ETHNO-RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS IN THE NORTHERN STATES OF NIGERIA: THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA (1987-2012)
ETHNO-RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS IN THE NORTHERN STATES OF NIGERIA: THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA (1987-2012)
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Date
2015-09
Authors
ACHI, Vincent Emmanuel
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Abstract
The study is an investigation into “Ethno-Religious Conflicts in the Northern States of
Nigeria: The Role of the Media (1987-2012)”. Worrying enough is that, the ethnoreligious
conflicts are persistent and the attempt here is to examine what role the media is
playing. The main objective of the study is to find out the role of the media in ethnoreligious
conflicts in the northern states of Nigeria. In doing so, five specific objectives
were stated. They seek information on the role of the media in aggravating ethnoreligious
conflicts, factors that influence the media to aggravate ethno-religious conflicts,
effects of such conflicts, impact of media in curbing ethno-religious conflicts and the role
of the media in building peace. In the study a sample survey design was used. A set of
questionnaire and interview techniques were employed to collect research data. The
researcher himself, with the help of nine research assistants conducted the study. A total
number of 1,620 copies of the questionnaire were administered to ethno-religious groups
in the three states that represented the nineteen northern states of Nigeria for the study.
One thousand two hundred and four (1,204) copies of the questionnaire were returned.
The data collected with the questionnaire was presented and analyzed using tables and
the interview served as complementary data in the discussion. In the analysis of the data;
age, religion, position in religion and status in the society were the demographic variables
analyzed with frequencies and percentages. Also, the items raised in the study to answer
the five research questions were analyzed with frequencies and percentages. The five
hypotheses were tested with means, standard deviations, two-tailed t-test, and analysis of
variance. The findings of the study were quite revealing. In the test of hypotheses one,
three and five, the groups involved differed in opinion on the role of the media in aggravating ethno-religious conflicts, the effects of such conflicts and the role of the
media in peace-building. Hypotheses two and four showed no significant difference in
opinion on the influences that make the role of the media to aggravate ethno-religious
conflicts as well as the impact of the media in curbing them in the northern states of
Nigeria. Conclusions from the study indicate that the media is a double-edged sword that
can aggravate conflicts when used wrongly and can curb them and build peace when
channeled to that course. Second, the effects of the conflicts aggravated by the role of the
media are biting in different communities of the northern states of Nigeria. Finally, even
though capable of building peace in the nation, the media has not done much in respect of
the ethno-religious conflicts in the northern states of Nigeria. The recommendations from
the study suggest educational campaign on peace, dialogue, truth and reconciliation
commission, incentives to media houses or journalists that are peace-oriented in their
reportage, license for practicing journalists and courses on peace in the institutions of
learning. These require the joint effort of traditional/religious leaders, media parishioners
and the government.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF
POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA - NIGERIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE AWARD OF
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES
DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE EDUCATION
FACULTY OF EDUCATION
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA - NIGERIA
Keywords
ETHNO-RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS,, NORTHERN STATES,, NIGERIA, ROLE,, MEDIA,, (1987-2012),