Influence of Social Media on the Academic Performance of the Undergraduate Students of Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria

The paper examines the influence of social media on the academic performance of the undergraduate students ofKogi State University. The rationale behind the study is to find out whether the exposure of the students to socialmedia has effect on their academic performance. The paper is anchored on two theories; namely: socialinformation processing theory and media equation theory. The survey research method was adopted, employingthe questionnaire as an instrument of data collection. The findings show that undergraduate students of KogiState University, Anyigba, Nigeria, have access to social media and that their exposure to social media is to avery great extent. Findings also show that exposure to social media has effect on the students and that the effectis negative. Findings also show that facebook is the most used social media by undergraduate students of KogiState University. Based on the findings, the paper concludes that exposure to social media by the undergraduatestudents of Kogi State University has negative effect on their academic performance. To this end, the paperrecommends that the students should pay minimal attention to social media and focus more on their academicactivities.Key Words: Social Media, Academic Performance and Undergraduate Students of Kogi State Universit

Business Advantages of Corporate Social Responsibility Practice: A Critical Review

Corporate social responsibility is the managerial obligation to take actions that protect and improve both the welfare of society as a whole and the interests of the organisation. Thus, the paper is an examination of the business advantages of corporate social responsibility practice. The paper is anchored on two theories; stakeholder’s theory, which states that organisations have constituent groups that need to be taken care of and the iron law of corporate social responsibility, which states that organisations that fail to use their power responsibly will lose it in the long run. Previous studies were reviewed and it was discovered that several benefits abound to organisations that practise corporate social responsibility; several advantages were identified; these among others include: enhanced brand and reputation, reduction in operation costs, attracting new customers, balances power with responsibility, discourages government regulation, improves a company’s public image, promotes long run profit, improved relations with the investment community and better access to capital, enhanced employee relations, productivity and innovation and stronger relations within communities through stakeholder engagement. The paper therefore concludes that organisations that carry out corporate social responsibility activities have a lot to benefit. Thus, it recommends that organisations should endeavour to pay due attention to corporate social responsibility and this practice should be a continuous one. Keywords: Business, advantages, benefits and corporate social responsibilit

Guinness Stout Billboard Advertisement and Gender Representation: Views of Media Practitioners in Anambra State, Nigeria

The study investigates Guinness Stout billboard advertisement (come and drink at the table of men) and gender representation. The study, among other objectives, seeks to: ascertain the extent of gender neutrality of Guinness Stout billboard advertisement and to assess gender discriminatory elements in the advertisement. The constructivism and standpoint theories were used as theoretical framework for the study.  Quantitative research method was adopted while the questionnaire was used as an instrument of data collection. The findings show that media practitioners in Anambra state are very much exposed to the Guinness Stout billboard advertisement. Findings further show that their exposure is predicated on the many billboards of the advertisement hoisted in several areas in the major towns and cities in Anambra State, in particular and Nigeria, in general. Findings also show that Guinness Stout advertisement is not gender neutral as the advertisement discriminates against the female gender. The findings further show that the gender discriminatory elements inherent in the Guinness Stout advertisement could be found in the choice of words of the advertisement, the images used in the advertisement and the presentation of the product. Based on the findings, the paper therefore concludes that the Guinness Stout advertisement is not neutral, but gender bias; the advertisement discriminates and marginalises the female gender. The paper therefore, among others, recommends that Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) should always ensure that advertisement approved for public consumption in Nigeria uses gender sensitive images and words, particularly in billboard advertisements. Keywords: Guinness Stout, Billboard, Advertisement, Media, Practitioners and Anambra State

A Study of HIV/AIDS Media Campaigns and Knowledge of High Risk Factors among Sex Workers in South-South Nigeria

The study investigates HIV/AIDS media campaigns and knowledge of high risk factors among sex workers in South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria. The main purpose of the study is to ascertain whether the numerous media campaigns on HIV/AIDS have positive influence on sex workers’ attitude towards the high risk factors of the pandemic.  In pursuance of this objective, the following questions were formulated to provide the needed guide to the study: Do media campaign messages on HIV/AIDS have a positive influence on respondents’ attitude towards penetrative sexual intercourse? Do respondents maintain consistent condom use with paying and non-paying clients? Would respondents shun sex without condom, irrespective of the amount the client would be willing to pay for it? Would respondents be willing to quit sex work knowing that it constitutes high risk behaviour of HIV/AIDS? Anchored on the agenda-setting theory and the standpoint theory, the work adopted survey method and utilised questionnaire as instrument of data collection. The sample size was 300 sex workers drawn purposively from three cities in South-South Nigeria, namely: Asaba, Port-Harcourt and Uyo. Findings of the study revealed that sex workers still engage in high risk behaviour of the scourge. The study, therefore, concluded that media campaigns on HIV/AIDS have not been effective on sex workers in the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria. The paper recommends re-structuring of campaign strategies in order to make them more effective. Keywords: Sex Workers, HIV/AIDS, Media Campaigns, Knowledge and High Risk Factors

UTILISATION OF AESTHETICS IN TELEVISION ADVERTISING

ABSTRACT The paper set out to examine the relevance of aesthetics in television advertising

Utilisation of new media in communicating insecurity in Southeast Nigeria

  This paper aims to describe how in recent times, the issue of insecurity in the southeast of Nigeria is alarming. People are no longer safe as they have become targets for the perpetrators of insecurity within the region. In all of these cases, people must be fully aware of the level of insecurity in a specific location in order to determine the next course of action. In order to achieve this, this study examined the use of new media to communicate insecurity in Southeast Nigeria. The study was founded on the premise of technological determinism.  In this research, a survey research approach was used. Using the Wimmer and Dominick sample size calculator, a sample of 384 was generated from the study's population of 22,012,828. A questionnaire was utilised as a data collection tool. Meanwhile, the multistage sampling procedure was used. Data was analysed with the use of descriptive statistics and pie chart. The finding showed that 51.0% of respondents had been exposed to insecurity messages via new media to a very large extent. It was also revealed that on an average of 74.8% (N=367), new media has been used in communicating insecurity among residents in southeastern Nigeria to a very large extent. It was recommended that new media users should be sensitized on the need to use the platform appropriately or with a sense of responsibility instead of using it to fuel more security problems within the southeastern region of Nigeria.

Analysis of the Diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies among Rural Nigerian Women

Abstract Regional initiative such as Africa Information Society Initiative (AISI) and some other related societies have all tried to encourage the building of Africa's information and communicatio