Analysis of Stakeholders’ Perception of the Role of Development Communication: Disturbing Tales from the Niger Delta

Abstract

Extant literature and critical observation indicate that the Niger Delta has grappled with developmental challenges for decades. The underdevelopment has often been referred to as a paradox in relation to the abundant natural resources domiciled in the region. This research is, therefore, initiated to explore the role communication plays in the development of the Niger Delta and most importantly, analyse the way the stakeholders perceive development communication. Leveraging a qualitative, exploratory and phenomenological approach and working with 53 participants drawn from 6 different communities in the Niger Delta, this study utilised focus group discussions and digital ethnography to extract answers to the research questions. Findings reveal a high level of dissonance between the people and the government, attributed to the style and forms of communication, and the apparent lack of participation of the people in developmental plans. The study argues that these result in a negative perception of communication from the government and other developmental agencies while affirming positively the centrality of the participatory model of development communication in the development of the region.

Knowledge management and the revamping of economic development opportunities in the Niger Delta

“…To ebb the tide of underdevelopment and redirect the region to the path of growth and prosperity, the federal government of Nigeria instituted diverse developmental programmes focused on stimulating and facilitating the development of the region. These initiatives include the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB), the Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority (NDRBDA), the Presidential Task Force, the Presidential Implementation Committee, the Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission (OMPADEC), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ministry of Niger Delta and, most recently, the Federal Government Amnesty Programme (Alakwe & Okpara, 2022). Surprisingly, these initiatives failed to stimulate the desired development as the region still ranks extremely low in almost all development indices: infant mortality, life expectancy, infrastructure, malnutrition, crime, militancy and youth restiveness (Alakwe & Okpara, 2022).…”

“…These initiatives include the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB), the Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority (NDRBDA), the Presidential Task Force, the Presidential Implementation Committee, the Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission (OMPADEC), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ministry of Niger Delta and, most recently, the Federal Government Amnesty Programme (Alakwe & Okpara, 2022). Surprisingly, these initiatives failed to stimulate the desired development as the region still ranks extremely low in almost all development indices: infant mortality, life expectancy, infrastructure, malnutrition, crime, militancy and youth restiveness (Alakwe & Okpara, 2022). The question immediately arises as to why these development initiatives failed, despite the enormous financial and material resources invested in the region's development.…”

“…This study is focused on the Niger Delta region of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As the world's third‐largest wetland in landmass and with a diverse array of flora and fauna and massive oil deposits in commercial quantities, the Niger Delta region occupies a critical position in the socio‐economic activities in Nigeria and influences the power play in global energy politics (Alakwe & Okpara, 2022). The region has a high population density and a rich cultural diversity, which accounts for the rich cultural heritage of the people.…”

“…Surprisingly, these initiatives failed to stimulate the desired development as the region still ranks extremely low in almost all development indices: infant mortality, life expectancy, infrastructure, malnutrition, crime, militancy and youth restiveness (Alakwe & Okpara, 2022). The question immediately arises as to why these development initiatives failed, despite the enormous financial and material resources invested in the region's development.…”

“…The question immediately arises as to why these development initiatives failed, despite the enormous financial and material resources invested in the region's development. While extant literature accuses corruption (Babalola, 2014), internal governance (Agbor, 2013), negative externalities of the oil industry (Ikelegbe, 2011), marginalization in the federal scheme (Ejoor, 2003), insufficient funding (Akpabio & Akpan, 2010; Ikelegbe, 2011), and recently, lack of a participatory mode of development communication (Alakwe & Okpara, 2022), this paper seeks to interrogate the Niger Delta challenges from a knowledge management perspective. Because little is known about why the activities of these donor agencies do not yield commensurate developmental results, this study investigates the activities of PIND in the Niger Delta Region and, thus, seeks to interrogate the veracity of knowledge management as a component of PIND's developmental initiatives towards the development of the Niger Delta (Figure 1).…”