Discussion for a include 7 successful events at Social Media Week Lagos over the last 5 years
RESEARCH:
Past research projects include ‘Radio for Women’s Development: Examining the Relationship between Access and Impact’ (Case Study). This project was funded by the International Development Research Center (IDRC) and administered by Carleton University, Canada. The findings of this research project were a key resource in setting-up Nigeria’s first women-focused radio station – W FM 91.7.
‘Radio for Women’s Development: Examining the Relationship between Access and Impact’ (Case Study)
This project was funded by the International Development Research Center (IDRC)and administered by Carleton University, Canada.
Research shows that information and communication technology have the potential to improve women’s quality of life, but much of this potential is unfulfilled due to many factors, including prohibitive cost of access and little to no skill, knowledge and motivation to use these tools. Radio, meanwhile, has traditionally been a more accessible tool for women than many other ICTs – especially within an African context – due to cheaper costs, less dependence on electricity and literacy, and the ability to provide information in local languages.
This article, which highlights the findings of the ‘Radio for Women’s Development’ project, explores if the accessibility of radio has led to any tangible socio-economic changes in the lives of three distinct groups of Nigerian women: university and polytechnic students, self-employed business women, and stay-at-home-wives and/or mothers. It also explores the degree and nature of this access by examining how these women are accessing radio content and if their radio listenership and engagement is influenced by the convergence of Internet-based new media with the radio.
Using questionnaires and focus group interviews, the project sought to find out if women’s lives are being impacted as a result of their use and engagement with radio; find out whether and/or how the women are applying the radio content into their daily lives; and find out whether and/or how Nigerian women are accessing and engaging with radio – particularly using other technologies like mobile phones and the Internet.
Through this project, the team aimed to influence the programming of Nigerian radio stations, particularly those focused on women’s issues, by providing more accurate information about what types of content women seek and if convergence with ICT can enable the stations better engage with their women listeners.
DISCOURSE:
Discussion fora include 6 successful events at Social Media Week Lagos over the last 4 years:
- A masterclass at Social Media Week 2018 on DIY Fundraising: All You Need to Know About Online Fundraising (link to http://sched.co/DCz1)
- A panel discussion at Social Media Week Lagos 2017 on Parenting in an Era of Technology
- One panel discussion and one debate at Social Media Week Lagos 2016 on The Connected Business Woman and Social Media in Schools
- Two discussion events at Social Media Week Lagos 2015 on Smart Mobile Divas and Where Are the Women?
- One panel discussion at Social Media Week Lagos 2014 on Doing Business the Social Way.
All events had the venues filled to capacity with very energised and excited audiences; and we all enjoyed the interesting and enlightening discussions among the speakers. The audiences had the opportunity to get engaged by sharing comments and questions. (See Some Photos: http://bit.ly/2hKX2ik and http://bit.ly/1xyxaH3 )