GENDERED NARRATIVES IN CLIMATE CHANGE DISCOURSE IN THE MEDIA AND PERCEPTION OF RURAL NIGERIAN COMMUNITIES

The study focuses on how climate change communication in the media influence gendered understanding of the concept in rural Nigerian communities. It used a qualitative approach to provide a comprehensive understanding of how media represents climate change and its effects on different genders. This involved in-depth interviews with members of rural communities in Ovia Northeast local government of Edo State and media professionals, capturing their experiences and interactions with climate change media content. The findings reveal that media coverage of climate change in rural Nigeria is limited and often fails to address gender-specific impacts adequately. Most respondents access climate change information rarely, indicating a gap in effective communication strategies. The study concludes that enhancing media coverage and incorporating gender-sensitive approaches can improve climate change awareness and response in rural communities. It recommends targeted media campaigns and participatory communication strategies to bridge the information gap and empower rural populations in addressing climate change challenges.