Training needs of communication officers of agricultural and rural development agencies for entertainment-education script writing in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The use of Entertainment-Education (EE) for information dissemination in agricultural extension agencies requires that key frontline professionals are trained in EE script writing, therefore the training needs of communication officers in EE script writing was probed in this study. All (42) communication officers of agricultural development agencies in the study area were interviewed. Data were collected using questionnaire to elicit information on communication officers' socioeconomic characteristics, awareness of the components of EE script writing, perception of integration of script writing skills for agricultural information dissemination and training needs for EE script writing in agricultural information dissemination. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages and means. Results indicate that respondents' mean age was 43.0±6.8 years, 38.1% had Bachelor’s Degree and were mostly male (64.3%). Most respondents were aware of the components and sub-components of EE scriptwriting, 52.4% had favourable disposition to the concept and had most training need on message, character and plot components. The study concludes that communication officers are abreast of the components and subcomponents of EE scriptwriting and are favourably disposed to the concept of EE script writing. Training on EE script writing for communication officers of agricultural development agencies should focus on message, character and plot components.