IMPACT OF THE FRCN ‘RADIO LINK’ ON NATION BUILDING
Apparently, the three basic departments or sections in any broadcasting
firm, either radio or television, remain News, Programmes and Engineering. The
news section is usually concerned with current affairs which could be local,
national or international.
On its part, the programmes department is involved in transmission of
various programmes which could be educative, informative and/or entertaining,
as the case may be. Whilst, the engineering section, which may not be directly
felt by the audience or the general public but remains the backbone of any
media outfit, is the section that deals with the technical aspect of the
transmission.
Though the news section
required the most critical attention owing to its sensitive and delicate nature
but it is noteworthy that, the programmes department if taken for granted,
stands the chance of ruining the healthy state of the broadcasting company.
This is the reason the role of the latter, which acts as a recipe in any radio
or television station, cannot be overemphasized.
In line with the quest of its teeming listeners as well as the
acknowledgement of the fact that a good programme has the tendency of
attracting millions of audience, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria
(FRCN) – the largest Radio Network in Africa instituted a programme tagged
‘Radio Link’ five years ago. Radio Link, a Radio Nigeria topical and audience
participatory programme, which its debut was aired in January 2010, is an
educative cum informative programme that is yet to have a rival in the entire
Nigerian radio broadcasting industry.
Radio Link, which is aired invariably between 8 to 10 a.m every Saturday,
touches every area of human endeavour such as social, health, politics,
economy, entertainment, arts and culture, infrastructure, governance, power
supply, education, media, security, youth affairs, and what have you. The most
fascinating aspect of the programme is that it has maintained a tradition of
featuring esteemed personalities who have distinguished themselves in their
respective field of endeavours as its guests.
Due to its unique and overwhelming features, anyone who happens to be a regular
listener or contributor to the programme would never afford to miss any of its
editions irrespective of what the person in question is engaged with. This is
why often times, Nigerians residing outside the country had endeavoured to
contribute meaningfully to the programme.
Several analysts as well as civil society activists are of the view that
Radio Link has the tendency of restructuring and uplifting the socio-political
and economic status of the Nigerian state, if sustained. Recently during a
seminar organized by Docfred Continental Social Clinic – a Centre for
counselling and career development based in Owerri, Imo State, one of the
speakers in the event recognized Radio Link as ‘the Pathfinder of our time’; an
accolade that was welcomed by all the informed minds present at the occasion.
In view of the above remarks, it is needless to reiterate the fact that
Radio Link has succeeded in awakening the socio-political consciousness of an
average Nigerian, thereby increasing the rate of participation of most Nigerian
citizens in electoral matters unlike before when on the average, a Nigerian
youth pays less attention to issues affecting the Nigerian polity.
Suffice it to say; the audience participatory programme – Radio Link,
likewise other related ones aired on Radio Nigeria including Issues of the
Moment, Police Diary, Bush House Nigeria, Politics Nationwide, among others,
has contributed tremendously in nation building. Without mixing words, the
remarkable impact of Radio Link on youth affairs and governance since its
inception has helped to reshape the thinking faculty of most Nigerian
politicians or prospective leaders as the case might be who were formally
incautious in nature or in reasoning.
Having noted the exemplary role of the renowned wave-making programme,
there is a compelling need for any right thinking Nigerian who thinks good of
this country to be concerned over its sustenance. Against this backdrop, I call
on all the corporate organizations, both indigenous and foreign, operating in
the country to in their individual capacities endeavour to sponsor the ongoing
airing of the programme with a view that it has the potential of creating an
enabling environment for their operations.
In the same vein, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) ought to
conscientize other broadcasting firms in Nigeria to ensure that they implement
as well as maintain the airing of various edifying programmes like Radio Link
at their respective stations.
No doubt, sustaining the topical and audience participatory programme –
Radio Link, which has gained ground in the nation’s broadcasting industry, will
not only assist in reawakening the Nigerian citizenry, but also help Radio
Nigeria to actualize its reputable vision which remains ‘To be an impartial,
credible, creative and digitized medium in the forefront of Nigeria’s national
development, unity and progress’.
Most importantly, it will help in proving to its fans across the African
continent and beyond that its mission, which is ‘To create and maintain
broadcast outfits that will serve as models in Nigeria and Africa at large in
terms of standards, professionalism and character’, remains sacrosanct.
Hence, the management and staff of the corporation (FRCN) should not in
any way compromise the sustenance of this programme that speaks volumes
globally, so that, the corporation will continue to uplift the people and unite
the entire nation. Think about it!
COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR
(The Media Ambassador)
Public Affairs Analyst & Civil Rights Activist
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador
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