By Yemi Olakitan
The World Radio Day February 13th has come and gone, with no significant activities on the part of Nigerian radio broadcasting sector aside from a forum in Abuja and Lagos. The day passed unnoticed by the majority. It is important for all stakeholders in radio broadcasting to come together to assess the state of radio sector in Nigeria and its impacts on the nation. It should be a day for serious sober reflections amongst all and a day to mount pressure on decision makers in Nigeria so that they can take action on important matters that could have far reaching impacts on the nation. Yemi Olakitan examines how the day should be adequately and effectively celebrated every year.
The World Radio Day as adopted by UNESCO’s 36th General Conference, was February 13th of every year. The decision to adopt a World Radio Day was as a result of a request from the Spanish Radio Academy requesting for the declaration of a World Radio Day. The General Conference agreed to set aside February 13th as the day for the celebration of radio broadcasting all over the world. Observers have noted that radio is perhaps the most important source of information in developing nations across the world particularly in Africa. It is so because millions are still uneducated. Many of such Nigerians live in rural communities and cannot afford a television set, access the Internet or read the newspaper. The radio is therefore the cheapest media for most uneducated Nigerians living in remote communities, below the poverty line. Radio as a medium has the capacity to reach rural communities at very low costs in far distances, considering the huge population of Nigeria. Radio would keep the government close to the people and the people close to the government and both can work hand in hand to move the nation and the communities forward together. However, the country has not fully taken advantage of the power of radio as a tool for education, enlightenment, societal emancipation and freedom of expression.
Although a community of stakeholders namely, Nigerian Community Radio Coalition, (NCRC) the Institute for Media and Society, (IMS) Media Rights Agenda, (MRA ) international Press center, (IPC) organized a forum and issued a statement on the subject. However, a more elaborate programme that would create massive media attention and pressure the Federal and State governments on the crucial issues that affects radio broadcasting in Nigeria is necessary. These matters are in need of urgent attention as everyone agrees. A world Radio Day in Nigeria should include a protest march to Aso Rock and the National Assembly, demanding for laws to be passed and actions taken on matters that could move radio broadcasting forward in Nigeria. It should also include nationwide media campaign in all media platforms on the matters that affects radio development in the country, particularly when the above named have issued a statement on these issues. Media stakeholders must compel the government to take action on radio broadcasting in Nigeria through organized pressure on the powers that be. There are various issues of concern in radio broadcasting. One of them is community radio. Since president Goodluck Jonathan gave the approval for the licensing of community Radio in Nigeria and gave powers to the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, not much has been accomplished in that area. Community radio would contribute immensely to the eradication of ignorance in Nigeria and promotes unity, dialogue and peaceful coexistence. These can move the communities forward and the nation as a whole. Another important issue is the digitization of the Nigerian broadcasting, which as at today is still following slow process in the country. Digitization is not limited to television alone but it also extends to radio, the World Radio Day should be used to further pressure the Nigerian government on the urgency of the matter. Nigeria could only enjoy quality and modern broadcasting with digitization of the broadcast sector, despite her huge oil revenue the nation is still far behind in the global drive for the digitization of broadcasting.. No one understands the frog and tortoise pace of the nation’s decision makers on such pertinent issues. Other issues are the transformation of state owned radio to genuine public service institutions instead of mere tools of propaganda in the hands of major political office holders. The NTA is notable for such, as many have labeled the station as a government station. It is on record that NTA represent the interests of the government more than the interest of the people. In a chat with award winning journalist, Chukuma Muanya who spoke on the subject, he praised Radio Nigeria for being objective most of the time. He particularly commended the station for their 7 O’ clock news, which he said he always, listen to. He however said that they need to do more because they sometimes play down on government’s negative sides, particularly NTA. In another chat with Florence Utor, arts Journalist, she opined that he who pays the piper dictates the tune. She prefers to get her news from the private media than the government owned since according to her the government controlled stations are too politicized.
Another important matter is the licensing of private commercial radio networks, which will strengthen the power of radio as an instrument of democratization of every aspect of governance. Stakeholders say, it would ensure that government can be held accountable and that they can be monitored effectively up to the grassroots.
Therefore, the Nigerian radio broadcasting community should use the day to make noise on these issues, pressure government and involve all aspects of the nation’s communication and information sector. Only in these ways can the government recognize that these matters need to be attended to. For, at the moment, they seem to be busy fighting Boko Haram and other national enemies to the neglect of other issues. The UNESCO General Conference Resolution calls upon the Member States of UNESCO to celebrate the Day with activities at both local and national levels, with the participation of National Commissions, NGOs, the general public as well as diverse institutions, including schools, universities, municipalities, cities, broadcasters, the press, professional associations and unions, museums, cultural organizations, among others. If that was done, the sector would have scored some major points.
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