SHOWDOWN DAILY REVIEW

2011 Elections Young Professionals Prepare Government and INEC for Technology Revolution.

Yesterday marked the third day of the commencement of election Showdown aired on channels TV in Lagos. Featuring Mr. Nwoye Osita , Mr. Busayo Akanro and as discussants
The participants discussed the role of social media and technology as viable tools of change in electoral reform. The show was anchored by Chinedu Chidi.
Chinedu Chidi got the participants into discussion by asking how ready Nigerians are for the 2011 Elections using the Social Media?
Mr Busayo Akanro, a A Nation Builder estimated percentage of the ICT growth in Nigeria at about 60%. He emphasized that masses can produce contents that have positive impact on the media like text messages, and videos and upload them on social networking platforms on the internet with the use of today's cutting edge technology.
He also gave insight on how the internet can be a useful source of free information while enabling users to be in control of whatever information they wish to share. He added that the anonymity of the internet and some technology devices further makes it easy to share information as no permission, licence or information bill is required to disseminate information.
The guest Osita Nwoye, Internet Consultant argued the perception that the internet can or technology can do everything as sighted by Bisayo. In his words, "There is no amount of what we do electronically for example on Blackberry of Facebook that can replace how it could be done in reality.
He agreed to the fact that, the social networking platforms are going to be very useful in this period of elections, because it is going to be used to monitor activities at the polls to prevent electoral frauds. He said " We will not leave it in their hands, we will tweet, facebook, send sms, and pictures to find out if there is electoral violence or not. Clips of video taken will be posted on youtube communicated across to the people. So that anyone that rigs would be disgraced on Facebook,Twitter and all the internet blogs. This is to ensure that people are carried along and not waiting for INEC."

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