Practitioners in radio and television stations in the country have been charged to make professionalism their watchword in discharging their responsibilities as reporters, presenters and producers ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Executive Secretary, ES, of Broadcast Organization of Nigeria, (BON), Dr.Yemisi Bamgbose, who gave the charge Tuesday while speaking on Fact File, a live current affairs programme of Raypower fm, also commended the radio station for pioneering private radio broadcasting 32 years ago in Nigeria.

Recall that Raypower was established in September 1994 by High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi of blessed memory. It made history as the first privately owned radio station in the country at the time when radio and television broadcast stations were exclusively operated by federal and state governments. He also founded the Africa Independent Television, AIT, both located in Alagbado, Lagos state.

However, speaking on the theme: “Radio as a tool for national development”, Bamgbose, said the occasion of the 32 anniversary reminded Nigerians that private radio

station was pioneered by Raypower over three decades ago even as he highlighted some of the positive impacts of radio stations in national development.

According to him, all over the world, radio has proven to be the most effective, reliable and authentic medium in the dissemination of public information notwithstanding the digital revolution that had taken place over time.

He said: “The common medium that has helped in promoting industrialization, democracy, disseminating information to every strata of society both the elite, those in the rural areas and satisfy everyone is radio. Therefore in Nigeria whatever development in terms of industry,  democracy, education both in the rural areas and urban centres that have been achieved majorly through radio communication”.

For instance he noted, that it is through radio advertising, that a manufactured product get known at the grassroots before buyers will patronize it, generate improved revenue for the manufacturer who will make profit and expand the business thereby boosting industrialization and promoting commerce and trade. He added that consumers become aware of the various advantages and opportunities that they would derive when they buy such a product.

Speaking further, the BON Executive Secretary recalled that radio stations played a significant role in the campaign  against military regime, that culminated in the return to democracy on May 29, 1999 in the country adding that unlike the newspaper which is limited to those who can write and read alone and distributed in mostly urban areas, radio have massive listeners in the rural areas and grassroots level.

“It is through news and programming of what government is doing, the feeling of the people towards the government, through radio that public officials know about it, through feedback and begin to form their opinions. It was used to promote democracy under the military rule and it is still being used majorly at the moment to sustain democracy as even political parties cannot reach every nook and cranny of the country. They can only campaign at most, at the headquarters of the various local governments. They rely on radio to disseminate their manifestos to the electorate.

A lot of educational programmes are also being aired on radio and people are learning massively and it is a major instrument of public enlightenment and socialization”, he stated.

For his part, ace broadcaster and former staff of the organization, Augustine Agbosunremi, said Ray power blazed the trail in private radio broadcasting, which has led to the establishment of many private varsity radio stations community radio, family radio, university radio among others while listeners now have a choice on the specifics station they want to listen to at any point in time.

He welcomed the birth of Faji fm, a sister radio station of Ray Power at Alagbado and described it as an innovation which is designed for those who don’t understand the English language “because language is also very important”,  and breaks information “down in various languages to people who may not understand all the grammar we are talking on radio”.

But he urged the management of Raypower to sustain its reach and develop more content in local languages. “Most of the ones we developed in those days have gone. I think Ray power needs to reinvent itself, look at where the drawbacks came from and begin to re-engineer, ensure sustainability, retain its old staff and develop those things that stood the station out before”.

Also contributing, a listener, Aniefok Ntia, who called from Sango in Ogun state, said radio remains very impactful and essential despite the emergence of social media and other platforms “because radio confirms to the people what we see as speculation from other platforms. When people see anything on social media they will like to hear it from the radio before they believe it. And once they hear it on radio and television, they believe that the information is authentic and so the importance of radio cannot be downplayed”.

Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose