ESUT Mass Comm Students Champion Responsible Tech Use Among Youth at Judith Foundation Schools

Students of the Department of Mass Communication, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, have organized a media literacy campaign to promote responsible use of technology among secondary school students.

The campaign, titled “Smart Screens, Smart Teens: Using Technology Wisely for Learning, Growth and Success,” was held on Friday at Judith Foundation International Schools, Awkunanaw, Enugu State. It was carried out by 100 Level Cluster 8 and 300 Level Cluster 5 students.

The interactive outreach was aimed at educating SS2 students on responsible technology use, online safety, critical thinking, and how digital devices can be leveraged positively for learning and personal development.

Speaking during the session, student facilitator Samuel Favour emphasized the need for caution on social media. 

"Nigerian youths should be conscious of what they post on social media as the internet never forgets," he said, urging students to think carefully before posting or sharing information online. He added that technology should be used to build a better future rather than create problems.

The students actively participated in discussions and responded to questions. They also enthusiastically echoed the campaign slogan, “Smart Screens, Smart Teens,” showing their understanding of the key message. 

Prizes were presented to students who correctly answered questions to encourage participation.

One challenge faced was limited classroom space, which made it impossible to hold the programme indoors. The campaign was therefore conducted outside to accommodate the large number of students. 

Despite this, the programme recorded great success, thanks to the support of the SS2 form teacher who coordinated the students throughout the session.

The organizers described the outreach as a rewarding experience and expressed satisfaction with the students' attentiveness and willingness to learn. The campaign ended with participants better informed about becoming smart digital citizens.