#Hashtags to the Rescue: A Case Study of Nigeria (Published)
This research article investigates the significance of hashtag activism in driving socio-political change, focusing on Nigeria. Despite Nigeria’s reputation as having one of the most accessible press systems in Africa, the country’s media has faced consistent targeting and censorship by past and present governments. Journalists have been arrested, exiled, and even murdered, highlighting the need for alternative platforms for public expression. Hashtag activism has emerged as a powerful tool for Nigerian youths to voice their concerns, hold the government accountable, and mobilise for collective action. This research examines the impact and effectiveness of hashtag activism in Nigeria, highlighting its potential to elicit much-needed change from the government. Participants critically reflect on hashtag activism’s efficacy in enhancing marginalised voices’ visibility, fostering awareness about pertinent issues, and galvanising concerted efforts towards social change. These observations underscore the need for a well-rounded strategy integrating online and offline techniques to facilitate enduring transformation. The use of hashtag activism, as elucidated by participants’ viewpoints, functions as both a mechanism and a first step towards substantial social change in Nigeria.
Keywords: Nigeria, Social media, government responsiveness., hashtag activism, social change, youth activism
Communication Strategies and Acceptance of Political Candidates in Nigeria (Published)
This study examined communication strategies and acceptance of political candidates in Nigeria. The specific objectives are: to determine the effect of personal selling on acceptance of political candidates, to find out the effect of personality promotion on acceptance of political candidates, to examine the effect of social media on acceptance of political candidates, and to investigate the effect of public relation on acceptance of political candidates in Nigeria. The study employed survey method in which the data required for the study were generated through questionnaire. The population comprised of voters who are resident in Ekiti State. Cochram formula was used to determine a sample of 370. The returned questionnaire were analyzed using chi-square. The findings indicate that; communication strategies adopted by Ekiti State political candidates were assessed to be persuasive in content, the personality promotion strategies used has helped in modifying and strengthening the views, and beliefs of the people towards them. The study therefore recommended that Political Processes should be effectively handled by adopting ethical oriented political marketing strategies rather than being unethical in the ways and manners political campaign are conducted.
Keywords: Communication Strategies, Personal Selling, Social media, personality promotion
Role of Social Media in Enlightening Nursing Mothers on the Practise of Exclusive Breast Feeding (Published)
The globalization of technology which gave rise to Information Communication Technology (ICT) has changed the information seeking behaviour of human which has shifted attention from broadcast and print media to Social Media(SM). Exclusive Breast Feeding (EBF) practice over the years has been a global discussion and its significance has been passed across to Nursing Mothers through several sources i.e. Open campaigns, Hospital Seminars, Television, Radio etc. which has not yielded desirable results. Little or no attention has been paid to the role of SM hence the need to examine the role of SM in enlightening Nursing Mothers on the practise of Exclusive Breast Feeding in Ekiti State. The study adopted a Survey design with a study population of 952 Nursing Mothers. Total enumeration technique was used for selecting sample for the study through Questionnaire. Data collected were analysed with statistics. Findings revealed that Nursing Mothers in Ekiti State are enlightened about EBF through several SM sources but Facebook and WhatsApp appear to be the most prevalent SM source of enlightenment on EBF practice, a large percentage of Nursing Mothers were encouraged to breastfeed their infants through the enlightenment obtained from SM and some of the challenges in the use of SM is the fact that it consumes time, poor network signal, high cost of data subscription etc. The study concluded that Facebook and WhatsApp are the most effective SM source on EBF. Therefore, the study recommended that stakeholders should push their adverts and campaigns on Facebook and WhatsApp more frequently.
Keywords: Social media, enlightening, exclusive breast feeding, nursing mother
Influence of Social Media on Students’ Discipline in Secondary Schools in Kenya (Published)
Social media are technologies that facilitate social interaction, make possible collaboration and enable deliberation across stakeholders. The study sought to develop strategies for managing the influence of social media on students’ discipline in secondary schools. The objective of this paper is to determine the extent to which social media has influenced students’ discipline in schools based on the research. The study utilized the pragmatic philosophical paradigm and the mixed methods research design where both positivists and constructivists approaches and techniques were combined. The study was undertaken in Bungoma County in Kenya. It was carried out in 306 secondary schools in the County targeting a population of 19,000 Form 3 students. Scott Smith`s formula was used to determine the sample size of 600 students from 40 secondary schools as respondents. Purposive sampling was applied to select the 40 deputy principals and 40 heads of guidance and counselling departments from the selected secondary schools as respondents in the study. Three categories of boys’, girls’ and mixed schools were chosen from each sub-county. The questionnaires used had both closed- and open-ended items. Interviews were also used to get more information for the study. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyse data. Social media was found to have influenced students’ discipline negatively in schools. The study recommended that parents, educational and political leaders should implement policies on limiting social media influence on students’ discipline. It is expected that the Kenya Ministry of Education and other education stakeholders will utilize the results of the study to manage the influence of the social media on students’ discipline in secondary schools.
