FRCN Kaduna And Social Awareness In Northern Nigeria

By Abbas Yushau Yusuf

Since the commissioning of Radio Nigeria, Kaduna by the First and only Premier of Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello the Sardauna of Sokoto, the station has been instilling awareness in the mind of an average Northerner who speaks and understand Hausa.

The Impact and contribution of the station to National cohesion cannot be overemphasized as it was used by preceding administrations in Nigeria.

The relevance of Radio Nigeria Kaduna is instrumental to the taking over of Regional Radio stations by the Federal Military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo and subsequent unification under one umbrella which is now FEDERAL RADIO CORPORATION OF NIGERIA, (FRCN).

The reach of the stations’ airwaves not only in Nigeria but to the entire west African Subregion made possible the defeat of Biafran Forces from the 1967-1970 Nigerian civil war.

While Biafran Radio was busy projecting Biafran Government to the teeming listeners due to its reach, Radio Nigeria Lagos cannot Match Biafran Radio in terms of Listenership and reach of airwaves.

Since propaganda is very essential especially during the war, the Nigerian Federal Military Government had no option than to use Radio Nigeria Kaduna to counter the propaganda of the Biafran Government over the air.

The Slogan KEEPING NIGERIA ONE is a task that must be done’ were introduced and Radio Nigeria Kaduna was the projector to the listenership not only outside Nigeria but to the entire West African Sub-region.

I started loving FRCN Kaduna during my early childhood and at the twilight of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s administration.

Academics, Journalists, Trained On Dead Body Management

By then I and My Siblings who are my elder Brothers will surround our Fathers Radio Listening to BARKA DA YAU(News and Correspondents Report), Whenever Muhammad Aminu Kelechi was reporting from Damaturu, Muhammad Jameel Yushau, Muttaqa Yushau and I will listen attentively till the end of Muhammad Aminu Kelechi’s report which is being presented in Pure Hausa but with Igbo accent, the expertise with which he presented the report made us attracted especially his mentioning of GWAMNA BUKAR ABBA IBRAHIM till Abacha’s overthrow of Ernest Shonekan on November 17, 1993.

Later Kelichi transformed from frequent Mentioning of Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim to Kwamishinan Yansanda Alhaji Dabo Aliyu, the successor Military administrator in Yobe state.

The love I have for Radio Nigeria Kaduna inspired me to read Journalism.

By then FRCN Kaduna was the only reliable station of Northerners and blessed with talented Journalists who can lure and convince their listeners.

During Abacha’s Broadcast, Buhari Auwalu will translate the Head of State’s speech with a high sense of expertise as if the Head of State is Broadcasting to the Nation in Hausa.

The veteran Broadcaster always translate FELLOW NIGERIAN’S as follows ”Ya Yan Uwana Yan Najeriya”

During Baraka Da yau,their News and correspondent report, the following veteran casters always hit the air, they are, Late Mustapha Danbaba Malumfashi,Late Abdullahi Tafida Mayare,Late Shehu Yusuf Karaye,Late Abubakar Cigari Toro,Lawal Abu Galadanchi,Umar Usman Tsiga,Mujtaba Ramalan Bello,Abubakar Zulkarnaini Minjibir,Salihu Umar Rigachikum, Yahya Umar Balarabe and Abubakar Jidda Othman.

Mujtaba Ramalan Bello,Now GM Pride FM Gusau

Apart from the above mentioned BARKA DA YAU Veteran casters, are their hardworking reporters that report events and happenings from nook and crannies of Nigeria all I know in the early and late nineties which bypass to early ’20s.

They are Ghali Sadeek from Kano,Abubakar Abdurrahman from Jigawa,Ahmed Habu From Maiduguri,Lawal Baidu from Sokoto,Bature Maxwell Umaru from Jalingo,Yahaya Maiyaki From Lokoja,Abdullahi Garba from Katsina,Garba Aliyu from Ilorin,Haruna Aliyu Hadejia from Akure and later Birnin Kebbi,Aliyu Yahya from Abuja, John Aduku From Jos and the rest.

Bature Maxwell Umaru, One of the FRCN Correspondents

The above personalities developed BARKA DA YAU to News program worthy of listening to together with DUNIYA INA LABARI.

FRCN Kaduna was not left in the entertainment scene and other programs with good presenters which include DAKA DA WAJE,DUNIYA BUDURWAR WAWA,SAMANJA MAZAN FAMA,NOMA KARKARA MAGAJIN GARBA and SANDAN GIRMA by Halilu Ahmad Getso, the veteran MD of the station.

But with the emergence of Private FM stations and Government-owned FM stations, the influence and listenership of FRCN Kaduna, Sashin Hausa started dwindling.

Government policies in Muzzling the media especially Federal Government did not Favor SASHIN HAUSA Radio Nigeria Kaduna, but the military and politicians mostly in Northern Nigeria have exploited the opportunities offered by the station to their advantage.