NBC, CEMESO set agenda for community broadcasters

Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, and Executive Director, Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Akin Akingbulu, have stressed the need for community broadcasters to embrace professionalism and sound management practices, which promote sustainability

They spoke in Abuja during a capacity-building workshop jointly organised by NBC and the CEMESO. Ebuebu highlighted the power of community radio stations to amplify diverse voices, promote dialogue and drive collective action towards shared community goals.

To Ebuebu, “by upholding high standards of professionalism, we not only earn the trust of our audience, but also enhance the quality and credibility of our broadcasting. Our stations have the power to amplify diverse voices, ignite conversations and drive collective action towards shared goals within our communities.”

He further urged community broadcasters to leverage their platforms to inspire dialogue and drive positive change within their respective communities.

Emphasising the importance of earning the audience’s trust and elevating the quality and credibility of community broadcasting, Ebuebu added the workshop was designed to enable broadcasters uphold high standards of professionalism and develop innovative strategies for effectively serving their target communities through ethical conduct.

In his opening address, Akingbulu underscored the vital role that community broadcasters play in promoting democracy.

He highlighted how the need for broadcasters to advance civic voter education and ensure effective professional media coverage, on electoral cycle using diverse radio programming formats.

Akingbulu outlined the significant contributions of CEMESO within the framework of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Project II.

The initiative, according to him, is to bolster democracy in Nigeria, with CEMESO focusing on the media’s role in providing fair, accurate, inclusive, and professional electoral coverage.

Key objectives include enhancing the professionalism of media practitioners, particularly women, and diversifying civic and voter education (CVE). Additionally, the project seeks to strengthen the regulatory body’s capacity to fulfill its mandate effectively.

To Akingbulu, “the workshop was meticulously designed to strengthen professionalism, civic engagement, and sustainability in community broadcasting.”

He highlighted the importance of community radio stations, noting their unique position in reaching local populations and fostering grassroots participation in democratic processes.

Delivered in two separate batches over four days for Community Radio and Campus Radio Practitioners, the workshop provided an invaluable platform for participants from across the country.

The workshop culminated in peer reviews and the development of actionable plans especially on sustainability to further enable participants enhance their contribution to democratic governance.

Through these efforts, CEMESO and the EU-SDGN Project aim to ensure that the media landscape in Nigeria not only supports democracy but actively nurtures it. The focus on professionalism, civic engagement, and sustainability in community broadcasting is seen as a critical step towards achieving these goals.