Authors
• Saminu Umar Ph.D.,sumar.mac@buk.edu.ng,Department of information and Media Studies Bayero University, Kano
•
Abstract
Gender disparities in entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and technical sectors continue to constrain sustainable economic diversification and inclusive growth in Northern Nigeria. These disparities are perpetuated by systemic barriers including entrenched socio-cultural norms, fragmented institutional support systems, and inadequate knowledge-sharing platforms. This study examines how strategic communication catalyzes effective collaborative research and fosters robust knowledge ecosystems to address these challenges. Grounded in dialogic communication theory, knowledge mobilization frameworks, and feminist political economy perspectives, the research employs a multi-region design spanning Kano (Northwest), Plateau (Northcentral), and Borno (Northeast) states to capture diverse socio-political contexts. Data collection methodologies include semi-structured interviews with 15 stakeholders and focus group discussions with women entrepreneurs across the three research sites. The study investigates three critical dimensions: collaborative research effectiveness, strategic communication interventions against socio-cultural barriers, and gaps within the knowledge generation- dissemination-utilization continuum. Findings will inform an integrated knowledge ecosystem framework detailing governance structure, norm- transforming communication strategies, mechanisms for validating diverse knowledge systems including women's experiential knowledge, and concrete pathways linking research evidence to policy action. This research positions strategic communication as a constitutive practice essential for advancing transformative communication scholarship on gender-equitable development in African contexts.
Keywords
Strategic communication
gender-inclusive development
collaborative research
Northern Nigeria
