Lagos rolls out impact campaign in community media

Kehinde Bamigbetan, Special Adviser on Communities and Communication

The State Government has concluded plans to roll out a massive, multi-channel impact campaign in the print, electronic and online media focusing on communities in the state this month.

This is in its determination to consolidate on the achievements of the first year of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Communities and Communications, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan in a statement on Tuesday said the administration was partnering with over 33 grassroots media organisations including 21 print media, 10 electronic stations and two online media.

“This novel campaign is a strategic communications initiative inspired by need to give vent to Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s ideology of inclusive governance. It is the result of scientific segmentation of the media that recognizes the niche that community media occupies and drives messages meant for the people at the grassroots through them.”

Noting that the Ambode administration will revive the community media as part of the institutions that shaped the fate of Lagos since pre-independence days, Bamigbetan said history shows that there were more than 35 community newspapers active on the Lagos media as late as 1940’s.

“As Lagos prepares to turn 50, it is only proper that she brings on board the current successors of the defunct Lagos Express, Lagos Echo, Lagos Weekly Record among others which provided the platforms for the nationalists to struggle for independence and enriched the electoral politics put in place by the Clifford Constitution of 1922,” he said.

Bamigbetan noted that community media form a thriving business and social institution in all the megacities of the world today. London, United Kingdom has 2000 registered newspapers, New York, 23, Tokyo 34, Cairo, 34, Johannesburg 34.

According to the Special Adviser: “As population increases, the pattern of settlement and nature of the residents become more complex. Disseminating information and receiving feedback on what the government is doing to address the concerns of each group requires more innovative communications strategy and tactics.”

While the campaign involves a four-page pull-out on the achievement of the administration in energy, business environment, security and civic engagement in the print media, it will be in spotlights on electronic and broken down as tweets, clips and banner ads on the electronic platforms.

Community newspapers involved include Oriwu Sun, Ikorodu News, Townwatch, The Impact, Ilupeju Today, Our Community, Ifako-Ijaiye Post, Echonews, Isolo Voice, The Harbinger, Pivot Extra, The Lagosian, Surulere Now, Surulere Watch, Lagos Panorama, Epe-Lekki Times, Badagry Prime, Grassroots, Kosofe Insideout, The Commoners and Mushine.

The electronic media include radio stations running community programming and reportage such as Wazobia FM, Eko FM, Inspiration FM, City FM, Inspiration FM, Radio Continental, Naija FM, Unilag FM, SMA FM and Radio Lagos. Insidemainlandonline, Lagos State Today and Agegetvonline form the online segment of the campaign’s outlets.