TheCable

Nigeria’s 16 million Facebook users represents the highest in Africa, says Umar Danbatta, vice chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Danbatta said this in a keynote address at the maiden lecture of CKN News in Lagos, where he spoke on the role of social media in the economic, political and social development of Nigeria.

Describing social media as the marketplace of creativity and ideas, he said Nigerians use several platforms to interact, obtain information and enrich the quality of their lives.

“The social media in particular has come to represent the perfect example of the democratisation of information and technology with demonstrable capacity to migrate communication to interactive dialogue, and social activation. This is greatly evident all around the world with regards to its use for campaigns and enlightenment by political parties,” said the NCC vice-chairman.

“Socially, we are all witnesses to the volume of information shared on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Blackberry Messenger and Instagram, to mention just a few among several social media networks through which Nigerians interact, obtain information to meet their social needs to shape their behaviours and enrich the quality of lives.

“Over 16 million Nigerians are on the Facebook, the highest in Africa, making Nigerians the most active users in the Continent.”

“On the economic front, the Social Media has become a marketplace of ideas and creativity. Products and services are sold online, thus providing opportunity for start-ups to commence businesses on a small scale.

“Many Nigerians, like citizens of other nations, have honed amazing entrepreneurial skills to make a living through opportunities provided by social media platforms, and have equally become employers of labour.”