ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN THROUGH “EDUTAINMENT” FOR THE PROMOTION OF PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE AMONG THE DWELLERS OF IBADAN CITY, NIGERIA

Abstract

There are suspicions that “there are conflicts emerging among neighbours because of careless attitudes and responses to the care of the environment” in Ibadan city. Careless attitudes and practices relating to the use of the environment and invasion of the right of others to a good and healthy environment are suspected to be responsible for household conflicts between neighbours, families, and communities in Ibadan city. Therefore there is the need for an effective strategy to campaign for change of attitudes to the care of the environment for the sake of peaceful co-existence and healthy living of the dwellers of Ibadan city. This research was embarked upon to assess how effective the use of media entertainment in the form of home video could be, when used to expose the state of things in Ibadan city as far as attitudes to the environment are concerned. In the pursuit of the desired goal, an “edutainment” home video titled, FOR THE LOVE OF PEACE AND HEALTH (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MIoiQ2BZYA&t=157s) was produced and presented to the purposefully selected population to watch. The video production was created to reveal some emerging conflicts among the dwellers of Ibadan city as a result of careless attitudes to the environment; and to also mobilize them unto a change of attitude to the care of the environment. The analysis of findings indicate that there exists some conflicts among dwellers of Ibadan city because of careless attitudes to the care of the environment and that the use of the power of media entertainment can be effective to educate people and change their orientation towards a positive care of the environment. It is, therefore, recommended that the Church, government, and environmentally enthusiastic organizations and agencies need to give attention to the use of entertainment broadcasts and take advantage of the power of the media to expose any observed form of careless attitudes to the care of the environment and to mobilize people for the change of attitude to the care of the environment. It is hoped that this work will cause a positive influence that can catalyze the desired positive change of attitude to the care of the environment in Ibadan city.