Abstract

The media is a critical stakeholder in education including political education through awareness creation. Radio and other traditional media form the main crux of traditional and community broadcasting under which are community radio, TV, and newspaper. These mediums provide community/grassroots level coverage serving the community in a relatable manner. The use of local dialect and discussion programmes to broadcast programmes to their understanding and listening pleasure are some of the means through which community radio broadcasting in Nigeria reach the people. This study is conceptual and takes on a review of existing literature to make a strong case for community radio as a vital tool for grassroots political awareness creation in Nigeria. Consequently, the researchers captured the essence of community radio in creating political awareness at the grassroots. The researchers revealed that the essence of community radio is to help in the mobilisation of citizens to participate in political, social and several other programmes. The study also showed the influence of media in political awareness as seen in the case of community radio, wherein the use of local language to encourage participation was adopted. Finally, the researchers highlighted that community radio bridges information gap, promotes civic education, encourages political participation of citizens at the grassroots level, and also fosters trust as well as counter misinformation in the most basic and relatable way. The researchers concluded that community radio remains a veritable tool for political awareness creation at the grassroots level and recommended its continuous support by government and relevant stakeholders in furtherance of the idea of using such platforms to educate and enlighten the citizens.