Adolescent and young people make up over a third (31.6%) of Nigeria’s growing population. In 2012, HIV prevalence rates among young people in Nigeria aged 15-19 was put at 2.9%; 20-24 at 3.2% as compared to 3.4% of the general population (NARHS 2012). Young people are currently disproportionately affected by the epidemic. To adequately address the needs of young people, social media can foster a strong sense of community among users. Online forums and content-sharing sites connect people with shared interests and can be a valuable source of support, particularly for young people who feel dissociated due to health conditions. Young people in particular are likely to look online for information about topics such as acne treatments, menstruation facts, contraception advice and discussions about sexual or mental health, before they speak to a GP or counsellor. It is important that all organizations dealing with issues of public health in Nigeria explore social media because there is a lot of inaccurate, unhealthy or intolerant information online. Active engagement will draw the attention of young people to keep them reminded of obligatory practices to keep them safe and healthy

1. The Benefits of Social Media in
EngagingYoung People on HIV
Prevention
By
AlaladeAkinolaOlusegun
Youth Programme Assistant
Population Council,
Nigeria

2. Outline
• Overview
• Nigeria Internet Statistics
• Top OnlineActivities in Nigeria
• Social Media
• Nigeria’s Most Frequently Used Social
Networks
• Facebook in Nigeria
• Importance of Social Media
• Recommendation
• References

3. Overview
• By the end of 2013 Nigeria’s population was estimated to
have grown to over 173 million people1.
• Globally 2,100 adolescents and young people are
infected with HIV every day2
• Young persons aged 10-24 numbered over 63 million4.
With about 3.2 million Nigerians presently living with
HIV3.
• In 2012, infection rates among young people in Nigeria
aged 15-19 was put at 2.9%; 20-24 at 3.2%4

4. Internet

5. Nigeria Internet Statistics
Number of internet users in Nigeria:
67,101,452
Internet penetration in Nigeria:
37.59%
Internet Live Stats, July 2014

6. Nigeria Internet Statistics Cont.
Nigeria has the largest internet
population in Africa and is 8th in the world
Internet Live Stats, July 2014

7. Nigeria Internet Statistics Cont.
There are more internet users in Nigeria
than there are people in living inTanzania
Based on data from Internet world stats, andTanzania 2013
population census

8. Nigeria Internet Statistics Cont.
Guardian, December 10, 2014

9. Nigeria Internet Statistics Cont.
• The average Nigerian netizen spends not less 3
hours on the internet daily5
• 67% of Nigerian netizens are male5
• 78% of the Nigerian netizen are between the ages 19
and 355
• Students represent 45% of the Nigeria’s internet
population 5

10. Top Online Activities in Nigeria
15%
46%
45%
72%
78%
55%
48%
Online shopping
Entertainment (Music, Videos, Gaming)
Downloads
Social networking
News and information
E mail
Work, Business/studies
Terragon insight 2013

11. Social Media

14. • Social media are forms of electronic communication
(asWeb sites for social networking and
microblogging) through which users create online
communities to share information, ideas, personal
messages, and other content (as videos)6.
• There are at least 9 million social media users in
Nigeria5.
• Majority of social media users fall within the age
bracket of 16 to 44 years7.

15. Social Media Cont.
83% of social media users in
Nigeria are active
Terragon insight, 2013

16. Nigeria’s Most Frequently used SNS
13%
17%
17%
22%
23%
42%
46%
57%
77%
83%
Linkedin
Nairaland
Mobo free
Skype
Naij
Google +
Eskimi
Twitter
2go
Facebook
Terragon insight, 2013

17. Facebook in Nigeria
5,357,500
18-24
1,930,420 users
male Female
69% 31%
Number of users
Largest age group
Gender distribution
Socialbakers.com

18. Importance of Social Media
• The potential exists can be explored by all
organizations dealing with issues of public health in
Nigeria11

19. Importance of Social Media Cont.
• To mobilize millions of people to support and
advance course9

20. Importance of Social Media Cont.
• A large number of Nigerian youth can be reached
with important HIV information11
• The frequent use of social media will actively engage
the attention of youth and will keep them reminded
of obligatory practices to keep them safe and
healthy11
• As revealed Facebook andTwitter are the most
widely used social media sites. Social media
campaigns on health public issues such as HIV can
refocus their effort on reaching Nigerian youth
through these popular social media sites11

21. Recommendation
• Organizations engaged in coordinating and
implementing HIV and other related infectious
diseases to embrace the active use of social media
services to strengthen prevention programmes.

22. References
1. World bank (2013) https://www.google.com.ng/webhp?sourceid=chrome-
instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Nigeria+population
2. UNAIDS (2014) ‘ The M∙A∙C AIDS Fund, Rihanna and UNAIDS team up to reach nearly 2 million
young people in need of lifesaving HIV treatment’ - See more at: http://www.avert.org/young-
people-adolescents-and-hiv.htm#footnote1_rf05god
3. GARPR (2014) Nigeria Progress Report
http://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/country/documents/NGA_narrative_report_2014
4. Federal Ministry of Health [Nigeria] (2013). National HIV & AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey,
2012 (NARHS Plus). Federal Ministry of Health Abuja, Nigeria
5. Terragon limited (2013). State of digital media Nigeria. Available at:
http://twinpinenetwork.com/publications/NIGERIA-State-of-Digital-Media-2014.pdf
6. Social media. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15, 2014, from http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/socialmedia
7. Olowu AO, Seri FO (2012), A study of social network addiction among youths in Nigeria J. Soc. Pol.
Rev. 4:62-71
8. Chapter 2:The Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria retrieved from
http://www.apin.harvard.edu/Chapter2.pdf
9. Okoro N, Nwafor KA (2013). Social media and political participation in Nigeria during the 2011
general elections: the lapses and the lessons . Glob. J. Arts Hum. Soc. Sci. 1:29-46.
10. Ogunlesi T (2013) . African Facebook users in 2013.
www.rjr.zarjrpd/rjr.../Youth_and_Social_media_in_Nigeria.pdf.
11. Abah, R.C., Aderibigbe, T., & Olubunmi, A. Importance of social media in engaging young people on
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention. Journal of AIDS and HIV research .
Vol6(8),pp.155-159, September 2014. DOI:10.5897/JAHR2014.0302