Gender Mainstreaming in Nigerian Higher Education: The Place of Communications Media and Advocacy

Abstract The objective of this paper is to explore the dimensions of gender disparities in Nigerian higher education. Its major purpose is to dilate on the challenges and prospects of gender mainstreaming in Nigerian higher education. The question that this article seeks to answer is: what roles can the communications media, and advocacies play in mainstreaming gender in Nigerian higher education? Hinging the discourse on hegemonic masculinity theory and the agenda setting theory, the paper observes that Nigerian tertiary institutions are only beginning to key into the gender mainstreaming initiative. It also observes that taking communication into the family, schools, religious centres, and civil society groups may help them become gender-friendly and in turn allow them to heighten awareness and deepen knowledge of gender issues in society. The conclusion is that since the mass media operate in a gender-biased milieu, they need to be gender-mainstreamed before they can become effective advocates or be used as veritable means of advocacy for gender mainstreaming in Nigerian higher education. Key Words: Gender Mainstreaming Communication, Mass Media, Advocacy JCMRJournal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 2, No. 2, October 2010, 77 – 89 . About the authors *Herbert E. Batta, Ph.D, is a lecturer in the Department of Communication Arts, University of Uyo, Nigeria. **Nicholas S. Iwokwagh, Ph.D, is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria. Full Article Words: 6,718 Pages: 13 To access full article, click on download. Article Citation Batta, H. E. & Iwokwagh, N. S. (2010): Gender mainstreaming in Nigerian higher education: The place of communications media and advocacy. Journal of Communication and Media Research 2(2): 77 – 89.