Adebayo Adenrele
As the nation grapples with challenges borne out of scarcity of naira notes and fuel price hike, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zone B,(Southwest States) has called on the Journalists in the Radio stations across the country to ensure that the medium of communication is deployed in promoting peace and stability.
The Vice-President of NUJ, Zone B, Comrade Ronke Afebioye -Samo, in a press statement to commemorate the 2023 World Radio Day said the world radio day anniversary is significant as its theme anchors on Peace, urging Journalists in Radio stations to work towards promoting peace among the citizenry in discharging their duties.
The statement reads: ” As we mark the World Radio Day today, with the theme, Radio And Peace, l urge our colleagues in this veritable platform of communication to promote peace and stability in discharging their duties.
“Radio is a very instrumental and impactful medium of communication. It is very effective in reaching the grassroots. Besides, radio’s advantage in being assessible to virtually all classes of the society makes it very useful for promoting development messages, policies and plans.
“World Radio Day is an International Day celebrated on Feb.13th of every year as decided by member states of UNESCO and adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2012.
“Radio was adjudged a mass media reaching widest audience and a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all it’s diversity.
“Radio,as a low cost medium was specifically made to reach remote communities and vulnerable people, offering a platform to intervene in public debate, irrespective of people’s educational level.
“The WRD is celebrated to preserve the timeless medium and create awareness of the importance of radio.
“Radio stations shapes public opinions and frame a narrative that can influence domestic and international decision making processes.
“We therefore urge our colleagues to leverage on the advantages of the radio to promote peace, especially during a time like this that our dear country is witnessing challenges of fuel scarcity and price hike, including scarcity of naira notes which have led to protests and dissatisfaction from some quarters in the country.
“It is pertinent that we use our medium to disseminate messages that will bring succour and calm the frayed nerves of our people.
I also congratulate all broadcasters in the Nigeria radio industry and felicitate them on this important celebration.”