By Sani Musa Gamaliya, Program Producer, Progress Radio, Nigeria
Progress Radio 97.3 FM Gombe’s neighborhood consciousness program on the coronavirus epidemic has had a big influence on the lives of individuals in northeast Nigeria. This system has been operating for over a yr and has helped to boost consciousness of the virus and the best way to forestall its unfold. It additionally helped to scale back stigma and discrimination in opposition to individuals who have been contaminated with COVID-19. Progress Radio was established in 2016 and is devoted to broadcasting radio applications primarily in Hausa, English, and Fulfulde. It was awarded as the perfect radio station in northeast Nigeria in 2022, having a attain of roughly 4 million listeners. The radio station has applications on subjects reminiscent of politics, leisure, present affairs, tradition and custom, ladies’s affairs, and children’ time.
Cultural Survival supplied a small grant to Progress Radio for the implementation of a program titled “Conducting an awareness-raising marketing campaign in opposition to the COVID-19 pandemic in Gombe State, northeastern Nigeria by means of neighborhood radio.” One of the crucial profitable features of this system has been the usage of radio to achieve a large viewers. Radio is a well-liked type of media in northeast Nigeria and a trusted supply of knowledge for many individuals. This system has used radio to broadcast messages in English, Hausa, and native languages on COVID-19 and vaccines in partnership with neighborhood leaders and well being consultants. This has helped to make sure that the message reaches individuals who could not have entry to different types of media.
This system additionally used neighborhood outreach actions to achieve individuals who could not have radio entry. Group outreach members visited villages and cities to distribute instructional supplies concerning the virus and reply questions and in addition labored with neighborhood leaders to develop and implement prevention measures. This system has been a boon for small journalists in Nigeria. Fatima Abubakar, a station volunteer, is one instance of a journalist who has benefited from this system. “I’ve been ready to make use of the earnings earned from this system to assist myself and my household. Furthermore, it helped me to discover and share information concerning the coronavirus epidemic and inform neighborhood members on the best way to forestall it from spreading additional,” she says.
This system has been properly obtained by the neighborhood, with many listeners reporting that they discovered concerning the COVID-19 pandemic for the primary time by means of this system. This system has additionally been praised by commerce unions and activists who advocate for the safety of well being rights. The monetary assist from Cultural Survival helped to maintain the station throughout the COVID disaster and in addition helped to construct better consciousness and relationships with the communities.
One of the crucial notable successes of this system has been its capability to persuade individuals to take COVID-19 critically. When this system started, some listeners didn’t even imagine that the virus existed or that it might have an effect on Black individuals. Nevertheless, after listening to from well being consultants on this system, many listeners modified their minds and commenced taking precautions to guard themselves.
Radio Progress’s neighborhood consciousness program is a shining instance of how media can be utilized to teach and inform individuals about necessary points.In 202XXX, Progress Radio obtained a grant from Cultural Survival’s Indigenous Group Media Fund, which offers alternatives for worldwide Indigenous radio stations to strengthen their infrastructure and broadcast techniques and creates coaching alternatives for journalism, broadcasting, audio modifying, technical expertise, and extra for radio journalists from Indigenous communities around the globe. In 2023, the Indigenous Group Media Fund distributed $420,000 in grants supporting 60 Indigenous communication tasks that may profit 87 Indigenous Peoples in 20 nations.
— In 2022, Progress Radio obtained a grant from Cultural Survival’s Indigenous Community Media Fund, which offers alternatives for worldwide Indigenous radio stations to strengthen their infrastructure and broadcast techniques and creates coaching alternatives for journalism, broadcasting, audio modifying, technical expertise, and extra for radio journalists from Indigenous communities around the globe. In 2023, the Indigenous Group Media Fund distributed $420,000 in grants supporting 60 Indigenous communication tasks that may profit 87 Indigenous Peoples in 20 nations.
