INFORMATION DISSEMINATION STRATEGIES FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to investigate information dissemination strategies for rural development in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The Study employed a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study is 4,514 rural dwellers which were used for the study. The random sampling technique was used for the sample size. Five research questions guided the study. Fifty items questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. The data were analysed by use of simple percentages and mean. The results of the data analysed revealed that rural dwellers need information in all aspects of human endeavour. Information dissemination channels available are radio, extension workers, personal contacts, immediate community, and village square meetings. The study revealed that the effective strategies are the radio, extension workers, television, GSM, films, immediate community and village square meetings. Impediments to effective information dissemination include poor funding, illiteracy, high cost / poverty and inadequate tools. Strategies that can be used for the improvement of information services in the rural communities the study revealed are: improve funding of information services, improved access to information services, orientation, adequate provision of information resources, proper marketing of information services, provision of multimedia resources and improvement in quality of education. Based on the findings, it was recommended that government should provide: improved information service, improved access to information services, orientation, provision of information resources, proper marketing of information services, provision of multimedia resources and improve quality of education in the rural communities for development to take place.