INFLUENCE OF OKIN FM 105.7 CAMPAIGNS AGAINST CHILD TRAFFICKING ON THE ATTITUDE OF PARENTS IN OFFA LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KWARA STATE

Child trafficking remains one of the most deeply troubling social crises confronting communities across Nigeria. In Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, this problem is not merely a statistic — it is a lived reality that has torn families apart and robbed children of their innocence and future. Against this backdrop, Okin FM 105.7, a community-based radio station broadcasting from Offa, has undertaken sustained campaigns aimed at sensitising the public, particularly parents, about the dangers of child trafficking. This study examined the influence of Okin FM 105.7's campaigns against child trafficking on the attitude of parents in Offa Local Government. The objectives of the study were to: determine the extent of parents' exposure to Okin FM's anti-child trafficking campaigns; ascertain how parents perceive the credibility of the campaigns; assess the influence of the campaigns on parents' knowledge of child trafficking warning signs; and evaluate the extent to which the campaigns have shaped parents' protective attitudes towards their children. The study was anchored on the Agenda-Setting Theory and the Social Learning Theory. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. A sample size of 390 parents was drawn from the estimated adult population of Offa Local Government using the Taro Yamane formula. The questionnaire was the primary instrument of data collection. Data were analysed using frequency tables, simple percentages, and mean scores. Findings revealed that a significant majority of parents in Offa are exposed to Okin FM 105.7 on a regular basis, and that the station's anti-child trafficking campaigns have substantially increased parental awareness of child trafficking indicators. Results further showed that the campaigns have produced a measurable positive shift in parents' protective attitudes, including heightened vigilance, increased willingness to report suspected cases, and stronger supervision of children's interactions with strangers. However, the study also found that a segment of parents, particularly those with lower education levels and limited media access, remain largely unreached by these campaigns. The study recommends that Okin FM 105.7 should intensify its campaigns through more localized programming, translate key messages into Yoruba and other local dialects, and collaborate with schools, mosques, and churches to extend its reach. It is also recommended that government agencies and civil society organisations support and scale up community radio campaigns as a cost-effective strategy for combating child trafficking in rural and peri-urban Nigeria.