AKSU Journal of Communication Research (AJCR)

INFLUENCE OF RADIO PROGRAMMES ON THE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF AKWA IBOM STATE

Author:  GODSWILL AWAJIGAK WALTER, BASSEY ESUK BASSEY, PhD & DANIEL C. AKARIKA, PhD

Abstract
This study examined the influence of radio programmes on the political development of AkwaIbom State. The specific objectives were: to ascertain the extent of exposure of AkwaIbom citizens to radio programmes on Inspiration 105.9 FM and TangSio 102.7 FM; and to find out if radio programmes have influenced government policies and strengthen government responsiveness to socio-political problems in AkwaIbom State. The study adopted the survey research design where 390 respondents were drawn as sample size from the population of 7,200,000 being the 2023 projected population of AkwaIbom State from the 2006 National Population Commission figure. Findings from the study revealed among other things that majority of the citizens of AkwaIbom State were exposed to radio programmes on Inspiration 105.9 FM and TangSio 102.7 FM; and that radio programmes have influenced government policies and strengthen government responsiveness to socio-political problems in AkwaIbom State. The study then concluded that there is a direct correlation between citizens’ exposure to radio programmes and citizens’ participation in the politics in AkwaIbom State, and that there is a significant relationship between radio programmes and government responsiveness to socio-political problems in AkwaIbom State. It recommended therefore that development programmes should be given priority on the radio to encourage audience members to participate in order to make their voices heard and the political representatives should take advantage that radio provides to enlighten the citizens on the government’s plans and opportunities they can avail themselves of, in order to benefit from government policies and programmes.