Amidst all the universities in Nigeria, the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) stands out today as one of the most engaging users of social media. In our modern world, we understand the power of social media and its ability to facilitate marketing and connectivity. Following in the footsteps of prestigious institutions like the University of Oxford, FUTA is harnessing this power to showcase the remarkable achievements of the school. Na we “UNILORIN” get their VC sha ????
Notably, the university seems to attract a high number of scholarship-conscious students, with many benefiting from prestigious scholarships such as ERASMUS, MASTERCARD, and CHEVENING. Moreover, some of their lecturers, such as Dr Emmanuel Jesuyon Dansu and Dr Milton Babajide Macaulay have transformed social media into virtual classrooms, guiding their students beyond traditional boundaries and keeping them informed about current trends and opportunities in their fields.
With 155K followers, FUTA’s Facebook page boasts the highest following among Nigerian universities, with Covenant University following closely behind. In contrast, pages like OAU and University of Ibadan have shown less activity in recent times (both were last active in December 2021 and 2023 respectively), highlighting the importance of staying current in today’s fast-paced world.
As an alumnus of the University of Strathclyde, I have witnessed firsthand how active my alma mater is on social media. One of my course mates wrote his dissertation on the comparison of online social media communication among four universities in Glasgow. It was fascinating to see how these schools have effectively attracted international students through this strategy. They don’t remain silent about their activities within the school; instead, they actively celebrate their own achievements as well as those of their students.
Above all, it is clear that publicity plays a crucial role in marketing, and while newspapers, TVs, and radios remain important, social media offers a faster and more attractive platform. FUTA's innovative use of social media deserves recognition and appreciation. Here's to FUTA—continuing to bloom and flourish! Take your flowers???? ???? ????
- The writer is an Alumnus of the University of Ilorin and University of Strathclyde
