Summary Report on World Radio Day and International Day for Women and Girls in Science
SUMMARY OF THE SESSION
This session was designed in alignment with the international day for women and girls in science, and the World Radio Day marked on the 11th and 13th of February 2022by UNESCO. The aim of this session is to inspire and encourage both genders to get involved in science, technology, engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related subjects.
Session Delivery
The session started with a review of the previous session. After which Tetsoma Igbiaye; a radio host with Warri community radio gave a talk on World Radio Day which is marked yearly on 13th of February by UNESCO. World Radio Day is usually set aside to celebrate radio broadcast, improve international cooperation among radio broadcasters and encourage decision-makers to create and provide access to information through radio, including community radio stations such as the Warri community radio. .
It is an occasion to draw attention to the unique value of radio, which remains the most efficient medium to reach the widest audience and is currently taking up new technological forms and devices. UNESCO encourages all countries to celebrate this Day by undertaking activities with diverse partners, such as national, regional, and international broadcasting associations and organizations, non-governmental organizations, media organizations and outlets, as well as the public.
Testsoma Igbiaye made participants know that Radio is part of broadcasting and in the same bracket as television. She narrated the story of how she got interested in radio broadcasting. She stated that whilst growing up as a little girl, she had the passion to be an on-air personality as she watched and listened to broadcasters from National Television Authority and Delta Broadcasting Station. Though she was faced with many hurdles that would have halted her, she was resilient and persistent, which later helped her achieve her dreams. She admonished participants to hold on to their dreams while also taking their studies seriously.
One of the volunteers; Itse Mirabel Ukubeyinje, spoke on how Dr Stella Adedevoh helped the Nigerian government to curtail the spread of the Ebola virus at the expense of her life which saved a lot of Nigerians. Also, Professor Mrs Grace Alele Williams who is of Itsekiri heritage was the first female vice-chancellor in Nigeria. She was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin and also a professor of Mathematics.
Mrs Besidone Tedeye Abade, a radio host with Delta Broadcasting service also discussed with the participants the importance of science to mark the international day for women and girls in science. She made the participants know that science and technology help to make the radio presenter’s work possible by inventing the transmitter and other gadgets and equipment used in radio broadcasts. Likewise, she informed the participants that whenever they are presenting, engineers are working behind the scene to make the presenting run smoothly by constantly checking the broadcast equipment used in presenting. They also routinely service and repair the equipment to keep them in optimum shape.
She also spoke on how the invention of the radio has made it easier for information to get to remote places and the hinterland. A clear example was how people learned and got information from radio stations during the COVID-19 lockdown. She encouraged participants who are good in STEM subjects to continue in it and encouraged them to take this up to tertiary institutions of learning.
Other Key Activities During the Session
As it is now the norm, the participants borrowed books to read, and they would be reviewing the books at the next session.