For over a century, radio has been a constant companion, informing, entertaining, and giving people around the world a voice. Though new technologies have emerged over the decades, radio continues to hold a special place by connecting communities in times of celebration and crisis.
As we mark World Radio Day on February 13th, it is an apt moment to reflect on the journey of this medium we fondly call the ‘radio’.
Origins
It is generally believed that the first radio transmission was made by Guglielmo Marconi in 1895. Soon after, around 1905-1906, radio broadcasting of music and talk aimed at a wider audience began on an experimental basis.
The radio became commercially available in the early 1920s. About three decades later, radio stations started appearing and by the 1950s, radio and broadcasting had become a common medium across the world.
Radio Broadcasting was introduced into Nigeria in 1933 by the then Colonial Government. It was later renamed Nigerian Broadcasting Service in 1951 and eventually became the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria in 1978.Wor
UNESCO Declaration on World Radio Day
In 2011, UNESCO Member States proclaimed February 13 to be celebrated as World Radio Day. This was then adopted as an International Day by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012.
The objective is to increase public and media awareness about the importance of radio. The day also encourages radio stations to provide greater access to information and promote networking and cooperation amongst broadcasters globally.
Evergreen Significance of Radio
Radio remains the most widely consumed medium globally with its unmatched ability to reach the widest audiences. It shapes societal experiences of diversity by serving as an inclusive platform for democratic discourse where all voices can speak and be heard.
It is a low-cost medium well-suited to serve remote and vulnerable communities, offering them opportunities to participate in public debates, irrespective of their education levels. Radio also plays a vital role in emergency communication and disaster relief efforts.
The 2024 theme is “Radio: A century informing, entertaining and educating,” highlighting radio’s enduring impact on news, drama, music and sports over the past 100 years. It also recognizes radio’s importance as a portable safety net during emergencies and natural disasters, providing public service connectivity to marginalized groups including immigrants, minorities, and impoverished populations.
Highlighting radio’s significance, veterans Jide Ogunluyi and Adejumo Ishola, Chairman of Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union in Lagos, noted the roles radio played in ensuring national unity and public communication during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Radio played a transformative role during the Covid 19 pandemic. It was vital in educating the public and clearing the misconceptions and misinformation which would have worsened the spread of the pandemic in Nigeria,” Ogunluyi said.
The 2024 theme is “Radio: A century informing, entertaining and educating,” referencing radio’s enduring impact over the past 100 years on news, drama, music and sports. With over 300 radio stations across Nigeria and government promises to ease community radio licensing, Ogunluyi and Adejumo suggest sustained creativity and preserving radio’s legacy as the beacon of truth are key for the future.
As the years pass by, stakeholders remain hopeful radio will continue serving as an inclusive democratic platform where all voices are heard.
