Being A Paper Presented by Elder Donatus Okpe,B.A( Hons) MA ,PGD (OIK) At The Ceremony To Mark The 10th Anniversary Of Prime FM And Ground-Breaking Ceremony of Its New Transmitter Station.
Protocol
When Alhaji Momoh Adeiza,my council chairman,friend, confidant and a man whom I have so much respect for because of his unimpeachable principles and personal integrity ,asked me to deliver this paper, certain things ran through my mind. It is difficult for a journalist to find his colleague on the same pedestal of professional status worthy to present papers on auspicious occasion like this. In most cases, when I was part of the nomadic journalism ,most of our paper presentations were always done by lecturers of citadel of learning and public officers who possess infectious and fragrant proclivities in affairs of men. But I quickly realized that Comrade Adeiza and other members of NUJ were not only my fans when I maintained the Reality Column at The Graphic newspaper (Kogi State Newspaper Corporation);they and some leaders of civil society groups had also in the past, called me to be part of conversations on media at perilous time like this.
INTRODUCTION
I was was asked to talk on “Radio as medium of grassroots orientation and mobilization in an election year;a time for greater community participation”.This topic places high premiums on radio as a medium, reorientation of the ill -informed people at the grassroots particularly in the year of election which we have already entered. While I don’t want to bother you with definitions which you are already familiar with, I will pay greater attention to radio as a powerful medium of communication and elucidate on widening gab between this medium and host community in the season if mass ignorance,debilitating economy and systemic pressure .
We can’t allocate the functions of radio ,a medium in mass media, without defining the latter and assert its unlimited and infectious influence.Professor Raph Akinfeleye of Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos ,once averred that mass media which radio is the most senior component, are not only the fourth estate of the realm but also as essential social forces that help to lubricate the engine room of democracy or the superstructure. Indeed the erudite scholar said ” they do not only monitor governance and make government accountable to the people,but they are also required to check and balance ,watch-dog and gate- keep the door of sustainable democracy. From Akinfele ‘s submission , we know that media are community-centered. From this point the former co-founder of Newswatch Magazine and an ace writer , went beyond to expouse the corrosive and overwhelming power of all the channels of mass media. In a Newswatch edition of September 14,1987,the quintessential writer submitted that ” for good or for evil, the press through the mediums ( the print or electronic media) imposes its views and opinions on the rest of the society . It dictates public taste. It dictates what is fit enough for public or community community consumption. ” Please take note that the preponderance of power of mass media becomes infinitesimal when the public or the host community withholds its support out of insensitivity or ignorance. The media has symbiotic relationship with its host community and its environs. A community like most Hausa-Fulani settlements whom I covered as a journalist for 17 years, can resolved to fuel the power -generating plant of a radio station that serves them. In my day as a nomadic correspondent, FRCN State representatives were part of creme de crème in any state in the North because of programs sponsored by such state governments. Communities also sponsor media programs in vernaculars through their leaders. This is the reason while one may rob Hausa-Fulani of any thing but not his transistor radio and cattle. They have better understanding of local and international politics than professor of political science who neither read newspapers nor listen to radio programs.
Radio As Medium of Communication
The British colonial government which established its imperial presence in Nigeria after the Berlin conference of 1884-1885, built radio station in Ibadan in 1933 .By 1950 ,radio stations were established in Kano,Enugu,Kaduna and Lagos.In the year 1957 they stations were were brought under Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). The NBC has coalesced into FRCN with FM stations in the 36 States and FCT as well as six zonal Stations. Indeed,it is the biggest radio network in Africa. To complement this giant stride,there are over 100 radio stations in the country after the deregulation of electronic media in 1980s. Dr Raymond Dokpesi took advantage of the deregulation and became its flagship in establishing several radio and television stations .Even as marine engineer,he knows the power of the media for good or for evil.
Radio and its Power of Outreach
Until the advent of internet, radio remained the fastest mode if communication. For those of us who work in the print in those days of active journalism,we were not happy when we see radio reporters in reportorial assignments. They made our stories useless in a matter of minutes.What is a story without newsworthiness and immediacy of contents.Our Editors in the print do advise us to look for exclusive angles when we are in competition with radio in particular. Now,we are happy the internet and its social media components (New media) are giving the the radio a run for its superiority in our analogue days.
