Yushau Shuaibu, a renowned public relations guru and head of PRNigeria, delivered an insightful presentation on the role of social media in national development and nation-building. This presentation was part of the Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo Annual Public Lecture, organized by Adnan Mukhtar & Associates in collaboration with the Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo Foundation, held at Mambayya House in Kano.
In his paper titled “Social Media for National Development and Nation-Building,” Shuaibu emphasized the transformative power of social media as a tool for creating, interacting, and spreading messages. He highlighted the affordability and accessibility of social media, which allows for multimedia content, immediate communication, and widespread reach.
Shuaibu illustrated the rapid growth of social media platforms, noting that it took radio 38 years to reach 50 million users, while television took the same amount of time. In contrast, Facebook garnered over 100 million users in less than nine months from its creation. Today, Facebook boasts 2.8 billion users, and WhatsApp has 2 billion users, underscoring the immense power of social media.
He also discussed the various ways social media enhances transparency, civil engagement, economic development, and community support.
Jafar Jafar and Danbello were mentioned for their efforts in enhancing transparency and civic engagement, while Yakubu Sani Wudil was recognized for his contributions to economic development. Aisha Falke was acknowledged for addressing social issues and uniting community support.
However, Shuaibu also addressed the challenges posed by social media, such as the spread of fake news, misinformation, social division, and polarization. He pointed out that culprits, including politicians and terrorists, often use fake news to achieve their purposes.
To effectively use social media, Shuaibu recommended social media marketing strategies to push brands, increase brand awareness, and improve customer engagement. He emphasized the importance of defining target audiences, improving response times, providing newsworthy content, and incorporating multimedia access.
Adnan Mukhtar, representing the organizing firm, highlighted the significance of the annual public lecture and the role of social media in shaping lives. He praised Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo for his mentorship and contributions to society, both socially and academically.
Dr. Muhammad Israr, President of Maryam Abacha American University, urged attendees to help those in need, especially during these challenging times. He emphasized the role of social media in raising awareness and fostering development.
The event concluded with a call to action for individuals to leverage social media for positive change and nation-building.
