NAN-H-77
Radio
By Tukur Muntari
Kano, Feb. 13, 2018 (NAN) A veteran Broadcaster, Alhaji Lawal Yusufu Saulawa, has described Radio as the easiest reach-out source for the growth and development of democracy in the country.
Saulawa made the remark while presenting a paper at the Bayero University Kano on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture was organised by the Department of Information and Communications Studies of the university as part of activities to commemorate the World Radio Day.
He said Radio was also one of the veritable sources of information, mobilisation and propaganda in view of its ease of getting to the people .
This, he said, made it the easiest means of campaigns and reaching out to people by politicians, the governments, Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and anyone who wanted to sell his ideas to the people.
Saulawa, a former Executive Director of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Kaduna, and former Commissioner of Information in Katsina State, said political programmes gave opportunities to different people to air different opinions which strengthened and sustained the development of democracy.
“To date, the various broadcast stations, especially the Radio, have given a lot of prominence to political programmes as there is no broadcast station that has no political programme of one type or another.
“This has given a major broadcast to the democratic process and will continue to uphold, strengthen and develop it, as has been happening to major international democracies that we are copying from.
“So, Radio is the best means to reach the people wherever they may be; at home, in the market, in the farms or even while rearing animals in the bush, “he said.
He, therefore, charged broadcasters to adhere to the professional ethics to ensure peaceful coexistence in the country.
He also emphasised the need for regular training and retraining of Radio broadcasters to ensure effective service delivery.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Muhammad Yahuza, represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sagir Adamu, urged Radio stations to promote peaceful coexistence in the country.
“Proliferation of Radio stations is supposed to make people to live in harmony and create an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence,” he said.
The paper presentation titled: ”Proliferation of Radio Stations in Northern Nigeria and Its Implications on Political Development,” was attended by various stakeholders including Heads of print and electronic media organisations. (NAN)
MTM/AMY
Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf