Role of Social Media as a Tool for Peace Building and Conflict Prevention in Nigeria
Chapter One
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain the relationship between social media and peace building in Nigeria
- To ascertain whether social media is the tool for conflict prevention in Nigeria
- To ascertain the challenges of social media in peace building in Nigeria
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
ICT and conflict prevention
There is more literature on the usage of ICTs in conflict prevention and conflict management, than in post-conflict peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery. A major focus of the literature is on the impact of ICTs on conflict early warning systems. This literature has a short-term view as it focuses on the role of ICT either immediately after, or immediately before incidents of violent conflict. Online mapping, GIS technology, increasing mobile penetration, social networking and the growth of UGC have contributed the growth of a fourth generation of conflict early warning initiative. These “fourth generation initiatives” make use of free and open source software and web technology,8 utilize web based platforms, and crowdsourcing (sourcing of voluntarily contributed information from a community of users). The crisis mapping platform Ushahidi is an example of a platform often used in fourth generation conflict early warning systems. These systems tend to be people-centered and “are less about advocacy and more about direct, first responder intervention” A report by Search for Common Ground states that “With its focus on user-generated information, Ushahidi is designed to be adaptable to SMS, mobile phone usage, and internet posts. While traditional information management systems are typically closed and controlled, Ushahidi is open and decentralized. These technologies allow for empowerment and ownership at the local community level. Unlike other and more traditional systems, Ushahidi closes the feedback loop in such a way that information collected can be communicated directly to those who most need to use it.” Ushahidi can be used in the context of a community not just for sourcing information to a community (“crowdsourcing”) but also to feed information back to that community (“crowd feeding”).11 Crowdsourcing and crowd feeding are greatly complemented by SMS technology. For example, FrontLineSMS software was designed to help NGOs in developing countries improve their communication and increase their capabilities through a simple and cost effective system of SMS. Since its development, FrontlineSMS has been adapted to the needs of peacebuilding to provide election monitoring, to enhance local radio programming, and to continue to improve NGO peacebuilding efforts. For example, the African Great Lakes Initiative has used FrontlineSMS to monitor the elections in Burundi and prevent violence from breaking out. The possibilities for cross collaboration between development and peacebuilding communication initiatives are a vital way for peacebuilding efforts to develop their communication capacities.” Ushahidi itself was originally created to deal with conflict prevention and response (it was first developed for the 2008 Kenyan post-election violence). Fourth Generation conflict and early warning tools like Ushahidi are being used in post-conflict peace-building; however there are few cases at the moment of such use. One example of the use of Ushahidi was by the Liberian peacebuilding office. There is a need to integrate the knowledge and practice on the use of ICTs in conflict prevention with emerging knowledge and practice on the use of ICTs for peacebuilding.
The use of ICTs in post-conflict peacebuilding
The use of ICTs in post-conflict, in particular in peacebuilding is a much talked about but relatively unexplored area for peace practitioners and researchers both in policy debates and in practice. For example, a recent report, entitled “Peacebuilding in the Information Age: Sifting hype from reality” has little actual mention of peacebuilding, and does not at all address post-conflict peacebuilding. ICT4Peace practice and literature has to a large extent been focused on the period of time in the immediate run-up to a conflict, and during the conflict, as well as in its immediate aftermath.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH DESIGN
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to role of social media as a tool for peace building and conflict prevention in Nigeria.
SOURCES OF DATA COLLECTION
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information for the study role of social media as a tool for peace building and conflict prevention in Nigeria. 200 staff of institute of peace and conflict resolution , Abuja were selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to examine role of social media as a tool for peace building and conflict prevention in Nigeria. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of social media as a tool for peace building and conflict prevention in Nigeria
Summary
This study was on role of social media as a tool for peace building and conflict prevention in Nigeria. Three objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the relationship between social media and peace building in Nigeria, to ascertain whether social media is the tool for conflict prevention in Nigeria and to ascertain the challenges of social media in peace building in Nigeria. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staff of selected institute of peace and conflict resolution. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up directors, administrative staffs, senior staffs and junior staffs were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies.
Conclusion
The traditional media have been implicated in this analysis especially as they are assumed to be “naturally attracted” to conflicts albeit in a distasteful way. On the one hand, several studies have confirmed that conflict appears to be the bread and butter of journalism because it sells. On the other hand, this study has made a case that with all its potentials and strengths, social media can play a huge role in Nigeria with regards to stimulating peace-building, and to seal the discrepancies occasioned by differences within the nation. However, a responsible and peaceful social media interaction must be advocated and pushed for before this can happen. In this wise, peace education using digital media tools is critical. Digital media technologies could play a role in improving the effectiveness of peace education. Policy makers in Nigeria need to consider giving peace education adequate attention and to embark on peace advocacy projects through new digital media to serve as preventive measures (Okolie-Osemene, 2012). Part of peace education must include the creation of awareness; this would need the traditional media to wedge in also to create a consciousness on the indisputable powers of the social media and how user-generated content might go a long way to either ignite war or build peace. Currently, there appears to be no such sort of conscious awareness creation in the traditional media. Undeniably, there is a pressing urgency for new media audiences to have some literacies such as media literacy and digital literacy skills and competencies that are essential for living and working in media- and information-rich societies. Unless this is done, the many potentials integral to the new media, including those required for peace-building and conflict resolution, may remain largely untapped
Recommendation
Provide media practitioners with capacity strengthening activities to improve their technical, editorial and management skills to produce trustworthy and engaging programming that help reduce all forms of violence and encourage government based on the rule of law that upholds justice and human rights. Support programmes that reach out to make citizens including opinion leaders such as politicians, religious leaders and others in public life more aware of the need for responsible and fact-based communications
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