Assessing the Impacts of Participatory Communication in Promoting Girl-Child Education in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja

This study examines the impact of participatory communication inpromoting girl-child education in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),Abuja, Nigeria. The research is conducted in two phases, integratingboth qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide a comprehensiveunderstanding of how participatory communication strategies influenceaccess, retention, and academic success among girls in FCT. The first phasefocuses on gathering qualitative insights through focus group discussions(FGDs) and in-depth interviews with educators, parents, policymakers, andstudents, capturing lived experiences and perceptions on communicationdriveneducational advocacy. The second phase employs a quantitativesurvey to assess the statistical significance of participatory communicationinitiatives on girl-child education, analysing variables such as enrollmentrates, classroom participation, and community involvement. Findingsindicate that community-driven dialogue, interactive media programmes,and inclusive decision-making significantly enhance awareness and reducesocio-cultural barriers that hinder female education. The study concludesthat participatory communication serves as a crucial tool in fosteringeducational inclusivity, recommending policy frameworks that integrategrassroots communication strategies to enhance girl-child education in FCTAbuja. These findings contribute to existing literature by emphasising the role of communication in addressing educational disparities and advocating for sustainable interventions to bridge the gender gap in education.