Level of Access to Information and Democratic Participation by Women in Ede Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper investigates the levels of access to information for democratic participation by women in Ede, Osun State; identifying the level of access to information; sources, their political information needs and the challenges hindering access to information. The descriptive research of the survey method was adopted. From the population of 78,792 of both local government in Ede, Taro Yamane Sampling formula was used to determine the sample size (308) and random sampling technique was used to reach the respondents. Selfdesigned questionnaire was used for data collection and analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The study found that the level of access of women respondents to information was moderate (43%); political programmes on radio (95%); group discussion on democratic issues (87%) and political campaigns and rallies (77%) were the major sources of information; political information needs of respondents include implementation of community development programmes (90%); investigation and persecution of corrupt officers by anti-corruption agencies (87%) and provision of empowerment programmes (86%). The challenges hindering access to information are inadequate enlightenment (73%) and absence of wellequipped public libraries (63%). The study concluded that the respondents level is access to information is moderate with the most preferred source of information being the Radio, even though that their accessed information does not contribute positively to their democratic participation, probably because the information is inadequate. The study therefore recommended establishment of well- equipped public libraries; establishment of more radio and television stations in rural communities and more enlightenment on political issues.