Celebrating Radio: The People’s Medium for Inclusion, Culture, and Community Development
By Ibrahim Umar,
Kanempress News,
14th, February ,2025
Today, 13th February 2025, the world unites to celebrate World Radio Day, a day dedicated to recognising the enduring power of radio as a platform for dialogue, education, and social cohesion. At Kanempress Digital Hub, an online news platform and humanitarian intervention organisation dedicated to the preservation and promotion of culture, cultural heritage, and artefacts in the Lake Chad region, we join the global community in honouring this exceptional medium.
For us at Kanempress, radio is not just a tool for information dissemination; it is a lifeline, a custodian of our heritage, and a bridge connecting the past, present, and future. Our President and Publisher, Comrade Zanna Ibrahim Mustapha, along with our team of journalists, writers, and cultural experts, recognises the indispensable role of radio in shaping societies, preserving languages, and promoting cultural inclusivity.
Radio remains the most accessible, affordable, and inclusive medium of communication, particularly in Africa. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), over 75% of households in Africa have access to a radio, making it the most widely used source of news and information. Unlike digital platforms, which are often hindered by data costs and connectivity issues, radio reaches even the most remote communities, ensuring that marginalised voices are heard.
In Nigeria, where literacy levels vary across regions, radio serves as an essential channel for information in local languages, allowing millions to stay informed about health, politics, education, and cultural affairs. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) reports that Nigeria has over 600 radio stations, making it one of the most vibrant radio landscapes in Africa.
Kanempress Digital Hub and the Role of Radio in Preserving Cultural Heritage
As a digital hub committed to cultural preservation in the Lake Chad region, Kanempress acknowledges the impact of radio in safeguarding indigenous traditions, languages, and historical narratives. Through our collaborations with local radio stations, we have actively supported programmes that educate communities on the rich cultural history of Borno and Yobe States, including the legendary Dufuna Canoe, Gazargamu Ruins, Rabeh’s Fort in Dikwa, Daniski Hills, and the Kanuri traditional agricultural rituals and festivals.
Over the years, Kanempress has leveraged radio as a means to:
- Promote Indigenous Storytelling – By working with community-based radio stations, we have helped revive oral traditions that are at risk of extinction. Through radio dramas and storytelling sessions, elderly custodians of history share their knowledge with younger generations.
- Raise Awareness on Climate Change and Cultural Erosion – In 2024, Kanempress collaborated with local radio stations in Maiduguri and Damaturu to highlight the effects of climate change on cultural heritage sites. Through a series of special broadcasts, experts and community leaders discussed how desertification and shrinking water bodies, like Lake Chad, threaten traditional livelihoods and historic monuments.
- Promote Linguistic Diversity – The Kanempress Digital Hub for Inclusivity and Community Engagement initiative has worked closely with radio stations broadcasting in Kanuri, Hausa, Fulfulde, Bura, and Ngizim, ensuring that more people can access information in their native languages. This is crucial in preserving linguistic identity in an era of cultural homogenisation.
- Encourage Citizen Journalism and Local Reporting – Recognising that communities best understand their challenges, Kanempress has supported training workshops for local reporters and community broadcasters.
In 2024, we facilitated a series of media literacy seminars in Maiduguri and Damaturu, which attracted over 800 participants. Many of these trainees now contribute to local radio newsrooms, ensuring that grassroots issues are reported accurately.
The Role of Radio in Peacebuilding, Conflict Resolution, and Countering Fake News
The theme for World Radio Day 2025 emphasises the role of radio in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and fostering dialogue. In a region like the Lake Chad Basin, which has faced security challenges due to insurgency and socio-economic hardships, radio has played a vital role in promoting peaceful coexistence and countering extremist narratives.
A significant finding from our ongoing research on misinformation revealed that fake news on cloned Facebook pages, such as the Hausa versions of Daily Trust and Vanguard, have contributed to public misinformation. However, radio stations have been instrumental in debunking false narratives and providing accurate, fact-checked news. This underscores the importance of strengthening community radio stations as reliable sources of information.
While the digital age has introduced new media platforms, radio remains indispensable. As we celebrate World Radio Day 2025, Kanempress Digital Hub reaffirms its commitment to working with radio stations, journalists, and cultural advocates to:
- Develop more radio programmes focused on cultural preservation
- Expand our training programmes for community broadcasters
- Strengthen partnerships with radio stations to fight misinformation
- Advocate for increased government support for community radio stations
A Call to Action
As the world celebrates the power of radio today, we call on policymakers, media professionals, and civil society organisations to invest in community radio, media literacy, and inclusive broadcasting. We also encourage listeners to actively engage with their local radio stations, participate in discussions, and support efforts to preserve Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage through this medium.
At Kanempress Digital Hub, we believe that radio is more than a medium; it is a movement, a voice for the voiceless, and a guardian of our shared history. Today, we celebrate not just a technology, but a legacy—one that continues to unite people, inform minds, and shape the future.
Happy World Radio Day 2025!
