ADDRESSING HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES AGAINST WOMEN IN NIGERIA THROUGH DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING STRATEGIES

Abstract

Harmful cultural practices against women in Nigeria, such as female genital mutilation, early and forced marriages, and degrading widowhood rites, persist despite legal prohibitions. These practices are sustained by deep-rooted socio-cultural norms and require multidimensional intervention. This study examines how Development Communication and Psychological Counseling Strategies can be harnessed to challenge and transform such harmful traditions. Anchored in Social Learning, and Participatory Communication theories, the research explores how strategic communication fosters awareness and behavioural change, while counseling provides psychological resilience and empowerment. Attempting to assess the effectiveness of media-driven campaigns, community engagements, and trauma-informed counselling in reshaping perceptions, the qualitative methods, which included a case study, focus group discussions and one-on-one interviews with advocacy groups, psychologists, and affected women, are employed. Findings reveal that integrating communication advocacy with counseling enhances intervention outcomes, bridging gaps between awareness and emotional healing. The study provides evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, NGOs, and grassroots organizations on leveraging these strategies for sustainable cultural transformation. This research contributes to gender equity discourse and offers a replicable model for eradicating harmful traditions through an interdisciplinary approach