Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi

Listeners’ Response to Radio Benue Indigenous Language Messages on COVID-19

Tina N. Tsafa (Ph.D), Maria Agbenu Onyilo (Ph.D), Victor Unongu & Godwin Awunah

Abstract

This study assessed listeners’ response to indigenous language messages on Radio Benue, Makurdi on COVID-19 pandemic in the State. The study sought to investigate indigenous language messages on Covid-19 available to residents of Makurdi metropolis on radio Benue Makurdi, assessed responses of Makurdi residents on Covid-19 indigenous language messages on radio Benue and assessed the extent the messages have mitigated spread of the pandemic in Benue. Specific emphasis was placed on jingles in indigenous languages in the state-Tiv, Idoma, Igede, and Etulo. The theoretical framework is The Health Belief Model (HBM) which assesses peoples’ beliefs and behaviours, and predicts how they will behave in relation to their health and how they are persuaded and comply with health care messages. The study used survey research method and the stratified sampling technique. The questionnaire which was used as an instrument of data collection was administered to 384 respondents who are residents of Makurdi metropolis. Results showed that messages disseminated in indigenous languages through jingles on radio had more lasting effects than the ones disseminated in English Language. This is attributed to the fact that it educated more people enabling them to stay alive as a measure of containing the spread of the pandemic. Conclusion was drawn based on the fact that residents of Makurdi were knowledgeable about the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of the radio indigenous language messages broadcast to them through radio Benue, Makurdi, which has mitigated the spread of the virus in the metropolis. The study recommended that to effectively combat the spread of COVID-19 through awareness creation, attention should be focused on more packaging and dissemination of content in indigenous languages of the host community.

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