EVERY HOUSEHOLD NEEDS A RADIO – OBIDIGBO

REPORTER: ALFRED AJAYI

On the occasion of World Radio Day, the significance of radio is again on the front burner across the globe more especially in the face of emerging media of information dissemination.

The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Radio: A century informing, entertaining and educating.”

The theme highlights the history of radio and its powerful impact on news, drama, music, and sports as well as recognizes the ongoing practical value of radio as a portable public safety net during emergencies and power outages.

Radio Nigeria Correspondent in Awka, Anambra State, Alfred Ajayi took on an ardent radio listener and Public Affairs Commentator, Chief Kanayochukwu Obidigbo, on the importance of radio to every day life on earth.

Excerpts

Radio Nigeria: Tuesday, 13 February 2024 marks another commemoration of the World Radio Day. In your view, how significant is the day?

Obidigbo: I will start by appreciating you for the opportunity to talk about Radio and its significance on this auspicious occasion of the World Radio Day. Radio has become an integral part of human life. We can’t separate ourselves from it. Even when we dare to do so, no other platform of mass communication can effectively take the place of radio.

Radio Nigeria: We have seen the emergence of many other media of mass communication. Many people argue that development has reduced the importance of radio. What is your take on that?

Obidigbo: I want to say that radio stands out as a great power of reaching diverse people all over the world. Radio among all other communication media television, wireless, print and even online, radio stands out because no matter where you are and how remote it is, radio gets to you. It has wider reach which other platforms cannot boast of. Wider reach in the sense that with a small transistor, you can listen to radio. Radio indeed brings the world to everyone everywhere regardless of how rural and uncivilized it may be. Radio had in the time past remained one of the mysteries of information dissemination. When we were small, we were eager to listen to the BBC, Voice of America. These are outfits from the other side of the world that get to us in our remotest villages in Nigeria. And the culture of having a radio is very important because it gives you an opportunity to connect to the world. A transistor radio that you’re holding in your hands brings you what’s going on Between Ukraine and Russia. The same way for any disaster and anything at all happening around the world, radio remains the number one public enlightenment outfit.

Radio Nigeria: Okay, let’s look at the television, newspaper, magazine and even the new media. How does radio standout?

Obidigbo: Radio seems to me to be above them all. It’s just a matter of citizens appreciating the power of radio as a means of information dissemination. Every other outfit cannot be compared with radio. You can power your radio with ordinary battery, it is not possible with television. Radio is the cheapest of them all. As I speak to you, technology has made it that every analog or android phone has an in-built radio. When you’re interested, you can always hook up to any radio station of your choice. For me, radio stands and remains ahead of every other communication outfits. What radio cannot transmit, other platforms cannot reach out to audience in certain areas of the world. Today, you can listen to radio in your language of choice. I know television does its own work, but the convenience of accessing your radio at any time is the ultimate.

Radio Nigeria: Thank you sir. But do you think that with the emergence of technology and modern platforms of information dissemination, radio is in any way threatened?

Obidigbo: Well, to a great extent, individuals must be encouraged to appreciate that their handset is a radio with them. Therefore, I don’t see how these other ones threaten radio or can render it irrelevant to people’s information need. Radio is so versatile as a means of disseminating information. But, the issue is about having a culture of adopting radio as a means of getting the needed information. You will at this point appreciate the importance our brothers from the north attach to radio. You see even the uneducated ones among them always listening to radio in Hausa language. They are more informed about happenings in Nigeria and outside the country. So, for me, radio remains unbeatable.

Radio Nigeria: But, even at that, some people have shifted attention from radio to other emerging information dissemination platforms. How do you view that?

Obidigbo: Our problem is that we are crazy about new trends. The TikTok, whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. But, I can tell you that on real time basis, radio is very informative, educative and is entertaining too. You see why it’s on too of others anywhere in the world.

Radio Nigeria: In line with this year’s theme for World Radio, “Radio: A century informing, entertaining and educating,” what is your advice for all Nigerians concerning listening to radio?

Obidigbo: Charity begins at home. Before you came in for this interview, I was educating my friends about having a radio set. It is a wonderful culture we all must imbibe. You know why, radio transmits in various languages. A lay woman in the village can tune in and listen to radio and be informed just like an educated person does. She didn’t go to school but the programme or news delivered in her local language has bridged the gap. I am appealing to our people especially down here in the Southeast that we should all have a radio. Each family should have at least a radio set because when every other medium fails, radio will not fail you. Once you charge your phone, you are listening to radio. Radio remains one of the best and topmost means of dissemination of information that every human being regardless of age should listen to. It is very important.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU