CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) was originally founded in 1933 by the

British colonial government named the Radio Diffusion Service (RDS) it allows the

public to hear the British Broadcasting Corporations foreign radio service broadcast

placed on strategic public location with loudspeakers.

In April 1950 the Radio Diffusion Services (RDS) became the Nigeria Broadcasting

Service and introduced radio station in Lagos Kadunna Enugu Ibadon and Kano. This

service was recognized into the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) on April 1

st

1957 by the act of parliament. Its mission was to provide as a public service

independent impartial broadcasting services. By 1962 the Nigeria Broadcasting

Corporation (NBC) had expanded its broadcast station into Sokoto Maiduguri llorin

Zaria Jos and Kastina in the north Portharcourt Calabar and Onitsha in the east and

Abeokuta Warri and Ijebu ode in the west. Each of these stations were considered a

subsidiary stations of a regional station.

Before this the federal parliament approved the creation of the voice of Nigeria (VON)

external shortwave service in 1961. Its initials operations were limited to two hours a day

to west Africa but by 1963 the voice of Nigeria (VON) had expanded both its coverage

and transmission times with the addition of five additional transmitters. In 1978 the

Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation and the Broadcasting corporation of Northern Nigeria

(BCNN) merged together to become the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN)

medium wave transmitters previously owned by the Nigeria Broadcasting corporation

15

(NBC) were transferred to the individual state government were the transmitters were

located. Today Radio Nigeria has 25 stations located throughout the country and

together with the voice of Nigeria consider itself to have the largest radio network in

Africa.

In Nigeria today FRCN has really enhance culture in Nigeria especially in Anambra

state. Culture can be define as the total way of life of the people or the identify through

which a particular set of people can be identified. Every society no matter how civilized

or uncivilized has its totality and way of life. This way of life is carried on from one

generation to the other it is naturally impacted on to the young one’s through various

channels of communication of which one of the outstanding is the electronic media which

is the FRCN. FRCN plays the role of disseminating information or message to its

targeted audience. Through this media which is the FRCN information is been passed to

the people.

Communication according to Nwuneli (1985: 187) Is the sharing of experience which

may involve two or more people.

Nwosu (2007) see communication as the process whereby we attempt to transmit our

thoughts ideas or emotion to other.

Goldevin (1991) Opted communication has the sharing of information on a established

dialogue between planners and project participants beginning at the design stages and

extending through implementation and evaluation.

16

Hedebro (1985) is of the view that communication is a situation where messages are

transmitted between institutions people and media irrespective of whether there is feed

back or not.

From the above definitions it is clear that communication means to share information

ideas opinions feelings and experience between people. For communication to get to its

targeted audience it must pass through a channel which FRCN is one of the channels.

The media is a compound of many things rolled into one the media is divided into two

parts the broadcast and the print media. The media helps in disseminating information

cultural transmission and bring about news entertainment.

According to O’shaughnessy (1999:4) the mass media are technologically developed and

economically profitable forms of human communication held in public or private

ownership which can transmit information ideas entertainment across time and space to

a diverse group of people.

Therefore through the broadcast media which is the FRCN crucial roles are played in

educating members of the society and enlightening the people on the need to uphold their

culture.

The federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) is believed to have the capacity which

can cut through the barrier of illiteracy and is the overall development of the society. This

perspective has been accepted by different authorities in mass communication from the

long standing traditional change this suggest that FRCN is relevant in power distribution

and watching over the extent at which the power is negatively or positively being

impacted on the people.

17

FRCN transmits ideas information to the targeted audience this shows that they are

responsible for most adjustments in the behavioural patterns of the people in the society.

As a channel of mass media FRCN recognizes their obligation to the society especially

in the area of culture and promoting same value Abatete is inclusive.

Imperatively research has it that the mode of dressing among the people of Abatete is of

responsible standard. This is due to the influence of FRCN as an agent of communication

and socialization in the community. The women of Abatete wear gorge wrappers or lace

with huge head gear and also decorate their necks with bids. While the men put on

expensive shirt called jogi on top of their wrappers along with ozo red cap and neck bids.

The youth also dress in their traditional attire to suit the culture.

The traditional and local music of the people are also evident to prove Abatete

community and culture. FRCN does their best in making sure the culture music of the

old does not go into extinction. Example of such music are Egwe OlisiluOku Egwe

Ijele Agbogo Mmuo Egwu Oyilu Oga that go with this culture at this time.

Radio programmes are aired every now and then to promote language understanding

among the people. Such programmes include news programmes current Affairs public

enlightenment entertainment.

Despite these there are still ways that FRCN lacks in propagating culture among the

people of Abatete For example: The youths don’t really know their own dialect and is

not used to the kind of cloths that is supposed to be worn and also the kind of music

played and this has been problem seen with these youths. This culture is built

maintained uplifted and sustained through communication via the FRCN because

18

cultural power and promotion reside in communication. It is based on these established

facts that the role of FRCN in propagation culture in Nigeria came up.

1.2 Statement of the Problem.

Since every research study aims at solving a problem therefore the problem of this study

is to investigate how has FRCN propagate culture in Abatete Idemili South Local

Government in Anambra State again to find out how the propagation of culture by

FRCN affect the Abatete people.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The objectives for this research include the following

1 To know if FRCN do propagate culture in Abatete.

2 To know if the propagation of culture by FRCN affect the Abatete people.

3 To know the impact of FRCN in propagating culture in Abatete Idemili South in

Anambra state.

1.4 Research Questions

In the course of this research work the following questions were raised as it is

relevant to the study.

1 To what extent does FRCN propagate culture in Abatete ?

2 How does the propagation of FRCN affect the people of Abatete?

3 How does FRCN impact culture in their propagation on the people of Abatete?

19

1.5 Research hypotheses

Two Hypotheses will be used to effectively reach meaningful conclusion in this

study and they are:

H

1

: FRCN propagate culture in Abatete.

H

0

: FRCN does not propagate culture in Abatete.

H

2

: FRCN propagation of culture affect the people of Abatete.

H

0

: FRCN propagation of culture does not affect the people of Abatete.

1.6 Scope/ Delimitation of the Study

This study is centered on the role of FRCN in propagating culture In Nigeria

especially in Abatete Idemili local government in Anambra state.

1.7 Significance of the Study

From this result of the study which is to identify the role played by FRCN in

propagating culture in Nigeria especially in Abatete Anambra state? This study also

intend to help in determining wheather the programmes of FRCN has any effect on the

Abatete people of Anambra state. It will be of immerse benefit to the Federal Ministry of

Culture and Tourism in the identification development and marketing of diverse cultural

potentials which will help in promoting culture. The journalist will also benefit from

promoting culture and it will also act as material for student.

This documentation will also help the people of Abatete in knowing what lapses that

should be covered in regard to their cultural heritage.

20

Finally this study will be useful to intending researchers as it will act as reference to

guide others.

1.8 Definitions of Term.

The researcher used operational definitions.

Role: The duty of FRCN in promoting and spreading the culture of Abatete.

Radio: The channel through which the culture of Abatete is communicated through

FRCN programmes.

Propagating: Spreading and promoting the culture of Abatete via FRCN.

Culture: Total way of life of the people of Abatete which include their festivals such as

the Ofala festival.

Abatete: A community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra state and

also the area of study of the researcher.

21