Data Presentation And Analysis On Women constitute an integral segment of the Nigerian population.

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.0     Introduction

      This chapter comprises the data presentation and analysis and discussion of the research findings. The first part of the questionnaire represents the demographic information of the respondents, and the second part represents the psychographic information of the respondents. The data were presented using simple tables and percentages. Four hundred (400) copies of the questionnaire were administered, of which 385 were correctly filled and returned. This gives a response rate of 96% which is suitable for the study.

4.1     Data Presentation and Analysis

      The method of data gathering employed the use of questionnaire. The 385 copies retrieved would be used for the analysis below in tables of frequencies and percentages. The data would be presented in the order they appeared in the questionnaire (Section A and B). Items 10, 12, 13 and 14 are open ended questions and will be analyzed later.

Section A: Demographic data

Table 1: Age distribution of respondents

Age	No of respondents	Percentage (%)
25-35	200	52
35-39	115	30
40-49	55	14
50-60	15	4
Total	385	100

          From table 1 above, ages ranging from 25-35 is the highest frequency with 200 respondents (52%). The age range of 35-39 has the frequency options of 115 respondents (30%), the 40-49 age range has the frequency options of 55 respondents (14%), while 50-60 age range has the frequency options of 15 respondents (4%).

Table 2: Marital status of respondents

Options	No of respondents	Percentage (%)
Married	255	66
Single	95	25
Divorced	5	1
Widowed	30	8
Total	385	100

          From table 2 above, 255 respondents representing 66% are married, 95 respondents representing 25% are single, 5 respondents representing 1% are divorced, and 30 respondents representing 8% are widowed.

Table 3: Educational qualification of respondents

Options	No of respondents	Percentage (%)
Primary	15	4
Secondary	90	23
Tertiary	280	73
Total	385	100

    From table 3, it can be summarized that 15, out of 385 respondents, representing 4%  have primary education.Also,90 respondents representing 23% have secondary education, while 280 respondents, representing 73% have tertiary education.

Table 4: Access to television or radio

Options	No of respondents	Percentage (%)
Yes	151	39
No	14	4
Both	220	57
Total	385	100

          From table 4, it is shown that 151 respondents representing 39% have access to either a television or radio, 14 respondents representing 4% do not have access to either a radio or television; while 220 respondents representing 57% have access both radio and television.

In view of the tabulated data above, out of the 385 copies of the questionnaire filled, 14 respondents or 4 % indicated they do not have access to a television or radio. Since this percentage with no television or radio access is of no relevance to this study, the number of respondents with access (371) will be used in the following analysis;

Table 5: Frequency of Television or radio viewership and listenership

Options	No of respondents	Percentage (%)
Regularly	260	70
Sometimes	111	30
Not at all	0	0
Total	371	100

         

          From table 5, it is shown that 260 respondents representing 70% watch television and listen to radio regularly, while 111 respondents representing 30% watch television and listen to radio sometimes. This indicates that all the respondents watch television and listen to radio.

Table 6: Availability of programs that motivate women for leadership positions in politics

Options	No of respondents	Percentage (%)
Yes	286	77
No	85	23
Total	371	100

          According to  table 6, 286 respondents representing 77% agreed that they have come across programs that motivate women for leadership positions in politics, while 85 respondents representing 23% state that they have not come across such programs.

From the tabulated data above, Since 286 respondents out of 371 respondents indicate that they have come across programs that motivate women for leadership positions in politics, the remaining 85 respondents who say they have not come across these programs representing 23% will not be relevant in the next analysis. This means that a total of 286 respondents will be used in the following analysis.

Table 7: Frequency of programs that motivate women for leadership positions in politics.         

Options	No of respondents	Percentage (%)
Regularly	14	5
Sometimes	132	46
Rarely	140	49
Total	286	100

          From table 7,52 out of 286 respondents, representing 5% indicate that programs that motivate women for leadership positions in politics feature regularly,94 respondents representing 46% state that the programs feature sometimes, while 140 respondents representing 49% state that these programs rarely feature.

Table 8: Impact of these programs in motivating women for leadership positions in politics

Options	No of respondents	Percentage (%)
Yes	92	32
No	194	68
Total	286	100

  Table 8 shows that 92 respondents representing 32% agree that these programs have motivated them towards leadership positions in politics. The remaining 194 respondents representing 68% say that these programs have not motivated them in any way.

It is worthy to note that since the following questions were answered by the total number of questionnaire retrieved, which is 385 respondents, this sum will be used in analyzing the following;

Table 9: Part played in politics

Options	No of respondents	Percentage (%)
By voting	295	77
By contesting for political positions	32	8
None	58	15
Total	385	100

          From table 9, 295 respondents out of 385 representing 77% indicate that they have played a part in politics by voting,32 respondents representing 8% say that they have contested for political positions, while 58 respondents representing 15% state that they have not played any part in politics.

Table 10: Interest in acquiring leadership positions in politics

Options	No of respondents	Percentage (%)
Yes	100	26
No	285	74
Total	385	100

Table 10 shows that 100 respondents with a percentage of 26, are interested in acquiring leadership positions in politics, while 285 respondents representing 74% indicate no interest in acquiring leadership positions.

