Social media may yet change governance in Africa
I have recently had to answer many questions from friends and
contemporaries, seeking to understand why I decided to join social media and
expose myself to potential fire from young Nigerians. This is mostly because
people who have known me for a long time know me to be a rather quiet person.
But the reality is that over the last months, I have learned that the
positives of social media participation far outweigh the negatives.
Social media is where young people, the bulk of Nigeria’s population, gather
to share their thoughts, often venting their frustrations with the
inefficiencies of the country.
I may not always like what is written about me; indeed some commentators could
be very insulting. Our society has always been one where older people expect a
lot of respect from younger people, so the relative equality of voice that
social media provides may shock newcomers to the platforms.
Overall, social media has allowed me to listen a diverse array of Nigerian
voices without filters.
I am going to guess that colleagues in public service may see social media
as a threat, and indeed seek to censor social media networks. But I think such
an attempt would be a mistake.