If radio has the fastest means to reach its audience, it means it can make or mar. Let me start from the positive sides. Just imagine that all radio stations in Nigeria were dead during the Ebola virus,Covid 19 pandemic, poliomyelitis ,cholera,HIV and other health challenges which were seemingly irredeemable, the people would have perished as incommunicado served its diet of ignorance in a country where more than half of the population of 250 millions are still illiterate persons. Just imagine when there was bomb explosion in military formation in Lagos in the early part of this millennium and ignorant Lagosians in the Centre of Excellence, jumped into carnals thinking Lagos was being bombed from air. Hundreds got drowned in the filty carnal but those who got the right information from radio announcement were saved from consequences of mass-killing misinformation.
On more grievous negative note, a radio station in Kigali,Rwanda ,called one of the tribes a cauldron of cockroaches following alleged bombing of presidential jet of a president of Hutu extraction. In a ensuing pogrom between Hutu and Tutsi ,no fewer than 800,000 Rwandans were killed in a genocidal frenzy .In Nigeria ,I know the roles played by radio propaganda in civil and enthno -religious wars .
Radio As Partner in Community service in Electioneering Year
Professor J .A. Sambe of Mass Communication Department ,Benue State University, once submitted that”Communication, radio in particular, has increasingly been identified with catch phrases that include binding force, that cement relationships in communities,a system that ties the system together, the glue that binds organizations.” If radio or medium of communications, binds us ,it tells us how indispensable they it could be.There should be symbiotic relationship between this medium,its host communities or area of influence represented by government. With the near collapse of world economy after Covid ‘ 19 Pandemic, government alone cannot fund state owned media . When a radio station is sited in a place, it undertakes programs, embarks on reorientation and public enlightenment that enhance peace,unity and robust vitality of human existence. It creates employment for its immediate environment. The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) ,through its news and Programs, has played these immeasurable roles since its inception. Radio Kogi could only hook to network service through collaboration with equipment at the disposal of Prime FM. There is principle of reciprocity in human relationships through the channels of public good will. The government and people of Kogi state who benefit from news and programs of Prime FM currently located at outskirt of Lokoja,Jimgbe ,must help this radio station to serve them better.
The state government as part of its strategic media plan for development especially in electioneering year, should assist the Prime FM station to move to Mount Patti where public reception could command mass support in terms commercials and followership for mutually beneficial existence. The government should be able to provide enabling environment for people to boost the advert base of the radio station . When the people that are being governed know that government functionaries listen to news and programs on radio ,they will be competing for air times.In the time past, when the political followerhip in Kogi state realised that one of the past governors used to go to his study to listen to news or read newspapers at every 5pm, they began to compete for air time in radio and other media channels to be heard for political patronage . It was a robust time for media operators. When the then Governor saw the the sponsors of such news or enlightenment programs, he would pour ecomiums on them.I used to hear from the then Governor, ” Tims or Wada, that is a wonderful commentary”.
Government do subsidise the cost of being on the air through supply of diesel in areas where power supply is epileptic. It can also build a transmitter station and donate to a radio station as long as the kind gesture is for the enhancement of well informed citizenry. Every government knows that ill-inform people fed with ill-digested news items ,are dangerous to existence of a civilised governance. Assistance to radio stations are not infringement on ethical codes became NBC has enough rules to enforce broadcasting codes. Even the print media are begging for the financing of robust investigative journalism as means to achieve societal best practices.
The 2023 general election is around the corner with new electoral bill which the largely illiterate electorate need to be edu cater on, in local languages. This fourth electoral bill since 1999, is most comprehensive and yet cumbersome for the illiterate and semi illiterate persons. Our government and spirited individuals must do all they can to mobilise and reorientate the electorate towards a new political culture founded on peaceful conduct and heathy democratic culture .The government and the people must ,as a matter of priority, help Prime FM to perform its social responsibilities. The help this radio station needs from host community as organ of information, should go beyond sanctimony and be practically evident in supplementary funding, advert placement, moral and material support after a decade of operations amidst inadequate maximising of its enormous potentials. Thank you…. Continue reading