By Virtuous Ikeoluwa.
The leadership and entire members of Radio,Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) Ekiti State Council, have rejoiced with all Radio Workers and Listeners in Ekiti State on the occasion of the celebration of 2023 World Radio Day being celebrated on 13th February, as UNESCO is celebrating the 12th edition of the Day with the theme “Radio and Peace”.
February 13th was proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO to create awareness and celebrate radio broadcasting all over the world and the proclamation was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012.
Radio is a powerful tool for sustaining and shaping humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse. At the global level, radio remains the most widely consumed medium. This unique ability to reach the widest audience means radio can shape a society’s experience of diversity, stand as an arena for all voices to speak out, be represented and heard.
Radio stations serve diverse communities, offering a wide variety of programmes, viewpoints and content, and reflect the diversity of audiences in their organizations and operations.
Radio continues to be the most trusted and used media in the world, according to different international reports, “Radio and Peace” is an apt description of the significance and continuous acceptance of radio as an unequalled and most trusted means of mass media broadcast.
It is a tribute to its capacity for perpetual adaptation to the rhythm of societal transformations and listeners’ new needs in the face of the monster of fake news through social media, societal strive and terrorism.
2023 World Radio Day is calling on all radio stations, audio shows and podcasters around the world to participate, and remind their listeners that radio is part of humanity’s history, adapting to our lifestyles and dynamic technologies.
World Radio Day was proclaimed to raise greater awareness among the public and the media of the importance of the radio.
On the significance of Radio, in a statement by the RATTAWU Chairman in Ado-Ekiti, Comrade Jasper Falae said radio, is specifically suited to reach all segments of societies, even remote communities and vulnerable people, while offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people’s educational level: Communities with lower levels of literacy, persons with disabilities, women, youth and those facing poverty.
Defending and fostering free, independent and pluralistic radio is the most important goal, since it underlies democracy and the rule of law, which is vital for conflict resolutions and an enduring world peace.
The state further said that Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union, (RATTAWU) Ekiti State Council, uses the opportunity of the Day to celebrate all the workers of Radio stations in Ekiti State for sustaining the age long integrity of radio broadcasting in the State and maintaining the ethics of the mass broadcast.
“The Union wishes to equally appreciate the State Government and the Proprietors of Radio Stations in Ekiti State for believing in us and plead earnestly for improved welfare of all “Radio Workers” in Ekiti State.
“We are determined to use our platforms to engender peace in Ekiti State and Nigeria, especially as the 2023 General Elections approach. We therefore advise the general public to follow all broadcast media houses in Ekiti State both live and on the internet as well as their verified social media platforms.
“We use this medium to plead with the government to find a speedy and permanent solution to the crisis rocking the oil and gas sector of the economy as the rising prices of diesel and PMS are threatening the existence of the critical media industry.
“Radio Listeners and Regular Callers are the reason for today’s celebration and the pillars behind our success. You are all appreciated”.