Anambra Assembly calls for use of social media to educate, mobilise youth for social change

 

The Anambra State House of Assembly has urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to direct the Commissioners for Youth Development and Information to collaborate with relevant agencies to mobilise the youth for social change using the social media.

The House presided by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, observed that social media platforms such as Facebook,TikTok and Instagram have become powerful tools of communication and influence among youths in Anambra State, shaping their thoughts, habits, and aspirations.

The Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Chukwuma Okoye, while sponsoring the motion with 28 others, explained that initiating a programme to promote sustainable and positive social media engagement among youths, could be achieved through State-sponsored challenges and campaigns designed to educate young people and promote sociocultural values among them.

According to him, while these platforms often expose youths to vices such as cyberbullying, fake news, and unproductive trends, they can also be harnessed to promote creativity, education, skills acquisition, civic engagement, drug abuse prevention, community services and entrepreneurship.

"By engaging local content creators, influencers, and digital entrepreneurs, government-backed campaigns can amplify positive messages, empower young people, and create opportunities for job creation in the digital economy," he said.

Contributing, the Majority Leader, Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme and Hon Obi Nweke representing Anambra East observed that not utilising social media for social change would leave the youth to be absorbed by its negative impact since they have equally been influenced by the usage inside churches.

Also speaking, the member representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency, Hon Mimi Azikiwe noted that Nigeria has one of the youngest populations in the world, thus any government that wants to engage the populace, must use social media to correct some of the ills therein.

Hon Bernard Udemezue, representing Ayamelum Constituency asked Govt to recognise and appreciate those who create educational contents for the good of the society, particularly those who have exposed the ills in government.

Hon Augustine Ikeh of Nnewi North constituency observed that most of these contents are created for economic reasons, hence the need to start creating meaningful contents to help the youths.