Eye Media CEO Stephin Omiri (in dark suits) poses for photo with local authorities in Terekeka County on World Radio Day. (Credit: Eye Radio.)

Terekeka County, an area known for its recreational spots in the northeast of Juba, hosted Eye Radio on the commemoration of World Radio Day on Monday this week.

Situated along the Nile river, the area is endowed with natural beauty and has the potential to manifest itself as a leading tourist destination in the country.

Many residents of Juba city drive to the area on the tarmacked highway to spend weekends.

The environment is green and naturally attractive. Along the river, canoes and boats of different types are docked and people hire them for a leisure, fishing and transport along the river.

Although not well developed, the recreational sites along the Nile has created business opportunities for many residents, who venture into fishing and other economic activities.

The residents of Terekeka interacted with Eye Radio journalists about their daily activities and the issues affecting them; particularly the issue of limited media accessibility and poor internet connection.

They commended Eye Radio for choosing the area as the venue for its outside broadcast, saying the event has enabled them tell their story.

41-year-old Mary Elia is a businesswoman and restaurant owner near the river. Every morning, she buys fresh tilapia from fishermen few meters away from her business place, roast and sell at 2,000 pounds.

“I buy and sell the fish here along the river. The price is affordable, if somebody come here he or she will buy at 2000 pounds. So doing this work is helping me put food on the table for my family and also address other family needs,” Mary told Eye Radio during an interview.

According to the 2008 population census, Terekeka County has a total population of over 144,373.

Residents blame the national government for neglecting the rich socioeconomic and tourists potential of the area.

Besides fishing, majority of locals are also aggro-pastoralists. This means they keep cattle and cultivate variety of crops.

Some parts of the county is swampy and suitable for grazing during dry season while the higher ground is fertile.

When Eye Radio Journalists toured the recreational site around the river bank, they found a group of young men relaxing under a beautiful shade, and listening to music playing in the background.

“We are resting here because we have been fishing in the other side of the river,” said Osman, a young man in the group.

“I know how to drive the boat so you use something which looks like a spade to move the boat. So that is what I been doing since morning and I came to this friends to have some rest.”

Eye Radio marked World Radio Day in Terekeka

On Monday, Eye Radio team traveled to Terekeka to commemorate the World Radio Day, which was under the theme “Radio and Peace.”

The decision to mark the day in Terekeka County was part of its outreach activities to extend coverage beyond the existing reachable areas, and to tell unique stories about South Sudan.

Speaking to Eye Radio, Terekeka resident Joice Konga says limited coverage by the media is making it hard for them to expose the beauty of the area.

“Terekeka is a beautiful place but we are lacking many things example, we need a Radio station and also we want many people to come and celebrate with us during big occasions,” Joice said.

 “So there so many things we have here in Terekeka and people does not see it in other parts of the country.”

She however thanked Eye Radio for selecting her area for the commemoration.

“I appreciate Eye Radio for coming to our here so that we can share our views on the importance of Radio in the society. So the coming of Eye Radio will help us to make our drama and we will talk so that people in other parts of the country can listen to as well.”

“Therefore, Radio is importance because as I am speaking somebody who is very far will hear me and say I am in this place and it is also importance in uniting people to talk about peacebuilding.”

On his part, the paramount Chief of Terekeka County Abraham Gai appealed to Eye Radio management to extend its coverage to the area saying they lacking access to its frequencies.

“I’m requesting that the people of Terekeka are in serious need of radio, why am I saying this because they need to be informed and be aware of the ongoing events,” Gai said.

“So radio is important and in our ten Payams, there is no radio coverage, if you stay in that payams there is no radio, even there is no network,” he added.

In response to the appeal, the Chief Executive Officer of Eye Media Stephen Omiri said, the management plans to extend the station’s coverage to the area.

“I have listened to the authorities, we are not going to promise you that we are bringing radio tomorrow or next tomorrow but Terekeka is part of our plan.”

Commenting on the importance of radio to the society, Omiri said: “You see, radio is our friend, most people wake up with it, start the day in the morning with the radio, you spend the day with the radio and you tune to the radio.”

“Radio is the best friend to the man, it will tell you what is happening in Juba, it will tell you what is happening in Uganda, it will tell you what is happening in America.”

Omiri further thanked the leadership of Terekeka County for accepting Eye Radio to celebrate the day in the area.

Speaking during the event, the acting County Executive Director commended Eye Radio for building peace and educating the masses.

Emmanuel Rymot described radio as the fastest means of sending peace messages to the communities.

“The importance of radio is that it sends clear information without any rumors and this news reaches faster,” Rymot said.

“Radio also gives you a chance to listen to what is happening today, if anything got lost, it can be announced and you will get it whether it is a document, ID or any other item can be taken to the Radio station and you can trace it so that is the good part of Radio.

“It is also very important in promoting and spreading peace, if you didn’t get from anywhere you can get it on Radio faster.”

During the commemoration of World Radio Day in Terekeka, Eye Radio conduct different interactive activities include quiz on issues surrounded peace.

The day focused on Radio as peace marker, Radio as sound of peace, Radio rescue, learning to live together, sporting Radio among others.

Public opinion surveys in South Sudan have highlighted the importance of radio as the most accessible and widely consumed.