Tertiary institutions often operate campus radio stations to service students of the school. In Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, the wait for one has been seemingly forever, letting down talented students and impeding wide dissemination of information. Quadri Yahya reports
Habibat Hassan would like to anchor a programme on her campus radio station if it were active but every day she is only left to fantasize the happening of that.
Fortunately, Hassan, who is an HND II student of Mass Communication is not one who believes in dreaming alone, she is one who understands the need for action.
In this light, she said on multiple occasions had she approached the school radio authority to submit her program proposal to see the realization of her dream, but all her efforts constantly ended up futile.
"I don’t really feel happy about it being inactive because I don’t understand how we are going to have a big department like Mass Communication in Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and there won’t be an active radio station,” she said bitterly.
RADIO ON ICE
On August 6th, 2020, the online radio reportedly underwent test-run transmission. Students were urged at the time to submit programme proposals that might feature on the radio.
Afterwards, nothing had been heard neither has the radio been functioning as at the time of publishing this report.
Hassan said: "I submitted the proposal and sincerely it was a good one because the Public Relations Officer of the department commended it. He said I should submit it to one man at the studio. I submitted to him and he said it’s okay that I should come back for some things (screening). I went there twice but I didn’t meet the man there."
THE BACKGROUND
The Management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic conceived the idea of establishing a radio station in 2009 with a view to enhancing the quality of teaching and practical training in line with global best practices in the Department of Mass Communication to further reinforce its leadership position amongst institutions offering the course in Nigeria.
The radio station, apart from training, will serve as a veritable means of informing, educating and entertaining the Polytechnic community while the introduction of a web portal/internet radio will enhance the collaboration of MAPOLY with sister Polytechnics and Universities locally and abroad.
The Polytechnic secured license approval in May 2015 for a period of five (5) years as a campus teaching aid to be used principally for the training of students in broadcasting and other related fields like Engineering, Information Technology, Creative Arts, Use of English, etc.
The radio station which is domiciled in the Department of Mass Communication shall provide a training studio for the training of broadcasters and allied professionals.
According to the license, the radio station is to provide 80% educational program content and 20% Nigerian/African music.
On 15th August, 2020, an online version of MAPOLY Radio was launched and the station aired its first live broadcast from Wimbledon, London.
This online radio was donated by an alumnus of the Polytechnic, Otunba Gbolahan Macjob who graduated from the department of Mass Communication in 1998 and currently working with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service.
The supervisory body of the radio includes the Rector, the Director of Students’ Affairs and the five schools in the polytechnic.
RADIO: MINUS INSTEAD OF PLUS
"It has just been a minus where it ought to be multiplication,” Oluwatomisin said, expressing her displeasure over the inactive radio.
‘Tomi Ogunjobi, discovered to be a euphoric and vibrant speaker, said that instead of the radio being a plus to the students, the reverse is the case.
The ND 1 Mass Communication student noted that apart from talent discovery, the radio will groom students and will also be a bonus to their Curriculum Vitae.
"Let me explain," she said, "If the radio is functioning properly, a lot of talents will be raised from MAPOLY as it gives them a plus to their CVs, an edge over others practically for mass communication students though, and the radio itself can eventually find its way into the general market."
MAPOLY COUNTERPARTS WITH CAMPUS RADIO, BENEFITS
MAPOLY is a household name among its peers in Ogun State where it is situated. However, findings show that students of some sister institutions have an upper-hand over MAPOLY students since their schools have a functioning campus radio.
In a chat with Oluwabukola Akinjobi, a student of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, she said that her school radio offers students the medium to share developments in their departments and hostels.
Bukola said: "A programme titled ‘Students Hangouts’ gives students freedom to speak about what is happening in their departments and happenings around their hostels."
"Ladugbo mi," she added, "educates, entertains and also provides us with vital information about things going on around the Yewa axis."
Also, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) owns a campus radio station with about 10 programmes aired daily, this reporter gathered. It operates at a modulation frequency of 89.5 FM.
Findings revealed that the following programmes feature on the radio; Boiling Point, The Dailies, Ọrọ tóun lọ, E bawa dasi, Tiwá n Tiwa, Sports Galaxy, Jumah Delight, News at 10, News at 2 and The Editorials.
On the advantage of the campus radio, one of the students said: "FUNAAB Radio keeps you in touch with societal issues and helps one get familiar with happenings around the nation, down to one’s locality."
The student added, "If there’s one thing FUNAAB Radio majorly does is improving your awareness of societal issues while proffering probable solutions and societal awareness is essential to education as it standardizes one’s mental health."
