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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 8, No. 9

Publication Date: September 25, 2021

DOI:10.14738/assrj.89.10853. Nkwam-Uwaoma, A., Ojiakor-Umenze, I., & Williams, E. E. (2021). Select Radio Programmes and Fight Against Child Violence in

Owerri Metropolis, Imo State, Nigeria. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(9). 414-427.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

Select Radio Programmes and Fight Against Child Violence in

Owerri Metropolis, Imo State, Nigeria

Nkwam-Uwaoma, Adeline, PhD

Department of Mass Communication, Imo State University, Owerri

Ojiakor-Umenze, Ifeoma, PhD

Department of Mass Communication, Imo State University, Owerri

Etumnu Emeka Williams

Department of Mass Communication, Imo State University, Owerri

ABSTRACT

The issue of child violence has continued to plague Nigerian society and if care is

not taken, the future of Nigerian society will be in serious jeopardy. To this end, this

study investigated radio programmes and the fight against child violence in Imo

State. The agenda setting theory served as the theoretical foundation of the study.

The survey research method was used with a population of 555,500 of Owerri

metropolis residents. The Survey Monkey online sample size calculator was used to

arrive at 384 as the sample size. The Multistage sampling technique was adopted

with a questionnaire as the instrument of data collection. The percentage method

was used for data analysis. Findings revealed that 52% of the respondents

confirmed that they were exposed to radio programmes on the issue of child

violence at a moderate level. Also, at an average of 53% of respondents are of the

view that the programmes have enhanced their knowledge of the issues of child

violence at a moderate level. Further findings showed that an average of 53% of

respondents confirmed that Because I am Happy on Groove 98.1 FM and the Mega

Kid hour on Megaband 97.3 FM are effective in the fight against child violence in Imo

State. It was recommended that radio stations should step up their efforts to raise

awareness of programmes dealing with child violence and other child-related

issues, so that the level of exposure increases significantly and contributes to the

fight against child violence. To improve the knowledge of people about child

violence and other child-related issues. Radio stations should do well by constantly

educating and enlightening people through their programmes designed to treat

issues of child violence and other child-related issues. Radio stations, through their

programmes, should endeavour to sustain their efforts to continue being effective

in the fight against child violence, so that in no distant time, the issue of child

violence and other child-related issues will be reduced drastically in society.

Keywords: Child, Child violence, Radio, Programmes Megaband FM, Groove FM

INTRODUCTION

According to the Good News Bible, (1994, Psalm 127:3), "Children are a gift from the Lord; they

are a real blessing." This scripture passage emphasizes the importance of children to their

parents and, by extension, to society as a whole. Hence, children are a precious gift that needs

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Nkwam-Uwaoma, A., Ojiakor-Umenze, I., & Williams, E. E. (2021). Select Radio Programmes and Fight Against Child Violence in Owerri Metropolis,

Imo State, Nigeria. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(9). 414-427.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.89.10853

to be cherished and cared for. However, but in recent times, the reverse has been the case as

they have become the victims of violence. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund

(2014), a female child dies somewhere in the world every 10 minutes as a result of violence.

UNICEF (2016) statistics reveal that "over nine million children below the age of eighteen in

Nigeria are subjected to sexual violence every year and this fate strikes one out of every four

girls and one out of every ten boys. These children are taught and coerced into sexual practices

against their wishes. Child violence has attracted the attention of the media and society globally.

This problem has become an increasingly alarming scourge given the complex situations of

domestic violence. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the pervasiveness

and impact of violence against children (Dupret, 2012). In view of this, Nwokedi (2016) argues

that child violence and neglect have become a major part of the contemporary world, including

African society and Nigeria in particular.

This is why, according to Ojiakor, Iheanacho, Nkwam-Uwaoma and Dibia (2019), in the wake of

many vices such as child trafficking, violence and poverty that trouble society, the need to

protect the children who are the most vulnerable becomes essential because as the day goes by

the fate of children and children’s rights are becoming even more uncertain. Physical, sexual,

mental and emotional abuse, as well as neglect or deprivation, are all types of violence against

children. Violence can happen anywhere, including at home, school, religious cenres,

relationship, in the community, and online. Similarly, a wide range of perpetrators inflict

violence towards children, including family members, intimate partners, educators,

neighbours, strangers, and other children. Children are not only harmed and humiliated they

are killed as a result of such brutality. Regardless of the type or severity of the crime, all children

have the right to be protected from violence, and all forms of violence can damage children,

diminishing their sense of self-worth, undermining their dignity, and obstructing their progress

(UNICEF, 2017). Violence against children has a negative impact on their lives and the nation's

life-building. Nigerian children are tomorrow's leaders, and the quality of education and social

support provided for them today determines the quality of tomorrow's leaders.

Daily in our society, child abuse and neglect endangers the safety and well-being of children. It

is a shared societal responsibility, not the exclusive responsibility of any single agency or

professional group, to intervene successfully in the lives of these children and their families

(Goldman, Salus, Wolcott & Kennedy, 2003).

The media have a critical role to play in the fight against child violence in the wake of the societal

ills. Hence, the mass media have always been the primary means of disseminating information

to the general public in Nigeria through news and programmes among others. The mass media,

without a doubt, are effective in spreading innovations and mobilizing people towards a certain

goal and in this regard, effective instrument for mobilizing and educating people about the

importance of participating in the implementation of the campaign against child abuse (Anorue,

Obayi & Onyebuchi, 2011).

The mass media, in this context, are referred to as radio and television. The broadcast media

has been instrumental in carrying out various campaign messages against most societal ills,

such as child violence, child neglect, among many others. There is no doubt that the broadcast

media wield significant influence over the public through its numerous programmes (Nwokedi,