Abstract In sub-Saharan Africa poor rural women embody the harsh intersection of economic exclusion, gender inequality, and spatial marginalization, yet interventions often overlook their realities and the informal actors that support them, such as their community radio stations. This study addressed these gaps by foregrounding community radio as an unsung hero of women’s economic empowerment in southwest Nigeria. A mixed-methods design was adopted, employing surveys of literate listeners (n=404), focus group discussions with non-literate women (n=51), key informant interviews with programme producers (n=8), and systematic analysis of 16 programme editions across four community radio stations. Sampling combined multi-stage, random, and purposive techniques to ensure rigor, while instruments included questionnaires, FGD guides, interview schedules, and coding sheets. Findings revealed two broad approaches: broadcasting empowerment issues through diverse formats and undertaking practical interventions beyond the studio. The programmes functioned as “classrooms on air,” teaching financial accounting, negotiation, and networking skills, motivating financial independence, and warning against scams. Stations also organised skills workshops, fundraising, and direct assistance to vulnerable women. Adoption rates were high, with 71% of respondents reporting regular or occasional application of empowerment messages. The study concludes that community radio, often overlooked, is a quiet yet transformative actor, inspiring and activating economic empowerment among poor rural women. Key Words: Community Radio, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Rural Poverty, Southwest Nigeria About the Authors *Oluwabusolami Oluwajulugbe is a doctoral student in the Department of Mass Communication, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State Nigeria. Her research interests include communication and women empowerment, communication and youth empowerment and development communication in general. **Bayo Oloyede, Ph.D., is a professor of Journalism and Mass Communication at Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria. He specialises in Print Journalism. His research interests include Development Communication, the Press under Military Rule, Press Law and Media Ethics. ***Bernice Sanusi, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Mass Communication, Redeemer’s University, Osun State. Her research focus is Broadcasting and Media Studies. She has also published articles on development communication and health behavioural change communication. ****Moyosore Alade, Ph.D., is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria. She teaches across the areas of journalism and media studies. Her research interests span Journalism Studies, Media and Conflict Studies, Health Communication and Digital Culture. JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 18, No. 1, April 2026, pp. 195-208. © Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON). Article Citation Oluwajulugbe, O., Oloyede, B., Sanusi, B., & Alade, M. (2026). Unsung heroes of women’s economic empowerment: The case of community radio in southwest Nigeria. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 18 (1): 195-208. Full Article Words: 8,187 Pages: 14 To access full article, click on download.
Oluwajulugbe et al. (Thu,) studied this question.