An Assessment of the Use of Hausa Language in Radio Broadcasting in Kaduna State

Radio broadcasting in indigenous languages remains a significant medium for information dissemination, cultural preservation, and civic engagement among Hausa-speaking communities in northern Nigeria. This study assesses the use of Hausa language in radio broadcasting in Kaduna State, examining language quality, dialect variation, and listener satisfaction. A descriptive survey design was used, collecting data from 200 regular listeners of selected Hausa-language radio stations including Radio Kaduna and Freedom Radio through structured questionnaires. Content analysis of a sample of 30 recorded broadcast episodes covering news, drama, and agricultural programmes was conducted to evaluate vocabulary choice, register, and adherence to standard Hausa. Interviews were also held with eight broadcasting professionals and language editors at the sampled stations. Secondary data on Hausa broadcasting policy were sourced from the National Broadcasting Commission and Kaduna State Ministry of Information. Findings reveal that while radio broadcasting is the most accessible medium for rural and semi-literate Hausa audiences, significant inconsistencies in grammatical usage and an increasing infiltration of loan words from English and Hausa urban dialects are observable in broadcast content. Listener surveys indicate high appreciation for local dialect use but concern over perceived decline in classical Hausa standards. The study recommends mandatory Hausa language proficiency assessments for broadcasters, engagement of Hausa language scholars in editorial roles, and development of a broadcasting style guide grounded in standard Hausa orthography. Keywords: Hausa language, Radio broadcasting, Kaduna, Dialect, Language quality.