Abstract
This study explores how Yoruba Language newspaper reviews on the radio enhance knowledge, civic engagement and holistic beneficial deliberations covering diverse facets of life among radio listeners in Western Nigeria, because airing and hosting single-topic programmes with indigenous languages has been the focus of most previous studies. The descriptive survey design and the stratified-purposive sampling were used to sample 363 participants across the state in Western Nigeria. The sourced data through the survey instrument were tested with frequency counts and percentages, while Chi-square statistics were used to validate findings. Result indicated that Yoruba newspaper reviews positively influence public opinion, genre citizen mobilization and accountability among electorates (X2= 232.854, p < .05). It was also reported that Yoruba newspaper reviews is highly effective in improving political awareness, citizen’s clarity and knowledge (X2= 286.562, p < .05), furthermore it’s a medium through which civic engagement can be stimulated, critical thinking can be broadened and civil participation among the citizens can be encouraged (X2= 51.785, p < .05). This finding ascertained the Yoruba Newspaper review to be a viable medium to promote engaging communication that is necessary for democratic advancement. It was concluded that the Yoruba newspaper reviews via radio broadcast are another measure to provide more holistic information about the regional and national issues to the people, even in their localities. Therefore, promoting and sustaining it is a step towards promoting political enlightenment and inclusivity in both the rural and urban centres across Nigeria.
Keywords: Awareness, Newspaper Review, Public Discourse, Radio, Yoruba News.