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VC charges radio broadcasters on professionalism

By Murtala Adewale, Kano
20 February 2018   |   2:51 am
Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Mohammad Yahuza Bello, has challenged practitioners in radio broadcasting to uphold the ethics of journalism while discharging their professional duties.

Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Mohammad Yahuza Bello

Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Mohammad Yahuza Bello, has challenged practitioners in radio broadcasting to uphold the ethics of journalism while discharging their professional duties. Bello, who specifically stressed on political programmes on radio stations in Kano, expressed worry over what he considered offensive language and abusive altercation. 

Bello spoke at an event organised by faculty of Communication and Information of the university to commemorate World Radio Day. He faulted radio owners who rented their air-waives out regardless of ethical justification for the allotted period. 

Represented by Deputy Vice chancellor (Academic), Prof. Sagir Adamu Abbas, Bello pointed out that many radio owners who place income-generation above public consciousness end up devaluating public interest.

“We are worried that more radio stations spring up and more people get jobs and that is not the problem because of the saying, ‘the more the merrier,’ but what we are seeing is quite different in Kano. Radio stations have rented out their airtime to politicians to come on air to rain all sorts of abuses and curses on other people; this is not healthy for our society.

“I want to believe radio owners should not be mindful of generating income alone. We also have to think of the peaceful coexist of the society. Journalists should be professional enough not to allow people on the streets, who are not professional broadcasters, take over the radio programmes in the name of political programming.”

In his paper presentation titled ‘Proliferation of Radio Stations in Northern Nigerian and it’s Implications on Political Development,’ ace radio broadcaster and former Commissioner of Information in Katina State, Mallam Lawal Yusuf Saulawa, traced the beginning of radio proliferation from independence down to the military era, stated that broadcast media has improved democratic system of government.

According to him, “Programmes on radio today have given opportunities to different people to air different opinions which went on to strengthen and continued the development of democracy. To date, the various broadcast stations, especially the radio, have given a lot of prominence to political programmes. “

This has given a major boost to the democratic process and will continue to uphold, strengthen and develop it, as has been happening to major international democracies that we are copying from.”

Saulawal, however, criticised radio owners for poor welfare for their staff while calling on professionals to be just and fair in the discharge of their duties. 

Chairman of the occasion and Managing Director of Kano State Radio Corporation, Malllam Umar Saidu Tudunwada, blamed lack of professionalism in radio stations to lack of efficiency on the part of the regulatory body and ownership imposition.

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