Problems and Prospects of Community Broadcasting in Nigeria

The liberalization of broadcasting in Nigeria in 1992 provided a good opportunity for rural development by making provision for rural broadcasting in form of community radio. However, over a decade after the liberalization, the dream of community radio remains unrealized. Many factors have been identified as being responsible for this ugly development among them policy shifts and several position papers, guidelines, vested interests and others. This study examines community radio with a view to identifying the prospects of the enterprise especially in the badly marginalized rural areas of the country. It also looks into the problems associated with it and makes recommendations. Key Words: Broadcasting, Community Radio, Rural Development, Rural Broadcasting JCMRJournal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 3, No. 2, October 2011, 95 – 105. ©Delmas Communications Ltd. About the authors *Anthony Chinedu Ekwueme is a Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. **Dr. Church Akpan is a Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.