Keywords: Discipline, Influence, Kenya, Secondary Schools, Social media, Students
Perceptions on the Commercialisation of the Malu: A Case of Samoa (Published)
The art of Samoan tattooing or Tatau has been widely researched by scholars. Most scholarly, medical and artistic studies examine Samoan tattooing with greater interest on the male tattoo (pe’a) while the female tattoo (malu) is insignificantly explored. Traditionally, the malu was reserved for the taupou, (the daughters of high chiefs). Today, no such reservation seems to be in place and pretty much any woman or girl, Samoan, part Samoan or non Samoan may receive a malu provided they can afford the costs and tolerate the pain. Perceptions on the commercialisation of the malu are deeply debated and vigorously contested on social media and online discussion forums. Perceptions on the commercialisation of the malu from Samoans and non Samoans residing in Samoa are nonexistent in academia. This research paper presents the results of a small scale study that investigated the perceptions of Samoans, part Samoan and non Samoans living in Samoa on the commercialisation of the malu. The paper intends to highlight similarities and differences in perceptions amongst participants living in Samoa and bloggers residing outside of Samoa. The paper presents a number of interesting themes drawn from the study on the commercialisation of the malu.
Keywords: Commercialization, Malu, Online Discussion Forums, Perceptions, Samoan Tattooing, Social media, Tatau
Perceptions on the Commercialisation of the Malu: A Case of Samoa (Published)
The art of Samoan tattooing or Tatau has been widely researched by scholars. Most scholarly, medical and artistic studies examine Samoan tattooing with greater interest on the male tattoo (pe’a) while the female tattoo (malu) is insignificantly explored. Traditionally, the malu was reserved for the taupou, (the daughters of high chiefs). Today, no such reservation seems to be in place and pretty much any woman or girl, Samoan, part Samoan or non Samoan may receive a malu provided they can afford the costs and tolerate the pain. Perceptions on the commercialisation of the malu are deeply debated and vigorously contested on social media and online discussion forums. Perceptions on the commercialisation of the malu from Samoans and non Samoans residing in Samoa are nonexistent in academia. This research paper presents the results of a small scale study that investigated the perceptions of Samoans, part Samoan and non Samoans living in Samoa on the commercialisation of the malu. The paper intends to highlight similarities and differences in perceptions amongst participants living in Samoa and bloggers residing outside of Samoa. The paper presents a number of interesting themes drawn from the study on the commercialisation of the malu.
Keywords: Commercialisation, Malu, Online Discussion Forums, Perceptions, Samoan Tattooing, Social media, Tatau
Perceptions on the Commercialisation of the Malu: A Case of Samoa (Published)
The art of Samoan tattooing or Tatau has been widely researched by scholars. Most scholarly, medical and artistic studies examine Samoan tattooing with greater interest on the male tattoo (pe’a) while the female tattoo (malu) is insignificantly explored. Traditionally, the malu was reserved for the taupou, (the daughters of high chiefs). Today, no such reservation seems to be in place and pretty much any woman or girl, Samoan, part Samoan or non Samoan may receive a malu provided they can afford the costs and tolerate the pain. Perceptions on the commercialisation of the malu are deeply debated and vigorously contested on social media and online discussion forums. Perceptions on the commercialisation of the malu from Samoans and non Samoans residing in Samoa are nonexistent in academia. This research paper presents the results of a small scale study that investigated the perceptions of Samoans, part Samoan and non Samoans living in Samoa on the commercialisation of the malu. The paper intends to highlight similarities and differences in perceptions amongst participants living in Samoa and bloggers residing outside of Samoa. The paper presents a number of interesting themes drawn from the study on the commercialisation of the malu.
Keywords: Commercialization, Malu, Online Discussion Forums, Perceptions, Samoan Tattooing, Social media, Tatau