Radio network as a strategic medium of education and awareness creation in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic era: a historical perspective (1956-2020)

Abstract

The radio network in Nigeria, no doubt, rendered credible services to Nigerians during the Covid-19 pandemic era. Through the services of the radio, Nigeria‟s populations of listeners received the relevant awareness messages required to escape the lethal infections of the Corona virus, code-named the Covid-19. Through the services of various radio stations, fellow citizens got sensitized about the dangers, patterns of spread, preventive measures and other related healthcare strategies that could curb the spread of the virus. Through the agency of the radio too, the country‟s school children received periodic school lessons from the comfort of their own homes during the lockdown era when all school closed down. These highlight the great roles played by the radio in Nigeria during the Covid-19 pandemic era, all with the intentions of keeping the populations of listeners safe and alive. It is the primary target of this paper to discuss some of the key roles played by the country‟s radio networks in tackling the spread of Covid-19 among Nigerians during the pandemic era.