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How social media can help students excel—Expert

NAN-H-32
Media
By Temitope Salami
Ijebu-Ode (Ogun), July 15, 2017 (NAN) A communication expert, Mr Olalekan Ajia, says  good  social  media  behaviour can  aid the  performance of  students  in schools.

Ajia, a former Communication for Development Specialist at  the  United Nations, said this on Saturday  at  the 21st Annual Lecture of  Ijebu Muslim College Old Students’ Association (IMCOSA) in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun.

The lecture  entitled, “ Influence of  Social Media on Youth Education; Issues and Challenges,’’  looked at ways of checking abuse of  the social media by youths.

Ajia said  social media could help young people and adults to access informational and educational resources far beyond what could be obtained within the school walls.

He, however, said restraint must be exercised on the side of those using social media platforms because of the infiltration of  false information and cyber criminals.

“Social media and social networking sites provide support for individuals to communicate and engage with people of like minds and interests.

“Social media spreads information faster than any other media and it has helped broaden the scope of education in the internet age as people are exposed to information beyond the conventional.

“The advent of social media has seen more individuals being empowered to make social change and do social good on a community and national level.

“Simply put, we have to face the reality that social media cannot be dispensed with in the modern era and depending on its use, could be a weapon for development or destruction.

“Everyone is affected as the trend is gaining a foothold on every significant trade of  life;  so it is an issue of great concern to educational development,” Ajia said.

He said rather than negate its use, parents, teachers and authorities have  a responsibility in “ guiding young people navigate the minefield as well as the joys of social media and social networking.’’

Ajia, however, said the youths must  assume the ultimate responsibility for the choices they make in using social media tools.

“Parents should be close to their children. If they are truly friends with their children, they will even be able to befriend their children on social media and be at ease with them.

“From their preteen age, the parents should endeavour to start introducing them to social media and guide them on sites to visit.

“They must check against granting absolute access to the internet and social media channels by being password key holders at the home front as a form of parental control.

“Their approach to parenting is also key in the internet generation. Being too strict stokes rebellion while being excessively doting render the children clueless and less tasking.

“Parents must strike a balance by engaging what is regarded as ‘tough love’ in the moulding of the children’s development in the use of social media and gadgets.

“Children must know that not only are rewards meted out for good behaviour but that there  are also consequences for bad behaviour,” he said.

Ajia also dismissed  the notion  that Information Technology  has  a negative influence on the reading culture of students.

“Even for IT,  you have to read, it is all about reading the right things.

“Education authorities should stop being afraid of social media or the internet.

“Rather than negating the use of social media outright, they can help guide the children on proper use of the social media,’’ he said. (NAN)
TDS/OJO
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(Edited by  Mufutau Ojo)

General news

WHO partners media on humanitarian crisis in N/East

WHO partners media on humanitarian crisis in N/East

 

The World Health Organisation (WHO)

NAN-H-30

Partnership

By Ali Inuwa

Maiduguri, May 28, 2017 (NAN) The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Sunday that it would partner with the media to address the humanitarian crisis in the North East, ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency.

Dr Solomon Woldetsadik, the WHO Incident Manager, Health Emergency Programme for the North East, announced the plan at an advocacy meeting with Media Executives in Maiduguri.

Woldetsadik said that the action was based on the role of the media in setting agenda in the society.

“The role of the media in setting agenda for the public and policy makers cannot be more appropriate in the ongoing crisis in the North East, in which more than 20,000 people have been killed with thousands more injured.

“This has triggered humanitarian crisis across the region,’’ he said.

The incident manager said that WHO believed that having a strong partnership with the media would help build trust between the organisation and the communities in the North East.

“We are trying to have a strong partnership with the media towards saving lives by addressing the humanitarian crisis in the North East and Borno in particular.

“To us, the media is a very important platform to use in effective behavioural and attitudinal changes in the community,’’ he said.

Woldetsadik said the partnership was aimed at averting diseases outbreak through timely dissemination of vital information to the public.

“The community has lots of trust in the media and if the information is coming from the media, like radio for instance, they will say it is true.

“If we can use the media to inform communities about diseases outbreaks and preventive measures, then we will have achieved a lot in saving lives.’’

Woldetsadik said that the partnership would also help in changing the attitudes of the people towards accessing modern health care services.

“The media has influence on the people.

“So we want you to help to influence the way people do things by making sure that they practice what health officials tell them on healthy living.’’

