Key actors in the academia and the private sector have commended Omoniyi Ibietan for his efforts at establishing how political conversations on various platforms, especially the social media, influence voters’ behaviour and ultimately impact election outcomes in Nigeria.
At the book reading and further reviews of Mr Ibietan’s ‘Cyber Politics: Social Media, Social Demography and Voting Behaviour in Nigeria,’ held at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, the book was described as a “persuasive one, which adds huge insightful value to an understanding of the interactions between politics, social media networks and other variables that influence the behaviour of voters in a democracy.”
Mr Ibietan’s book is one of the publications from the stable of Premium Times Books.
In his speech, the chairman of the occasion, Adigun Agbaje, a professor and former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, described the author as a passionate individual. He praised him for the job done with the book.
”You’ve given us a wonderful book and you’ve done an excellent job for that. In the times that we live in, we need to be aware that the usual should no longer be the normal. You have someone who is not an academic confronting the whole issue of cybernetics and cyber politics. We do hope for another milestone publication from you very soon,” Mr Agbaje said.
The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, who was represented by Olubunmi Banjoko, noted that the book was absorbing and persuasive.
Mr Maida described the book as one that added huge insightful value to an understanding of the interactions between politics, social media networks and other variables that influence the behaviour of voters in a democracy.
“Dr. Ibietan’s book speaks to the reality of how the demographics of voting is now in favour of digital natives, whose engagements are set to upend the traditional media approaches, hence the great value in seeking an understanding of the growing interface across cyber politics, social media networks and social demography. Specifically, the author utilises tested theoretical models and research methods to scrutinise the impact of social media on contemporary politics.
“Therefore, we particularly appreciate Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, a staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission, for this contribution to political communication scholarship,” he said.
In his remark, the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, Umaru Pate, congratulated Mr Ibietan on the successful publication and presentation of the book.
Mr Pate, a professor, stated that the book has increased his understanding of the relationship between the ever-growing social media and politics in the country.
This, he noted, was very important for obvious reasons, some of which he said related to the popularity and influence of the new media, particularly among the most active components of the population.
He recommended the book for all students of communication studies, political science and allied fields, adding that political tacticians and gladiators and other scholars of the interface between society, information and communication technologies will also find the text appropriate and useful in helping them to deeply understand the strategies and impact of the social media in Nigerian politics.
Mr Pate, president of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), enjoined interested individuals to get copies of the book for increased understanding of the relationship between social media and politics in Nigeria.
“Without a doubt, the academic community and communication scholarship require a deeper understanding of the evolving trend, influence, and impact of cyber politics in the country. I am glad Dr Ibietan has been able to undertake intensive and extensive research in the area. Happily, the study has been transformed into a textbook for wider circulation,” he said.
The Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Uyo, Peter Esuh, in his remark, said Mr Ibietan’s book stands out among the numerous publications on strategic communication in contemporary times.
Mr Esuh, a professor, said the book offered a scholarly exploration of how social media platforms shaped electoral behaviour in the intricate Nigerian electoral landscape.
He added that the book was a significant addition to the ongoing discourse on the influence of technological advancements on societal progress.
“The author, Dr Omoniyi Ibietan, is a renowned scholar known for his intellectual prowess and activism. His work has consistently been commendable, and this notable book is a testament to his innovative thinking and scholarly contributions. The book is wholeheartedly endorsed for reading,” Mr Esuh said.
