By Ayodele Abere
A Public Affairs Analyst, Elder Ayo Arogundade has advised the youths to take advantages of digitalisation brought about by the social media and do away with analogue.
Arogundade, who was a Guest Speaker at the Award Ceremony organised by the Management of Mature Minds Community Media, Ekiti State, gave the advice while speaking on the topic; “Power of Social Media: Exploring The World Through Your Finger Tip”, in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.
The Guest Speaker who said Social Media now affords the opportunity of interacting with the whole world even inside one’s bedroom opined that one can make millions of dollars interacting business-wise through social media. “You can make money genuinely through social media without being a 419 or scammer”.
Elder Arogundade explained that Social Media connects people these days, adding that the users share their thoughts, opinions and experiences thereby making it a democratised space.
“It has enabled me to reunite with some of my friends. I can stay at home for a whole week without being bored. There’s high depression in the country now because there’s economic kwashiorkor, there’s political turbulence and people are becoming executive beggars, they appear well out there without having anything in their pockets. To conquer depression, you can go to any area of social media”. Said he.
The Public Affairs Analyst said information must be democratised. pointing out that social media has made information available to everybody. “Radio and television stations now link up to the social media. It’s only when people want to listen to local news that they now listen to local stations.
Ayo Arogundade, while considering some advantages that social media has brought to the society said, “Today, social media has altered the mode of communication. Unlike those days that one would write a letter and waite for days or weeks to get the feedback.
According to him, “letter writing and post offices are no more relevant like then as the advent of social media has brought about some changes in that regard through which people are now getting immediate feedback to any information passed.
Also, he said mobilisation made easier through social media. In his reference to the EndSARS protest in Lagos, he noted that the protest was very successful as a result of the power of social media. “From now till the end of the world, any government in power including the royal institution will continue to fear the power of the youth because of the power of social media. Arogundade said.
Elder Arogundade who didn’t dispute the fact that social media equally has its negative side while making remarks about those who usually commented on social media concluded by saying that anybody can criticise constructively and that whoever criticizes and offer suggestions is a friend.
In his reaction, the Alare of Are-Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Boluwade Adebiyi, however said he hardly commented to social media posts and that the very day Elder Ayo Arogundade was added to the Mature Minds Community Media WhatsApp Platform, he said he was aware. He said the platform has future because he, Arogundade is the type that would always say something the way it is without minding who is affected.
The monarch therefore urged everyone using the platform not to give false information saying they should exercise caution in posting such.
The Iyaloja-General, Chief Mrs. Folasade Tinubu Ojo was represented by the State Coordinator, Iyaloja-General Network Initiative in Ekiti State, Lady. Modupe Ayoola. Members of the initiative in all the local government areas of the State were in attendance to celebrate their leader, Chief Folasade Tinubu Ojo who was among the awardees.
Ayoola, while speaking with newsmen said Chief Mrs Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-General loves them all and that she is always there for the women in general which according to her informed the decision of the Mature Minds Community Media to confer on her an Award of Excellence.
Other awardees at the event included; the Onigede of Igede-Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba James Adelusi Aladesuru, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, Elder Ayo Arogundade, Dr. Adepoju Ajayi, Basorun Tope Alabi, Prof. Femi Akinwumi, Hon. Femi Anifowose, Hon. Funmilayo Ogun, Dr. Abegunde Ojo and Hon. Timothy Fohanmi.
Others are; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Communications, Mrs Mary Oso-Omotosho, Alhaji Dauda Lawal, Asipa Ayodeji Adarabierin, Mr. Adesola Alaba, Mr Wole Olujobi, Ade Omo Ade, Chief Olusegun David and Saint Michael.
