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Influence of Mass Media on Public Awareness, Attitudes and Behaviours towards Sustainable Development Initiatives in Nigeria

This study investigated the influence of mass media on public awareness, attitudes, and behaviours towards 
sustainable development initiatives in Nigeria. It employed a descriptive survey research, targeting residents of IjebuOde Local Government Area, Ogun State with a sample size of 384 which was determined through the use of Survey 
Monkey Sample Size Calculator from 2006 population of 157,161 at 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error. 
Simple random sampling technique was employed to select respondents, out of which 371 completed copies of 
questionnaire were returned and found useful for the study. The study found out that mass media significantly 
influences public discourse on sustainability in Nigeria. A large portion (74%) of the respondents reported that mass 
media contributes to their awareness of environmental issues and shapes their attitudes and this aligns with AgendaSetting Theory. Based on the findings, the study recommends that media outlets should leverage digital media platforms 
to reach a wider audience and create engaging content; challenges of fake news and biased information on digital 
platforms should be addressed; and that, sustainability campaigns should be adapted to resonate with different cultural 
contexts.

Authors: Olusegun A. Odunlami & Adebisi K. Aro