Radio workers have been charged to acquire the knowledge about climate change and informed their audience rightly.
The sponsor of climate change bill which became a law in Nigeria and former member that represented Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency, Chief Sam Onuigbo gave the charge while Interacting with our correspondent on this year’s world Radio Day with the theme “Radio and Climate change”.
Today is World Radio Day. It is an international day celebrated on the 13th of February each year.
World Radio Day 2025 is dedicated to the theme of “Radio and Climate Change” as broadcasters grapple with the need for increased coverage of wildfires and other environmental disasters.
Celebrated on Feb. 13 every year since a United Nations (UN) proclamation in 2012. UNESCO says this year’s World Radio Day is intended to highlight radio broadcasters’ efforts to equip listeners with the information they need to better understand and tackle the climate crisis.
Chief Onuigbo said the law says those in the helm of affairs administering issues concerning climate change like the national council on climate change to engage the civil society organizations, the youth, the media in creating awareness.
He noted that through awareness that the media will guide their listeners on what they should or should not do, so as not to contribute negatively to the problems that are coming from climate change.
According to him, there is a need for broadcasters to know the provisions of the law, adding that Section 25 of climate act, adequately provides for this engagement with the society.
He maintained that broadcasters need to know their job, the impacts of climate change and set aside special programs to inform, to educate and to bring every body on board, so that what people should not do like blocking the drainages with non degradable items which add to flooding disaster, not to cut down trees without replanting, not to engage on unnecessary bush burning, not to contribute to forest fire which leads to the destruction of the forest, and areas people live.
Chief Sam Onuigbo further encouraged Radio workers to read presentations by professionals and people in the field of climate change, sharing of ideas with their colleagues, stressing that climate change is not rocket signs, and encouraged them to learn.
The sponsor of the climate change bill in Nigeria said that section 26 of the act allows climate change to be taught at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education so as to bring everyone on board and create the awareness because climate change is not restricted to any particular place and it is the responsibility of all to create awareness for all and the broadcasters have huge responsibilities to say the right thing, to advice and educate properly.
Contributing, the director of climate change in the Abia State ministry of environment, Mr Ike Chris described the theme as apt, incisive and in tune with the times because climate change has become a topical issue and there is no way stakeholders can address and mitigate climate change by separating the role of broadcasters and Radio will play it in ensuring that Abians adapt to the effects of climate change.
He pointed out that the theme is correct and also speaks to what they are pushing as well as what they want to achieve.
“Broadcasters should see this role to inform their audience about climate change as part of their corporate social responsibility’.
