Charles Akolo Katsibi
8 October 2008
opinion
The first time I heard about the concept of community radio was in 2005. It was new and confusing to me, but my lecturer then, Prof. Umaru Pate (Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri), elaborated on the whole idea.
No doubt societies today are continually visited by hi-tech and scientific innovations that carry with them titles of emancipation, development, increase in the standard of living and access to and participation in governance.
The proliferation of media houses (print and broadcast) with diversity to ownership-private, group and or government is a clear definition of what is known as media pluralism. However, a closer look at this development indicates that all of these media are concentrated in the urban centres of the society. Except, of course, for the wider coverage and accessibility of radio, village dwellers do not have the presence of a media outfit.
The beginning of private broadcasting in Nigeria in 1994 redefined the all-encompassing role of the media to national integration and development. However, 14 years after, the much-needed development at the grassroots level is still not felt or at least not felt much. Arguably, community radio is all about accessibility and participation. Yet, the intended beneficiaries are still isolated and the question is: is it that the government does not understand the impact of community radio to the Nigerian society?
Conversely, there are personnel who are ready to put in their best to promoting and sustaining the idea, if implemented. Like the effects theories in media studies, the multi-step flow theory explains rather a not direct delivery of media messages between source and receiver in S--R, but a middle person who serves as an interpreter of media messages. This sometimes distorts the real fact conveyed by media. It also means that developmental issues are not clearly communicated and understood by recipients. Hence, the need for community radio-direct access to media messages by all.
The community radio allows for a particular community to communicate effectively. This suggests that values, beliefs, norms and orientation are shared among community members. Similarly, members get to promote their ideology(ies), discuss issues confronting them - land ownership, communicable diseases, intra and inter marriages, farming and settling conflicts, expressing their views concerning governments' policies and actions, especially as they affect them.
In fact, some higher institutions in the country having understood the impact set up community radio stations to serve the needs of their immediate university community and its environs. Some of these institutions include University of Lagos and Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, etc. The importance of this cannot be overemphasised. More so that students as well as lecturers can communicate with one another, discuss about moral decadence, examination malpractices, indecent dressing, etc.
Another vital issue that should be considered here is its non-commercial purposes as compared to the conventional radio stations obtained in urban centres. Its sole purpose (s) is to meet the needs of its immediate audience (community), though it can carry announcements. The community radio is not expensive to run or sustain. Perhaps, the equipment needed could be transmitters, sound systems (tapes, microphones), personnel to man the equipment and most importantly, licence to go on air.
The government cannot carry everybody along with its policies and actions without a medium. Yes, the pluralistic nature of the media today can be said to be effective, but the fundamental questions are: do all Nigerians understand the 7-point agenda of Mr President? What about the millennium development goals (MDGs)? Does the newly-created Ministry of the Niger Delta have any impact on the people of that region and Nigerians at large? What about Nigeria's foreign policy objectives? All these questions and many more can be put into perspective by rural dwellers if there is a channel through which they can be communicated to and they in turn appreciate and participate in them.
Community radio can mobilise the community to participate in governance and it can sensitise them on their civic responsibility. It can also galvanise support for an action-advocacy and can engender social change. In short, community radio can initiate and execute what the government might deem difficult in executing. Through community radio, the government can get to know the problems of the rural dwellers - the poor road networks, water borne diseases, electrification and other issues.
If government must succeed in its democratic policies, there must be a paradigm shift. As Modibbo Kawu noted in his article of 18th September, 2008 (Daily Trust), "Moving on the community radio track," "Nigeria must also move on the track of community broadcasting to assist in the deepening of the content of democracy as well as climbing down from the elitist pedestal upon which radio broadcasting policy has been placed for too long in this country." It is not untrue when some western as well as African, Asian and Caribbean countries attribute the deepening of their democratic principles partly to advancing the cause of community radio. When people are informed about issues, they appreciate them and take action where appropriate.
The broadcast media is the fastest medium to reaching the remotest of areas anywhere, especially radio. It plays an important role in national communication policy. It is the tool to achieving national integration and leads the mantle in development. The power of the radio is so amazing.
Community broadcasting is not intended to incite the people to rise against a constituted authority; rather, it's to help them understand, appreciate and participate in governance. Most importantly, it will help in fashioning and designing a mutual line of communication and acceptance between the government and the governed. Communities in the country are eager to express their opinions about the style of leadership of Mr President, talk about their representatives in the National Assembly and their performances so far.
While Nigerians await the move by the government to either groom the idea or discard it, stakeholders in the broadcast industry should channel a cause, organise workshops/seminars for other broadcasters and by extension educate Nigerians on community radio initiative. Equally, an informed man is a liberal man. Therefore, the government should promote the idea as it will help to address at least the issue of illiteracy and poverty and other vital goals in the MDGs. Bureaucracy is a known factor, but it can be removed. Nigerians on the other hand should be ready to face the challenge of managing such a project if implemented. Nigeria is ours to tender and not to divide. Ideas must be supported and promoted. Human and material resources must also be properly managed.
Katsibi wrote from Apata Jenta, Jos, Plateau State
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