Nigeria gets more Campus Radio Stations

The National Broadcast Commission (NBC) once again demonstrated its commitment to community broadcasting with the formal presentation of licenses to 18 institutions of higher learning. These include Lagos State University, University of Ibadan, University of Jos, Babcock University, Sagamu, Bayero University, Kano, University of Abuja, University of Port-Harcourt, Federal University of Technology, Akure and Usman Dan Fodio University Sokoto on March 4, 2009Others include University of Calabar, Akwa Ibom Polytechnic, University of Uyo, Federal University of Science and Technology, Igbinedion University, Okada among others. This brings the number of campus radio stations to 27, since nine other campuses had earlier obtained the licenses within the last five years.Expectedly, the approval was greeted with euphoria in the broadcasting sector, just as many stakeholders joined CR to commend the Federal Government on the new development. Among other comments, the approval was seen as a positive step, which shall enable broadcasters cater for the underserved segments of the population. Also the new licenses would gradually propel the country towards true pluralism in the radio broadcasting sub-sector. In the words of Akin Akingbulu, Executive Director of the Institute for Media and Society (IMESO) Lagos, the new licenses will give voice to various campuses, which need radio to aid learning and teaching. Akingbulu said the nation’s educational institutions are in serious need of radio, which could serve as a training laboratory for students in Mass Communication, Drama, Language, Marketing, Engineering and other relevant disciplines.