By: Sulaiman Aruna Sesay

Sierra Leone joins host of countries to commemorate World Radio Day. The day, which is commemorated every 13th of February, is meant to raise awareness about the importance of radio as a tool for promoting dialogue, understanding, and peace.

The theme for the World Radio Day, celebrated on February 13, 2024 is “Radio: A century informing, entertaining, and educating”. The United Nations states, “The 2024 observance highlights the history of radio and its powerful impact on news, drama, music and sports.

It also recognises the ongoing practical value as a portable public safety net during emergencies and power outages, caused by natural and human-made disasters, such as storms, earthquakes, floods, heat, wildfires, accidents, warfare.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which declared World Radio Day in 2011, have also lined up several events to mark the day. These include a global radio marathon that will involve hundreds of stations around the world broadcasting special programs that celebrate the power of radio.

To mark the occasion, various countries around the world are celebrating different activities that will showcase the power of radio. In Africa, for example, in Sierra Leone, the president of Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, delivered a remarkable statement at Africell’s World Radio Day commemoration- official signing Africell support to 50 Radio Stations Across Sierra Leone. He said, “I am honoured and excited to be here as President of SLAJ to deliver a statement commemorating World Radio Day 2024 with the official signing of Africell support to 50 radio stations, including community radio stations, across Sierra Leone”.

The president reaffirmed that, the occasion was perfect to deliver his annual World Radio Day statement by marking the day. He started by thanking and commending Africell for their timely and much needed support. He added that, the occasion is a continuation of the company’s support to radio stations in Sierra Leone with direct cash and power supply, especially community radio stations in rural communities, for the past 10 years or so.

The president said, “And in the context of the current economic situation, the Africell support is very timely. To say that radio stations are struggling is an understatement. Radio stations in SL, especially community radio stations, are faced with a lot of challenges. Lack of financial sustainability means that many radio stations struggle to secure operations, funding, and to procure the right equipment, pays staff salaries, and pay annual license fees”.

This year’s World Radio Day promises to be a celebration of an important medium that has withstood the test of time. Despite the rise of new media, radio remains a vital tool for providing information, entertainment, and education to billions of people around the world, and it is heartening to see that its significance is being recognized and celebrated on a global scale.