Agenda-setting and analysis of contributions of Nigerian newspapers to poverty-reduction
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61511/ajcsee.v3i1.2025.1941Keywords:
agenda-setting, newspapers, poverty-related issues, prominence, SDGsAbstract
Background: Poverty remains one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges in Nigeria, with a large proportion of the population living below the national poverty line. The press plays a vital role in shaping public discourse, setting agenda for the society, and analysing topical issues impacting the society. Although previous studies have explored media representation of poverty, there remains a gap in regionally comparative analyses of how Nigerian newspapers cover poverty-related issues. This study aimed to examine the types of poverty-related issues frequently covered in Nigerian newspapers, determine regional differences in coverage patterns, and assess the prominence accorded to such issues. Methods: The study employed quantitative content analysis as its method, using a composite sampling technique to select 322 newspaper editions from Vanguard (South-based) and Daily Trust (North-based) over a three-year period. Data were coded using a structured content coding guide. Findings: The findings revealed a total of 737 poverty-related stories, with Daily Trust publishing slightly more (376) than Vanguard (361). Regional framing differences were evident: Daily Trust focused more on education (23.4%), healthcare (19.7%), and sanitation (10.4%), while Vanguard emphasized food insecurity (19.4%), unemployment (14.4%), and inadequate social welfare (10.2%). However, most of the stories were placed on inside pages, indicating low prominence. The analysis suggests that although both newspapers contribute to agenda-setting on poverty, the limited front-page coverage may hinder the visibility required to drive meaningful policy engagement. Conclusion: The study concludes that Nigerian press needs to partner more with relevant stakeholders, towards the realisation of the aspirations of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on Poverty alleviation. Novelty/Originality of this article: This research provides new insights as it offers a regional comparative perspective to poverty discourse in Nigerian media studies.
References
Adamu, I., Andrade, F. C. D., & Singleton, C. R. (2022). Availability of drinking water source and the prevalence of diarrhea among Nigerian households. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 107(4), 893–897. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.21-0901
Adeniran, R., Kayode, O., & Oso, L. (2019). Framing of maternal and child healthcare issues in Nigerian newspapers. Interações: Sociedade e as novas modernidades, 37, 34–57. https://doi.org/10.31211/interacoes.n37.2019.a2
Aderounmu, B., Azuh, D., Onanuga, O., Oluwatomisin, O., Ebenezer, B., & Azuh, A. (2021). Poverty drivers and Nigeria’s development: Implications for policy intervention. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 8(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2021.1908794
Ajaegbu, O. O., & Akoja, M. I. (2022). Newspaper coverage of health issues in Nigeria. African Scholar Publications & Research International, 26(6), 1–12.
Ajetunmobi, U. O. (2023). Media framing and construction of socio-political issues in Nigeria: (Dis)connection between theory and professional ethics? Mediterranean Journal of Social & Behavioral Research, 7(2), 93–101. https://doi.org/10.30935/mjosbr/13053
Ajibulu, O. A. (2022). A content analytical study of Covid-19 vaccination reports on Facebook and YouTube. University of Benin.
Akinsulire, T. (2024). Analysis of newspapers coverage of poverty-related issues in Nigeria (2020-2022). Lagos State University.
Ali, A. C. (2021). The marginalised voice of the poor: Perspectives and framing of poverty by the Ethiopian print media. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 8(1), Article 1932284. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2021.1932284
Asemah, E. S., Nwammuo, A.N. & Nkwam-Uwaoma, A. O. A. (2022). Theories and models of communication. Revised edition. Jos: University Press.
Champagne, S. N., Macdiarmid, J. I., Olusola, O., Phimister, E., & Guntupalli, A. M. (2024). Heating or eating? The framing of food and fuel poverty in UK news media. Social Science & Medicine, 360, 117297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117297
Dango, S. E. (2021, October). Addressing food insecurity in Nigeria: Vanguard and The Nation
newspapers' perspective. Paper presented at the 3rd National Conference of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Federal University of Lafia, "National Security, COVID-19 and Social Issues in Nigeria," Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
Ekeh, C. M., Ikem, V. U., & Adetayo, A. J. (2024). Who speaks for the poor? Poverty, human rights, social justice and access to media in Nigeria. Journal of Poverty, Investment and Development, 63, 28–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.7176/JPID/63-04
Ezeah, G., & Emeafor, C. I. (2019). Framing of youths' unemployment in select Nigerian newspapers. Novena Journal of Communication.
