Nigeria: Communication and human development

[Harold Schiffman]

Communication and human development
• Sunday, Dec 23, 2007

Educationally, the quest for mass literacy even to the grassroots in
the 21st century as propagated by the National Education Policy of the
Federal Government of Nigeria for a total emancipation of human
development from the shackles of ignorance, social injustice and
psychological effect of illiteracy for a virile society cannot be over
emphasised. The point here is how this dream would be achieved
appropriately. At this juncture, the electronic medium would enhance
the spread of the programme for effective language communication.

In the human society, language communication plays a vital role for
human development. Close observation has indicated that in the African
context since the advent of civilization from the Northern region,
lots of human development has been affected on language communication.
The period of primitivity and uncivilisation has become a thing of the
past. However, in tern areas, the issue of adequate language
communication is not dawn despite several medium of communication
machineries in the form of science and technology.

Language communication is being periscoped in different dimensions by
philosophers. Simply put language is Power. It is a medium of passing
relevant information and knowledge required of the people. In a
scholarly assertion, Professor A. S. Hornby and his cohorts had
mirrored language as "human and non-instinctive method of
communicating ideas, feelings and desires by means of a system of
sounds and sound symbols." Language was further described as a form
used by a group, as well as manner of using words.

Taking a look into yesteryears during the era of the old Rivers State
dispensation, there were four local languages that were prominently
featured in news casting and utilization of other programmes earmarked
to reach and educate rural dwellers on certain norms and policies of
both ethnic nationalities and government at various facets.

These ethnic languages include: Ikwerre, Kalabari, Khana and Kolokuma
respectively. Overtime, the issue of decentralization policy was given
top priority and some other ethnic languages were considered and
incorporated in the service of the Rivers State Broadcasting
Corporation (RSBC), which include the following: Ndoni, Ogba, Engenni,
Ekpeye, Abua, Andoni, Ogbia, Epie, Itari and others.

Without hesitation, the languages took off precisely with two
programmes each, according to the directive on REQUEST, where
greetings were sent across to relations and well wishers on CHIT
-CHAT, as the Artiste - the Coordinator enlightens and educates his
kinsmen on cultural and traditional ethics and other information
relevant to the people. Pertinently, these programmes shortlived for
only three months - April to June 1981 and was proscribed
unceremoniously with a lame assumption that it might over load the
singled AM Radio Station in operation then.

In view of socio-economic and human development, the Rivers State
Government conceived a vision of establishing additional electronic
industry, hence the birth of the Frequency Modulation (FM) Radio
Station in 1986.

In the same vein, the television unit of the electronic media was also
enhanced from channel 10 to channel 22 as bonafide properties of the
State. Of course, these were developmental steps taken in the right
direction to address the issue of reaching out to the rural areas with
necessary communication in news casting and other related programme
requirements.

Furthermore and precisely, October 1, 1996 the Ijaw speaking ethnic
nationalities were carved out of the former Rivers State as autonomous
sovereign State known as Bayelsa by the military administration of
late General Sani Abacha. Invariably, the creation of Bayelsa State
has actually lifted some socio-economic and political burdens off the
neck of Rivers people and of course, a sigh of relief was heaved.

Retrospectively, it behoves one to posit: what has been the outcome of
these social developments for the past 20 years of a 'sovereign State?
There is a biblical outcry that states "my people are destroyed for
lack of knowledge..." as propounded in the book of Prophet Hosea 4 v 6
first part. It does not necessarily mean that one has to attend a
educational institution before certain things could be learnt.
Therefore, it is imperative that the entire citizenry need to be
reached either academically and or traditionally to balance the
equation of eradicating illiteracy and ignorance in the society with
particular reference to the rural dwellers. Without mincing words,
ignorance is a chronic ailment which could be cured only with adequate
and appropriate enlightenment, entertainment and positive educational
communication programmes through the electronic media.

For instance, there are indiscriminate deaths which are not natural in
several ethnic groups in the world due to lack of knowledge as people
bent on invocation and enchantment of evil spirits and consultation
with devilish shrines at odd times.

Realistically, when the local languages are re-introduced into Radio
programmes, certain norms and ethics would be corrected and the people
would realize the value of self, fellow human beings and readdress the
fetish characteristics that have beclouded the mind and relationship
and communication shall be cordial.

In a television programme on Channel 6 of Friday, 27th November 1981
at 9.30p.m., the importance of language communication was lauded by
Hon. Gabriel Okara thus: "Language is a part of culture because it
transcends from one to another." Similarly, in the Nigerian Star
No.22387, during the 15th West African Languages Congress held at the
University of Port Harcourt on 4th to 10th April, 1982, Professor Kay
Williamson commented that "Our languages are important."

Nevertheless, the two Radio stations owned by the Rivers State
Government are more than enough to adequately accommodate the
languages for local programmes in order to reach the rural dwellers.
In as much as the Broadcasting Corporation is going international in
the electronic industry, it should not loose sight of educating and
enlightening its people at the grassroots.

With all pleasure, Rivers State is socially and economically
identified as the treasure base of the nation whereas a good
percentage of the citizenry are kept in the darkness of ignorance and
it has become arduous to express some pressing socio-economic problems
as mineral producing areas.

Herein the rural communities should be acquainted and fully connected
with Government decentralisation policies to enhance the living
standards of the rural society. The denial of these policies is in
deed, a developmental setback in a democratic system of administration
in our modem dispensation. The broadcasting industry is not supposed
to be engulfed with the Western activities.

Without hesitation, an example could be lent from the Ibo speaking
areas where the citizens are always kept abreast of government's
programmes through the use of local languages for better understanding
the local ethics to enhance the Western ethics alike. These programmes
are intertwined and not to be lope sided.

Frankly, common customary exhibitions are eluding the people with
greater concern to the younger generation as a result of the decline
from the natural behaviours and enlightenment by the custodians. For
instance, a greeting in some local dialects is becoming burdensome to
the average sons and daughters of the modem age. The imperativeness of
incorporating the local languages to return the people to the status
quo cannot be over stressed.

Ominyanwa, a public affairs analyst resides in Port Harcourt.

http://www.thetidenews.com/article.aspx?qrDate=12/23/2007&qrTitle=Communication%20and%20human%20development&qrColumn=OPINION

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