CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Women constitute a
critical segment of the Nigerian population. They are active in the agriculture
and economic sectors of the society and have also contributed immensely to the
decolonization and general development of this great country.
Women
struggles, date back to the 19th century when women like Amina
zaria, madam tinubu of lagos , Olufomilayo ramson kuti of Abeokuta, maggaret
ekipo and haji gaban Swabia among others, fought to give women the pride of
place in Nigerian history.
After the struggle for
independence was over and Nigeria became an independent sovereign nation women
continued to contribute their quota in the post-independence match towards
development and progress.
In
the area of politics, the above named amongst others contributed immensely to
the mobilization and sensitization of women with a view to ensuring that women
are involved in the politics of the country.
At
present, the issues pertaining to women have continued to draw a global
attention with the result that the problems that impede their progress are
currently being addressed concretely. Consequently, the quest for women
empowerment has heightened the political consciousness of women. Some of them
occupy strategic position in government where they have continued to prove
their mettle. For instance Ruqoyat
Gbemisola Saraki, Dora Akuyili, oby Ezekwesili of due process fame, Ndi
Okereke Onyilike,
Ngozi
Okunji Iweala and Faridat Waziri Among others have undoubtedly distinguished
themselves in their official assignment.
The
role of women in development has for long being taken for granted and relegated
to the background. For a long time, politics in Nigeria has been played with
the usual patronizing attitude which usually does not go far in enlighten
women. Some of the factors employed are social and cultural practices women
hitherto have been mis-interpreted to create biases against women. There is
need for women to be properly oriented so that their numerical strength and
voting power can be profitably galvanized and oriented towards empowerment of
other women who will in turn look after the welfare of all other women by
formulating gender sensitive loss to promote women cause.
Radio
plays a major role in mobilization women for politics in Nigeria for majority
of women groups in Nigeria, improving the lots of Nigerian women is a prime
target.
The
experience of the management of women is all facts of life is feasible to
cultural practice of gender relations within the Nigeria society these practice
have become acceptability of life and are not to be questioned.
The
radio, because it is cheap have become affordably easy access and have become a
base means of mobilizing Nigerian women for politics.
One
thing that is glaring today is that some of the radio stations in Nigeria is
the presence of Nigerian women has newsmaker. The women groups in Nigeria have
the greatest task of carrying out enlightment campaign over the radio to
educated Nigerian women as their right and what constitutes violation of such
right, some of these women empowerment and participation include
ØWOMEN
IN NIGERIA (WIN)
ØNIGERIA
WOMENS RIGHT WATCH
ØCIVIL
RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION CENTRE (CIBDDDOC).
ØWOMEN’S
CONSORTIUM OF NIGERIA (WOCON).
ØNAWOS
The list is not
exhaustive.
The
zonal workshop on women in governance and decision making network and working
as a group was covered by the Imo state radio and radio Nigeria in Imo state.
The zonal network groups are following capacity building framing activities
designed to provide and contribute to the broader goal of empowering and
advocating for the full participation of women and enlist ions potential women
leader in governance and decision making. This interactive platform has been
created in many parts of Nigeria expectation from the south eastern state of
Nigeria and in particular from Imo state.
At the zonal networking workshop that was
held in Imo state, women were encouraged to take active parts in their unions
to organize meeting with their leadership positive. Participants were also
encouraged to organize awareness and skill acquisition programmers to enable
them to contest and hold political offices
Meanwhile,
many radio station scattered all over Nigeria are coming up to address the
culture of silence that has contributed to the absence of women in politics in
Nigeria.
In
the area of information pertain to women in politics, our local Radio station
are also coming up with beneficial information‘s in form of revamping the
sector into a dynamic tools for facilitating effective women participation in
politics.
What
is really the meaning of politics? Various scholars have different definition
of politics some have defined it as a game of wits, all that begins and ends
with government. Other say politics is essentially the art and science of
government. That is, the study of the control, distribution and use of power
over human activities in the society.
The
word politics is derived from the Greek word polis, which means
‘’City
State”. Winter and bellows (1968) pointed out that Aristotle (384322BC) In his
treatise on human associations stated that the most sovereign inclusive
association is the polis which presupposes the establishment of government
law-making, enforcement and eliciting
obedience from the members of the society. Aristotle observed that man is by
nature a political animal. This means that politics permeates all human
activities. It manifests in social, economic and cultural intersections among
individuals and groups and transcends international frontiers.
The
obvious associated with the concept and practice of politics influenced the
emergence of the Laswellian theory of politics, which states that politics is
who gets what and how (Laswellien 1958).
The
Nairobi world conference to review and appraise the achievement of the UN
Decade for women in 1985, and the Beijing fourth world conference on women in
1995, both had top on their Agenda issues concerning women and the media
(Radio). These in conferences brought to the fore the importance of the
media(Radio) in the quest for gender equity in development conference in spite
these international conferences and policies aimed at gender friendliness women’s participation in Nigeria politics is
undermined by the way the media (Radio in particular) represent politics as an
exclusively male domain.
It
is here posited that Radio could significantly influence the acceleration and
acceptability of woman in politics.
