IMPORTANCE OF WHATSAPP GROUPS: SRAF MEMBERS SAY THEIR MINDS

Since the invention of WhatsApp, a lot of users from around the world have been creating groups on it, to accommodate people, share and also receive information.
It grew from 100 people in a group to 256 people in a group and this has further helped people to come together on a bigger platform.

WhatsApp recently made it possible for people to join groups via links without been added by the administrators, this has led a lot of people to creating more groups on WhatsApp, since they do not have to go through the stress of having to add people.

On the 13th of November, 2016, SRAF, one of the largest WhatsApp communities in Nigeria, with about 1000 members from different parts of the world decided to take a look at the effects of WhatsApp groups on people and if being group administrators has any effect on leadership skills.
The discussion which was moderated by Soul’e Rhymez, a poet and one of African finest writers, came with mixed reactions from different people from different parts of the country.

According to KennieVerah, A Lagos based dancer who prefers to be regarded as “Student of Life”
Creating WhatsApp group does not mean one is jobless, in his words he says “No, I don't think it's due to joblessness, because groups both online and offline, if created out of joblessness have basically no objective.”  He advised that people should have goals and objectives they are set to achieve with a group before setting up on. Using SRAF as a point of view, he said:
“I've not taken time to study the objectives of SRAF, but from what I’ve seen, it's a group of professionals.  That keeps me interested, because as a Student of Life and Arts, I love artistically bright individuals. There's always something to learn on SRAF. This group wouldn't be standing if there were no goals and objectives.”

OnososenAdetayo, a Quantity Surveyor from Abeokuta, Ogun state Nigeria also agreed with Kennie, saying “Creating of a highly informative WhatsApp group can't be seen as joblessness, but an altruistic intention to educate, nourish and inform people. Someone once posited that we receive about 70 000 thoughts per day, these thoughts arise from the things we see, hear or read. Youths nowadays devote 60% of their time to their phones. From chatting to surfing the internet, seeing videos and listening to songs. This shows how important WhatsApp groups. They could be informative and also help sharpen the minds of our youth to responsibility.”

Tobiloba A. Abidoye, an undergraduate of Ladoke Akintola University, studying Animal Production and Health have also this to say: “There are different types of WhatsApp groups and educative and informative ones help in sharpening and enlightening the participants.  Due to the WhatsApp link introduced to join a group, people all tends to own and control a WhatsApp group whether educative and informative or the opposite.
“When you are in a WhatsApp group you will mix with different people, you will be motivated, educated and also have fun.” Williams Abigeal Akorede, a Nurse from Lagos, Nigeria posited.

According to OhajuObedIfeanyi, a student, author and public speaker from Onitsha, Anambra state, Nigeria, “WhatsApp groups have been a trend of social media which has helped in the transmission of information from one person to another. It has catalyzed the speed of information transmission, which is very important in this jet age. Moreover, I must assert that creating WhatsApp groups is never due to joblessness of the youths. After all, some companies, organizations, and even government officials have some crucial meetings via WhatsApp groups. The youths utilized this opportunity to learn one thing or the other as regards to a particular subject or issue.”

Sammy Izu, popularly known as CEO from Enugu could not agree less, in his words:
“WhatsApp groups can provide an accessible and powerful toolkit for highlighting and acting on issues and causes that affect and interest young people. It can also be used for organizing activities, events, or to showcase issues and opinions and make a wider audience aware of them.”

When asked if being WhatsApp group administrator have effects leadership skills,
Tobiloba made his point clear, saying: Owning a WhatsApp group doesn't make a great leader, but shows a glimpse of what type of leader one can be if entrusted with a position of power.”

Kennie had this to say about it too “No! Being a WhatsApp group administrator doesn't make you a good leader. However, it could make you one, if you're someone who can listen and be listened to, someone who gives room for idealism and improvement provided it's not outside the rules you've set. Someone who can bring people from all over the world and make them sit together peacefully for a cause and finally, someone who is humble enough for people to identify with.”

Adetayo answered the question in a rather straight forward manner, saying, “Controlling a group with people from different ethnic groups, with different sociopolitical beliefs and character trait will enhance leadership skills, the supposed leader will learn how to interact with people and handle tensed situations; dealing with unruly behaviors without inciting prejudice. Yes, it helps to be a good administration/leader.”

According to MaquessMouauBagricfrom Abia state, Nigeria, who seems to agree with Adetayo, “managing a group on WhatsApp gives you an insight on how to be a good leader.  In leadership, you handle individuals of different understanding, character and belief, so it is on WhatsApp groups.

To read more of this, please like our page: www.facebook.com/soulerhymezandfriends/ or log on to soulerhymez.blogspot.com

To join our WhatsApp group, send “SRAF” to Tobiloba on: +234 806 536 7655 via WhatsApp.

Editor:
Soul’e Rhymez (Nigeria)

Correspondent:
Rashmita Gabriel (Saudi Arabia)

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Soul’e Rhymez, reporting for SRAF



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