The WHO manager assured that the organisation would strive hard to empower the media by building the capacity of its personnel for better productivity.

“Awareness creation is very important and the media has the key to that.

“We will want to help you with information to build your capacity, so that it becomes easier to create awareness on the mode of disease spread and so on, to the public,’’ Woldetsadik said. (NAN)
ABI/AIB/MST

Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Pad-Up Creation seeks media support in promoting menstrual hygiene

Pad-Up Creation seeks media support in promoting menstrual hygiene 

NAN-HG-4

Health

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Minna, May 19, 2017 (NAN) The Coordinator, Niger Pad-Up Creation, Hajiya Khadiza Suleiman, has solicited the support of journalists in promoting good menstrual hygiene management to girls and women in the state.

Suleiman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Friday that the approach from the media will educate young girls on practicing good menstrual hygiene.

She said that Pad-up Creation is a Nigerian social enterprise producing 100 per cent chemical free washable and reusable menstrual pads.

“About 89 per cent of school girls have poor menstrual hygiene practices that might affect their reproductive health in the future,” the coordinator said.

She said that many of the girls use unhygienic materials to manage their menstrual flow.

She said that such practices might later expose them to infections.

“We have embarked on visits to secondary schools to talk to girls about menstrual hygiene, reproductive health and dangers of sexual abuse,” said Suleiman.

She said that the advocacy visits were designed to guide girls and women accordingly and to save future mothers from unforeseen circumstances that might arise from these wrong practices. (NAN)
AAG/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

2018 census: Broadcaster advises NPC to work closely with the media

NAN-H-60

Census

By Mohammed Baba Busu

Lafia, April 6, 2017 (NAN) Alhaji Yusuf Musa, General Manager, Nasarawa Broadcasting Service (NBS), has advised the National Population Commission (NPC), to work closely with the media toward a successful census in 2018.

Musa gave the advice on Thursday in Lafia, when the management of NPC paid him a courtesy visit.

“It is only when you partner with the media that the people will be well informed about the importance of the exercise.

“The media will let Nigerians appreciate the role of a population census in national planning and growth,

“The media will also help to debunk the crude belief that the census is meant for tax purposes as is already being  insinuated,” he said.

According to him, it is only when the people are educated and enlightened that Nigerians will come out en-mass for the census exercise.

Musa emphasised the importance of population census in the allocation of resources and projects, and urged the NPC to ensure that no area was under-counted during the 2018 population census

The manager promised to work with the commission toward a successful headcount, and implored critical stakeholders to ensure a successful exercise to ease Nigeria’s projections and planning needs.

Earlier, Alhaji Zakari Kigbu, who represents the state at the NPC, had said that the visit was to solicit the organisation’s support in the area of awareness creation ahead of the census exercise.

On the issue of vital registration, which comprises birth and death registration, the commission called on parents to ensure that children were registered at birth.

He said that Nasarawa was the only state that had launched the National Birth Registration Exercise, stressing that the vital registration would help children to have legal identity as citizens, and also update the commission’s records. (NAN)

BAB/ETS

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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

 

 

 

General news

Media coverage excites NEPAD

Media coverage excites NEPAD

NAN-H-65

Media

Abuja, March 1, 2017 (NAN) The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) has expressed satisfaction with the media coverage of its two-day Stakeholders Meeting on Skills Initiative for Africa  in Abuja.

NEPAD’s appreciation was conveyed by Princess Gloria Akobundu, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, NEPAD Nigeria, in her vote of thanks on Wednesday in Abuja.

Akobundu noted that there was low public awareness on the activities of NEPAD, hence her resolve to raise public enlightenment through the media and nationwide advocacy.

She therefore hinted that NEPAD would engage the media vigorously to scale up its visibility and educate Nigerians on its mandate.

The coordinator also disclosed that NEPAD would invest 35 million euros in media and Information Communication Technology (ICT) based approach to skill development and regional/continental skill competition, among others.

She added that the fund would also be spent on youth empowerment and skill development in five African countries, including Nigeria within a period of three years.

Other benefitting countries are Tunisia, South Africa, Algeria and Republic of Cameroon.

According to her, the fund will be invested on the construction of facilities, rehabilitation and extension of facilities, purchase of workshop equipment and entrepreneurship/mentorship programmes.

Among those eligible to apply for the fund are people from skill development institutions, vocational institutions, technology-based institutions, apprenticeship training centres and NGOs.

She also appreciated NEPAD Continental, African Union Commission (AUC) and German Government for their commitment toward bridging the skill gap in Nigeria.

