Attitudes of Benin City Residents towards Media Campaigns on Climate Change Issues in Nigeria

Background: Climate change affects ecosystems, livelihoods, human security, low crop yield, and food shortage. Many places have experienced changes in rainfall, resulting in more floods, droughts, or intense rain, and, also more frequent and serious heat waves. Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria is no exception to the effect of climate change issues. The State capital and its environs have also been affected by floods and environmental problems due to climate change. Mass media play a critical role in raising consciousness of public issues and they also play the role of the watchdog of society. The mass media have embarked on awareness campaigns against climate change in Benin City, Edo State. These campaign messages are aired on various media organisations in Edo State. Thus, the study was carried out to determine Benin City residents' attitudes towards media campaigns against climate change issues in Nigeria. Objective: The study examined attitudes of Benin City residents towards media campaigns against climate change issues in Nigeria Method: A descriptive survey research method was adopted. The questionnaire served as an instrument for data collection. Generated data were analysed using the percentage method. Result: Findings show that the majority of respondents have a low exposure to media campaigns on climate change issues. Further findings showed that a significant number of the respondents obtained information about media campaigns on climate change issues through the radio medium, followed by television medium. Conclusion: The majority of respondents have a low exposure to media campaigns on climate change issues and they accessed the climate change media campaign's messages through a radio medium. Unique contribution: The study contributes insights in the area of climate change, and enlightens the residents of Benin City on the implications of climate change. Key recommendation: Based on this, the study recommends that beyond mass media channels, tradotronic media should be used in other to get across to more people, especially the rural dwellers. Tradotronic media entails integrating traditional and electronically-mediated communication channels in message or information sharing and dissemination.