| Abstract: |
The communication strategies utilised in the implementation of Sustainable
Development Goal 6 for water and sanitation in the communities of Fakkos, Kunet
and Yelwan-Nono of Bokkos Local Government Area in the Plateau State of Nigeria
were investigated in this study. The research was necessitated by the existing gap
between the participatory communication approach described in the strategy of
SDGs at the national level and its actual practice in the communities. Descriptive
mixed-methods design was employed in the study. Questionnaire, focus group
discussion, key informant interview and observation methods were used for data
collection. The population of 8734 included community members, household heads,
young people, community leaders and the officials of the Plateau State SDGs Project
Support Unit. A total sample of 414 was taken, including 367 questionnaire
respondents, 42 participants in 6 focus group discussions and 5 key informants
interviewed. To ensure that representativeness is achieved, purposive, cluster,
systematic sampling techniques and simple random sampling were used. Analysis of
quantitative data was carried out using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data was
analysed using thematic analysis. It was found that community leaders were the
main sources of information, while SDGs officers were rarely involved in direct
communication. Town announcers, round table discussion and town hall meeting
were the most popular and reliable communication methods, while television,
newspapers, social media, pamphlets and stickers were less preferred due to
infrastructure challenges, illiteracy and low internet penetration. Lack of SDGs
branding on projects and delayed information indicated a top-down communication
approach. The findings indicated that despite their diversity, communication efforts
have not yet been fully utilised to ensure a real dialogue and sense of community
ownership. The paper calls for strengthening the capacity of the SDGs Project
Support Unit, utilising credible local media, translating materials into local
languages, branding at project sites, scheduling radio programmes properly, and
putting in place monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. |
