Awareness and Utilization of Social Media Tools in Tracking Social Intervention Projects among Rural Women in Rivers State, Nigeria
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Jun 27, 2025
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Abstract
The study investigated the awareness and utilization of social media tools in tracking Social Intervention Projects (SIPs) among women in rural households in Rivers State. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was used to select a sample size of 450 women from the study area. Data were collected using a questionnaire validated by the researchers, while descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used to analyze data. The result from the study showed that the majority of the respondents were within the age range of 31-40 years (mean age = 39 years), 47.4% had no-formal education, 88.8% were married, 58.2% of them have a household size of 4-6 persons, 33.2% and 32.1% are traders and farmers, respectively. Social media tools utilized are instant messages (98.0%) and WhatsApp (97.4%). SIPs provided were FADAMA (mean = 3.17), Skill Acquisition Training (mean = 2.83), among others. Tools used to access information for SIPs were Facebook (mean = 2.63), WhatsApp (mean = 3.03) and Instant Messages (mean = 2.99). The result showed that there was awareness in the use of WhatsApp (mean = 3.38) and Instant messages (mean = 3.81 in tracking SIPs among women. The study recommends that efforts should be made by non-governmental organizations, rural-based organizations and agencies to train rural women on the use of social media tools.
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References
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Agricultural Development Programmes. (2022). Evaluation of Agricultural projectsand Extension Services of the Bayelsa State ADP. Asian Journal of agricultural Extension, Economics and Sociology, 40(9): 273-284.
Arjan, de Haan. (2011). Social Protection in International Development: Editors Introductionto the Special Issue. Canadian Journal of Development Studies, 32(4): 351-356.
Aragon, P. (2015). When a Movement becomes a Party: The 2015 Barcelona City Council Election. http://arxiv.org/pdf/1507/.08599.pdf
Avis, U.I. (2016). Actors and Institutions of Urban Governance. Researchgate. https//www.researchgate.net.
Bappi, U., Singh, D., & Dahiru, K. (2017). Issues and Challenges of Community Development in Nigeria: An Assessment of Gombe State Agency for Community and Social Development Project (GSA-CSDP). AGU International Journal of Research in Social Sciences & Humanities, 1(5): 408 – 423.
Devereux, S., & Sabatex-Wheeler, R. (2004). Transformative social protection. IDS Working Paper 232
Devesh, T. and Mahesh, C. (2018). Social Media in Agricultural Extension: Benefits and Challenges under indian Context. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics and Sociology, 27(2):1-8.
Ellis, F., Stephen, D., & Phillip, W. (2009). Social Protection in Africa, Cheltenham: Edward Edgar.
Holmes, R., Akinrimisi, B., Morgan, J., & Buck. R. (2011). Social Protection in Nigeria: An Overview of Programs and their Effectiveness. London, UK: Overseas Development Institute Project Briefing No. 59.
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Ma, W.W.K., & Chan, A. (2014). Knowledge sharing and social media: Altruism, perceived online attachment motivation, and perceived online relationship commitment. Computers in Human Behaviour, 39, 51-58.
Mckenna, A. (2009). Rivers State, Nigeria. htt:// www.Britannica.com/place/Rivers.
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National Population Commission. (2018). Population and Housing Census - Real or Imagined. NPC, Nigeria.
Nwafor, F.C. (2013). The FOIA and Public Procurement enhancing Accountability and Public participation in Nigeria. Public policy and Administration Research, 3(12): 140-145.
Odey, S.A., & Sambe, N. (2019). Assessment of the Contribution of N-power Programme to Youth empowerment in Cross River State, Nigeria. International Journal of sociology and Anthropology Research, 5(4): 1-13.
Ogakason, R.O., & Faruk, N.B. (2014). Effectiveness of Broadcast Agricultural Programmes on Agricultural Development in Nigeria. https//:www.researchgate.net.
Olaniran, S. (2014). Social Media and Changing Communication Patterns among Students: An Analysis of Twitter Use by University of Jos Students. Covenant Journal of Communication, 2(1): 40-60.
Onwumele, A., Ajayi, A.A., Okenyi, T.O.N., & Osode, A.O. (2014). An Assessment of the Spatial pattern of Malaria Infection in Nigeria. International Journal of Medicine and Medical Science, 6: 80-86.
Osatuyi, B. (2013). Information sharing on social media sites. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(6): 2622-2631.
Pam, M.S. (2013). Social intervention, In psychology dictionary.org
Pew Research Center. (2012). Social Networking Popular Across Globe, http://www.pewglobal. org/2012/12/12/social-networking-popularacross-globe.
Saravanan, R., & Bhattacharjee, S. (2016). Social media: New generation tools for agricultural extension? http://www.aesagfras.net/Resources/file/Saravanan%20Final%20blog%2042.pdf.
Shirky, C. (2011). The Political Power of Social Media: Technology, the Public Sphere and Political Change Foreign Affairs. http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/67038/clay-shirky/the-political-power-of-social-media
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. (2009). ICTs for Democracy: Information and Communication Technologies for the Enhancement of Democracy: with a Focus on Empowerment. Stockholm: Sida. https://www.apc.org/ensystem/files/SIDA_ICTs+for+Democracy.pdf.
Standing, G. (2007). Social Protection. Development in Practice, 17(4-5): 511-522.
Suleiman, M.M., Ogakason, R.O., & Faruk, N.B. (2018). Influence of Social Media in Promoting Farmers Participation in Social Networking in Nigeria. https://science.kisti-re.kr.
Sundell, K. and Olsson, T. (2017). Social intervention research. http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195389678/obo9780195389678/0254.sml.
Udo, M.E. (2014). Impact of the Mastery Learning Strategy on Students Achievement in Symbols, Formulae and Equations in Chemistry in Nigeria. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria.
Ugwu, P. (2019). Women In Agriculture: Challenges UN Development Program (2010). Human Development Report Nigeria 2008–2009: Achieving Growth with equity. Abuja: UNDP.
United Nations Women. (2014). Draft Annual work Plan of the Executive Board for 2014 (UNW/2014/ L2). Proposed Provisional Agenda and work Plan for the Future. https://www.unwomen.org.first.re.
World Bank. (2014). Promote gender equality and empower women by 2015. http://www.worldbank.org/mdgs/gender.html