CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Radio is the technology that allows for the transmission of sound or other signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves. Radio came to be as a result of the invention of technology, therefore the history of radio in Nigeria started way back with British Broadcasting Corporation. Radio broadcasting was introduced into Nigeria in 1933 by the then Colonial Government; it relayed the overseas service of the British Broadcasting Corporation through wired system with loudspeakers at the listening end. The service was called Radio Diffusion System (RDS). From the RDS emerged the Nigeria Broadcasting Service (NBS) in April 1951.Mr T.W. Chamlers, a Briton and controller of the BBC Light Entertainment programme was the first Director –General of the NBS. The Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation, NBC came into being in April 1957 through an act of parliament No.39 of 1956 and the Director General was Mr J.A.C Knott Obe. In 1978, the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation was re-organized to become the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN.
To Uwakwe (2005:165) the third world countries today is being overwhelmed by the western communication structures. With satellites on the space, the CNN and BBC for instance, continue to invade the third world countries effortlessly. Therefore broadcasting both radio and television, started simultaneously in Eastern Nigeria, Enugu regional capital on the 1st of October, 1960. During the civil war, the Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (ENBC) was known as Radio Biafra. After the war, it was named the East Central State Broadcasting Service (ECBS) stationed at Enugu. With the creation of old Anambra and Imo states in 1976, it changed to Anambra Broadcasting Service. With the creation of the new Anambra and Enugu States in 1991 and the subsequent disengagement of the staff on March 16, 1992, the Anambra Broadcasting Service, Enugu gave birth to Anambra Broadcasting Service (R/TV) Awka and Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. After the state creation, the first movement was to Onitsha- the location of the AM Station. From Onitsha, the headquarters moved to Awka in January 1993 and ABS latter moved to its permanent site on the Enugu/Onitsha Express Way in Awka in January, 2002. Today ABS Radio transmits on the frequency 88.5 FM with the four stations(2 television and 2 radio).
Quoting Edeani in Okorie (2006:95), development communication means the use of all forms of communication in reporting, publicizing and promoting development at all levels of the society. Okorie (2006:67) pointed out that the major aim of such communication is to make better the lives of people in a given society economically by encouraging them to understand the development agent. This was because of the multi-lingual nature of Nigeria. However, the provision of information and skills has gained popularity in the quest to empower communities with community radio as a unique and effective tool. Chapman et al (2003:67) reported that the growth of rural radio stations reflects both the implements in information technologies and the shifting of development paradigm towards a more participatory style of information and knowledge transfer. Kumar (2004:44) identified radio as an avenue for participatory communication and as a tool relevant in both economic and social development.
Radio broadcasting had focused itself on local activities and was accessible to the rural areas. They utilized it in expressing their very existence and their particular needs, thereby formulating plans, and taking the right actions that met their basic needs. It was in this light that radio was believed to be a great component in rural development.
Looking at Esit Eket Local Government Area, radio had been an instrument of civilization, encouragement of creativity and mobilization of resources within the locality to solve immediate problems.
The main aim of this work is to find out if really radio as a medium of the mass media has influence on rural development as well as to determine the extent of its influence in the development of Esit Eket Local Government Area.