GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

The study sought to investigate the critical analysis of the roles of rural broadcasting in the economic development of the grassroots in Nigeria. Rural broadcasting connotes the dissemination and transmission of social development programmes to the rural people so as to affect their behavior positively. Rural radio is a very essential communication tool for achieving development goals, especially in developing countries. Rural broadcasting contributes to the development of rural women by educating them about banking, child health, and government policies, among other issues. Rural broadcasting is a vehicle for rural development. The study concluded that rural broadcasting is the most suitable for the current grass roots set-up, and hence it is a veritable tool for the promotion of popular communication and the creation of opportunities for programme participation by the ruralities. Considering the fact that Nigeria is a nation of more than 200 million people, divided into more than 250 ethnic groups, and spread across the three major religions of Christianity, Islam, and the traditional, the need for community broadcasting can never be overemphasized. One of the recommendations made was that the Nigerian government, as a matter of expediency, should design a true national communication policy founded on a national ideology or philosophy, which will facilitate the establishment of the rural broadcast stations as well as create a platform for the sustainability of the programme.