Nigeria: Promoting community broadcasting as tool for social services

IN line with the clamour for community broadcasting in Nigeria, the Coordinator of the Raymond Dokpesi Centre for Media Development, Mr. Christopher Ebuetse, has emphasised the need to ensure that the third tier of broadcasting maintain its profile as tool for social service.

Ebuetse, who stressed that community broadcasting is very important because information is knowledge, information is power, said “ignorance will always under develops a nation.

“We must see how other private stations run in other developed countries of the world like America, Britain and Germany. We should also study the role government plays on issues of community broadcasting. Running a television organisation is capital intensive and there is no way that community TV can survive, given the cost of running the station in Nigeria.

“If community television is seen as social services to the people, then there must be a pragmatic programme of sustenance. It is difficult to set up a T.V station and to run it is even more difficult. We must prepare well for it.”

He however argued that to step up broadcasting in the country and be the envy of people around the globe, a level playing ground must be created for every operator, both public and private.

“The advent of private media championed by the High Chief, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi brought revolution in the broadcasting industry. His coming into the industry was by storm and he created a new order, with such revolution, in an evolving broadcasting environment, one must and should expect barrage of challenges to confront the industry. Most Nigerians have not woken up to the dawn in broadcasting.

“The government also, may be because we are coming from a long period of military rule. But the future is bright. Nigeria is an environment that is rich in activities; rich in industry, commerce, politics, governance, and these are what broadcasting feast on. The entertainment industry is also growing, and with this, the industry can often produce content.”

On the Centre’s programme of activities this year, Ebuetse mentioned Raymond Dokpesi Annual Lecture scheduled for September as top on the list.

The topics and the speakers are: Democracy, a catalyst for economic advancements, national development and peace, to be delivered by Abia State Governor, Theodore Ahamefule Orji; the role of women and youths in national development, by Senator Folashade Grace Bent; and Security is everybody’s business by Mr. Paul Obanua, Chief Executive Officer, GreenField Asset Limited and National Co-coordinator, Mass Interest Project. The father of the day would be Alhaji Bamaga M. Tukur, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“This year, we intend to award deserving political administrators with the Raymond Dokpesi Peace Award. The award will be for governors in the six geo-political zones of the country. The issue of conflict, sectarian crisis is no longer new, but there are states that have been able to hold their own. States that we do not hear bombing, kidnapping, armed robbery, in each of the geo-political zones would be honoured. The award is unique and relevant at this very time when we are grappling with security situation in Nigeria,” he disclosed.

Another highlight is the Raymond Dokpesi Endurance Trek “for peace and that Nigerians should believe in their country. Wanton destruction of lives and property should stop. The trek is for everybody, people from different walks of life. It is a trek to preach unity, peace and development.”

The trek, as a prelude to the lecture, according to Ebuetse, “is to dilute the intellectual nature of the lecture, by placing what the lecture is about before the ordinary man in our streets. This is why cobblers, mechanics, are also involved in the trek.”

He said arrangement is being perfected to also carry out police and public initiative campaign before the end of the year. “We have forwarded our proposal to the Inspector General of Police and we hope they collaborate with the Centre on what we intend to do.

“The Centre will equally present to the universities books emanating from the Raymond Dokpesi Annual Lecture. The books are rich for research by students studying Humanities, Political Science, Law and Mass Communications. This is our own way of capacity building.”