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"Development efforts are not fulfilling the promises made in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to reduce poverty and improve poor people´s lives. Why not? One fundamental reason is that policymakers and development experts do not recognise the essential role that information and communication play in development" (PANOS 2007). This book provides the basis for the over four decades of strenuous efforts to harvest the resources of communication for development purposes. It presents a convincing recognition and acceptance among development practitioners and planners that participatory communication is the "most promising approach for decreasing dependency, building self-confidence and self-reliance of the people." With case studies from actual TFD and civic engagement experiences, the book presents a hands-on explication of participation and empowerment. This book serves as a good source material for students of development, communication and the humanities discipline and development, communication and change workers or those embarking on projects in Third World contexts like Africa or wishing to embark on civic engagement.

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Jenkeri Zakari Okwori, BA, MA, PhD is a Professor of Participatory Development Communication at the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

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