By Chizoba Okeke
The Anambra State House of Assembly has called for stronger collaboration between the State Ministry of Youth Development, Ministry of Information, and relevant digital stakeholders to promote positive social media engagement and socio-cultural values among youths in the state.
The House made the call through a resolution urging Governor Chukwuma Soludo to direct the Commissioners for Youth Development and Information to work with relevant agencies and stakeholders within the social media ecosystem to design and implement state-sponsored campaigns and digital challenges aimed at educating young people and promoting responsible online behaviour.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Pius Okoye, and seconded by the member representing Orumba North Constituency, Hon. Paul Obu, during plenary.
Presiding over the session, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, put the motion to a voice vote after reading it on the floor of the House, and it was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers.
Moving the motion, Rt. Hon. Okoye noted that social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok have become powerful channels of communication and influence among young people, significantly shaping their thoughts, lifestyles, and aspirations.
He observed that while these platforms often expose youths to negative tendencies such as cyberbullying, fake news, and other unproductive online trends, they also possess enormous potential to drive creativity, education, entrepreneurship, and skills development when properly harnessed.
According to the Deputy Speaker, state-backed social media campaigns and digital challenges could serve as cost-effective tools for promoting social cohesion, mental health awareness, entrepreneurship, and patriotism among the youth population.
Contributing to the debate, the member representing Ihiala II Constituency, Hon. Golden Iloh; member representing Anyamelum Constituency, Hon. Bernard Udemezue; member representing Anambra East Constituency, Hon. Obi Nweke; member representing Onitsha South I Constituency, Hon. Fred Ezenwa; the Majority Leader, Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme; and the member representing Njikoka II Constituency, Hon. Chidi Ibemeka, emphasized the urgent need to redirect the energy of young people towards productivity, innovation, and positive societal values through structured digital programmes.
The lawmakers further stressed that engaging local content creators, social media influencers, digital entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders in government-backed online campaigns would help amplify positive messages, empower young people, and open up new opportunities for job creation within the growing digital economy.
Chizoba is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
