THE INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT OF RURAL GBAGYI WOMEN IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The study investigated information environment of rural Gbagyi women in Niger state, Nigeria. The general objective of the study was to access the infromation needs, seeking habits and sources of infromation of rural Gbagyi women in Niger state. Descriptive survey was used for the study. The population of the study comprised of Gbagyi women of Niger east senatorial zone, 250 rural women were sampled from various communities using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected by means of strutured questionnaires and analyzed using frequency count and simple percentage. Findings show that majority of the respondents need information to improve their agricultural activities, and on health issues, child care, religious and political activities. Further revelations show that a good number of the respondents relied on their friends, neighbours, family and radio as the most important sources of infromation. While the major constraints to accessing information are unavailability of information source, obsolete infromation and lack of information center. The study therefore recommend the establishment of community and women infromation center and other community outreach programmes to provide packaged and timely information to the rural women.