EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND SOCIO-BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE AS A MEANS OF CURBING THE MENACE OF STREET CHILDREN IN CALABAR METROPOLIS, CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
This study reveals how effective communication and social and behavioural change strategies can be used in curbing the menace of Street Children in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State. Street children, popularly known as Skolombo Boys, operate with different kinds of weapons, snatching phones, money, and other valuables from people around the City of Calabar. There have also been reports of robberies, rape, and kidnapping carried out by this group of children. If this situation is not handled urgently, it may escalate to the point where these children seek to gain control of certain territories in Calabar. Therefore, effective communication is essential for implementing a strategic, participatory intervention if sustainable change is to occur in the state. The study is a survey that relies more on primary and secondary data, using existing information for analysis and to draw vital conclusions. These data sources for the study include observations, interviews, books, journal articles, unpublished papers, and web pages. The theories used here are the Socio-ecological Model and the Social Cognitive Theory. This study aims to answer specific communication questions. The study concludes that a lack of family support for children made it easier for them to end up on the streets.