A paper presented to the department of Mass Communication, Bayero University Kano, for continuous assessment

1. BAYERO UNIVERSITY KANO
FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION
DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION
COURSE TITLE: COMMUNICATION POLICIES
COURSE CODE: 8314
REVIEW OF THE BOOK: TOWARDS NIGERIA’S NATIONAL COMMUNICATION
POLICY & STRATEGY: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS.
EDITED BY; HABU S. GALADIMA AND AKEEM M. ADEYANJU
ISBN-978-978-198-144-7
PUBLISHED BY; THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, KURU, NIGERIA.
FIRST PUBLISHED 2017
REVIEW BY:
FATIMA MURITALA
SPS/18/MMC/00014
SEPTEMBER 2019

2. The first chapter is written by Mojisola A. Adiyanju on background to the current efforts at
developing A natural communication policy and strategy for Nigeria. The chapter was
introduced to examine the information age and human communication and internet.
It also discusses the background to the current efforts at developing a national communications
policy and strategy for Nigeria, highlighting some key items like satisfying the information needs
of Nigerians, the needs for its citizens to take informed decision on critical issues that face them
individually and collectively and collectively on daily basis mean they must have access to
desired information that can help them.
The chapter also succinctly discuss about the previous efforts at developing a comprehensive
strategy, how every country strives to meet the communication and information needs of its
citizens and that of the international community. Since Nigeria developed a Mass
Communication policy in 1987, there have been monumental changes in the volume, shape,
types, functions, and usage of information and communication
The chapter also examines the formation of public opinion on issues that bother on governance
,transparency, accountability, and government policies is being shaped by many forces, both
positive and negative, and the populace is getting more confused than ever before
The second chapter is written by Vincent i. Maduka on national communication policy and
strategy for Nigeria. The chapter was introduced by given a background of the conveyed
strategic stakeholders conference that involved several scholars and communication
professionals that were assembled with the charge to facilitate the development of the
comprehension national communication policy and strategy for Nigeria.
The chapter further discussed the framework for a national communication policy, the purpose of
information/communication and the benefits on communication/information. The third chapter is
written by Tonnie O. Iredia on Diagnostic Review of Nigeria’s Communication policies and
Strategies. The chapter was introduced by discussing on the pattern of communication in Nigeria
has over the years, the chapter also discuss about a policy especially the roles they are to play to
ensure its success.
The chapter examines Nigerian experience from 1914 to 1960, how seminar was organized to
discuss about communication policy, and also the identification of ten objectives. The chapter
further discusses on the issues, observations and comments of communication, and the Nigerian
constitution mandates the media to upload the responsibility of the government to the people.
The chapter was concluded by saying public policy is for the benefit of the people, they should
be part of the formulation and implementation of every policy.

3. The fourth chapter is written by Yakubu Ibn Mohammed on the Nigerian media environment in
the 21st century: Broadcasting.
The chapter started by highlighting a fact, which is any development effort not supported by
appropriate policies is bound to fail. Policies drive development and since centuries of human
existence have been measured by indices of development, policies have also been central to this
equation.
The chapter succinctly discussed on the 2st century as already proving to be a unique period, the
20th century witnessed the emergence and growth of the mass media, but the 21st century is
showing signs of an explosive extension of these media, old and new, it further discussed the 21st
century is not immune from challenges as the ones before it. Early in the century was the global
economic recession which is far from being over.
The fifth chapter is introduced by discussing the Nigeria media environment in the media
environment in the 21st century: Telecommunication and ICT written by Sunday E. Ododo, He
discuss critically on telecommunications/ICT and the Nigerian environment as evolving and
existing dynamics in the field of information and communication technology.
The chapter further discuss about modern global economy, information and security, media
licensing, proposal and participation of Nigerian in international market.
The chapter further gave a succinct explanation on the federal government and implementation
of the national broadband plan of 2014, inadequacy and ineffectiveness of National law/policies
regarding online transactions, knowledge and collaboration.
The sixth chapter is written by Umaru A. Pate and Maude R. Gwade on strategic Gap Analysis
of Nigeria’s Communication Policies and strategies. The chapter examined the Nigeria
information/communication policy, highlighting the 10 cardinal objectives and also the
implementation of the national communication policy been haphazard due to poverty, corruption,
unstable political system, spatial inequality and others.
The chapter also succinctly discuss on the strategic gap analysis in order o identify gaps and
areas in need of improvement with regards to compliance to the relevant standards, it also
discuss the information for development, government information, print media, information and
communication technologies, freedom of information act and human rights, advertising,
research, training and capacity building, policy implementation, monitoring and evaluation and
public relations, which are very important in arriving at a good communication.

4. The seventh chapter is written by Lai Oso on challenges and Nigeria’s communication policy
and strategy, it discussed and highlighted some of the challenges a comprehensive national
communication policy must grapple with. A communication policy will have to be formulated
and implemented within the interplay of the social forces operating at any given historical
period.
The main challenge from the above discussion is how the policy will be able to accommodate the
market and commercial interest of owners.
The eight chapter is written by Ralph A. Akinfele on Nigeria’s national communication policy
and strategy: Approaches, policy and possible options. This chapter discuss about
communication policy, explaining that it is usually a course of action, differentiating it from
practice, and also gave the historical overview of situation analysis pre and post 1990 policy
document, he further discuss on broadcasting in the colonial era, pre and post-colonial era and
the first civilian regime in 1960-1966, identify the importance to note that if was under the
civilian regime of Nigerians, that the Nigerian broadcasting corporation lost the autonomy
designed for it during the colonial era.
The chapter further gave a succinct explanation of the first military era in 1966-1979 and how
the Nigerian broadcasting corporation (NBC) retained its take-off size for about a decade.
It also discuss about the first expansion policy was initiated from within the NBC, the second
civilian dispensation in 1979-1983, that the only law which the national assembly passed
between 1979 and 1983 that had direct relevance to the print media was the electoral Act which
provided for the monitor of the press during the 1983 elections.
The chapter further discuss about the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, privatization and
commercialization decree of 1988, the national Mass Communication policy of 1990 and others
in the second military dispensation
The strength of the book is obvious, because these communications specialist did a justice to the
book by filling the gaps in understanding what communication policy is all about, how the era
started, the information era and into today’s communication and why there should be policies
guiding and regulating communication system/communication.