CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Radio as a mass medium employs electromagnetic radio waves through transmitters and antennas, to disseminate information, education, and entertainment to listeners. Attributed to the Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) and several other inventors in Europe and the USA; radio has developed since the 1890s to become one of the most widely used mass media in the world. It is argued that despite the immense popularity of television and the internet, radio remains the mass medium that reaches the widest audience in the quickest possible time.

Statistics show that radio reaches over 5 billion people, representing 70 percent of the total world population. There are over 44,000 functional radio stations worldwide. Predictions based on research findings by Nielsen and Deloitte show that people aged between 18 to 34 will most likely spend more time on radio than watching television by 2025 (WHO, 2020).

The portability, convenience, cheap cost, and availability of free signals make radio a very popular medium in both developed and developing climes. In Europe and North America, radio is well established and has become a viable industry that generates billions of dollars annually. Within developing countries especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, radio is still maturing with many untapped potentials. There exist both state and private-run radio stations in most country capitals and other large cities and towns across Africa. However, their transmitters often reach only a few miles. People at the grassroots, often living in remote communities, are often excluded from these broadcasts (AlSayyad & Guvenc, 2015).

In response to community needs for public information, community radio stations were established in several African countries in the 1990s. Community radio describes radio stations owned and run by people of a specific community to promote and protect the community’s common interests and objectives (Savrum & Leon, 2015). Through community radio, people at the grassroots can voice their concerns on issues central to them including; health, gender relations, human rights, security and infrastructure. Countries like South Africa, Niger, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Mali have well established community radio networks. However, in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, the first community radio was only established in 2015.

The arrival of radio in Nigeria could be described as the arrival of electronic broadcasting to the country. Radio was introduced to Nigeria in 1932. The first radio stations were established as re-broadcast stations for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Radio at the time served as a tool for spreading and reinforcing the narratives of the British colonial government. Radio helped colonial officers to keep abreast with current events in Britain. Locals were not considered in the programing and outreach activities; as the medium was meant to satisfy the information needs of the British colonialists and not Nigerians Elmahdawy et al. (2017).

Currently in Nigeria, community radio together with more established state- and privately-owned radio stations, work together to disseminate public information to listeners in cities, towns and at the grassroots. Radio functions not just as a mass medium for disseminating general information and entertainment, but also in particular as a medium for disseminating public health information, as witnessed during the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 (Humphrey, 2018).

COVID-19, a deadly illness caused by a corona virus was first reported in Nigeria on February 27, 2020. The index case was an Italian construction worker who had returned from Milan. Since February 2020, the number of infections escalated to over 52,000 with over 900 deaths in August. In response to rising infections and deaths, the Nigerian government issued directives for lockdowns and social distancing in the three worst-hit states of Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja, the country’s capital. State governors also issued total or partial lockdowns in their respective regions based on prevailing circumstances. However, lockdowns caused untold hardships for many Nigerians, due to the government’s chaotic and lousy social welfare structures (WHO, 2020).

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and The Federal Ministry of Health have been at the forefront of efforts to combat COVID-19 in Nigeria. Both organizations have been active in setting up isolation centers, hospitals, and spaces to manage suspected and confirmed cases. The NCDC has also been engaged in training personnel and setting up rapid-response teams across Nigeria’s 36 states. However, despite efforts to combat the spread COVID-19, both organizations have been seriously challenged by a particular problem - the spread of misinformation or false information about COVID-19. The spread of misinformation has been described as the single biggest danger Nigeria faces in its fight against COVID-19. Misinformation has created public panic and is inhibiting efforts to stop the spread of the corona virus in Nigeria and across Africa (NCDC, 2020).

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

As part of efforts to create awareness, NCDC periodically hosts daily press briefings to keep the press and the public up to date with its activities. These briefings are often broadcast live on the major national TV stations including the National Television Authority (NTA), Channels TV and African Independent Television (AIT). The NCDC has also teamed up with leading movie actors to produce public service messages on TV to debunk fake news and rumors about COVID-19. Besides, the NCDC has also teamed up with mobile network operators to send weekly SMS to Nigerians warning them on the dangers of misinformation. Through its social media pages on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, the NCDC regularly posts messages showing the daily number of confirmed cases, recoveries and deaths (NCDC, 2020).

While existing efforts have mainly been focused on social media, SMS, TV and live media briefings, the potentials of radio in efforts to create awareness about COVID-19 has been downplayed. Direct observation of twenty-five radio stations across Nigeria over a three-month period (March to May 2020), revealed the airing of only one radio advert titled ‘Make you take responsibility’ directly sponsored by the NCDC. The one-minute advert produced in Nigerian pidgin, highlights the need for citizens to take responsibility for their safety through safe practices like hand washing, social distancing and not touching their faces (Philip,  2020).

There is still a strong need for the use of radio, Nigerian languages and town criers to ensure that correct information about COVID-19 reaches people, irrespective of their location or literacy level (NCDC, 2020). Radio is one of Nigeria’s leading media channels, with a capacity to reach tens of millions daily. There is a need to employ radio in the disseminating of safe and accurate information about hand washing, social distancing and other safe practices to prevent the transmission of the corona virus in Nigeria.

1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between radio awareness and Covid 19 infection prevention.

Specifically, the study seeks to:

1. Find out why radio awareness on Covid prevention has not been given great attention by NCDC
2. Examine government or nongovernmental organizations responses to the downplay potentials of radio in efforts to create awareness about COVID-19 prevention
3. Examine the positive effect of radio awareness on Covid 19 prevention

1. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The following research questions will be address in the study:

1. Why as radio awareness on Covid prevention has not been given great attention by NCDC?
2. What are the government or nongovernmental organizations responses to the downplay potentials of radio in efforts to create awareness about COVID-19 prevention?
3. What is the positive effect of radio awareness on Covid 19 prevention?

1. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0 there is no significant relationship between radio awareness and Covid 19 infection prevention

H1 there is significant relationship between radio awareness and Covid 19 infection prevention

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study is very important because it stands to investigate the relationship effect of radio awareness and covid 19 prevention. The study will examine why the role of radio awareness has been relegated to the background despite the numerous advantages of radio communication information to the public.

Ultimately, the findings of the study will create a given valued attention to radio station in their duty in transmitting information to the public especially on the awareness of covid 19 prevention.

1. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

 The study is limited to investigating the relationship between radio and covid 19 awareness prevention; focuses on examining the positive effect of radio awareness on Covid 19 prevention.

1.  LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

TIME CONSTRAINTS: One the challenges experienced by the researcher is the issue of time; the research will simultaneously engage in departmental activities like seminars and attendance to lectures. But the researcher was able to meet up with the deadline for the submission of the project.

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS: Every research work needs funding; however lack of adequate funds might affect the speed of the researcher in getting materials for completion of the project.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Radio

The wireless transmission and reception of electric impulses or signals by means of electromagnetic waves; the use of these waves for the wireless transmission of electric impulses into which sound is converted.

Covid 19

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus. 'CO' stands for corona, 'VI' for virus, and 'D' for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as '2019 novel coronavirus' or '2019-nCoV.'

coronavirus disease 2019: a potentially severe, primarily respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus and characterized by fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. In some people, the disease also damages major organs, as the heart or kidneys.

Awareness

The quality or state of being aware; knowledge and understanding that something is happening or exists.

Prevention

The act of stopping something from happening or of stopping someone from doing something.