The Role Of Radio In The Development Of Onitsha North Local Government

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The rapid growth of radio stations has raised concerns over whether they are serving the public interest or the interests of advertisers and their profit- minded owners. On one hand, there are people who argue that radio is a conduit of Western cultural products like music and advertisements, which are suppressing development-oriented local content. On the other hand, there are those who believe that radio has taken the government and its policies closer to

the people than in the days back, and therefore helped to raise the level of awareness among the rural people, on government policies, national and international events, etc. The fact is that radio, play significant roles in the development of rural areas .Before the advent of digitalization, AM radio (amplified modulation) was the order of the day but today, FM radio (frequency modulation) is in vogue. As technology takes us to a new stage, new things keep emerging and there is bound to be some changes and new development. In the opinion of Okigbo (1990:343-344) the argument may not end because, the effect of media communication will for a long time remain a controversial  issue  among scholars in any society.

In view of this, Ebeze (2002:282) stated that some schools of thought believe communication cannot effect economic development in the society (Null effect media school of thought) ,While some allude that some people under certain circumstances behave in certain ways to certain mass media messages (Minimalist media school of thought). The former, maintains that the mass  media have no effect at all on the society while the latter implies that some kind of communication on some kind of issues brought to the attention of some kind of people under some kind of condition, have some  kind  of effects. Therefore the researcher aim is to find out empirically if radio, aid in the development of the rural areas in Onitsha north local government.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The study tended to find out the role of radio in rural development.

Therefore the major focus of the study was:

1) To determine whether radio has been making positive impact in the development of Onitsha north local government.

2) To examine the challenges of radio in rural development.

3) To find out the main contributions of radio in the development of the rural areas of Onitsha north local government.

4) To find out possible adjustments in the editorial policies of the radio stations to help promote development in Onitsha north local government.

1.4 Research Questions

Bearing in mind the problem, which the research intends to solve as well as the aims and objectives, which this research intends  to  achieve, the following are the research questions:

i) Does the community participate in the production of the radio development programmes?

ii) Can radio help in improving the lives of the people in Onitsha north local government?

iii) Has communication through radio made positive impact towards the development of the Onitsha north local government?

iv) Can sound radio information make Onitsha north local government area’s development plans to fully excel?

v) Are there challenges in communicating the rural development policies of Onitsha north local government area?

vi) Can radio contribute meaningfully towards solving the development problems of the Onitsha north local government?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Therefore it is hoped that this research will be of help to many in the society and of great relevance to the follow.

(1) The profession or practice.

(2) The academia/ scholarship.

(3) The researchers/ scholars in terms of future research efforts.

It is important that radio serve the interests of the most vulnerable people in the rural area. More than 80 percent of the people live in the rural areas, and  up to 38 percent of the country’s 27 million people live below the poverty line; they cannot earn more than a dollar per day. Both the Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP), the National Mass Communication Policy, and the mission statements of many radio stations concur on the need for radio to enhance development programmes countrywide, since there is widespread need to improve the lives of the population, thus this study becomes pertinent and relevant. In addition, this study will be useful to the makers of communication and economic policies in Nigeria.

1.6 Definition of Relevant Terms.

To enhance comprehensive readiness of this work, the research deems it fit  to define some of the terminologies that are used in this work.

(1) Radio : This is a device used to disseminate information, to the diverse audience.

(2) Development: This is a change for the better in human, cultural, socio-economic and political conditions of the individual and of the society.