As Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate World Radio Day, media trainees have described radio as the most reliable platform for news dissemination, education, and entertainment.
Speaking with our reporter, Lawrence Gefu, a student of the National Broadcast Academy, Miss Fola Abiola defined radio as a technology that transmits sound including music, news, and discussions, through electromagnetic waves without the use of wires.
She emphasized its simplicity and broad reach.
“I have known radio since childhood. Most of the secular music I first heard was on radio.
That’s why I love it. It is portable, accessible, and news is often disseminated there before television or newspapers,” she said.
Other students noted that radio remains a powerful communication tool that both informs and entertains listeners.
They added that although broadcasters are unseen, their voices create a vivid mental image for audiences, fostering a unique and personal connection.
World Radio Day was proclaimed in 2011 by UNESCO member states and later adopted in 2012 by the United Nations General Assembly.
It is observed annually on February 13 to celebrate broadcasters for the information they deliver, the voices they amplify, and the stories they share.
Respondents further highlighted that radio was the first wireless mass medium, predating television and the internet.
They stressed its continued relevance, particularly in rural communities where access to modern digital technology remains limited.
While acknowledging advancements in Artificial Intelligence, the students maintained that AI cannot replace the authenticity of the human voice on radio.
They insisted that radio’s core mission is to inform, educate, and entertain, continues to sustain its relevance despite the emergence of newer media platforms.
The theme for this year’s celebration is: “Radio and Artificial Intelligence: AI is a Tool, Not a Voice.”
Written by Lawrence Gefu