The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Youth and Social Development Secretariat has called for a shift in the narrative surrounding social media, urging users to harness its potential for economic development.
This message was delivered by Mandate Secretary Mr. Abdullahi Suleiman during the launch of the Social Media Digest in Abuja.
Suleiman highlighted that social media is a “double-edged sword,” possessing both advantages and disadvantages. He emphasised its significance in the modern world.
“Social media today is a necessity that cannot be avoided in the 21st century,” Mr. Suleiman remarked.
He called for efforts to convert the platform’s negative aspects into positive opportunities, noting that many individuals are successfully earning income through social media.
“Social media contributes to economic activities,” Suleiman stated, pointing out that numerous young Nigerians are making substantial profits through various online platforms. He encouraged youth to focus on the constructive use of social media, which he believes offers an alternative economic avenue for both the country and the global community.
Despite its potential, Suleiman acknowledged that social media also plays a role in exacerbating crises, necessitating immediate action to mitigate its negative impacts.
“At Social Development Secretariat, in collaboration with youth secretaries, we are thinking of bringing what we call tech creative hub. It is a situation whereby we bring all the users of social media and see how we can make them become productive,” he said.
The Secretariat’s proposed initiatives aim to redirect youths towards leveraging social media for positive purposes, fostering innovation, and contributing to nation-building.
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Tool for Development
The Convener of Social Media Digest, Mr. Jacob Wuse, outlined the organisation’s mission to promote the benefits of social media among Nigerian youths and beyond.
“Our vision is to project the benefits of Social media the teaming population of Nigeria, especially the youths, Africa and the entire world at large. The purpose is to leverage and maximise the many benefits of social media,” he said.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Sebastine Hon also highlighted social media’s transformative potential, calling it a “weapon of mass communication.”
He advocated for integrating social media education into the school curriculum to equip future generations with the knowledge to navigate its advantages and drawbacks.
“We just need to harness the positive aspects and redirect our energy to promoting all of this for political benefits,” he suggested.
Encouraging Responsible Engagement
The Director of Tourism at the Secretariat, Ann Dogo, underscored the importance of responsible social media use. She noted that social media shapes societal narratives and called for a collective effort to highlight positive developments in the FCT.
“The service is timely and essential. It will provide an avenue to educate, inspire, and challenge social media users to not only harness the platform for good, but also counter negative narratives that hinder our collective progress,” she stated.
Social Media Digest, a non-governmental organisation, is dedicated to promoting impactful and positive engagement on social media platforms, aiming to reshape the narrative around these influential channels.
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