FEMINIST ACTIVISM AND SOCIAL MEDIA: A STUDY OF GENDER EQUALITY CAMPAIGN IN NIGERIA

This study examined the role of social media in feminist activism 
and gender equality campaigns in Nigeria, focusing on the perception of 
Akure South Local Government, Ondo State, Nigeria residents. Anchored on 
feminist theory, social movement theory, and media ecology theory, the study 
adopted Survey method. Out of the 360,268 population of the study, 400 
serves as the sample size. Findings show that residents primarily use Twitter 
and WhatsApp, encountering gender equality campaigns monthly and 
engaging with them mostly by liking posts.  The study reveals that social 
media effectively raises awareness about gender equality issues and addresses 
key challenges such as gender-based violence, women's political participation, 
economic empowerment, and cultural stereotypes. Respondents believe that 
online campaigns translate into real-life change, highlighting their potential 
for tangible impact. However, barriers such as online harassment, digital 
illiteracy, and cultural resistance were identified, while issues like internet 
inaccessibility and lack of engagement were not considered major challenges. 
To enhance effectiveness, respondents agree to collaborating with influencers, 
using local languages, educating the public, and integrating online and offline 
activism. This study recommends that the Nigeria government should 
incorporate digital literacy training into national education initiatives, 
prioritizing women's empowerment and enabling them to effectively engage 
with feminist campaigns. Organisations and organisers of feminist campaign 
and movement should provide resources and support for feminist campaigns 
to incorporate local languages, ensuring that messages are accessible and 
culturally relevant to diverse populations.