The Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) on Friday called on authorities in Nigeria to leverage on radio to curb the rising tide of the new variant of Covid-19 pandemic.
National President of RATTAWU Comrade Kabir Garba Tsanni in a massage to mark year 2021 World Radio Day said due to the affordable nature of radio, it could be use to reach large number of people across Nigeria.
He said the choice of radio in such instances was due to its four essential qualities of accessibility, inexpensive, immediate and widespread.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2012 adopted every February 13 as World Radio Day after the proclamation by UNESCO in 2011.
The day is set aside in order to raise awareness about the fundamental role radio plays regarding information dissemination. In addition, the day is celebrated in order to make networking among broadcasters stronger.
Speaking on the theme for this year “New World, New Radio”, Comrade Garba said it reflected the realities of the new normal that the world is facing as a result of covid-19.
“Therefore, relevant authorities should take advantage of the Radio in our collective desire to curb the rising tide of the new variant of Covid-19. Through Radio, the pre-cautionary protocols as established by World Health Organisation can reach as many people as possible and in their own languages.
“The fact remains that the radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse. At the global level, and indeed all levels of society, it has been argued that Radio remains the most widely consumed medium for education, entertainment and enlightenment.
“The unique ability of the radio to reach out the widest audience is an indication that it has the capacity to shape society’s experience of diversity. To this end, Radio stands as an arena for all voices to speak out, be represented and heard.
“In this connection therefore, Radio stations (both terrestrial and online) should serve diverse communities, offering a wide variety of programs, viewpoints and content, and at same time reflecting the diversity of audiences in the areas of their operations.”
He urged Nigeria to emulate Burkina faso whose due to effective used of radio in the fight against covid-19, recorded law number of confirmed cases.
“For instance, in Burkina Faso where there are more than 154 active radio stations, 51 of which are community stations and 40 commercial, there has been 30 minutes’ French broadcast on covid-19 every Saturday. Same amount of time is allotted for broadcast on covid-19 in Moore, Diola and Buamu languages during the weekdays.
“As a result of this, the information on covid-19 is widespread. Therefore, it is not surprising that the country has very low cases of covid-19. While advocating that Nigeria can borrow the Burkina Faso Model, I wish Nigerians, particularly workers of radio station, Happy Radio Day.”
