Promoting cultural and linguistic diversity In Nigerian Radio:
What can be done to invigorate local content production?

Introduction

Nigeria

1. largest (923,768 km2)
2. geographically, socially and culturally most diversified African country

Muslims = 50 per cent
Christians = 40 per cent
Others = 10 per cent

Radio Broadcasting History in Nigeria

Started as BBC Listening Post – 1933
 
(radio diffusion system with 500 boxes in official residences and offices)

Nigeria Broadcasting Service – 1950
(wireless, full-fledged radio org. Established in all Regions – 5 stations)
Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation – 1956
(Non-commercial, not-for-profit)

Diversity –
Geographical Spread:
NBS – 1 national, 4 regional stations
NBC – 12 stations (1970-74), 19 stations (1976-78)
First FM station – Lagos 1977 (RN2)

Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) – 1st April 1978

State stations handed to States
(beginning of State stations)

Deregulation :
1992

308 broadcast stations:
106
radio stations
116
television
40
cable stations
 

Current status with regard to state and independent broadcasters:

106
radio stations
#40  FRCN (public service broadcaster)
#36 States-owned
#30 Private/Commercial
#3 Campus radio (Unilag)

What can be done to improve local content production in Nigeria?

Community radio
Regulation – content, geography (60% local)
Improved funding
Create real public service broadcasting – FRCN
Enforcement of local content policy

What role could policy and regulation play in this?

Local content policy – history, current situation
National Mass Comm. Policy 1990
NBC Mandate
National Policy 

What role could policy and regulation play in this? - 2

Update policy
Full adoption of UNESCO policy
Review fees
Capacity building
Funding of regulators
Enforce policy

Competitive and Investment friendly Environment
(Will a more competitive env. Foster cultural and linguistic diversity?)

National Broadcasting Commission – regulator reviews
Nigeria Investment Promotions Council – one-stop registration
Fast growing economy
Growing middle class
Increased literacy & higher education

Ground-Breaking Work

In the process of transforming FRCN from a Government mouthpiece to a public service broadcaster:

#enabling law review
#increased feedback mechanism
#digitalisation
#Web streaming and Internet radio
#national Language Channel
#Educational Service Resumption
#Community relations
#partial commercialisation

“The preservation of linguistic and cultural diversity is above all a political choice”  – UNESCO

THANK YOU!

Ike Okere, FRCN