International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR)

Background: Newspaper editorials play significant role in democratic societies by influencing public opinion and shaping policy discourse. Despite the growing body of research on agenda setting, limited studies have examined the rhetorical mechanisms through which editorials influence policy priorities in Nigeria.
Objective: This study investigated the rhetorical discourse structures and persuasive appeals employed in selected Nigerian newspaper editorials and examined their influence on policy agenda setting between 2014 and 2023.
Method: The study adopted a quantitative content analysis design complemented by rhetorical analysis. A total of 240 editorials published in selected Nigerian newspapers between 2014 and 2023 were purposively sampled and analysed. Results: The study identified the use of deliberative, judicial, and epideictic rhetorical discourse structures in framing policy concerns. Logos emerged as the dominant persuasive appeal, followed by ethos and pathos, indicating a strong preference for evidence-based reasoning and institutional credibility in editorial advocacy.
Conclusion: The study concludes that newspaper editorials remain influential instruments of policy agenda setting in Nigeria. Through the strategic deployment of rhetorical structures and persuasive appeals, editorials amplify public concerns, shape audience perceptions, and contribute to policy discussions despite the increasing prominence of digital media platforms.
Unique Contribution: This study provides fresh empirical insight into the relationship between editorial rhetoric and policy agenda setting in Nigeria. It extends agenda-setting scholarship by demonstrating how rhetorical discourse structures and persuasive appeals function as strategic tools for influencing policy debates and public understanding of governance issues.
Key Recommendation: Newspaper organizations should strengthen editorial advocacy through balanced, evidence-driven arguments while policymakers should pay closer attention to editorial discourse as a valuable source of public concerns and policy feedback.