WORLD RADIO DAY IN FOCUS.

By Abdullahi Yahaya Maikano

People across the globe have been encouraged to inculcate the culture of listening to Radio to stay updated with happenings within and around their communities.

This is coming at the heels of celebrations on World Radio Day which was set aside by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO every 13th February with the aim of underlining the importance of Radio to the public.

Speaking at an event to mark the Day in Bauchi, the Zonal Director Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria North East Zone Barrister Babayo Askira who expressed delight for witnessing the day described radio as an avenue through which information is disseminated to the grassroot.

Barrister Babayo Askira advised the public to device means of listening to radio being the most affordable, trusted and widely used medium around the world.

“It is a thing of joy, it’s something that’s been recognised universally, I’ll tell people that radio is a very cheap medium of communication, people listen to the radio from the grassroots it’s not expensive to listen to the radio and get information.”

On the speculations that radio will be phased out in coming years, the Zonal Director argued that radio has become a medium to recon-with in every generation, adding that the advent and inculcation of New Media into radio has proven the narrative wrong.

“radio is also digitised because we have the new media now, you don’t have to listen to radio with your radio box but you can listen online, we’re streaming so the radio is still there i don’t think radio is going to be outdated, radio is always fresh.”

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Bauchi State Governor on Media and Publicity Comrade Mukhtar Gidado represented by the Director Press Government House Bauchi, Sulaiman Alhassan Dambam encouraged the public to give more attention to radio as it covers different aspects of human life such as Education, Health, Agriculture amongst others.

“i want to encourage them to absolutely listen to different programs particularly those that affects the lives of the people .”

On his part, a Chief Lecturer with the Department of Mass Communication Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Hassan Alhaji Hassan who deliberated on the importance of Radio said despite the existence of internet, Radio has impacted immensely on the lives of the citizenry.

“the only medium that you can listen to and then be doing so many other things it doesn’t stop you from performing your official duties, it doesn’t stop you from performing your house chores from anything, you can do so much with radio.”

Hassan Hassan who is also the immediate past Chairman of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations NIPR Bauchi Chapter explained that radio does not stop people from performing their day-to-day activities emphasised the need for all and sundry to embrace radio as a medium of acquiring knowledge.

The Theme for this year’s World Radio Day is ‘Radio and Trust’.

High points of the event were presentation of awards to deserving personalities as well as drama presentation among others.