“The media also neglects rural communities”

by Diyaulhaq Bin Usman

With the neglect of rural communities and the concentration of the ruling elites in urban centers alone, then development is nothing but a mere dream in a polity. Certainly no society can achieve its developmental goals without seriously addressing the issues of underdevelopment in the rural areas of that society.

In today’s world, especially in our world of ‘Nigeria’, rural communities and their inhabitants stands to gain nothing from the ruling elites, despite the fact that they always come out en masse during all elections to vote the ruling elites into power. But unfortunately, they stand to be the last communities to cross the minds of these ruling elites.

The neglect has gone to the extent that rural people feel their communities are no longer home, and as such they troop to cities in search of greener pastures. Unknown to them, the cities favour only those it chooses to favour. This is why you see people sleeping under bridges, in cobbled-together corrugated iron sheets used as houses, as well as in motor parks inside abandoned buses. These are no other people than those former rural citizens who left their families. Though the one job they know very well how to do  was farming, they decided to try their luck in the city.

One painful aspect of the neglect of rural communities is how the media, which is supposed to be an engine of development for all, tends to cover a minimal number and scope of issues in the rural areas. Indeed, the media can be said to be one of the reasons that the rural communities have failed to gain in development. It could be assumed that should the media, using its various media platforms, disseminate the deplorable conditions such as poor roads, contaminated water for drinking, poor health care centers and such in the rural communities, then the ruling elites would wake up from their slumber and do something about it. But the poor coverage of these deplorable condition of the rural areas has made society forget the importance of the rural communities toward the nation’s development.

It is high time the media assume its role of vox populi properly, and make the voice of the “ruralites” count towards attainment of development, which includes clean and potable water, health care facilities, good roads, modern farming equipment and fertilizers, as well as other developmental facilities. The media is an engine of development. Let the masses see it in practice!

Photo credit: Caring Hearts International DSC_0213 via photopin (license)

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About me: My ambition is to be a hard-working successful development journalist, who strives to bringing attention to the developmental interests of youths and rural areas. ‎ I also want to become a journalist who will be known for voicing the voices of the voiceless in the society.

I am presently in my final year of studying Mass Communication at the Bayero University Kano.

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Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Commonwealth Youth Programme. Articles are published in a spirit of dialogue, respect and understanding. If you disagree, why not submit a response?
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