IF IT WORKS, IT’LL AID FRESHERS, POLY, OTHERS
Ogunjobi shared her thoughts on the advantages of a campus radio to the students’ populace, appealing to the management to make efforts to commence operation.
"If I will not be misquoted, I would like to tell them to focus on talents within and encourage them for continuity’s sake. Continuity on two-side. Firstly, so the talents can stay because no matter how passionate one can be, if nothing fuels or rewards the passion, it will soon fizzle out.
"Secondly, when they focus on talents within, it means the radio will have high chances of staying in the broadcast market.”
She added: "They can target Freshers at the beginning of the semester with the dos and don’ts of the school, academic success tips, and an opportunity for them to ask questions and get answers. Entertainment, on the other hand, can’t even be over-emphasized. It attracts a lot," she said.
Hassan’s programme is mainly for the propagation of the religion of Islam.
"The content is majorly about Muslim students in MAPOLY; how they are going to increase in Hakhidah (knowledge) and about how they are to live on campus without digressing from the faith. Actually, the title is Perk of Islam. Under it we have many episodes.
"It is divided into two sessions: one for brief lecture and the other session will be about questions and answers as well as other aspects of Islam.
"The programme also will give students the opportunity to showcase their talents," she explained.
ALUMNUS DONATES EQUIPMENT, NBC DELAYING – MGT.
From the United Kingdom, in preparation to kick-start the terrestrial station, Macjob launched the online version of the radio on www.mapolyradio.com, and that was as far back in August 2020.
Three months down the line, in November 2020, Macjob donated some operational equipment as preparation was in top gear to commence full operation of the radio with the modulation frequency said to be 99.7.
Items donated included: 3 headphones, one multimedia audio mixer, one laptop, 3 microphones and 2 microphone stands.
However, in an interview with the manager of the radio, Kunle Oluwusi; he said that the radio was test-run for three weeks before it had to be closed as the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) insisted it must inspect it before operation commences fully.
He said: "The Nigeria Broadcasting Commission told us to hold on that it wants to come and see it. And after their inspection, it will give us a go-ahead to start working."
When reminded that it had been test-run earlier in August 2020 and nothing up till now had been heard, he added, "You want to hear the update, why are you taking us back to August? I am giving you the latest. I am the manager of the radio and I ran the transmission for three weeks. And everybody heard it. It was then NBC said we should hold on that it will come and see it."
Acknowledging the usefulness of a campus radio, Oluwusi noted, "Of course. You know how many institutions in Nigeria have that."
He further said it is beyond the capacity of the polytechnic to kick-start operation without the green flag from the Commission.
"You should also know that it is beyond our power; that is why. If we can transmit for three weeks, what will make us not to continue? It is working but NBC said it must come and see it."
He, however, hoped that the radio station will come back to air before the end of January.
"I am trusting God that NBC should be able to come in January", he said.
I CAN’T REALLY SAY WHY IT IS NOT WORKING YET – SUG
In a chat with the president, Students Union Government, AbdulGaniyu Babatunde (BABS), he said that he is not aware of the reason the radio is inactive.
“I can’t really say why it is not working yet,” he said.
“Either it is technical issue or financial issue. But as I said earlier that a report came around October last year that it was undergoing testing, which when you tune in then, all you hear was music or the school anthem,” he added,
The students’ spokesperson also disclosed that he had not made any attempt to ask further questions.
“No, I haven’t made any attempt,” he said. “The last time I asked a question about it, what I was told was that it was undergoing testing.”
Babs, however, conceded to how beneficial the radio will be to MAPOLY.
“We understand how beneficial this radio station will be to the institution, most especially Mass Communication students who major in broadcasting and all. The radio station is long overdue for completion and by now it should be ready for use. The last report was that the NBC has approved the frequency and currently undergoing testing. I believe those who are in charge are still working on it to ensure it is productive.”
MAPOLY PCM, JCIN COMMENT
Jinodu Abdulrasheed, President, Press Club MAPOLY remarked on how the radio could aid in publicizing the club.
"It will be of help to the club by publicizing the club. It could also serve as an intermediary between the club and the general public (students)," Abdulrasheed said.
Sharing his view on the advantages of a campus radio, Abdulrazaq Fatoki, a member of Joint Chamber International, MAPOLY Chapter, stated that the advantages are numerous.
He said: "The advantages the radio can bring include but not limited to: professional practice of broadcasting which can develop students’ ability to explore any opportunity that comes their way in the industry after school. Preparing and making them familiar with different sectors in radio production. Preparing students in line to understand the nitty-gritty of radio broadcast and its branches.”
"It will sure aid the development of students in broadcasting and while reducing the chances of them taking to social vices," Abdulrazaq concluded.