1.2 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
It
is not a hidden fact that women are underrepresented in the field of politics.
This may be because of the basic assumption that ‘’a women’s place is in the
kitchen’’ in other words her home duties and family responsibilities should be
her sole priority, thereby underlining her active participation in national
development in general.
Another assumption
militating against female participation is that Female is biologically not
designed for energy exerting and hazardous occupation.
This argument may not
be true because, with the age of automation and revolution in decision making
intellectual ability counts more than physical energy.
The issue of gender
bias too contributes enormously to the low participation of women in politics.
Bewerly (1995),notes that the society
assume that women should be mothers, school teachers, hairdressers,
secretaries, nurses, maids and social workers only. Therefore, they do not need
education not to talk of taking part in decision making. This believe is wrong
as both men and women need and can pursue politics and projects in development,
each in their own unique ways, alongside each other.
The home too is not
left out in contributing to female’s lack of participation in politics. In the
home, husband attributes can directly or indirectly influence the choices their
wives made in either to enter into politics or not.
Many political
parties, reflecting the more general conditions in the rest of society, do not
easily accept or promote many women in their echelons, let alone permits
women’s occupation of important positions within these parties. This issue is
particularly important in view of Abdullah’s (1993) argument that to achieve
women libration, it will be tacked within democratic movements.
Thus, if this issue is
not looked into, women will be illiterates and be backward and left out in
National development and premises.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The
objective of this study is to use radio to mobilize women to participate in politics also to voice out some cultural
values in Nigeria that makes it difficult for women to participate in the
decision making process. There is need for attitudinal change and total
reorientation in this respect.
1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This
researcher wants to understudy the “Role of radio in mobilizing women for
politics in Nigeria”.
In the course of this study, the most
popular and populous local government in Kwara state, ILORIN WEST LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, used as a parameter for an appreciable measure of precision and consciousness, this
research will concentrate on this specific and will not delude into any
irrelevance that will make the work to lose focus.
This
study will be limited to women within the age range of 18 and above. A random
selection of literate people within the age of 25 and above will be selected
from ILOLRIN WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT to fill the questionnaires.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It
is expected that at the end of this study update knowledge of the relevance of
women mobilization through the radio shall be established. Particularly the
study will broaden 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 the 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
at least reserving 30% elective position for women.
Another
important significance of this project 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 without constraint of manipulations (WILLIAMS 2008)
1.6 RESEARCH QUESTION
1.
Does marriage influences women participation in politics?
2.
To what extent does culture affect women participation in politics in Nigeria?
3.
Do radio actually mobilized women enough towards political participation?
4.
Does women participation in politics depend on their exposure to radio?
5.
To what extent does gender inequality or discrimination affects women in
politics in Nigeria?
1.7 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS;
The
following research hypothesis derived logically from the problems posed in the
research questions.
This
is necessary in order to give direction, focus as litmus test of the statement
of claims or prepositions contained in the rein.
H1:
Marriage influence women participation in politics.
Ho:
Marriage does not influence women participation in politics.
H2:
Culture affects women participation in politics in Nigeria.
Ho:
Culture does not affect women participation in politics in Nigeria.
H3:
Radio actually mobilizes women enough towards political participation.
H0:
Radio does not actually mobilize women enough toward political participation.
H4:
Women participation in politics depends on their exposure to radio.
H0:
Women participation in politics does not depend on their exposure to radio.
H5: Gender inequality or gender
discrimination affects women in politics in Nigeria.
Ho:
Gender inequality or gender discrimination does not affect women in politics in
Nigeria.
1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
Like
all human endeavors, the research work was not without some factors that tended
to Jeopardous the smooth completion of the study.
Fore
one, the period of the allowed for this work has short that the researchers did
not have time to carry out the research effectively.
Invariably,
the limitation of the study is being influenced by the proximity of the case study
to the researchers as well as transportation and financial constraints which
makes it to choose a reputable Local government within Ilorin metropolis.
ILORIN WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT based on geographical antiquity to the
researchers.
1.9 DEFINATION OF THE KEY TERMS.
In this study, certain
key words will be explained into conceptual and operational meaning /
definition.
CONCEPTUAL MEANING
Role: – The degree to women
somebody/something is involved in a situation or an activity and the effect
that they have on it.
OPERATIONAL MEANING
Role: – Functions, expectation
associated on a given past or position.
CONCEPTUAL MEANING
Radio it’s a channel through which information
/ programmers are sent out to people.
OPERATIONAL
MEANING
Radio: – This is one of mass media
that use to send message to heterogeneous group of people.
CONCEPTUAL MEANING
Mobilizing to make people ready to
pursue a particular cause.
OPERATIONAL
MEANING
Mobilizing it has to do with
organizing or preparing people for in particular purpose.
CONCEPTUAL
MEANING
Women an adult human
female
OPERATIONAL MEANING
Women womanly having
qualities heed to be appropriate
CONCEPTUAL
MEANING
The activities involved in getting and
using power in public’s life and being able to influence decision that affect a
country or a society.
OPERATIONAL MEANING
Politics a competition
between political parties to wards who or which party assumes political
leadership.