The Director, Kano Study Centre of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Mr. Muddasir Ahmad Ishaq, has said the centre sustains its tempo on radio advocacy campaign in order to create the needed awareness and increase the level of students enrollment in the university.
The director revealed this in a chat with the NOUN News correspondent shortly after an advocacy programme held in one of the Freedom Radio’s flagship programmes “Barka da Hantsi”.
He said the sustainability of the campaign will no doubt contribute immensely towards attainment of the Vice-Chancellor’s priority, which is increasing the students population base.
He explained that the centre has since deployed the use of radio as alternative means of delivering information, as research has shown that radio is be the best means of reaching out to a larger target populace in Kano and beyond.
Explaining the centre’s decision to deploy radio as the medium of reaching out to the target audience, the director stated that it is the most used medium in the area ahead of any other.
He said a number of studies revealed that in every 100 people, 80-90 of them listen to radio in Kano.
Ishaq added that there is a good working relationship between the Kano Study Centre and some radio stations in the state, which paved the way for the centre to key-in to some of their educational programmes.
Despite the deployment of radio in reaching out to the substantial target audience, the centre will continue with its normal face-to-face interface with communities, organisations, institutions and other formations in its efforts at getting potential students, he said.
Ishaq added, there is no limit for advocacy campaign in as much as there is no limit for students enrolment in the university.”For you to sell is for you to tell.
“NOUN, being the university of the moment, we need to create more awareness and educate people to understand more on the 21st Century mode of education delivery at the university.
“The days of face-to-face interaction between a tutor and students are beginning to fade as technology takes the centre stage as exemplified by the operations at NOUN.”
In its efforts to sustain the tempo of the campaign the centre had also anchored campaign programmes in separate radio stations like Freedom Radio “Barka da Hantsi,” Express Radio “Gari ya waye,” Arewa Radio “Zube akan kwarya,” and Radio Kano “Ilimi Haske”
Others were Guarantee Radio “Bakon mu na mako,” Vision FM “Mabudi,” Aminci Radio “Mun kwana lafiya,” and Abubakar Rimi Television (ARTV) “Mun kwana lafiya.” All are one-hour live and phone in programmes, said Ishaq.
He clarified that despite identifying the suitability of radio campaign, the centre would continue to visit organisations, institutions and other places with pool of NOUN potential clients.
Ishaq said with the continued support rendered by the university management, all the set goals are in sight.
