Adopting Billboard Advertising as a Strategy for Solid Waste Management in Nigeria

Abstract

One of the environmental challenges facing developing countries like Nigeria is unhealthy disposal of solid waste.  Poor attitude towards waste management has been shown to be the major cause of solid waste problems in Nigerian cities. There are many ways to enlighten people on how to manage waste. Billboard advertising is one of many strategies. Billboard is one of the most effective out-door advertising that has the features to catch one eyes and attention because of the striking colours, magnificent images and giant sizes. This study examined billboard advertising as a strategy for enlightenment campaigns on solid waste management in the south-south geo-political zone in Nigeria. Two research instruments were used to collect data for the study. These were observation of billboards in state capitals in the south-south states of Nigeria, and the administration of 1,279 copies of questionnaire to respondents in these states. The study showed that billboards are effective enlightenment campaigns strategy for waste management but billboards advertising have not been adopted in these states as strategy for enlightenment campaigns on solid waste management. Poor enlightenment campaigns have been shown to be one of the causes of poor attitude to waste management. However, there is need for consistent enlightenment campaigns on solid waste management through billboards advertising.

Keywords: Advertising, attitude, billboards, solid waste management, enlightenment campaigns