RESIDENT ATTITUDE

This study analysed Benin City Residents Attitudes Towards Nollywood Portrayal of Divorce Cases in Nigeria. The study was built around the tenets of Agenda setting and Media Dependency theory of mass communication. Survey research method was employed in the course of this study and questionaires were used as primary instrument of data collection for this study. Two hundred and forty (240) copies of questionaires were physically administered to respondents within Benin City, Edo state. This was aided by the purposive Sampling technique. Also, Focused Group Discussion were used to support facts in this study. A group of six (6) undergraduates of the University of Benin selected from two (2) departments Viz mass communication, Early childhood Education. The study found out that Nollywood movies that feature divorce contents have negative impacts on members of the society. Although, the producers may have had a different agenda, but the contents of such movies are usually misinterpreted in a negative light by members of the society. Since " seeing is believing" as members of the society are constantly exposed to divorce contents. Overtime, it becomes a reality in most marriages in our contemporary society. Divorce has done more harm than good to our modern society, hence Nollywood movies ( or the Nigeria film industry) ought to sensitize members of the society on the dangers of divorce on members of the society instead or aiding and abetting it in any way. The media (film in this case) is a powerful influencer that can either make or mar any society, hence the contents of Nollywood movies should be properly seasoned instead of tearing more marriages apart it should mend broken and fix broken marriages instead of encouraging people to opt for divorce at the slightest provocation. A sane marriage is a sane family and a sane family is a sane society. If the family is at peace, the society will be haven to live in. The study recommends that Government should promulgate enabling laws that restrains extreme feminists agenda due to its negative influence on members of the society, and they should also enact stern laws that prohibits domestic violence since it is a major cause of divorce in Nigeria and culprits should be punished so as to serve as deterrent to others. The study also recommended that Nollywood movies should feature less of divorce contents due to its negative impacts on members of the society. In the same vein, this study also examined the impact of celebrities failed marriages as a key actor in promoting divorce rates in Nigeria, hence this study also recommended that celebrities should put in more efforts in making their marriages a world class model considering the influence they weild on members of the society who look up to them as role models.