CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Communication is the process of sending message from one point to another and the content of the message is called information. Information pervades the whole spectrum of life. It is a treasure to a nation, community and the larger world. Every sphere f life will remain static without well-packaged information. Information to a large extent is an asset, a resource, a commodity with social economic and political consequences.
Communication is as old as mankind and it is the pivot on which human existence, continuity and national development revolves. Different media are used in communication, which classified into print – such as Newspapers, Magazines, etc.; Electronics – such as Radio, Television, etc., oral – eg. use of gongs, etc.
The electronic media categories are the most prominent and significant. They are younger than oral and print media being mainly the products of twentieth century. Stella Okunna (1987) noted, “Radio appears to be more powerful. It stands out as having the greater power of reaching the diverse people of the Nigeria nation” Radio as a medium of mass communication has wider scope of coverage and as a commonly used medium makes greater impact on the audience. Radio is a mechanical medium of communication whose reception according to Okonkwo (1997) “is aural”. Radio makes use of sense of sound and hearing to convey its message to the audience. It is a faithful comparison everywhere one found a set to listen to while having a walk, at work, in the farm, in the market places, riding a car, on a motor-cycle, on a donkey, etc. Radio is used countrywide even in rural areas. This is attributable to the unique qualities of the medium – it is portable, easily affordable and easily – operated even in the absence of electricity.
In this study therefore, we have set out to examine the roles played by Radio Programmes in National Development with particular reference to Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), Owerri as a case study.
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Nigeria is a giant nation strongly backed up by a collective will to develop and forge ahead. “In dreams”, writes Fred Amadi (1999) “begins responsibility”. The responsibility of carrying the people of the nation along its developmental journey falls on radio – the media used countrywide.
It is believed that Nigeria nation has not less than 250 ethnic groups with different socio-cultural backgrounds. This calls for a medium that can cross boarders, break through all barriers and make developmental impact on the audienc as according to Wilbur Schramm (1994) “for there to be unity and national development, there must be effective communication”
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Language is one of the major barriers that hinder radio programmes from being consumed by the audience. Nigerian is a multi-lingua nation and as such, differences in language reduce the listenership of radio programmes. Unlike newspaper, which has the advantage of semi-permanence, radio programmes are transient in nature.