In Nigeria, the broadcasting code officially regulates radio and television transmission. This is basically to preserve the unity of the country, avoid litigation and uphold professional ethics. However, those that are supposed to be guided by the legislation have been accused of violating the provisions of the code. To look for how to put this under check, a forum was put together to address some of the problems and seek a way out. At the occasion, a former Director of Operations at the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Eddy Aina, has cautioned operators of campus radio against the dangers of violating provisions of the commission’s code.
Mr. Aina affirmed that campus radio operations were designed to aid teaching and complement classwork, thereby enhancing learning and an optimum academic performance of students. Mr. Aina made this known at an in-house seminar for members of staff in commemoration of the radio station’s third year anniversary, and organised by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State radio station, FUNAAB Radio 89.5FM with the theme; “Nigeria Broadcasting Code and Campus Radio Operations in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects”.
According to him, campus radio is supposed to provide an opportunity for practical experience in grooming and moulding students in the rudiments of broadcasting. He stressed that such specialised radio station performs the traditional role of informing and educating students and the host community on issues bordering on public interest as well as entertainment. Mr. Aina noted that a campus radio is expected to foster civic responsibilities and engender communal integration. The radio station is also meant to bridge knowledge gaps in the information dissemination chain through news, current affairs, and programming of different genres.
He said, “General challenges like capital-intensive nature of broadcasting, inadequate financial pool, inadequate requisite professional qualification by station personnel, a deliberate attempt at over modulation of transmitter power, non-adherence to provisions of the NBC, and peculiar challenges like non-adherence to provisions of the code, particularly with respect to revenue generation and funding are some of the challenges faced by campus radio”. Mr. Aina called on university authorities nationwide to embark on training and retraining for the staff of campus radio “Given the preponderance of technology, materials, research, survey, concepts, and techniques in programming, news, and entertainment”.
The former NBC Director admonished the management and operators of campus radio stations across the country to adopt self-censorship, self-restraint, and strict professionalism as their mantra. The Guest Speaker tasked the government, the NBC, and other stakeholders in the broadcasting industry to make it a deliberate policy by licencing relevant training institutes and academies. He also stressed the need to expand the overall professional training base of campus radio stations in a bid to ensure that graduates from universities and polytechnics were equipped to be professionally-sound, skillful, and employable by contributing their quota to national development.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof. Kolawole Salako, has pledged his continued support for the radio station. The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development) and Chairman, FUNAAB Radio Board, Prof. Clement Adeofun, said the history of the radio station would not be complete without the immense contributions of Prof. Salako, who conceived the idea several years ago. He reaffirmed its commitment towards supporting proposals aimed at improving staff skills in ensuring that the strive for excellence by the University, is not compromised and that the institution attained a world-class status.
According to him, the University is known for excellence and that the radio station was not doing anything less. He charged members of staff to key into the vision of the University, by engaging in regular seminar and training activities. Prof. Adeofun pointed out that the history of the radio station would not be complete without making reference to the immense efforts of Prof. Salako, who conceived the idea and contributed to the establishment of the station from a mere proposal to an idea, and finally, to becoming a reality. The Chairman, FUNAAB Radio Board promised to encourage more of such training programmes from in-house, to local, and to international. The Don urged participants at the seminar not to take it as business as usual, saying that “It is not a tea time or party time, but a serious business. Anything you plan to do, do it well, you might find yourself in a bigger environment that might need that kind of skills and training you have”.
Therefore, what it takes to comply with the broadcasting code are discipline on the part of operators, conscious attempt to educate stakeholders of that to do and not to do, proper monitoring, addressing the funding challenge that makes radio stations to flout rules, training and retraining radio personnel of grey areas of the code, seeking for likely amendment of the code in view of the current realities, and the importance of upholding professionalism and ethics. These are critical points to take note of in a bid to beware of falling victims to the NBC regulations and other legislation guiding media practice and journalism in the country.
