Perception and Attitude towards Anambra Broadcasting Service Facebook Messages on Solid Waste Management for Sustainable Development in Nigeria

Abstract

The issue of solid waste management has become a recurrent problem in Nigeria with the growing population and lack of proper waste disposal facilities. As a result, the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) created Facebook messages to enlighten citizens in Anambra State on the best practices for solid waste management. This study investigates the audience’s perception and attitude towards the ABS Facebook messages on solid waste management in Anambra State. The objectives of the study were to determine the types of messages disseminated by ABS on solid waste management in Anambra State, examine the perception of the audience of the messages, and ascertain the attitude of the audience towards the messages. The study was underpinned by the Media Ecology theory and agenda-setting theory. The survey was used as the method of study using the questionnaire as an instrument for data collection. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 384 respondents for the study involving nonprobability sampling method drawn from three cities in the senatorial zones in Anambra State including Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha metropolises where the study was carried out. The results revealed that the majority of the respondents had positive perceptions and attitudes towards ABS’s Facebook messages on solid waste management, as well as their willingness to comply with the message contents. The study also revealed that reading the ABS messages on solid waste management had a positive influence on the behaviour of respondents towards waste disposal as majority of the respondents indicated that they disposed of their waste properly after reading the messages However, the study revealed that the frequency of reading the ABS messages and the perception of the messages significantly influenced the attitude of respondents towards solid waste management. The study recommends that since ABS messages are effective in educating citizens on the importance of proper waste disposal behaviour, they should be sustained to maintain the behaviour change observed in respondents. The study also recommends that more engaging and interactive content be created to better capture the attention of the audience and sustain their interest.