“I deeply appreciate the media; they have been great and immensely useful in the coverage of this meeting.

“For three days, they have been working round the clock to ensure the programme is well publicised.

“To the German Cooperation, we are highly grateful; take the message to your government, whatever money you bring into Nigeria for this initiative will be judiciously used,’’ she said.

The coordinator said a NEPAD team would embark on an awareness tour to all states of the federation soon.

Akobundu said that the aim of the media engagement and national tour to re-launch NEPAD programmes in Nigeria and take its mandate to the door step of those at the grassroots.

According to her, this will help reintegrate the States and Local Governments into the numerous programmes of the government, NEPAD Continental and the African Union Commission (AUC) to be implemented by NEPAD Nigeria.

She said the programme would also work with relevant government agencies and development partners in facilitating NEPAD projects. (NAN)

CJ/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

Daily Times MD urges patronage of media 

Daily Times MD urges patronage of media 

NAN-H-74

Media

Owerri, Feb. 3, 2017 (NAN) Mr Olisa Egbunike, the General Manager, Folio Nigeria Limited, publisher of Daily Times group of newspapers, has described the media as a veritable tool for national development that should be patronised.

He said this in an interaction with journalists on Thursday in Owerri, Imo.

The publisher urged the people of the South East to increase their patronage of the media for the much needed development of the region.

Egbunike said the mass media should be explored more vigorously to harness its potentials and opportunities for development.

He said that effective usage of the media would help in drawing attention to the various sectors of the economy to foreign investors.

Egbunike expressed the regret that while people from the South West understood the imperative of the media, those from the South East had remained aloof to usage of the media.

“People of the South East have yet to understand the marriage of convenience between politics and the media, and how to use the media to mobilise the electorate effectively to achieve results.

“It is sad that most south easterners are yet to come to terms with the role of the media and its influence in shaping politics,’’ he said.

Egbunike said that it was in that direction that the Daily Times group has gone into the publication of community newspapers.

“This innovation called `Times Abia’, `Times Anambra’ and `Times Abuja’ gives attention to governance, education, SMEs, agriculture and industrialisation,’’ he said.

He said rather than focus so much on the elite, the new innovation of the Daily Times stable provides voice to voiceless Nigerians, and therefore charged more states to take advantage of the initiative by subscribing to the community based publications.

Egbunike said the management of DTN was working tirelessly to reposition the newspaper to its former glory by expanding its frontiers in spite the challenges of recession.

He also appealed to Nigerians to still see the media outfit as a reliable newspaper with professional credibility, saying “Daily Times has come to stay and we expect Nigerians to give us the benefit of doubt’’. (NAN) FEO/ECN/MST Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Audio Attached: Project new parties’ activities, former KOWA party presidential candidate urges media

NAN-H-81
Media
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Jan. 27, 2017 (NAN) Former presidential candidate of KOWA Party, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, has urged the media to cover the activities of new political parties as they do the existing ones.

Sonaiya made the call during her visit to the Lagos office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

 

The former presidential candidate, who was responding to a question on why KOWA party’s visibility in the democratic space is minimal, urged the media to not let the money bags dominate the airwaves, the print media and so on, constantly reporting the so-called big parties.
Cue in audio

“I am surprised when media people tell me that our party has not been visible.

 

“When a new party comes up, do the media give those new parties equal coverage as they do to the established big ones?

 

“I have been concerned that it will be good for the media to see themselves as partners in this quest for good governance.

 

“Many times, it is the big ones, who have plenty of money, who command the space, the airtime and so on.
“And yet I think possibly one thing that the media could do is allow Nigerians to know the options that they have, seeing it as part of your corporate social responsibility.

 

“It is something you should do for the country that you should let the people know the various options that they have.

 

“Do not let the money bags dominate the airwaves, the print media and so on, constantly reporting them.
“Let the people know that there are other voices, other options; we are doing our best but the limitations of money that is a reality that we have in Nigeria.
“So we are very active for instance on the social media.’’

 

Cue out audio

Sonaiya stressed the need for Nigerians to join the new political parties and give them the chance to meet their aspirations for good governance within available resources.

According to her, the problem of Nigeria is bad leadership evolving over the years adding that the country’s resources could have been utilised to achieve lofty ideals.

She decried the failure of the country to accelerate its development because of greed and corruption. (NAN)
LED/OSA/YEE
Edited by Shittu Obassa/Emmanuel Yashim
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