The mass media and national development: the case of ‘baby factory’ activities in Nigeria

Abstract

The mass media play vital role in the national development of any nation, they provide information, education, entertainment, integration and social interaction in a country by giving insight into the happenings in the society and helping with the development of a nation. The media are also seen as an agent of change instilling new values and behaviours in the society. This paper examined the mass media, national development and 'baby factory' activities in Nigeria. It examined the role of the mass media in national development and the need for the mass media to raise campaign program to combat proliferation of 'baby factory' activities in Nigeria. It explored the agenda-setting and development media theory and explained that the media should be used for nation building. This paper argued that though the mass media have the power to easily propagate ideas on social change, they do not perform their functions and objectives fully in Nigeria due to political, economic and social conditions in the country and in the mass media organizations and concluded that they should be allowed to promote the national identity of Nigeria through the in-depth coverage of societal issues that may be detrimental to the country's growth.