UNIABUJA Unveils Social Media Volunteer Team
The University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) has unveiled a social media student volunteers who will support and promote the activities of the institution on digital media space.
The volunteer team was inaugurated during a One-day Sensitization Program on Digital Media with the theme; “The Digital Media Space in the 21st Century: Exploring Opportunities for Networking and Promotion of Organizational Goals” which took place at the university campus today in Abuja.
Part of the tasks expected to be carried out by the team included but not limited to promoting the programmes, activities and accomplishments of the university as well as propagating its cultural norms aimed at protecting its image in the public.
The university’s social media platforms, especially Facebook and Twitter handles – both of which have over 67,000 followers put together will be managed by the volunteers who are very articulate and vibrant tech savvy youths.
According to the management, these tasks can be achieved by the team through establishing an/or maintaining active social media accounts, researching and creating creative content for different social media channels and identifying opportunities to establish relationships with local community groups.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah said that social media has come to stay as digitalization is affecting every aspect of life and thus cannot be avoided.
The University Registrar, Malam Yahaya Ibrahim Mohammed presenting an Award to PRNigeria Publisher, Malam Yushau A. Shuaib
Represented by the Dean of School of Postgraduate Studies, Professor Ukertor Gabriel Moti, Prof Na’Allah added that social media is vital to the academia for being an additional veritable tool for learning and teaching processes.
Speaking on “Exploring Opportunities in the Digital Media Space,” the Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, highlighted vast potentials and opportunities of digital media space for academic activities and skill acquisitions
Represented by an officer of the agency, Ms Bashira Hassan, the DG said that social media can be used in achieving the organizational goals through promoting and networking with customers and other stakeholders of businesses.
He further enjoined the students to leverage on the opportunities brought by digital space in deepening their education and other facilities provided by NITDA including Coursera- an online/virtual teaching platform.
The guest speaker at the occasion, Mallam Yushau A. Shuaib of PRNigeria urged the university students on proper usage of social media in building professional careers and promoting businesses. He also listed the advantages and disadvantages of social media.
Shuaib identified three levels of Communications, including asymmetrical communications, symmetrical communications and interactive. He harped on digital skills and encouraged students to key into the trend of using social media for noble causes and legitimate businesses
He said with digital skills, students can earn money and support themselves while still in school and even after school, when most graduates are faced with the problem of unemployment.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Head, Information and Relations Unit of the University, Dr. Habib Yakoob, highlighted the key objectives of the program as “to sensitize students, staff, and university community to the best way to use the social/digital media especially in promoting university’s organizational goals, as well as how they can deploy the platforms to network and explore the opportunities in the vast world of communication.”