Respondents Aggregated Opinions In Open Ended Questions.

          The open ended questions consist of items 10, 12, 13 and 14. For item 10 in the questionnaire which question is ,‘’what do you think about the state of women in politics currently compared to the previous administration?” ,majority  of the respondents asserted that women are currently underrepresented politically, compared to the previous administration.However,some of the respondents added that women have been excluded politically from the very beginning, but say that the issue of sexism has been drawing more attention in recent times, hence the reason why the depressing state of women in politics currently is more obvious.

For item 12 in the questionnaire which question is, “If no, Give reasons why you are not interested in acquiring leadership positions in politics”, Majority of the respondents mentioned challenges such as excessive political violence, discrimination and lack of financial support as reasons for their lack of interest in acquiring leadership positions in politics. Only a few state that they are naturally uninterested in participating in politics.

For item 13 of the questionnaire which is, “Do you know any woman in Obio-akpor local government area that has held a leadership position in politics, both past and present?, Mention names’’, majority of the respondents indicated knowledge of a few and names were mentioned like Hon. Linda Wali,the Ward 16 councilor, Hon. Gift Ama Chinda, Ward 13 councilor, Hon. Evelyn Okocha,Ward councilor, and a few others.

Finally, from item 15 of the questionnaire which is, “What do you think about the state of political participation from women in Obio-Akpor local government area?”,All the respondents agree that the state of political participation from women in Obio-Akpor local government area is very poor. Some of the respondents posited that efforts should be made towards the involvement of Obio-Akpor women in politics and some suggested that the Rivers State government and broadcast media are responsible for the acceleration of women in politics.

4.2     Discussion of Findings

This work is focused on ascertaining the impact of broadcast media in motivating women for leadership positions in politics. Broadcast media is an audio-visual form of mass communication that transmits signals to a large mass of audience using television and radio. Therefore, it plays a major role of providing news and information, educating, mobilizing, motivating, integrating, and creating awareness in general. However, from the findings, it has been deduced that broadcast media’s impact has not reached its desired peak in motivating the women in Obio-Akpor local government for leadership positions in politics. This means that political participation from women in Obio-Akpor local government has remained tepid and almost non-existent, save a few exceptions. The following are answers to the research questions through the questionnaire:

How much impact has broadcast media made in motivating women for leadership positions in politics in Obio-Akpor local government?

The data on table 6, 7 and 8 answered this research questions. Data on table 6 show that 286 respondents (77%) agree that they have come across programs on television and radio that motivate women for leadership positions in politics. In table 7, out of the 286 respondents who attest to the availability of these programmes,52 respondents (18%) indicates that the programs feature regularly,94 respondents (33%) say that these programs feature sometimes, while  140 respondents (49%) state that these programs rarely show at all. This implies that television and radio programs that motivate women for political positions are not as frequent as they should be.

The data on table 8 show that 92 respondents (32%) have actually been motivated by these programs, but 194 respondents (68%) say that these programs have not motivated them to take interest in politics.

These findings show that even though majority of respondents are aware of programs that motivate women for leadership positions in politics, a large percentage of the women have said that these programs do not feature as often as required and also have not made adequate impact in motivating women for leadership position in politics.

What is the position of women in politics currently compared to the previous administration?

          The open ended question in item 10 answered this research question. Majority of the respondents were of the opinion that the state of political participation from women in the present administration is low, compared to the previous administration. Some of the respondents made remarks about the 35% affirmative action as prescribed by the national gender policy, which till date, has not been implemented.

          Respondents expressed their dissatisfaction at the exclusion of women from leadership positions in politics. This suggests that the state of political participation from women is not proportionate to the total number of women who constitute more than 50% of the nation’s population. Also, from the respondents’ answers, it can be deduced that even though the previous administration did not hold much in terms of political participation from women, it was still better than the present administration, where things went from bad to worse.

How many women have held political positions in Obio-Akpor local government, both past and present?

          The open ended questions in item 13 and 14 answered this research question. From the respondents’ answers in item 13, only a few women have held political positions in Obio-Akpor local government. From item 14 of the questionnaire, all the respondents were of the opinion that the state of political participation from women in Obio-Akpor local government is very poor.

How interested are the women in Obio-Akpor local government towards acquiring leadership positions in politics?

           The data in item 11 and 12 answered this research question. In item 11, majority of respondents indicated lack of interest in politics. In item 12, they gave a lot of reasons. A majority of the respondents described politics as dirty and violent, hence their reasons for shying away. Most respondents also added that politics is a ‘man’s game’. This implies that the fear of discrimination violence, and gender inequality, are reasons why many women in Obio-Akpor local government are not interested acquiring leadership positions in politics. Also, some respondents included lack of adequate funding as one of the factors that hinder them from participating in political positions.                      

From the above findings, it is concluded that a majority of women in Obio-akpor local government are not interested in acquiring leadership positions in politics because of the reasons mentioned above. This is a sad and unfortunate turn out.