasionally (  ) Once in a while (  )
3.	Is Okin Fm contributing to the socio-economic development of the people of Offa? Yes (  )  No (  )
4.	How is Okin Fm contributing to the economic development of the people of Offa? Excellent (  ) Good (  ) Fair (  ) Poor (  )
5.	What is the degree of influence the self-reliant campaign on Okin Fm has on you? High (  ) Moderate (  ) Low (   )
6.	Are there programmes on Okin Fm that help reduce poverty among its listeners? Yes (  ) No (  )
7.	How many of such prorammes have you listened to? One (  ) Two (  ) Three (  ) More than three (  )
8.	How can you describe the effectiveness of Okin Fm in mobilizing people for self-reliant scheme? Very effective (  ) Effective (  ) Not effective (  )
9.	What is your degree of participation in self-reliant initiatives advocated on Okin Fm? High (  ) Moderate (  ) Low (   )
10.	What are the self-reliant initiatives advocated by Okin Fm? Entrepreneurship (  ) Farming (  ) Trading (  ) Others (specify)...................................
11.	Do you agree that poverty can be reduced in Offa community if the people inculcate the strategies to be self-reliant advocated by Okin Fm? Strongly agree ( ) Agree (  ) Strongly disagree (  ) Disagree (  ) Neutral (  )
12.	Which of the self-reliance strategies advocated by Okin Fm can you recall?  …………………………………………
13.	What challenge do you have in implementing the strategy? ……………………………………..