Bayelsa: Governor’s aide calls for establishment of Community Radio.

Senior Special Assistant to the Bayelsa State Governor on Community Radio Development, Mr Prince Koroye, has called for the establishment of community radio stations for proper information dissemination.

Mr Koroye, who made the call when he embarked on community radio assessment tour to some communities across the State, said the essence was to get first hand information on the state of community radio stations.

He also said the visit was also aimed at cross fertilizing ideas with community radio operators  on ways to improve on information dissemination in the rural areas,  especially government laudable policies and programs.

While calling for the rehabilitation of existing community media centers to keep the rural dwellers abreast with current events, Mr Koroye opined that developing new radio stations will enhance information dissemination at the grassroots.

The Governor’s aide, said government was making deliberate effort  in bridging the communication gap within the locality and promised to brief the governor on his findings.

He said government will look into the challenges hampering the smooth operation of some of the community media centers with a view to finding lasting solution.

Describing community radio as a veritable tool in disseminating information across the nook and cranny of the state, Mr Koroye advised  community leaders to take ownership of government properties in their domains.

Also speaking, CDC chairman of Igeibiri Community in SILGA, Mr George Diepreye, said community radio will showcase their, educate the people on policies and programmes of government especially as November 11 governorship election draws closer.

Mr Diepreye, called for the development of all community information centers across the board to keep them abreast with current issues in the State, the nation and the world at large.

On his part, town crier of Sampou Community, appealed to the state government to build a community radio in Sampou, that will cater for the information needs of the people in a language and formats that suit the community.

He said the radio will serve as a mechanism for facilitating individuals, groups, and communities to tell their own diverse stories, share experiences.

Also, an indigene of Sabagreria, who described the assessment tour as apt and timely, expressed the community’s   readiness to partner government rehabilitating the existing media center.

Earlier, a community leader had said Community radio can play a significant role at the grass roots level for rural development.

He stressed that community radio helps to strengthen ties and build awareness of common values, challenges and solutions within the community.