Ezeh, M. (2024). Poverty And Food Insecurity In Nigeria From The Perspective Of Christian Social Teaching And Human Rights Discourse. Journal of Arts and Humanities, 5(3), 1–14. https://nigerianjournalsonline.com/index.php/CJAH/article/view/1413
Gulzar, S. (2023). The role of media in shaping public opinion and social discourse. Contemporary Journal of Social Science Review, 1(1), 30–40. https://contemporaryjournal.com/index.php/14/article/view/23
Husnita, L., Rahayuni, A., Fusfitasari, Y., Siswanto, E., & Rintaningrum, R. (2023). The role of mobile technology in improving accessibility and quality of learning. Al-Fikrah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan, 11(2), 259-271. http://dx.doi.org/10.31958/jaf.v11i2.10548
Iduseri, E. O., Abbas, I. I., & Izunobi, J. U. (2022). Role of sustainable development goals in combating youth unemployment: A case study of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development, 15(3), 125-146. https://doi.org/10.5539/jsd.v15n3p125
Kagan, J. (2024, July 29). Social welfare system: Definition and how it works. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-welfare-system.asp
Kerins, C., Furey, S., Kerrigan, P., McCartan, A., Kelly, C., & Vaughan, E. (2023). News media framing of food poverty and insecurity in high-income countries: A rapid review. Health Promotion International, 38(6), daad188. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daad188
Maitalata, Y., & Aliegba, B. (2023). Effect of conditional cash transfer programme on the households in Gwiwa L.G.A. of Jigawa State. FUDMA Journal of Accounting and Finance Research [FUJAFR], 1(3), 162–176. https://doi.org/10.33003/fujafr-2023.v1i3.71.162-176
National Bureau of Statistics. (2023). Nigeria Labour Force Survey Q2 2023. https://nigerianstat.gov.ng/elibrary/read/1241429
Offiong, A., Nwagu, E. K. N., & Asu, O. A. (2024). Evaluation of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme implementation (availability/accessibility of safe drinking water) in secondary schools in Cross River State, Nigeria. Journal of Environmental and Tourism Education, 7(1), 14–31. https://jeate.k-publisher.com/index.php/Jete/article/view/97
Ogunyemi, O. F., Fadeyi, O. D., & Nwaoboli, E. P. (2025). Lagos Mainland residents' perception of media reportage on electricity tariff hike in Lagos State, Nigeria. Pancasila International Journal of Applied Social Science, 3(01), 50–62. https://doi.org/10.59653/pancasila.v3i01.1218
Ojo, O. (2024). Experts, stakeholders worry, as out-of-school children number swells. The Sun. https://thesun.ng/experts-stakeholders-worry-as-out-of-school-children-number-swells-2/
Olansile, A. U., Salman, A., & Imam, M. (2022). All talk, little impact: Media frames and discursive strategies of out-of-school children in Nigeria. International Journal of Qualitative Research, 2(2), 125–134. https://doi.org/10.47540/ijqr.v2i2.637
Olatunji, R. W., & Thanny, N. T. (2020). Availability and adequacy of WASH facilities in secondary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. E3S Web of Conferences, 211, 01023. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202021101023
Olatunji, R. W., & Taiwo, N. T. (2021). Availability and adequacy of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in secondary schools. Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development, 4(2), 177–194. https://doi.org/10.7454/jessd.v4i2.1079
Peterside, D. (2024). Thoughts on Nigeria’s food insecurity. Thisday. https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/10/07/thoughts-on-nigerias-food-insecurity/
Saccone, D., & Vallino, E. (2022). Food security in the age of sustainable development: Exploring the synergies between the SDGs. World Development, 152(6), 105815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.105815
UNESCO. (2023). 250 million children out-of-school: What you need to know about UNESCO’s latest education data. UNESCO. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/250-million-children-out-school-what-you-need-know-about-unescos-latest-education-data
UNICEF. (2023). Triple threat: How disease, climate risks, and unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene create a deadly combination for children. UNICEF.
UNICEF. (2024). Immediate action needed to protect Nigeria's children and schools. UNICEF Nigeria. https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/press-releases/immediate-action-needed-protect-nigerias-children-and-schools
UNDP. (2016). Human development report 2016: Human development for everyone. UNDP.
https://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2016_human_development_report.pdf
Vindigni, G. (2024). Strategies for overcoming barriers to inclusive and equitable education: A global analysis towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4. European Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 1(5), 3–47. https://doi.org/10.59324/ejahss.2024.1(5).01
Waltower, S. (2023). The real effects of unemployment. Business News Daily. https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/career/unemployment-effects
Witting, L. (2023). Limited access: Poverty and barriers to accessible health care. National Health Council. https://nationalhealthcouncil.org/blog/limited-access-poverty-and-barriers-to-accessible-health-care/
World Bank. (2021). Nigeria to improve electricity access and services to citizens. World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2021/02/05/nigeria-to-improve-electricity-access-and-services-to-citizens
World Bank. (2021). Coverage, adequacy, and impacts of Nigeria’s social safety nets system (English). https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099042324032667514/p1767821dd4586091aa161fe96d58ec73f
World Economic Forum. (2019). Every year nearly 6 million people die in developing countries from low-quality healthcare - this is how we help them. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/11/effects-and-costs-of-poor-quality-healthcare/
World Health Organization. (2023). Billions left behind on the path to universal health coverage. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/18-09-2023-billions-left-behind-on-the-path-to-universal-health-coverage
World Health Organization. (2024). Malnutrition. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malnutrition
World Food Programme. (2016). Hunger statistics. United Nations. https://www.wfp.org/hunger/stats
Zewdie, A., Degefa, G. H., & Donacho, D. O. (2023). Health risk assessment of indoor air quality, sociodemographic, and kitchen characteristics on respiratory health among women responsible for cooking in urban settings of Oromia region, Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 13(6), Article e067678. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067678
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Tolulope Akinsulire, Rotimi Williams Olatunji

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.