By Sani Musa Gamaliya, Program Producer, Progress Radio, Nigeria

Progress Radio 97.3 FM Gombe’s community awareness program on the coronavirus epidemic has had a significant impact on the lives of people in northeast Nigeria. The program has been running for over a year and has helped to raise awareness of the virus and how to prevent its spread. It also helped to reduce stigma and discrimination against people who have been infected with COVID-19. Progress Radio was established in 2016 and is dedicated to broadcasting radio programs mainly in Hausa, English, and Fulfulde. It was awarded as the best radio station in northeast Nigeria in 2022, having a reach of approximately four million listeners. The radio station has programs on topics such as politics, entertainment, current affairs, culture and tradition, women’s affairs, and kids’ time.

Cultural Survival provided a small grant to Progress Radio for the implementation of a program titled “Conducting an awareness-raising campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic in Gombe State, northeastern Nigeria through community radio.” One of the most successful aspects of the program has been the use of radio to reach a wide audience. Radio is a popular form of media in northeast Nigeria and a trusted source of information for many people. The program has used radio to broadcast messages in English, Hausa, and local languages on COVID-19 and vaccines in partnership with community leaders and health experts. This has helped to ensure that the message reaches people who may not have access to other forms of media.

The program also used community outreach activities to reach people who may not have radio access. Community outreach members visited villages and towns to distribute educational materials about the virus and answer questions and also worked with community leaders to develop and implement prevention measures. The program has been a boon for small journalists in Nigeria. Fatima Abubakar, a station volunteer, is one example of a journalist who has benefited from the program. “I have been able to use the income earned from the program to support myself and my family. Moreover, it helped me to explore and share knowledge about the coronavirus epidemic and inform community members on how to prevent it from spreading further,” she says.

The program has been well received by the community, with many listeners reporting that they learned about the COVID-19 pandemic for the first time through the program. The program has also been praised by trade unions and activists who advocate for the protection of health rights. The financial support from Cultural Survival helped to sustain the station during the COVID crisis and also helped to build greater awareness and relationships with the communities.

One of the most notable successes of the program has been its ability to convince people to take COVID-19 seriously. When the program began, some listeners did not even believe that the virus existed or that it could affect Black people. However, after hearing from health experts on the program, many listeners changed their minds and began taking precautions to protect themselves.

Radio Progress’s community awareness program is a shining example of how media can be used to educate and inform people about important issues.In 202XXX, Progress Radio received a grant from Cultural Survival’s Indigenous Community Media Fund, which provides opportunities for international Indigenous radio stations to strengthen their infrastructure and broadcast systems and creates training opportunities for journalism, broadcasting, audio editing, technical skills, and more for radio journalists from Indigenous communities around the world. In 2023, the Indigenous Community Media Fund distributed $420,000 in grants supporting 60 Indigenous communication projects that will benefit 87 Indigenous Peoples in 20 countries.
 
— In 2022, Progress Radio received a grant from Cultural Survival’s Indigenous Community Media Fund, which provides opportunities for international Indigenous radio stations to strengthen their infrastructure and broadcast systems and creates training opportunities for journalism, broadcasting, audio editing, technical skills, and more for radio journalists from Indigenous communities around the world. In 2023, the Indigenous Community Media Fund distributed $420,000 in grants supporting 60 Indigenous communication projects that will benefit 87 Indigenous Peoples in 20 countries.