Nigeria, Social Media, and Social Change

On May 12, students, faculty, and staff heard a far-ranging presentation about the situation in Nigeria and the role of social media by Paul Lubeck, professor of sociology at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Lubeck, who says he has always been a “social activist,” served in the Peace Corps in Nigeria before earning his Ph.D. While he continues as a scholar, he works with NGOs and civil society groups and has a special interest in using information technology to advance social justice. Pulitzer-Prize winning Washington Post reporter Dana Priest interviewed Lubeck before inviting Q&A from the audience.

Lubeck explained that Nigeria is a resource-rich nation, a major exporter of petroleum and gas that has had the potential to become the “Brazil of Africa.” However, the nation has been victimized by what he calls “long-term historical theft.” Describing the current government as “astonishingly corrupt," Lubeck said that recent economic growth has been accompanied by an enormous diversion of funds and a decline in order. Compounding the problem of income inequality in Nigeria is a population crisis, with an “enormous population of uneducated people migrating to cities.” In this nation of 200 million, the birth rate will double the population in 15 years: 45% of girls 19 and under are pregnant or have a child.

 

To explain the terrorist group Boko Haram, Lubek recounted some of the history of northern Nigeria, where the group operates. Historically, the area was ruled by Muslim emirs and operated under sharia law. Today a new generation of leaders in the north, having lost control over the presidency and petroleum, are demanding a return to sharia law: they condemn the current state as illegitimate and western education in general. The terrorist group Boko Haram represents these beliefs. Lubeck explained that “Boko,” whose original meaning is “deceptively inauthentic,” has come to mean “western” or “western education.” “Haram” means” forbidden or dirty.”  Boko Haram’s tactics are so brutal that even Al Queda has distanced itself from it. Asked why Boko Haram has chosen to attack girls’ schools, Lubeck explained that they have also attacked a boys’ school, where they killed all the students. They are currently holding the schoolgirls as hostages for exchange with their imprisoned compatriots.

Asked t about the "#BringBackOurGirls” hashtag campaign, Lubeck responded, “we’re here now because of that campaign." He explained how it was started by a lawyer in Abuja, and picked up by a World Bank employee with a large Twitter following before spreading across the world. Bolstered by the global response, Nigerian NGOs are now demanding accountability from their government through nonviolent, democratic protest.

Why, after years of abuse and neglect in Nigeria, have these issues come to a head now? “History is never linear,” said Lubeck. “The last thing we would expect in the 1950s was the 1960s. What matters is that it reached a point of ‘enough.’ You never know when the tipping point is. But the new global communications system allows people to speak without intermediaries.   The information revolution makes it possible for you to communicate with girls and teachers in Nigeria.”

Lubeck noted that there is rising income inequality in the US and throughout the world. “If you are privileged, engage,” he said. “Look for the space for change....The Internet allows anyone regardless of class, race, or economics to take part. Don’t be guilty about your privilege; build your ethnical position and look for solidarity with other people.  Engage. You will benefit from the psychic and moral benefits in making the world a better place.”

 

Asked whether it was better to work through NGOs or the government, he said it was important to do both. “You must lobby your government, and it’s important to be bipartisan.” For those interested in learning more about the situation in Nigeria and how to make a difference, Priest and Lubeck gave the names of several organizations and information sources (see below).

 
Video of the session can be seen here.

We are extremely grateful to our guest speakers for their gift of time and expertise!

 

 

Search “Congressional Research Service Nigeria” for numerous reports.

 

Global information Internship Program -- UC Santa Cruz program teaching students to use digital tools to promote social justice and sustainability.

 

WRAPANigeria.org --    Women’s group in northern Nigeria that defends women’s rights to health care and education. Recipient of a MacArthur grant. Lubeck described it as “reliable...women-organized and women-directed.”

 

allAfrica.com - Site aggregates news about Africa; you can sign up for daily emails.

Global Fund for Women.  A nonprofit grantmaking foundation that advances women's human rights worldwide.