By Kayode Adebiyi
“Listen to the radio, oh, listen to the radio/Let’s spend the night together, baby, don’t go/They sing it on the radio.” – Don Williams “Listen to the Radio”
World Radio Day (WRD) is celebrated on February 13 every year following a proclamation in 2011 by the member states of UNESCO which was later endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly on 14 January 2013 as an international day.
According to UNESCO, for many generations, radio remained the most far-reaching, easily accessible communication medium that informs and entertains all sectors of society.
“While in some regions it has been used to fuel hatred, divisions and conflicts, a lot of progressive legislation and regulatory mechanisms have been passed in many countries resulting in radio that broadcasts balanced news, programmes and practices independent journalism in general.”
Stakeholders involved in the establishment of World Radio Day included broadcasting associations public, private, community and international broadcasters.
Others are UN agencies, funds and programmes, topic-related NGOs, academia, foundations and development agencies as well as UNESCO Permanent Delegations and National Commissions.
And it is not hard to see why.
“In an era marked by the dizzying speed of technological innovation and rapid obsolescence of one shiny new platform after another, radio is beginning its second century of service.
“It is one of the most dependable and widely utilised forms of media in the world,” says UNESCO.
The WRD’s theme in 2024 “Radio: A Century of Informing, Entertaining and Educating”, shines a broad floodlight on Radio’s remarkable past, relevant present and promise of a dynamic future.
According to Statista Market Insights, there are approximately 31 billion radio listeners globally. This figure is expected to rise to 3.2 billion over the next three years.
Researches show that it is erroneous to assume that radio is mostly listened in poorer countries where people cannot afford television.
According to research-orientated organization, top listening countries are U.S.A, Germany and China.
A Pew Research Centre report says about eight-in-ten Americans ages 12 and older listen to terrestrial radio in a given week.
A communication expert, Mr Geoffrey Njoku, agrees even with the case of Nigeria.
“Radio is not in decline in Nigeria, despite the growth and sometimes overbearing arrogance of new communication technologies.
“There are 33 million active social media users in Nigeria. This is about 16 per cent of the population’’, he said.
Citing figures from the Broadcasting Board of Governors Gallup polls, he said no fewer than 77 per cent of Nigerians still listen to the radio at least once a week.
According to him, this makes radio the most dominant means of mass communication in Nigeria.
What could be responsible for this? Njoku explains that: “ radio breaks down the barriers of distance and illiteracy, reaching far-flung, difficult-to-access communities in their own languages.
“ It is cheap and mobile. These qualities have kept radio going despite the onslaught of its younger cousins, television, the internet, and social media“.
According to Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammed Idris, the commemoration reflects the remarkable achievement of radio as a means of communication and information for over 100 years.
“Radio has been an essential medium of communication in Nigeria since 1933.
“Its unique ability to reach a wide audience makes it an ideal tool for disseminating government plans and programs to all levels of society, including the grassroots.
“Radio has played a vital role in shaping public opinion and promoting cultural unity in our diverse nation. It provides a platform for people of all backgrounds to speak out, be represented, and be heard, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation.
“In recent times, radio has also become a valuable means of conflict resolution and a source of hope for the oppressed,” the minister said in a statement.
Those who advocate the radio culture believe that in spite of the fact that advances in technology have given people more ways to access an increasing amount of information, radio still plays a vital role in today’s world.
They say radio is more than just announcers, news and songs, and that it is about companionship and the emotional connection with the listener.
It is mostly believed that radio broadcasts provide real-time information, and some that broadcast 24 hours a day, can provide the most recent updates to listeners.
Radio can also reach across borders and can become a valuable source of information where reliable news is scarce and has proved its worth in times of emergency such as when access to the mobile network is down as a result of an overload, or phone lines are cut.
In small communities and mostly ungoverned spaces, radio provides an avenue for regular community messaging and activities such as local sports, community events, special events, local business advertising, etc.
In spite of technological advances, enthusiasts believe that radio will still be around for some time, although the means of accessing it could be different.
They argue that, because it is easy to use, live and personal, many will still find it essential even in the era of social media.
“For more than 80 years, radio has survived and prospered by being the easiest of media to use. Wake up in the morning, have a shower, get in the car, and turn on the radio,” the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority said.
It is important that we patronise this technology that has rendered useful service to mankind for more than a century. (NANFeatures)
